They say what is good for the business, is not good for the climate. But look where it has led us. India, today, faces the threat of increase in temperature by 1–2 degrees annually. This threat coupled with sustaining its rapid economic growth would be a challenge for India.

India’s CO2 emissions, measured per person, are very low — at only 1.8 tonnes — compared to the world average of 4.2 tonnes. But any number multiplied by India’s population makes that number bigger, right? This makes India the world’s third largest emitter of CO2 after China and the United States.

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I was reading the Asia Power Index report on who wields the most power in Asia, where America retained its place as Asia’s top superpower. China was not too far behind. In fact, China has been slowly emerging as the most powerful country in this region and is expected to surpass America eventually.

The Asia Power Index ranks the relative power of 26 countries in Asia in terms of their capacity to shape their external environment, through thematic measures like military capability and networks, economic capability and relationships, cultural influence etc.

And, having this power is no easy feat, especially…

They say farmers are born in debt, live in debt and die in debt.

But, do these farmers not enjoy numerous benefits like subsidized power rates, discounted fertilizers, interest subvention on loans, discounted premium on crop insurance and minimum support prices for crops?

If they do, why do more than 10,000 of them end their lives each year?

We try to answer this question in this article.

In 2018, 7.7% of all national suicides were classified as farmer suicides.

The reasons stated behind their suicides were — debt, low produce prices, family responsibilities, increased cost of cultivation and crop failure.

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Contraction of GDP by 23% in the April-June quarter wasn’t really a shock. With one of the world’s strictest lockdowns, economists had anyway predicted a contraction between 15% to 25%.

Almost all sectors of the economy, except agriculture, posted a decline.

Although I think, comparing the April-June contraction with the growth rates of the previous quarters won’t be correct because of this unique pandemic situation; a fall in GDP for any reason whatsoever, has an adverse effect on the economy and its people.

How it affects the economy and its people is what we plan to cover in this article.

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The other day I was reading a report on diagnostics and healthcare tests in India and came across this fact — India ranks 170th out of 188 countries in terms expenditure by government on healthcare as a percentage of GDP.

Government contributes to only 33% of the total healthcare expenditure in India. Thanks to the private sector for chipping in!

Although there has been a significant improvement in healthcare expenditure post-independence, India, even today, spends far less compared to countries like Brazil, South Africa, Russia, China etc.

So, what has hampered the growth of health expenditure in India? …

Ever wondered why countries, other than the United States, track the US presidential election?

It’s not because they like to poke their nose or anything. It is simply because whatever the US does, it has an implication on the rest of the world.

Take changes in monetary policies for example. Changes to these policies made by the Fed, influences not only the financial conditions in the US, but also financial conditions for much of the world. Similarly, changes to the US political system affects rest of the world. How? We will cover it in this article. …

Have you watched ‘The Bitcoin Entanglement’ episode of ‘The Big Bang Theory”?

If you haven’t, or if you have and don’t recall it, let me help you with its transcript.

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The guys (Sheldon, Leonard, Howard and Raj) enter the comic bookstore.

Sheldon to Stuart (the one who owns the comic bookstore)- I was wondering, will you be accepting Bitcoin?

Stuart — Well, I don’t know what that is, but it’s got “coin” in it, and my cash register doesn’t, so… yeah.

Raj — Wait, what’s Bitcoin?

Sheldon — It’s a new online currency that’s been developed. Uh, it’s just…

In India, don’t we have a large middle-class population with a disposable income, a passion for sports and a desire to gamble? (Hint — ‘no’ is not the correct answer).

A survey says that 40% of all the internet users in India like to gamble. Though the existing legal framework makes it illegal, nothing can stop Indians, right? The illegal gambling market in India is worth more than $100 billion, growing at a rate of 7% every year! Majority of it being sports betting.

If the legal framework has failed to prevent gambling from taking place and if it is…