News for 'the-economist'

What The World Looks Like At Mid-Year

What The World Looks Like At Mid-Year

Rediff.com26 Jun 2023

The first five months of 2023 have witnessed at least six major events/trends that augur badly for global economic and socio-political prospects, points out Shankar Acharya, former chief economic adviser to the Government of India.

No one can question him: Mamata after handing over land docu to Amartya Sen

No one can question him: Mamata after handing over land docu to Amartya Sen

Rediff.com30 Jan 2023

anerjee, who reached Bolpur in the second half of the day, visited Sen at his residence and dubbed the accusations made against him as "baseless".

Hand over land immediately: Visva-Bharati's 2nd letter to Amartya Sen

Hand over land immediately: Visva-Bharati's 2nd letter to Amartya Sen

Rediff.com27 Jan 2023

This is the second such letter from the central university to the noted economist in three days.

Netaji forced to seek fascist countries' support for India's freedom: Daughter

Netaji forced to seek fascist countries' support for India's freedom: Daughter

Rediff.com22 Jan 2023

In a statement, Pfaff also noted that the countries Netaji had approached were the only ones willing to support the fight against a common adversary.

These Scientists Shaped India

These Scientists Shaped India

Rediff.com15 Aug 2023

I suggest we build a Vigyan Mandir (Temple of Science) with the ambience of a place of worship, so that it becomes a destination for pilgrims. We should embed on its walls bronze plaques describing each scientist mentioned here along with about a dozen of our ancient mathematicians, recommends Professor Kalyan Singhal, historian of science and technology.

'We may be late to board the bus, but we have not missed the bus'

'We may be late to board the bus, but we have not missed the bus'

Rediff.com11 Apr 2023

'India's manufacturing will take 10-15 years to catch up with China.'

FY23 GDP growth estimated at 7.4%: Ficci

FY23 GDP growth estimated at 7.4%: Ficci

Rediff.com3 Apr 2022

India's GDP is estimated to grow at 7.4 per cent in the financial year 2022-23 with rising prices triggered by the Russia-Ukraine conflict posing as the biggest challenge to the global economic recovery, Ficci's Economic Outlook Survey released on Sunday said. According to the survey, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is likely to start a rate hike cycle in the second half of 2022, while a repo rate hike of 50-75 bps is expected by the end of the current fiscal. The RBI is expected to continue supporting the ongoing economic recovery by keeping the repo rate unchanged in its April policy review, the survey said.

Under Modi India's Slide In World Indexes

Under Modi India's Slide In World Indexes

Rediff.com9 Mar 2023

The rhetoric that we are fed daily needs to be measured against performance and the facts. That is not happening, points out Aakar Patel.

Modi's Cult Of Personality

Modi's Cult Of Personality

Rediff.com10 Mar 2023

'It was more than ego.' 'It carried with it a sincere belief that he was the quintessence of the country, that the country's destiny was irrevocably intertwined with his destiny.' An excerpt from T J S George's The Dismantling of India: In 35 Portraits.

Is Adani a Modi Crony?

Is Adani a Modi Crony?

Rediff.com11 Apr 2023

This State-corporate 'cooperation' didn't begin with the arrival of the Modi government.
Many of the big licences, contracts, and even environmental clearances for the Adani group had come in the UPA's time, points out Shekhar Gupta.

Tatas to invest $90 bn in India in 5 years

Tatas to invest $90 bn in India in 5 years

Rediff.com23 Sep 2022

The Tata group is planning to invest $90 billion in new industries such as mobile components plant, semiconductor, electric vehicles, batteries, renewables energy and e-commerce by 2027. The Tata group's investment in India is far higher than the $75-billion investments planned by Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance Industries and $55-billion investment planned by the Adani group in the next five years in the country, the Economist reported recently. The investment by the Tata group is a shift in its strategy to focus more in the home markets instead of international markets where the group lost money.

