- Parliamentary panel on finance will examine Covid long term impact on economyGovernment experts maintain that the Indian economy will come back to pre-Covid levels by the next financial year (2021-22) as it is recovering faster than expected. The committee, headed by former minister and BJP MP Jayant Sinha, has decided to prioritise the long-term impact of Covid-19 on the global economy.
- Indian economy is gradually recovering: IMFIndia's economy recovered faster than expected in the September quarter as a pick-up in manufacturing helped GDP clock a lower contraction of 7.5 per cent and held out hopes for further improvement on better consumer demand. "India has indeed been severely affected by the pandemic but is gradually recovering," IMF chief spokesperson Gerry Rice said.
- Stat of the economy: Understanding data in the time of pandemicThe International Monetary Fund has forecast an 8.8% GDP growth for India in 2021-22. Economists and statisticians say if the economy starts recovering — GDP has contracted by minus 7.5% in the September quarter, from minus 23.9% in the June quarter — the graph next year is bound to be a mirror image of what would be achieved this year.
- Covid-induced contraction in creative economy, income loss: ReportSignalling that during the pandemic, the creative industries continue to face a very uncertain future, the report shows that the creative economy is contracting, organisations are closing permanently to avoid bankruptcy, and creative businesses are contending with increasingly difficult choices to cut staff and overheads to ensure they remain resilient.
- Global demand to accelerate by April 2021 due to Covid vaccine rollout: Morgan Stanley reportMany individuals have been holding back on their spending till clarity emerges before they make a purchase. Many global investors have been raising caution over the global economies. Although the stock markets across the world have seen a spurt in the last few months as large investors moved away from safe bets such as the US dollar and gold.
- Efforts being made to study impact of vaccines, diagnostics on UK variant of virus: DBT secy Renu SwarupShe said the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomic Consortia (INSACOG), formed to ascertain the status of new variants of the virus through genome sequencing, will also focus on samples from clusters where the infection level of coronavirus is high. "We are also making an effort now to study what is the impact of these vaccines and the diagnostics on this UK variant," Swarup told a press briefing.
- Indian economy will recover from coronavirus crisis with right policies: IMF officialThe International Monetary Fund in its annual World Economic Outlook significantly downgrades India's growth for the fiscal year 2020 to minus 10.3 per cent. At the same time, IMF said that India is likely to bounce back with an impressive 8.8 per cent growth rate in 2021, but for this New Delhi needs to ramp up its efforts in various fields.
- 42 NBFCs, housing finance companies increased their provisioning under Indian accounting: EY reportThe report noted an increase in Expected Credit Loss (ECL) allowance by 33% and an overall increase in provision coverage rate by 26% as at 31 March 2020 compared to the year ended 31 March 2019. The EY Study, , ‘Expected credit loss analysis for non-banking financial companies’ also shows that companies reported a COVID-19 impact comprising 19% of the ECL allowance as at 31 March 2020.
- How have Indian businesses been impacted during and after the lockdown?Covid created various operational and financial challenges for Indian businesses. During the lockdown, approximately 71.31% of the businesses dealt with reduced cash flows with the manufacturing sector being the worst hit. Additionally, delay and cancellation of projects have also been a major cause of concern, especially in the tertiary sectors.
- Didn't expect such sharp economic recovery; inflation a worry: Swaminathan AiyarNoted economy commentator Swaminathan Aiyar, who was originally a big advocate of enhanced stimulus, has praised finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman's fiscal plan, saying that her stimulus package was prudent and that the Indian economy can make a comeback without more stimuli. Talking to ET Now, Aiyar said he was guilty of positing that the government was not doing enough to help boost India's spending power to counter the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic. It was wrong to say that the economy would not revive without stronger/more fiscal stimuli, he said. Listen-in. (Text: ET Online)Didn't expect such sharp economic recovery; inflation a worry: Swaminathan Aiyar
- Q2 GDP: Indian economy to continue on recovery mode, say experts, India IncCII Director General Chandrajit Banerjee said "the sharp rebound in the second quarter GDP print to -7.5 per cent as compared to the large unprecedented -23.5 per cent decline seen in the previous quarter will boost confidence that with the easing of lockdown restrictions over the past few months, there has been a discernible improvement in the economy."
- Now that coronavirus vaccines are coming, what about poor countries?This being a pandemic (from the Greek word for “all people”), that welcome development presents all the usual problems of global differences in wealth, power and equity. Rich countries have already placed their orders. Poor countries can only hope not to be left out. What should be done?
