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The world of banking and finance is making a significant move towards the digital economy. The landscape is changing rapidly, from the European Central Bank's announcement about the digital Euro to the Chinese city of Suzhou paying salaries in digital Yuan. India is also moving towards greater adoption of digital currency, although in a slow and guarded manner.

At a time when we celebrate birth anniversary of our guide and philosopher Comrade V I Lenin on April 22, we are passing through a phase called as rule of finance capital. It is defined by Lenin as the higher stage of capitalism that takes away our democratic rights, our Constitution, right to elect our own government, and freedom to live and think in our own varied ways. It refuses to give us food instead offers a well organised famine. It refuses to give us jobs because its prime interest is not investment. Health and education are not in its priority list. Despite killing negligence of public welfare, it is also true that it is scared of people and their strength. And it is at this point we find a similar situation when Lenin stressed on alliance of all democratic forces that includes bourgeoisie too which is also facing a crisis and joins the struggle for a democratic state.

India has always been said to have great growth potential. In recent years, even the ‘fastest growing economy’ tag has been tied on its neck for several times. Now it is expected to retain this tag in 2023.Under the deception of such comforting propaganda lies the reality that the country is struggling hard to meet both ends meet for millions of its poor as it still houses largest number of poor in the world. The country falls in lower-middle income group on the basis of Gross National Income (GNI).

Nobody can stop Prime Minister Narendra Modi from doing electoral social engineering using Pasmanda Muslims and Kerala Christians for fodder. If the secular parties can, so can the so-called communal. But giving crumbs with one hand, and taking away crumbs (given by secular parties) is BJP-plated. So, take back the 4% Muslim reservation in Karnataka even if BJP President JP Nadda asks BJP leaders and workers to sing “Sufi qawallis” in Ajmer Sharif. May be, it will reach the ears of the Muslims of Karnataka and they will vote for the BJP!

Is the Congress Party in Karnataka in a position to repeat in the May 10 assembly polls what the West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee did in 2021 polls in her state ?. The question is being asked by the seasoned political observer in the state as the BJP leaders are engaged in a catfight during the campaign and the Prime Minister Narendra Modi is reported to be considering to reduce the number of poll rallies promised earlier?

The Narendra Modi government, facing persistent criticism that the poor has become poorer and rich richer under its policies, couldn’t have asked for anything better. The IMF has literally ‘come to the aid of the party’ asserting that India’s achievement in financial inclusion is truly remarkable. The certificate will be of great value for Modi’s campaign for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: BJP leaders in Kerala are in seventh heaven following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to Kerala. They are gushing from the housetops that visit was an unqualified success and a political game-changer.

Perseverance of the real politick finally prevailed over the political morality and forced the Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar to release the gangster, Anand Mohan. Unlike the Gujarat’s BJP government and Union home ministry which had released rapists and killers, without caring for the set legal norms and rules, Kumar government removed a clause earlier this month that prohibited the remission of jail term for those convicted of murdering a public servant, benefitting Anand Mohan, a Rajput leader. Otherwise too Anand had completed his life term in jail.

Improving the quality of textbooks for children is a continuous process. All civilizations have been doing this throughout ages, and all of us in India too, have grown witnessing changes in our textbooks. Of late, especially after Narendra Modi became Prime Minister of India in 2014, the changes in NCERT textbooks have become frequent and controversial.

A Sikh when he goes places can be traced to a gurdwara. Nowadays, the trace will lead through Canada, the United Kingdom and into enemy country Pakistan. Akali Dal titan Parkash Singh Badal would not be at any of these Sikh centres of convenience. After 75 years serving the Sikh cause, Badal has flown over what had become a cuckoo’s nest. Some would even say that at age 95, his departure was long overdue.