Has India eliminated poverty?
RN Bhaskar
Last week, the government proudly declared that it had reduced Multidimensional poverty during the past five years (https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1940125). It claimed that.
13.5 crore Indians escape Multidimensional Poverty in 5 years.
Steep decline in number of...
The hype about India being the most attractive investment destination
RN Bhaskar
Suddenly, there is a rash of announcements proclaiming India to be the best investment destination in the world. Such a view has been echoed by, among others by Outlook...
NBFCs become more relevant to India. Is that a risk?
RN Bhaskar
All of a sudden, there’s renewed interest in what non-banking finance companies (NBFCs) are doing in India. Some are alarmed. Some canny observers are happy. Yet, the whims of...
RBI has more caprice than respect for standards
Can anyone be the world’s best central bank governor if he cannot protect the sanctity of his own country’s currency?
By RN BhaskarLast week, the Bombay High Court granted time to the Reserve...
Turmeric gets a shot in the arm
RN Bhaskar
Turmeric farmers should see better prices both in domestic and export markets soon. This is because of the efforts of the government’s KVKs (Krishi Vigyan Kendras) and NCDEX (which funded the setting...
Storing India’s gold overseas today is quite an embarrassment
On 14 June 2023, RBI governor, Shaktikanta Das was honoured with the title of ‘Governor of the Year’ for 2023 by Central Banking in London (https://www.livemint.com/news/india/rbi-chief-shaktikanta-das-honoured-with-governor-of-the-year-award-at-central-banking-awards-2023london-11686723134489.html). In the same year, the...
You cannot become a superpower with a weak currency
By RN Bhaskar
India analysts have watched with amazement as they see the rupee continue to slip. It has lately been hovering around Rs.82 for each US Dollar, and is threatening to...
India’s poor record-keeping about deaths and ghost voters
RN Bhaskar
On May 22, 2023, there were news reports about the Home ministry planning to introduce a new Bill in the Parliament. The Bill would seek to link birth and death registers...
A hollowed-out India needs an economic reboot
By RN Bhaskar
Hollowed-out is a phrase that refers to something being taken out, leaving the shell to be filled with anything or nothing. India is being hollowed out. Its ability to be entrepreneurial...
India has big plans and announcements about its INR, but without underlying support
RN Bhaskar
For the past couple of months there have been reports and conjectures that the Indian rupee (INR) could easily become the global reserve currency. The answer...