https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/morality-is-fine-but-liquor-is-quicker-why-opening-of-wine-shops-amid-pandemic-raises-serious-questions
The politics of liquor -- men, morals, Mammon and madira
RN Bhaskar -- 8 May 2020
Last week, the Union government eased the lockdown imposed on the country. It allowed several types of shops to open. But a startling inclusion was...
https://www.freepressjournal.in/business/investments-land-is-the-smallest-part-of-the-problem
Investments: The government dangles the promise of land for global investors; but they want more important issues settled first
RN Bhaskar -- 5 May 2020
The government appears to be in a rush to present a friendly face to foreign investors...
https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/india/the-missing-death-data-that-would-have-helped-coronavirus-fight-5186071.html
Coronavirus fight is hampered because info on deaths in India disappeared from government websites
RN Bhaskar -- 24 April 2020
There was a time when anybody could access data of deaths taking place in India. Not anymore. At least, the information...
https://www.freepressjournal.in/analysis/the-us-sues-china-how-much-of-it-is-truth
The US sues China – looking through the fog
RN Bhaskar – 23 Apr 2020
The US has finally filed a case against China. This is one of the rare times when a sovereign republic decides to challenge the way another...
https://www.freepressjournal.in/business/from-loss-of-jobs-in-the-middle-east-to-rising-unemployment-back-home-heres-how-the-oil-price-crash-will-affect-india
Oil prices tumble. Is that good for India?
RN Bhaskar -- 21 April, 2020
Oil prices have crashed. Just look at the chart alongside sourced from https://www.bbc.com/news/business-52350082. It has plunged into negative territory because traders want to jettison the stocks they...
https://www.freepressjournal.in/business/amid-coronavirus-a-fresh-crisis-brews-in-the-indian-milk-industry
There is surplus milk production, while milk demand has slumped
RN Bhaskar
A fresh crisis is brewing in the Indian milk industry. The causes are two – the current lockdown conditions, and a milk surplus.
First, there is no denying that milk...
A modified version appeared at https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/india/milk-the-road-to-perdition-is-often-through-subsidies-5142591.html
Subsidies unmaketh the milk industry in India
Subsidies threaten an industry that can single-handedly change the fortunes of millions of dairy farmers in the country.
RN Bhaskar – 14 April, 2020
India’s milk industry – the largest...
https://www.freepressjournal.in/business/coronavirus-in-india-close-precious-metal-commodity-markets-urge-experts
Coronavirus lockdown requires precious metal commodity markets to be closed immediately
RN Bhaskar – 10 April, 2020
Experts in the commodity markets in India have appealed to the government to suspend all commodity trades in precious metals.
This is because hitherto, physical...
A modified version of this report appeared at https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/economy/policy/coronavirus-pandemic-indias-poor-healthcare-spending-is-hurting-the-fight-5123081.html
Coronavirus and health – India paints a sorry picture
If the coronavirus is battering India, don’t be surprised. India has not paid attention to health services. The worst performer is Maharashtra. Not...
https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/coronavirus-in-india-maharashtra-emerges-as-a-state-that-does-not-care-much-about-peoples-health
Coronavirus has taught Maharashtra that spending on health makes sense, and promoting slums doesn't
RN Bhaskar – 8 April 2020
As the coronavirus epidemic continues its rampage across India, it becomes clear that Maharashtra has been the worst affected.
But that should...