#PoojaKhedkar
, a trainee
#IAS
officer in Pune, went viral for using a red-blue beacon on her private Audi, leading to her transfer. The outrage over Khedkar’s wrongdoing(s) brings the focus to the unauthorised use of beacon lights—a colonial legacy that critics say conflicts
The debate over GPT-4o's 'sky' voice, akin to
#ScarlettJohansson
's, raises ethical concerns about AI and celebrity likeness. SAG-AFTRA protests highlight the need to protect actors' rights and privacy. Collaboration is key to ensuring
#AI
respects ethics and privacy.
Dive
Despite policies, India's
#StreetVendors
struggle as
#ClimateChange
crises worsen, deepening the impact of inconsistent policy enforcement and risking their livelihoods. A decade after the 2014 Act, vendors still face evictions and harsh weather. The Secretariat explores the
As a research paper from a leading think tank surfaced, claiming
#Poverty
has fallen drastically over the past decade, a new debate has opened up asking whether the country’s planners have stopped counting the poor. Jan-Mar 2024
#PLFS
data shows urban youth
#Unemployment
at 17%,
Forest fires in India: 95% started by humans! But hot, dry conditions fuel the flames. Recent incidents like Uttarakhand were criticised for response. Solutions? From community support to AI cameras.
Dive deeper with
@bakshi_prakriti
:
#Sustainability
Interested to know how
#ClimateChange
in India induces extreme weather patterns, impacting the
#Economy
and delaying demand revival. What's more at stake is that
#FarmSector
growth has plummeted, affecting production of apples, peaches, plums, and reducing cereal, pulse, and
FM's focus on jobs and skilling in
#Budget2024
looks promising, but relying on the private sector is tricky. MSMEs are key for employment but can't always handle interning, skilling, and absorbing new workers. The Secretariat takes a closer look.
More insights from
@Abhijit_M007
In a sudden move, the government appointed Vikram Misri as Foreign Secretary, cutting Vinay Kwatra's extended term short. Insiders hint Kwatra may be up for an important assignment, possibly becoming the next ambassador to the US.
The Secretariat takes a look:
As
#AirlineIndustry
soar to profits, workforce morale remains grounded. Stagnant wages, especially for pilots, cast a shadow. Experts suggest expanding fleets could lift spirits.
Dive deeper with Pawan Kumar:
#CivilAviationMinistry
#AirIndia
#Indigo
#SamAltman
is not the first founder-CEO to be fired. There have been many instances of similar exits in the past, especially in the tech industry. Altman's exit, perhaps, has been the most dramatic.
Read more:
#SamAltmanExit
#OpenAISaga
#PolicyMatters
Since the
#DigitalMarketsAct
took effect in
#Europe
, hotels are losing organic search gains from
#Google
, making them depend on online travel agencies. End users struggle to find and compare hotel tariffs. India and other nations could learn from this. Policymakers must study
The curious case of the Indian
#liquorIndustry
: Record sales but products missing from vends! India is enjoying its drinks, and the state is happy with the
#TaxInflows
. The Secretariat dives into the mystery.
@narayanrajeev
has the scoop:
The
#ReserveBankOfIndia
(RBI) has recently proposed new provisioning norms for
#InfrastructureFinancing
. While the industry seems riled, the guidelines indicate a strategic intent towards transitioning from the incurred loss-based provisioning model to the expected credit loss
The challenge with ESG is to measure the impact of its mandatory requirements. Therefore, standardisation across ESG rating agencies is key for impact assessment.
Najib Shah has more on it:
#ESG
#CorporateSocialResponsibility
#Sustainability
Delhi saw its heaviest June rainfall in 88 years, causing floods, water-logging, and house collapses. The capital joins other Indian cities facing similar issues. The Secretariat explores the root causes and solutions.
Learn more from
@Abhijit_M007
& Sejal Sharma:
#ClimateChange
is causing havoc in India with extreme weather, impacting the
#Economy
and delaying demand revival.
#FarmSector
growth dropped from 4.7% to 1.4%, affecting fruits like apples, peaches, and plums, and reducing cereal, pulse, and oilseed production
@Abhijit_M007
has
The ultimate success of the
#IndiaUKFTA
will hinge on the delicate balance between national interest and economic gains, potentially setting a precedent for India's future trade engagements on the global stage,
@ajaydgft
writes. 🇮🇳🤝🏻🇬🇧
Read it here:
April saw a record-breaking
#GSTCollection
of Rs 2.10 lakh crore! While GDP growth boosts tax revenue, affluent spending on high-end goods keeps indirect tax buoyant despite subdued consumption.
