The detailed version of the article summarized on the front page as "Drop in Production" (appearing on page 10 as "Rain, hailstorms may dent wheat output") is reproduced below:
Rain, hailstorms may dent wheat output
By Prabhudatta Mishra, New Delhi
Unseasonal rain and hailstorms in March and April have impacted wheat crops across 111 districts in nine States, leading to an estimated 5-10 per cent drop in overall production.
Agriwatch, in a report for the Roller Flour Millers Federation of India, warned that up to 30 per cent of the harvest in affected areas suffers from quality degradation, including shrivelled grains and lustre loss. While the government originally estimated a record wheat production of 120.21 million tonnes this year, Agriwatch informed the industry body that damage in the 111 affected districts ranges between 3 per cent and 25 per cent due to the recent weather vagaries.
BADLY HIT
In Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and Bihar, harvesting is only 10-15 per cent complete. Damage has been reported in 25-30 per cent of the area where crops were in the maturity-to-harvest stages.
The maximum damage (15-25 per cent) was reported in:
- Punjab: Amritsar, Hoshiarpur, and Rupnagar districts.
- Haryana: Rewari.
- Uttar Pradesh: Hamirpur.
- Bihar: Begusarai.
- West Bengal: Dakshin Dinajpur.
Additionally, 51 districts across eight States may face a 3-5 per cent crop loss. Bikaner was noted as the most badly affected district specifically regarding hailstorm damage occurring on April 2.
PROCUREMENT AND QUALITY CONCERNS
The government aims to procure 303.36 lakh tonnes (lt) of wheat for the Central Pool by June 30. Due to the rain damage, the state governments of Rajasthan and Haryana have requested a relaxation in Fair Average Quality (FAQ) norms for procurement.
Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra stated that while the overall outlook remains good, central teams have been dispatched to these states to assess the ground-level situation. He noted, “If required, we’ll give them the relaxation very soon so that farmers do not suffer any problem in selling the produce”.
A preliminary report from Agriwatch further mentioned that farmers in many affected districts suffered from lodging (bending of the crop stalks) and damage to matured crops, which could lead to potential lustre loss in the grain.
The full article titled “As India & US look to revive trade deal talks, delegation to visit Washington this month” (referenced on the front page as US Trade Talks) is reproduced below:
As India & US look to revive trade deal talks, delegation to visit Washington this month
By Amiti Sen, New Delhi
In a move that may put bilateral trade talks back on track, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor on Thursday said a high-level Indian delegation will visit Washington later this month, signalling a renewed push to finalise the proposed interim trade deal.
The development comes after negotiations slowed amid uncertainty over US tariff measures after the US Supreme Court invalidated the ‘reciprocal tariffs’.
“The United States and India have previously agreed to a trade deal, and we look forward to welcoming an Indian delegation to Washington later this month,” Gor said in a post on X, following his meeting with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
The visit will also provide India an opportunity to raise concerns over two ongoing Section 301 investigations launched by the US Trade Representative: one related to excess manufacturing capacity and the other to forced labour, which could potentially lead to more tariffs.
DETAILS UNCLEAR
Sources in the Indian government confirmed the delegation visit, but said it was still at a planning stage. “The details of the visit of the Indian trade delegation to Washington are being worked out,” the source said.
The two nations announced a preliminary bilateral trade deal framework on February 2, 2026, but it did not get formalised or signed as the US Supreme Court gave its judgment on February 20 invalidating the reciprocal tariff regime.
The US has indicated that it considers the framework deal—under which India agreed to eliminate or sharply reduce tariffs for most industrial goods and also lower duties on a wide range of US agricultural and food products—as good as done.
BETTER BARGAIN
But India wants more tariff concessions so that it maintains its advantage over competing countries such as Bangladesh and Vietnam, sources said.
“In the framework deal, Washington offered to bring down reciprocal tariffs on India to 18 per cent (from 25 per cent), which was slightly lower than those on competing countries. But now that reciprocal tariffs are gone and all countries face a uniform short-term tariff of 10 per cent, India’s tariff concessions under the deal must put it at an advantage over the others,” the source explained. Otherwise, the trade deal will not make sense.
