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Centre rejects ethanol link to sugar price hike, cites lower production and crop damage

The Centre has rejected claims linking the sugar price hike to ethanol production, citing lower domestic output, festive demand, crop damage, global supply pressures and hoarding.

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The Centre has rejected claims that the recent increase in sugar prices is linked to the diversion of sugar for ethanol production. The government said the price rise has instead been driven by lower-than-expected domestic sugar production, increased festive-season demand, crop damage, tightening global supplies and hoarding.

Sugar prices increased from Rs 48.18 per kg on July 20 to Rs 55.70 per kg on August 20. The government has taken several measures to improve domestic availability and contain further price increases.

The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution said it was incorrect to attribute the rise in sugar prices to ethanol production. According to the ministry, the proportion of sugar diverted for ethanol has actually declined from around 12% in the 2022-23 sugar season to about 9% in 2025-26.

The government also said nearly three-fourths of India’s ethanol production now comes from grains, particularly maize.

Sugar production estimate falls short

Sugar production during the current season is expected to be around 306 lakh metric tonnes (LMT), below the initial estimate of 343 LMT made by sugarcane-growing states.

The Centre attributed the production shortfall partly to sugarcane diseases, including Red Rot and Top Borer, along with waterlogging caused by excessive rainfall. Despite the lower output, the government said existing stocks are adequate to meet domestic requirements until the next crushing season begins in October.

Global sugar supply also under pressure

The government said rising sugar prices are not an India-specific issue, with global supplies also expected to tighten.

Government estimates indicate that the global sugar market could face a deficit of around 33 LMT in 2026-27. International sugar prices increased from $474 per tonne on June 30 to $552 per tonne on August 20, representing a rise of more than 16%.

Government measures to control sugar prices

The Centre has introduced several measures to prevent further price increases and ensure adequate supplies.

A stock limit of 400 tonnes has been imposed on sugar dealers across the country until November 30. From September 1, bulk consumers will also be restricted from holding sugar stocks equivalent to more than 15 days of consumption.

Government officials from the Centre and states are conducting physical verification of sugar stocks at mills to detect hoarding and prevent artificial scarcity.

The Centre has also approved duty-free imports of 10 LMT, or 1 million tonnes, of raw sugar to strengthen domestic supplies.

States and sugar mills have been advised to start the crushing season from October 15. The government expects sugar production in October to cross 10 LMT, compared with the usual 3-5 LMT, which could improve availability during the festive period.

Centre defends ethanol blending programme

The government also defended its ethanol-blending programme, saying it has helped reduce excess sugar stocks and improve the financial position of sugar mills.

India generally produces around 320-340 LMT of sugar annually, while domestic consumption is estimated at about 280-290 LMT. The Centre said surplus stocks can tie up working capital and contribute to delays in payments to sugarcane farmers.

According to the government, 97% of sugarcane dues for the 2025-26 season had been paid to farmers as of August 20. It also said the improved financial position of the sugar industry has reduced its dependence on government support.

The government said sugar prices for consumers have remained broadly stable over the longer term, rising by around 3% annually between August 2024 and July 2026.

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Mother Dairy raises milk prices by Rs 2-4 per litre from November 12

Mother Dairy has increased milk prices by Rs 2-4 per litre from November 12. Full cream milk will now cost Rs 76 per litre, while toned milk will be priced at Rs 62.

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Mother Dairy has increased the prices of its liquid milk variants by Rs 2 to Rs 4 per litre, with the revised rates coming into effect from Thursday, November 12. The price revision will affect consumers in the Delhi-NCR market, where the dairy company is a major milk supplier.

The increase comes amid rising input costs, particularly higher procurement prices paid to farmers. According to sources, the company has decided to pass on part of the additional cost to consumers.

A spokesperson for Mother Dairy declined to comment on the latest price revision.

Check new Mother Dairy milk prices

The revised rates cover several liquid milk variants sold in the NCR market. Full cream milk has seen the highest increase of Rs 4 per litre.

Here are the revised prices:

Milk variantOld priceNew price
Toned milk (bulk vended)Rs 58Rs 60
Full cream milk (pouched)Rs 72Rs 76
Toned milk (pouched)Rs 60Rs 62
Double toned milkRs 54Rs 56
Cow milkRs 62Rs 65

The new prices will be applicable from November 12.

Why Mother Dairy has increased milk prices

The latest revision follows an increase in the procurement prices of milk from farmers. Sources said the higher procurement costs have prompted Mother Dairy to partly transfer the additional input expenses to consumers.

The company passes on around 75-80 per cent of its milk sales realisation to farmers.

Mother Dairy had last increased milk prices on May 14, 2026. Before that, its previous price revision took place in April 2025.

Mother Dairy’s daily milk sales

Mother Dairy sells approximately 35 lakh litres of milk every day in the Delhi-NCR market through its own outlets, general trade channels and e-commerce platforms.

Its overall daily milk sales exceed 50 lakh litres.

