opinion

The limitations of India’s EdTech startups

Despite the giddy valuations they command, most Indian EdTech players have restricted themselves to low-hanging fruits

Most major economies are shrinking. Not China’s.

The Chinese economy has improved steadily, finishing the year with growth of 6.5% in the past three months compared to the same period in 2019

Will Budget 2021 increase India’s consumption power?

While Budget 2021 will be presented in uncertain times, it provides an excellent opportunity to the government to leave a mark on the lives of taxpayers

Budget 2021 | Expectations to boost insurance sector and encourage long-term savings

The life insurance industry plays a key role of providing social security to Indians. The importance of a safety net in the form of insurance cover gained immense prominence in 2020

China’s Covert Operations | Closer scrutiny on university grants and language institutions is welcome

Closer scrutiny is needed for 369 private universities and another 46 deemed universities, not to mention the several hundreds of private institutions which are more than willing to accept money from anywhere

Budget Chart Point | Will subsidies buck the recent trend?

Deregulation of petrol and diesel prices as well as low oil prices which helped reduced the cooking gas subsidy reduced the overall subsidy burden as a proportion of GDP

10 factors that will impact West Bengal elections

The BJP has painted the TMC with the minority appeasement brush. With the Muslims backing Mamata Banerjee, there is a high probability of the Hindus standing with the BJP

Legal battles remain a risk after creditors award DHFL to Piramal

Depositors and retail bondholders are two other classes unlikely to be happy

Tech stock booms: then and now

The echoes of the dotcom bubble era in current market conditions

Home advantage for hotels, but earnings show it’s a small room to view

Foreign tourism has to improve to push occupancy and room rates higher from the current levels

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

Interview | This is not the time to worry about the fiscal deficit, says Dr Govinda Rao

The government should consider changes in the Direct Taxes Code when the economy improves, says former director of National Institute of Public Finance and Policy

Ban on liquor ads has stopped neither its advertising nor its consumption

Maybe we should just shed this hypocrisy and accept that some adults do drink and reaching them is a legitimate part of a company’s brief

Building a safe harbour for online fantasy sports to facilitate responsible growth

A self-regulatory mechanism will ensure that the online fantasy sports industry continues to benefit and protect the interests of the consumers while supporting innovative operators who conduct themselves responsibly

The Reading List: January 15, 2021

A selection of articles and social media gems from the world of economy, business and finance

Paul Krugman writes: Four rules that should guide Bidenomics

The rescue package Biden unveiled Thursday already indicates he won’t exhibit the excessive caution that inhibited President Barack Obama’s response to economic crisis

Biden proposes $1.9 trillion spending package to combat virus and downturn

The package includes more than $400 billion to combat the pandemic directly, including money to accelerate vaccine deployment

Budget 2021 is a golden opportunity to achieve India’s rightful place in global economy

The utmost important objective of the Union Budget would be to revive investments

Brushing bad loans under the carpet a retrograde step

If the government wants to help MSMEs, there are other ways like incentivising the use of the Trade Receivable Discounting System (TReDS)

Wildebeest investors and the dangers of the herd

Safety in numbers is not always the best approach when it comes to investing

Budget Chart Point | The quality of expenditure

Capital expenditure as a percentage of GDP has been stagnant

SAIL: Strike while the iron is hot

The timing is right for selling Sail’s shares to meet the divestment target, but is a piecemeal approach the best way?

Chart of the Day | Wholesale price inflation at 4-month low, but non-food prices spurt

 It’s likely that as the recovery gathers strength, wholesale non-food prices will see higher inflation

Chart of the Day | OECD leading indicator points to stable growth in India

The Composite Leading Indicator shows growth in most major economies is almost back to normal

Tejas deal a big boost for India’s self-reliance and defence preparedness

New Delhi’s decision to opt for an indigenous fighter for the Indian Air Force will make its ‘Make in India’ mantra resonate louder