-Business Standard FY10 was a drought year with a monsoon rainfall deficiency of 22 per cent of the 50-year average, resulting in a seven per cent dip in the total foodgrains production. But, that did not dampen the consumer sentiment as the auto sector grew by 26 per cent, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) 25 per cent and the consumer durables sector by 21 per cent. The momentum continued the following year,...

-Hindustan Times The NDA government has set an ambitious target of spending 65% of its annual rural development budget by June to tackle drought and unprecedented shortage of water across the country. * Why the high expenditure? As large parts of the country reel under acute water shortage, the government will spend almost 65% of its annual budget by next month to mitigate the crisis. * What does this mean? The firm focus of the...

-Livemint.com Have inequalities in educational access in India diminished in recent times? An NSSO survey offers some clues Education has for long been the key to moving up the economic and social ladder. There can be no equality of opportunity without access to quality education. Have inequalities in educational access in India diminished in recent times? The National Sample Survey Organisation’s (NSSO) most recent survey on education (71st round) conducted during...

-The Hindu India’s record in collecting taxes has been pathetic, and it is getting worse. The declining rates of direct taxation are an indication of the political choices of the government We now have a peculiar combination in the economic policy of India: a declared attempt at fiscal consolidation, combined with a reluctance to do what it takes to raise tax revenues. This unfortunate juxtaposition has meant a squeeze on Central government...

-TheWire.in Hundreds of NREGA workers from Manika in the Latehar district of Jharkhand have decided to send a letter, along with 5 rupees each, to Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. In a sarcastic attempt to highlight the government’s expenditure priorities and protest against the low NREGA wages even in times of drought, the workers have talked about how the government has raised the NREGA wages from 162 rupees to 167 rupees per...