News: SBI Research in a recent report said that the size of India’s informal economy had shrunk from 52% of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2017-18 to around a current maximum of 15-20%. However, the report is inaccurate in many accounts. Read more here: https://forumias.com/blog/the-high-cost-of-indias-illusive-quest-for-formalization/ Why the recently released report by the State Bank of… Continue reading An estimate of a big formal shift that stretches credulity too far
Author: Ram Manohar
What the SC order on RERA means for homebuyers
News: Recently, The Supreme Court had suggested some changes in the Real Estate Regulatory Authority Act (RERA) to protect the interests of homebuyers. What are the impacts of ruling on the RERA act? The ruling strengthens the interests of homebuyers, protects their rights, and tells developers to conform to the RERA provisions. SC rulings can… Continue reading What the SC order on RERA means for homebuyers
The debacle of demonetisation
News: Not a single one of the claims made for demonetisation has been materialised. Read more here: https://forumias.com/blog/the-case-of-demonetisation-in-india/ Physical cash remains the dominant mode of exchange: The ratio of currency with the public to national income has, at 11.5%, remarkably remained the same from 2015-16 onwards. Money seems to remain a chosen medium of exchange… Continue reading The debacle of demonetisation
Charting India’s path to a ‘Digital Rupee’
News: Recently, Nigeria launched its non-interest-yielding central bank digital currency (CBDC) — the eNaira. Along the similar lines, CBDC pilot projects are underway in at least 17 other countries. The primary drivers for central banks of EMDEs (emerging market and developing economies) to study CBDCs are domestic payments efficiency, financial inclusion, and payments safety. In… Continue reading Charting India’s path to a ‘Digital Rupee’
Why stubble burning is so hard to fix
News: Post Diwali, Delhi and the entire Gangetic plains have been covered in a thick blanket of smog. Stubble burning by farmers in states such as Punjab, Haryana, and parts of Uttar Pradesh is just one of many causes for declining air quality in Delhi. Recently, the Supreme Court too acknowledged this fact while directing… Continue reading Why stubble burning is so hard to fix
How the economy gets a boost from efficient logistics
News: Recently, the government released the annual Logistics Ease Across Different States (LEADS) report for 2021. LEADS report ranks states and Union territories (UTs) on the efficiency of their logistics ecosystem. It aims to induce stakeholders to make necessary improvements. Must read: Gujarat retains pole position in logistics index: Commerce ministry report How will efficient logistics help? With the country aspiring… Continue reading How the economy gets a boost from efficient logistics
Shielding farm sector from climate change
News: Climatic anomalies affect agriculture directly. Hence, there is a need for effective strategy to protect agriculture from its ill effects. Changes in the intensity, frequency, and seasonality of climate patterns, extreme weather events, rainfall pattern and river flows etc. are likely to impact agriculture sector. How would climate change affect the farm sector? The… Continue reading Shielding farm sector from climate change
An RBI public interface that can recast banking
News: RBI has opened a retail window for bonds. Along with this, the launch of its digital rupee next could enable RBI to take over the bank depository function. Recently, RBI launched the Retail Direct scheme. Under this scheme, people can invest directly in government bonds. As these are virtually risk-free, people would be attracted… Continue reading An RBI public interface that can recast banking
Nuclear fusion could be close enough to start blue-sky gazing
News: The nuclear-fusion startup, Helion, recently announced that it has developed new technologies that may make nuclear fusion viable. Nuclear fusion could be used to produce relatively clean energy (hydrogen fuel), which could then be deployed in a number of ways, unleashing a chain reaction across the global economy. How cheap and clean energy could… Continue reading Nuclear fusion could be close enough to start blue-sky gazing
Creating safe digital spaces
News: It is imperative that digital and social media platforms are free of cyberbullying. Govt must step up its efforts to counter this menace. Recently, UNESCO Member States declared the first Thursday of November as the International Day against Violence and Bullying at School, including cyberbullying. It has recognized that school-related violence is an infringement… Continue reading Creating safe digital spaces
