INDIA
NFHS5 is a mixed bag of pluses and minuses for India under the NDA government
India slipped on key malnutrition parameters, including the prevalence of anaemia among women and children, in four out of five years of the NDA’s first term in government. On some indicators, including the incidence of stunting and wasting, the performance improved
TRENDS
India’s population has started to decrease, shows survey
According to National Family Health Survey–5 data, India’s total fertility rate in 2019-21 was 2 compared with 2.2 five years ago in the previous survey. The total fertility rate graph has been steadily declining, borne out by the fact that in 1998-99, it was 3.2.
BUSINESS
RP/CoC not being held accountable for destruction of value under IBC: Educomp promoter
At a time when edtech is booming, Educomp Solutions has seen its value erode sharply due to poor decisions by the CoC, and yet no action has been taken against this mismanagement by the IBBI or RBI, says promoter Shantanu Prakash.
BUSINESS
Buyers face losses as delay in resolution of bankrupt companies under IBC leads to value erosion
Nearly every third company admitted under the Code since its inception in 2016 has faced liquidation.
BUSINESS
Hotel Centaur: Still waiting to say athithi devo bhava
Does the government need to be in the hospitality business, especially now that it is finally on the path to exiting the airline business through the Air India disinvestment? Moneycontrol visited Delhi’s forgotten Centaur hotel to look for some answers.
BUSINESS
Why SC making approved resolution plans binding under IBC is good news for lenders
A submitted resolution plan is binding and irrevocable between the CoC and the successful resolution applicant, the court said on Monday, cheering CoCs and other stakeholders in the resolution process that tends to be a long-drawn-out process.
BUSINESS
News Analysis | How the Auto PLI scheme will nudge the industry towards green vehicles
The Centre will be counting on the PLI scheme to prod OEMs currently making Internal Combustion Engine vehicles expand into technology that is being imported, so that import substitution gets a leg up
BUSINESS
Corporate insolvency filings reduce in Q1FY22, after lifting of moratorium
Moratorium on new insolvency proceedings was imposed in June 2020. Latest Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India data shows a shift from more liquidations to successful resolutions. DHFL, Videocon and Jet among three high-profile cases to be resolved this quarter.
BUSINESS
Bankruptcy regulator seeks to fix flaws in liquidation process
Two proposals – stating the reasons for rejecting the highest bid for a stressed company and the scrapping of commission agents in the sale of assets – may not find favour with resolution professionals
BUSINESS
Bankruptcy Board issues discussion paper on regulatory oversight for creditors
The move comes after a parliamentary standing committee sought a professional code of conduct for the committee of creditors, which currently enjoys near-complete autonomy in making decisions during the resolution process
BUSINESS
Success of railway asset monetisation will depend on concession agreements: Experts
While the process of allowing private companies to operate trains and redevelop railway stations has started, the Indian Railways may make quicker progress in monetising freight terminals and development of railway colonies
BUSINESS
Lone private bidder for operating trains has reservations but is committed
Megha Engineering said it wants to partner with the government in this endeavour because private investment in the Indian Railways is critical for the nation’s development
BUSINESS
Two companies bid to operate private trains; IRCTC may win three clusters
The absence of a regulator, payment of haulage charges in addition to sharing revenue, and curbs on route flexibility are among the likely reasons that kept bidders away from the Indian Railways’ ambitious plan
INDIA
Gandhinagar’s revamped railway station heralds new era for passengers
The swanky, ‘future-ready’ Gandhinagar station is the first of 123 stations that are being revamped, mainly in partnership with private companies, at an investment of more than Rs 50,000 crore
BUSINESS
Plan for private firms to operate trains runs late on deferred bid deadlines
Prospective bidders are also concerned over matters such as the absence of a regulator, flexibility in choosing routes and caps on fare increases.
BUSINESS
Fintechs lend a hand in COVID fight, take on vaccine hesitancy in villages
Using their wide network and technology, finetch firms are helping villagers register on CoWin. Their banking correspondents are spreading awareness and also encouraging people to get vaccinated against coronavirus
INDIA
Rural COVID-19 warriors up in arms; fixed wage less than Rs 100 a day
An army of overworked and underpaid women is the backbone of the fight against the pandemic in rural areas. These unsung heroes are not given protective gear and paid a pittance
INDIA
Big lesson from Covid is that India must abandon the US healthcare model: Jean Dreze
Jean Dreze, the Belgian-born hunger economics expert, on the devastation of Covid, what plagues MNREGA, central government’s relief measures, stimulus packages, vaccination drive and more.
INDIA
Free goodies for the well-off in southern states amid calls for universal PDS
Economists say that welfare schemes, particularly in the time of the pandemic, should be expanded so that needy people can get the benefit even if they are unable to access the central schemes
INDIA
COVID-19 impact – delayed payments, less work pushes up MNREGA needs; raise total spends up to Rs 1.3 lakh crore, say activists
As the infection spreads to India's interior, livelihood loss is a double-edged sword: migrant workers losing jobs in cities are returning to their homes and need alternate sources of earning; campaigners demand tripling wages
BUSINESS
Budget 2021: Healthcare may finally get its due thanks to COVID-19
India has long been languishing at the bottom of the health-spending pecking order. The pandemic might significantly change the scene.
BUSINESS
Budget 2021: MNREGA is vital but needs more govt attention
Budget 2021: The government was forced to not just continue with MNREGA, but also increase the budgetary allocation under it in the pandemic year. The scheme is now counting on the upcoming budget for more money.
BUSINESS
Lockdown review: Parliamentary panel calls for overhaul of laws to safeguard rights of vulnerable sections
Home Affairs panel says the sudden lockdown resulted in unprecedented hardships for the vulnerable sections of the population, noting that migrant labourers, factory workers, daily wage earners were the worst affected.”
BUSINESS
India’s POSHAN efforts fall short in fight against malnutrition
The National Family Health Survey-5 report shows that in the 22 states and UTs covered under phase I, a majority reported an increase in malnutrition parameters such as stunting and wasting of children, anaemia in children and in women between 15-49 years of age.
