https://www.freepressjournal.in/analysis/policy-watch-india-is-slipping-on-exports-and-employment
Focus on two E’s needed – exports and employment
RN Bhaskar
Work on the coming year’s annual Budget has commenced. The Finance Minister has invited suggestions from people on what should be done. At the same time, the Economic Affairs secretary...
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/business/of-men-morals-and-madira-is-the-government-doing-enough-to-tackle-the-liquor-shop-issue
Covid-19 – of men, morals, madira and home delivery
RN Bhaskar -- 14 May, 2020
This article must be read alongside another written for FPJ last week (https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/morality-is-fine-but-liquor-is-quicker-why-opening-of-wine-shops-amid-pandemic-raises-serious-questions). At that time, there were indications that Maharashtra would lift the lockdown for...
Are India’s milk markets up for sale?
RN Bhaskar
I have been this way before, and I am sure
To be this way again. Once again
Excerpt from a Neil Diamond song in the Serenade album
Update: After this article appeared, the...
https://www.dnaindia.com/business/report-policy-watch-india-splurges-51-of-water-it-could-have-otherwise-saved-1995733
India splurges over half the water it gets
Monday, 16 June 2014 - 6:26am IST | Agency: DNA | R N Bhaskar
If the next wars would be fought for water, it is time to look at how countries manage their...
https://www.freepressjournal.in/analysis/policy-watch-most-indicators-flashing-red-theres-trouble-ahead
India's intolerance towards minorities spells trouble
RN Bhaskar
Things are falling apart. There's trouble ahead.
A former Enforcement Directorate official lobbies to join a political party immediately after retirement. He is in the company of many other law enforcement officers who have...
https://www.freepressjournal.in/analysis/policy-watch-budget-2022-is-high-on-big-plans-short-on-a-reality-check
Budget-22: Sightless and derelict
RN Bhaskar
Everybody was aware that the three critical problems confronting India are unemployment, health, and education. One expected Budget-22 to address them.
To some extent, the employment issue may have been addressed (not entirely though). But health...
https://www.freepressjournal.in/analysis/gst-growth-does-not-mean-that-the-economy-is-growing-writes-rn-bhaskar
GST and demonetisation are hurting India
RN Bhaskar
For the past month, there have been attempts to talk up India’s markets by pointing to surging GST collections. There are speakers who tout India’s achievements, and some even claim that demonetisation was...
Farm protests & Kurien’s Amul offer lessons to be learnt
By RN Bhaskar
On 23 February 2024, the web was flooded with advertisements showing the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Amul, the largest agricultural brand in India (and even Asia)....
https://www.freepressjournal.in/analysis/nation-of-law-breakers-government-included
We are a nation of law-breakers; the government included
RN Bhaskar -- 2 April 2020
Study the table alongside. It tells you of how all the major states of India, led by Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, have abetted the formation of...