The Big Mac Inflation Index

The Big Mac Inflation Index

Rediff.com23 Jan 2023

The ever-astute Ravi Matthai, Director of Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad in 1971, offered me a basic salary of Rs 1,000 per month on my return from the United States. I doubt if IIMA could hire a faculty member at Rs 55,000 per month today! points out Dr Shreekant Sambrani.

'Basic needs not freebies, poor are more entitled to it'

'Basic needs not freebies, poor are more entitled to it'

Rediff.com19 Aug 2022

Economist Jayati Ghosh noted that the word 'freebies' indicates the class position of those who use it.

India Inc's m-cap growth is fraught with risks

India Inc's m-cap growth is fraught with risks

Rediff.com22 Jun 2021

Indian companies' market capitalization has grown at the fastest pace last year among major economies despite contraction in GDP, economists from SBI said, flagging the risks to financial stability it poses. Further, retail investors have shown higher interest in markets and their numbers have increased by 1.42 crore in FY21 and another 44 lakh in April and May, they said in a note, wondering if this will be a lasting behavioural change or is transitory. The economists at the country's largest lender attributed the growth in equity markets to lower returns on other financial instruments amid a low rates regime, increase in global liquidity, and even a tendency to spend more time at home because of mobility restrictions which led many to trade more.

The 10 Top Liveable Cities in the World

The 10 Top Liveable Cities in the World

Rediff.com14 Jun 2021

Auckland in New Zealand has been named the world's most liveable city.

Rising Omicron cases can impact growth by 0.3% in March quarter

Rising Omicron cases can impact growth by 0.3% in March quarter

Rediff.com4 Jan 2022

Growth might be impacted by up to 0.30 per cent in the March quarter as normal economic activities come under pressure due to restrictions being imposed by more states to curb rising Omicron cases, economists at the country's largest private sector lender HDFC Bank said on Tuesday. The economists said they were earlier estimating Q4 growth to come at 6.1 per cent, which can get impacted by 0.2-0.3 per cent because of the Omicron threat. "With states imposing Covid-related restrictions (night curfew on movement of people, restaurants allowed at 50 per cent capacity, offices to operate at 50 per cent capacity in various states), economic activity is likely to get impacted in Q4FY22," they said.

'We are losing our independence more and more'

'We are losing our independence more and more'

Rediff.com19 Sep 2022

'Laws have been used in a way to serve the needs of the current regime and its authoritarian ideology.'

Is India becoming a flawed democracy?

Is India becoming a flawed democracy?

Rediff.com9 Feb 2021

For those who think India's democracy is just fine and there has been no change in the last few years, perhaps it would be instructive to see what has happened on a few issues, observes Aakar Patel.

Petrol price can come down to Rs 75 under GST: SBI economists

Petrol price can come down to Rs 75 under GST: SBI economists

Rediff.com4 Mar 2021

Petrol price can go down to Rs 75 a litre across the country if brought under the ambit of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), but there is a lack of political will, which is keeping Indian oil product prices at one of the highest in the world, economists at SBI said on Thursday.

RBI to maintain status quo at April meet: Axis Bank

RBI to maintain status quo at April meet: Axis Bank

Rediff.com28 Mar 2022

Heightened geopolitical uncertainties will lead the Reserve Bank's rate-setting panel to opt for a status quo at the next week's meeting, Axis Bank's chief economist Saugata Bhattacharya said on Monday. Bhattacharya said he had earlier expected a tightening action at the policy meet scheduled for April 6-8 but the increased uncertainties on the geopolitical front due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and its impact on commodity prices makes him now think that RBI will defer such an action. He said the central bank's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) may hike rates in the second half of FY23 by up to 0.50 per cent.

Whither The Middle Class?

Whither The Middle Class?

Rediff.com12 Jul 2022

Ajit Balakrishnan on how to arrest a worldwide decline.

Why does Dr Banerjee provoke BJP ire?

Why does Dr Banerjee provoke BJP ire?

Rediff.com31 Oct 2019

'Mr Modi would compliment a Nobel Prize winner, but members of his party or the government would not be restrained from either making unfair comments or criticising him for having offered advice to an Opposition political party,' says A K Bhattacharya.

Gujarat/Himachal's 2024 Message For Modi

Gujarat/Himachal's 2024 Message For Modi

Rediff.com10 Dec 2022

The message for 2024 is that the man on the street is not going to be euphoric if the G-20 crowns Modi as king-emperor for 2023, or if India sends its first man to space just ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. Even a 'temple consecration' in Ayodhya, or a Uniform Civil Code, or both of them together, may not have enough electoral purchase if fuel and commodity prices are not rolled back, and money-in-the-pocket does not fatten, points out N Sathiya Moorthy.

Too Early To Cheer Up On Economy

Too Early To Cheer Up On Economy

Rediff.com29 Apr 2022

So, while it is great that India's numbers look relatively good, don't raise a cheer just yet, points out T N Ninan.

This super app will offer a range of multi-brand services for passenger cars

This super app will offer a range of multi-brand services for passenger cars

Rediff.com18 Jul 2022

A single application and a plethora of services for passenger cars - that is what myTVS, a brand that operates under Ki Mobility Solutions and is part of the TVS family, is set to bring to customers, in a bid to disrupt the concept of "super apps" in India. Starting July 15, myTVS will launch its connected car platform or super app called myTVS Life360 for aftermarket passenger cars. Through it, customers will be able to avail themselves of a range of services like maintenance, diagnostics, roadside assistance, accessories, payments, insurance, and so on.

Tharoor tweets new word, takes dig at Modi's beard

Tharoor tweets new word, takes dig at Modi's beard

Rediff.com2 Jul 2021

Tharoor said he learnt of the new word pogonotrophy, which means the growing or cultivation of a beard, from a friend.

Withdraw false land-grab charges: Amartya Sen to V-B VC

Withdraw false land-grab charges: Amartya Sen to V-B VC

Rediff.com19 Jan 2021

The noted economist said in the letter that his father had purchased free-hold land from the market and not from Visva-Bharati - to add to their homestead and he has been paying taxes for them.

'Modi understands when he is faltering'

'Modi understands when he is faltering'

Rediff.com23 Sep 2021

'He also understands and foresees potential challenges.'

Tax on interest of retail depositors needs relook: SBI

Tax on interest of retail depositors needs relook: SBI

Rediff.com21 Sep 2021

Retail depositors are earning negative returns on their bank deposits and hence, there is a need for reviewing taxes on interest earned, economists at the country's largest lender SBI have said. If not for all the depositors, the taxation review should be carried out for at least the deposits made by senior citizens who depend on the interest for their daily needs, the economists led by Soumya Kanti Ghosh said in a note, which pegged the overall retail deposits in the system at Rs 102 lakh crore. At present, banks deduct tax at source at the time of crediting interest income of over Rs 40,000 for all the depositors, while for senior citizens the taxes set-in if the income exceeds Rs 50,000 per year.

Starving One Ukraine to Defeat Another

Starving One Ukraine to Defeat Another

Rediff.com2 Aug 2022

If they can sit together and hammer out 'Black Sea Initiative' deal for much needed food shipments, surely, they should be able to address the madness of the larger military conflict?

Does Modi really care about Indians?

Does Modi really care about Indians?

Rediff.com6 Mar 2021

The Indian government today does not care what it does to Indians as long as it can continue on its path, observes Aakar Patel.

What economists and FM Sitharaman discussed in pre-Budget meet

What economists and FM Sitharaman discussed in pre-Budget meet

Rediff.com17 Jun 2019

Concerned by GDP slowdown and unrealistic tax targets, the economists urged Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to implement long-term structural steps like land and labour reforms. Warning against any off-Budget financing the economists said the government should prepare a statement of intent for its social, rural and welfare sector expenditure.

