The IMF believes the farm bills passed by the Indian government have the potential to represent a significant step forward for agricultural reforms, but a social safety net is needed to protect those who might be adversely impacted during the transition to the new system, a spokesperson of the global lender said here.

The IMF believes the farm bills passed by the Indian government have the potential to represent a significant step forward for agricultural reforms, but a social safety net is needed to protect those who might be adversely impacted during the transition to the new system, a spokesperson of the global lender said here.

To overcome this deadlock over the contentious laws, a ninth round of talks has been scheduled between the Centre and farmers' unions on Friday.

Yesterday, the Supreme Court had said it was "extremely disappointed" by the government's handling of the crisis.

Yesterday, the Supreme Court had said it was "extremely disappointed" by the government's handling of the crisis.

A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sharad Arvind Bobde, is hearing a batch of petitions against the constitutional validity of the three farm laws, along with the plea to remove protesting farmers.

Before the eighth round of talks ended in a stalemate, the Supreme Court was told by the Centre that ‘healthy discussions’ were underway.

The impasse over the farm laws continued after the 8th round of talks between the Centre and the unions amid the protests seeking repeal of the legislation.

"I am sure that farmer unions who are agitating will understand the idea behind agriculture laws and they will think about the welfare of farmers and actively arrive at a solution by a positive discussion," Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said

The minister has called an inter-session consultative committee meeting of the ministry of agriculture and farmers' welfare

After the seventh round of talks, farmer leaders said the government said it needs to consult internally and thereafter it would come back to the unions.

In a petition intended to be filed in Punjab and Haryana High Court, the company has sought the urgent intervention of Government authorities to bring a “complete stop” to the acts of vandalism

A day before the crucial seventh round of talks between the Centre and protesting farmer unions, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday and discussed the government strategy to resolve the current crisis at the earliest, sources said.

Once again government intervention has helped farmers in Vidarbha.

However, with the two principal demands of a repeal of three new farm laws and a legal guarantee of minimum support prices yet to be discussed, the light at the end of the tunnel is still faint.