PROGRESSIVE RATIONALIST

The world is juggling between economic slowdown and containing the spread of COVID-19, so as India. The previous 21 days lockdown has been extended for 18 more days with a hint of relaxation after April 20th. Does this lockdown help India in containing the virus spread but what would be the aftermath? What would be the situation of the Indian economy? I came across a couple of editorials discussing that the pandemic situation which can be used as a chance to reform the country’s economic policies. And also the authors of those editorials analysed that India would make reformative measures to the economy only when the country faces some crisis (like 1991 economic reform). So this is the time for our policymakers to reform our economic policy and ensure our country overcome the economic slowdown. Inflation and Growth The NDA government is very keen on controlling the inflation within the 4% target by 2021. But as far as the growth is concerned in a developing country  inflation contr...

Now the entire world is taken by the deadly novel disease called Coronavirus COVID 19 which started spreading from Wuhan province of China as its epicentre. Since then it started devastating the lives of humans in different parts of the world and now people across the countries are in deep grief and paranoia. Thus the virus was declared a pandemic by the WHO in the first week of March 2020. Corona, it is the virus causing Acute Respiratory Syndrome, belongs to a family of viruses causing common cold recorded its first attack on humans this year. It has been said that corona is the animal to animal transmitted disease, it came to humans when a person tried to consume the virus-infected animal (Though it is a suspicion). Later that evolved as a disease which started to disseminate via humans. C onservatism and corona Chinese people are so superstitious and they believe consuming some food gives them good health and long life. Once I was astonished to watch a video in which a Chinese guy ...

Is judiciary an independent body that works free from the influences of executive and legislative? At least that’s what our constitution provides. Let’s ponder the reality. In this article, we analyse how the independence of the judiciary is getting disturbed by the other forms of government. Concerning the appointment of Rajya Sabha members, Article 80 of the Indian constitution provides for the nomination of 12 members who are specialists in Art, sports, Science etc. by the president. Apart from these 12 members, Rajya Sabha has 245 members (229 representing states, 12 nominated by the president, 4 representing union territories Delhi, Puducherry and Jammu & Kashmir). Further, it is a continuing chamber of the parliament and never be dissolved. So the members of Rajya sabha enjoy office for a term of 6-years fixed by the parliament and one-third of its members retire once in two years.  This year a set of one-third members of Rajya sabha has been retired and a new set of memb...

Though Union Budget 2020 is disappointing as it hasn't addressed the crucial problems in the country like hiking unemployment, slowing economy etc. it has some attraction in terms of infrastructure development. The govt has blessed the sector with more allocation in-spite of cutting some in social sectors like MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) and Gender Budget. Roads, Rails and Planes Allocation for Highways has seen a 10% increase from the previous budget. At least one of the major ports would be corporatised and listed in the stock exchange. Development of ports seen an increase of 44% . Also, the allocation of the shipping industry is increased by 18%.  The allocations are pretty good. To fund these projects govt uses the Public-Private Partnership channel and to realize funds govt goes for corporatising and offering stocks to the public probably BOOT (Build Operate Own Transfer) model. 100 Airports will be developed by 2025 to support UDAN sche...

Is Budget 2020 a middle-class budget? Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman unveiled the budget for the financial year 2020-21 by Feb 1. The theme of the budget is observed as Aspirational India, Economic Development and Caring Society. Income tax rate cuts The tax rates were reduced for the various income slabs. The tax reduction is seen as a scheme that the taxpayer should opt for ie., The new tax rates are for the taxpayers who do not claim any tax exemptions like leave travel allowances, House rent allowances, House loan repayments, Savings such as LIC, PPF etc. Those who claim for exemptions should stick to the older tax rates and new tax rates do not apply for them. The objective of the tax rate cut is to reduce the   tax burden and to put more money in the hands of the people to increase the consumer demand in the economy . Nistaar   has been saying in previous articles that more money should be given in the hands of the people to increase consumer demand by which the eco...

We have come across many articles about the revival of the Indian economy for the past 2 months but the govt. hasn’t listened to such things and they don’t want to do that as always. During the last Monetary Policy Committee meeting, RBI has decided not to reduce the repo rate in order to control Inflation. We know that Inflation with increasing growth rate is good for the economy but without growth isn’t. If the repo rate was reduced we would’ve got inflation with some increased growth rate. But now the growth rate hasn't hiked considerably but the retail inflation hits 4 years high says Consumer Price Index (NSO). The retail inflation hits 7.35% and the food inflation hits 14% in the month of December. The hike in retail inflation was shared by the telecom operators as their top-up package price was increased and mainly due to the food prices which paid the reason for the hike. Onion price was nearing ₹180 and it was the most obvious reason. Will the inflation decrease in the mon...

Maharashtra cabinet had nodded to the 24×7 Mumbai project and comes into being by Jan 27. That allows all the shops, eateries, etc. to be opened 24×7 except the alcohol-serving bars. It is an attempt to increase productivity and will be useful for workers and office goers to get out for purchase or dinner after work. It reduces the peak traffic and rushes in the evening. The power consumption will be high but compared to the increased productivity and profit of the shop keepers it is good. Safety? All the production units, factories are open 24×7 already which works in shifts. We have people working night shifts. But even today women working in a night shift is unsafe. Women cannot go out for work or studies during the night time because of the anti-social activities. When we allow 24×7 city it will create an environment which will be like  noon in the night ! People will be roaming all night and nobody tries to indulge in anti-social activity. When a single woman goes for work in ...