Himachal's treasury has notched up overdraft of Rs 1,000 cr in 1st quarter, it is learnt. Congress's poll promises are expected to burden the state's coffers further.
Power sector reforms, preventing leakages in subsidies payments and avoiding fiscally unwise decisions like reversion to old pension system can help improve their financial health.
Govt is being sensible in asking for bigger RBI dividend & raising petroleum taxes. But Covid is increasing fiscal stress caused by preceding economic slowdown.
Emerging from the Covid crisis, the Centre will have to take a fresh approach to reviving growth, re-visiting fiscal balance with states, re-imagining GST etc.
Either Modi govt is expecting a revenue windfall that will be passed on to states, or states will be squeezed even further. My guess is it will be the latter.
Experts say debt is not a problem as long as it is sustainable. The issue is whether the massive generation of debt since the global financial crisis is going to be profitable.
Pakistan's SSG team was not adequately provisioned for the inclement weather. If it managed to consolidate its position, the story of Siachen would have been different.
The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz eases supply fears, but controlled shipping, slow output recovery, and high costs may delay oil flow normalisation for months.
This special edition of Cut The Clutter, straight from the Siliguri corridor, details the strategic importance of the narrow strip of land in West Bengal, and how it’s a vital link connecting the Northeast to the rest of India.
American objectives are unmet. They neither have muscle nor motivation to resume the war. As for Iran, the regime didn’t just survive, it’s now led by more radical individuals.
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