India Leadership Conclave 2019 - "Opportunities" - The 5 Trillion Dollar Mission :

10
th Annual
th Annual
th Annual
2019
INDIA LEADERSHIP CONCLAVE
www.indianaffairs.tv
India’s only Pink Magazine on Indian current Affairs
10th Annual India Leadership Conclave & Indian Affairs Business Leadership Awards 2019
India Leadership Conclave
TM
OPPORTUNITIESCAN INDIA SEIZE THE HISTORIC OPPORTUNITIES?
The timing of hosting this historic & iconic conclave titled
"Opportunities" - The 5 Trillion Dollar Mission :
Challenges & Opportunities assumes tremendous
significance in view of the historic mandate received by the
Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually decimating the
opposition & riding on to take Brand india to the global map
There are two important & significant landmarks post the
second term of the Modi Government. Chandrayaan-2
launch from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at
Sriharikota from its most powerful rocket with a plan to land
the rover on September 7 in the unexplored lunar south pole.
Carrying a "billion dreams" in a giant leap for the country's
ambitious low-cost space programme, the most complex and
prestigious mission ever undertaken by the Indian Space
Research Organisation(ISRO) making India the fourth
country after Russia, the US and China.
And the second historic moment is that of abolishing the
TRIPLE TALAQ. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said "an
archaic and medieval practice has finally been confined
to the dustbin of history!. Parliament abolishes Triple
Talaq & corrects a historical wrong done to Muslim
women. This is a victory of gender justice and will further
equality in society. This is an occasion to salute the
remarkable courage of those Muslim women who have
suffered great wrongs just due to the practice of Triple
Talaq.The abolition of Triple Talaq will contribute to
women empowerment and give women the dignity they
deserve in our society.
India, the second-most populous nation in the world, is also
one of the largest and fastest-growing economies in the
globe. The economic growth along with various factors
including a large pool of youth population and proficiency in a
global language like English is expected to propel the country
into becoming a developed economy. The ruling Narendra
Mr. Satya Brahma
Chairman & Editor-In-Chief
Network 7 Media Group

10
th Annual
th Annual
th Annual
2019
TM
Modi government has set the ambitious target of taking the
economy to $5 trillion in the next five years.
However, India Leadership Conclave believes that
despite being one of the largest economies overall in
terms of GDP, the nation has not been successful in
maintaining this same levels of achievement at the
ground level. The country is ranked 139th when it comes
to per capita GDP. Also when you assess individual
purchasing parity the ranking of the country 119.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in her budget speech,
said in the current fiscal, India's economy will grow to become
$3 trillion economy, sixth largest in world.
There is no doubt that Narendra Modi's ruling Bharatiya
Janata Party is an election-winning machine. But Indian
Affairs feels that its ideology is sharply at odds with
economic or social common sense.
Results for India's general election released on 23 May saw a
landslide victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which
increased its huge parliamentary majority. Narendra Modi
and his ruling BJP have swept back to power. The party won
303 seats in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of India's
parliament, bettering the 282 seats they won in 2014 - a
performance that not many thought was possible. BJP's
historic win decimated the Opposition.
India Leadership Conclave currently in its 10thAnnual Year is
hosting the iconic & historic 10th Annual India Leadership
Conclave & Indian Affairs Business Leadership Awards 2019
with a powerful & aptly theme of OPPORTUNITIES where
we intend to do a post mortem of how the first term of the Modi
Government has fared & what is in store for Modi 2.0.
india Leadership Conclave Platform has always
maintained to show the real picture of india & believes
that If India has to realise its India@75 vision by 2022 and its
dream of becoming a $5 trillion economy by 2025, bold and
transformative measures will have to be implemented by
the government. They must be inclusive and to that effect,
this will require a mindset shift that spans policy, projects and
partnerships. Independent India is seventy one years old and
may be the fastest-growing economy in the world. Yet,
poverty, inequalities, and digital divides continue to bedevil
the Indian economy. This combined paradox of economic
success and deprivation for many makes the study of Indian
political economy complex, interesting, and consequential.
We have reasons to believe that when critical questions are
simplistically equated with an anti-government agenda, it
requires courage to hold decision-makers accountable.
Network 7 Media Group don't want to just give you the news;
we aim to promote critical thinking, self-reflection, and
empathy to encourage informed decision-making. We are at
a crucial moment for both independent media and fearless
reporting. We are committed & will continue to bring you the
honest, independent truth on all the important social, political,
cultural, and economic and liberty topics that really matter.
We are fearless. We are independent. We cannot be,
silenced or intimidated. We believe in absolute freedom,
individual liberty & highest standards of Journalistic practice.
India's $5 trillion-economy plans looks good on paper but it
needs to address gaps. India Leadership Conclave is of the
opinion that India needs foreign direct investment (FDI)
urgently, and lots of it. Since FDI, unlike portfolio
investment, is long-term patient capital, entrepreneurs
and bankers like to examine proposals very carefully.
India's record on the dispute resolution front has also proved
to be extremely worrying. That is why most investors prefer to
insert a clause allowing for international arbitration from a
seat outside of India.
India's judicial sector needs massive overhaul & must be free
from political interference In the past one year or so, key
criminals have been let off because witnesses were either not
traceable or had turned hostile – after the case had dragged
on for 20 years or so. Moreover, the biggest litigant in India is
the government. Even the National Law Commission called it
a compulsive litigant – a view ratified by the Supreme Court.
India Leadership Conclave believes that to push India to
becoming a $5 trillion economy requires investments in
human capital, which includes health and education. India
falters here as well. Yes, there is a new medical insurance
scheme in Ayushman Bharat, but the doctors are missing.
There are 76,000 MBBS seats in the country, out of which
40,000 in government colleges and 36,000 in private sector.
Out of 36,000 seats, 30,000 seats are in private colleges and

10
th Annual
th Annual
th Annual
2019
TM
the rest 6,000 seats in deemed universities. The recent
announcement by Health Minister Harsh Vardhan moving the
National Medical Commission in Parliament for legislation
hopefully will address the key issues & it indeed is an
important legislation to improve medical education in the
country.
Indian Affairs believes that India has seen a phenomenal
rise in unemployment in the last decade, from around 2
percent in 2011-2012 to 6 percent in 2017-2018, the highest
in more than four decades. Its capacity to generate formal
employment, create access to quality primary education, or
provide basic services such as health care, housing, or
access to clean drinking water is decades behind several
poorer and smaller nations, such as Sri Lanka or even Libya.
The principal challenge that any government in India will
confront is that of tackling these public policy shortfalls. If the
last five years of BJP rule are any indication, the country has
barely begun to make a dent in coping with these hurdles.
There is no reason to believe the intend of the
Government to roll out the reforms process but India
Leadership Conclave has doubts of the successful
implementation of these policies & promises made to the
people of india in the recently bitterly fought general
elections.
We have some straightforward questions. Here are the
promises made to us wen India voted Prime Minister
Narendra Modi back to power for the second term.The victory
is historic & the mandate too demands how the Government
is going to fulfill the following promises.
India's GDPgrowth rate will be 9-10 per cent by 2022.
The investment rate will increase from 29 per cent in
2017-18 to 36 per cent in 2022-23.
Every Indian will have a bank account, life insurance,
accident insurance, pension and 'retirement planning
services' by 2022.
Farmers' incomes will be doubled by 2022. Doubled from
what base, which year, has cleverly never been
specified. And incomes will anyway increase with
inflation. Lets make no mistake - Income is not profit.
Provide irrigation to all farms (Har Khet Ko Pani) with
improved on-farm water-use efficiency (more crop per
drop)
There will be no crop residue burning to reduce air
pollution.
Every household will have an LPG cylinder.
By 2022, Indian Railways' safety standards will be such
that nobody will ever die (“zero fatalities”) in a train
accident.
The Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train will be completed
by 2022, but railway minister Piyush Goyal now says this
was never the deadline. It's December 2023.
The growth rate of the manufacturing sector will double
by 2022, from the base of 7.7 per cent between 2012-13 to
2017-18.
Every Indian will have a house by 2022.
Every Indian will have a toilet by 2022.
Every Indian will have 24/7 electricity supply by 2022.
Every gram panchayat (not every house) will have
broadband internet reaching it by 2022. This was
supposed to have been done by 2018.
The government will ensure “hundred per cent digital
literacy” by 2022. In other words, every Indian will know
how to use the internet.
Every Indian will have a water connection by 2022. This
deadline has already been extended to 2024 without
pretending it was ever promised to be delivered by 2022.
India will be free of malnutrition by 2022.
Seven hundred district HQ hospitals will be turned into
“medical centres through public-private partnership.
Private industry will be made to adopt primary
healthcare centres (PHCs) to train healthcare
professionals, upgrade technology and improve patient
outcomes.
Twenty “Medical Free Zones (MFZs)” will be created to
attract medical tourism
Hundred-plus new tourist destinations will be created in
under-developed areas.
Manual scavenging will be eradicated.
Proportion of formally skilled labour from the current 5.4
per cent of India's workforce” will be increased toat least
15 per cent.
Two-three million jobs in the healthcare sector, and 40