New Delhi is also likely to draw attention to the ongoing Section 301 probes, involving India among other countries, as it could potentially negate tariff advantages of the trade pact.
Separately, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri is on a three-day visit to Washington this week to engage senior US officials on trade, defence and global developments, amid ongoing trade investigations, fluid tariff measures and a volatile security situation in West Asia.
The full article titled ‘India now seen as safe anchor, offers stability and prospects’ is reproduced below:
‘India now seen as safe anchor, offers stability and prospects’
By Shishir Sinha, New Delhi
“India is a safe anchor” amid global uncertainty, Shaktikanta Das, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, said here on Thursday while suggesting a seven-point agenda for the corporate sector.
“India is now seen as a safe anchor because it offers stability, predictability and prospects of long-term growth at a time when much of the world is marked by conflict, volatility and policy uncertainty,” Das said, addressing the AIMA National Leadership Conclave.
RESILIENT FRONT
The former RBI Governor noted that the global economy continues to face an “unsettled and charged environment” marked by geopolitical fragmentation, supply chain disruptions and uneven growth, with risks “decisively skewed to the downside”.
Against this backdrop, Das highlighted India’s strong economic performance, stating that real GDP growth stood at 7.6 per cent in FY26, with an average growth of 7.8 per cent over the past five years. “India’s resilience does not alone explain the full story. India did not just endure the period of turbulence. It transformed through it,” he said.
Das also noted that several factors underpin this resilience, including:
- Macroeconomic stability
- Policy consistency
- Infrastructure-led development
- Strong domestic demand
The top official emphasised the importance of inflation control, describing it as critical for economic stability. “Inflation has often been described as a tax on the poor. A low inflation would mean increasing the spending power of the consumer,” Das said.
GROWTH DRIVERS
Highlighting India’s policy response during crises, he said the country adopted a calibrated approach. “Fiscal and monetary expansion were followed by a timely rollback, thus froth was not allowed to accumulate or overrun the system”.
Looking ahead, Das said India’s growth drivers—ranging from demographic advantage and rising consumption to infrastructure push and digital public infrastructure—are structural and durable.
Das presented seven suggestions for Indian businesses to build organisational resilience during these volatile times:
- Strengthen balance sheets.
- Build new supply chains.
- Protect jobs.
- Reskill the available manpower.
- Diversify into new markets (especially for exporters).
- Invest strategically for future readiness.
- Capitalise on new opportunities.
The full article titled “High turnout signals a tight contest” regarding the Kerala Assembly elections is reproduced below:
High turnout signals a tight contest
THE FINAL COUNTDOWN. State sees robust participation of urban voters in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kozhikode By Our Bureau, Thiruvananthapuram
In the first Assembly election after the SIR exercise, Kerala witnessed a high voter turnout on Thursday, underscoring the likelihood of a tightly contested verdict in which every vote could prove decisive. The turnout touched 78.01 per cent at 8 pm, surpassing the 76 per cent recorded in 2021.
STRIKING FEATURE
A striking feature of the day was the robust participation of urban voters. Cities such as Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kozhikode witnessed a surge, with even satellite towns reflecting similar enthusiasm. Rural areas largely mirrored this trend, with long queues forming early and persisting through much of the day.
In Thiruvananthapuram, key constituencies like Nemom, Kazhakkoottam and Vattiyoorkavu had recorded nearly half the total turnout seen in 2021 by noon, indicating a marked shift in urban voting patterns.
EVM GLITCH
Polling began at 7 am with women and elderly voters arriving early. While there was a brief lull in the early afternoon, brisk polling restored later in the day. However, sporadic malfunctioning of voting machines caused significant delays in some locations, with some voters reportedly waiting for up to six hours.
Younger voters, particularly from Gen Z, turned up in increasing numbers as the day progressed. Some were motivated by the State Election Commission’s incentives, which included complimentary halwa and free rides provided by local transport.
SURGE IN PARTICIPATION
Chief Electoral Officer Rethan Khelkar noted at noon that polling could approach 90 per cent. He attributed the surge partly to the SIR exercise, which "cleaned" the rolls and brought in "real voters with a face". There were also instances of overseas voters returning specifically to cast their ballots, motivated by social media campaigns.
