The poor use India's massive public distribution system (PDS) for food grains much more than the rich, and rate the quality of grains more favorably than richer income classes, a large-scale...

The poor use India's massive public distribution system (PDS) for food grains much more than the rich, and rate the quality of grains more favorably than richer...

The super-rich approve of the Narendra Modi-led government more than the poor, finds the ICE 360 survey

Electricity, tap water, piped/LPG gas, and toilets are essential amenities and access to these varies according to the economic profile of the households. Nearly 90 percent of all Indian...

While electricity connection has grown exponentially, access to safe drinking water continues to be a luxury that only the Middle Class and Rich households can afford. The dismal...

Beyond macro data, there has been little enquiry into the profile of the indebted farmer households.

The year 2016 will undoubtedly be commemorated for tectonic changes in the global and domestic environment, including Brexit, election of Donald Trump as the US president, and closer home.

An overwhelming majority, 87%, of people living in metros belong to the top two quintiles of India's income pyramid but even the richest among them consider themselves 'middle-class', says ICE survey

The poor use India's massive public distribution system (PDS) for foodgrains much more than the rich, and rate the quality of grains more favourably than richer income classes...

7th Pay Commission: Urban households are likely to absorb 64% of the increased amount which will come from the Seventh Pay Commission award, while rural households will get only 36%...

The low penetration of health insurance and high health costs expose Indian households, especially those at the bottom of the pyramid, to severe financial shocks, according to fresh...

Fresh data on consumer behaviour shows that the transition to cashless will be a Herculean task in a country such as India...

Just as non-cash shouldn't mandatorily be imposed, neither should cash. Why has this not figured on a reform agenda between 2004 and 2014, or much earlier?...

Though the actual position will only be known at the end of the year, chances are the new black-money window IDS-2 will do well since, for those who have not already laundered their black money post-demonetisation, it would make more sense to give up 55-56% of it to the government instead of losing it all...

This is the season for quoting, and misquoting, Keynes. "When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do, sir?" This is attributed to Keynes, though there is no actual evidence Keynes ever said, or wrote, this...

The discussion on the fall in employment after the November 8 demonetisation relies on anecdotal evidence. It is not backed by data...

For A Bindiyan Workforce. There is no denying that India's record on the gender equality front is nothing to be proud of...

Indian Prosperity depends on empowering its Labour Force. The goal of becoming a fully developed nation by year 2047 has been set by the government in no uncertain terms...

The process of revitalising agriculture has begun. Now we must take action in a way that yields measurable outcomes and creates a virtuous cycle of demand, growth and prosperity...

The challenge for policy-makers is to develop a holistic approach that is flexible enough to accommodate the specific needs of different districts...

Political parties in several states are gearing up for Assembly elections and the Lok Sabha elections in 2024 too are not far away. It's not surprising then that many of them...

Post-Covid recovery of poor households has been faster than expected. But many still need a leg-up...

The Indian economy has come a long way, with the country’s GDP crossing the $2 trillion mark in 2014. While it took us 60 years to hit the $1 trillion figure, we added the next trillion in just seven years.

Despite the constraints, it is not impossible to collect reliable data on income, expenditure and savings. In recent times, there has been an increase in public expenditure...

The slogan for policy-makers this year should be Debate, Decide, Do and Deliver. From a social scientist’s point of view, understanding the body politic of the Indian populace and the roots of societal and economic...

Unlike many other food product categories, there is still scope for growth in protein consumption in large markets in India. The United Nations has declared 2016 as the International...

The Haryana government’s decision to implement the Supreme Court’s August 2024 order on sub-categorization within the Scheduled Castes (SC) reservation system marks a transformative shift in India’s approach to affirmative action. This move allows states to create sub-categories within the SC community, ensuring that reservation benefits are more effectively targeted toward the economically disadvantaged. Haryana’s swift action sets a powerful example for other states to follow, showcasing how policy can address the internal disparities within the SC community. This sub-categorization strategy seeks to refine affirmative action by ensuring that the most marginalized sections of society, who are still in need of support, receive the intended benefits...

Keeping citizens dependent on handouts is not fiscally sustainable. India needs a transparent framework to regulate them...