26 C 
Gas pricing, pipeline to a free market
India's gas pricing is undergoing significant reform. A committee has recommended freeing up prices for certain gas fields and removing ceilings. This move aims to align domestic prices with global markets and encourage investment. The changes are expected to benefit consumers and producers alike. The government is moving towards a more market-driven approach for gas.
Shielding banks with the antiquated 'statutory liquidity ratio' only breeds complacency, abolish it
In light of India's ambitious growth targets, there is a compelling appeal for RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra to rethink the relevance of the Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR). This antiquated rule compels financial institutions to allocate a significant portion of their resources to government debt, limiting their ability to invest in entrepreneurial ventures and other productive domains.
Why India needs a 'rejection culture': Calling out poor quality to build a truly viksit nation
The tragic loss of children due to tainted cough syrup underscores a glaring deficiency in our national quality standards. Across various sectors, from infrastructure to healthcare, a troubling complacency towards poor outcomes persists. This mindset of accepting mediocrity stifles our progress.
NDA's Bihar win solidifies GoI's position not to fall for the 'Asim Munir trap'
Under the leadership of Asim Munir, Pakistan's approach to terrorism seeks to bait India into a traditional conflict for survival. The Red Fort incident serves as a testament to this objective, while the results of the Bihar elections suggest a burgeoning stability in India, opening avenues for a strategic recalibration amid the changing geopolitical landscape.
Dems in disarray? Meet the GOP in rebellion
American politics is in the throes of substantial change. The Democratic Party is grappling with fierce disagreements that pit progressive ideals against centrist beliefs. On the flip side, the Republican Party is not merely a Trump stronghold anymore; it's experiencing a surge of independent thought and rebellion.
India's governance journey involves more than just removing rules. True reform means creating smart, risk-based regulations. This is crucial for sectors like railways, pharmaceuticals, and emerging technologies. Stronger laws are needed to foster competition, ensure predictability, and protect citizens. This approach builds trust and drives progress.
Ready, steady, dead, that urge to be first to show
Many perfectly decent people jumped the gun last week upon hearing the 'devastating' news about Dharmendra. Again, as horrible as it must have been for the great actor's family members, wanting to be first off the blocks has been simplified by our trigger-happy times. It merely amplifies that primal desire to tell the world that you know something that they don't know (yet).
India's star athlete: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium
Built in the early-80s for the 1982 Asian Games, JLN is a sprawling complex with over a hundred small offices tucked within its capacious interior. Aside from usual suspects like Sports Authority of India and National Dope Testing Laboratory, there was even a Bridge Association that operated out of there. A sports book library run by SAI was sadly in a state of serious neglect.
A lost-and-found dog, cracker-bursting psychopaths, & joys of being misanthropic
'Finding Pandey' could well have been a box office smash action flick, with caricatured villains and happy ending, much like another 'real' film that provides catharsis after a harrowing ordeal
What does BJP's victory in Bihar reveal about India's political landscape?
The NDA government's Bihar re-election victory highlights Nitish Kumar's appeal and BJP's organizational might. BJP emerged as the leading party, a contrast to its 2010 role. This marks BJP's rise in Bihar and a broadening of its voter base. The party strategically targets regional parties' vote share. Economic factors like outmigration and remittances also play a role.
Centre-state Patnaship: What powered the NDA tsunami & sank the MGB in Bihar
Bihar's electorate has spoken decisively, favoring the NDA and bestowing an incredible tenth term upon Nitish Kumar. With an impressive vote share and new seats won, the outcomes stand in stark contrast to the Mahagathbandhan's narrowly focused caste-based tactics, revealing their inadequacies in policy discourse.
Like cricket, India's economic growth hinges on collective action. While progress has been made since liberalization, challenges in labor reform implementation and regulatory burdens persist. Strengthening public and private investment, boosting productivity, and fostering integration into global supply chains are crucial for India to achieve its goal of becoming an advanced economy.
Theres no free digital lunch: Why India must rethink UPIs zero-fee model
Small merchants are facing unexplained fees on UPI transactions, linked to RuPay credit card MDR. While UPI was promoted as free, these charges are eroding that perception. Regulators are urged to ensure transparency, allow merchants to choose payment instruments, and consider surcharging to address these opaque practices.
In crafting its Constitution, India chose not to abolish caste but to leverage it as a framework for social equity through policies like reservations. This move inadvertently deepened castes integration into politics and administration, diverting attention from Ambedkar's vision of a society free from caste distinctions.
