February 2, 2019

Union Budget 2019 : Populist Move before the Election

(Photo Courtesy Financial Express) Though the speculation of whether it would be a full-fledged budget, or an interim budget was put to rest earlier, after the interim Finance Minister Piyush Goyal’s budget speech, it turned out to be an electioneering […]
February 1, 2019

Kerala Budget 2019 : Welfare in the times of fiscal crisis

(Image courtesy The New Indian Express) It was a closely watched speech that Dr Thomas Isaac made today as he was presenting the fourth budget of the present LDF government of Kerala. Much so for the reason that it was […]
November 21, 2018

Falling ₹: How to fix it?

Indian economy is passing through a tricky phase with rupee registering its lowest record against the dollar. During 2018, the rupee has depreciated by more than 15 per cent, putting pressure on the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Rising crude […]
November 12, 2018

Rebuilding Kerala: A Cumbersome Task for the Government

The question that arises at this is juncture is whether Kerala enjoys the fiscal space confirming a huge government investment considering that the Rs 6 lakh crore economy stands on Rs 2 lakh crore debt. The aftermath of Kerala floods […]
February 13, 2018

Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board: A Frankenstein’s monster or economy’s saviour?

Like the previous budget, the present budget can also be termed a ‘KIIFB budget’, as many of the proposed projects will be routed through KIIFB The Economic Review 2017–18 tabled in the Assembly on February 1, 2018, highlighted the critical […]
February 1, 2018

Kerala Budget: Time to Change the Tune or Face the Music

The Finance Minister of Kerala, Thomas Issac, will be presenting the budget for the financial year 2018–19 on February 2, 2017, a day after the presentation of the Union Budget. The timing of the budget is crucial, as the state’s […]
November 18, 2017

Recap Bonds To Save Ailing Banks – A Recap Of The Failed Saga From The 1990s?

The banking sector in India is passing through a tricky phase, with non-performing assets (NPAs) of banks registering a staggering Rs 8 lakh crore. The growing NPAs have deteriorated the capital base of banks, affecting their lending capacity, even at […]
October 30, 2017

Defending Decentralisation in Kerala: Probing the Autonomy of Kerala’s Urban Local Bodies

Kerala is one of the few states in the country considered to have taken serious efforts in transferring powers to Local Self Government (LSG) institutions for strengthening the decentralisation process. The high rate of urbanisation in the state calls for […]
October 12, 2017

Kerala Wants To Revive Its Failing Economy By Infrastructure Investment Fund Board. This Will Do More Harm Than Good

Kerala is known for its achievements in the fields of healthcare and education. With its health and education indicators on a par with the developed economies, the Kerala model of development has been acclaimed across quarters. The key aspect of […]
March 5, 2017

Union Budget 2017–18: How Kerala Fared?

Kerala’s polity was highly critical of demonetisation, perhaps, more than that of any other state in the country. The fiscal situation in Kerala, already challenged by fiscal distress, worsened following the ban on Rs.1000 and Rs.500 notes announced on November […]
January 31, 2017

Fiscal Stimulus or Fiscal Discipline?

The Union Budget 2017–18 is unique in many ways. It will be the first budget after the unprecedented demonetisation and will be presented on the first working day of February. The assembly elections scheduled in five states also give a […]
January 28, 2017

Taxing Capital Gains in India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi signalling the introduction of capital gains tax on equities has caused a tremble in the stock market. He puts forward the argument that profits from the capital market should make a fair contribution to nation building […]
December 13, 2016

The Unique Case of Kerala’s Treasury System

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement on November 8, withdrawing the legal tender status of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes has received sundry response from different quarters. Even though various state governments have raised their concerns regarding demonetisation, opposition from […]
November 18, 2016

Demonetisation: A Positive Step towards a Less Cash Society

The Prime Minister announcing the withdrawal of the legal tender status of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes was conceived as a surgical strike on black money. At the same time, the demonetisation of currency is intended to push the […]
September 9, 2016

Who Takes a Call on Price Stability, the Government or the RBI?

The conjecture surrounding who will succeed Raghuram Rajan ends. Inflation hawk, Urjit Patel took over as the 24th Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 5 September 2016. Urjit Patel is a well-known face, being the Deputy Governor […]