Dive deeper with
@Abhijit_M007
:
#EconomicInequality
Ever wondered about AI-based therapists? Can
#ArtificialIntelligence
bridge India's
#MentalHealth
gap with only 0.75 psychiatrists, 0.07 psychologists, and 0.07 social workers per 100k people? As AI counselling grows, can AI truly replace human therapists?
Sejal Sharma has the
After a five-year hiatus,
#Amaravati
, known for its Buddhist and Satavahana heritage, is being resurrected as capital of the rich south Indian in a planned fashion which may wow urban planners. Chief Minister
#ChandrababuNaidu
reaffirmed, "Amaravati will be our capital, with
Small businesses still running low on credit—could a dedicated
#SMEBank
be the solution? The MSME credit gap has widened to Rs 30 lakh crore, affecting 1.25 crore workers. Despite increased resources for the MSME ministry, more support is needed.
Dive deeper with
To be or not to be: Can desperate jobseeker choices be counted as jobs? Is selling groundnut employment? Citigroup says India needs 12M jobs/year, but the
#MinistryOfLabour
claims 80M jobs in the last four years. Quality & formalisation are key. We need expansive govt surveys;
Record sales & expansion plans of electric two-wheeler makers hinge on the Budget's FAME III decision. Some experts say subsidies are needed; others see a resilient market. Aligning E2Ws with India’s emission goals is crucial, but consumers need competitive prices.
Dive deeper
After the Indian general elections, attention will turn to the
#IndoPak
trade. Frozen since 2019, the trade talks on normalisation may restart as Pakistan's FM hints at reconsideration. But decades of conflict loom. Will policymakers push for normalisation?
Dive deeper with
India's
#Telecom
milch cows bellow at State-run Spectrum Auction! Govt hoped for Rs 96,320 crore but got just Rs 11,300 crore. Telecom giants tighten purse strings. Can FM Sitharaman juggle collections and expenditures to save the day?
Dive deeper with Rajeev Narayan:
FM Nirmala Sitharaman maintains tradition in
#InterimUnionBudget2024
, with no major announcements. In the absence of any major decisions, key takeaways from the budget lay in the balancing of numbers.
@rajeshmahapatra
gives an insight:
#IndianEconomy
Cheers to a
#NewYear
of informed perspectives and strategic insights! Team The Secretariat wishes our readers a
#HappNewYear
filled with knowledge, wisdom and enlightenment.
#NewYear2024
#EconomicSurvey2024
: All is well, but
#ClimateChange
poses existential threats to the
#Economy
. The Survey says India’s economy is strong but warns of climate impacts. Focus now on Sitharaman's
#Budget2024
. Will there be tax breaks or a trimmed fiscal deficit?
More from
#USPresidentialPolls
: The world's most powerful nation faces a tough choice, and it just got tougher. For those beyond the US borders, this election is crucial. The US wields significant influence in
#GlobalAffairs
—economy, diplomacy, and multilateral institutions. The outcome
FM
#NirmalaSitharaman
's
#Budget2024
highlighted changes to the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC)! The Secretariat had noted that while the
#IBC
has sped up resolutions, it still has loopholes. A revamp is needed for a more efficient system!
Dive deeper with
@Pawank17870
:
The unexpected growth in the GDP can be attributed to a low base because of a downward revision in the previous year's industrial growth, coupled with a sharp rise in net indirect taxes.
Read more here:
#PolicyMatters
#IndianEconomy
#GDPGrowth
#Exports
Budget 2024 from the
#ClimateChange
lens: Can diversification of energy resources be the way out?
The budget has announced big-ticket schemes but their tardy implementation can undo them. The Secretariat takes a look at what the budget means for climate change and sustainability.
Cesses, a significant part of revenue, continue to play a role despite the introduction of
#GST
in 2017. What's the historical context, and how are they impacting our fiscal landscape?
Explore it all here:
#UnionBudget
#CessManagement
#PolicyMatters
New schemes for
#MSMEs
in NDA's
#Budget2024
bring optimism! But implementation is key. MSMEs face cash shortages & geopolitical uncertainties. The
#budget2024
addresses these worries with exciting goodies.
Details from
@MahuaVenkatesh
:
With
#GST
collections finally showing sustained buoyancy, the government should do a 360-degree evaluation and initiate pending reforms, Sumit Dutt Majumder writes in this article.
Read it here:
#PolicyMatters
#PolicyInsights
#GSTReforms
Video-sharing services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video have elevated entertainment in India with quality content and innovation. Overregulation risks hindering viewer access.
