NEERAJ THAKUR

strategy 4 / Interview
The Rich Are Getting Richer, but the Poor Are Not Getting Poorer: T.V. Somanathan
Increasing consumption among the middle class and the poor in India is a valid policy challenge, the answer to which lies in creating more jobs, says T.V. Somanathan, finance secretary and secretary of expenditure in the Union Ministry of Finance. In an exclusive interview, he also discusses why the current income tax rates are reasonable and why he finds the 3% fiscal deficit target questionable among other issues. Edited excerpts:

March 01, 2024
the big story 1 / Lead Story
Himalayan Triumph
Within months of becoming chief minister of Himachal Pradesh, a mountain state vulnerable to natural disasters, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu proved his mettle by spearheading the evacuation of 75,000 tourists during floods in Kullu this year

December 01, 2023
the big story 1 / Lead Story
Cornered in the ESG Arena
Struggling with ever-widening ESG compliance standards, and unable to push back beyond a point, corporate India is feeling the pressure from global powerhouses to match their compliance levels or lose out on trade opportunities. But this demand is not practical, feasible or even equitable for the growing economy with ambitions

July 01, 2023
the big story 1 / Lead Story
A New Lagaan On India Inc.
There is a new Frankenstein monster in India in the form of the ESG regime. The government is pushing ill-equipped businesses to adopt an expensive philosophy of corporate governance and climate reporting that makes India an unequal partner in global trade. For the time being, corporate India is gasping for ways to stay relevant

April 01, 2023
the big story 1 / Lead Story
Indian Economy’s Double Digit Chase For Growth
Past prime ministers have tried to take the Indian GDP growth past 6–7% range but failed. Modi’s pitch for making India rich by 2047 is fraught with old and new dangers

February 01, 2023
the big story 1 / Lead Story
At About 5–6%, Economy Won’t Collapse But It Won’t Generate Enough Jobs: Montek Singh Ahluwalia
Economist and former deputy chairman of the erstwhile Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia tells Neeraj Thakur that a private sector-led economy can deliver sustained GDP growth in the country. However, he is not enthused about the much-touted double-digit growth or even a range of 7–7.5% and cautions against protectionism

February 01, 2023
the big story 1 / Lead Story
Markets Work On Expectations … Not Surprising They Outpace Economy: Radhika Gupta
Indian stock markets have given returns in double digits over a 30-year average. This has not been the case with the Indian economy. Going forward, even as the growth outlook for India remains limited to 5–7%, the stock markets continue to be bullish. Neeraj Thakur speaks with Radhika Gupta, MD and CEO, Edelweiss Mutual Fund, to understand the divergence between the economy and the markets. Edited excerpts:

February 01, 2023
the big story 1 / Lead Story
Anil Agarwal: Reinvention Of A Mining Baron
After years of misfortune and false starts in mining business, the Vedanta Group is all set to transform itself with a new business stream. The company has tied up with world leader Foxconn to set up a semiconductor factory in Gujarat

December 01, 2022
the big story 1 / Lead Story
Shaktikanta Das: Rupee’s Messiah
Not a conventional economist with degrees from global universities, the RBI governor is seen as the man who did not let things go out of hand during the Covid-19 period. With an eye on the evolving global situation, he is the man India watches on inflation, the value of rupee, virtual currency and the general economic stability

December 01, 2022
strategy 4 / Insight
Sri Lankan Shadow on Indian Federalism
As the Centre, with the Reserve Bank of India, goes after the states for being fiscally imprudent, the states ask: what about you?

August 01, 2022
the big story 1 / Lead Story
Changing Tracks
Global events have led to a funding slowdown, but will India be an outlier? Are cautious investors still eyeing India as a sweet spot? The answers lie in how Indian start-ups restrategise for the months ahead

July 01, 2022
strategy 4 / Feature
The Poverty & Politics Of Data In India
Before India can eradicate poverty, it needs to count the poor. But, its data collection machine is old, gives inconsistent results and sometimes disagrees with the government

July 01, 2022
markets 5 / Feature
Stagflation Shadow On The World
Rising inflation, high unemployment and depreciating currencies have given birth to a vicious cycle that could very well dismantle the fragile post-Covid recovery. Can India escape this fate?

June 01, 2022
the big story 1 / Lead Story
Shades Of New Energy
As the world searches for new forms of clean energy to meet carbon emission cut targets, India does not want to miss the green hydrogen bus. Its two richest industrialists want to create independent ecosystems to produce the new fuel. What does this mean for India’s energy security and net-zero targets?

May 01, 2022

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