SUM AND SUBSTANCE | The road ahead for India’s stock market following the formation of a new coalition government under Narendra Modi
India’s stock market crashed on June 4 as it became clear that the BJP would not make it past the halfway mark alone and that this was going to be an NDA-led coalition with much more say for regional partners on the one hand, and a much stronger opposition on
Gujarat: Before industry, comes the safety of lives
This year, Gujarat’s Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said his government aims to become a $500 billion economy by 2026-27. Much of this stellar growth, said Patel, was thanks to the State’s ease of doing business, investor-friendly approach and robust industrial infrastructure. By extension, it would make sense that a State
World Economic Forum’s Gender Gap Report 2024: 134 Years to Parity, India Ranks 129th
The Global Gender Gap Report 2024, released by the World Economic Forum, presents a dire picture of the current state and evolution of gender parity across four indices: economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment. It would take 134 years, that is, till 2158, to
India Heatwave 2024: Deaths, Crop Failures, and Economic Impact Highlight Climate Vulnerabilities
In his book The Heat Will Kill You First: Life and Death on a Scorched Planet Jeff Goodell writes; “We simply have not come to terms with it, especially in the way I am describing. It is not how anyone expects to die. In part, it’s because we live in
Maharashtra State Budget 2024-25: NDA’s Pre-election Spending Spree Could Impact Economic Growth and Strain State Finances
Inaugurating the Bundelkhand Expressway at Jalaun, Uttar Pradesh, on July 16, 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned against the revadi (freebie) culture “that is detrimental to the development of the country”. However, the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Maharashtra is doing exactly that. On June 28, Deputy Chief Minister
India’s Election 2024: Caste Politics Surge Exposes Economic Anxieties and Policy Vacuum
In the recent general election, many voters gave their material interests priority over Hindu nationalism, delivering a shock to the ruling BJP. In doing so, they demolished the hype about “India on the move”, propagated by both international and domestic elites. The hype—built on exaggerated GDP growth numbers and detached-from-reality
India’s Path to Developed Nation Status by 2047 Remains Uncertain | C.P. Chandrasekhar
In the search for the next country that will transit from backward to advanced status, India’s name sometimes features. This is partly because the idea has been mooted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who promises to make India a “developed nation” by 2047. A country is identified by official agencies
Economic Survey 2023-24: Growth Prospects, China Strategy, AI Impact
The Indian economy is on a strong wicket, despite geopolitical challenges, says the Economic Survey 2023-24 tabled in the Parliament by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on July 22. The Survey, authored by Chief Economic Adviser V. Anantha Nageswaran and his team, is an annual document presented by the government
Union Budget 2024-25 Highlights | Middle Class Tax Cuts, ₹2 Lakh Crore for Jobs, Aid for Bihar and Andhra
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on July 23 announced income tax relief for the middle class, a Rs.2 lakh crore outlay for job creation schemes over the next five years, and a spending splurge for States run by her party’s new coalition partners, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Andhra
India’s Gender Budget: Big Numbers, Small Impact
In her 2023-24 Budget speech, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman emphasised nari-shakti, or “women’s potential”, and stated that facilitating inclusive, women-led development was the government’s priority. This was also reflected in India’s G20 commitments during its G20 presidency last year. This year’s Union Budget also shows the government’s commitment to women’s economic