Xi Jinping has accumulated great power, but he faces trials that are just as great, says Claude Smadja.
India's majoritarian regime is now making a dangerously fast-paced move towards theocracy, like its western counterpart did a few decades ago, warns Mohammad Sajjad.
To plug claims mismanagement, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai) is bringing reforms in the mediclaim segment.
'On the tax front, most of the Budget proposals are sensible'.
'Whatever good he did, all his achievements were overshadowed by the perception of corruption and other things.'
A regulator has to ensure that fares have transparency.
"The era of 'lalten' is gone. In the last six years consumption of electricity has increased 3 fold in Bihar," PM Modi said. "Voters of Bihar have taken a resolve that they won't let those who have a history of making the state 'Bimaru' come near them," he added.
If the presentation made by the Commission to the chief ministers is followed in letter and spirit, central sector and sponsored schemes will no longer be the domain of central ministries alone.
Here's the full text of President's Ram Nath Kovind's address to the joint sitting of both houses of Parliament on the first of Budget Session 2022.
The Finance Commission has substantially increased the allocation of funds to panchayats, but a large part of it is apportioned by state governments.
Euro zone leaders will hold an emergency summit on Monday.
As for structural reform, there are signs if one looks hard enough.
The former RBI deputy governor talked about the prospects of an economic revival, reforms in IMF, etc.
'Providing funds and autonomy to a few institutions that may not have the intent to excel must not become a case of trying to feed those who are not hungry and starving those who are famished,' says Jitendra Kumar Das, Director, FORE School of Management, New Delhi.
South and South-West Asia could witness an economic growth of 5.3 per cent in 2015, which will be a four-year high.
Structural changes to government finances could be focus of the Union Budget, says Mihir S Sharma.
'The BJP leadership and its agriculture minister must make up their mind on what kind of corrective measures will be needed for Indian agriculture at this point in time.' 'The sooner Mr Singh provides policy clarity on this vital issue, the better are the chances of India's agriculture and farmers emerging out of their current mess,' says A K Bhattacharya.
Here's the full text of President Ram Nath Kovind's customary address to the joining sitting of Parliament on the first day of the budget session.
Ambassador Venu Rajamony, who served as press secretary to President Pranab Mukherjee during his tenure, salutes the statesman and political legend, who passed into the ages on Monday.
The prime minister sees himself as the "vikas purush". But realising his government's agenda for development requires not just a more efficient administration but also a credible implementation plan, says Nitin Desai.
As the country readies to go to polls on July 25, one can't deny the role of the military, but there are other factors too.
'Four years into his tenure and Modi still has no idea what is wrong with the agriculture sector!'
Without some firmer pledge of debt relief, neither Greece nor the IMF is likely to accept a deal
'Slowing down of the economy was mainly due to the demonetisation shock...' 'If you cut off the oxygen supply to a patient in the ICU and the patient dies, the patient does not come alive again when you restore the oxygen supply.'
Even if they score administratively, state governments ruled by the party suffer from an inability to communicate positively, say observers.
England, who have won both the one-day and Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka, play a two-day practice match in Colombo before heading to Galle which hosts the first of the three Test matches from November 6.
There are a couple of proposals, however, whose goals are not easily achievable.
A reformed Planning Commission should reflect the diversity of Indian debate.
'Whatever the result on December 18, Rahul has succeeded.' 'He has taken the battle to the rival's territory, and forced him to take him more seriously than he has done so far, or would have wished to.' 'A party, dominating and powerful as the BJP today, is spending all its time attacking the leader of one with just 46 seats in the Lok Sabha, and in the woods in Gujarat for 22 years.' 'This isn't the script the BJP had written,' says Shekhar Gupta.
The new numbers did not apparently pass consistency checks with production, inputs, or movements in the National Stock Exchange.
There is a link between objectives and commitments.
The tall claims that the state administration, particularly Modi's highly charged PR machinery has created to hardsell the state, and in turn Modi himself, are not reinforced by the numbers
If oil prices rise, the government would face an uncomfortable political decision.
'We have set out a timetable to reduce income tax rates for all incomes below Rs 50 lakh, and to progressively eliminate the surcharges on income above Rs 50 lakh, by 2024.' The Budget speech past CII president Naushad Forbes wants to hear.
Under constant attack from his political opponents, the public and the media, he is said to have withdrawn into a shell, says Anita Katyal
In a path-breaking verdict, the Supreme Court on Thursday said bureaucrats should not act on verbal orders given by political bosses as it sought an end to frequent transfers and suggested a fixed tenure to insulate them from political interference.
The government has taken a number of steps to address the situation faced by farmers.
The shift from 'one country, one tax' to four tax rates could dilute possible gains on GDP, warns T N Ninan.
Some organisational changes are likely in some of the key army formations.