POLITICAL FRONTS
As polling peaked, the State’s three principal political fronts expressed confidence:
- Left Democratic Front (LDF): The ruling CPI (M)-led front expressed optimism about securing a record third consecutive term.
- United Democratic Front (UDF): The Opposition projected a sweeping comeback, claiming it would cross the 100-seat mark in the 140-member Assembly.
- National Democratic Alliance (NDA): The BJP-led alliance sought to position itself as a potential kingmaker, maintaining that neither traditional front would secure the halfway mark of 71 seats.
Voting was particularly intense in Kannur district, a long-time CPI(M) bastion currently marked by internal dissidence. The high-stakes contest was also accompanied by allegations of bogus/illegal voting in some areas.
The full article titled “Israel allows import of Indian bhindi seeds” is reproduced below:
Israel allows import of Indian bhindi seeds
By Our Bureau, New Delhi
Israel has allowed India market access for a lesser-known agricultural product — okra (bhindi or lady’s finger) seeds — with a permit system. India’s total export of okra, including in seed form, was 6,504 tonnes, worth $6.44 million (or ₹54.85 crore) in 2024-25, with Germany as the top buyer.
APEDA NOTIFICATION
In a notice on its website, India’s agri export promotion body Apeda said a communication had been received from NPPO, Israel, conveying market access for the export of Indian okra seeds (Abelmoshus esculentus).
“The export of okra seeds to Israel are subject to the condition that a phytosanitary certificate should be endorsed with an additional declaration,” said Apeda General Manager Vinita Sudhanshu.
IMPORT PERMIT
The required declaration must state: “The seeds were officially tested and found free from Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. vasinfectum and Okra enation leaf curl virus.”
Sudhanshu has asked interested exporters to avail themselves of the opportunity and comply with the requirement for export of seeds from India to Israel. Additionally, NPPO Israel has stipulated its own importers to obtain an “import permit” from them if they wish to import okra seeds from India.
EXPORT DATA
During the April-January period of FY26, India exported 4,841.08 tonnes of okra worth $4.47 million (₹39.17 crore). Apart from Germany, other buyers of Indian okra include Nepal, the UAE, the UK, Bhutan, Kuwait, Qatar and Singapore.
The full article titled “‘Theaterisation of command’ 90% complete, says Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit” is reproduced below:
‘Theaterisation of command’ 90% complete, says Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit
By Our Bureau, New Delhi
Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff, on Thursday, announced that more than 90 per cent of the work on the theaterisation of the Indian Armed Forces has been completed, signalling that the much-awaited major military restructuring exercise has reached its final stage.
The transformation, expected to be announced by next month, would lead to single-service commands getting subsumed into a tri-services architecture, each led by a three-star commander.
“Our move towards joint structures and theatre commands — with planning now reported to be more than 90 per cent complete — is a historic opportunity,” he said during his opening address at the second edition of Ran Samwaad 2026 at Bengaluru. He, however, cautioned that structures alone do not guarantee synergy.
“Cultural integration is what makes structure come alive. Jointness must evolve from mere coordination to genuine unity of effort,” he advocated in his remarks on “Multi-Domain Operations: An Imperative for Addressing Conventional and Irregular Threats”.
That requires transparency in information sharing, clarity of authority, and — most fundamentally — mutual trust, he remarked, hinting at issues that would require ironing out. He also flagged the need for command accountability and responsibility as the use of unmanned and autonomous systems increases.
DOMAIN JOINTNESS
Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, during his address, emphasised that Operation Sindoor demonstrated India’s progression towards “domain jointness” and described the military offensive inside Pakistani territory as a “defining case-study” of the operational significance of integration.
“Operation Sindoor was India’s most powerful tool of progression towards domain jointness. But we need to achieve domain integration and fusion,” General Dwivedi said in his speech on “Land Forces visualisation of Multi Domain Operation”.
He also pitched for the creation of an information warfare organisation and a psychological defence division following Operation Sindoor. He noted, “Fifteen per cent of our effort was on managing the disinformation campaign”.
He cautioned, however, that key challenges remain, particularly in synchronising operations across strategic, operational, and tactical levels, and addressing the growing prevalence of hybrid or grey-zone warfare. “These are typically below the conventional military threshold, with the goal to exploit adversary vulnerability,” he said. He added that non-kinetic operations are increasingly taking precedence.
