Archive for ‘India alert’

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21/03/2012

* US exempts 11 states from Iran sanctions; China, India excluded

Reuters: “The United States exempted Japan and 10 EU nations from financial sanctions because they have significantly cut purchases of Iranian oil, but left Iran’s top customers China and India exposed to the possibility of such steps.

The decision means banks in these countries have been given a six-month reprieve from the threat of being cut off from the U.S. financial system under new sanctions designed to pressure Iran over its nuclear program.

The list did not include China and India, Iran’s top two crude oil importers, nor U.S. allies South Korea and Turkey, which are among the top-10 consumers of Iranian oil.

Japan, China and India combined buy close to half of Iran’s crude exports of 2.6 million barrels a day, providing crucial foreign exchange for the OPEC member.”

via U.S. exempts 11 states from Iran sanctions; China, India exposed | Reuters.

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21/03/2012

* India kidnapping: Maoist rebels extend deadline

BBC News: “Maoist rebels in eastern India have extended a deadline for their demands to met in exchange for returning two Italian men they kidnapped last week to late Wednesday. The rebels have demanded an end to military operations against them and the release of jailed Maoists. A deadline of Sunday for their list of 13 demands was earlier extended to late Tuesday.

The rebels say the two Italians are safe and in good condition. Paulo Bosusco, 54, and Claudio Colangelo, 61, were seized while trekking in a tribal area of Orissa state, one of several regions of India where Maoist rebels are active.

Talks over the Italians release are stalled because of differences between the government and rebels over mediators. On Tuesday, the rebels named three mediators, including one Maoist leader who is in prison.The government rejected two of the names and announced its list of three mediators. The rebels responded with fresh names as replacements, but one of the replacements has refused to negotiate for the rebels.”

via BBC News – India kidnapping: Maoist rebels extend deadline.

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19/03/2012

* India displaces China as world’s largest arms importer

Times of India: “India has become the worlds biggest importer of arms, displacing China by accounting for 10 per cent of global arms sales volumes. Over the past five years, Indias imports of major weapons increased by 38 per cent between 2007-11, a Swedish security think tank said with Asia topping other regions in arms imports.

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute SIPRI in its new report said that India was closely followed by China and Pakistan whose weapons imports constituted 5 per cent each of global sales. Pakistan took delivery of “significant numbers of combat aircrafts during this period : 50 JF-17s from China and 30 F-16s from US,” SIPRI said. The Swedish think tank said China which had been world’s top arms importer in 2006-2007 has now dropped to fourth place, attributing this to improvements in the country’s arms industry and its rising arms exports.

SIPRI said China is now world’s sixth largest world exporter of weapons behind the US, Russia, Germany, France and UK.But “while the volume of Chinas arms export is increasing, this is largely a result of Pakistan importing more arms from China. “Beijing has not achieved a major breakthrough in any other significant market,” the report said. According to SIPRI estimates India is likely to spend more than USD 100 billion on weapons and systems in the next 15 years.”

via India displaces China as worlds largest arms importer – The Times of India.

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16/03/2012

* India: ‘Need for urgent reforms as corruption, civil society activism delay decisions’

The Hindu: “The government on Thursday gave a clarion call for urgent economic reforms while conceding that corruption scandals and compulsions of coalition politics have slowed down the decision-making process, as a result of which it is faced with fiscal slippages in 2011-12.

Making a strong pitch for raising tax resources and higher compliance, the Economic Survey 2011-12, tabled in Parliament on Thursday in tandem with the Reserve Bank in its mid-quarter policy review, expressed serious concern over the deteriorating state of government finances and stressed the need for fiscal consolidation if inflation is to be tamed.

Highlighting inflation and fiscal slippages as among the major challenges confronting the economy, the Survey said a slackening in the pace of reforms and high-profile corruption scandals along with “welcome civil society activism” have led to delay in decision-making by civil servants.

Tabled in the Lok Sabha by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, the Survey said “coalition politics and federal considerations played their roles in holding up economic reforms on several fronts, ranging from diesel and LPG pricing to FDI in retail” and also pointed to the economic slowdown partly resulting from domestic issues “like pressures of democratic politics.”

In concert with the apex bank on the need for fiscal consolidation, the Survey said: “The principal way in which this has to be achieved is by raising tax-GDP ratio and cutting down wasteful expenditures.”

The Survey noted that the dismal economic performance this fiscal should be a “wake-up call” but, at the same time, expressed cautious optimism that the GDP growth in 2012-13 would go up to 7.6 per cent following a moderation in inflation and consequent low interest rates.

