Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday confessed to constraints in speeding up reforms during the remaining period of the United Progressive Alliance regime and said that the nation cannot afford to engage in 'meaningless controversies' at the cost of the economy. He cautioned against taking for granted the 'unprecedented' growth of close to nine per cent in the past five years and said, "There are no magic ways to increase employment".
Finding itself trapped in a cul de sac, all things considered, a negotiated climbdown at this juncture seems the only sensible course available for the Centre, suggests Virendra Kapoor.
Indian state's generosity is not restricted to its poorest citizens.
Support from the committee gives Xi an indefinite extension on the reins of power, which will surely result in hawkish and insular policies. It does not bode well for relations with the USA, or with anyone else who does not bow the knee to Beijing, for that matter.
He said India has also opened its defence industry 'like never before' and sought investments in the sector.
In the mid-1980s, India and the US struggled to arrive at sufficient confidence for Washington to even sell a supercomputer to India for monsoon prospecting. Now, the most sensitive military technologies, data, and intelligence resources are being shared. This would not have happened without that one, big deal that changed the fundamentals of India-US relations, notes Shekhar Gupta.
Participating in an online session, a panel of Hindu-American women, from different walks of life, expressed their strong views in favour of President Trump.
Terming Prime Minister Narendra Modi's demonetisation move as "very bold", China's official media on Saturday said it was a "gamble" that would create a precedent irrespective of whether it succeeds or fails and China will draw lessons from its impact on corruption.
The prime minister seems to have turned his face away from the business of introducing serious reform, says T N Ninan.
There is growing alarm at the inexorable rise of China, both of its military prowess and its aggressive bullying of other countries plus its subjugation of whole portions of its own population.
"This election will dictate the direction the nation takes. As an Indian living abroad, I am ashamed of the negative influences in my motherland, especially the crime rate, which is increasing rapidly."
'Narendra Modi has had very good luck. Firstly, the fall of oil prices. You don't get that very often in your life and you certainly don't get that often when you are in government.' 'Secondly, the fantasy of Indian reforms has led to very strong capital inflows to have made his job much, much easier.' 'You ride the winds in times of fortune and he hasn't done that. At least, not yet.' 'Those winds of fortune which are blowing your way can certainly turn around easily. There are quite a few headwinds coming up. He may well, history will show, have missed the opportunities that existed.'
Stock markets in structural bull run but there can be bouts of volatility says Ravi Gopalakrishnan, head, equities, Canara Robeco Mutual Fund
As slowdown fears turn real, Baba Kalyani, chairman, Bharat Forge, says it's critical to have a political consensus on reforms. Industry, too, should gear up to reduce costs and seek new customers, in new markets.
An important development is the significant increase in the direct transfers to various autonomous bodies.
To make its voice more credible and impactful, the Congress must articulate its alternative agenda for reforms, economic growth and a more inclusive political discourse.
Pensioners, India Inc may get tax breaks in Budget
The first was wholesale funded banks and non-bank finance companies.
The stocks could tank more than what it did after the United Progressive Alliance-1 came to power in 2004, as the market has not yet priced in a Bharatiya Janata Party defeat, says Raj Bhatt.
The shift from 'one country, one tax' to four tax rates could dilute possible gains on GDP, warns T N Ninan.
The highlight of the occasion, according to officials, is an address to a special gathering in the morning by President Xi Jinping, who cast himself in the mould of Mao Zedong, the founder of the Communist Party of China as it is officially called.
Economist Deepak Nayyar says economic openness, while necessary, is not sufficient, and is conducive to development only when combined with industrial policy.
Opportunity for India to take leadership in economic diplomacy.
A digital economy can only work with uninterrupted electricity supply. So, states now face the unpleasant task of telling their citizens that electricity rates need to be hiked. Subhomoy Bhattacharjee reports.
'Make in India' could suffer the same fate as did privatisation and the command economy, says Ajit Balakrishnan.
'Her presence before and during the Lok Sabha election will electrify the political environment.'
What is required from government is intellectual framework.
The government's initial promise and energy seems to have dissipated.
'This is not only a fight against corruption and black money, this is also a fight against terrorism and counterfeit currencies.'
Tax administration could be improved to reduce discretion and improve accountability
'What matters is meeting the needs and expectations of the people who have voted to provide governance for the country.'
'After Vajpayee-Advani, Modi-Shah is the second best in India.'
Xi Jinping has accumulated great power, but he faces trials that are just as great, says Claude Smadja.
There will be pressure on the fiscal situation, especially at a time when the monsoon can also disappoint. More populist expenditure is on cards if the mandate is a hung Parliament or a coalition government.
The long-term growth perspective or potential for India is one of the highest in the Asia Pacific region.
The expectation that Mr Modi would be a major reformer, capable of reinvigorating the Indian economy, were based on a complete misreading of both his actions and his performance as Gujarat chief minister, says Mihir S Sharma.
Governments in most of the world saw their approval ratings dip as they struggled to contain the raging virus, which hit economy hard everywhere, but Indian politics followed a different script, with the outgoing year marking further shrinking of a rudderless Congress while the ruling BJP soared riding on Modi's enduring appeal.
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.
'He will consolidate the Russian hold over the Eastern Russian majority provinces in Ukraine and quickly withdraw from the rest of Ukraine.' 'At all costs, the Russians should avoid attacking and capturing urban areas, else they risk getting into a quagmire,' cautions Colonel Anil A Athale (retd).
Jaitley's Budget has the potential to change the face of Modi's Bharat
