This report summarizes the findings of a review aimed at understanding emerging approaches to energy subsidy reform, discerning trends, and identifying major strands of thinking and research in the field, as reflected in major policy and academic journals relevant to the subject. The review was initiated in early 2020 as …
WTO Members disagreed in April on the extent to which future multilateral rules on fisheries subsidies should include exceptions for payments to the small-scale fishing sector, as Canada and some other developed countries sought controversial exemptions for their own industry.
Although wind energy is a rapidly growing technology its use remains geographically concentrated, with more than 75 percent of global installed capacity found in just five countries. These countries, and others wishing to develop wind energy have implemented various supportive policies covering areas as diverse as tariffs, technical R&D;, administrative …
In the wake of reports of widespread misuse of the Transport Subsidy Scheme, the Planning Commission is evaluating the scheme afresh. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has clarified today, that it has not released Transport Subsidy Scheme during the current financial year. This fiscal, only Rs 1 crore has …
In reply to a question in Lok Sabha on April 21, 2008, the Food and Agriculture Minister, Sharad Pawar admitted that while a total of 102.8 million ration cards against BPL (below poverty line) people were issued, there were actually in the country only 65.2 million BPL families. It means …
Following soaring fuel prices in the international market, the Guinean government has suspended its long-used subsidies on diesel and petrol. The government had used the subsidies to quell tensions over rising cost of living. The price of a litre of petrol has risen by more than 60 per cent. "The …
Inflation is going through the roof but if you are poor and a resident of Andhra Pradesh, you are not likely to feel the pinch. It's not because of Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy's ability to rein in prices, but because of his penchant for unabashed electoral populism. The relaunch …
Dubai: In a renewed effort to achieve a global trade deal under Doha Round of multilateral talks, trade ministers of India and the US will meet next week to bridge differences on farm subsidies and opening markets for industrial and agricultural products. "I am meeting USTR (Susan Schwab) on May …
In Tanzania, millions of people seek treatment for malaria through the private sector. But most cannot afford effective medicines. Now a pilot study is testing whether a drug subsidy scheme could help these patients, with some positive preliminary results.
While customers at restaurants in New York City will soon be able to count the calories of their meals in an attempt to curb the obesity epidemic, people in New Delhi are currently counting their grains of rice. From Bolivia to Yemen, people around the world are taking to the …
Americans are in sticker-shock over grocery prices, while people in developing countries are rioting over food shortages. And across the heartland, American farmers are enjoying record incomes, but losing sleep over rising expenses and turbulence in the commodity futures markets. Here on Capitol Hill, though, it is pretty much farm …
As Union commerce minister Kamal Nath studies India's negotiation dockets in preparation for a mid-May World Trade Organisation (WTO) ministerial meet in Geneva, a sort of last-ditch attempt to strike a Doha Round deal before a change of US leadership, some voices have emerged in favour of softening the country's …
Egypt is to review its food subsidy system as it seeks ways to tackle rising inflation, which reached 14.2 per cent in March. Youssef Boutros-Ghali, finance minister, told the Financial Times that the government would look to raise additional revenues through new taxes or increasing existing taxes. However, he said …
No need for alarm; but some Chinese ring bells anyway "WITH grain in our hands there is no need to panic,' according to China's prime minister, Wen Jiabao. But officials worry about how to keep China near self-sufficiency in grain and sheltered from rising world prices. Mr Wen's remarks during …
Urgent action to help the world's poorest farmers help themselves would make a significant contribution to tackling the global food crisis in a single growing season, according to Jeffrey Sachs, United Nations development adviser. "In much of the poorest parts of the world, the potential for significant increases in food …
Asserting that Assam was at the centre of the Government of India's policy of industrial promotion, Union Minister of State for Industry Dr Ashwani Kumar today said that a slew of initiatives including clearance of transport subsidy, increasing capital subsidy component, etc., were being initiated for boosting the industrial growth …
Under attack over rising prices, the government on Wednesday announced a slew of measures, including Rs 15-a litre subsidy on edible oil. The Prime Minister is also contemplating calling a meeting of Chief Ministers to discuss steps to tackle the rising prices. In the Lok Sabha, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar …
The Rs 90-crore food subsidy scheme, designed to provide five essential items to the state's 14 lakh-plus ration card-holders at almost half the market price, seems to have run into rough weather. With prices of pulses taking an unprecedented jump in the past few days, the BJP government has pruned …
The Doha round of global trade negotiations has been stalled since 2001 because developing nations have refused to lower import tariffs that protect their farmers and rich countries won't give up farm-price supports. Now, import duties are being slashed from Brazil to Burkina Faso in response to prices that the …
Over the past decade, thousands of families in Rajasthan's remote villages have installed solar lighting systems at their homes, which harness solar energy to generate electricity. It is a simple device but it has shrunk the nights in Rajasthan's countryside. Over the past decade, thousands of families in the state's …
