PAPERLESS LICENSING FOR PETROLEUM SERVICE STATIONS
Why in News? The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry has launched paperless licensing process through Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) for petroleum service stations (retail outlets storing and dispensing petrol/diesel for motor conveyances) under the Petroleum Rules, 2002. This initiative for petroleum pump licensing is […]
CBDT REVISING RETURN FORMS
Why in news? In order to enable income taxpayers to avail full benefits of various timeline extensions granted by the Government of India due to Covid-19 pandemic situations, the CBDT is revising the return forms for FY 2019-20 (Assessment Year 2020-21). CBDT The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) is a Statutory Body functioning under […]
WHY GOLD PRICES HAVE BEEN RISING BEFORE AND DURING COVID-19?
Introduction to rising Gold Prices Much before Covid-19’s impact reverberated across economies and led to a crash in global stock markets, gold prices had started their upward glide since May 2019 to culminate into a nearly 40 per cent jump in less than a year. The present gold prices in India are even higher, as […]
SERVICES AT OUR DOORSTEP: DELIVERY WORKERS ARE THE NEW FRONT-LINE FORCE
Why in news? The ‘ferrymen’ of Wuhan, who have been providing groceries, food and medicines to citizens isolated in their homes, have been the backbone of cities that have been most hit by the novel coronavirus. Delivery infrastructure or digitally enabled micro-logistics are key to how citizens navigate their ‘social distanced’ lives during the pandemic. […]
A PANDEMIC, AN ECONOMIC BLOW AND THE BIG FIX
Why in news? India has just finished a day of curfew on 22nd March 2020, and clapping to practice ‘social distancing’ and to express gratitude to the millions of health and essential services workers amid the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a laudable initiative by the Prime Minister to rally the nation together. The nation is […]
IT’S WRONG TO PRESUME THAT MERGERS WILL SOLVE BANKS’ WOES
Hurdles in the proposed merger of nationalised banks The main hurdle will be to the smooth process of integration. In our country, all our banks have their own importance in terms of origin, growth, expansion and geographical [focus], and have been contributing to economic development in their own way. When banks were nationalised in 1969, […]
BANKING ON BAILOUTS
Why in news? Just one day after it placed the financially troubled Yes Bank under a moratorium, the Reserve Bank of India announced a draft ‘Scheme of Reconstruction’ that entails the State Bank of India (SBI) investing capital to acquire a 49% stake in the restructured private lender. Views on the Moratorium on Yes Bank […]
AN UNREST, A SLOWDOWN AND A HEALTH EPIDEMIC
Why in news? This article is written by Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. He listed following issues India is facing today: Trinity of social disharmony, economic slowdown and a global health epidemic. Social unrest and economic ruin are self-inflicted while the health contagion of COVID-19 disease, caused by the novel coronavirus, is an external shock. Communal tensions have been […]
ECONOMIC LIBERALISATION AND ITS FAULTS
Privatisation and Liberalisation The 1991-92 Budget speech marked the beginning of the end of the ‘Licence Raj’ in India. The 1991-92 Budget also announced the reduction of import duties and paved the way for foreign-manufactured goods to flow into India. Following this, most of the manufacturing sector was opened up to foreign direct investment. India’s […]
EXPLAINED: HOW A DOLLAR SWAP LINE WITH US FED CAN HELP
Why in news? India is working with the United States to secure a dollar swap line that would help in better management of its external account and provide extra cushion in the event of an abrupt outflow of funds, according to banking industry and government sources. India already has a $75 billion bilateral currency swap […]