ECONOMY
Stimulus package — Long on vision, short on mission
Focus on reforms and credit support betray the government’s inability to come out with quick fiscal steps to salvage the Covid-ravaged economy
BUSINESS
Discom loan — It’s a relief, not a reform
Power utilities need long-term concrete measures to become “Aatmanirbhar”
ECONOMY
Focus on factor market reforms
Easier land and labour rules, better infrastructure facilities are imperative for an investment-led growth wave in the country
ECONOMY
Centre must help states to save the economy
If the states are forced to raise levies and cut development expenditure, demand will weaken further
ECONOMY
States’ role key to shift global value chains from China to India
Centre has to take siblings on board and remove irritants to unleash the animal spirit of investors
POLITICS
Bengal needs to break Covid curse fast
With Assembly elections next year, Mamata must bring the state out of crisis and confusion quickly to bolster political image
BUSINESS
Facebook-Jio deal | A deal that can change the e-commerce space
The Jio-Facebook alliance should trigger healthy rivalry and transform digital economy, benefitting all stakeholders
POLITICS
Kerala model — hard to replicate but possible to emulate
Other states should learn from their southern peer to better prepare themselves for handling pandemics in the future
POLICY
Tweak in electricity act — timing a shocker
Amid lockdown, power ministry needs to allow more time for consultation on the proposed amendments to power legislation
ECONOMY
Rural India needs more than just easing of Covid-19 curbs
Ground rules have to be set and monitored carefully to ensure that April 20 guidelines do not simply remain on paper
ECONOMY
Phased rollback of lockdown effective only once testing is scaled up
Swift targeted tests must to identify hotspots and isolate them so that the wheels of economy can start rolling to save livelihoods along with life
ECONOMY
Digital India sees virtue in virus
Better data network and infrastructure must to sustain the boom in e-commerce and online transactions triggered by Covid-19
ECONOMY
States need more financial muscle to fight Covid-19
Tweaking the FRBM Act to allow higher borrowings and front-loading allocation of central funds are the need of the hour
ECONOMY
Small savings — the unkindest cut of all
Lowering of postal deposit rates should have been done in a gradual manner to soften the adverse impact on fixed-income earners and senior citizens
ECONOMY
Cash is not always the king
Operational hurdles may come in the way of effective implementation of the direct benefit transfer under the relief package for the poor
ECONOMY
COVID-19 | Cashing in on food grain buffer
The government’s proactive move to ensure adequate ration supplies during Covid-19 crisis will help FCI to clear its excess stock
ECONOMY
Quick economic stimulus need of the hour
The NDA government needs to push through prudent policy measures fast
BUSINESS
How potent is the bulk drugs pill?
The package to promote local API units is silent on brownfield capacities and skirts the issue of drug price control
ECONOMY
Crude crash — don’t let the advantage slip away
Government must leverage oil price tumble to tank up storage facilities and lock in futures purchase prices
ECONOMY
GST on mobile needs a review
Rectification of inverted duty structure can become self-defeating if handsets turn costlier, impacting demand and growth
POLICY
Competition Act must play fair
The amendment bill should ensure that CCI’s independence stays intact and there’s no arbitrariness in decision-making
ECONOMY
EPFO must think out of the box
Economic compulsions demand that the PF custodian explores ways to maximise returns on investment
BUSINESS
A way out for highway projects
Land bonds can help NHAI cut asset acquisition delay and hasten approval for road construction
ECONOMY
Connect the dots for infrastructure growth
Blue Dot Network, led by the US, provides an opportunity to get big-ticket projects off the ground
