Panel calls for boosting protein, nutrients in government meal programmes

The government is weighing a proposal to set up an inter-ministerial panel comprising senior officials to iron out differences across various ministries and departments on proposals relating to free trade agreements (FTAs), an official source told FE.

The move assumes significance, as the country is either negotiating or planning to start talks for a flurry of high-stake FTAs with key economies, such as the EU, the UK, Canada, Israel, members of Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) and Australia. While New Delhi has clinched an interim deal with Canberra, talks for a full-fledged FTA could start soon. Together these economies (excluding the UAE, a part of the GCC, with which an FTA is already signed) contributed as much as $108 billion, or 26%, to India’s merchandise exports in FY22.

“A final decision on the panel will be taken soon,” said the source.