The DBT and DST jointly declared “DBT and DST Open Access Policy” in December 2014. We need to take serious cognizance of the important statements on the attention given to Impact Factor of journals while assessing published works. While the focus of the DBT and DST Open Access Policy document is on creating repositories to…
The much-awaited draft guidelines on the Gold Monetisation Scheme (GMS) are finally out. At first glance, the most noteworthy changes that this scheme brings about are two. One, it creates an effective linkage between the Gold Deposit Scheme (GDS) and the Gold Metal Loan (GML). Two, it reduces the minimum deposit amount from 500 to…
The protracted Vietnam War (1954-1975) had a deleterious effect on the country’s economy. It remained impoverished and politically isolated during that period. When the war finally came to an end, Vietnam was one of the poorest countries in the world, facing many fundamental problems such as the shortage of food, hyperinflation, huge unemployment and corruption.…
Much has been said about gold in the recent past – India’s almost unwavering demand for gold, the impact it has on our import bill, the impact it has on our current account deficit and why India needs a gold policy. Yet, no one can deny that India’s largest untapped potential is gold. The affinity…
Economics is indeed a strange discipline. Sample this. “A larger fall in imports than in exports contributed substantially to growth in GDP in the fourth quarter of the financial year.” So a fall in both exports and imports contributes to growth as long as net exports are positive! Baffling it may be, but most economists…
India’s economy and society are marked by a deep and extensive dualism. There are examples galore — backward agriculture versus global firms; rural versus urban world views; dehumanising slums cheek by jowl with swanky highrises; wretched urban squalor five miles away from the New Delhi Municipal Corporation’s carefully tended Bungalow Zone in Lutyens’ Delhi; the…
Financial sector regulation in India has developed in an ad hoc manner in response to evolving requirements. Consequently, it suffers from substantial prudential weaknesses and regulatory arbitrage that makes for heightened risks for both investors and financial consumers. By putting together a modern law for governing the complex financial sector, the draft Indian Financial Code…
There are some uncanny similarities between Narendra Modi and Barack Obama. Both have risen from humble beginnings, both are charismatic public speakers and consummate communicators on social media, both were relative outsiders to the capitals where they now hold the most powerful office, and neither is dependent on their political party for their electoral success.…
New Delhi: After a year of maybe maybe-not sound bites, the Government seems ready to bite the E-commerce bullet in right earnest. The Commerce and Industry Minister, Ms. Nirmala Sitharaman has held a meeting with various stakeholders from the industry to listen to different viewpoints on issues related to FDI in B2C e-commerce. The Hon’ble…
Chief Vitalstatistix of the legendary yet unnamed Gaul village always carried a shield over his head to prevent being hurt if the sky fell down. Should we all take such precautions following the Greek tragedy currently unfolding? Both DEA secretary Mehrishi and Niti Aayog vice-chairman Panagariya have somewhat vaguely assured us that India will not…
There is no doubting the fact that Prime Minister Narendra Modi works hard and drives his government at the same hectic pace. Lutyens’ Delhi is abuzz with stories. Golf during weekdays is ruled out; signing in and out of the bhavans and blocks is now mandatory and put up on government website; midnight oil is…
The focus on the land acquisition issue during the recently-concluded National Executive conclave at Bengaluru is most welcome. Even more reassuring is the recognition by the BJP’s top brass that it is faced with a quintessential political issue, which requires large-scale public mobilisation in its support. So, kudos to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for effectively…