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The Economic Survey 2020-21 has projected India’s GDP to contract by 7.7 per cent, a great fall from the projected 11.5 per cent growth over the revised estimated a year before. Though the survey tries to instill hope in the people by giving all sort of logic, all are in a defensive vein as against the last years’ economic survey that was built around India’s aspiration of becoming $5 trillion economy by 2025.

Leaders of 16 Opposition parties have boycotted the President’s address to Parliament on January 29. Do they think it would really have any impact on the Prime Minister Narendra Modi? Will they be able to change the thought of the President Ramnath Kovind towards the farmers? In his January 25 address to the nation he has already justified enactment of the three laws.

The general Budget in India is a difficult exercise and this year’s budget on February one is no different as Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will have to do tight rope walk to fulfill the conflicting demands while keeping the balance between growth and strong macro-economic fundamentals to ward off ill effects of unprecedented Corona virus pandemic on the economy. Nevertheless with many rating agencies forecasting a double-digit growth in 21-22, on a low base this financial year, Sitharaman is bound to give further boost to Prime Minister NarendraModi’s AtamaNirbhar Bharat agenda as it is the only way forward to kick-start the economy to get back to high growth path.

Not a single flower plucked, not a single windowpane broken, not a single car over turned, not a single bus burnt nor any damage of any type to the life or public property, that was the greatness of the tractor march by lakhs of farmers in Delhi on the occasion of the Republic day in which we had the pride honour to serve as a medical team while marching alongside with them.

The day our Constitution was brought into force is back again at our door steps celebrating its 72nd anniversary. The preamble of the Constitution was accepted as the ‘solemn resolution of our people’ that declared our country as a ‘sovereign, democratic, republic’. Then there were the well defined objects set in the Constitution declaring the prime features of our democracy as secular and socialist. It also said with finality that the ultimate authority of power would be lying with the people of India.

EVEN before taking office, Jo Biden, the new American president, has announced a rescue package of $1.9 trillion, of which as much as $1 trillion will be in the form simply of transfers to the working people. Since the estimated US GDP was $20.8 trillion in 2020, the size of Biden’s rescue package comes to almost 10 per cent of current US GDP. This is on top of the rescue package, again amounting to 10 per cent of GDP, that Trump had announced some time ago in the context of the pandemic.

Kalyani: Churchill Brothers will aim to extend their four-point lead at the top of the Hero I-league table when the Red Machines clash against second-placed TRAU at the Kalyani Municipal Stadium in Kalyani, tomorrow in a top-of-the-table clash.

Abu Dhabi: Defending champions Maratha Arabians, riding on wicketkeeper-batsman Abdul Shakoor’s whirlwind 28 balls 73( 5x6, 7x4) pulled off an exciting five-wicket win off a last-ball thriller in the opening match of the fourth edition of the Abu Dhabi T10 at the Abu Dhabi Zayed Cricket Stadium.

Fatorda, Goa: As the race for the Hero Indian Super League playoff heats up, third-placed Goa have gathered momentum on their side. They have been unbeaten in their last six games, winning thrice.

Vasco, Goa: Two late goals in a span of five minutes broke Bengaluru resistance as Hyderabad came from behind in dramatic fashion to draw 2-2 in the Hero Indian Super League at the Tilak Maidan, Vasco, on Thursday.