“The growth rate of real GDP [is expected] to pick up to 7.6 per cent [plus or minus 0.25 per cent] in 2012-13 and faster beyond that,” the Survey said and noted that economic expansion this fiscal would moderate to a three-year low at 6.9 per cent. Arguing out a case for fiscal consolidation, tax reforms, opening of the multi-brand retail to global chains, freeing of diesel prices and the need for honesty among political leaders and policy-makers, the Survey said that although government’s fiscal deficit was likely to significantly go off the target of 4.6 per cent of GDP this fiscal, it would narrow down to 4.1 per cent in 2012-13 on the strength of a pick-up in economic activities. After tabling the pre-budget document, the Finance Minister said: “It [the Survey] charts economic development and challenges faced during the fiscal year. It is a vital input for the preparation of the budget.”

At a press briefing later during the day, Chief Economic Adviser Kaushik Basu, prime architect of the document, said growth in manufacturing and agriculture sectors were likely to be key drivers in the next fiscal. “There could be one more year of a slight slowing down of investment and saving rates. We expect… rates to pick up handsomely after that,” he said.”

via The Hindu : News / National : ‘Need for urgent reforms as corruption, civil society activism delay decisions’.

Related page: https://chindia-alert.org/political-factors/indian-tensions/

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16/03/2012

* India changes strategy to stay competitive globally in IT sector

extract from The Hindu: “Competition to India’s information technology and IT-enabled services (ITeS) companies from other cost-effective nations and protectionist moves of some key markets like the U.S. have caught the attention of the government. As a result, the government is not only changing its strategy to stay competitive globally but also taking initiatives to promote growth of the sector by increasing IT adoption within the country. …

As per industry estimates, India’s IT and BPO sector (excluding hardware) revenues were $87.6 billion in 2011-2012 (a growth of 14.8 per cent) – $68.7 billion exports and $19 billion domestic, while it generated direct employment for nearly 2.8 million people and indirect for around 8.9 million people.

As a proportion of national GDP, IT and ITeS sector revenues have grown from 1.2 per cent in 1997-98 to around 7.5 per cent in 2011-12. “Consistent demand from the U.S., which increased its share from 61.5 per cent to 62 per cent, characterised 2011-12. Emerging markets of the Asia Pacific and the rest of the world also contributed to overall growth,” the Survey pointed out.

Referring to future strategy for the sector, the Survey said the government had been a key catalyst for increased IT adoption – through sector reforms that encouraged IT acceptance, National e-Governance Plan (NeGP), and the Unique Identification Development Authority of India (UIDAI) programme that created large-scale IT infrastructure and promoted corporate participation.

Talking about electronics hardware production, the Survey said it was expected to grow by 27.6 per cent in 2011-12 and cross Rs.1.55-lakh crore ($33 billion). Electronics hardware exports is expected to grow by 12.8 per cent and cross Rs.47,090 crore ($10 billion) in 2011-12 as against Rs.41,721 core ($8.86 billion) in 2010-11. In its recently released draft, the National Policy on Electronics (NPE), the government projected that the electronics system design and manufacturing industry was likely to reach a turnover of $400 billion by 2020, involving investment of about $100 billion, besides creating 28 million jobs.”

via The Hindu : News / National : Centre changes strategy to stay competitive globally in IT sector.

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16/03/2012

* India to be a youngest nation by 2020

The Hindu: “India will be one of the youngest nations by 2020 and this changing demographic condition, while providing great opportunities, could pose some challenges too, the Economic Survey 2011-12 has said.

India is passing through a phase of unprecedented demographic changes, wherein the proportion of the working age population (15-59 years) is likely to rise from around 58 per cent in 2001 to over 64 per cent by 2021, according to the Survey. The comparative figures for China and the U.S. are 37 years, while it is 45 for West Europe and 48 Japan.

The ‘demographic dividend’ would pose a challenge, as the average Indian will be only 29 years old in 2020, the Survey notes. In absolute numbers, there will be around 63.5 million new entrants to the working age group between 2011 and 2016. These changes are likely to contribute to a substantially increased labour force. However, it will benefit India only if the population is “healthy, educated, and appropriately skilled.”

The bulk of this increase is likely to take place in the relatively younger age group of 20-35. According to the Human Development Report (HDR) published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), India is still in the ‘medium human development’ category, while countries such as China, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Philippines, Egypt, Indonesia, South Africa, and Vietnam have a better rank.

Notwithstanding the fact that life expectancy in India has increased by one percentage point from 64.4 in 2010 to 65.4 in 2011, it was way behind the global average and some other nations, including Sri Lanka. Life expectancy at birth in Norway was 81.1 years, Australia (81.9), Sri Lanka (74.9), China (73.5), while the global average was 69.8 years.

Similarly, the performance of India in terms of mean years of schooling is not only much below that of countries such as Sri Lanka, China, and Egypt, which have higher per capita incomes, but also below that of Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Vietnam that have lower per capita incomes. It is also much lower than the global average.

