opinion

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

Macro Matters | What, according to the RBI, are the reasons for the slowdown in the economy?

All the three engines of the economy -- consumption demand, investment demand and external demand -- are sputtering

Food for thought | Why the FCI’s health is failing rapidly

FCI can determine neither the purchasing/sale price not the quantities it wants to buy or sell

Macro Matters | The credibility of the fiscal deficit figure is declining by the day

The focus should be on the overall public sector borrowing requirement (for the government plus public sector enterprises). That figure is close to 8.5 percent of GDP.

We read the RBI annual report for you. Here are the key takeaways.

RBI says slowdown is cyclical and broad-based in nature. It retains 6.9 percent GDP growth estimate for the current fiscal year.

Retail Reform | Easier norms for single brand FDI could change India’s retail landscape

Relaxing local sourcing norms will encourage more retailers, while local producers will be forced to be competitive in the global marketplace of sourcing

Jalan Committee: A case of both glass half-full and half-empty!

The Jalan panel has said interim dividends should be resorted to only in extreme cases, but the definition of extreme lies with the government

Sector matters | Mills to benefit from sugar subsidy but keep an eye on the skies

The government's move to subsidize sugar exports may help tide over the immediate problem but does not tackle the underlying systemic problem

Higher take home? Labour Ministry’s proposal is myopic

Increasing take home salary by lowering employees’ mandatory contribution to PF is like enjoying today and leaving little for the rainy days

SEBI asks MF trustees to stand up for investors’ interests

Market regulator does not want them to be ‘passive participants’

Jalan Committee: How the rules governing RBI reserves have changed over the years

In 2006–07, 75 per cent of RBI’s revaluation balances were wiped out, amounting to 1.5 per cent of GDP

Corporate Corridor | HUL's decision to cut soap prices: why investors should not get in a lather

News of HUL cutting soap prices spooked the market but what it may lose on margins, it could gain in volume growth

Politics | Political patronage for caste discrimination must stop

The political leadership needs to speak out, and unequivocally, in condemnation of caste discrimination. The leaders who the people look up to and vote into office can change mindsets. Right now though, they are busy wooing caste vote-banks.

Aadhaar and Social Media | It’s a delicate balance between security and privacy

The key issue of the debate is ‘traceability’ of social media posts or forwards as companies such as WhatsApp seek refuge under end-to-end encryption of messages

Amrapali case | Piecemeal approach to justice is fraught with risks

NBCC as the white knight is not the remedy for all the ills the real estate sector is facing. A set of reforms is the need of the hour.

Politics | Tharoor’s Modi remarks create a flutter. Will he have the last laugh?

The Thiruvananthapuram MP’s suggestion to temper criticism of PM with ‘merited praise’ ruffles many a feather. But he may just escape the axe.

Macro Matters | Needed: A package for agriculture

Agri reforms so far have led to a situation of oversupply, extremely low levels of food inflation and dramatic protests by farmers who have dumped their surplus produce rather than sell them for a pittance.

Retailing | Why Ikea is tweaking its India strategy

After a little more than a decade, IKEA has probably understood one thing about India – it needs to be flexible to do business in a nation with 1.3-billion population.

Corporate corridor | P&G’s listed companies may escape the worst of the slowdown

Gillette and P&G Health are relatively better off since their sales are mostly in the urban and semi-urban areas.

Politics | Akhilesh Yadav’s long journey towards SP’s revival

For Akhilesh Yadav the bye-polls to 12 assembly seats are going to be a bellweather for his new strategy that relies on smaller parties and his own appeal. The main battle, however, will be the 2022 assembly elections.