Policy Watch

The Indian government’s inflated aspirations are laughable R N Bhaskar Image from Canva -- https://www.canva.com The Indian government has big plans, and mighty pronouncements.  Examine them closely, and they appear horrifyingly inflated. They have become objects for derisive laughter in many countries. The...

https://www.freepressjournal.in/business/policy-watch-pre-budget-blues-going-beyond-the-numbers Pre-budget blues – fund allocations don't mean anything till basics are put in place RN Bhaskar This column will appear just a little time before budget announcements are actually made. And the purpose of writing this column is not to talk...

https://www.freepressjournal.in/analysis/chinas-investment-can-grow-further Don't underestimate China's savvy when investing in India RN Bhaskar - 19 March, 2020 Note from the author: This article has two parts to it. This part looks at investments China has already made in India.  The second part will examine...

http://www.freepressjournal.in/analysis/rn-bhaskar-israels-second-turnaround-startup-to-super-startup/1027628 The reasons which have made Israel a super-startup nation Rn bhaskar Fifteen years ago, Israel looked a bit vulnerable – economically, not militarily. True, it sought to align itself with the western world – especially the US and the EU.  But Israel’s...

http://www.freepressjournal.in/analysis/can-gold-be-used-to-reduce-indias-cad-anxieties/1377671 India's privately held gold can be used to reduce the country's CAD — By RN Bhaskar | Oct 18, 2018 The increase in oil prices and the surge in other imports are threatening to worsen India current account deficit.  According to the RBI’s...

http://www.freepressjournal.in/analysis/rn-bhaskar-indian-banks-seek-to-fatten-themselves/1035472 Policy Watch Indian banks' disdain for small depositors Rn bhaskar Last week was a turbulent one for the banking industry.  It began with the country’s largest bank,  State Bank of India (SBI), announcing an increase in cash withdrawal charges for its customers....

https://www.freepressjournal.in/analysis/policy-watch-banking-sector-should-be-flashing-red-ditto-for-economy The finance minister's directions could hurt the banking sector grievously. RN Bhaskar -- 19 November 2020 On November 10, 2020, the finance minister announced three decisions (https://wap.business-standard.com/article/finance/issue-only-rupay-cards-seed-all-accounts-with-aadhar-by-dec-fm-to-banks-120111001413_1.html) that should have made bankers and economy-watchers squirm.  That they did not could have...

http://www.freepressjournal.in/bringing-more-transparency-in-gold-trade/805277 Gold, PAN, excise duty, hallmarking and the government During the last two months, the gold trade has been agitated enough to go on strike and down shutters on at least two occasions. It has been protesting against the government’s newly...

https://www.freepressjournal.in/analysis/financial-realities-stare-india-in-the-face Financial realities stare India in the face. FDI sorely needed RN Bhaskar On July 6 this year,  a news item in a leading daily (https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/finance/nod-for-80-fdi-proposals-from-china-entities/articleshow/92685606.cms) talked about 80 Chinese FDI proposals being cleared by the Indian government.  At around the same...

http://www.freepressjournal.in/analysis/how-much-gold-can-be-mined-in-india-r-n-bhaskar/1291467 Can India ever allow genuine gold exploration and mining in India? RN Bhaskar -- | Jun 07, 2018 Officially India mined just 1.61 tonnes of gold in India during 2017-18.  That was essentially from primary sources. But ask geologists, and they will tell...