10
th Annual
th Annual
th Annual
2019
TM
million jobs through tourism and 5 million new jobs
through mines and minerals will be created.
All single-use plastic will be banned by 2022.
India will have 175 GW of renewable energy capacity by
2022. The current capacity is 80GW.
Reduce imports of oil and gas by 10 per cent by 2022-23.
Double the length of national highways (NHs) to 2 lakh
km by 2022-23 from the existing 1.22 lakh km.
All delayed infrastructure projects as of 2017, some of
which have been in the works for decades, will be
completed by 2022.
The female labour force participation rate will be 30 per
cent by 2022.
No student in any school in India will drop-out before
completing class 10. No student will be out of school.
Increase the gross enrolment ratio (GER) in higher
education from 25 per cent in 2016-17 to 35 per cent by
2022-23.
The above promises must be given a serious look.
India may be the fastest growing major economy in the world,
but it confronts serious headwinds with growth slowing,
demand waning, private investment still missing and the
global economy facing uncertainty. The economy must
expand significantly faster than it is growing today.
The government can no longer shy away from enhancing
expenditure in education and health. There will be a negative
effect on employment if Indian primary school education does
not improve in the next five years; there will not be sufficient
skill. TheAyushman Bharat healthcare scheme will also need
more funds (INR 12,000 crore have been allocated) to be
able to benefit a larger section of the society. In addition, the
State governments will have to improve primary health
centres.
Rapid economic growth is also crucial if India is to generate
jobs for its youthful workforce, eradicate extreme poverty and
achieve Modi's aim of turning India into a major player on the
world stage.
India's challenge is an echo of what developing economies
around the world are facing as a widening trade war initiated
by the United States depresses sentiment and investment.
India's state-owned banks are also burdened by corporate
loans gone sour, which has made them more reluctant to
lend. The Real Test Of India As A World Leader Will Depend
Much On Our Ability To Take Risk & Think Out Of Box. We
Need To Change Our Strategy & Make Bold Steps. Political,
economic and strategic dynamics worldwide has thrown
fresh challenges. International trade is not a zerosum game
and there is always complex dynamics at play. Despite
Washington's displeasure, it will be business as usual for
Indo-Russian defence relations. Indo-Russian defence
cooperation, especially in the naval nuclear domain, will
continue to prosper irrespective of US concerns. India has
opened conversations with over 250 American companies
that are exploring a shift in manufacturing operations from
China — an effort that has received fresh impetus after the
meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US
President Donald Trump. Japanese businesses have
steadily increased their presence in India since 2014, and the
momentum may pick up over the next few years aided by the
deepening bilateral strategic partnership.
Back home, India has embarked upon an ambitious plan to
steer India to make the $5 trillion economy by initiating &
strengthening plethora of reforms in various key sectors like
agriculture, infrastructure, energy. Lets hope that
independent india's dream to be a great nation will be fulfilled.
Patience is the art of Hoping.
only strong opinions with definitive actions can influence
the policy makers of the society & hence is committed to
bring & expose the hidden stories that need global
audience. Network 7 Media Group has strategic
collaborations with worldwide media leaders to
disseminate lead stories.
“ “

10
th Annual
th Annual
th Annual
2019
TM
My fellow countrymen,
As a country and as a family, you and us, together we took a
historic decision. A system which denied due rights to our
brothers and sisters of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh; a system
which was huge hurdle in their development has now been
eradicated. A dream which Sardar Vallabh bhai Patel had, a
dream which BabasahebAmbedkar had, the dream shared by
Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, Atalji and crores of citizens, has
now been fulfilled.
A new age has begun in Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh. Now
the rights and accountabilities of all the citizens of the country
are similar. I congratulate the people Jammu-Kashmir, Ladakh
and each and every citizen of the country.
Friends,
Sometimes certain things of the social life get so entangled
with time that they are considered to be permanent. A
sentiment of complacency develops and it is thought that
nothing is ever going to change. A similar sentiment prevailed
for Article 370. Because of this there was no debate or talk
about the damage done to our brothers and sisters, our
children in Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh. Astonishingly,
nobody was able to list the benefits thatArticle 370 delivered to
the people of Jammu-Kashmir.
Brothers and sisters,
Article 370 and 35A have given nothing but secessionism,
terrorism, nepotism and widespread corruption on a large
scale to Jammu-Kashmir. Both these articles were used as a
weapon by Pakistan to flare up the emotions of some people.
Due to this about 42,000 people lost their lives in the last three
decades. The development in Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh
could not be done on levels which the region deserved. After
the removal of this flaw from the system, the people of Jammu-
Kashmir will not only have a better present but also a bright
future ahead.
Friends,
Whichever government comes to power, it works for the
betterment of the country by enacting laws in the Parliament.
No matter which party or coalition is in power, this work never
stops. There is a lot of debate both inside and outside the
Parliament when laws are enacted and made, a lot of debate
and brainstorming occurs and serious arguments are put up
over its importance and effect. The laws that are enacted after
undergoing this process are beneficial for the people of the
nation. However, it's unfathomable that so many laws are
enacted in the Parliament but are not implemented in a
particular region of the country. Even previous governments
who were hailed after enacting a law couldn't claim that the
same law would be implemented in the Jammu & Kashmir
region.
More than 1.5 crore people of Jammu & Kashmir were
deprived of the benefits of laws that were enacted for the
benefit of the people of India. Imagine children in rest of the
country have a right to education while children in Jammu &
Kashmir were deprived of this right. The daughters of Jammu
& Kashmir were deprived of the right that our daughters had in
rest of the states. In all the other states, Safai Karamchari Act
was enacted for hygiene workers but the workers of Jammu &
Kashmir were deprived of this. In other states, strict laws were
enacted to stop atrocities on Dalits but no such laws could be
implemented in Jammu & Kashmir. To protect the rights of
blue-collar workforce, Minimum Wages Act was enacted and
implemented in all the other states while such a law is only
found on papers in the state of Jammu & Kashmir. In all other
states, (our) brothers and sisters from Scheduled Tribes got
reservation while contesting elections, but such a thing is
unheard of in the state of Jammu & Kashmir.
Friends, I am fully confident that, following abrogation
of Article 370 and 35-A, Jammu and Kashmir would
soon come out of its negative effects.
“We will now begin a new journey to
build a new India . All communities
h a d t h e n j o i n e d h a n d s f o r
independence and a similar
movement should be started for
good governance now.We stand for
those who trusted us and also for
those whose trust we have to win
over
Narendra Modi
Prime Minister, India
“

10
th Annual
th Annual
th Annual
2019
TM
My fellow countrymen,
As a country and as a family, you and us, together we took a
historic decision. A system which denied due rights to our
brothers and sisters of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh; a system
which was huge hurdle in their development has now been
eradicated. A dream which Sardar Vallabh bhai Patel had, a
dream which BabasahebAmbedkar had, the dream shared by
Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, Atalji and crores of citizens, has
now been fulfilled.
A new age has begun in Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh. Now
the rights and accountabilities of all the citizens of the country
are similar. I congratulate the people Jammu-Kashmir, Ladakh
and each and every citizen of the country.
Friends,
Sometimes certain things of the social life get so entangled
with time that they are considered to be permanent. A
sentiment of complacency develops and it is thought that
nothing is ever going to change. A similar sentiment prevailed
for Article 370. Because of this there was no debate or talk
about the damage done to our brothers and sisters, our
children in Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh. Astonishingly,
nobody was able to list the benefits thatArticle 370 delivered to
the people of Jammu-Kashmir.
Article 370 and 35A have given nothing but secessionism,
terrorism, nepotism and widespread corruption on a large
scale to Jammu-Kashmir. Both these articles were used as a
weapon by Pakistan to flare up the emotions of some people.
Due to this about 42,000 people lost their lives in the last three
decades. The development in Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh
could not be done on levels which the region deserved. After
the removal of this flaw from the system, the people of Jammu-
Kashmir will not only have a better present but also a bright
future ahead.
Friends,
Whichever government comes to power, it works for the
betterment of the country by enacting laws in the Parliament.
No matter which party or coalition is in power, this work never
stops. There is a lot of debate both inside and outside the
Parliament when laws are enacted and made, a lot of debate
and brainstorming occurs and serious arguments are put up
over its importance and effect. The laws that are enacted after
undergoing this process are beneficial for the people of the
nation. However, it's unfathomable that so many laws are
enacted in the Parliament but are not implemented in a
particular region of the country. Even previous governments
who were hailed after enacting a law couldn't claim that the
same law would be implemented in the Jammu & Kashmir
region.
More than 1.5 crore people of Jammu & Kashmir were
deprived of the benefits of laws that were enacted for the
benefit of the people of India. Imagine children in rest of the
country have a right to education while children in Jammu &
Kashmir were deprived of this right. The daughters of Jammu
& Kashmir were deprived of the right that our daughters had in
rest of the states. In all the other states, Safai Karamchari Act
was enacted for hygiene workers but the workers of Jammu &
Kashmir were deprived of this. In other states, strict laws were
enacted to stop atrocities on Dalits but no such laws could be
implemented in Jammu & Kashmir. To protect the rights of
blue-collar workforce, Minimum Wages Act was enacted and
implemented in all the other states while such a law is only
found on papers in the state of Jammu & Kashmir. In all other
states, (our) brothers and sisters from Scheduled Tribes got
reservation while contesting elections, but such a thing is
unheard of in the state of Jammu & Kashmir.
Friends, I am fully confident that, following abrogation
of Article 370 and 35-A, Jammu and Kashmir would
soon come out of its negative effects.
Brothers and sisters, in the new system, the priority of
the central government would be to keep state
government employees and Jammu and Kashmir police
personnel at par with the state government employees
and police personnel of other states in terms of facilities.
In Union Territories, the government provides many
such financial facilities like LTC, House RentAllowance,
Education Allowance for children, Health Schemes etc.,
most of which are not provided to the employees of
Jammu and Kashmir government. Such facilities would
soon be provided to the employees of Jammu and
Kashmir government and state police personnel
following a review.
Friends, very soon the process to fill in the vacancies of
central and state government will be initiated in Jammu
and Kashmir and Ladakh.This would provide adequate
employment opportunities to the local youth. Besides,
public sector units of the central government and big
private sector companies would also be encouraged to
provide new employment opportunities. Apart from the
above, Army and para military forces would organize
rallies to recruit local youths. The government would
also expand Prime Minister's Scholarship Scheme so
that more and more students can get its benefit. Jammu
and Kashmir also suffers huge revenue loss.The central
government will ensure to minimize its impact.
Brothers and sisters, after abrogation of Article 370, the
central government has decided to keep the state of
Jammu and Kashmir under its administration after
putting in a lot of thought process it. It is essential for you
to understand the reasons behind the decision. Ever
since the state has been under governor's rule, the
administration of Jammu and Kashmir is directly under
the central government. As a result the positive effect of
Good Governance and Development have been
observed on the ground. The schemes which earlier
remained only in files, have been implemented on
ground. Projects pending from decades have been
speeded up. We have tried to bring transparency and a
new work culture in the Jammu and Kashmir
administration. As a result, be it IIT, IIM, AIIMS, various
irrigation projects or power projects or the Anti-

