BUSINESS
Elevated demand for work, missed rural infra targets: Centre may hike allocation for rural development
A parliamentary standing committee has flagged several overarching issues plaguing implementation of welfare schemes under the department of rural development at a time when income disparity between the haves and have-nots has widened.
TRENDS
Budget 2022: Activists seek highest ever allocation for MNREGS at Rs 1.5 lakh crore to tackle rural distress
As per mandate, MNREGS is to provide at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work. The growth in demand for works under MNREGS for the second year in a row and ahead of the demand seen in the pre-pandemic year of 2019-20 underlines significant rural distress.
BUSINESS
Multiple agencies, myriad laws, copious documentation: Why a National Logistics Policy is critical to boost exports
Since 2019, the government has been discussing a national policy that would ease logistics bottlenecks through a coordinated response. But the policy has not been announced until now. A parliamentary panel has now questioned the ministry over the inordinate delay and sought an action-taken report
BUSINESS
Explained: Why air cargo handling rates must be standardised across India
A Parliamentary Standing Committee has recommended a standard rate for processing and handling of cargo at airports across the country to improve the competitiveness of India’s exports and the cost of air cargo logistics.
ECONOMY
Indian Railways maps the way to bridge widening gap in capex and revenues
In the last five years, the annual capex has nearly doubled to Rs 2.15 lakh crore in 2021-22 budget estimates
POLITICS
House panel seeks focus on ‘outcomes’ as POSHAN ‘outlays’ face COVID axe
Budgetary allocations for the government’s flagship programme to tackle malnutrition among women and children suffered a drastic cut in the past two years as the pandemic raged, prompting a parliamentary panel to advise the government to switch its focus from “outlays to outcomes.”
BUSINESS
Q2 GDP expands on pent-up demand; Omicron, services sector key to growth in coming quarters
As India’s GDP grows 8.4% in Q2FY22, the new COVID variant emerges as a threat. Analysts say RBI may start monetary tightening soon and consumption will likely remain subdued
TRENDS
Condition of women, girl child improving in India but many development indices remain below par
The sex ratio at birth has improved over the five-year period from NFHS-4, proving that a larger number of girl children are being born. So, more daughters are being saved. But literacy rates among women remain a concern since nearly every third woman in villages was still illiterate in 2019-21.
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
