A K Bhattacharya
 "A K Bhattacharya")
A K Bhattacharya
A K Bhattacharya is a senior economic journalist with over four decades of experience. He is Business Standard's editorial director and a writer of a long-running column - Raisina Hill. He had set the bar for business reporting as the chief of bureau at the Economic Times in the early 1990s, when economic reforms raged. He had a ringside view to many other disruptions, creative and otherwise, during his four decades in journalism, a journey that started when he switched careers after a year of teaching.
A K Bhattacharya is a senior economic journalist with over four decades of experience. He is Business Standard's editorial director and a writer of a long-running column - Raisina Hill. He had set the bar for business reporting as the chief of bureau at the Economic Times in the early 1990s, when economic reforms raged. He had a ringside view to many other disruptions, creative and otherwise, during his four decades in journalism, a journey that started when he switched careers after a year of teaching.
A K Bhattacharya
Why the conflict on India's border could reshape the FM's fiscal priorities
A Kargil-style squeeze on public finances is unlikely in 2025, but rising defence demands may challenge Nirmala Sitharaman's consolidation strategy
 "Why the conflict on India's border could reshape the FM's fiscal priorities")
PMO: Himanshu Roy's book traces evolution of prime-ministerial governance
The book has an excellent section on how the offices of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet secretariat have evolved in the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia
 "PMO: Himanshu Roy's book traces evolution of prime-ministerial governance")
Continuity and change: Bureaucratic rejig signals shift in economic focus
To begin with, there appears to be a crackdown on the practice of secretaries holding dual charges for several months
 "Continuity and change: Bureaucratic rejig signals shift in economic focus")
Sumana Roy's book traces Bengal writers' empathy with plants, objects
Phloem plays a similar role for Plant Thinkers of Twentieth-Century Bengal
 "Sumana Roy's book traces Bengal writers' empathy with plants, objects")
To turn crisis into opportunity, India needs a reform playbook reboot
India must revisit how reforms are designed, executed and shared between the Centre and states, if it wants to seize the global moment and boost long-term economic growth
 "To turn crisis into opportunity, India needs a reform playbook reboot")
Regulating the regulators: Less diversity may weaken reform principle
Note that the erosion of these principles followed in the early years of reforms did not happen suddenly or only now. This occurred gradually over the last many years
 "Regulating the regulators: Less diversity may weaken reform principle")
Waiting for better statistics: GDP data revisions highlight deeper issues
Statisticians across the spectrum welcomed this decision, though questions remained about why the timeline for releasing a given year's GDP data and the number of revisions couldn't be reduced further
 "Waiting for better statistics: GDP data revisions highlight deeper issues")
Govt's civilian staff grows, but is it leading to efficiency gains?
Union Budget for 2025-26, presented earlier this month, provides an idea of how the Centre has gone about recruiting staff in all its departments and ministries, other than those in the armed forces
 "Govt's civilian staff grows, but is it leading to efficiency gains?")
Ambivalence on PSU policy: Budget 2025 eyes higher dividends, lower equity
In a departure from the past many years, its contribution to the PSUs' capital outlay by way of equity and loans will decline
 "Ambivalence on PSU policy: Budget 2025 eyes higher dividends, lower equity")
Of tax relief, transparency and promises: A Budget focused on clarity
The regret about this Budget is that it once again shies away from renewing its commitment to strategic disinvestment
 "Of tax relief, transparency and promises: A Budget focused on clarity")
Bailing out a PSU: Govt's equity infusion in RINL signals a shift in policy
During the current year, RINL's total liabilities have risen to over Rs 35,000 crore, with defaults on its loan repayment and interest payment
 "Bailing out a PSU: Govt's equity infusion in RINL signals a shift in policy")
An opportunity in capex decline: Scrap new schemes, BSNL equity infusion
Not too many tears would be shed for a squeeze on capex if the hit is primarily on infusing equity into a state-owned enterprise and on new schemes that are yet to be announced
 "An opportunity in capex decline: Scrap new schemes, BSNL equity infusion")
Manmohan Singh: Portrait of a technocrat as a practitioner of politics
Manmohan Singh, a pioneering economic administrator and India's fourth-longest-serving PM, leaves behind a legacy of economic reforms, policy pragmatism, and unwavering dedication to public service
 "Manmohan Singh: Portrait of a technocrat as a practitioner of politics")
Will Budget 2025-26 fulfil promises on fiscal deficit and reforms?
The big question is whether the finance minister will revert to the fiscal consolidation timelines or medium-term projections as provided under the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act
 "Will Budget 2025-26 fulfil promises on fiscal deficit and reforms?")
Civil servants at Mint Road: A legacy of leadership at the RBI helm
Economists can still look forward to filling the deputy governor's position
 "Civil servants at Mint Road: A legacy of leadership at the RBI helm")
Assembly results may spur demand for bigger cash transfer scheme for women
For those in the government committed to the idea of fiscal prudence, the challenges have got a little more difficult
 "Assembly results may spur demand for bigger cash transfer scheme for women")
Slowing capex: Focus more on growth dynamics than changing target norms
Patterns of capital expenditure have a bearing on economic growth. With their huge spending power, states have as big a role in economic development as the Union government
 "Slowing capex: Focus more on growth dynamics than changing target norms")
GN Devy's book questions common assumptions about India's languages
The book would have enhanced its accessibility for ordinary readers if more care had been paid to its presentation and delineation of arguments in support of the author's principal thesis
 "GN Devy's book questions common assumptions about India's languages")
Regulation does not kill innovation, it makes industry thrive: Razorpay MD
Speaking at the BS BFSI Summit, Shashank Kumar said that the firm has certain internal milestones, especially for the new biz they have launched and therefore, going public would likely be beyond 2026
 "Regulation does not kill innovation, it makes industry thrive: Razorpay MD")
Govt must explore non-tax measures, not just spending cuts, to boost fiscal
With such fiscal pressures on the Centre's finances, it is necessary for the finance ministry to explore non-tax areas to raise revenue
 "Govt must explore non-tax measures, not just spending cuts, to boost fiscal")