10
th Annual
th Annual
th Annual
2019
TM
Corruption Bureau, we have been able to expedite the
work on these projects. Besides, be it the projects of
connectivity, roads or new rail lines, modernization of
the airport, everything is being accelerated.
Friends,
The democracy in our country is very strong; but you will
be surprised to know that there have been thousands of
brother and sisters living for decades in Jammu and
Kashmir who had the right to cast their vote in Lok
Sabha polls but were not allowed to cast vote in
assembly and local body elections. They are the ones
who had come to India following partition in 1947.
Should we have allowed the injustice to continue in the
same way?
Friends,
I would also like to clarify another important point to my
brothers and sisters of Jammu and Kashmir. Your
political representative will be elected by you, He will be
one of you. The MLAs would be elected just as they
used to be elected earlier. The forthcoming cabinet
would just be as it used to be earlier. The chief ministers
would just be as they were before.
Friends, I am fully confident that, under the new system,
we would collectively be able to keep the state of Jammu
and Kashmir free from terrorism and secessionism.
When our Jammu and Kashmir- the paradise on earth,
after achieving new heights of development, attract the
whole world, and when there will be greater Ease of
Living in the lives of citizens; when they would
ceaselessly get their rights, when all the tools of
governance would speed up the work in favor of the
masses, then I don't think there would be any need to
continue with the system under the union government,
yes it would continue in Ladakh though.
we all want assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir,
that a new government is formed, that a new chief
minister is elected. I assure the people of Jammu and
Kashmir that you would get the opportunity to elect your
representative in a fully honest and transparent
atmosphere. Just as Panchayat polls were held
transparently recently, assembly polls would also be
held in Jammu and Kashmir. I would urge the Governor
of the state that the setting up of Block Development
Council, which has been pending for past two-three
decades, be constituted as early as possible.
Friends,
I have personally experienced that those who got
elected in Panchayat polls in Jammu and Kashmir and
Ladakh four-five months back, have been working
nicely. Few months back when I visited Srinagar, I had a
long meeting with them. When they came to Delhi I
interacted with them for long at my home. It is because
of these friends in Panchayats that the work has been
done promptly at village level in Jammu and Kashmir.
Be it the task of electrification in every home or making
the state Open Defecation Free, the representatives in
Panchayats have played a crucial role. I am fully
confident that following abbrogation of Artcle 370, once
these Panchayat members get a chance to work in the
new system, they would do wonders.
I firmly believe that the people of Jammu and Kashmir
would conquer secessionism and move forward with
new hope. I firmly believe that the people of Jammu and
Kashmir would achieve their objectives with renewed
fervor in an ecosystem of Good Governance and
Transparency. Friends, Family rule has not given any
opportunity of leadership to any young citizen of Jammu
and Kashmir in the State.
Now, my these young people will take leadership of the
development of Jammu and Kashmir and take it to a
new height. I appeal to the youth, sisters and daughters
of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh to take over
command of development of their area in their own
hands.
Friends,
There is every possibility of Jammu and Kashmir and
Ladakh becoming one of the greatest tourist
destinations. The kind of environment required for this
and the change in administration that is needed, is being
taken care of. But for this I need the support of all the
countrymen. There was a time when Kashmir was the
favourite place for shooting Bollywood films. During that
time perhaps there was no film for which shooting was
not done in Kashmir. Now, situations in Jammu and
Kashmir will normalize. Now not only from India, people
from all over the world will come for shooting there.
Every Film will bring with it new opportunity of
employment for the people of Kashmir. I appeal to the
Hindi, Telugu and Tamil Film Industry and people
associated with it to definitely think over for investment,
shooting of films and establishment of theatres and
other resources in Jammu and Kashmir.
I appeal to those who are associated with the
technology world, administration or private sector to
give priority in their policies and their decisions as to how
to disseminate technology in Jammu and Kashmir.
When digital communication will be strengthened there
and BPO Centres, Common Service Centres will
increase in numbers, there will be enhanced opportunity
of earning livelihood and the life of our brothers and
sisters of Jammu and Kashmir will become easier.
Friends,

10
th Annual
th Annual
th Annual
2019
The decision taken by the Govt. will benefit youth of
Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh and those who aspire
to progress in the world of sports. New sport academies,
new sports stadium, training in scientific environment
will help them to show their talent in the world. Friends,
whether it is the colour of kesar or flavour of Kahwa or
sweetness of apple or juiciness of apricot whether
Kashmiri shawls or artefacts; organic products of
Ladakh or herbal medicine of Jammu and Kashmir, all
these need to be publicised in the whole of world.
I will give you one example. There is a plant in Ladakh,
named solo. Experts say that this plant is like a sanjivini
for people living in high altitude and for security forces
deployed in heavy icy mountains. These plants have
great role in maintaining immune system of the body at
where oxygen level is low. Just think over, should these
extraordinary items be sold or not in the whole world?
Which Indian will not like this?
Friends, I have named only one plant. There are ample
plants, herbal products spread over Jammu and
Kashmir and Ladakh. Those will be identified. If they are
sold, it will benefit the people and the farmers of Jammu
and Kashmir and Ladakh. Therefore, I appeal to the
people associated with Industry, Export, Food
Processing Sector to come forward to ensure that local
products of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh reach
whole of the world.
Friends, after becoming a Union territory, the
development of people of Ladakh is natural
responsibility of the Govt. of India. Central Govt., with
the cooperation of local representatives, the
Development Council of Ladakh and Kargil, will make
available the benefit of all developmental schemes at a
faster rate. There is possibility of Ladakh becoming one
of the greatest Centers of spiritual tourism, adventure
tourism and eco-tourism. Solar Power generation could
become a vast centre of Ladakh.
Now, the capability of people of Ladakh will be utilized
appropriately and new opportunity of development will
come without any discrimination. Now the innovative
spirit of youth of Ladakh will get boosted, they will get
good institutes for good education, people will get good
hospitals, and infrastructure will be modernized with
priority.
Friends,
It is possible in democracy that some people will agree
to this decision and some will oppose it. I respect their
disagreement and their objections. Whatever is being
argued in this connection, Central Govt. is responding to
that and it is trying to resolve the same. It is our
democratic responsibility.But I urge them to act keeping
the national interest as paramount and help the
government in giving a new direction to Jammu -
Kashmir-Ladakh. Come forward to help the country.
Moving ahead from the fact that who voted in
Parliament, who didn't, who supported the bill, who
didn't, now we all have to come together to work unitedly
in the interest of Jammu - Kashmir-Ladakh. I also want
to convey every countryman that the concerns of
Jammu – Kashmir and Ladakh are our collective
TM

10
th Annual
th Annual
th Annual
2019
TM
Since India has done away with capital controls against FDI in most
sectors, the questions now are about India as an operating
environment, covering financial regulation, tax policy, the
behaviour of regulators, predictability of policy and quality of
infrastructure. While many issues have been addressed in the
ease of doing business effort, the government would now focus on
"the balance of this agenda".
The key story is how the Fortune 500 companies see their
production shifting, ideally towards more production in India. "We
are constantly talking with these firms and understanding the
difficulties that they face. We are very focussed on creating the
financial, regulatory, capital controls, taxation, labour and
infrastructure environment to make it convenient for global firms to
bring goods in a friction-less manner into India, run factories or
service centres here, and re-export the resulting products,"
Budget 2019 announced a scheme to invite global companies to
set up mega-manufacturing plants in sunrise and advanced
technology areas - including semi-conductor fabrication, solar
photovoltaic cells, lithium storage batteries, solar/electric charging
infrastructure, computer servers - promising them sundry tax
benefits.
"complete their investment plan without any confusion", promising
HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY
MODI 2.0 - NEW INDIA

10
th Annual
th Annual
th Annual
2019
TM
all possible support from the government. "Various ministries are in
continuous dialogue with different industries to enable the private
sector to grow at their full potential. We are willing to go as far as
needed to ensure that 'animal spirits' are revived and our entire
private sector is bullish," he said, adding that with the government
ensuring clean lending and sustainable growth, "it is just a matter of
a short time before we see the private sector booming again".
Demang in the key sectors will revive with the acceleration of
economic growth in the coming period aided by the above-
mentioned policy measures. Speaking on the auto sector in
particular, the PM said that the slowdown was transient,
accentuated by credit constraints, some regulatory changes and
passiveness in demand. "I would like to assure everyone that India
has a large enough market and big enough policy space to ensure
growth of internal combustion engine (ICE) based automobiles as
well as electric vehicles (EVs). There is no need to speculate about
the growth of either of the two. Meanwhile, with India's bad loan
problem now under control, Modi believes that there is a
requirement of optimum capacity utilisation for the private sector to
make fresh investment. The strategic disinvestment of select
Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) would open up many
new sectors for private investments to chip in. With capacity
utilisation crossing 75 per cent, India is expected to see growth in
investment from the private sector in the coming months. At the
same time, he clarified that the government would continue to
aggressively push public sector investment and accelerate the
execution for these projects to 'crowd-in'.Modi continues to bet
heavily on the start-up ecosystem. "I consider entrepreneurs as
India's 'Growth Ambassadors'. I want to tell them that our
government will leave no stone unturned to make India a better
place to do business in all aspects," he told the daily. Modi said that
even when the global value of FDI inflow was declining, India had
maintained steady level of about US $65 billion of FDI inflows.
8 KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN INDIA
HISTORIC TAX REFORM
The Goods and Services Tax (GST) came into effect across India
from 01 July 2017. GST has turned all 36 states and union
territories of India into one common market. By curbing and
cascading taxes, GST has also reduced the cost of local
production. The GST rate on more than 200 products has been
reduced from 28% to 18%. GST is expected to increase overall
efficiency and productivity, thereby attracting more foreign direct
investment (FDI).1 Taxpaying is much easier in India because of
factors like the introduction of GST and digitisation of processes. A
fact that is captured in the World Bank Doing Business Report 2018
declares that India's ranking on the 'Paying Taxes' indicator has
improved by 53 places.2 The Government has also formed a
Goods & ServicesTax Council, for making recommendations to the
Union and State Government on issues related to Goods and
Service Tax. The regular meetings and proactive remedial actions
of the council have ensured effective implementation and better
control.
DIGITISATION DRIVE
Systems from taxation to incorporating a company are being
moved online, through e-governance. The Ministry of Corporate
Affairs (MCA) has taken the following major initiatives to deliver
faster and clear processes towards Ease of Doing Business and
standardization: Introduction of web-based service Reserve
Unique Name (RUN) for making the name reservation process
quick and easy. Re-engineering the process of allotment of
Director Identification Number (DIN) by allotting it through the
combined SPICe form Exemption of MCA fee for company
incorporation E-KYC drive for directors of all companies India has
improved its ranking on the World Bank's Doing Business 2019
report released on 31 October 2018, by moving up to number 77.
NEW INSOLVENCYCODE
The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016 (enacted on 28 May
2016) consolidates all rules and laws relating to insolvency into a
single legislation. This has helped India's bankruptcy code to be at
par with global standards. The code is designed to promote
entrepreneurship—it enables companies to tide over financial
difficulties and opt for restructuring while fulfilling orders at the
same time. It also promotes greater confidence among investors
and increases credit availability, by strengthening procedures.
By October 2017, more than 2,050 insolvency applications had
been filed before the National Company Law Tribunal and 112
applications had been admitted. The code has helped India
improve the Ease of Doing Business. India moved up 33 ranks in
the Resolving Insolvency indicator of the World Bank's Doing
Business Report in 2017.

