News: The idea of buying a third aircraft carrier may have to be delayed due to the current economic situation. There is a broad consensus in the strategic community on the Indian Navy having two aircraft carriers, one for each of the two seaboards. There also exists a broad consensus on acquiring the third carrier… Continue reading Is the time right for India to get a third aircraft carrier?
Author: Ram Manohar
A new measure of inflation is brewing on the horizon
News: A radical shift in paradigm with respect to the calculation of the Consumer price index has recently been initiated in the United Kingdom, by the British journalist, cookbook author, and anti-poverty campaigner, Jack Monroe. The “Vimes Boots Index” as the name of a price index, she planned to document inflation in prices of basic… Continue reading A new measure of inflation is brewing on the horizon
The Tobin funnel and post-covid stimulus withdrawal dilemmas
News: The Government has recently signaled that India will exit its extraordinary fiscal and monetary policies of pandemic times, gradually. Contents1 Why there is a need to exit the pandemic-induced extraordinary policy?2 What are the policy challenges existing for India?3 What is Tobin Funnel model?4 How Tobin model creates policy dilemma?5 What is the way… Continue reading The Tobin funnel and post-covid stimulus withdrawal dilemmas
Amending the FRBM Act
News: The finance ministry has excused itself from providing a projection of its fiscal consolidation plan. What is the issue? In the recent budget, the Union finance ministry committed to reducing the government’s fiscal deficit from 6.9 percent of gross domestic product or GDP in 2021-22 to 6.4 percent in 2022-23. Further, the deficit is… Continue reading Amending the FRBM Act
Trust and Loan – on Central loans to states
News: In the Union budget 2022-23, Finance Minister has provided for Rs. 1 lakh crore in loans to state governments to enable them to increase their capital expenditure. These loans will be interest free and repayable after 50 years. Why such an arrangement raises questions regarding Centre-state fiscal relations? One, the first and foremost issue… Continue reading Trust and Loan – on Central loans to states
Questions on MGNREGA budget estimation
News: The disappointing allocation for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act in the FY 2022-23 budget has created a buzz. Government’s allocation for MGNREGA has been much lower than what State governments ask for and civil society actors had recommended. For instance, The initial allocations in the past two FYs have been just about… Continue reading Questions on MGNREGA budget estimation
Manufacturing exports can gain from India’s empowerment push
News: The recent released Budget 2022-23 carries forward the government’s vision of empowering Indians and enabling economic activity. This article discusses how manufacturing can help India in empowering people and increase the growth rate. How manufacturing exports can help India’s empowerment push? First, the weakening of manufacturing in many developed nations has caused social divisions… Continue reading Manufacturing exports can gain from India’s empowerment push
Method to the Make-in-India plan: Decoding our import tariff policy
News: According to the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Tariff Profile for 2021, India has one of the highest average tariffs of 15% in the Asia-Pacific region. Contents1 This article discusses the need to align Make-in-India with trade policy.2 What other countries are doing?3 What does India need to learn from previous agreements?4 What is the… Continue reading Method to the Make-in-India plan: Decoding our import tariff policy
Address the challenges of doing ESG ratings at the onset
News: Recently, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has come out with a paper on how credit-rating agencies (CRAs) should go about ESG exercise. The article says there is need of proper assessment before allowing CRAs to become ESG rating agencies. How Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) investing is becoming the ‘next big… Continue reading Address the challenges of doing ESG ratings at the onset
Corporate governance is a pot on high-heat again
News: SEBI has recently announced that company boards need not compulsorily split the posts of chairperson and managing director between two individuals. This choice is “voluntary” now. This was a roll-back of a directive issued in 2018. Why this decision of SEBI needs to be analyzed in the context of corporate governance? One, in India… Continue reading Corporate governance is a pot on high-heat again
