ECONOMY
Brave effort to bring DFI model back from the dead
For the government's courage to pay off, lessons need to be learnt from the failure of earlier DFIs
POLITICS
West Bengal polls: Trinamool stressed, but BJP not yet home
The BJP's argument is that "double engine rule", being in power at both the Centre and the state, will lead to investments in the state
BUSINESS
Semiconductors: The chips are down and India is vulnerable
Semiconductors are the new oil and India is once again in the unenviable position of importing its needs
BUSINESS
Free India-Bangladesh cross border trade will be a boon for both
Strapline: The forthcoming Modi-Hasina meeting should iron out the differences in Indo-Bangladesh trade
BUSINESS
Shift petrol and diesel to GST
The Reserve Bank of India has called for a reduction in taxes on fuel
POLITICS
Educational loss from the pandemic will have a multiplier effect
Disadvantaged children have been affected more and their falling behind could aggravate existing inequality
BUSINESS
Being part of global supply chains and atmanirbhar go hand in hand
To remain globally competitive you should always procure stuff from wherever it is most competitively available
POLITICS
BJP should make Bengal’s industrial decline the focus of its state election campaign
The BJP’s capitalist ideology could be the catalyst for the industrial revival of West Bengal
BUSINESS
Government must rope in private sector for COVID vaccination
India can become a role model in how to vaccinate people with speed and safety
BUSINESS
West Bengal elections | Trinamool falls behind in news headlines race
In the entire pre-election public discourse, there is no mention of who can provide the better administration which will be able to take forward economic development by improving the state’s poor work culture
POLITICS
The dilemma that Twitter and social media pose for democracies
Freedom of expression is the life blood of democracies, but hate speech and incitement to violence need to be firmly disallowed
POLITICS
Why police reforms never took off
A 2019 report by Common Cause found that a third of policemen had experienced political pressure while investigating a crime and two thirds felt that the cost of incurring the wrath of the political masters was transfer
POLITICS
India cries out for judicial reforms
Commercial disputes often take an inordinately long time to get settled. In particular, India fares extremely poorly in contract enforcement
BUSINESS
Budget 2021 opts for investment, not consumption, boost
Food subsidy is projected to go down sharply from the current levels
BUSINESS
To aid economic recovery and tax mop-up, don’t raise levies on fuels
During 2014-15 to 2019-20, central earnings through excise duties and cess on fuel have nearly doubled, going up by 94 per cent, and the states’ earnings on the same account has gone up by 38 per cent
BUSINESS
To get rid of RRBs, hand them over to SFBs
Regional rural banks perform an essential service, but are loss making and a drain on the exchequer
POLITICS
BJP and Mamata raise sky high the stakes in West Bengal
The admission of defectors in senior positions has upset BJP leaders who have built up the party
BUSINESS
Bad bank idea, like a bad penny, keeps cropping up
It is important to remember that a bad bank is an idea that is to be used only to tide over a problem confronted in an exceptional period, as global experience has shown
BUSINESS
Supreme Court wades into farmers agitation, draws flak from both sides
In the eyes of many, the initial reaction of farmers not to go before the committee will make them appear intransigent
BUSINESS
Assam microfinance crisis revalidates first principles
Microfinance institutions serve as a key instrument in removing income poverty and laying low cost foundations for improving human development indicators
BUSINESS
In developing vaccines, let science win over flag waving
India seems to be going down the path of Russia and China, in the lack of transparency about vaccine approval
BUSINESS
Farmers’ agitation cloud over agriculture which began the year well
The farmers fail to understand that, at the end of the day, farming will become more efficient, their incomes will rise, consumer prices will become more predictable and farm trade will greatly benefit
BUSINESS
British legacy in decline in former second city of the empire
The outgoing managing committee of the haloed Calcutta Club parked nearly two crores of the provident fund monies in IL&FS, DHFL and Yes Bank
BUSINESS
An adverse healthcare scene got worse during 2020
India’s life expectancy and infant mortality rate is worse than that for China, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh
