Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest sparks debate on political vendettas and judicial delays, highlighting the public’s disillusionment with the legal system and politicians’ misuse of power for harassment Is it wrong to arrest a sitting chief minister like Arvind Kejriwal? No, chief ministers should have no immunity. But the charges should be credible. Is Kejriwal’s arrest justified after […]
Will Kejriwal in jail sway voters? Not a chance Read More »
India has agreed to reduce import duties on electric vehicles (EVs) for companies like Tesla, clearing the way for the automaker to enter the Indian market. The reduced duty, from 70-100% to 15%, applies to all global companies, not just Tesla, and is tied to a minimum investment of $500 million. While some argue against
Research shows frequent polls are bad for India, but democracies need checks and balances. One way out would be not-so-simultaneous polls Holding simultaneous central and state elections could raise GDP by as much as 1.5% (a whopping Rs 4.5 trillion) in the year after the election. So says an academic paper by former Finance Commission
One nation, one poll? There is a midway solution Read More »
Consider per-capita GDP in the top half of states. The richest are the mini-states of Goa and Sikkim. Among major states, toppers are Telangana and Karnataka, but Haryana, a northern state, is a close third. Tamil Nadu comes lower. Next are Gujarat, Kerala and Maharashtra. The West is India’s industrial powerhouse. Mumbai is India’s commercial
A second term for Donald Trump could have dramatic consequences for foreign policy and other big changes for India. The US election is still eight months away. Opinion polls put Donald Trump ahead in five of the six swing states that will determine the outcome. Now, opinion polls are fallible. In last week’s Super Tuesday primaries in 15 states,
What Trump’s return will mean for India Read More »
While accepting that surveys grossly underestimate the spending of the rich, Indian statisticians have assumed that the non-rich mainly tell the truth. Sorry, but they too have every incentive to understate. India is rich in dubious data. A good example is the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey, 2022-23. Its reams of data have been analysed threadbare,
Consumption survey needs an overhaul Read More »
Had distress been driving poor people to work, Female Workforce Participate Rate would have risen fastest for the poorest deciles of the rural population. In fact, rise has been slowest for the poorest decile, from 16.5% to just 19%. It has risen fastest for the top two deciles, from 19.4% and 19.9% to 32.6% and
Increased female participation in workforce implies prosperity, not distress Read More »
With very high debt/GDP ratio and land prices, it is losing out to states like Gujarat Readers, do not sympathise with powerful farmer unions of Punjab who are on the warpath again. Politicians, beware of the temptation of buying farm votes through surrender just before the general election. Ever-rising subsidies and props demanded by farmers have bankrupted Punjab. Giving
Why Punjab model of farm freebies is wrong Read More »
Singh was a Jat farm leader of UP, whose grandson Jayant Chaudhary heads RLD. The grandfather gained fame in 1958 for opposing the forced co-relativisation of farms. UP politics was dominated by upper castes in the 1950s. The ambitious Singh sought to change that by fair means or foul. He spearheaded the ‘Aya Ram, Gaya
Rao over racket of Bharat Ratnas Read More »
NDA adopted and improved on many UPA initiatives. So how can Congress criticise them? The White Paper on the economy “doth protest too much”, to borrow an oft-quoted Shakespearean phrase. It lashes out at the UPA government (2004-14) for gross mismanagement of the economy, while showering praise on the NDA era (2014-24). Doubtless, the UPA government committed many blunders
India’s strong economy is cumulative effect of reforms since 1991 Read More »
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