Government on Tuesday said that 68.4% samples of milk tested last year were found to be non-conforming to the food safety regulations. In a written reply in Rajya Sabha, health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said, ?In the National Survey conducted by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of Indian in 2011 to ascertain the quality of liquid milk through the country, 68.4 % samples were found to be non-conforming to the Food Safety and Standards Regulations.?

SP for withdrawal of excise duty on unbranded jewellery

Coming out in support of the striking bullion and jewellery traders, Samajwadi Party on Tuesday asked the government to resolve the issue by holding talks with them and withdrawing the excise duty on unbranded jewellery and doubling of import duty on gold. ?Their agitation is justified. …. The move will lead to ?inspector raj?. It is my earnest appeal to the government to find a way out by sitting with them and discussing the issue,? SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav said in the Lok Sabha. He said the government?s move would render over one lakh people unemployed. ?The excise duty and other measures should be withdrawn,? he said.

India needs to raise grain output by 1.34%: Govt

The country needs to increase its annual grain production by 1.34% to meet the output target of 280.6 million tonne (mt) by 2020-21, Parliament was informed on Tuesday. This assessment has been made by the National Centre for Agricultural Economics & Policy Research (NCAP) of agri research body Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), minister of state for agriculture Charan Das Mahant said. The average annual increase of 1.34% would be required to achieve the target of 280.6 mt of grain by 2020-21,? he said.

Sugar prices stable with regular availability: Govt

The prices of sugar have remained stable with government making efforts to maintain a balance between availability and pricing, including release of sugar quota, the Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday. During March, with the release of non-levy sugar quota of 12.50 lakh tonne, carry over stock of one lakh tonne and levy quota of 2.10 lakh tonne, the availability of sugar was sufficient in the market and the prices remained stable, consumer affairs, food and public distribution minister K V Thomas told the Lok Sabha.