News: According to a United Nations report, India has become the country with the second longest COVID-19 pandemic-linked school closure in the world. Why Indian schools remain reluctant to reopen? First, misinformation such as ‘the third wave would affect children’ made by influential individuals have scared parents. Second, occasional incidents of children being hospitalised are… Continue reading The pathology of school closure in India
Author: Ram Manohar
Gaming and banning: On ban on online games
News: Recently, legislative attempts to prohibit online gaming have failed under judicial scrutiny. What was the issue? First, the amendments brought to existing regulations on betting and gambling in Karnataka have been struck down by the State’s High Court. Also, last year, the Madras High Court invalidated similar amendments that targeted online rummy and poker.… Continue reading Gaming and banning: On ban on online games
The Yogi, The CEO & The Lesson – On Algo Scam
News: Recently, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has issued the final order on the “Algo scam” at the National Stock Exchange (NSE). What is “algo scam” and what has happened? Read more here: https://forumias.com/blog/governance-breakdown/ What does this reveal? One, even if the information shared wasn’t price-sensitive, had nothing to do with trading… Continue reading The Yogi, The CEO & The Lesson – On Algo Scam
The myth of the trickle-down
News: This article says trickle-down is a flawed approach and that’s why Indian policymakers must discover India’s own model of development and shed defunct economic theories. How budget 2022-23 is aligned towards a trickle-down theory? The budget has not announced any populist measure, and taxes on incomes and wealth have not increased. Also, economists believe… Continue reading The myth of the trickle-down
LIC disinvestment: Right and wrong
News: The Government of India (GoI) is disinvesting 5 per cent of the shares of the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC). However, the GoI will retain control of the company. Why LIC should be privatized rather than disinvested? First, the previous experience shows outcome of disinvestment in public sector banks has not been good… Continue reading LIC disinvestment: Right and wrong
Niti versus Nyaya: When policy provisions deny people justice
News: A recently released paper titled Jailed for Doing Business by Gautam Chikermane of Observer Research Foundation and Rishi Agrawal of Teamlease Regtech has documented the jail provisions faced by Indian entrepreneurs. This article discusses the difference between Niti and Nyaya while discussing the over-regulation in Indian economy. What does the research paper reveal? There… Continue reading Niti versus Nyaya: When policy provisions deny people justice
Governance breakdown
News: Recently, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has issued the final order on the “Algo scam” at the National Stock Exchange (NSE). The article reveals the multiple layers of the scam in the securities market and suggests that the regulator must ensure that scams like this should never occur. What is the… Continue reading Governance breakdown
GST has been a win-win taxation regime for the Centre and states
News: Recently, India’s chief economic advisor claimed that GST had led to a faster increase in revenues for states such as Tamil Nadu than the sales tax, which was collected earlier. How GST is a win-win taxation regime? First, definitions play a key role in comparisons. The definitional issue is important because the state’s own… Continue reading GST has been a win-win taxation regime for the Centre and states
A Blueprint to Revive Farming
News: The recently released Budget 2022-23 has increased the agricultural credit target to Rs 18 lakh crore for 2022-23 from Rs 16.5 lakh crore for the current fiscal, with an allocated subsidy of Rs 20,870 crore. What is the need to increase Agri-credit? First, both the budget speech and the Economic Survey 2021-22 recommended crop… Continue reading A Blueprint to Revive Farming
India’s semiconductor dream
News: Recently, the government has decided to extend the PLI (Production-Linked Incentive) scheme to encourage semiconductor manufacturing in India. Why countries are focusing more on manufacturing of semiconductors? One, the overdependence of the world on East Asia for fab manufacturing, rising price of silicon, China-U.S. trade war and the pandemic has exposed the fragility of… Continue reading India’s semiconductor dream