Noyanika Batta & Mohit Chawdhry can give you insights about the implications of Digital Competition
Providing spaces for segregation at the source and increasing the amount of treatable and compostable waste will help the country reduce the ever-growing mountains of legacy waste.
The Secretariat takes a look at the issue and possible solutions:
Supreme Court Judge Justice KV Viswanathan called for a Niti Aayog-like body on
#ClimateChange
, but will the Centre take the hint? A Climate Commission could help central and state governments collaborate urgently with a people-first approach to tackle the crisis.
Dive deeper
As FM
#NirmalaSitharaman
unveiled
#Budget2024
, the fiscal deficit has dropped to 4.9% of GDP. The Secretariat had highlighted the world's improving view of India's sovereign rating, necessitating the need for long-term fiscal focus.
Curious for more on why it was important to
Latest estimates project a strong 8.2% GDP growth for 2023-24, surpassing expectations. However, growth in the eight core industries, crucial for many sectors, shows a more moderate trend. These industries hold a 40.27% share in the Index of Industrial Production. Industry
🔍 Uncover the essence of policy news with
#theSecretariat
! Our 'Less is More' approach means stories that truly matter. High-impact analysis, expansive reportage, and exclusive insights—count on us to cut through the clutter. Launching soon! 🚀
#PolicyMatters
#PolicyInsights
Charting India's
#AI
future: Overcoming data challenges for responsible innovation. Data quality, especially for regional languages, is key. MeitY should go beyond Bhashini AI for sector- and region-specific open-source datasets. Prompt implementation is crucial.
@LakraRudraksh
Coalition government or not, reform in India won't stop! Despite post-election uncertainty, business remains paramount. Policy must stay agile amidst global shifts. The future of Indian reform depends on adaptability, not coalition dynamics.
Dive deeper with
@Abhijit_M007
:
The finance minister's first budget for NDA 3.0 includes a generous shower of benefits for the BJP's two key allies, TDP and JD(U), helping the NDA reach the halfway mark in the Lok Sabha. The
#Budget2024
is seen as a big win for these NDA allies! Curious about what these
The
#SupremeCourtCollegium
has named new
#ChiefJustices
for several
#HighCourts
, including Delhi and Madras! Seven judges have been recommended based on seniority, performance, and diverse representation.
The Secretariat takes a look at these appointments:
Regional disparities persist in Indian employment conditions, but Kerala stands out with remarkable progress. It has gone from 20th to 6th place in the last two decades, a testament to its unique model.
Dive deep with
@Abhijit_M007
:
#Employment
How will Wholesale Price Index trends impact monetary policy? With the expected normalisation in
#inflation
,
@RBI
might maintain key interest rates longer. What's your take on this?
Dive deep with Saugata Bhattacharya:
#ConsumerPriceIndex
#CPIInflation
The simple solution to India’s growing dumpyards? Localised space allocation! By providing spaces for segregation at the source and boosting the amount of treatable and compostable waste, the country can tackle the mountains of legacy waste.
The Secretariat takes a look:
About a decade ago, government data was underutilized for policymaking. Now, data scientists are leveraging it for societal good, but more needs to be done. The Secretariat explores how to make data more accessible and transparent.
Dive deeper with
@bakshi_prakriti
:
#PSUBanks
: After mega-mergers, will the new govt reform hiring, pay? Competitive salaries, incentives, and lateral hiring could be on the cards. But, will
#NDA
3.0 have the teeth for these reforms?
Dive deeper with
@MahuaVenkatesh
:
#Banking
#FutureOfWork
Agriculture & private R&D get a digital boost in
#Budget2024
, but
#AI
is left out! The focus is on tech in agri, private R&D, space & nuclear energy. Missing: a big push for pure AI &
#SemiconductorIndustry
. Want the details?
Sejal Sharma has the scoop:
India aims for developed nation status by 2047, leveraging Artificial Intelligence for better quality of life. Sumali Moitra on behalf of The Secretariat spoke with S Ramadorai, Chairperson of India’s Karmayogi Bharat Mission on a range of topics related to AI’s future in India.
2024 Lok Sabha elections: pivotal for India's urban future! BJP & Congress manifestos promise world-class infrastructure & urban living standards. But what's at stake? Effective governance, regional growth, & informal sector integration. The decision of the next government will
Extreme pressure on young students competing for India's top educational institutions often leads to tragic outcomes. Every year, around 200,000 students flock to
#Kota
for
#IIT
-JEE and
#NEET
prep. What measures can ease the burden on them? The Secretariat explores this issue and