Op-Eds

The COVID-19 pandemic is preparing us to adapt to a diverse way of living with positives and major negatives that directly or indirectly affect our mental states A recent study of the impacts of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Odisha and Uttar Pradesh was conducted by the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER)....   Read More

Fall in income and depreciating exchange rate would have a dampening impact on imports demand while rising domestic inflation should have reverse impact. Is a merchandise trade surplus of around USD 0.8 billion in June 2020 a first in 18 years since January 2002 a turning point in India’s trade history?  The NCAER Quarterly Review...   Read More

Given this uncertainty over the reach of PM-KISAN and its targeting the relevance of the scheme needs to be carefully evaluated during this period. The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) is the first universal basic income-type of scheme targeted towards landed farmers. It was introduced in December 2018 to manage agricultural stress. Initially the...   Read More

The economies of India and China were roughly at par back in 1962 but we have been left far behind China’s recent intrusions at multiple points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh are unquestionably the most serious incidents at the India-China border since 1962. The main events are well known. From around...   Read More

Until a viable vaccine is found finding new ways to cope with the unexpected seems to be our only recourse to brace against the unexpected challenges thrown by the virus When the famous US family therapist Virginia Satir talked about coping with life’s adversities she was unlikely to have had images of a pandemic like...   Read More

To reach self-sufficiency India needs to reduce Chinese imports. But it must do this in a way that does not violate WTO norms The India-China relationship is now at a nadir following border clashes in the Ladakh region. The ‘Boycott China’ war cry reverberates across India. Though it emanates mostly from common people or consumers...   Read More

Daily wage labourers in Delhi-NCR were the most disadvantaged during the lockdown and are still finding it hard to find work. But even among the salaried class work participation rates remain far below pre-lockdown levels As India’s economy limps back to life combating pandemic fears and fixing transport and logistical challenges may be key to...   Read More

Ensuring food security is critical at the juncture. Providing universal PDS is financially feasible as FCI has more stock than we need   The NCAER Quarterly Review of the Economy June 2020 has estimated that despite the ₹20 trillion Atmanirbhar Bharat package the economy in all likelihood will suffer from negative growth and elevated inflation...   Read More

Regulations of industrial municipal inflow in Ganga at the centre of pollution mitigation policies have dissociated rivers from riverine communities. The quality of water in rivers Ganga and Yamuna did not improve despite four decades of pollution-mitigation measures. But they did within 10 days of the nationwide lockdown imposed to curb the spread of the...   Read More

Placing money in the hands of people could help save lives as our economy looks set to shrink this year and possibly the next. The coronavirus pandemic reached India late giving us a chance to learn from the experience of countries where it had spread earlier. Drawing on that experience an unprecedented country-wide lockdown was...   Read More