Economists tell Sitharaman to focus on reviving growth

Economists tell Sitharaman to focus on reviving growth

Rediff.com21 Dec 2019

At a pre-Budget meeting, the FM was asked to ensure that NBFCs come out of the liquidity crisis they are facing with the help of RBI. They also spoke about the futility of trying to achieve a 3 per cent fiscal deficit target over the medium term.

Indian economy in better shape than a year ago, says economist Pinaki Chakraborty

Indian economy in better shape than a year ago, says economist Pinaki Chakraborty

Rediff.com29 Nov 2021

India's macroeconomic situation is certainly better than what it was a year ago, eminent economist Pinaki Chakraborty said on Monday, while expressing hope that the country will be back on the path of economic growth if there is no major third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. In an interview with PTI, Chakraborty, who is the director of the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP), said that inflation may remain at an elevated level as there was a significant fiscal and monetary expansion in the last 18 months. "The current macroeconomic situation is certainly much better than what it was one year back. We are seeing recovery in most sectors," he said. Chakraborty noted that COVID-19 vaccination has been going on at a very fast rate in India.

BofA expects 8.2% GDP growth next fiscal

BofA expects 8.2% GDP growth next fiscal

Rediff.com24 Dec 2021

Warning that the new year will be riskier than the previous two in terms of growth, inflation and the perils of monetary policy normalisation on consumption demand in particular, along with other external risks, a Wall Street brokerage has pencilled in an 8.2 per cent GDP growth next fiscal, with more downside risks to the projection. The biggest risk to the projection is a derailed consumption demand that has been the main growth driver in the past many years, said the Bank of America Securities India house economists who still believe that consumption demand will remain the key driver of growth next fiscal as well.

Why The World Is Worried About India

Why The World Is Worried About India

Rediff.com4 Feb 2022

Our demonisation and dehumanisation of minorities and especially Muslims is so complete that calls for the abduction of and sexual violence against Muslim girls are acceptable in our society today and can be made in public spaces. The damage we have done to India internally and externally will be lasting, warns Aakar Patel.

India's Future: Tier 2 Cities

India's Future: Tier 2 Cities

Rediff.com16 Dec 2021

If India is to urbanise successfully, it has to focus on Tier 2 cities with a population of one-five million, observes T N Ninan.

Infosys commits to provide Salesforce 500 tech jobs

Infosys commits to provide Salesforce 500 tech jobs

Rediff.com17 Nov 2021

IT services major Infosys on Wednesday announced a new programme, wherein it will offer 500 job seekers the opportunity to complete a fully digital, online diploma course certified by Salesforce. The programme aims to prepare Americans for 21st century careers in the technology sector. Leveraging Trailhead, Salesforce's free online learning platform, the program will train these 500 American workers, free of cost, for roles at Infosys as Salesforce Certified Administrators and Salesforce Industries Developers, a statement said. The programme, targeting recent graduates from major universities, liberal arts colleges, and community colleges, will help Infosys to create a workforce prepared for the future, it added.

2021 may turn out to be India's year of IPOs: RBI

2021 may turn out to be India's year of IPOs: RBI

Rediff.com17 Aug 2021

The year 2021 could turn out to be India's year of IPO with the domestic unicorns through their public issues setting "domestic stock markets on fire and global investors in a frenzy", an RBI article said on Tuesday. The successful Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) by new age companies in the recent months are a reflection of bullishness about Indian technology, it said. "...growth impulse is igniting financial markets. 2021 could well turn out to be India's year of the IPO.

'Only Rs 10,000 cr more needed for vaccines'

'Only Rs 10,000 cr more needed for vaccines'

Rediff.com8 Jun 2021

The government's move to freely supply coronavirus vaccines to the states for universal inoculation and extend free rations to help the poor tide over the pandemic will only add an additional 40 bps of GDP to fiscal deficit, says a report, which also called for more transparent vaccine distribution plan for efficient vaccine allocation to the states.