The company recorded a 17 per cent increase in turnover to Rs 20,300 crore in the last financial year. The growth was supported by improved demand for its milk products and cooking oils.

About Mother Dairy

Commissioned in 1974, Mother Dairy is a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB).

The company sells milk and milk products under the Mother Dairy brand. It markets edible oils under the Dhara brand, while fresh fruits and vegetables, frozen vegetables, snacks, pulps and concentrates are sold under the Safal brand.

Mother Dairy operates nine milk processing plants and four horticulture processing plants. Its edible oil operations are supported by 16 associated plants.

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Air pollution as big a health emergency as COVID, says former WHO chief Soumya Swaminathan

Former WHO Chief Scientist Dr Soumya Swaminathan said air pollution should be treated with the same urgency as COVID, highlighting its effects on children, pregnancy and multiple organs.

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Air pollution should be treated as a major public health emergency requiring an urgent and coordinated response, former World Health Organisation (WHO) Chief Scientist Dr Soumya Swaminathan has said.

In an exclusive interview, Dr Swaminathan compared the scale of the air pollution health crisis with COVID and said its effects can extend across the body, including the brain, lungs and cardiovascular system. She also highlighted links between pollution exposure and conditions such as asthma and diabetes.

Why air pollution needs a COVID-like response

Dr Swaminathan said COVID triggered an immediate public response because it was sudden, visible and associated with an unknown virus. Air pollution, by contrast, is often less visible and its effects accumulate over time.

She said people may become accustomed to pollution because it is not always visible, particularly outside the winter months. But she stressed that prolonged exposure can still cause serious health damage.

She called for the issue to receive an “equal, urgent, coordinated and scientific” response, similar to the approach taken during the COVID crisis.

PM2.5 poses risks from pregnancy to childhood

Dr Swaminathan also highlighted concerns about exposure to fine particulate matter, particularly PM2.5, among pregnant women and children.

According to her, these tiny particles can enter the lungs and bloodstream and may also reach the placenta. She pointed to higher rates of premature births and low birth weight among babies born in areas where mothers are exposed to high levels of air pollution.

She also said children are particularly vulnerable because their brains and other organs are developing rapidly. Children breathe faster than adults, and those growing up in heavily polluted areas can have smaller lungs, she said.

Why AQI may not tell the full health story

Dr Swaminathan suggested moving beyond the conventional Air Quality Index (AQI) towards an Air Quality Health Index (AHQI).

The proposal would place greater emphasis on how individual pollutants affect different groups of people. She noted that the dominant pollutant can vary from one city to another, while its health impact may also differ for groups such as pregnant women and children.

The current AQI uses eight major pollutants as parameters: PM10, PM2.5, ozone, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, lead and ammonia. The overall AQI is determined by the highest pollutant sub-index.

Swaminathan does not favour shutting schools

On protecting children from polluted air, Dr Swaminathan said she was not in favour of simply closing schools.

She argued that children from poorer families may continue breathing polluted air at home, while also losing access to education, social interaction and midday meals.

Instead, she suggested making school environments cleaner. Her proposals included installing air purifiers in classrooms, providing pick-and-drop bus facilities and encouraging older children to wear masks when outdoors.

Five measures suggested to tackle pollution

Dr Swaminathan outlined five key measures for addressing the pollution crisis:

  1. Launch a national clean air programme, which she suggested could be called the “Swachh Vaayu Abhiyan”.
  2. Prepare a costed, long-term plan with sustained investment and study lessons from countries such as China.
  3. Establish empowered leadership and accountability for tackling air pollution.
  4. Create a panel of experts to develop a science-based, multi-sectoral and multi-year plan.
  5. Put health at the centre of air pollution policy.

She also supported treating the right to clean air as a basic public health entitlement, linking it to the constitutional right to life.

Dr Swaminathan’s central argument was that air pollution should no longer be treated as a slow-moving or routine environmental problem, but as a serious health crisis requiring sustained action.

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Terrorists open fire at CRPF personnel in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam, search operation underway

Terrorists opened fire on CRPF personnel at a naka in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district. The attackers fled and a search operation was launched.

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jammu and kashmir encounter

Unidentified assailants opened fire on Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Wednesday afternoon, according to the CRPF.

The incident took place at a security naka in the Kulgam area. The attackers, who were reportedly travelling on a motorcycle, fled after opening fire on the security personnel.

According to the CRPF statement, the firing occurred at around 2:15 pm. The injured personnel were shifted to a hospital in Anantnag district for treatment.

Search operation launched for attackers

Following the firing, security forces launched a cordon and search operation to locate the attackers.

The assailants have not been identified so far, and further details about the incident are awaited.

What happened in Kulgam

The CRPF personnel were deployed at a naka when the unidentified motorcycle-borne assailants opened fire at them. After the attack, the assailants fled from the spot.

The CRPF said the injured personnel were taken to a hospital in Anantnag for medical treatment. A search operation was subsequently launched to track down those responsible for the attack.

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