10
th Annual
th Annual
th Annual
2019
TM
INSTITUTIONALREFORMS
A social revolution is coming up in India under the moniker JAM:
Jan Dhan Yojana for financial inclusion, Aadhaar biometric
identification and mobile telecommunications. As of February
2019, the number of Aadhaar cards assigned to the total
population is 1.52 bn.1 The Prime Minister's Jan Dhan Yojana
(PMJDY) is a financial inclusion programme that makes services
like banking, remittance and insurance available to every Indian at
an affordable cost. Beneficiaries can open a zero-balance
account. As of 08 May 2019, 356 mn new bank accounts were
opened under the PMJDY. More than 211 mn of these accounts are
in rural India, and around 190 mn are operated by women.
RADICALCHANGES IN FDI POLICYREGIME
As of January 2018, the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime
Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to a number of
amendments in the FDI Policy. FDI policy has been further
liberalized in key sectors: 100% FDI under automatic route for
Single Brand Retail Trading 100% FDI under automatic route in
Construction Development Foreign airlines allowed to invest up to
49% under approval route in Air India FIIs/FPIs allowed to invest in
Power Exchanges through primary market Definition of 'medical
devices' amended in the FDI Policy The amendments will liberalise
and simplify the FDI policy to provide ease of doing business,
larger FDI inflows contributing to growth of investment, income and
employment.
INFRASTRUCTURE PUSH
The programmes to build infrastructure and connect India are
picking up pace. The 2019 budget is seeing an allocation of US$
9.27 bn and the highest ever capital expenditure of US$22.77 bn
for Indian Railways.1 The plan to build 83,677 km of roads is
underway and will complete by 2021-22. The Bharatmala
Pariyojana programme accounts for 34,800 km of roads at a cost of
US$ 7.713 bn.2 This will create 142 mn man-days of jobs in the
process. The remaining 48,877 km will be developed by the
National Highway Authority of India and the Ministry of Road
Transport and Highways. The Sagarmala Programme, on the
other hand, focuses on connectivity by sea. It forecasts a role for
multiple central ministries and agencies, as well as state
governments.As on 30 September 2018, a total of 522 projects at a
cost of US$ 6.18 bn were under various stages of implementation,
development and completion.3 The projects are across port
modernization, new port development, port connectivity
enhancement, port-linked industrialization and coastal community
development.
TECHNOLOGYREADINESS
As of 2018, more than 118,000 Gram Panchayats or Village
Councils have access to high-speed broadband because of
Government of India's BharatNet project. BharatNet is probably
the world's largest rural broadband project.As of 2018, 0.32 mn km
of optical fibre cable is laid across 127,210 Gram Panchayats as
part of the project.1 BharatNet is expected to make digital delivery
of services for health, education, livelihood, skills training, e-
agriculture and e-commerce available to the rural poor, in addition
to generating huge employment opportunities. An impressive fact
under BharatNet is that the total Data used per month in March
2019 is 0.14 mn GB.2Apart from BharatNet, India has more than 1
bn mobile phone subscriptions and 462 mn Internet users.
RENEWABLE ENERGY
Globally, India is number fifth for overall installed renewable energy
capacity, fourth for wind power and fifth for solar power.1 As of
2018, solar energy projects capable of producing 22 GW have
been installed in the country. More than 100 bn units of electricity
have been generated in 2017 using renewable energy.2 The
Government of India has set a target to install 175 GW renewable
power capacity by the end of 2022. This includes 60 GW from wind
power, 100 GW from solar power, 10 GW from biomass power and
5 GW from small hydropower.

10
th Annual
th Annual
th Annual
2019
TM
GDP to grow at 7% in 2019-20 due to growth of investment &
consumption Service exports enhanced to Rs. 14.389 lac cr in
2018-19 from Rs. 0.746 lac cr in 2000-01. India's share in world
service exports increased from 2% in 2005 to 3.5 % in 2017
India's foreign exchange reserves comfortably placed at US $
422.2 billion in June 2019. FDI inflows growing at a high rate
since 2015-16 in services, automobiles and chemicals Credit to
both, large and micro, small and medium enterprises has seen
pickup in growth Growth in the industry accelerated during 2018-
19 due to improved manufacturing and construction activity
The Government has projected the real GDP growth for the year
2019-20 at 7 per cent, on the back of anticipated pickup in the
growth of investment and acceleration in the growth of
consumption. The Union Minister for Finance and Corporate
Affairs, Smt Nirmala Sitharaman tabled the Economic Survey
2018-19 in Parliament today, which clearly stated that the year
2019-20 has delivered a huge political mandate for the
government, which augurs well for the prospects of high
economic growth. The April, 2019 Report of the World Economic
Outlook (WEO) of International Monetary Fund (IMF) has
projected India's GDP to grow even higher at 7.3 percent in 2019.
This is despite the Report projecting a decline in growth of world
output and that of Emerging Market and Developing Economies
(EMDEs) by 0.3 and 0.1 percentage points respectively.
India continues to remain the fastest growing major economy in
the world in 2018-19, despite a slight moderation in its GDP
growth from 7.2 per cent in 2017-18 to 6.8 per cent in 2018-19.
On the other hand, the world output growth declined from 3.8 per
cent in 2017 to 3.6 per cent in 2018. The slowdown in the world
economy and Emerging Market and Developing Economies
(EMDEs) in 2018 followed the escalation of US China trade
tensions, tighter credit policies in China, and financial tightening
alongside the normalization of monetary policy in the larger
advanced economies.
India's growth of real GDP has been high with average growth of
7.5 per cent in the last 5 years (2014-15 onwards). The Indian
economy grew at 6.8 per cent in 2018-19, thereby experiencing
some moderation in growth when compared to the previous year.
This moderation in growth momentum is mainly on account of
lower growth in 'Agriculture & allied', 'Trade, hotel, transport,
storage, communication and services related to broadcasting'
and 'Public administration & defence' sectors. Acreage in 2018-
19 for the rabi crop was marginally lower than last year, which
affected agricultural performance. The contraction in food prices
may have contributed to inducing farmers to produce less. On
the demand side, lower growth of GDP in 2018-19 was
accounted for, by a decline in growth of government final
consumption, change in stocks and contraction in valuables.
On the external front, current account deficit (CAD) increased
from 1.9 per cent of GDP in 2017-18 to 2.6 per cent in April-
December 2018 . The widening of the CAD was largely on
account of a higher trade deficit driven by rise in international
crude oil prices (Indian basket). The trade deficit increased from
US$ 162.1 billion in 2017-18 to US$ 184 billion 218-19.
Merchandise imports reduced from 21.1 per cent to 10.4 per
cent. Growth in service exports and imports in US dollar terms
declined to 5.5 per cent and 6.7 per cent respectively in 2018-19,
from 18.8 per cent and 22.6 per cent respectively in 2017-18.
Rupee depreciated by 7.8 per cent vis-à-vis UD dollar, 7.7 per
cent against Yen, and 6.8 per cent against Euro and Pound
Sterling in 2018-19. During 2018-19, Indian rupee traded with a
depreciating trend against UD dollar and touched Rs. 74.4 per
US dollar in October 2018 before recovering to Rs. 69.2 per US
dollar at end March 2019.
The foreign exchange reserves in nominal terms (including the
valuation effects) decreased by US$ 11.6 billion end-March 2019
over end-March 2018. Within the year, foreign exchange
reserves were declining until October 2018 due to RBI's
intervention to modulate exchange rate volatility. India's foreign
exchange reserves continue to be comfortably placed at US $
422.2 billion, as on 14th June 2019.
The Government will bring in a New
National Education Policy to transform
India’s higher education system to one
of the global best education systems.
The new Policy proposes major
changes in both school and higher
education among others, better
Governance systems and brings
greater focus on research and
innovation.
“
“
Nirmala Sitharaman
Union Finance Minister, Government of India

