Columns

A global movement that focuses on human capital as a driver of change and growth for a new generation is a welcome move. It turns focus from physical infrastructure, a “here and now” issue and therefore more looked at, to human capital, which will yield dividends much later, and can help change... read more

Some economists are vigorously churning out statistics to prove that the Indian economy is generating enough jobs. Some of them are also challenging the thesis that inequalities are increasing. In fact, some even suggest that inequality does not matter! Their statistics-laden arguments remind one... read more

Gujarat has again captured the attention of the entire country for the wrong reasons. The assault and harassment of migrant livelihood-earners belonging to North Indian States in pockets of the North Gujarat region, following the dastardly rape of a 14-month-girl, has brought fear and forced many... read more

India’s economic growth this year will once again be among the fastest in the world, even ahead of China. The real GDP growth rate, i.e. adjusted for inflation will be more than 7 percent this fiscal year, whereas China may fall below 6.5. Economic growth is an input to improve the quality of life... read more

Under Kochhar, the bank consolidated, but its DNA of aggressive growth took over and problems were back soon. In 2018, PAT was down 30% to Rs 6,777 crore. By July, the bank reported a net loss of Rs 120 crore for the April-June 2018 quarter, its first quarterly loss in 16 years. When Kochhar... read more

M J Akbar has quit. But not before we saw how he wanted to cling on. He was not the one to leave his berth in a hurry. But that failed attempt to hold on was not his decision. That decision was of the Bharatiya Janata Party, in whose arms Akbar has landed after travelling through many a political... read more

After two rounds of a hike in the policy repo rate, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has announced a pause. The policy repo rate, which is meant to influence and transmit over time to the rate at which banks lend to borrowers, stands unchanged at 6.5 per cent. The MPC voted 5:1 to keep the rate... read more

The resignation of Chanda Kochhar from ICICI Bank has come not a day too soon. Her formal exit from the bank announced on October 4 marks a sorry end to a career that mirrored the rise and transformation of Indian banking – she rose as ICICI grew from a stodgy corporation known for project... read more

Contrary to widespread expectations of an increase of 25 basis points (by 50 bps by some), the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has maintained the status quo on the policy rate. Despite turbulent market conditions and liquidity easing measures taken in the days leading to the policy, it changed the... read more

The MPC of the RBI caught almost everyone by surprise by keeping the policy repo rate unchanged at 6.5 per cent in its fourth bi-monthly meeting for 2018-19 by a 5-1 majority. However, it changed its stance from ‘neutral’ to what it called ‘calibrated tightening’. An overwhelming majority of market... read more

The change in stance from neutral to “calibrated tightening” also puts to rest any speculation about cut in rates and clearly sends the message that the pause in the rate move is just that — a pause. The rationale for a “flexible” inflation mandate has been fully vindicated by this decision. While... read more

The cut in prices of petrol and diesel announced today tells us just how shaky the government feels. All around are signs of protest, anger and disenchantment at a leadership that is now widely seen as a vendor of stories sans substance. The farmers are unhappy and marched to New Delhi, only to be... read more

The right to stand for elections is neither a divine nor a human right. It is not even a fundamental right as per the Constitution of India. Hence the right to contest an election to become a people’s representative has some restrictions. For the Lok Sabha, you must be 25 years of age and for the... read more

The killing of an executive by police constables in the dead of night on the streets of Lucknow has sparked outrage across the nation. Sensing the mood, police have registered a second FIR at the instance of the wife of the executive who was hit in the neck by a bullet that shattered the... read more

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting this week comes under the shadow of the massive IL&FS default that has shaken the markets, added to the current set of macro concerns and raised new questions on the regulatory framework. The complexity of the IL&FS set up with its 169 direct and... read more

September 15 this year marked the tenth anniversary of the collapse of Lehman Brothers, a century old gold standard investment bank of Wall Street. Its bankruptcy had a domino effect, leading to a deep financial crisis across United States and Europe. It is now popularly referred to as the Global... read more

Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Manthri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), described by many as the largest social health insurance programme launched anywhere in the world, has been launched on 23rd September. Some have even suggested that the Prime Minister be nominated for the Nobel Price for this historic... read more

‘Dalit’ is a popular identity in India as it is in Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan and other parts of the world. Further, ‘Dalit’ is not limited to the Hindu religion alone. The identity transcends religion as there are Christian Dalits, Muslim Dalits, Sikh Dalits, Buddhist Dalits and Jain Dalits, too.

At the root of India's failing system is a health network that has become a money-spinning racket.  Anecdotal accounts of what goes on in the name of health care at the bigger hospitals and the mushrooming set of fancy nursing homes and older ones rechristened as “specialist” hospitals with... read more

There are two wings on which scandals of the Rafale and Bofors variety take flight. One is plain fact and the other is perception. The government has its back to the wall on both counts. There is now little doubt that it is fast losing or has already lost the political battle on the Rafale deal.... read more