BIG DISCOVERIES HAVE SMALL ORIGINS Author: M.S. Santhanam The Economic Survey carries an entire chapter on transforming science and technology in India and calls for doubling research and development expenditure from its current level of about Rs. 1 lakh crore, amounting to 0.8% of the gross domestic product (GDP). Even if instantly doubled, it would … Continue reading Summary-The Hindu-Big Discoveries Have Small Origins

RESOLVING INSOLVENCY Source: Yojana – January 2018 Author: Indivjal Dhasmana India is ranked 100th (an improvement of 30 places from 2017 in the Ease of Doing Business Rankings, 2018 released by World Bank. On the parameter of ‘resolving insolvency’, India ranked 103rd (ranked 136th in 2017 on this parameter). The credit could be given to … Continue reading Summary-Yojana-Resolving Insolvency

NEGLECTED BUT TREATABLE Authors: N.K. Ganguly & Rahul Srivastava Read the full article here. Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are widespread among low-income populations in developing tropical regions (Africa, Asia, and the Americas). The diseases that are most prevalent in India include lymphatic filariasis, soil transmitted helminthiases, trachoma, visceral leishmaniasis, dengue, rabies, cysticercosis and Japanese encephalitis. … Continue reading Summary-The Hindu-Neglected but Treatable

THE LOWDOWN ON MSP ROADMAP Author: Vikas Vasudeva Read the full article here. The Union Budget 2018-19 proposed to give farmers a minimum support price (MSP) 1.5 times of the production cost. The agriculture sector provides food security to 1.3 billion people, absorbs 54% of the workforce and touches the lives of two-thirds of the … Continue reading Summary-The Hindu-The Lowdown on MSP Roadmap

Source: The Hindu Why in news recently? (A Bill to increase the authorised share capital of NABARD was passed by the Parliament.) Author: Krishnadas Rajagopal The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) Act, 1981 has been amended to boost the rural and agricultural sector. The amendments recognise the vital role of micro, small and medium … Continue reading National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Amendment) Bill, 2017

SHOULD STATES HAVE THEIR OWN FLAGS Authors: Ravivarma Kumar, Ravi K. Mishra, Narendar Pani Read the full article here. YES | RAVIVARMA KUMAR It would strengthen the federal structure and serve as a symbol for a more specific identity Recently, Karnataka constituted a committee to design a flag for the state. No law prevents the state … Continue reading Summary-The Hindu-Should States Have their Own Flags?

TAXES ON CAPITAL HITTING INVESTMENTS Author: Manojit Saha Read the full article here. The Union budget has reintroduced the long-term capital gains (LTCG) on equities. As per RBI governor Mr. Urjit Patel, India’s investment-to-GDP ratio is not adequate given the fact that the capital in the country is taxed at five different stages thus hindering … Continue reading Summary-The Hindu-Taxes on Capital Hitting Investments

BANK RECAPITALIZATION: ENHANCING CAPITAL BASE Source: Yojana – January 2018 Author: Ashutosh Kumar The load of non-performing assets (NPAs) on the public sector banks (PSBs) has been adversely affecting their lending capability, which in turn is hindering private investment and private sector gross capital formation. NPAs in PSBs have grown to Rs. 7.33 crore in … Continue reading Summary-Yojana-Bank Recapitalization: Enhancing Capital Base

Main reasons for the agricultural crisis in India: Rising pressure of population on farming and a steady declining trend in land holdings Risks in production, weather and disaster, price, credit, market and those in policy. Predominance of informal source of credit. Price risks due to low resilience High production cost. Read the full summary here.

WHY ARE FARMERS DISTRESSED ACROSS INDIA? Author: Vikas Vasudeva Read the full article here. Read the POINTERS. The agriculture sector is characterized by instability in incomes because of various types of risks involved in production, market and prices. The National Commission of Farmers (2006), chaired by M.S. Swaminathan, had pointed out that something “very serious and terribly … Continue reading Summary- The Hindu- Why are Farmers Distressed across India?