10
th Annual
th Annual
th Annual
2019
TM
Net Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows grew by 14.2 per
cent in 2018-19. Among the top sectors attracting FDI equity
inflows, services, automobiles and chemicals were the major
categories. By and large, FDI inflows have been growing at a
high rate since 2015-16. This pick up indicates the improvement
in confidence of the foreign investors in the Indian economy.
Indian banking sector has been dealing with twin balance sheet
problem, which refers to stressed, corporate and bank balance
sheets. The increase in Non-Performing Assets (NPA) of banks
led to stress on balance sheets of banks, with the Public Sector
Banks (PSBs) taking in more stress.
Consumption has always been a strong and major driver of
growth in the economy. Although the share of private
consumption in GDP remains high, the pattern of consumption
has undergone some changes over time- from essentials to
luxuries and from goods to services
Decline in investment rate and fixed investment rate since 2011-
12, seems to have bottomed out with some early signs of
recovery since 2017-18. Fixed investment growth picked up from
8.3 per cent in 2016-17 to 9.3 per cent in 2017-18 and further to
10.0 per cent in 2018-19. The decline in fixed investment until
2016-17 was mainly by the household sector, with fixed
investment by public sector and private corporate sector
remaining almost at same levels.
Green shoots in the investment activity appear to be taking hold
as also seen in the pickup in credit growth to industry. Credit to,
both, large and micro, small and medium enterprises has seen
pickup in growth. The growth of bank credit to micro, small and
medium enterprises was contracting in 2016 and 2017, but has
started picking up n 2018. Credit growth to large industry started
declining since March 2016 and entered negative territory by
October 2016. It has recovered since early 2017-18 and the
momentum has picked up in the second half of 2018.
In year 2011-12, industry sector had the highest investment rate,
followed by services, whereas the agriculture sector had
investment rate much less than half of that of services. In 2017-
18, investment rate in services sector became the highest.
Investment rate in agriculture still continues to lag behind and
now is half the investment rate in the industry sector.
Simultaneously, there has been a decline in savings rate as well,
with the household sector entirely contributing to the decline.
Household savings declined from 23.6 % in 2011-12 to 17.2 % in
2017-18.
The trend of growth of exports and imports was different in 2018-
19 in rupee and US dollar terms. While growth of both export and
import declined in US$ terms, it increased in rupee terms (at
current prices) in 2018-19. This happened due to the
depreciation of rupee vis-a vis US dollar in 2018-19.
Gross Value Added reflected a decline in economic activity,
registering a growth of 6.6 per cent in 2018-19, lower than 6.9 per
cent in 2017-18. Growth of net indirect taxes was 8.8 per cent in
2018-19, lower than that of 2017-18 on account of loss of
momentum of economic activity.
Service sector is the most dynamic sector in the economy and
has remained the key driver of economic growth along with being
a major contributor to GVA and export basket of the Indian
Economy. Service exports has become one of the mainstay of
India's total exports increasing manifold, from Rs. 0.746 lakh
crore in 2000-01 to Rs. 14.389 lakh crore in 2018-19, raising its
share in total exports from 26.8 per cent to 38.4 per cent. Share
of India in world service exports has also increased from 2 per
cent in 2005 to 3.5 per cent in 2017. This share is much higher
than that of manufacturing exports which stands at 1.8 per cent in
2017.
Real growth in 'Agriculture & allied' sector was lower in 2018-19
at 2.9 per cent, after two years of good agriculture growth.As per
the 3rd Advance Estimates released by Ministry of Agriculture &
Farmers Welfare, the total production of foodgrains during
2018-19 is estimated at 283.4 million tones in 2017-18 (final
estimate). There was a significant decline in food prices in 2018-
19 as indicated by nearly zero per cent consumer food price
inflation in 2018-19 with price contraction straight for five months
in the year.
Growth in the industry accelerated during 2018-19 on the
strength of improving manufacturing and construction activity,
which have more than offset the declaration in the other two sub
sectors, 'Mining & quarrying' and 'Electricity, gas, water supply &
other utility services'. Manufacturing accounted for 16.4 per cent
in total GVA in 2018-19, marginally higher than that of
'Agriculture & allied' sector .
The growth in manufacturing sector picked up in 2018-19,
although the momentum slowed down towards the end of the
financial year with a growth of 3.1 per cent in fourth quarter of the
year, as compared to 12.1 per cent, 6.9 per cent and 6.4 per cent
in first, second and third quarter respectively. The growth rate in
Q4 of 2018-19 moderated considerably, on account of lower
NBFC lending, which in part led to sales in the auto sector.
Construction sector growth is estimated using growth of
production of cement and consumption of finished steel.
Production of cement and consumption of finished steel grew at
13.3 per cent and 7.5 per cent respectively in 2018-19, higher
than their growth rates in 2017-18 and this reflects in higher
growth of construction sector in 2018-19.
The 'Financial, real estate and professional services' sector grew
at 7.4 per cent in 2018-19, higher as compared to 6.2 per cent in
2017-18. This sector amounts for more than 20 per cent of
overall GVAof the economy.
In order to improve the capital flows into the Indian economy, it is important to align domestic
corporate systems and practices with global ones. It is also appreciated that global finance
movement in equity uses certain parameters to evaluate the stocks in which they choose to
invest. Government intends to further encourage retail participation in CPSEs which, of late
has shown very encouraging upward trend. In order to provide additional investment space,
the Government would realign its holding in CPSEs, including Banks to permit greater
availability of its shares and to improve depth of its market.
“ “

10
th Annual
th Annual
th Annual
2019
TM
The Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs,
Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman tabled the Economic Survey
2018-19 in the Parliament today. The Key Highlights of
Economic Survey 2018-19 are as follows:
Shifting gears: Private Investment as the Key Driver
of Growth, Jobs, Exports and Demand
· Survey states that pathways for trickle-down opened
up during the last five years; and benefits of growth
and macroeconomic stability reached the bottom of
the pyramid.
· Sustained real GDP growth rate of 8% needed for a $5
trillion economy by 2024-25.
· “Virtuous Cycle” of savings, investment and exports
catalyzed and supported by a favorable demographic
phase required for sustainable growth.
· Private investment- key driverfor demand, capacity,
labor productivity, new technology, creative
destruction and job creation.
· Survey departs from traditional Anglo-Saxon thinking
by viewing the economy as being either in a virtuous
or a vicious cycle, and thus never in equilibrium.
· Key ingredients for a self-sustaining virtuous cycle:
o Presenting data as a public good.
o Emphasizing legal reforms.
o Ensuring policy consistency.
o Encouraging behavior change using
principles of behavioral economics.
o Nourishing MSMEs to create more jobs and
become more productive.
o Reducing the cost of capital.
o Rationalizing the risk-return trade-off for
investments.
Policy for Real People, Not Robots: Leveraging the
Behavioral Economics of “Nudge”
· Decisions by real people deviate from impractical
robots theorized in classical economics.
· Behavioral economics provides insights to 'nudge'
people towards desirable behavior.
· Key principles of behavioral economics:
o Emphasizing the beneficial social norm.
o Changing the default option.
o Repeated reinforcements.
· Using insights from behavioral economics to create
an aspirational agenda for social change:
o From 'Beti Baco Beti Padhao' to 'BADLAV'
(Beti Aapki Dhan Lakshmi Aur Vijay
Lakshmi).
o From 'Swachh Bharat' to 'Sundar Bharat'.
o From 'Give it up” for the LPG subsidy to
'Think about the Subsidy'.
o From 'Tax evasion' to 'Tax compliance'.
Nourishing Dwarfs to become Giants: Reorienting
policies for MSME Growth
· Survey focuses on enabling MSMEs to grow for
achieving greater profits, job creation and enhanced
productivity.
· Dwarfs (firms with less than 100 workers) despite
being more than 10 years old, account for more than
50% of all organized firms in manufacturing by
number.
· Contribution of dwarfs to employment is only 14% and
to productivity is a mere 8%.
· Large firms (more than 100 employees) account for
75% employment and close to90% of productivity
despite accounting for about 15% by number.
· Unshackling MSMEs and enabling them to grow by
way of:
o Asunset clause of less than 10 years, with
necessary grand-fathering, for all size-
based incentives.
o Deregulating labor law restrictions to create
significantly more jobs, as evident from
Rajasthan.
o Re-calibrating Priority Sector Lending (PSL)
guidelines for direct credit flow to young
firms in high employment elastic sectors.
· Survey also focuses on service sectors such as
tourism, with high spillover effects on other sectors
such as hotel & catering, transport, real estate,
entertainment etc., for job creation.
Data “Of the People, By the People, For the People”
· Society's optimal consumption of data is higher than
ever given technological advances in gathering and
storage of data.
· As data of societal interest is generated by the people,
data can be created as a public good within the legal
framework of data privacy.
· Government must intervene in creating data as a
public good, especially of the poor and in social
sectors.
· Merging the distinct datasets held by the Government
already would generate multiple benefits.
Ending Matsyanyaya: How to Ramp up Capacity in
the Lower Judiciary
· Delays in contract enforcement and disposal
resolution are arguably now the single biggest hurdle

