https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/economy/budget-2020-solar-pump-scheme-may-be-good-for-farmers-but-is-susceptible-to-misuse-4892321.html
Budget2020
Solar pumps is a terribly bad idea
RN Bhaskar -- 1 Feb 2020
“I propose to expand the scheme to provide 20 lakh farmers for setting up stand‐alone solar pumps; further we shall also help another 15 lakh farmers solarise their...
https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/warehousing-is-a-great-idea-but-the-linkages-need-to-be-fixed-to-make-it-work-4893161.html
Budget2020
Warehousing is a great idea, but the linkages are missing
RN Bhaskar -- 1 February 2020
India has an estimated capacity of 162 million MT of agri-warehousing, cold storage, reefer van facilities etc. NABARD will undertake an exercise to map and...
https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/budget-2020-airconditioned-freight-for-perishable-food-cost-will-be-the-critical-factor-4894101.html
Budget2020
Airconditioned freight? Who will bear the cost?
RN Bhaskar -- 1 February 2020
To build a seamless national cold supply chain for perishables, inclusive of milk, meat and fish, the Indian Railways will set up a “Kisan Rail” – through PPP...
https://www.freepressjournal.in/business/the-mood-is-upbeat-with-swedish-companies-in-india
Interview: Anna Lekvall
A flourishing relationship between Sweden and India
By Jescilia Karayamparambil & RN Bhaskar -- January 31, 2020
Like her predecessors, Anna Lekvall, Consul General of Sweden in Mumbai, plans to continue focussing on business, looking at India-Sweden ties. She...
https://www.firstpost.com/business/budget-2020-govt-must-give-priority-to-agriculture-empower-farm-sector-to-revive-economy-dont-hand-out-doles-and-sops-7978151.html
To revive the economy please look at agriculture first
RN Bhaskar -- Jan 31, 2020
Except for pampered farmers who grow rice and wheat (where the Food Corporation of India (FCI) procures their produce), and plantation growers, most other farmers...
https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/economy/budget-2020-dont-cripple-the-nation-with-onerous-import-duties-4868191.html
Pre-budget notes #5
High import duties often pay for favoured promoters and votebanks, not the economy
The announcement of the budget is barely a week away. Government spokesmen claim it will kickstart a flagging economy. Hopefully it will. But if it...
https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/economy/budget-2020-govt-needs-to-assure-foreign-investors-with-stable-laws-4853971.html
Pre Budget notes #4
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RN Bhaskar -- 24 January 2020
By now, there is no doubt that India is sliding down a slippery slope. Even the IMF recently downgraded India’s economic growth to 4.8% for the coming year (https://mmb.moneycontrol.com/forum-topics/stocks/sbi/thread-message-79498903-81298903.html). Privately, economists...
https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/economy/policy/pre-budget-series-barbarians-at-the-gates-of-education-4824521.html
Pre-Budget-series - III
Please save education from the wolves
RN Bhaskar -- 17 January 2020
Dear Finance Minister:
I write this note both as a journalist as well as a person closely involved with the world of academics. And also as a concerned...
https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/commodities/gold-needs-some-very-urgently-needed-policy-changes-4820471.html
Policy changes for gold urgently required
RN Bhaskar -- January 15, 2020
Successive governments in India have waffled on gold policies for long (http://www.asiaconverge.com/2019/11/urgent-needfor-gold-reforms/). As a result, the entire gold trade was allowed to either go underground, or go to seed.
The...
https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/economy/budget-2020-to-fix-the-slowing-economy-begin-with-agriculture-4810561.html
Pre-Budget #1
Economic revival must begin with agriculture
RN Bhaskar -- 13 January 2020
Another Budget season is just round the corner. The finance minister and even the prime minister are determined to show that they can introduce measures that can revive...