The Financial Express

Insurers need more powers under the National Health Protection Scheme

In the context of several insurance schemes, from the PM Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana to the Rajasthan Bhamashah health insurance scheme, being in the red, the government needed to put in a mechanism to equitably share both the profits as well as the burdens.
Allow EPFO withdrawals – Here is why

There is then the interest earned on the EPFO balances. Every Rs 1 lakh of contribution/accumulation earns Rs 8,550 per year and, based on the same 15% tax rate, that is another Rs 1,282.5 of tax loss.
Bringing gender parity in employment will not only mean social gains for India, but also significant economic gains

The fact that India could add $770 billion to its GDP by 2025 by closing the gender gap in labour, as per an estimate by the McKinsey Global Institute (MGI), speaks volumes about the unrealised potential of the country’s women.
Western nations are already investing in the third generation of vaccines to respond to possible bio-weapons

Given the real dangers of unconventional warfare—sample the chemical attacks in Syria and Russia’s killing exiles in foreign jurisdictions using radioactive toxins—there has been some focus from countries on developing responses to biological weapons/ bioterrorism.
Crisis, what farm crisis? Curious that few farmers the PM Narendra Modi addressed spoke of this

With several state governments already waiving off Rs 150,000 crore of farm loans to alleviate agriculture stress—in the case of Uttar Pradesh, it was prime minister Narendra Modi that made the announcement in the run-up to the elections.
Stepping into Arvind Subramanian’s shoes – The CEA has been a loud voice for reforms

Given Arvind Subramanian’s lack of enthusiasm for demonetisation, his unease with the manner in which the GST structure evolved, or even the guarded way in he chose to respond to the ban on cattle slaughter and its social impact.
Why the IIMs must take a cue from top global universities

Given how the IIMs are one of India’s top bets when it comes to world-class higher education institutes, it is shocking that many of them are facing a faculty crunch.
Why ICICI Board is the biggest loser in the Chanda Kochhar episode

It gave her a clean chit with undue and unseemly haste, and didn’t ask her to go on leave till a proper probe took place.
Why Arun Jaitley is right on the oil taxes

Finance minister Arun Jaitley is quite right to dismiss the chorus for a cut in central excise duties on petrol/diesel and to characterise this as a “trap” designed to “push India into an unmanageable debt.”
Now that Artificial Intelligence can predict a patient’s likelihood of dying, how should we look at this?

Google’s AI has already proven more accurate than even doctors at predicting the probability of a patient’s death—the company published research in May that cited the case of an unidentified, late-stage lung cancer patient in the US.
How MSP-based plan will spur inflation and cripple exports

With little time now for any reforms to have an impact, and farmers taking to the streets, governments have few options other than to waive their loans—Rs 150,000 crore already—or to compensate them through higher minimum support prices (MSP).
If India can grow at 8% on a sustained basis, that is good enough

UPA politicians would talk of how, since India’s GDP was growing at 8-9% per annum, it was just a matter of time before it grew at 10%, and now prime minister Narendra Modi has done the same thing at the weekend meeting of NITI Aayog’s governing council.
Frequent and hitherto unseasonal storms are going to be the new normal for India

As Sunita Narain points out, between 1980 and 2003, India saw nine convective storms that killed 640 people, and between 2003 and 2017, 22 such storms blew over India, killing 700.
Managing media: Unlikely to fool the experienced journalists who can see through BJP’s hubris

With less than a year for the elections, the BJP seems to be doing some thinking on its approach to media. Party members have been provided with a ready reckoner on how to deal with journalists and ensure maximum impact on social media and television.
Maharashtra’s licensing of private coaching centres is a dangerous proposition

Maharashtra’s licensing of private coaching centres is a dangerous proposition.
Don’t curtail IIM autonomy – Here is why

Govt control on fees, intake prescriptions affects IIMs’ quality
Appeal Mumbai NCLT ruling on defaulters’ bidding

The Mumbai bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has said that the law banning promoters who are defaulters from bidding for their own company is not applicable to cases filed before November 23, 2017.
Listing Air India is hardly a solution to its problems

NITI Aayog vice-chairman has got it quite wrong in proposing this for the ailing maharajah.
Power loans not special: Centre must not press for forbearance

Centre must not press for forbearance; SEBs must pay gencos’ dues.
Trumping Kim? Why US President’s boast of having signed very comprehensive deal with N Korean leader is hollow

The Kim Jong-un–Donald Trump bonhomie at the Singapore meeting on Tuesday was in stark contrast to the disaster that Trump’s recent meeting with fellow G7 heads of state was. It is difficult, though, to say who won the optics game. Was it Trump, whose unceasing boast is that he succeeded where many of his predecessors […]
Why push for a bad bank when NCLT working fine

Last year, when the Economic Survey made a pitch for a bad bank—Public Sector Asset Rehabilitation Agency (PARA)—the primary reason for doing so was that, with the shadow of the CBI/CVC/CAG over them, PSU banks would not be able to take decisions on haircuts that were vital if non-performing loans were to be sold.
Lateral entry a good move: It will harness top talent, UPSC system deficiencies

The move to induct private and public sector talent “laterally” at the joint secretary level in 10 key Union ministries/departments comes not a day too soon.
Ganga Jamuni: Elected representatives who stoke communal passions must learn from the Mankameshwar Mandir’s iftaar

It is not uncommon to hear of Hindus and Muslims living peacefully. And, more often than not, when there is communal tension between the two communities, hotheads on either side—often, even elected representatives—are found to have incited them.
Brands try to score big at Fifa

Chinese smartphone brand Vivo has inked a six-year sponsorship deal with Fifa 2018 and 2022, as well as the Confederations Cup with an aim to become one of the top smartphone players globally.
CarbonCOSTS: Carbon capture costs can be brought down by converting captured CO2 into low-carbon fuels

Siphoning excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere has been suggested as a supplementary measure to contain anthropogenic climate change by the scientific community—and as the only rational measure to control emissions, by those who oppose sustainability restrictions on GHG generating human activities.
Powering Punjab’s reform: Charging richer farmers for power is a step in right direction

The Punjab State Farmers’ and Farm Workers’ Commission proposal to start charging better-off farmers for electricity is a step in the right direction, but more than that, what is important is the thought process that has gone behind the recommendation.
Home-buyers can trip up the entire IBC process

As this paper has argued, giving home-buyers the status of financial creditors won’t really help their cause much; on the contrary, it could muddy the resolution process if stakeholders pull in different directions.

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