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It isn’t only the economic slump which is a cause of concern, there is also reason to be worried about how India’s diplomatic ties with countries far and near are deteriorating.

Going by the government’s annual spending trend, the size of the 2020-21 union budget scheduled to be presented in Parliament on February 1 may be close to Rs. 31,00,000 crore. The large expenditure budget is unavoidable despite the grim picture on the revenue front during the current financial year, mainly because of the economic slowdown and lower revenue generation. It is to be seen how much of such total spending for the next fiscal is on account of plan expenditure or on capital account. The budget must specify the plan expenditure for the next year. That is vital for economic growth. The projection of a futuristic expenditure budget on capital account is okay though it is unlikely to pep up immediately the confidence of industry and consumers. Such an announcement during the 2019-20 budget presentation failed to arrest economic slowdown for the year. Any fiscal deficit on account of annual plan expenditure to create mid- or long-term economic asset is welcome. However, it is time to compress the non-plan expenditure or on the revenue account. This is possible as also highly desirable. The 2020-21 Budget could specify the amount proposed to be saved by compressing the size of the government and cutting down administrative expenditure. Precious public sector assets should not be sold to fund the government’s growing non-plan expenditure. The current trend in this respect looks rather ominous for the future.

Auckland: After getting off to a good start in the New Zealand Tour with a 4-0 win against the New Zealand Development squad in their first match, the Indian Women's Hockey Team lost 1-2 to hosts in a hard-fought match here today.

With the decision of the Union Cabinet on December 24, 2019, restructuring of the Railway Board in the Ministry of Railways has begun amidst apprehensions of downsizing of Indian Railways on corporate lines and in tune with the emerging globalization of the country’s economy and market forces. Accordingly, eight-member Railway Board is being halved to four-member Board with the Chairman redesignated as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Indian Railways, merger of eight civil services cadres, largely belonging to diverse engineering and technological services, financial and operational cadres into a single whole to be called Indian Railways Management Service (IRMS) through single examinations by the UPSC and the cadre of Railway Protection Force being redesignated as Indian Railways Security Service. With such decisions now under implementation, deck is now clear for corporatization of the railways on private lines.

Kozhikode: Home side Gokulam Kerala FC notched up a solitary goal victory over former champions Churchill Brothers FC of Goa in a Hero I-League clash, thanks to a first-half Marcus Joseph strike at the EMS Corporation Stadium in Kozhikode, Kerala, on Sunday evening.

Lucknow: With her array of smashes, world champion PV Sindhu guided Hyderabad Hunters to their first win as they beat Awadhe Warriors at the Star Sports Premier Badminton League 2020 at the Babu Banarasi Das Badminton Academy here today. In a flawless display by the former champions, Sourabh Verma and the mixed doubles pair of Sikki Reddy and Vladimir Ivanov performed brilliantly to fetch wins for the Hunters.

New Delhi: Commonwealth Games medallist boxer Mohammed Hussamuddin claimed silver medal at the 71st Strandja International Boxing Tournament after losing to Francesco Maietta in the final at in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Goa: In what will serve as a huge sense of relief, Real Kashmir got back to winning ways by registering a thoroughly professional 2-0 victory over All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) developmental side Indian Arrows at the GMC Stadium in Bambolim, Goa on Sunday.

Hyderabad: Will he score a Perfect 10? That is the question uppermost in the minds of not just Sharath Kamal, but millions of his fans as the UTT 81st National Table Tennis Championships get underway at the Saroonagar Indoor Stadium here tomorrow.

Lucknow: After a fabulous start to their campaign at the Star Sports Premier Badminton League, Pune 7 Aces will look to carry their sterling form into their clash with Bengaluru Raptors here at the Babu Banarasi Das Badminton Academy tomorrow.