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World is watching with curiosity as Prime Minister Modi pledged to make India a $5 trillion economy by the fiscal year 2024-25. It is always good to have a target and do the necessary to achieve the goal. If the prime minister really means what he says he should sincerely implement the programme put in place with the intent of catching up the target. At present the global headwinds are challenging. World economy remained subdued in 2018 with growth rate falling to 3.6 per cent from 3.8 per cent in 2017. It is projected to fall further to 3.3 per cent in 2019. Also Indian economy moderated in 2018-19 with a growth of 6.8 per cent which is lower than 7.2 per cent in 2017-18.

The full impact of the phenomenon of “aya Ram, gaya Ram” on the BJP’s and the Congress’s ideological postures and organizational set-up will only be known after some time. For the present, the BJP is basking in the glory of augmenting its legislative strength in the states via what is generally considered to be dubious means, while the Congress is striving to protect its crumbling house from a predatory rival.

With galloping annual trade deficit, high current account deficit, falling international exchange value of rupee and rising consumer prices, the government’s target of making India a $5-trillion economy in five years looks highly ambitious. Government economists seem have created a wrong impression before the prime minister and the finance minister about the strong potential of Indian economy hitting a $5-trillion mark by 2025, from the present level of $2.75 trillion. A simplistic calculation says it is possible if the GDP grows at eight per cent annually in the coming years.

Working Class voters could be key to the outcome to the next general election in Britain, a new report by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation says. Their votes are “up for grabs” on an unprecedented scale, according to the think tank.

LUCKNOW: After serious drubbing during 2019 Lok Sabha polls the opposition parties are gearing up for by-polls for 12 assembly seats. The vacancies were caused as 11 MLAs including eight from BJP and three from opposition were elected to Lok Sabha. The election of BJP MLA was set aside following his conviction in a murder case.

BHOPAL: Political happenings in Karnataka and Goa have found their echo in Madhya Pradesh. Narottam Mishra, former senior BJP minister has warned the Congress government that the storm from Goa is coming to MP via Karnataka. This has sensatinalised political arena.

Communist Party of India national council secretary Binoy Viswam MP said that the children who died of acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) were in fact unfortunate victims of poverty, malnutrition and poor healthcare facilities. The occurrence of the disease every year taking away the lives of kids mostly from poor families speaks of the negligence meted out to the poorer sections of the population by the governments. He pointed out that the highly publicised Ayushman Bharat health cover is a myth. No doubt it is a boon for the insurance companies.

Inaugurated in 1871, the 135th Durham Miners’ Gala takes place with the country in chaos over Brexit. For some, the question of whether or not Labour backs a second referendum with remain or halts the Brexit process altogether has become the party’s defining issue. But to make it so ignores our history and our spirit of purpose.

Business cycles have been in use for long to define certain characteristics of economic performance. But ever since the global financial crisis of 2008, there is the new concept of financial cycles, which is finding increasing importance globally. The debate about financial cycles has finally reached the shores of India.

Over the last couple of months, the Bombay High Court and the Madras High Court have passed important judgements that should hopefully reduce the trauma that survivors of rape have to undergo to terminate their pregnancy, especially beyond the period of 20 weeks as stipulated under the Medical Terminated Pregnancy (MTP) Act, 1971.