Centre forms expert panel to protect litchi crop in Bihar

IANS | May 8, 2026 3:25 PM

New Delhi, May 8 (IANS) Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan has set up a special expert task force to look into the damage caused to the litchi crop in Bihar and come up with a report on the remedial measures to help farmers within a week, according to an official statement issued on Friday.

HC's relief to RS MP Rajinder Gupta-owned Trident Group in PPCB case

IANS | May 8, 2026 2:06 PM

Chandigarh, May 8 (IANS) In a relief to Rajya Sabha member Rajinder Gupta-owned Trident Group, the Punjab and Haryana High Court Friday granted interim relief to it, saying no coercive action should be taken against it by the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) without first granting it a reasonable opportunity of 30 days to rectify any minor defects or deficiencies.

Experts look for CDV outbreak source after big cat family of 5 wiped out in Kanha Tiger Reserve

IANS | May 1, 2026 3:36 PM

Bhopal/Kanha, May 1 (IANS) The heart of India’s wildlife conservation framework has been shaken by the devastating deaths of Tigress T141 and her entire litter of four cubs at the Kanha Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh in a span of just nine days. Preliminary investigations have pointed towards the Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) as the likely cause of the deaths and veterinarians and wildlife forensic experts are working to confirm the source of the deadly outbreak.

92 pc monsoon forecast, 35 pc deficit risk cloud FY27 farm outlook

IANS | April 29, 2026 5:32 PM

New Delhi, April 29 (IANS) India’s agricultural outlook for FY27 likely to remain uneven despite underlying stability, with a 92 per cent monsoon forecast and a 35 per cent probability of deficient rainfall emerging as key risks, though strong government support is expected to provide some cushion, a report said on Wednesday.

India’s peak power demand soars to record high of 256.11 GW

IANS | April 26, 2026 7:39 PM

New Delhi, April 26 (IANS) India's peak power demand soared to a record high of 256.11 GW on Saturday as the heat wave intensified across the country, which forced both domestic and commercial consumers to step up the use of air conditioners and other cooling devices, data compiled by the Power Ministry showed.