Yearly Archives: 2018

The worried Indian

The intimidatory power of the mob made itself felt once again when the Ajmer Literature Festival abruptly cancelled veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah’s keynote address. This followed the torrent of abuse heaped on Mr. Shah by a loose coalition of persons, ranging from anonymous trolls on social media to functionaries of …

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Chabahar tidings

The opening of the first office of Indian Ports Global Limited at Iran’s Chabahar and the takeover of operations of the Shahid Beheshti port is a milestone in India’s regional connectivity and trade game plan. Chabahar port opens up a permanent alternative route for trade with Afghanistan and Central Asia, …

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On a shaky foundation

The Union Home Secretary, last week, promulgated an order authorising 10 Central agencies to monitor, intercept and decrypt information which is transmitted, generated, stored in or received by any computer. Under the order, an individual who fails to assist these government agencies with technical assistance or extend all facilities can …

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Elections in an embattled democracy

To understand why, a quick recap of pivotal moments of the past is unavoidable. The BNP won the first democratic polls in 1991, but refused to step down when their tenure ended in 1996. The Awami League led a mass movement to topple the BNP government and won the ensuing …

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‘I don’t think we should be talking to Naxals’

The Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh on tackling Maoism, the Congress party’s revival in the State, and his government’s strategy to strengthen the rural economy Bhupesh Baghel, the new Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, is considered one of the architects of the Congress’s victory in the recent Assembly election. In a free-wheeling …

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NTPC for easing MSE registration

Buoyed by over 36% of its procurement coming from micro and small enterprises (MSEs), power giant NTPC has pitched for their universal registration for supplies to all CPSUs. “To promote ease of doing business for MSEs, NTPC chairman Gurdeep Singh has proposed a single window registration for MSEs across CPSUs,” …

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NCLT helps recover over Rs. 80,000 cr. in 2018

Tasked with helping recover unpaid corporate loans, the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has helped resolve insolvency and bankruptcy proceedings involving more than Rs. 80,000 crore in 2018. The kitty is expected to swell beyond Rs. 1 lakh crore in 2019 with several big-ticket default cases pending. Plans are afoot …

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A year of disruptions for the banking sector

The year 2018 has been one of disruption for the banking industry. A tough loan default classification rule by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the out-of-the-blue IL&FS (Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services) imbroglio and the spat between the government and the central bank have combined to make 2018 a …

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Foreign fund outflows highest since 2008

For the Indian equity markets, year 2018 will end as the worst in terms of foreign money outflows since 2008 when markets across the globe were reeling under the sub-prime crisis and Lehman Brothers filed for the largest bankruptcy in history. In the Indian context, 2018 would also be only …

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Banks under PCA sitting on cash pile

Commercial banks, under the prompt corrective action (PCA) framework of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), are sitting on a pile of cash as they don’t have too many options to lend, even as the banking system is scrambling for liquidity. The 11 public sector banks under the PCA, enjoying …

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Lanka Prez Sirisena meets party organisers, hints 2019 may be election year

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on Monday held a meeting with his party’s electoral organisers, fuelling speculation that he may be hoping for a possible presidential re-run in 2019. Sirisena could call a snap presidential election after January 8 next year. Source : https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-international/lanka-prez-sirisena-meets-party-organisers-hints-2019-may-be-election-year/article25829731.ece

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Under siege

Terror strikeSuicide attackers stormed the Libyan Foreign Ministry in Tripoli on Tuesday, killing at least three people, including a senior civil servant, and wounding 10 others. A special forces spokesman accused the Islamic State of being behind the bombing.AFPMAHMUD TURKIA Source : https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-international/under-siege/article25829649.ece

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30 mn newborns cry out for help

An estimated 30 million newborns require specialised care in hospital every year without which many either die or develop preventable health conditions and disabilities that affect them for life, according to a recent study by a global coalition that includes UNICEF and WHO. The report urges countries to invest in …

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Agusta bribe-takers yet to be identified

The Enforcement Directorate, which is now questioning AgustaWestland accused Christian Michel, has so far been able to unearth the money trail allegedly establishing a link between the other two alleged middlemen in the deal and cousins of former Air Chief Marshal S.P. Tyagi. However, all those who are suspected to …

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Spat over gas leaves Indian diplomats in the cold

India is not ruling out retaliatory measures in response to the Pakistan government’s delays in sanctioning gas connections to the residential complex at its High Commission in Islamabad. The delay, officials said, were part of a series of measures aimed at “making life difficult” for Indian diplomats in Pakistan. This …

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