BUSINESS
Charts of the Day: Kharif sowing of pulses likely to face free import headwinds
There is a strong likelihood that the arrival of some portions of the imports and the early harvest in the mandis will coincide.
INDIA
GDP data: Per capita income and consumption expenditure fall to 2018-19 levels
The national accounts data show that the per capita income at current prices, also known as per capita net national income (NNI), for 2020-21 at Rs 1,28,829 was just a shade above the levels estimated for 2018-19.
INDIA
GDP may have expanded 1-2% in Q4FY21, bettering official estimates
Rating agencies and brokerages estimate that the economy may have contracted by 7.5% or thereabouts rather than NSO's estimates of 8% in the January-March 2021.
BUSINESS
Explained | Why edible oil prices are ruling high despite good crop and muted demand
India’s production of oilseeds is too little to provide for the domestic demand and therefore is dependent on imports.
BUSINESS
Explained | Why has the GST compensation gap widened and what does it mean for consumers
The shortfall in GST revenues might rise to Rs 3 lakh crore and the compensation gap to Rs 2 lakh crore in the current fiscal.
INDIA
As COVID spreads to rural areas, infrastructure and healthcare worker shortages pose challenges
Covid containment in rural areas will be difficult as on average the community health centres that serve as hospitals have just about 20 percent of the required specialists including gynaecologists and paediatricians.
BUSINESS
India-China trade grew in pandemic year despite rising barriers
Work from home and online classes drove imports of telecom devices and computer hardware; ores, iron and steel, and organic chemicals were top exports from India
INDIA
Under-investment in public healthcare pushed people to private hospitals. Result: costlier COVID treatment
The under-investment in the healthcare infrastructure has never been more telling than it is now.
TRENDS
Analysis: India has long been short of hospital beds. The pandemic intensified the shortage
When India country was ravaged by an aggressive second wave of the virus in March-April, there were fewer beds for Covid patients, not just in Delhi but also in many other parts of the country, including Mumbai.
ECONOMY
Analysis: How tax revenues increased in a pandemic year
The government’s net indirect tax revenues jumped 12.3% in 2020-21 despite the economic contraction in the first half of the fiscal year.
BUSINESS
What COVID-19 surge in India means for growth prospects
Localised shutdowns will be disruptive for economic activity and can cause short-term shortages not just in a specific state but elsewhere. On the positive side, India is better equipped with experience, medicines, healthcare infrastructure and vaccines to deal with the fresh outbreak than it was a year ago.
BUSINESS
Explained | Why the government can’t wait to cut interest rates on small savings
Hint: What a scheme pays out to subscribers as interest depends much on what the scheme earns.
INDIA
Rate cut U-turn: Election states contribute nearly a fourth of total small savings schemes
West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, where high-stakes electoral battles are underway, together contribute 23.9% in gross collections of national small savings, according to latest available data. Assembly elections give small savers a reprieve from interest rate cut.
INDIA
Industry has a higher input costs problem, WPI data shows
Wholesale price index (WPI) for February 2021 from a year ago—its fastest climb in 27 months. What does this mean for businesses?
BUSINESS
Why India Inc will not see another quarter of bumper profits
Businesses now face headwinds from rising costs of commodities and supply disruptions and in the last quarter, they benefitted from a sharp slump in costs.
BUSINESS
Inflation analysis: High prices pinch households despite lower consumer inflation in January
Seasonal fruit and vegetables are cheaper, but personal care products, appliances, internet, bus fares, medicines and doctor consultation more expensive than a year ago
BUSINESS
GST compensation cess on vehicles and tobacco might stay till 2025-26
Extending the levy of cess till 2025-26 needed to compensate states for GST revenue shortfall, estimates Finance Commission
BUSINESS
Budget Analysis | Higher spending in pandemic year, but only a few critical schemes gained
A lowdown of the social sector programmes that gained and lost in budget allocation.
BUSINESS
Budget 2021: Centre bets on multiplier effect of infrastructure projects to create jobs, boost demand
The problem with the emphasis on large infrastructure projects is that implementation can be delayed due to a variety of reasons including land acquisitions and environmental clearances.
BUSINESS
Budget 2021: Another cess coming? Taxpayers are bearing a heavy burden
Should Sitharaman choose to levy a cess or a surcharge for the Covid vaccine drive, without some rejig of tax slabs, the burden of taxpayers will rise further
BUSINESS
Economic Survey 2021: No fresh ideas for the livelihood or income growth
Perhaps the most radical prescription in the Survey is a call for a “paradigm shift” in how agriculture is viewed – as a modern business enterprise rather than as a rural livelihood sector.
BUSINESS
Budget for the masses? The dominant themes likely to get Nirmala Sitharaman’s attention this year
Generous budgetary support for construction, MGNEGA and rural infrastructure can ensure income transfers to the lower level of the pyramid
INDIA
Inflation Analysis: Retail prices fell sharply in December. Here’s what happened
Kitchen staples cooled retail inflation in December, but pulses played spoilsport.
BUSINESS
Why markets boomed as economy faced stress
The promise of economic expansion in the next financial year alone does not make stock markets so buoyant. So what gives?