10
th Annual
th Annual
th Annual
2019
TM
to the ease of doing business and higher GDP growth
in India.
· Around 87.5 per cent of pending cases are in the
District and Subordinate courts.
· 100 per cent clearance rate can be achieved by filling
out merely 2279 vacancies in the lower courts and 93
in High Courts.
· States of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha and West
Bengal need special attention.
· Productivity improvements of 25 percent in lower
courts, 4 percent in High Courts and 18 percent in
Supreme Court can clear backlog.
How does Policy Uncertainty affect Investment?
· Significant reduction in Economic Policy Uncertainty
in India over the last one decade, even when
economic policy uncertainty increased in major
countries, especially the U.S.
· Uncertainty dampens investment growth in India for
about five quarters.
· Lower economic policy uncertainty can foster a
salutary investment climate.
· Survey proposes reduction in economic policy
uncertainty by way of:
o Consistency of actual policy with forward
guidance.
o Quality assurance certification of processes
in Government departments.
India's Demography at 2040: Planning Public Good
Provision for the 21st Century
· Sharp slowdown in population growth expected in
next 2 decades. Most of India to enjoy demographic
dividend while some states will transition to ageing
societies by 2030s.
· National Total Fertility Rate expected to be below
replacement rate by 2021.
· Working age population to grow by roughly 9.7mn per
year during 2021-31 and 4.2mn per year during 2031-
41.
· Significant decline to be witnessed in elementary
school-going children (5-14 age group) over next two
decades.
· States need to consolidate/merge schools to make
them viable rather than build new ones.
· Policy makers need to prepare for ageing by investing
in health care and by increasing the retirement age in
a phased manner.
From Swachh Bharat to Sundar Bharat via Swasth
Bharat:AnAnalysis of the Swachh Bharat Mission
· Traceable health benefits brought about by Swachh
Bharat Mission (SBM).
· 93.1% of the households have access to toilets.
· 96.5% of those with access to toilets are using them in
rural India.
· 100% Individual Households Latrine (IHHL)
Coverage in 30 states and UTs.
· Financial savings from a household toilet exceed the
financial costs to the household by 1.7 times on
average and 2.4 times for poorest households.
· Environmental and water management issues need
to be incorporated in SBM for sustainable
improvements in the long-term.
Enabling Inclusive Growth through Affordable,
Reliable and Sustainable Energy
· 2.5 times increase in per capita energy consumption
needed for India to increase its real per capita GDP by
$5000 at 2010 prices, and enter the upper-middle
income group.
· 4 times increase in per capita energy consumption
needed for India to achieve 0.8 Human Development
Index score.
· India now stands at 4th in wind power, 5th in solar
power and 5th in renewable power installed capacity.
· Rs 50,000 crore saved and 108.28 million tonnes of
CO2 emissions reduced by energy efficiency
programmes in India.
· Share of renewable (excluding hydro above 25 MW)
in total electricity generation increased from 6% in
2014-15 to 10% in 2018-19.
· Thermal power still plays a dominant role at 60%
share.
· Market share of electric cars only 0.06% in India while
it is 2% in China and 39% in Norway.
· Access to fast battery charging facilities needed to
increase the market share of electric vehicles.
Effective Use of Technology for Welfare Schemes –
Case of MGNREGS
· Survey says that efficacy of MGNREGS increased
with use of technology in streamlining it.
· Significant reduction in delays in the payment of
wages with adoption of NeFMS and DBT in
MGNREGS.
· Demand and supply of work under MGNREGS
increased, especially in distressed districts.
· Vulnerable sections of the society viz. women, SC
and ST workforce increased under MGNREGS during
economic distress.
Redesigning a Minimum Wage System in India for
Inclusive Growth

10
th Annual
th Annual
th Annual
2019
TM
· Survey proposes a well-designed minimum wage
system as a potent tool for protecting workers and
alleviating poverty.
· Present minimum wage system in India has 1,915
minimum wages for various scheduled job categories
across states.
· 1 in every 3 wage workers in India not protected by the
minimum wage law.
· Survey supports rationalization of minimum wages as
proposed under the Code on Wages Bill.
· Minimum wages to all employments/workers
proposed by the Survey.
'
· National Floor Minimum Wage' should be notified
by the Central Government, varying across five
geographical regions.
· Minimum wages by states should be fixed at levels not
lower than the 'floor wage'.
· Minimum wages can be notified based either on the
skills or on geographical region or on both grounds.
· Survey proposes a simple and enforceable Minimum
Wage System using technology.
'
· National level dashboard' under the Ministry of
Labour & Employment for regular notifications on
minimum wages, proposed by the Survey.
· Toll-free number to register grievance on non-
payment of the statutory minimum wages.
· Effective minimum wage policy as an inclusive
mechanism for more resilient and sustainable
economic development.
State of the Economy in 2018-19:AMacro View
· India still the fastest growing major economy in 2018-
19.
· Growth of GDP moderated to 6.8 per cent in 2018-19
from 7.2 per cent in 2017-18.
· Inflation contained at 3.4 per cent in 2018-19.
· Non-Performing Assets as percentage of Gross
Advances reduced to 10.1 per cent at end December
2018 from 11.5 per cent at end March 2018.
· Investment growth recovering since 2017-18:
o Growth in fixed investment picked up from
8.3 per cent in 2016-17 to 9.3 per cent next
year and further to 10.0 per cent in 2018-19.
· Current account deficit manageable at 2.1 percent of
GDP.
· Fiscal deficit of Central Government declined from 3.5
percent of GDPin 2017-18 to 3.4 percent in 2018-19.
· Prospects of pickup in growth in 2019-20 on the back
of further increase in private investment and
acceleration in consumption.
Fiscal Developments
· FY 2018-19 ended with fiscal deficit at 3.4 per cent of
GDP and debt to GDP ratio of 44.5 per cent
(Provisional).
· As per cent of GDP, total Central Government
expenditure fell by 0.3 percentage points in 2018-19
PAover 2017-18:
o 0.4 percentage point reduction in revenue
expenditure and 0.1 percentage point
increase in capital expenditure.
· States' own tax and non-tax revenue displays robust
growth in 2017-18 RE and envisaged to be
maintained in 2018-19 BE.
· General Government (Centre plus states) on the path
of fiscal consolidation and fiscal discipline.
· The revised fiscal glide path envisages achieving
fiscal deficit of 3 per cent of GDP by FY 2020-21 and
Central Government debt to 40 per cent of GDP by
2024-25.
Money Management and Financial Intermediation
· Banking system improved as NPAratios declined and
credit growth accelerated.
· Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code led to recovery and
resolution of significant amount of distressed assets
and improved business culture.
o Till March 31, 2019, the CIRP yielded a
resolution of 94 cases involving claims
worth 1, 73,359 crore.INR
o As on 28 Feb 2019, 6079 cases involving
INR2.84 lakh crores have been withdrawn.
o As per RBI reports, 50,000 croreINR
received by banks from previously non-
performing accounts.
o Additional 50,000 crore "upgraded" fromINR
non-standard to standard assets.
· Benchmark policy rate first hiked by 50 bps and later
reduced by 75 bps last year.
· Liquidity conditions remained systematically tight
since September 2018 thus impacting the yields on
government papers.
· Financial flows remained constrained because of
decline in the equity finance raised from capital
markets and stress in the NBFC sector.
o Capital mobilized through public equity
issuance declined by 81 per cent in 2018-19.

10
th Annual
th Annual
th Annual
2019
TM
o Credit growth rate y-o-y of the NBFCs
declined from 30 per cent in March 2018 to 9
per cent in March 2019.
Prices and Inflation
· Headline inflation based on CPI-C continuing on its
declining trend for fifth straight financial year
remained below 4.0 per cent in the last two years.
· Food inflation based on Consumer Food Price Index
(CFPI) also continuing on its declining trend for fifth
financial year has remained below 2.0 per cent for the
last two consecutive years.
· CPI-C based core inflation (CPI excluding the food
and fuel group) has now started declining since March
2019 after increment during FY 2018-19 as compared
to FY2017-18.
· Miscellaneous, housing and fuel and light groups are
the main contributors of headline inflation based on
CPI-C during FY 2018-19 and the importance of
services in shaping up headline inflation has
increased.
· CPI rural inflation declined during FY 2018-19 over FY
2017-18. However, CPI urban inflation increased
marginally during FY 2018-19. Many States
witnessed fall in CPI inflation during FY2018-19.
Sustainable Development and Climate Change
· India's SDG Index Score ranges between 42 and 69
for States and between 57 and 68 for UTs:
o Kerala and Himachal Pradesh are the front
runners with a score of 69 amongst states.
o Chandigarh and Puducherry are the front
runners with a score of 68 and 65
respectively among the UTs.
· Namami Gange Mission launched as a key policy
priority towards achieving the SDG 6, with a budget
outlay of . 20,000 crore for the period 2015-2020.INR
· For mainstreaming Resource Efficiency approach in
the development pathway for achieving SDGs, a
national policy on Resource Efficiency should be
devised.
· A comprehensive NCAP launched in 2019 as a pan
India time bound strategy for:
o Prevention, control and abatement of air
pollution
o Augmenting the air quality monitoring
network across the country.
· Achievements in CoP24 in Katowice, Poland in 2018:
o Recognition of different starting points for
developed and developing countries.
o Flexibilities for developing countries.
o Consideration of principles including equity
a n d C o m m o n b u t D i f f e r e n t i a t e d
R e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s a n d R e s p e c t i v e
Capabilities.
· Paris Agreement also emphasizes the role of climate
finance without which the proposed NDCs would not
fructify.
· Though the international community witnessed
various claims by developed countries about climate
finance flows, the actual amount of flows is far from
these claims.
· Scale and size of investments required to implement
India's NDC requires mobilizing international public
finance and private sector resources along with
domestic public budgets.
External Sector
· As per WTO, World trade growth slowed down to 3 per
cent in 2018 from 4.6 per cent in 2017. Reasons:
o Introduction of new and retaliatory tariff
measures.
o Heightened US-China trade tensions.
o Weaker global economic growth.
o Volatility in financial markets (WTO).
· In Indian rupee terms growth rate of exports increased
owing to depreciation of the rupee while that of
imports declined in 2018-19.
· Net capital inflows moderated in April-December of
2018-19 despite robust foreign direct investment
(FDI) inflows, outweighed by withdrawals under
portfolio investment.
· India's External Debt was US$ 521.1 billion at end-
December 2018, 1.6 per cent lower than its level at
end-March 2018.
· The key external debt indicators reflect that India's
external debt is not unsustainable.
· The total liabilities-to-GDP ratio, inclusive of both
debt and non-debt components, has declined from 43
per cent in 2015 to about 38 per cent at end of 2018.
· The share of foreign direct investment has risen and
that of net portfolio investment fallen in total liabilities,
reflecting a transition to more stable sources of
funding the current account deficit.
· The Indian Rupee traded in the range of 65-68 per
US$ in 2017-18 but depreciated to a range of 70-74 in
2018-19.
· The income terms of trade, a metric that measures the
purchasing power to import, has been on a rising
trend, possibly because the growth of crude prices
has still not exceeded the growth of India's export
prices.

