The terms 'poor' & 'poverty' figured just once in Sitharaman's speech, as compared to 16 times in this year’s interim budget speech, 23 in 2018-19 and 22 in 2017-18.
Twenty states independently show more than a 14% increase in their revenues, courtesy the two years of GST, writes former finance minister Arun Jaitley.
Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman targeted on social media after govt move to 'compulsorily retire' senior IT Department official Sanjay Kumar Srivastava.
While Arun Jaitley opted out and Sushma Swaraj didn't fight polls, others such as Maneka Gandhi & Rajyavardhan Rathore couldn't find a place in new govt.
As Arun Jaitley opts out of govt and Modi tries to persuade him to continue, read this December 2015 National Interest on why Jaitley’s so vital for Modi.
Finance ministry says the proposed revamp will focus on structural reforms, rate rationalisation & ease of living, & will be deliberated upon in the coming weeks.
The project is meant to be a ‘protective shield that will keep expanding’, the PM said. It is on the lines of the ‘Golden Dome’ announced by Trump, it is learnt.
Standing up to America is usually not a personal risk for a leader in India. Any suggestions of foreign pressure unites India behind who they see as leading them in that fight.
I think even a modest reduction in the budgeted figure of 3.3% for the fiscal deficit sends out a message of prudent / responsible macroeconomic management. That should be reinforced by ensuring that the numbers can be taken at face value by all responsible stakeholders. Clearly, turbocharged growth is what the economy now needs. $ 5 trillion is a nice round figure, like 6 feet for a serious athlete who is training for the high jump. Each sector of the economy has to do its share of heavy lifting to get us there. Manufacturing and exports – two subjects FM has dealt with earlier – need special attention. Given how hard this government works, how little sleep it gets at nigh, the challenges must be top of its mind all the time.
I think even a modest reduction in the budgeted figure of 3.3% for the fiscal deficit sends out a message of prudent / responsible macroeconomic management. That should be reinforced by ensuring that the numbers can be taken at face value by all responsible stakeholders. Clearly, turbocharged growth is what the economy now needs. $ 5 trillion is a nice round figure, like 6 feet for a serious athlete who is training for the high jump. Each sector of the economy has to do its share of heavy lifting to get us there. Manufacturing and exports – two subjects FM has dealt with earlier – need special attention. Given how hard this government works, how little sleep it gets at nigh, the challenges must be top of its mind all the time.
… at night …
Working hard is not necessarily working well. I would rather they sleep well and delivered results rather than stayed awake for no effect.