FM must introduce decisive structural reforms
Resolution to India’s growth slowdown does not lie in misplaced populism, nationalization and unfettered PSU growth. We need policy responses that recognize the interlinkages in the economy and facilitate entrepreneurship.
Politics | The NRC final list raises many concerns and these must be addressed
The NRC must reflect the sentiments of the locals in Assam—any dilution of it will defeat the purpose of the exercise.
Sector vector | The going has got tough for India’s steel producers
India’s steel companies find themselves engulfed in uncertainty due to domestic and international factors
Gloom and doom has not touched these frontline stocks
Despite the mayhem in the market, many resilient stocks are still trading close to their 52-week highs
What the August PMI fall tells us about the economy
PMI data for August, while indicating a slowdown, do not reflect the despondency in the markets
Will new initiatives take the Railways on the right track?
The Indian Railways will need massive investments to transform into a modern transporter. Seeking private investment is a welcome step.
Chart of the Day: India Manufacturing PMI shows optimism rising to a 16-month high
That seems to suggest that goods producers too believe that this is a cyclical slowdown which will pass in some time. Remember that the RBI has predicted that economic growth will be better from the second half of the current year itself.
Is the government selling its stake in BPCL for a song?
For IOC, acquiring BPCL at current market price may not be a bad deal
Politics | China’s hollow rhetoric on ‘good’ ties with India exposed
China’s desire to keep India and Pakistan hyphenated from a political perspective remains as strong as ever—Beijing’s reactions and statements on Kashmir reflect that.
Chart of the day: Maruti Suzuki’s August downbeat sales have a spring in them
Maruti Suzuki's August sales show a sharp decline over a year ago but its sequential data contains a glimmer of hope
India-Russia bilateral | Payback time for Russia’s support on Kashmir?
In normal times, an India-Russia bilateral summit would have passed off as a routine meet. However, a clear Russian support on Kashmir issue has made Narendra Modi’s Russia visit special. In return, Moscow may bag some big-ticket defence, nuclear and energy deals.
Policy | FDI in contract manufacturing – A game changer and a force multiplier
Relaxation of policy rules is a leg-up to ease of doing business and Make in India
Policy | Merging banks pays at the margin, but misses the big picture
Despite all the noise, the government’s control over the regulator and regulated financial intermediaries remains a bone of contention
Legal Matters | Why increasing the number of judges will not solve the problem the Supreme Court is facing
Pendency at the Supreme Court has many causes, but the most glaring is that it has been reduced to a mere appellate court (where all high court decisions are appealed and heard) rather than a court to interpret the Constitution, as it was originally intended.
Macro Matters | Cash is back
Currency with the public, as a percentage of nominal GDP, is back to where it was before demonetisation
Macro Matters | How government spending has propped up economic growth since demonetisation
Growth in the private sector has been lower, sometimes much lower, than what the headline numbers indicate
Can Fit India movement include women from rural India?
PM’s call for greater outreach of the fitness programme is invariably linked to improving on-ground coverage of healthcare for last-mile access
Macro Matters | Private consumption growth slumps in June quarter
If we leave out government consumption, growth in real GDP was just 4.5 percent
PSU Bank Mergers | The more things change…
The timing of the merger is questionable. Bank management bandwidth will be occupied by the merger instead of pushing through loans with proper due diligence
Macro Matters | Slowdown is official. Economy’s revival now depends on govt heavy lifting
GDP growth slows to 5 percent in April-June 2019. Delayed onset of monsoon in June and muted construction activity because of Lok Sabha elections also weighed
NRC in Assam | What does the publication of NRC bring to the masses?
The NRC will have an impact in Assam and beyond. Millions in Assam are eagerly waiting to find their names on the August 31st list — it will bring cheers to the many citizens who find their name on the list, but for those whose names will not feature on the list, it’s tough times ahead.
Policy | Modi’s West Asian diplomacy has removed the hyphen in India-Pakistan
The Gulf countries no longer see their dealings with India or Pakistan as a zero sum game. The young leaders of these kingdoms and emirates are pragmatic enough to recognise that an emerging India is a far more an attractive partner than a moribund Pakistan.
Policy | Calling homebuyers financial creditors is plain wrong
Any allocation of preferential rights to homebuyers puts the rights of banks in peril
Policy | Read up your FDI playbook. Business play in India has just got a lot easier!
There are a few misses, still the latest FDI move shows the way