In terms of the gender inequality index, there is a higher degree of gender discrimination in India compared to countries such as China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri Lanka, as also the global average.”

via The Hindu : News / National : India to be a youngest nation by 2020.

The young Indian population is one of the main reasons some economists cite to predict that India will overtake China sometime during the 21st Century.

Related page: https://chindia-alert.org/prognosis/and-india/

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15/03/2012

* Indian census: Half of homes have phones but no toilets

extracted from BBC News: “Nearly half of India’s 1.2 billion people have no toilet at home, but more people own a mobile phone, according to the latest census data. Only 46.9% of the 246.6 million households have lavatories while 49.8% defecate in the open. The remaining 3.2% use public toilets.

Census 2011 data on houses, household amenities and assets reveal that 63.2% of homes have a telephone.

Analysts say the data show the complex contradictions of the Indian system. They say the census reveals a country where millions have access to cutting-edge technology and consumer goods but a larger number of poor who lack access to even basic facilities. …

“Cultural and traditional reasons and a lack of education are the prime reasons for this unhygienic practice. We have to do a lot in these fronts,” Registrar General and Census Commissioner C Chandramouli said while releasing the latest data.

The data also reveal that Indians now largely live in nuclear families with 70% of homes consisting of only one couple – a dramatic change in a country where joint families were always the norm.

The census figures also show changes in how people access information and entertainment. More than half the population – 53.2% – have a mobile phone. There has been a 16% rise in the number of homes with television sets, while the use of radios has declined by 15%. The data show that 47.2% of households have a television while only 19.9% have a radio.

And the reach of computers with internet access is still minuscule, with only 3.1% of the population connected.”

via BBC News – India census: Half of homes have phones but no toilets.

India has made some progress in 10 years. But nothing like China in the same period.

Related page: Indian economic & social tensions?

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14/03/2012

* (Indian) Rail Budget directionless, anti-people: BJ Party

The Hindu: “The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday termed the Railway Budget as “directionless” and “anti-people”, saying it will add to the woes of the common man already facing the brunt of spiralling prices.

“It is a directionless and anti-people budget,” BJP’s vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said, adding that without taking effective steps for ensuring security, facility and time, “announcements have been made for an expensive journey”.

He said at a time when the common man was already under attack from the burden of price rise and inflation, “the railway budget has given another bigger blow”.

Mr. Naqvi said, “While the Railway Minister has announced a five-year plan for taking care of security, facility and time, the burden of increased fare has been slapped on the common man in five minutes.”

BJP general secretary Ananth Kumar said the Rail Budget was “anti-aam aadmi” and there was no vision in the budget. “There is no vision. There is no action and passenger has been raised… prices will shoot up,” he said.”

via The Hindu : News / National : Rail Budget directionless, anti-people: BJP.

See also other (supportive) post today on the Railway Budget.

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14/03/2012

* Indian PM Manmohan terms Rail Budget forward-looking

The Hindu: “Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday hailed as “forward-looking” the Rail Budget which has proposed hike in passenger fares in various ranges in different categories.

“The Railway Minister has presented a forward-looking budget with emphasis on safety and modernisation of the Indian Railways,” Dr.

indian railways

indian railways (Photo credit: peevee@ds)

Singh said in a statement. He said the budget has been formulated against the background of the Railways’ responsibilities in meeting the demands of the 12th Five Year Plan.

Presenting his first budget, Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi announced hike in passenger fares ranging from 2 paisa per kilometre to 30 paisa per kilometre in various categories of trains while noting that the Railways was passing through a “difficult phase”. He also announced introduction of 75 express trains, 21 passenger trains and extension of 39 trains besides increase in the frequency of 23 trains.”

via The Hindu : News / National : Manmohan terms Rail Budget forward-looking.

See also other (opposing) post today on Indian railway budget.

Posted in India alert, Transport | 2 Comments »

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11/03/2012

* Indian Jat agitation spreads to new areas

Times of India: “The Jat agitation demanding reservation in government jobs spread to Haryana’s Kurukshetra, Jind and some areas of Bhiwani on Saturday.

The protests had been confined to Hisar’s Mayyar village and Fatehabad’s Gajuwala where Jats blocked roads and squatted on railway tracks.

Sedition charges have been slapped on 68 agitating Jat leaders. In protest, agitators pelting stones at paramilitary forces at Bajelpur village of Fatehabad.”

via Jat agitation spreads to new areas – The Times of India.

The Jat caste is mainly confined to NW India – consisting of both Hindu and Sikh Jats  (and Pakistan – Muslim Jats). See http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/301575/Jat

Related page: https://chindia-alert.org/political-factors/indian-tensions/

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