The farmers' protests in India, primarily around the Delhi borders, began in late 2020, with thousands of farmers, mainly from the states of Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, converging on various points along Delhi's borders. The primary cause of these protests was the Indian government's introduction of three agricultural laws, which were passed in September 2020. The farmers and their supporters argued that these laws would undermine their livelihoods by opening up the agricultural sector to private players and reducing the government's role in the market, particularly in procuring crops at guaranteed prices.
The three contentious laws were:
The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, which allowed farmers to sell their produce outside the Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs) mandis (markets), where they could potentially get better prices.
The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, which aimed to facilitate contract farming, allowing farmers to enter into direct contracts with buyers before producing a crop.
The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, which sought to remove commodities like cereals, pulses, oilseeds, edible oils, onions, and potatoes from the list of essential commodities, lifting storage limits except under extraordinary circumstances.
Protesters feared that these laws would lead to the dismantling of the minimum support price (MSP) system, leaving them at the mercy of large corporations. After more than a year of sustained protests and negotiations, the Indian government announced the repeal of the three farm laws in November 2021. The repeal was seen as a significant victory for the farmers.
Since then, there have been sporadic instances of farmers again calling for protest marches towards the national capital with one of the primary demands being a law guaranteeing MSP for their produce.
In this Special Report, the focus is on the tabling of the Economic Survey 2025-26 and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address at the start of the Budget Session. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the survey in the Lok Sabha, projecting a robust GDP growth of 7.4% for FY26. Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, stating, 'In the beginning of this quarter, the free trade agreement between India and the European Union is a glimpse of how bright the future of the youth of India is.' The Prime Minister emphasized that the next 25 years are crucial for achieving the vision of 'Viksit Bharat 2047' and noted that India is now on the 'reform express.' The bulletin also covers the political friction in Parliament, with the opposition demanding a rollback of the G. Ramji law while the BJP accused them of disrespecting constitutional traditions. The survey highlights fiscal prudence, with the deficit met at 4.8% of GDP.
On this India Today special report, reporter Dipesh Tripathi provides live updates on the 'Long March' as thousands of farmers trek from Nashik to Mumbai. Highlighting the gravity of the protest, Tripathi notes, 'The most important demand is that land acquisition, that is, saath baara, the land on which they irrigate or agriculture takes place, that land should belong to them totally.' The Padyatra, which covered 35 kilometres from Ghatandevi to Khadvi on its third day, aims to reach Mantralaya to press for fair crop prices, water access, and forest rights. Despite talks with ministers and administrative requests to halt, the farmers remain resolute, citing unfulfilled promises from a similar protest three years ago. Tripathi reports that while police permission for the large-scale entry into Mumbai has not been granted, the Nashik Range IG is coordinating with protesters as the government attempts to find a resolution to the escalating situation.
This edition of India First, anchored by Gaurav Sawant, examines Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s blistering attack on the Congress party in Kerala as he sounded the BJP's poll bugle for the upcoming assembly election.
An unidentified speaker has launched a scathing attack on the state Governor, accusing the office of acting as a 'puppet in the hands of the union government'. The speaker alleged that the Governor violated Sections 176 and 163 of the Constitution by refusing to read the speech prepared by the cabinet, opting instead to read only a single paragraph. 'The governor didn't read the speech given by the cabinet and he wanted to read his own speech,' the speaker stated, labeling the move as unethical and unconstitutional. The address also focused on the dilution of the MGNREGA scheme, referred to as 'Manreka', noting that the right to work and local panchayat powers have been abolished under new central tenets. The speaker confirmed that party MLAs and MLCs will launch state-wide protests until the 'anti-farmer' policies are repealed and the original employment guarantees are reinstated, asserting that the opposition is intentionally defending these changes due to a lack of freedom.
In an exclusive interview with India Today's Akshita Anandagopal in Salem, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami criticised the DMK government's Pongal gift distribution, alleging it is a move calculated for the upcoming elections.
