A K Bhattacharya

Stories by A K Bhattacharya

How reliable is India's GDP figure?

How reliable is India's GDP figure?

Rediff.com   18 Jun 2020

'Given that the economy is going through a slowdown, further downward revisions of the 2019-2020 growth estimates cannot be ruled out,' notes A K Bhattacharya.

India Inc, stop whining!

India Inc, stop whining!

Rediff.com   4 Jun 2020

'Instead of wailing about the absence of tax benefits, the private sector should press for an early implementation of the package of measures,' advises A K Bhattacharya.

New FDI policy may hurt India's start-up dream

New FDI policy may hurt India's start-up dream

Rediff.com   6 May 2020

'As much as $4 billion in India's start-up companies has come from Chinese funds.' 'Government policy must not remain indifferent to the problems India's start-up ventures are likely to face after the change in FDI rules,' says A K Bhattacharya.

How COVID-19 spoilt India's oil bonanza

How COVID-19 spoilt India's oil bonanza

Rediff.com   1 May 2020

'The impact of COVID-19 on the economy has been so overwhelming that even a significant drop in global oil prices, which in normal times would have brought cheer, has posed new challenges for the government,' observes A K Bhattacharya.

The challenge of the lockdown

The challenge of the lockdown

Rediff.com   24 Apr 2020

'How the lockdown is phased out or lifted will tell us if the government has succeeded in its battle against COVID-19.' 'If it cannot sequence its decisions on exiting the lockdown, the few gains secured so far may be frittered away,' says A K Bhattacharya.

Should govt declare a financial emergency?

Should govt declare a financial emergency?

Rediff.com   9 Apr 2020

'So far, no government has imposed a financial emergency in the country,' notes A K Bhattacharya.

Budget, the other casualty of COVID-19

Budget, the other casualty of COVID-19

Rediff.com   7 Apr 2020

'Even before the outbreak of the flu, it had become clear that the tax revenue numbers for 2019-2020 were overestimated,' observes A K Bhattacharya.

Why did Nirmalaji deviate from fiscal deficit target?

Why did Nirmalaji deviate from fiscal deficit target?

Rediff.com   21 Feb 2020

The government should have mentioned clearly the specific structural reforms that were responsible for the deviation from the fiscal deficit target by half a percentage point, says A K Bhattacharya.

Will Modi take swadeshi route to privatise Air India?

Will Modi take swadeshi route to privatise Air India?

Rediff.com   10 Feb 2020

'Air India's privatisation is acceptable as long as its control does not pass on to a foreign entity,' says A K Bhattacharya.

Modi may shut Air India by June

Modi may shut Air India by June

Rediff.com   9 Jan 2020

'The Modi government is trying hard to see if it could be sold to a private airline.' 'But it appears there are no takers.' 'If no buyer comes forward by June, the government will close down Air India,' predicts A K Bhattacharya.

Industry-Mody govt: A new phase?

Industry-Mody govt: A new phase?

Rediff.com   7 Jan 2020

'What stood out at these meetings between industry representatives and government leaders was how the equation between the ministers and industry had undergone a subtle and qualitative change,' points out A K Bhattacharya.

Why Budget 2020 will be different

Why Budget 2020 will be different

Rediff.com   1 Jan 2020

In fact, no other recent Union Budget has held so much significance for the Indian economy as the one to be presented in about six weeks from now, notes A K Bhattacharya.

Why BJP should be grateful to Rahul Bajaj

Why BJP should be grateful to Rahul Bajaj

Rediff.com   20 Dec 2019

'A close relationship between India Inc and the government cannot help the BJP win elections.' 'While Opposition parties may feel good about Mr Bajaj criticising the Modi regime, the BJP should be seeing the indictment as a political boon,' says A K Bhattacharya.

Why does Dr Banerjee provoke BJP ire?

Why does Dr Banerjee provoke BJP ire?

Rediff.com   31 Oct 2019

'Mr Modi would compliment a Nobel Prize winner, but members of his party or the government would not be restrained from either making unfair comments or criticising him for having offered advice to an Opposition political party,' says A K Bhattacharya.

Why did govt sack so many tax officers?

Why did govt sack so many tax officers?

Rediff.com   14 Oct 2019

'If more than 60 commissioner-level tax officials were compulsorily retired in the span of a few months, surely the malaise is far deeper,' notes A K Bhattacharya.

How cash-starved Modi govt plans to prune expenditure

How cash-starved Modi govt plans to prune expenditure

Rediff.com   28 Aug 2019

'If the current mood in North Block, headquarters of the finance ministry, is anything to go by, the government will now keep a closer watch on all kinds of schemes and projects undertaken by different central ministries. 'The next six months will determine which central schemes will have to be wound up and which ones will survive the axe,' says A K Bhattacharya.

What is holding Modi govt back on the economy

What is holding Modi govt back on the economy

Rediff.com   14 Aug 2019

'The Modi regime is not willing to use its huge political capital for taking any economic policy measure that it fears might undermine that political strength, says A K Bhattacharya.

GST and the skewed 60:40 formula of the Modi govt

GST and the skewed 60:40 formula of the Modi govt

Rediff.com   15 May 2019

It is possible that the Centre has now become wiser and has decided to follow an allocation system which gives it more from Integrated GST and helps boost its revenues, says A K Bhattacharya.

Why election manifestos are fast losing credibility

Why election manifestos are fast losing credibility

Rediff.com   17 Apr 2019

A political party's manifesto is the first stage of building a compact with the voters in any governance plan. If that compact is dependent on a document that reeks of fiscal imprudence and lacks credibility, it is a serious setback to the country's democracy and governance, says A K Bhattacharya.