BUSINESS
Government dilutes NPS as political compulsions gain the upper hand
The UPS protects government employees from the vagaries of market forces, providing a solid floor to their post-retirement income
BUSINESS
Small depreciation in the rupee is par for the course
The RBI’s focus has been to maintain stability in foreign exchange markets even as the rupee has been allowed to devalue very slowly, helping India’s foreign trade
BUSINESS
Lessons from Karnataka’s misadventure on seeking job reservation
Job reservation can drive away the high skills that have congregated within the state making Bengaluru an IT and startup hub
BUDGET
Budget 2024: Agriculture sector’s problems are well known, the need is for new solutions
Much needs to be done to improve the quantity and quality of output of agriculture. While the Budget can play a key role, the Union minister’s experience in this sector can help too
BUSINESS
Narrowing the gender gap can spur economic growth higher
India’s gender parity leaves a lot to be desired, at 129 among 146 in an index compiled by the WEF. A better showing can lead to better economic prosperity for women and the country
BUSINESS
What should be the new government’s priorities on the jobs front?
Steps to create formal sector employment, support domestic manufacturing and services and provide interim work opportunities are essential to keep India’s workforce in good humour
BUSINESS
Making visas for Indian IT workers expensive isn’t in interest of the US
Immigrants and native workers do not compete for the same jobs but rather complement each other, according to the American Immigration Council
TRENDS
Public healthcare should become pacesetter for private sector
The Indian healthcare scene is marked by the preference of the public to run to private sector health centres despite these being expensive. Meanwhile, affordable public healthcare is in a shambles
BUSINESS
MGNREGA must be used as a rural growth enabler, not a mere jobs generator
The flagship employment guarantee scheme MGNREGA has the potential to boost rural economic growth beyond just being the jobs generator for unskilled workers
BUSINESS
Long-term reforms a must to set right onion economy
A long term solution to manage onion prices is to reform the APMC and fix the farmer-to-consumer channel
BUSINESS
Efficient small finance banks need to become big
As much as small finance banks may be eager to acquire a universal banking licence, they must be wary of the varied terrain that lies ahead
BUSINESS
Indian IT learns to do more with less
The fall in headcount and buoyant financials indicate that the industry leaders are moving on to higher value addition with lower level coding and systems maintenance work becoming increasingly automated
POLITICS
BJP manifesto focuses on manufacturing to take the economy forward
The manifesto explains the underlying ideology behind the emphasis on manufacturing. It is based on understanding the importance of “self-reliance and resilience in global value chains”. The crowning goal will be to make Bharat “a global manufacturing hub”
POLITICS
Congress manifesto doesn’t promise the moon
The Congress manifesto promises to overhaul GST system, among other things that seek to undo NDA government issues. But it also doesn't go overboard on populism
BUSINESS
How Indian pharma can score high on the innovation scale
India's rise as an economic superpower will be incomplete if it does not have a thriving healthcare industry, founded on innovation and not merely focused on making generic products
BUSINESS
Rupee value, forex reserves playing well to a longer-term scenario
For India the greatest gain will come from having a stable currency which will move the way it is expected to, the stability coming from fronting a strong economy
LOK-SABHA-ELECTION
Simultaneous polls are enroute, but they may not be an unalloyed good thing
The benefits of holding simultaneous elections are many but the main argument against is also a strong one
WORLD
Biden will be good for global economy but Americans seem to prefer Trump
The US presidential elections may be the biggest geopolitical risk facing the global economy
BUSINESS
The finance commission should focus on increasing the size of the cake rather than its distribution
In 2011-12 the divisible pool made up 88 per cent of the union government’s tax revenue, but it fell to 77 per cent of the budget for 2024-25
BUSINESS
Development on faster track? Clearer green rules a must
The economy needs development projects to keep the growth momentum going, but this should not come at the cost of the environment
BUSINESS
Don’t tax the gig economy before it becomes robust
Governments must strive to enable new businesses to grow so that there is economic growth resulting in a growing tax base. The cardinal rule is to not start taxing an emerging sector before it has found its feet
BUSINESS
Making India aatmanirbhar in oilseeds will not be an easy task
The government needs to think of innovative supply-side solutions, but perhaps also encourage people to consume less edible oil from the health standpoint
TRENDS
For a healthy Indian economy, reforms in public healthcare delivery are a must
The interim budget has enhanced coverage of Ayushman Bharat insurance, promised more allocation to public healthcare. But the resource crunch could still persist and many more policy changes are needed to make India healthy
BUSINESS
Political strategy must steer rooftop solar power to the masses
The attitude of left politicians and trade unions is along expected lines, but many discoms are also not in a hurry to go in for the change as they fear that adopting the system of prepaid smart metering will eventually result in a revenue loss for them
