Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred the prestigious Agricola medal by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) last week. The medal was awarded for demonstrating “exceptional commitment to eradicating hunger, reducing poverty, and ensuring global food security and nutrition”. The late Manmohan Singh was similarly awarded in 2008 for spurring agricultural development and reducing hunger and poverty in India. A little bird wonders about the timing of the award. Is it in preparation of a tough time ahead for the agriculture sector, with wheat, rice and corn production projected to fall? Is the FAO looking to India to tide any hunger or food security crisis in the least developed countries due to the ongoing Iran war and the evolving El Nino weather? It’s something only the FAO can answer.
Ministers turn jittery
The recent Council of Ministers meeting seems to have left quite a few ministers jittery. During a performance review presentation by the Cabinet Secretary in the presence of Narendra Modi, one slide apparently drew unusual attention. It was about ranking of ministers based on the number of files pending with them for over a month. The bureaucratic equivalent of “naming and shaming”, as some described it, has since triggered a flurry of activity across ministries.
One minister, who figured near the top of the list with more than 35 files pending beyond 30 days, some for over 50 days, reportedly returned red-faced and immediately summoned senior officials for a review meeting. Officers were told to ensure all background notes and inputs are placed before him quickly so decisions can be expedited. The sudden burst of urgency, however, amused some insiders. “If every file needs a presentation before disposal, then the delay is intentional, not natural,” quipped one official.
‘Son Rise’ in AP?
Will there be a “son’s rise” in Andhra Pradesh politics? The buzz is growing ahead of the Telugu Desam Party’s (TDP) Maha Nadu later this month. Nara Lokesh, son of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, has steadily emerged as a key face of the NDA government in the State — handling IT and HRD while also spearheading investment outreach, including the marquee Google data centre project in Visakhapatnam.
Naidu recently added to the speculation by saying Lokesh deserved “bigger responsibilities”. With Lokesh’s political stock rising, Andhra Pradesh political circles are now asking: Is Naidu preparing for a larger national role in the NDA while gradually handing over the State’s reins to his son? This is now a million-dollar question.
Published on May 24, 2026