CURRENT AFFAIRS

Cotton cultivation is declining sharply across the traditional cotton belt of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. Farmers are increasingly shifting from cotton to paddy and other crops because of assured procurement, relatively stable returns, rising cultivation costs and recurring pest attacks.

Vice President of India C. P. Radhakrishnan is scheduled to visit Musunuru in Eluru district, Andhra Pradesh, on August 24, 2026. During his visit, he will attend a programme at the Gourmet Popcornica Factory, where he will launch India’s first Non-GMO High-Expansion Popcorn Maize Hybrid Seed.

The Union Agriculture Ministry has permitted the manufacture and agricultural use of Anhydrous Ammonia (82% Nitrogen) for three years under the Fertiliser (Inorganic, Organic or Mixed) (Control) Order, 1985. The move aims to reduce India's dependence on imported urea and improve nitrogen-use efficiency.

The Central Government has released the revised draft of the Pesticide Management Bill, 2025, seeking suggestions from citizens and stakeholders, with the aim of reforming India's pesticide regulatory system.

The Bamanwas Kankar Panchayat in Rajasthan has achieved a significant local milestone in the pursuit of chemical-free and sustainable agriculture. It is the first Panchayat in the state to be fully certified organic.

In 2025, India overtook China to become the world’s largest rice producer and now accounts for around 40% of global rice exports, with shipments crossing 20 million metric tonnes.

In the Indian artistic tradition, dance is not merely a medium of expression but a vibrant form of spiritual experience, cultural continuity, and aesthetic refinement.

The relationship between agriculture and biodiversity is deeply intertwined — agriculture depends on biodiversity, and at the same time, it plays a role in its conservation.

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) launched the new ‘BHARATI’ initiative to promote India’s agri-food exports on a global scale.

Soil health forms the foundation of agricultural sustainability, food security, and ecological balance.