The full article titled “India grants waivers to 2 cargoes from Iran” is reproduced below:
India grants waivers to 2 cargoes from Iran
New Delhi: With a view to speeding delivery of energy supplies from the Gulf, India recently granted waivers to allow two Iranian cargoes aboard an older tanker and another under international sanctions to enter its ports, two officials familiar with the matter said.
India is facing its worst gas crisis in decades, with the government rationing supplies to industry to ensure households are supplied with the cooking gas.
REUTERS
The full article titled “RBI’s new guidelines aim to increase efficiency in cross-border inward payments” is reproduced below:
RBI’s new guidelines aim to increase efficiency in cross-border inward payments
By Our Bureau, Mumbai
To enhance the efficiency of cross-border inward payments, the Reserve Bank of India has issued new guidelines, whereby banks may put in place a straight through process for crediting the inward payments to the account of individual residents.
This aforementioned process should be based on their risk assessment and subject to compliance with extant FEMA (Foreign Exchange Management Act) guidelines. Banks may, within a reasonable time frame, also endeavour to provide a digital interface to their customers to facilitate foreign exchange transactions, including submission of documents or information, and monitoring of transactions.
NOTIFY CUSTOMERS
The guidelines require banks to inform their customers of the receipt of cross-border inward transactions immediately on receipt of an inward message. Messages received after the close of operating hours of banks will be informed to the customer immediately at the start of the next business day.
The guidelines require banks to undertake reconciliation and confirmation of credit in the nostro account (held by a domestic bank in a foreign bank) frequently, either on a near-real-time basis or at periodic intervals. The reconciliation interval should normally not exceed one hour.
Banks should endeavour to credit the inward payments received during the foreign exchange market hours within the same business day to the beneficiary’s account, per the guidelines. Further, they should credit the inward payments received after market hours on the next business day, subject to compliance with the extant FEMA and other regulatory requirements.
The full article titled ‘India has ample buffers to deal with W. Asia crisis’ is reproduced below:
‘India has ample buffers to deal with W. Asia crisis’
By Shishir Sinha, New Delhi
India has “ample” buffers to deal with the West Asia crisis, but a prolonged conflict could pose downside risks, the World Bank said on Thursday.
“Risks are tilted to the downside as prolonged periods of elevated oil prices can significantly impact the Indian economy, but risks are cushioned by ample buffers,” World Bank Lead Economist for India Aurelien Kruse said while presenting the India Development Update.
ECONOMIC BUFFERS
According to the World Bank, these buffers comprise a net energy import share of 2.8-3 per cent of GDP and substantial foreign exchange reserves. The Bank has raised India’s growth forecast for the current fiscal by 30 basis points to 6.6 per cent from its earlier estimate of 6.3 per cent, though this remains lower than the previous fiscal year.
In its South Asia Economic Update report, the Bank noted that India’s growth accelerated to 7.6 per cent in FY26 from 7.1 per cent in FY25, owing to strong domestic demand and export resilience.
RIGHT STRUCTURE
Comparing the geopolitical situation to an “earthquake”, Kruse remarked, “But India has the right structure of house and fire trucks are coming”. He emphasized that India remains the fastest-growing large economy, supported by strong domestic consumption and better-than-anticipated performance in exports and investment.
The World Bank also commended the Indian government’s strategy for handling the energy crisis. Kruse stated that authorities have struck a right balance by managing supply without resorting to massive rationing and by maintaining relatively constant retail oil prices to avoid sharp, non-linear adjustments. However, he cautioned that massive risks remain tilted to the downside.
FISCAL OUTLOOK
World Bank Regional Practice Director for South Asia (Prosperity), Sebastian [last name not provided], noted that India and the region continue to be very strong performers compared to others.
However, the Bank expects India’s current account deficit in FY27 to increase to 1.8 per cent of GDP due to a higher energy import bill. The general government fiscal deficit is projected to increase marginally to 7.6 per cent of GDP, compared to 7.3 per cent in the absence of the conflict, as higher energy prices drive up spending on fertilizer and fuel subsidies.
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