CEA submitted the report titled ‘Incentivising Pulses Production Through Minimum Support Price (MSP) and Related Policies’

The Chief Economic Adviser, Dr. Arvind Subramanian presenting the Report of the Pulses Committee to the Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Shri Arun Jaitley, in New Delhi on September 16, 2016. The Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Shri Ram Vilas Paswan, the Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal and the Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Shri Hem Kumar Pande are also seen.

Question: Who among the following is the Chief Economic Advisor of India?
(a) Arvind Panagariya
(b) Arvind Subramanian
(c) H.R Khan
(d) Shakti Kant Das
Ans. (a)
Related facts:

  • On 16 September 2016 the Chief Economic Advisor-led panel submitted the report titled ‘Incentivizing Pulses Production Through Minimum Support Price (MSP) and Related Policies’ to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
  • The panel was set up in the wake of a recent surge in retail prices of pulses.
  • The committee suggested that the government procurement machinery should be in “high gear” to ensure procurement of kharif pulses at this season’s already-announced minimum support price (MSP).
  • Some other key recommendations are:
  • Efforts to be made to give production subsidies to farmers for growing pulses in irrigated areas of about Rs 10-15 per kg to be given via DBT.
  • Supply of pulses to increase 8%.
  • The purchase and sale of pulses to be reviewed weekly.
  • Production of pulses should be increased from 3 percent to 8 percent.
  • It suggested elimination of export ban on pulses and stock limits, and more generally, the use of trade policy to control domestic prices, which induces policy volatility, should be avoided.
  • Build up 2 million tons of pulses stock with targets for individual pulses, especially tur (3.5 lakh tonnes) and urad (2 lakh tonnes).

Reference:
http://ddinews.gov.in/Business/Business%20-%20Top%20Story/Pages/cea.aspx
http://finmin.nic.in/reports/Pulses_report_16th_sep_2016.pdf
http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/announce-higher-msp-for-pulses-speed-up-procurement-cea-panel-116091600697_1.html