There is merit in considering whether merchandise exports can be facilitated by halting if not reversing the rupee's appreciation, says T N Ninan.

A more effective promotion of domestic manufacturing and mining could significantly reduce the trade deficit in key sectors, says T N Ninan.

The key reason for the country's stagnating exports is its failure to build a strong manufacturing base, says T N Ninan.

While India's human development index has improved, absolute performance levels aren't satisfactory, says T N Ninan.

While good news from several quarters has been trickling in, El Nino might be a dampener, says T N Ninan.

It goes without saying that the best performers are in the private sector, says TN Ninan.

With the Congress already opposed to the proposed law, regional parties might become the swing factor, says T N Ninan.

While people have paid the price for the disruption it caused, now is the time to reap its benefits, says T N Ninan.

Is it because of the failure to deliver serious institutional reform or that, at the end of the day, we are like that only, asks T N Ninan.

Revamping Indian Railways will need bold thinking, and lots of money and time. And all three may be scarce, points out T N Ninan.

'Modi is likely to make more announcements to win or retain popularity, and put himself at the centre of things even more than now,' says T N Ninan.

'While people complain of the difficulties they are experiencing because of the lack of currency, they remain supportive so far of Mr Modi's initiative.' 'What the country should be concerned about is the prospect of a prime minister who is willing to sacrifice economic gain and risk large-scale job losses in exchange for personal popularity,'

'Either China is building regional transport infrastructure long before it needs it, or this is in a chain of Chinese investments with more strategic than economic intent,' says T N Ninan.

If you take the minimum wage to Rs 15,000 tomorrow, the choice may not be between Rs 8,000 and Rs 15,000; it might be Rs 15,000 or nothing, says T N Ninan.

What the railways need to do is to establish a clear link between higher fares and better service, says T N Ninan.

Our governments are easily prone to arbitrary decisions but if you are dealing with international firms, such arbitrariness can turn back and bite you, says T N Ninan.

The Aditya Birla group's decision to merge two companies, each with an existing clutch of diverse businesses, flies in the face of the accumulated wisdom regarding conglomerates, says T N Ninan.

'One wishes that today's 'take no prisoners' brand of politics would give way to an understanding of the national interest that is shared by both government and Opposition.'

'If we don't want to be the poorest large economy even in 2030, we need to be doing very much more than is being attempted.'

If the country is to meet its jobs and income challenge, there has to be a parallel focus on jobs in the formal sector.