https://www.freepressjournal.in/analysis/policy-watch-diamonds-may-not-be-safe-for-investors-any-more
Diamonds no longer anyone's best friend any more
RN Bhaskar
The last couple of months have witnessed a barrage of advertisements seeking to lure jewellery buyers to diamonds. They talk about how natural diamonds are the safest items of jewellery, unique...
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...
https://www.freepressjournal.in/analysis/policy-watch-invest-in-india-right-message-wrong-approach
Invest in India – right message, wrong approach
RN Bhaskar
Last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited global funds and businesses -- which have about $6 trillion of assets under management -- to invest in India. He pitched the nation as...
https://www.freepressjournal.in/analysis/policy-watch-how-aadhaarpan-could-threaten-banking-and-financial-integrity
Article 139AA has created a big money laundering machine in India
RN Bhaskar
On 27 October 2020, there was a Twitter chat— “Curious case of PAN-Aadhaar linkage” -- that was organised by the prestigious Economic and Political Weekly (EPW). It raised...
https://www.freepressjournal.in/analysis/policy-watch-clean-up-the-gold-trade-quickly-as-a-national-priority
Gold smuggling- II: Cleaning up the gold trade is a national priority
RN Bhaskar
(Part I of this series can be found at http://www.asiaconverge.com/2020/10/gold-smuggling-i-is-encouraged-by-flawed-government-policies/)
Why should gold be a national priority?
There are three reasons why gold assumes immense significance for the integrity...
https://www.freepressjournal.in/analysis/gold-smuggling-turn-the-spotlight-from-kerala-to-govt-policies
Gold smuggling - I
Part II can be found at http://www.asiaconverge.com/2020/10/gold-smuggling-ii-a-cleanup-is-urgently-needed/)
A beneficiary of flawed government policies.
RN Bhaskar
There’s an apocryphal story about a man blinded because he stole the gold that he saw lying unattended on the table in his master’s...
https://www.freepressjournal.in/analysis/two-measures-that-could-empower-marginal-farmers-land-lease-and-fpos
Land lease and FPOs could benefit marginal farmers
RN Bhaskar -- 15 October, 2020
Time and again, new numbers pop up, reconfirming an old truth – that India’s farmers are in distress. Especially small farmers. A set of figures that is...
https://www.freepressjournal.in/analysis/policy-watch-msp-bihar-maize-and-elections
Were MSP rules relaxed to aid vote capture in the forthcoming Bihar elections?
RN Bhaskar
The three bills (now Acts) related to agriculture continue to raise a lot of dust. This column dealt with the bills last week. Yes, they are...
https://www.freepressjournal.in/analysis/policy-watch-two-cheers-not-three-for-the-agri-bills
A lot more needed to be done before tabling the agri bills
RN Bhaskar -- 1 October 2020
The government finally made a move. It has introduced some path-breaking bills for the improvement of agriculture and the lot of farmers in...
https://www.freepressjournal.in/analysis/bank-frauds-could-hurt-india-much-more-than-covid-19-can
Bank frauds could create more pain than people imagine
RN Bhaskar – 24 September 2020
If you are a believer, or a bhakt, you should only read the reports of India’s policymakers. You will get a feeling that all is well. ...