10
th Annual
th Annual
th Annual
2019
TM
· The exchange rate in 2018-19 has been more volatile
than in the previous year, mainly due to volatility in
crude prices, but not much due to net portfolio flows.
· Composition of India's exports and import basket in
2018-19(P):
o Exports (including re-exports): INR23,
07,663 Cr.
o Imports: INR35, 94,373 Cr.
·
o Top export items continue to be Petroleum
p r o d u c t s , p r e c i o u s s t o n e s , d r u g
formulations, gold and other precious
metals.
o Top import items continue to be Crude
petroleum, pearl, precious, semi-precious
stones and gold.
o India's main trading partners continue to
be the US, China, Hong Kong, the UAE and
SaudiArabia.
· India has signed 28 bilateral / multilateral trade
agreements with various country/group of countries.
In 2018-19,
o Exports to these countries stood at
US$121.7 billion accounting for 36.9 per
cent of India's total exports.
o Imports from these countries stood at
US$266.9 billion accounting for 52.0 per
cent of India's total imports.
Agriculture and Food Management
· Agriculture sector in India typically goes through
cyclical movement in terms of its growth.
o Gross Value Added (GVA) in agriculture
improved from a negative 0.2 per cent in
2014-15 to 6.3 per cent in 2016-17 but
decelerated to 2.9 per cent in 2018-19.
· Gross Capital Formation (GCF) in agriculture as
percentage of GVA marginally declined to 15.2 per
cent in 2017-18 as compared to 15.6 per cent in 2016-
17.
· The public sector GCF in agriculture as a percentage
of GVA increased to 2.7 per cent in 2016-17 from 2.1
per cent in 2013-14.
· Women's participation in agriculture increased to 13.9
per cent in 2015-16 from 11.7 per cent in 2005-06 and
their concentration is highest (28 per cent) among
small and marginal farmers.
· A shift is seen in the number of operational land
holdings and area operated by operational land
holdings towards small and marginal farmers.
· 89% of groundwater extracted is used for irrigation.
Hence, focus should shift from land productivity to
'irrigation water productivity'. Thrust should be on
micro-irrigation to improve water use efficiency.
· Fertilizer response ratio has been declining over time.
Organic and natural farming techniques including
Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) can improve
both water use efficiency and soil fertility.
· Adopting appropriate technologies through Custom
Hiring Centers and implementation of ICT are critical
to improve resource-use efficiency among small and
marginal farmers.
· Diversification of livelihoods is critical for inclusive and
sustainable development in agriculture and allied
sectors. Policies should focus on
o Dairying as India is the largest producer of
milk.
·
o Livestock rearing particularly of small
ruminants.
o Fisheries sector, as India is the second
largest producer.
Industry and Infrastructure
· Overall Index of Eight Core Industries registered a
growth rate of 4.3 percent in 2018-19.
th
· India's ranking improved by 23 to 77 position in 2018
among 190 countries assessed by the World Bank
Doing Business (DB) Report, 2019.
· Road construction grew @ 30 km per day in 2018-19
compared to 12 km per day in 2014-15.
· Rail freight and passenger traffic grew by 5.33 per
cent and 0.64 per cent respectively in 2018-19 as
compared to 2017-18.
· Total telephone connections in India touched 118.34
crore in 2018-19
· The installed capacity of electricity has increased to 3,
56,100 MW in 2019 from 3, 44,002 MW in 2018.
· Public Private Partnerships are quintessential for
addressing infrastructure gaps
· Building sustainable and resilient infrastructure has
been given due importance with sector specific
flagship programmes such as SAUBHAGYA scheme,
PMAYetc
· Institutional mechanism is needed to deal with time-
bound resolution of disputes in infrastructure sector
Services Sector
· Services sector (excluding construction) has a share
of 54.3 per cent in India's GVA and contributed more
than half of GVAgrowth in 2018-19.
· The IT-BPM industry grew by 8.4 per cent in 2017-18

10
th Annual
th Annual
th Annual
2019
TM
to US$ 167 billion and is estimated to reach US$ 181
billion in 2018-19.
· The services sector growth declined marginally to 7.5
per cent in 2018-19 from 8.1 per cent in 2017-18.
o Accelerated sub-sectors: Financial
services, real estate and professional
services.
o Decelerated sub-sectors: Hotels,
transport, communication and broadcasting
services.
· Services share in employment is 34 per cent in 2017.
· Tourism:
o 10.6 million foreign tourists received in
2018-19 compared to 10.4 million in 2017-
18.
o Forex earnings from tourism stood at US$
27.7 billion in 2018-19 compared to US$
28.7 billion in 2017-18.
Social Infrastructure, Employment and Human
Development
· The public investments in social infrastructure like
education, health, housing and connectivity is critical
for inclusive development.
· Government expenditure (Centre plus States) as a
percentage of GDPon
o Health: increased to 1.5 per cent in 2018-19
from 1.2 per cent in 2014-15.
o Education: increased from 2.8 per cent to 3
per cent during this period.
· Substantial progress in both quantitative and
qualitative indicators of education is reflected in the
improvements in Gross Enrolment Ratios, Gender
Parity Indices and learning outcomes at primary
school levels.
· Encouraging Skill Development by:
o Introduction of the skill vouchers as a
financing instrument to enable youth obtain
training from any accredited training
institutes.
o Involving industry in setting up of training
institutes in PPP mode; in curriculum
development; provision of equipment;
training of trainers etc.
o Personnel of Railways and para-military
could be roped in for imparting training in
difficult terrains.
o Create a database of Instructors, skill
mapping of rural youth by involving local
bodies to assess the demand-supply gaps
are some of the other initiatives proposed.
· Net employment generation in the formal sector was
higher at 8.15 lakh in March, 2019 as against 4.87
lakh in February, 2018 as per EPFO.
· Around 1, 90, 000 km of rural roads constructed under
Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) since
2014.
· About 1.54 crore houses completed under Pradhan
Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) as against a target of 1
st
crore pucca houses with basic amenities by 31
March, 2019.
· Accessible, affordable and quality healthcare being
provided through National Health Mission and
Ayushman Bharat scheme for a healthy India.
· Alternative healthcare, National AYUSH Mission
launched to provide cost effective and equitable
AYUSH healthcare throughout the country to address
the issue of affordability, by improving access to these
services.
· Employment generation scheme, MGNREGA is
prioritized by increasing actual expenditure over the
budgetary allocation and an upward trend in budget
allocation in the last four years.
India has emerged as a major space power with the technology and ability to
launch satellites and other space products at globally low cost. Time has come
to harness this ability commercially. A Public Sector Enterprise viz. New
Space India Limited (NSIL) has been incorporated as a new commercial arm
of Department of Space to tap the benefits of the Research & Development
carried out by ISRO. The Company will spearhead commercialization of
various space products including production of launch vehicles, transfer to
technologiesandmarketingofspaceproducts.

10
th Annual
th Annual
th Annual
2019
TM
Triple Talaq Bill passage is a transformative point in India's
socio-political context
The India of 2019, under PM Modi, is set on a path of reform.
The mantra of reform, perform and transform is not only for
governance or economy, it extends even to the reforming of
society without discrimination or without any reference to vote
bank politics.
TripleTalaq Bill passed in lok sabha, pm modi,TripleTalaq Bill in
parliament, Triple Talaq penal offence, muslims in india,
Gender justice has been at the core of the governance priorities
of the Modi government. (Illustration by: Suvajit Dey)
Finally Parliament has passed the Triple Talaq Bill after three
attempts. The kind of jubilation it has caused across the
country, barring conservative elements, indicates how it is a
proud moment for India. Our country is transforming and the
women of India feel empowered.
Triple talaq has never been sanctioned even in Islamic
scriptures. During the debate in Parliament, I quoted a very
authoritative book on Islamic laws from an eminent jurist, Amir
Ali, wherein Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) has been quoted as
disapproving of it in the strongest possible terms, and, forcing
one of his disciples who had given triple talaq to his wife to
accept her again. Despite disapproval from the highest
quarters in Islam, and the fact that many Muslim countries
following sharia laws also chose to reform it one way or another
— including making it penal in many cases — it took more than
70 years in India to not only delegitimise this curse, but also
provide for penal consequences. Regrettably, this shows the
hold the communal and conservative elements continue to
exercise over the country's polity.
However, India of 2019 is different. India is now being led by
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who even in his first term had
firmly declared that this tradition needs to be abolished. Today, I
need to salute great women like Shayara Bano and Ishrat
Jehan and many others who went to the Supreme Court in 2013
challenging this pernicious practice. When the NDA
government came to power in 2014, the prime minister boldly
directed me to stand firmly with these women and support their
cause. After the Supreme Court judgment set aside triple talaq,
many of us had thought that now this practice will come to an
end.
However, it continued unabated, even on the flimsiest of
grounds. I had shared before Parliament a large number of
cases that we could gather from the media and other reports,
where it was revealed how helpless women (75 per cent of the
victims are poor) were driven out by uttering “talaq-talaq-talaq”,
irrevocably annulling the marriage. When we framed the law we
took on board some of the legitimate concerns, namely: The
FIR must be filed by the victim/wife or her relations, by blood or
marriage, to prevent abuse, and, it must be compoundable. The
provision of bail was specifically added, but after hearing the
wife. Besides, there are provisions for subsistence allowance
More than 20 Islamic countries have
regulated triple talaq in various forms.
" I n d i a i s a s e c u l a r c o u n t r y , b u t
unfortunately for one reason or the other it
could not happen, We made it possible. As
many as 574 cases of the illegal practice were
reported after the SC judgement and 101
cases have come to light after the last
ordinance issued by the government
criminalisingthepractice.
“
“