- A pandemic atlas: How COVID-19 took over the world in 2020More than any event in memory, the pandemic has been a global event. On every continent, households have felt its devastation, joblessness and lockdowns, infirmity and death.
- COVID-19 impact: 8.7 lakh expats returned to Kerala, over half of them due to job loss: Official DataThe data from the Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (NORKA) department as of Thursday also showed that 1,11,151 of the 13,27,330 Keralites who came back from other parts of the country also cited loss of jobs as the reason for their return. The second biggest reason cited by the returnees (2.08 lakh) was their job visas. The rest include senior citizens, or children, and family members of expats.
- Economic activity tentatively returning to pre-COVID levels: IcraIt can be noted that there have been apprehensions about the sustainability of the demand after a pick-up in economic activity during the festivities. December was the first month after the busy activity season.
- Taxed by the pandemic, Centre may go for a coronavirus cess in Budget 2021The industry has asked that no new taxes be levied as the economy is under stress in its budget recommendations. Experts also opposed the idea, saying the timing wasn’t right.
- UN report cites ISRO efforts in assisting Indian government to contain COVID-19 pandemicThe UN report 'Geospatial Practices for Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific 2020' cites the role being played by 'BHUVAN', the national geo-portal developed and hosted by ISRO comprising of geo spatial data, services and tools for analysis, in combating COVID-19.
- Festival related demand may be impacted by resurgence in Covid cases: Dun & BradstreetThe researchers believe that the resurgence of the virus where community transmission was not eliminated in the second quarter, alongside uncertainty about vaccines and treatments, means that some elements of such an adverse scenario will inevitably be realised.
- No vaccine, no entry! Is it possible for offices to allow only vaccinated employees resume work?Mandating vaccines would be especially important to help protect workers in minority.
- PM Modi holds virtual summit with Italian counterpart; discusses ways to deal with adverse impact of COVID-19In his opening remarks at the virtual bilateral summit with the Italian leader, Modi said it is clear that the COVID-19 epidemic will remain a watershed in history just like the Second World War.
- View: Is India ready for Covid vaccine? Here's what the country should doNow in the last leg of their fight, government, regulators, pharmaceutical companies and ancillary industries must once again collaborate to bring an efficacious vaccine to the people in the shortest possible time.
- Decoded: How Donald Trump's H-1B ban extension will impact Indian techiesH-1B workers who were in the U.S. in valid status when the June ban was announced were exempt from the ban and could procure a visa, and most of these individuals qualified for the dropbox, interview waiver application. However, even for them it has been a difficult period as U.S. consulates the world over are not fully functional due to COVID-19.
- UK economy shrank in November as new lockdown hitBritain's economy shrank by 2.6% in November, the first monthly fall in output since the country was under its initial COVID lockdown last April as new restrictions were imposed to slow the spread of the disease.
- India will play lead role in rebuilding economy in post-COVID era: Jitendra SinghDwelling on the importance of harnessing of space technology for greater common good, the minister said though India was a late starter in the space journey, in the last four-five years, space technology has become part of infrastructure building and promotion and its benefits have reached every household.
- Economy getting back on its feet? 8 indicators that show how trends are shaping up post-coronavirusAfter the unlocking began, economic indicators have been showing signs of improvement. For instance, companies' profits grew 26% versus an estimated -2.1% decline. Operating profits also came in above expectations while operating margins also continued to expand.
- Biden names Vidur Sharma as Policy Advisor for Testing in COVID-19 Response TeamThe announcement of Sharma's appointment as Policy Advisor for Testing was made by Biden on Friday along with additional members of the White House COVID-19 Response Team.
- Indian economy to start showing strong growth from April next year: Morgan Stanley“We maintain a constructive view on the economy and expect the growth recovery to gain strength from 2Q21,” the Insight: 2021 Global Macro Outlook report said. The report said that the growth would be accompanied with inflation under control.
- Herculean efforts paid off, Vardhan to scientists on COVID-19 vaccine approvalIndia's drugs regulator on Sunday approved Oxford COVID-19 vaccine Covishield, manufactured by the Serum Institute, and indigenously developed Covaxin of Bharat Biotech for restricted emergency use in the country, paving the way for a massive inoculation drive.
- India's 10 million coronavirus cases explained in 10 chartsOn Saturday, the coronavirus cases in the country surpassed the 10 million mark with 25,152 new infections. However, the virus in the country, which peaked in September, seems to be abating. The imminent arrival of the Covid-19 vaccine has also infused fresh hopes that the pandemic which has claimed 145k lives across the world is on its way out.
