India’s economic slowdown a stain on 2011
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) building is seen in Mumbai, India, Tuesday, 24 January 2012. India's central bank said growth will slow to 7 per cent this fiscal year, but left interest rates unchanged Tuesday as it struggles to balance a toxic mix of high inflation and a flagging economy. (Photo: AAP)

Author: M. Govinda Rao, NIPFP

India’s economy was one of the earliest to stage a turnaround after the global financial crisis.

The decisions taken in early 2008 to increase public-sector wages, forgive loans for farmers who had borrowed from the banks, and massively expand the rural-employment guarantee scheme assisted the economy before the global financial crisis unfolded in the last quarter of the year. Read more…

India’s power play
In a protest highlighting the lack of a continuous electricity supply, farmers hold lanterns aloft outside the Social Justice Ministry in New Delhi. (Photo: AAP)

Author: M Govinda Rao, NIPFP, New Delhi

In a recent public lecture at the India Policy Forum, Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia underlined the new challenges of managing water, energy, urbanisation and environment as critical to accelerate growth, arguing it must fulfil a more substantial part of the 12th Plan.

On the energy sector, Ahluwalia stated that an increase in sustainable energy supply would increase the cost of energy and India can contain emissions from energy supply only when it reduces energy intensity. Read more…