This edition of Super 6, focusses on the Pongal festival, which has become a central stage for political messaging and voter outreach ahead of the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
On this Special Report, Akshita Nandagopal explores the political friction surrounding Pongal festivities in Tamil Nadu. The bulletin highlights Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s participation in celebrations at Union Minister L. Murugan’s residence, where he noted that 'Pongal has become a global festival.' Conversely, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s description of Pongal as a 'secular festival beyond caste and religion' has sparked a heated debate with the BJP and AIADMK. The programme features a panel discussion with representatives from the DMK, BJP, and AIADMK, alongside political analysts, debating whether the harvest festival should be viewed through a religious or cultural lens. Additionally, the report includes a ground segment from Trichy on the significance of the Cauvery river and the Jallikattu tradition, while also touching upon the leadership dynamics within the Karnataka Congress.
In this ground report, India Today correspondent Pramod Madhav kicks off the 'Election Basha' series from Trichy, Tamil Nadu. Exploring the historic farming belt during the Pongal festival, Madhav highlights the critical role of the Cauvery river as the region's backbone. Local farmers express significant distress over stagnant crop prices, with one stating, 'Our need in the election is please give the profitable price for us,' noting that while teacher salaries have surged since 1970, sugarcane returns remain disproportionately low. The report also delves into the cultural significance of Jallikattu, described as a traditional sport essential to the soil's identity. Beyond agriculture, residents emphasize the urgent need for better educational infrastructure, pointing out that children currently travel up to 40 kilometres to attend school. The segment captures the intersection of ancient tradition, modernization, and the pressing economic demands of the delta farmers as the state prepares for upcoming elections.
In this breaking news report, India Today Senior Editor Mausami Singh details the escalating political confrontation between the BJP and Congress over the new VBG Ramji Bill, which replaces MGNREGA. Union Minister for Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan has strongly defended the legislation, dismissing Congress's protests as 'merely political'. The report highlights Rahul Gandhi's allegation that the 'entire bill... was brought at the behest of the PMO' without the minister's prior knowledge. Mausami Singh notes that the Congress plans a mass mobilization campaign, while Chouhan asserts the opposition is misleading the poor.
An India Today Special Report reveals ongoing violations of GRAP-4 anti-pollution measures in Delhi, where an investigation uncovered illegal construction activities continuing at night in Sarojini Nagar and Netaji Nagar. This occurs as a tumultuous Winter Session of Parliament is dominated by protests over the introduction of the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025. The bill, introduced by Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to replace the MGNREGA scheme, has been met with fierce opposition from parties like Congress and TMC, who accuse the government of disrespecting Mahatma Gandhi's legacy. While Delhi's Environment Minister pledges action against polluters, critics like Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda and TMC MP Sushmita Dev decry the lack of parliamentary debate on the capital's 'environmental emergency'.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu blamed IndiGo management for the crisis, which resulted in as many as 1,600 flight cancellations in a single day.
In this ground report from Rajasthan, farmers in Hanumangarh district have intensified their protest against the under-construction Dune Ethanol Pvt. Ltd. factory. The situation in Rathi Kheda village turned violent on Wednesday as protesters breached the premises and set vehicles on fire, leading to a police lathi charge. Congress MLA Abhimanyu Poonia was reported injured in the clashes. A local protester alleges severe police brutality, claiming, 'Our women have been raped. Our men have been raped.' The administration has suspended internet services and maintains that the factory follows all environmental norms. The report highlights the escalating tension between the administration and villagers fighting for environmental rights.
Violent clashes erupted in Rajasthan's Hanumangarh district on Wednesday as farmers protested against the construction of an ethanol plant. The agitation turned destructive with a mob torching at least 14 vehicles, including a JCB machine, and clashing with police personnel. Congress MLA Abhimanyu Poonia, who joined the protest supporting the farmers' concerns about soil contamination, was injured in the melee. Police resorted to lathi-charge and tear gas to disperse the crowd. The protesters allege the factory will damage local agriculture.