- India likely to outperform Asian economies, clock 12.8% growth in 2021: NomuraLiquidity normalisation will begin very shortly this year but the actual repo rate hike is still some time away, says Sonal Varma.
- Indian economy set for a near double-digit contraction this fiscalWith over 7.6 million coronavirus infections, India is the second worst hit country in the world after the United States and the spread shows no signs of abating.
- Oil set for 20% drop in 2020 as lockdowns weighOn Thursday, the last trading day of 2020, Brent was trading down 18 cents, or 0.4%, at $51.45 a barrel, as of 0136 GMT and U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) lost 0.1%, or 5 cents, to $48.35 a barrel.
- Looming deficit blowout is forcing India to spend less on economy's real savioursThat’s despite Modi govt outlining measures worth Rs 21 lakh crore to counter the economic and social fallout of Covid. A closer look at the numbers show the bulk of the spending was directed toward the poor and the farmers, with crucial sectors such as coal, power, shipping and steel receiving less than a third of their annual allocation.
- Rolling-out of COVID-19 vaccination will start soon: Union Health Minister Harsh VardhanVardhan said the roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines will start "very soon". "India has finally received emergency approval from the apex regulator for two vaccines and we will be rolling out vaccination drives very soon," he said.
- Bill Gates, the coronavirus and the quest to vaccinate the worldIf the initiative, aided by Gates’ fortune and focus, manages to help protect the world’s poor from a virus that has already killed more than 1.3 million people, it will affirm the strategies he has promoted in his philanthropic work, including incentives for drug companies.
- Government has no strategy to deal with coronavirus pandemic, revive economy: CongressCiting grim International Monetary Fund (IMF) projections, she alleged India will become the "fastest falling economy" from being the fastest growing economy. She also cited the IMF projections of 10.3 per cent contraction in India's GDP, which is the highest in the world after the UK's 9.8 per cent.
- 2021: Indian aviation sector set for another rough flight in new yearKey factors that will determine the pace of recovery in the domestic market are development and availability of vaccines, people’s willingness to undertake leisure travel and recovery in macroeconomic growth.
- View: How to pull the Indian economy out of the rutRecreating growth in the medium term is likely to come from sectoral strategies across 10 key sectors constituting most of India’s GDP. Dormant resources — both of enterprises and governments — must be put into service, requiring a special focus on balance sheets.
- Saudi central bank governor says measures to stem COVID-19 impact could be extended: Al ArabiyaSpeaking to state-owned Al Arabiya, Ahmed al-Kholifey also said there was no plan to introduce new liquidity measures.
- Ratan Tata on the 4 things India needs to keep in mind as it enters 2021Whether we find an effective vaccine or not, I am hopeful that we will eventually find some cure that will reduce the intensity of this pandemic. But it will be imperative for all of us to learn not to take this pandemic for granted.
- 2021: High on HopeThe economy is showing signs of recovery, the upcoming budget holds out the promise of measures that can lift sentiment further and there’s hope life can get back to normal soon
- Joe Biden to let health experts decide who will get a Covid-19 vaccine first: Dr. Celine GounderSince the risk for COVID-19 can vary among different groups of people, prioritisation for a vaccine will be tricky, and Biden will leave those decisions to health experts, the Indian-American infectious disease physician said. It is expected that there will likely be a limited supply of coronavirus vaccine doses available immediately after a vaccine is authorised by the US Food and Drug Administration.
- Stimulus 3.0 supportive for growth but fiscal impact unclear: Fitch SolutionsThe government on November 12 announced another stimulus package, called Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan 3.0, totalling Rs 2.65 lakh crore. The package included a boost to formal employment, the Production Linked (PLI) Scheme, an increase in the fertiliser subsidy and the rural employment programme, MGNREGA.
- Indian economy likely to see positive growth in October-December quarter: EYDomestic demand was seeing a recovery as the economy had almost entirely exited from the lockdown phase, said DK Srivastava, in the November edition of EY’s Economy Watch report on Tuesday.
- Indian businesses resilient despite novel coronavirus impact: HSBC's Navigator reportAccording to report, almost half (46%) of Indian businesses covered under a survey felt 'very strongly' impacted by the pandemic, yet more than half (54%) felt they were as well prepared as they possibly could be. This is a level that is the second highest amongst all countries surveyed and higher than the average across all markets (45%), said the report.