10
th Annual
th Annual
th Annual
2019
TM
and custody of minor children to the wife. It was a very simple
and straight legal framework, and yet, the Congress took a very
regressive stand that it should not be made penal at all.
Therefore, while formally opposing triple talaq Bill, the
Congress was insisting upon a law whereby this curse could go
unabated for want of any deterrence.
I must acknowledge that the Congress has played a very
signiﬁcant role in many of the transformative social legislations.
The Hindu Marriage Act was enacted in 1955 wherein bigamy
(wife or husband marrying during the currency of their spouse)
can be punishable upto seven years, and a marriage below the
age of 21 (husband) and 18 (wife) was punishable upto two
years of imprisonment. The Dowry Prohibition Act was enacted
in 1961 and it is religion neutral. In 1983, the Congress
government added section 498A in the Indian Penal Code,
which provided for punishment for subjecting the wife to cruelty.
This was also religion neutral.
All these provisions were non-bailable — the Dowry Prohibition
Act was made non-bailable and non-compoundable in
November, 1986. Surprisingly, despite such a satisfactory track
record in correcting social wrongs, the Congress government
meekly submitted — in spite of a 400-plus majority in 1986 — to
undo a SC judgment giving few hundred rupees of
maintenance to Shah Bano. The Congress still remains under
the Shah Bano mindset in 2019.
Gender justice has been at the core of the governance priorities
of the Modi government. Initiatives like Beti Bachao-Beti
Padhao and Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, for instance, have
created a sense of empowerment for Indian women. I can
understand some of the regional parties for their own
compulsions seeking to oppose it. But, for a party like Congress
to repeat the Shah Bano model of 1986 in 2019, when the world
has changed so much, shows the vice-like grip that the
conservative and regressive elements of the Muslim society
has over it.
Where are the liberals of India? These self-proclaimed
guardians of the country's values who keep on articulating
motivated grievances against the Modi government from time
to time, just because they do not like him, have chosen not to
speak a word on the plight of the many victims of triple talaq.
Their hypocrisy stands exposed.This issue should not be seen
through a political prism or vote-bank politics. This is a question
of humanity. This is for ensuring justice to women, dignity and
empowerment to women and to ensure gender dignity and
equality.There are reports of Muslim men giving triple talaq to
their wife for serving burnt 'roti', for asking money to buy
vegetables and for opposing an obscene video made by the
husband.There is a Supreme Court judgement but it is not been
implemented. Therefore we have brought the law. Because law
is a deterrence. Clearing misgivings of some members about
the bill, the Minister said there is a provision that the wife can ﬁle
FIR or relation by blood or marriage and a magistrate can give
bail to the husband upon hearing the wife.

10
th Annual
th Annual
th Annual
2019
TM
The new legislation is a great opportunity to think of education
that can nourish and nurture mutual understanding among
people, religions and communities
It was indeed revealing to observe the defenders of Triple
Talaq making pathological attempts to overcome the
embarrassment they now face all around after the passage of
a Bill, which makes it a criminal offence. Not that they have
totally lost on logic and reason, certain elements among them
stand decimated even in basic political acumen and
comprehension. It is not that only Muslim women are happy
and relieved, their sisters from other religions are equally
happy for them. Celebrations were multi-religious and this is
indeed a encouraging sign. What should have really
happened after the Shah Bano judgement of 1985 was
delayed because of short-sighted political vision of vested
interests. The damage to the Muslim community was indeed
immense and immeasurable. Never before were the much-
hyped secular credentials so openly exposed before the
people of India.
It will be needless to recall the numerous instances and
efforts to misuse the concept and practice of “secularism” as
these are widely known to the people. It is, however,
worthwhile to recall that the makers of the Indian Constitution
probably had the premonition of the shape of things to come.
Because of its possible misuse, they did not feel the need to
put the term “secularism” anywhere in the text of the
Constitution. They knew that the Indian culture was secular;
people lived all the years with full respect for diversity of
varied kinds, including religious diversity. After 1967, political
morality in the country underwent a sea-change, culminating
in the imposition of Emergency in June 1975. The term
“secularism” was introduced in the Preamble to the
Constitution only in 1976, during Emergency, and approved
by Parliament.
Even then, one must concede, the Hindi term panthnirpeksh
was approved and not — repeat not — dharamnirpeksh, as is
being frequently used by politicians, who had and still have,
all the intentions to use “secularism” politically. There is a
huge distinction between the two terms. The major blame to
engineer and create entrenched divisions between Hindus
and Muslims and also within different communities in each of
these religions must be shared by leaders, who touted for
decades together that they were the only defenders of
“secularism” (read Muslims). They knowingly created distrust
and apprehensions between the two communities. The
nation, including a vast majority of Muslims, now understands
the politics behind the convoluted interpretation of
“secularism” and based upon that, its sustained and
unscrupulous use to widen the divide between the two major
religions. As they say, the cat is out of the bag and the
mischievous strategy has backfired.
In the political firmament of the day, those who believe in
change and are willing to grow up and grasp public mood
have shown in the Rajya Sabha that India is changing for the
better. The machination to use “secularism” as a tool to keep
Muslims of India away from the mainstream is no longer
acceptable to the community. It has learnt from experience
and more so from the fate of hollow promises made to it,
which never fructified. Muslims have now geared up to
embrace the new world of education and knowledge, of social
reforms and cultural dynamism. They are ready to eliminate
practices lie triple talaq and Halala and would succeed in
doing so in spite of certain elements within the community
trying their best to subvert the process of inevitable change.
The majority community — the Hindus — too underwent a
similar transitional phase.
Such a change is invariably tedious, slow and even painful. A
personal recollection would be pertinent to illustrate the point.
Some five decades ago, when the police intervened in a case
of child marriages and dowry in a village in Central Uttar
Pradesh, animated discussions on the issue followed for
months together among villagers — of both communities.
They were not highly educated intellectuals but simple village
folks, who had “learnt to live together.” The general refrain
there was “why should there be any interference from the
Government in matters that are purely personal, of mutual
concern and interaction between two families?” There were
many, who waxed eloquent and misled their fellow men and
women that these are matters of religion. It is worth a million
experiences how at this stage, those very people are thankful
to the legal provisions banning dowry and child marriage.
Social transitions are indeed daunting and not easy to
undertake.
Then there are always elements, who relate every practice,
ritual or an ill-conceived belief to religion. They mislead
people to serve vested interests. These days such elements
are overshadowed by politicians. Every Indian knows how
leaders of all hues are always on the lookout to trigger
communal conflicts that inflict unfathomable misery on
families and dent the fabric of social cohesion and religious
amity.
While a lot is being discussed about how the triple talaq Bill
will impact Muslims, one would like to give some thought on
how the passage of the Bill is an occasion that offers great
opportunity to strengthen our social cohesion and religious
amity among all Indians. This has been of considerable
concern to one and all — Hindus and Muslims. How long shall
the two communities depend on Government and local police
and not think of
creating strong and impregnable social interactive
frameworks that would not permit the cunning politician to
exploit any one of them? Dowry, child marriage and divorce
are unacceptable among civilised people and there can be no
exceptions. Legal provisions are necessary and can be of
great support to social initiatives. These can certainly be
minimised. Legal provisions are necessary — though not
sufficient — they are useful deterrents that can be of support
and assistance in extreme cases. These are particularly
Triple talaq turnaround

10
th Annual
th Annual
th Annual
2019
TM
necessary to deal with anti-social elements that resist
positive change.
The passage of the triple talaq Bill is a great opportunity to
think of education that would nourish and nurture mutual
understanding among the people, religions and communities.
The debate on the Bill offered a rare chance to certain well-
known self-proclaimed secular political outfits to make mid-
term correction in their approach and attitude towards real
“secularism.” They must realise that their political survival is
linked to public assessment and the same is no more in their
favour.They themselves are responsible for their decimation.
What must worry them the most is the fact that Muslims have
shown how hollow their proclamations were as they
proclaimed to be the only well-wishers of the community. The
party in power has done its homework, has certainly created a
niche for its
sincerity among Muslim men and practically the entire
women population of India, irrespective of religious affiliation.
Everyone is happy for their Muslim sisters. While the spread
of education among the Muslim community has been slow
and scattered, it has created an enlightened group of young
people, who think of future in a globalised world. They are
conscious of their responsibility to the community and are
aware how the acts and activities of certain internal elements
lead to avoidable apprehensions about religion. They know
how urgent it is to project the right picture of Islam. They know
that it would be feasible only when the educated and devoted
within the community initiate all-out efforts to spread
education.
People across religions now want to educate their children —
both boys and girls — without gender distinction. Not only
education, they all want “good quality education, useful skills
in a good school”. This is a great change from the 1950s and
1960s of the last century. People perceive education as an
agent of social and economic change and transformation.
Education in India has to confront innumerable problems and
supportive inadequacies but it is the responsibly of the nation
to offer education that empowers, prepares young men and
women, who are committed, competent and imbued with
values to serve their fellow men and women.
The content and process of education is to be so designed
that right from the sensitive initial years in school, it nurtures
the values of respect for diversity of every conceivable
variety. In India, practically every classroom is a multi-
religious interactive opportunity. Further, every teacher has
studied in a multi-religious environment and now teaches in a
similar environment.
Why should every child not know about the basics of the
religion of his/her neighbour? Why should they not know how
that every religion respects women and that as they grow up,
they must strengthen it. The triple talaq Bill reiterates the
determination of the nation that women must be respected,
given their due by one and all, and in doing so, there can be no
discrimination of any kind. India is in the process of finalising
its National Education Policy. This is the best opportunity to
ensure that due emphasis is given both in content and
pedagogy on gender justice.

India Leadership Conclave 2019 - "Opportunities" - The 5 Trillion Dollar Mission :

India Leadership Conclave 2019 - "Opportunities" - The 5 Trillion Dollar Mission :

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

What's hot

What's hot (18)

Similar to India Leadership Conclave 2019 - "Opportunities" - The 5 Trillion Dollar Mission :

Similar to India Leadership Conclave 2019 - "Opportunities" - The 5 Trillion Dollar Mission : (20)

More from Indian Affairs

More from Indian Affairs (20)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

India Leadership Conclave 2019 - "Opportunities" - The 5 Trillion Dollar Mission :