INDIA
COVID-19 | Sitharaman must press the reset button and present Budget 2020 2.0
Almost every component in the annual accounting exercise, and every element of assumption and projection now requires a second look
BUSINESS
Exclusive | COVID-19: NPPA seeks urgent supply details on gloves, PPEs, kits, and ventilators as hoarding fears rise
The drug regulator has also sought details of stock in hand of these items at the retail level –pharmacies, drug and chemist stores, amid fears of hoarding by retailers, producers and even wealthy individuals.
BUSINESS
Coronavirus pandemic| Under pressure, Gilead says will try to make remdesivir affordable
The American firm is conducting Phase III clinical trials for remdesivir, a potential drug for COVID-19
INDIA
Policy | Zero is not too far from 4.4; Repo at record low, inching towards CRR
A few more rounds of cuts, India may well be pushing close towards a theoretical possibility of zero percent policy rate regime
BUSINESS
COVID-19 | FM’s Rs 1.7 lakh crore package is a safeguard, the stimulus is on the way
The government has chosen to adopt a graded action plan, instead of a big bang one-off push to keep the lights on
INDIA
COVID-19 pandemic | Now is the right time for a ‘Helicopter Drop’ of money in India
It is inevitable that confining millions to their homes will have a direct bearing on the economy through sales and production losses. Economic growth is also a function of the speed at which transactions take place, described as the 'velocity of money’.
ECONOMY
Budget 2020 | In a difficult year, Sitharaman shows spunk for fiscal innovation, but targets ambitious
A lot depends on one-off revenues such as settling chronic tax disputes, LIC disinvestment and arrears of telcos
BUSINESS
Economic Survey 2020 | FY21 GDP seen at 6-6.5%; green shoots in sight but time to abandon biz-as-usual approach
It argued in favour of counter-cyclical fiscal measures to arrest the current slide, which may be seen as a nudge to the government to lower taxes to boost demand
BUSINESS
Budget 2020: Moneycontrol manifesto for Modinomics 2.0
There are heightened expectations that the budget will give a wide ranging policy impetus to turnaround the economy that is nursing multiple pain points.
ECONOMY
Policy | GDP at 4.5 per cent, time for FM to go for broke
India cannot possibly be in a situation where the highest effective individual tax rate at 43 per cent is nearly double the highest corporate income tax rate. This peculiar fiscal architecture needs immediate fixing.
BUSINESS
India jumps to 63rd position in World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business rankings
The country’s ranking has improved 79 notches in the last six years as the World Bank recognised India as one of the top 10 improvers for the third successive time; ranking could rise more next year after factoring in corporate income tax changes
BUSINESS
The road to `zero defect, zero effect’ is circular
India’s time for a `circular economy’ has come. This has to be brought about through strict enforcement, strong people’s participation and proactive corporate involvement.
ECONOMY
Macro Matters | Slowdown is official. Economy’s revival now depends on govt heavy lifting
GDP growth slows to 5 percent in April-June 2019. Delayed onset of monsoon in June and muted construction activity because of Lok Sabha elections also weighed
BUSINESS
Budget 2019 seeks to shift terms of trade in favour of agriculture
The actualisation of healthy corporate income tax assumptions will critically depend on how rapidly the broader economy turns around, and how quickly consumption spending picks up
BUSINESS
Special Podcast | Budget 2019 – Here’s how the UPA and NDA managed finances
In this particular podcast, we will be talking about the difference in the Budgets as presented by the NDA government versus the ones by the UPA government.
BUSINESS
India growth story: How governments shaped the economy since 1951
The BJP swept the 2014 Lok Sabha elections with the promise of reviving India's economy. Five years later, as the country goes to polls again, here’s a brief history of the Indian economy.
ECONOMY
Opinion | Congress’s promise on revenue neutral GST for petrol could amount to nothing for consumers
A revenue neutral GST for petrol and diesel will be around 40-45 percent, which will not reduce pump prices. Will states agree to a lower GST rate on petrol and diesel, without being assured of other avenues to offset VAT loss on fuels?
CURRENT-AFFAIRS-TRENDS
Comment | RBI decisions “ultra vires”? Kotak Mahindra spares no punches
The gloves are off in the ongoing dispute over promoter shareholding between KMB and RBI in the Bombay High Court.
BUSINESS
Opinion| It’s time to review ownership rules to make banking attractive again
More than thirty months after on tap licensing guidelines were issued not a single organisation has come forward to set up banks in India
ECONOMY
Opinion | GDP data shows pain points in farms; economy in slowdown mode
High inflation hurts people’s buying power, while low levels can indicate poor demand and weak economic activity. Currently, it is the latter that seems to be playing out in the rural economy.
ECONOMY
E-commerce policy may allow online retail giants to store Indian customers’ data overseas, but with riders
The government has invited comments from the public on the policy till March 9.
ECONOMY
A year after SC ban, no solution in sight for Goa mining impasse
With the Parliament’s last session before the Lok Sabha elections getting over, the only legislative option left is through a central Ordinance
INDIA
Opinion | Budget 2019 sets sight on ambitious fiscal targets
The finance minister has made a compelling case for direct income transfers. Hopefully this will overhaul India’s notoriously leaky subsidy regime.
BUSINESS
Piyush Goyal sounds poll bugle: Direct cash to farmers, pension for unorganised workers, tax break for middle class
"Our aim is to reduce the tax burden on the middle class," Goyal said in his speech.
