Startup corner | Paytm needs to sharpen its focus to make its IPO dream come true
Mounting losses and expansion into several business areas could derail India’s first profit-making payments bank. For mobile wallet Paytm, banking could be its best pathway to an IPO
NRC | Will Assam’s citizenship debate be resolved?
Assam has remained disturbed for decades on issues concomitant to citizenship. Undoubtedly, the NRC is fraught with stereotypes and biases against minorities, but now is the time to conclude Assam’s citizenship conundrum with the acceptance of the final list.
Housing securitisation in India – Build it block by block!
A market-based financial system is always welcome, but India would do well not to lose sight of the 2008 crisis
Corporate corridor | The Ruchi Soya LBO could be Patanjali’s make or break moment
Patanjali’s Ruchi Soya acquisition gives it size but also sizeable debt. The financial structure and integration are crucial to make it work
Policy | RCEP dilemma: Protect and perish
There is apprehension among government departments and industry that a trade deal on the current terms will lead to China dumping goods in India.
Roads sector: Another growth engine slams on the brakes
Revenue collection barely covers the interest servicing cost of these projects, let alone project returns, says an SBI Caps report
Keep an eye on the OECD Composite Leading Indicator for India for turning points in the economy
The accompanying chart shows the CLI for India from September 2005 to July 2019
New Road Rules | Increased fines are a bitter pill India must swallow
If the government stays firm on its determination to go ahead with the amended traffic rules and if the traffic police implement these rules in the right earnest and in its true spirit, Indian roads will be much safer than what they are today.
Satyam mess: Who will audit the auditors? The question stays
SAT gives SEBI a jurisdiction lesson, but then contradicts itself by upholding the disgorgement order
SAT order on PwC a wake-up call for SEBI over jurisdiction
SAT ruling is a clear reminder that institutions here have still not been clearly defined with regard to their power.
Aviation | What’s the right approach to privatisation of airports in India?
For a growing economy like India, privatisation and modernisation of airports is non-negotiable and India’s decision to privatise its metro airports in the past has delivered significant results.
Policy | How well has the Mudra scheme worked?
Mudra and Kisan Credit Card schemes need to be examined more closely for potential credit risk.
Policy | Fighting bad loans? A shift to markets from banks holds the cue
Financial intermediaries can bear risks for a longer duration than banks and generate higher returns
Afghanistan endgame | Options before India after Trump cancels talks
New Delhi has the political, economic and soft power heft to engage the Taliban. Doing so can help it socialise the Taliban, wean it away from Pakistan and get a foot in the door of the Afghan peace process. This will also enable India to balance the expanding role of China in the region’s dynamics.
Banking | Restriction on multiple current accounts is the need of the hour
What the government is mulling about multiple bank accounts is a logical follow up of what it did with PAN. Multiple accounts have been one of the major causes of banking frauds and NPA.
Corporate Corridor | JSW Steel to acquire Bhushan Power but the celebrations seem muted
The NCLT has approved JSW Steel’s bid to acquire Bhushan Power at a time when the steel industry is passing through a difficult phase
Politics | Congress faces a mini-crisis in Madhya Pradesh
With the post of the Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee chief up for the grabs, the infighting within the state Congress unit is conspicuous. If left to fester, this infighting could destabilise the state government .
Macro Matters| Tight financial conditions are a big reason for the slowdown
The total flow of financial resources to the commercial sector was also affected by demonetisation
Chart of the day | Signs of danger
Nifty is rising while the Advance-Decline line had turned adverse, indicating weakness
Defence Talk | Apache helicopters for IAF are good products wrapped up in a bad package
The AH-64 is great, but, why does the Indian Air Force feel the need for four types of attack helicopters? It shows a fundamentally muddled mind and a severe myopia of higher defence planning.
Going Digital | India’s fintech economy is gaining currency big time
Globally, India is ranked second on financial technology adoption, with a good 57 per cent hooked to it in 2018.
Policy | Supreme Court’s parking prescription for a more dignified life
Driving home the seriousness and magnitude of the problem, the apex court has viewed the issue through the prism of fundamental rights, specifically the Right to Life under Article 21 of the Constitution.
NHAI: In search of a right path
Better road connectivity can aid economic growth but the government is worried that the NHAI has taken on more than it appears equipped to handle
Worry in the cement sector is not slowing demand but increasing supply
Due to the overcapacity in the cement industry, supply determines pricing more than demand.
