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
BUSINESS
A robust bus transport system is essential for cities to thrive
While metro lines grab headlines you also need an efficient bus transport system to complement the metro/rail system and provide better access
BUSINESS
Needed: Granular, high frequency data to fight multi-dimensional poverty
One problem with the latest estimate, admitted by Niti Aayog itself, is the impact of the COVID epidemic and its effect on data collection
BUSINESS
Amid slowdown and headcount cuts, IT firm investors look to AI with hope
It will take a long time to get a greenhorn who can only write code to train and work on artificial intelligence solutions. Hence the break in campus recruitment
INDIA
Time for a second green revolution, this time a sustainable one
Current policy exercises seek to lay down a roadmap for a switch to sustainable farming. This can be done by moving to high value crops like millets, which allow for the minimum use of pesticides and greater use of organic inputs
BUSINESS
Consumer premiumisation is sweeping small town India
Patronising of premium brands has been most prevalent among millennials and Gen-Z. Women too have emerged as big customers. Premiumisation is proceeding in regions which have higher income levels like Punjab, Haryana (Gurugram), Chandigarh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan
BUSINESS
Designed to help, Aadhaar is a nightmare for the poor
The requirement to mandatorily link Aadhaar to every state sponsored activity has led to exclusion of a large number of genuine beneficiaries
BUSINESS
Needed, an industrial policy that spurs manufacturing and jobs too
While the policy must plug gaps such as land, infrastructure and skills, it must also focus on those industries that create jobs at scale
BUSINESS
High food inflation can upset the applecart
The RBI MPC admitted that inflation remains highly vulnerable to food price hikes. Food inflation in November was as high as 8.7 percent which is close to the higher end of the tolerance range of 6 percent
BUSINESS
On the rupee, RBI follows a principle, but is not dogmatic
Within the space of under two years, the RBI has become pretty active in the market, vindicating the IMF’s stance that the rupee is not freely floating any more
BUSINESS
Indian IT gets US lifeline, turns investor favourite
The narrative of a soft landing and a peak in US interest rates has raised hopes of IT companies and their investors, and leading to revised hiring plans
BUSINESS
Chouhan did a great job in Madhya Pradesh, but don’t follow his formula in toto
Should Indian agriculture be boosted through greater use of ground water when not only is the country overall water deficient, but its ground water resources are also getting depleted by extraction exceeding recharge?
BUSINESS
India’s main engines of economic growth need climate protection
Urban India to contribute to 75 percent of GDP by 2030. Future proofing cities from climate events such as cyclone Michaung is imperative
BUSINESS
Tech to aid farmers in using less to deliver more
There is a need to take forward the use of four factors of technology – genetics, crop nutrition, crop protection and agronomic intervention
BUSINESS
The new charter that the Railways must have
The railway finances are not in a great shape as seen in the operating ratio. More than that, it needs to instil back a sense of autonomy within the organisation
BUSINESS
Is PLI the best device to boost manufacturing?
Production linked incentive schemes entail micromanagement by the government which could be counterproductive for investments
ASSEMBLY-ELECTIONS
Pre-election freebies can wreak systemic damage
The strain on the fiscal front is not worth the purported benefits that may accrue to political parties
BUSINESS
Coal still has a good life ahead
Despite all the talk about green energy, India has around 12 gw of planned new capacity of thermal power plants
INDIA
The case for export of Indian workers to Taiwan and Israel
As India’s workforce increases and the working age population of the developed world comes down, export of Indian labour will be a win-win situation for both India and the host nations
BUSINESS
How to reduce economic inequality? India can learn from the Nordics
We need to follow the example of countries that are both economically successful and have low levels of inequality
BUSINESS
High demand under rural jobs scheme bodes ill for national well being
The El Nino effect appears to have hurt agricultural output and therefore demand for farm labour
