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Friday, September 26, 2025
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Standard Deviation

Indian economy has rung 3 alarm bells. The new govt must deal with it within 100 days

Modi govt's GDP growth data for 2024-25, expected this month, must not overwhelm the senses of the new government that comes to power in June.

Election has come at a time just as private sector was about to step up investment

For the first time in about 30 years, there are strong fears that the overall political consensus on key economic policy aspects seems to be fracturing.

India doesn’t need new taxes to uplift its poor. Existing welfare schemes are doing well

The social safety net for the Indian population is adequate, though improvements in health and education infrastructure are necessary and can be achieved through reallocating capital expenditure.

India took pride in foreign spending. Under Modi govt, it has become a source of insecurity

Since October 2023, foreign transactions above Rs 7 lakh under Liberalised Remittance Scheme have attracted a 20% tax collected at source. It’s sending a signal to big spenders abroad: we are watching you.

India Inc-Modi govt friendship is cracking. Lack of level-playing field just one reason

Smaller investors don’t want to enter sectors where India’s big corporate players are dominant, not for fear of market forces, but for fear of non-market ones.

Modi govt is changing rural India. They are spending differently from MGNREGA era

The highlight of Household Consumption Expenditure Survey 2022-23 is that the share of rural households' expenditure on cereals has fallen below 10% for the first time.

India is outsourcing its tax burden to companies. Better for Modi government, not taxpayers

It is important for the government to now reassess what it wants to keep with itself and what it wants to hand over to the private sector.

PSE policy is dying a slow death. More than half are non-operational or loss-making

Nobody is calling for haste in the disinvestment process, but there’s no reason for the current pace. Perhaps for political reasons, govt can’t take back the policy—it's admitting defeat.

PM Modi should avoid temptation of turning Interim Budgets into vote-getting tools

If Modi is confident about winning a third term, he must also use this opportunity to decisively bifurcate economic & fiscal policy from short-term aims of winning elections.

From IMF to rating agencies, Modi govt’s rebuttals are improving. Backed by data & valid arguments

A team of technically-savvy key personnel with diverse skill-sets has allowed govt and RBI to formulate sound arguments in place of the earlier rhetoric-based rebuttals.

On Camera

India can’t go one-on-one with Morocco. Move beyond bilateral deals in Africa or get left out

India’s entry into Morocco should not be seen as a direct counter to Pakistan-Saudi Arabia or any singular rivalry. Geopolitics no longer works through straight-line confrontations.

Market regulator SEBI clears Adani Group of impropriety alleged by Hindenburg Research

SEBI probe concluded that purported loans and fund transfers were paid back in full and did not amount to deceptive market practices or unreported related party transactions.

Govt inks deal with HAL for 97 new Tejas Mk1A; previous order’s deliveries likely to begin next yr

There were no plans to have Mk1A version. However, compromise was reached between HAL & IAF in 2015 since original plan for getting Mk2 would've been time-consuming affair.

India doesn’t give walkovers to Pakistan in war. Here’s why it shouldn’t do it in cricket either

Many really smart people now share the position that playing cricket with Pakistan is politically, strategically and morally wrong. It is just a poor appreciation of competitive sport.