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Monday, February 2, 2026
TopicFood crisis

Topic: Food crisis

MSP under Shastri began as a crisis response. Now India must ask what role it should play today

A quiet transformation took place in India’s rural economy within five years of MSP’s introduction. All doubts about India's ability to feed itself were laid to rest.

‘Avoid parties, grand weddings’– Lal Bahadur Shastri on India’s 1964 food shortage

In his broadcast to the nation on 19 October 1964, Lal Bahadur Shastri addressed India’s dependence on food imports, calling austerity the need of the hour.

In Pakistan, free flour is the new killer—long queues, stampedes, deaths

Over the last year, the cost of wheat flour in Pakistan increased by a whopping 120%, coinciding with inflation which touched an all-time high of 46.7%.

EU eases some sanctions on Russian assets to tackle global food crisis, open Ukraine port blockade

The European Union loosening sanctions means that banks can now process payments to Russian state-owned entities engaged in the trade of food and fertilisers.

Seed, fertiliser scarcity pushes Sri Lanka into food crisis as farmers abandon fields

Rice production in the last harvest season had already plunged 40% to 50%. Now, crop yields could shrink as much as 50% this year.

Nations sanctioning Russia must know concern over global hunger not unfounded, defuse panic

The problem, of course, is that this war is between two countries which are among the world’s largest food exporters.

Zelenskyy blames Russia for food crisis, says Ukraine looking for ‘safe corridor’ to export grains

While virtually addressing the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, the Ukraine President accused Moscow of blocking Ukrainian ports and depriving the world of food grains.

G-7 sees Modi’s ban on wheat exports as an obstacle to combating rising food prices

India could play a key role in averting a downward spiral of food protectionism at this week’s WTO conference in Geneva.

Sri Lanka faces tough choice between food security and debt repayments

Hoarding is now prevalent on a global scale, with top producers stopping exports and perpetuating a cycle of inflation and hunger.

Feeding world must take backseat, Modi govt should deal with India’s ‘chapati’ crisis first

German agriculture minister Cem Ozdemir said imposing export restrictions or closing markets would worsen the crisis. Actually, the opposite might be true.

On Camera

Budget 2026 didn’t address a critical issue—promoting MSME exports & keeping input costs high

Administrative efficiency and targeted schemes can ease frictions, but they cannot offset the competitiveness loss from expensive imported intermediates.

Floundering PM Internship Scheme has seen 44% drop out since 2024 launch. Budget deals drastic blow

Only 21 percent of interns complete programme as Centre slashes budget by over 50% after poor joining and high attrition.

CDS Gen Chauhan in Armenia, focus on deeper defence ties including new deals

Armenia has procured significant defence equipment from India, including artillery guns, multi-barrel rocket launchers, air defence system, sniper rifles, weapons locating radars, anti-drone weapons.

Swiss report should now close Op Sindoor debate. Knowing when to stop the fight is key too

The key to fighting a war successfully, or even launching it, is a clear objective. That’s an entirely political call. It isn’t emotional or purely military.