Challenging the Status Quo: Nepal’s Call for a New World Order
From Trump’s MAGA to Kathmandu’s GenZ, emotive mobilisation around single issues/leaders is outweighing considered citizenly engagement. It’s regime change minus constructive agenda
TK Arun
TK Arun is a Senior Journalist and Columnist based in Delhi.
India’s Real Security Lies in Economic Strength, Not Trump’s Words
India has overtaken China as the largest buyer of Russian oil. This is not because the Chinese are running scared of American wrath over their Russian commerce. China is increasingly moving to electricity for transport, with more than half of all new car sales being of electric vehicles and high-speed trains that run on electricity offering viable alternatives to air travel on quite a few routes, and will increasingly buy smaller quantities of oil. China has stepped up its purchases of piped natural gas from Russia.
The Nobel Pursuit of India
India should set a goal of winning at least 10 Nobel Prizes every decade. Viewing development as raising per-capita income — which is the current obsession of government policy, think tanks, business associations and others — isn’t just sterile, but also betrayal of what is sound in India’s own tradition, when it comes to thinking on life’s attainment.
The Paradox of GST Reform: Increased Consumption Accompanied by Hidden Costs
When the real economy weakens, the stock market gets a high. This has been the case, ever since the excess liquidity sloshing around in the world's financial markets converted stock prices and indices into a function more of tiquidlity than of undertying corporate performance.
GST Exemptions and NIL Rates: Policy Gains Versus Consumer Realities
Health insurance for individuals has been made exempt from Goods and Services Tax. GST has been removed from life insurance premium payments for individuals, as well. Both used to be charged GST at 18%. So, this represents major relief for individuals, this lowering of the cost of buying insurance by nearly a fifth, right? That magnitude of reduction in the cost of either life or health insurance is merely an illusion. The cost of insurance might come down somewhat, but definitely not by 18%.
Embracing Opportunity with Caution: India’s Strategic Engagement with America
India embraces its need for American intelligence and weapons to keep China at bay. At the same time, India does not want to be obliged to the US so much that it comes under its thumb. India is better off with a multipolar world, with multiple power centres.