Topic: Modi 3.0

The last 17 months have seen a gradual deferment of and pushback against schemes that are protectionist by nature.

After backing down on the land acquisition bill in the first term and on farm laws in the second, Modi seems to have lost the appetite for reforms in the third.

The customs duty exemption in Union Budget 2025 is also set to give a leg up to the electric vehicle market and lower the battery cost.

While Modi 2.0 went flat out with legislative changes, implementing its political agenda, Modi 3.0 is more focused on schemes and projects and less on its political goals.

Omar Abdullah being a key rival to the Indian PM in Kashmir also makes international news, as do the demonstrations taking place in Kenya against Adani Group.

Budget 2024: Apart from revising income tax rate structure, FM also proposed the abolishment of angel tax for start-ups, and unveiled big sops for Bihar and Andhra Pradesh.

While a senior IAS officer argued that educational qualifications play key role in domain expertise, an ex-finance secy says what secretary-level officers learn on ground matters far more.

With a favourable macro-fiscal backdrop, the finance minister can use the additional fiscal space to either hasten the path to consolidation or support the sectors with subdued growth.

BJP leadership is smart enough to recognise how vindictive CBI arrest of Arvind Kejriwal or Delhi L-G permission to prosecute Arundhati Roy looks. But it doesn’t care. The message is clear: will come after you and will get you somehow.

Sector analysts warn that with Go First expected to remain grounded & SpiceJet struggling, industry is likely to consolidate to just 2-3 player market, hampering competition.