On the fifth anniversary of the Kisan Andolan, farmer union leader Ravneet Singh Brar stated that farmers have gathered in Chandigarh to awaken a government that is in a 'deep sleep'. Speaking to India Today, Brar, representing the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, said that written assurances given to farmers remain unfulfilled. Key pending demands include a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) based on the C2+50 formula, addressing the rising input costs for farmers, and resolving issues related to the Electricity Amendment Bill 2025. The protest, involving 32 farmer unions from Punjab, aims to submit a memorandum to the state's Governor and Chief Minister. Brar emphasized that the gathering is an 'awakening call' to the government to listen to farmers and labourers and improve their livelihood.
This special report focuses on a major political controversy in Maharashtra involving Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's son, Parth Pawar, over an alleged land scam. Also in the news, Union Home Minister Amit Shah makes a confident prediction about the Bihar elections, dismissing the opposition's allegations. In an exclusive conversation, Amit Shah stated, 'We will form the government with more than 160 seats and a two-thirds majority'. The programme also covers several other major stories, including a violent farmers' protest in Karnataka over sugarcane prices, a significant technical glitch at Delhi's airport causing widespread flight delays, and new Supreme Court directives on the country's stray dog crisis.
In an exclusive conversation with India Today, Union Home Minister Amit Shah reiterated that the NDA will sweep Bihar assembly election with over 160 seats.
This special report focuses on the farmers' protest in Belagavi, Karnataka, which turned violent as agitators demanding higher sugarcane prices clashed with police on the Bengaluru-Pune national highway. The state farmers are saying, 'look at Maharashtra. They pay 3,800 per tonne per sugarcane, and now here in Karnataka, we are getting 3,200.' The main demand from the farmers is a price of ₹3,500 per tonne for their crop. While Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is meeting with stakeholders, the state government maintains that the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) is determined by the central government. CM Siddaramaiah has sought an appointment with the Prime Minister to resolve the deadlock, even as farmer organisations have distanced themselves from the stone-pelting, blaming miscreants for the violence. The situation is reportedly under control, but tensions remain high across the region.
This special report covers the escalating protest by sugarcane farmers in Belagavi, Karnataka, which saw incidents of stone pelting as cultivators blocked the Bengaluru-Pune National Highway. The Chief Minister of Karnataka has blamed the central government for the crisis and has written to the Prime Minister seeking an urgent meeting. In a meeting with sugar factory owners, the Chief Minister reportedly questioned their claims of losses, asking, 'If running a sugar factory is so difficult, how come one owner ends up with two or three factories?'. Farmers are demanding a Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of ₹3,500 per tonne, citing that the current rates are not sustainable and that neighbouring states offer better prices. The protest has drawn widespread support and has led to a deadlock, with farmers refusing to back down until their demands are met by the state government and sugar mills.
This special report focuses on the escalating sugarcane farmers' crisis in Karnataka, with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah seeking urgent intervention from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. CM Siddaramaiah stated, 'I therefore request for a prompt meeting with you so that we may address these issues in concert for the sake of our sugarcane farming community, our rural economy, and the integrity of the sugarcane value-chain in Karnataka and the nation.' The protests, which began in Belagavi over demands for a higher price of ₹3,500 per tonne, have now spread across several northern districts. While the state government has held meetings with farmers and factory owners, the Chief Minister has called a meeting of all Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs from the state to discuss the issue, which he attributes to the Centre's policies on pricing and exports.
This special report from Bihar delves into the severe crisis faced by tobacco farmers in the Samastipur and Vaishali districts, who are grappling with financial ruin due to high inflation and Goods and Services Tax (GST). The farmers describe how their once-profitable cash crop is now pushing them into debt, with one stating, 'Earlier, we used to save Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 60,000 per bigha... It has been two years now that people are going into the minus zone.' [Transcript] While they express support for Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's development initiatives like improved electricity and roads, they are critical of divisive rhetoric from his deputy, Samrat Chaudhary. [Transcript] The report highlights that these farmers receive no government compensation for crop losses and their primary demand is the complete removal of GST from tobacco leaves to save their livelihoods.