- Indian economy expected to better its performance in the third quarter: Finance Ministry“The sustained increase in major economic activity indicators beyond September, raises hopes of a better performance in Q3 in alignment with the global scenario,” the ministry said in the report released on Thursday.
- SpiceJet signs pact with PLUSS to supply Covid 19 vaccine boxesWhile, transporting pharmaceutical products, biological products or vaccines in particular, the need to maintain precise temperature ranges is very important and the efficacy of vaccine can be impacted if the temperature goes above or below the specified range.
- India's December 1-15 diesel sales down 5.2% y/yDiesel sales fell 3.4% and petrol rose 1.6% compared to the first half of November, as per the provisional sales data from state-run oil companies, which control nearly 90% of the fuel retail pumps in the country.
- India's economy showing signs of improvement, braving the impact of the COVID-19: Assocham"Be it India's Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI - Manufacturing) or PMI for Services, robust recovery is visible. The PMI for Manufacturing expanded to 56.8 in September 2020, the highest since January 2012. The PMI for Services expanded for the fifth straight month in September to 49.8 from 41.8 in August," AASE noted.
- Put livelihoods above lives; V-shaped recovery on: Jim O’NeillMost major economies opted for a strict shutdown earlier this year, in an attempt to limit the spread of the new coronavirus pandemic. These decisions had serious economic implications, and hurt businesses across the spectrum.
- COVID-19: India says meeting Nepal's vaccine requirement would be priorityForeign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, addressing a lecture hosted by the Asian Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs (AIDIA), a Kathmandu-based non-partisan foreign policy think-tank, said that India is "on the cusp of the availability of a vaccine for the novel coronavirus".
- Will the light shine on India's economy? Tracking the Diwali spend and looking at post-festival recoveryYou can call it retail therapy or pin it on the festive spirit, or believe what the government is saying — that the Indian economy, which has been shrinking, is now on the mend. Diwali, the festival of lights, is bringing cheer in the fag end of a dark year blighted by the pandemic. The virus has not gone away but the mood has visibly turned.
- Indian economy coming back on track since July-Sept quarter: Anurag ThakurHe was speaking on the sidelines of a national event of company secretaries. The minister said that the Good and Services Tax (GST) collection was more than Rs 1 lakh crore in October and November as well.
- Assessing impact of pandemic on economy, says FM Nirmala SitharamanThe Reserve Bank of India has projected the Indian economy to contract 9.5 per cent in the current fiscal, while the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank estimates the contraction at 10.3 per cent and 9.6 percent, respectively.
- GiveIndia supports 56 lakh Indians in response to the Covid-19 crisisFor the flagship mission — Support Covid-19 Hit Families — GiveIndia partnered with 250+ nonprofits across the country to help daily wagers and migrant workers who had lost their means of earning. Underpinned by a due diligence framework to verify and identify beneficiaries, a Steering Committee was established for approving the allocation of funds on a weekly basis.
- Covid-19 pandemic wiped out 81 million jobs in 2020 in Asia–Pacific region: ILO reportAs per the report, titled Asia–Pacific Employment and Social Outlook 2020: Navigating the crisis towards a human-centred future of work, overall labour income is estimated to have fallen by as much as 10% in the Asia–Pacific region in the first three quarters of 2020, equivalent to a 3% loss in gross domestic product.
- SEC to reconvene on January 1 to consider emergency use authorisation for COVID-19 vaccinesThe subject expert committee on Covid-19 of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) on December 9 had sought additional safety and efficacy data for Covid-19 vaccines of SII and Bharat Biotech after deliberating upon their applications.
- GST collection surpasses Rs 1 lakh crore mark in October, first time since FebruaryThe goods and services tax (GST) collected in October rose to Rs 1.05 lakh crore, crossing the Rs 1 lakh crore mark for the first time since February this year, reflecting a pick-up in economic activity and demand. The finance ministry in a statement said on Sunday that the total number of GSTR-3B returns filed till October 31, 2020 is 80 lakh. The gross GST revenue collected in October 2020 is Rs 1,05,155 crore, of which CGST is Rs 19,193 crore, SGST is Rs 5,411 crore, IGST is Rs 52,540 crore (including Rs 23,375 crore collected on import of goods) and cess is Rs 8,011 crore (including Rs 932 crore collected on import of goods), the ministry said.GST collection surpasses Rs 1 lakh crore mark in October, first time since February