Overview

• Union ministers, led by Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, affirmed that India will resist U.S. demands for greater access to its agriculture and dairy sectors despite reciprocal tariffs now at 50%.
• In a large August 12 gathering at Pusa Campus, leaders of major farmer organisations publicly endorsed the government’s non-negotiable stance on protecting farmers’ livelihoods.
• Officials highlighted recent digital disbursements under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana and pointed to continued support through schemes such as PM-KISAN, soil health cards and expanded irrigation programmes.
• Chouhan announced forthcoming legislation to impose strict penalties on producers of counterfeit fertilisers, seeds and chemicals as part of broader domestic risk mitigation measures.
• The All India Kisan Sabha criticised the government’s decade-long agrarian record, accusing it of pauperising farmers by failing to secure sufficiently remunerative prices and debt relief.