-Livemint.com It should lay to rest the ongoing debate about this government’s attempt to radically restructure India’s welfare architecture There were no surprises—no helicopter drop of money into Jan-Dhan accounts, no move to dismantle ongoing welfare schemes in favour of a universal basic income (UBI). Far from being the populist, game-changing budget that many had expected, Union finance minister Arun Jaitley presented a sombre, status quo budget which, apart from some tinkering...
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A Budget few can quarrel over -TT Ram Mohan
-The Hindu Arun Jaitley has steered clear of populist giveaways in the run-up to Assembly elections Some said it was a ‘make or break’ Budget, one that would use the potential gains from demonetisation to give a decisive push to economic growth. Others said it would be a populist budget aimed at the upcoming elections in Uttar Pradesh and elsewhere. It has turned out to be neither. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has presented...
More »Quality of spending comes under radar as fiscal draws to a close -Surabhi
-The Hindu Business Line Economists warn that revenue deficit may breach target New Delhi: Will the Exchequer’s switch to a new classification of expenditure from 2017-18 help lower the revenue deficit and improve the quality of spending? The Finance Ministry believes that shift in classification to revenue and capital expenditure from April 1, departing from the current distinction of Plan and Non-Plan spending, will help it direct expenditure towards productive purposes. It is also...
More »Utsa Patnaik, professor emeritus at Jawaharlal Nehru University, interviewed by TK Rajalakshmi
-Frontline.in Interview with Utsa Patnaik, professor emerita of economics, Jawaharlal Nehru University. By T.K. RAJALAKSHMI THE FALLOUT of the decision of the National Democratic Alliance government to demonetise currency of higher denominations has been felt across all sections of people. There are concerns that it will lead to an overall economic slowdown given the acute shortage of currency for industrial and agricultural operations. The impact on agriculture and those dependent on agriculture...
More »MGNREGA spending high, call for Rs 10,000 crore extra -Shalini Nair
-The Indian Express As part of the first supplementary grant of demands, the ministry had released an additional Rs 5,000 crore — a third of the Rs 15,000 crore the MoRD had demanded to meet increased expenditure in drought-affected states. The Ministry of Rural Development has sought Rs 10,000 crore for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA) as part of the second batch of supplementary demand of grants, set...
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