Indian agriculture is at a very intriguing turning point. Despite the complexity and diversity, agriculture has been a wonderful success. Agriculture export markets are robust, production is still increasing, and local demand has blossomed into a massive industry. Modernization in agriculture is a continuous process that aims to strike a balance between increased productivity and sustainability. It is essential to address food security concerns, reduce the environmental impact of farming, and improve the livelihoods of farmers worldwide. The modernization process should be mindful of local contexts and challenges to ensure that it benefits both producers and consumers while safeguarding the environment.

Three International Days (World Milk Day, World Environmental Day and World Food Safety) in the fields of agriculture and allied sciences were observed in June. "Solutions to Plastic Pollution" theme of World Environmental Day is in line with one of the seven pillars of Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment), "Saying No to Single-use Plastics" and it also links to a number of LiFE actions. In light of the recent events, the current issue includes articles in general on millets as well as information on pre-breeding and association mapping in particular for the Crop Improvement group.