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United Nations declared in Mid-April this year that India has become the most populous country overtaking China at 1.43 billion. Can it do the same with regard to GDP to become second largest economy in the world? On the face of it, the proposition seems difficult in the next few decades as China is the second largest economy in the world at over $18.5 trillion as against United States’ nearly $25.5 trillion. There have however been suspicion for quite some time that Chinese figures are exaggerated and the size of its economy is not as big as it is made out to be. If this is true, it is within realms of reality that India overtakes Chinese economy in the foreseeable future.

Improved railway connectivity between India and Bangladesh should raise levels of bilateral passenger and cargo traffic significantly, and catalyse major economic growth in the years ahead. While both countries have revived operations on some of the old BG/MG (Broad gauge and Metre gauge) lines that were functional in undivided Bengal before 1947, economists feel that much more needs to be done to strengthen/upgrade the existing network in Bangladesh.

Davangere in Central Karnataka is known for its lips-smacking “benne dosa” (butter dosa) and, of course, Shamanur Shivashankarappa. The 92-year-old Congress leader became India’s oldest MLA on May 13 after being elected MLA for the sixth time from Devangere South. He defeated BJP candidate and former Mayor B G Ajay Kumar by a margin of 27,888 votes. Shivashankarappa will be entering the assembly along with son S SMallikarjun, a two time MLA from Devangere North.

Visit of the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi to the Pacific Island Nations drew international attention since several countries of the world, including China, had great strategic interests in the region. Indian move for consolidation and expansion of ties with the countries in the region sharing Indian roots and history has thus become significant.

Nobody can put a knife to the Congress party’s throat and compel it to stand with the Aam Aadmi Party against the Modi government’s ordinance which returned control of “services” – postings and transfers – to the Lt. Governor after a couple of days of celebrations over the Supreme Court verdict that gave the AAP government control over everything except land, police and public order. Last heard Rahul Gandhi’s party hadn’t yet decided to join hands with AAP and fight the ordinance.

Dame Luck smiles at every Party at a particular moment. The 137-year Grand Old Congress Party, which has seen many ups and downs, is no exception. Winning a prosperous and significant Karnataka recently gave Congress that golden moment. If Congress wants to revive itself, it can't sit on the laurels of recent triumph.

How many of us were aware of the President of the Wrestling Federation of India before the name resounded in ugly resonance from Jantar Mantar in New Delhi? Hardly any beyond maybe 10 lakhs, 20-30-40-50 lakhs, perhaps one-two crores – the sort of people who vote for candidates in assembly and parliamentary elections regardless of the candidates’ credentials, good or bad – even those with horrible criminal records.

Demonetisation was not an economic move instead it had a political dimension tossed by a politician which had the worst nature of economic consequences. If it would have been conceived and designed by one or a group of economists, it would have had the element of constructive nature.

Cracks are discernible in BJP's West Bengal unit. After a communication gap between the leadership and the rank and file has been voiced by the party's national vice-president Dilip Ghosh, it cannot be dismissed as a canard of Trinamool Congress or Left.

LUCKNOW: The absence of Samajwadi Party President and former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh Akhilesh Yadav at the oath-ceremony of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at Bengaluru on Saturday has exposed sharp differences between Samajwadi Party and Congress. Despite being invited at the oath ceremony, Samajwadi Party national president Akhilesh Yadav conveyed that he would not attend the function due to prior commitments.