Massive imports of oil and natural gas have exacerbated India’s big trade deficit, which is a hurdle to the acceleration of economic growth. Light at the end of the tunnel comes from a technological breakthrough last week by JOGMEC (Japan […]
Fire from ice: A promising new energy source Read More »
Dear Rahul Gandhi, You hit the headlines last week by saying you are disinclined to marry and have kids because then \”I will become a status quoist and will become concerned about bequeathing my position to my children.\” Second, you
The status quo prince doth protest too much Read More »
\”Can\’t buy me love,\” sang the Beatles. \”Can\’t buy me an election\” is the theme of this year\’s budget. Finance ministers usually produce freebies, subsidies and waivers in their last budget before an election. Such attempts to buy votes have
Can\’t buy me an election with budget freebies Read More »
\”Can\’t buy me love,\” sang the Beatles. \”Can\’t buy me an election\” is the theme of this year\’s budget. Finance ministers usually produce freebies, subsidies and waivers in their last budget before an election. Such attempts to buy votes have
Can\’t buy me an election with budget freebies Read More »
To meet a budget crunch, taxes on income, capital gains and dividends have gone up in the US, and may rise further. This has fed speculation that the Indian budget will follow suit. There is also speculation that Chidambaram will
Our tax system should go the ASEAN way Read More »
Six months ago, the government was seen as a hopeless, paralysed ditherer, frightened of annoying anybody (especially Mamata Banerjee). But since Chidambaram became Finance Minister, the government has started looking like an activist reformer that means business. Risking defeat in
New economic activism has strong political roots Read More »
Dear Mr Chidambaram, You have been globetrotting to convince the world you are dead serious about budgetary prudence, limiting your fiscal deficit to 5.3 per cent of GDP in 2012-13. You have also promised an investment-friendly climate to attract foreign
Tax illiteracy is no solution for budget deficits Read More »
Once, budget proposals were top secret. The Finance Minister wouldn\’t breathe a word on budget-related matters for months before the event. But no more. Finance Minister P. Chidambaram is touring the world, hitting global headlines on what the budget will
From kirana store budgets to open budgets Read More »
Barack Obama’s triumphal second inauguration as US President has been tarnished by Al Qaida’s attack on an Algerian gas plant that killed 38 foreigners. US analysts may ignore the connection, but the Libyan chickens have come home to roost. A
From Libya to Algeria, a bloody trail Read More »
Railway fares have finally been raised for the first time in 10 years. Even so, the change may reduce just Rs 6,600 crore of the loss of Rs 25,000 crore on passenger traffic. Why do governments subsidise rail fares so
De-politicize railways, create independent corporation Read More »
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