News: 15th Finance commission recommended a health grant of 70,000 crore which is to be released over the next 5 years. Out of this nearly 8000 crore was released to urban and rural local bodies. This would be 2.3% of the total health expenditure. This has the potential of having a huge impact on health… Continue reading Small grant but a big opportunity for local bodies
Tag: fiscal federalism
The state of states: On lack of data on state’s finances
Source: This post is based on the article “The state of states” published in Business Standard on 13th October 2021. Syllabus: GS3 – Indian Economy and issues relating to Planning, Mobilization of Resources Relevance: Significance of data on states’ finances Synopsis: Data of the Union Govt’s finances is made available at the end of every… Continue reading The state of states: On lack of data on state’s finances
Regaining fiscal balance
Synopsis: The advance tax numbers suggest growth in revenue collection continues to remain strong. However, Central government finances would need careful management. Introduction In the current financial year, the fiscal position has improved significantly and the recovery in revenue collection has surprised many. By July-end, the government collected revenue worth over 37% of its Budget… Continue reading Regaining fiscal balance
Structural changes in GST
Synopsis: Several important decisions taken during the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council’s 45th meeting in Lucknow last week. What are the important decisions taken during the GST Council’s 45th meeting? Concessional rates for Essential medicines: The council extended concessional rates for several drugs, such as Remdesivir, used to treat Covid-19. It also reduced duty… Continue reading Structural changes in GST
There finally seems to be a path forward for GST. Centre and states must strike bargain
Synopsis: After one and a half years of dispute, and with the economy showing signs of recovery, a path forward for the GST finally seems visible. This opportunity needs to be seized What has set back the GST for the past year and a half? Lack of revenues: In 2016-17 the various taxes that were… Continue reading There finally seems to be a path forward for GST. Centre and states must strike bargain
New rules to reform financial powers of armed forces
What is the news? In order to address operational needs of the armed forces, Defence Minister has released order on Delegation of Financial Powers to Defence Services (DFPDS), 2021. The last DFPDS was released in 2016. Under this order, new rules have been released to enhance the delegation of revenue procurement powers for the Army,… Continue reading New rules to reform financial powers of armed forces
Non Binary genders need more visibility in India’s Census 2021
Synopsis: Separating sex and gender in the country’s biggest socio-economic survey is necessary. Introduction Census data is important as it acts as a base for many other surveys in the country. This is because the census data is a better enumeration of categories of gender. But still, the Census is far from perfect. About the… Continue reading Non Binary genders need more visibility in India’s Census 2021
Grow up, states: CMs should know central resource transfer won’t go up. They must fix their own finances
Synopsis: States have no option but to be fiscally aatmanirbhar. Introduction Recently, TN released a white paper that talked about the state fiscal condition is not good and the state is in deep debt. This document blamed the Central government and previous state government policies for the present condition. How has Fiscal federalism changed over… Continue reading Grow up, states: CMs should know central resource transfer won’t go up. They must fix their own finances
Why a Caste Census is needed-and why it may not see light of the day
Synopsis: Although caste-based census would provide up-to-date data to calibrate reservation, it also threatens social justice as it can roll back the discrimination regime. Introduction Recently, the Indian Parliament passed the 127th Constitution Amendment Bill, 2021. It overrides the Supreme Court’s (SC) interpretation of the 102nd Constitutional Amendment. SC judgment in the Maratha case had… Continue reading Why a Caste Census is needed-and why it may not see light of the day
Fourth edition of dragonfly census across Delhi-NCR
Source: TOI What is the News? The Fourth Edition of the Dragonfly Census 2021 will start from Delhi-NCR. DragonFly Census 2021: Conducted by: World Wide Fund for Nature(WWF-India) in partnership with Bombay Natural History Society(BNHS), United Nations Environment Programme, Zoological Survey of India and others. Aim: To spread awareness about the importance of the Dragonfly… Continue reading Fourth edition of dragonfly census across Delhi-NCR
Common survey to count elephants and tigers
Source: The Hindu What is the News? On World Elephant Day, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change has announced that population estimation of elephants and tigers will be done together in 2022. What is the present practice? Currently, the Tiger and Elephant Census are conducted separately: All India Tiger Census: The All India Tiger… Continue reading Common survey to count elephants and tigers
A caste census will serve no clear worthy purpose
Source: LiveMint Relevance: Understand the challenges with the caste census in India. Synopsis: There are proposals to revive the caste-based census in the National Census of 2021. But introducing them is not easy, and the caste census has certain challenges. Introduction With census fast approaching, some sections argue the need to include caste in the… Continue reading A caste census will serve no clear worthy purpose
Oxygen for fiscal federalism
Source: The Hindu Relevance: This article focuses upon the aspects of Fiscal federalism in India. Synopsis: A special GST rate could be levied by using the power under Article 279A. This would enable the States to raise more resources during the pandemic. Background: India has a federation with a strong centralizing policy. Nonetheless, India maintained… Continue reading Oxygen for fiscal federalism
The caste census debate
Source: Indian Express What is the News? On Caste Based Census, the Ministry of Home Affairs has said that the Government of India has decided not to enumerate caste-wise population other than SCs and STs in Census 2021. Caste Data Published in the Census: Every Census in independent India from 1951 to 2011 has published… Continue reading The caste census debate
Significance of Rent Waiver in tackling Reverse Migration
Synopsis: State support for food and income along with rent waiver during the pandemic to workers and migrants can stop reverse migration. Why waive rents for migrants during the pandemic crisis? One, According to the findings by the RMKU and the Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS) in Jaipur, on a survey of 500 domestic… Continue reading Significance of Rent Waiver in tackling Reverse Migration
Covid-19 Pandemic and Internal Migration in India- Explained, Pointwise
Introduction As per the 2011 census, there are 450 million (38% of the population) internal migrants in India. The World Bank report titled ‘Migration and Development Brief’ mentions that nearly 40 million internal migrants are affected by the Covid-19 Pandemic. Further, the Internal migrants in India faced various challenges in their migrated state, migration path… Continue reading Covid-19 Pandemic and Internal Migration in India- Explained, Pointwise
“Dolphin Census” Registers Increase in Numbers of Dolphins
What is the News? The Odisha State Forest and Environment Department released the final data on the dolphin census. The census covers almost the entire coast of Odisha. What are the Key Findings of the Dolphin Census? Number of Dolphins: The number of dolphins increased by 311 in Odisha taking the total number up to… Continue reading “Dolphin Census” Registers Increase in Numbers of Dolphins
16th Census of India likely to postpone to 2022
What is the News? The Government of India is likely to postpone the 2021 census to 2022, due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation in the country. First phase of the Census was scheduled to be rolled out on 1st April 2020. Under this phase, House Listing & Housing Census and updating of the National Population… Continue reading 16th Census of India likely to postpone to 2022
Socio-Economic and Caste Census: A Need for reforms
Source: click here Syllabus: GS 1 – population and associated issues Synopsis: Socio-Economic and Caste Census is suffering from many issues. All the issues must be removed before the next exercise is conducted. Introduction The Census of India is one of the largest exercises which counts and collects demographic and socio-economic information on the Indian… Continue reading Socio-Economic and Caste Census: A Need for reforms
