Machine Learning solves Real-World problems. Unlike the hard coding rule to solve the problem, machine learning algorithms learn from the data. The learnings can later be used to predict the feature. It is paying off for early adopters. A full 82% of enterprises adopting machine learning and Artificial Intelligence (AI) have gained a significant financial advantage from their investments. According to Deloitte, companies have an impressive median ROI of 17%.

National sample survey office (NSSO) The main responsibility assigned to the NSSO is to collect data on varied socio-Economic subjects through nation-wide sample survey to create and update data base. Establishment Year:1950 HEAD OFFICE:NEW DELHI Headed By-Secretary of MOS&PI Basic Objective: Collection of data on varied Socio –Economic subjects through nation –wide sample survey to create and update data base for use in; Policy Formulation Programme Implementation Programme Evaluation Research & public debate Economic & administrative decisions for national development The NSSO has four Divisions (A) Survey Design and Research Division (SDRD) (B) Field Operation Division (FOD) (C) Data Processing Division (DPD) (D) Coordination & Publication Division (CPD) Survey Design and Research Division (SDRD) This Division, located at Kolkata, is responsible for technical planning of surveys, formulation of concepts and definitions, sampling design, designing of inquiry schedules, drawing up of tabulation plan, analysis and presentation of survey results. Field Operations Division (FOD) The Division, with its headquarters at Delhi/Faridabad and a network of six Zonal Offices, 52 Regional Offices and 117 Sub-Regional Offices spread throughout the country, is responsible for the collection of primary data for the surveys undertaken by NSO. Data Processing Division (DPD) The Division, with its headquarters at Kolkata and 5 other Data Processing Centers at various places, is responsible for sample selection, software development, processing, validation and tabulation of the data collected through surveys. Price and Wages in Rural India collected through schedule 3.01(R) is being processed at DPC Giridih. In addition, DPD is also processing the data of Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS). Industrial Statistics Wing (IS Wing), DPD, NSO, Kolkata is responsible for sample selection, data processing, validation and tabulation of the Annual Survey of Industries(ASI) data collected through a dedicated web-portal. Survey Coordination Division (SCD) This Division, located at New Delhi, coordinates all the activities of different Divisions of NSO. It also brings out the bi-annual journal of NSO, titled “Sarvekshana”, and organizes National Seminars on the results of various Socio-economic surveys undertaken by NSO.

Central Statistical Office (CSO) The main responsibility assigned to the CSO is to bring about coordination of statistical activities among various agencies. In central government and of statistical bureaus of state government, which were set up for similar coordination of activities of statistical agencies at the state level. Establishment Year:02 MAY 1951 HEAD OFFICE: NEW DELHI Headed By-Director General, 3 Additional director general, 4 deeputy director general, Joint directors and other supporting officials. The CSO has Five Division (A) National Accounts Division (B) Social statistics Division (C) Economic statistic Division (D) Training Division (E) Coordination and Publication Division National Accounts Division (NAD) This Division is responsible for the preparation of national accounts, which includes Gross Domestic Product, Government and Private Final Consumption Expenditure, Fixed Capital Formation and other macro-economic aggregates. The Division brings out an annual publication, titled “National Accounts Statistics”, containing these statistics. Other important activities of the Division are: (i) preparation of quarterly estimates of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at current and constant prices, (ii) estimation of Capital Stock and Consumption of Fixed Capital, (iii) estimation of State-wise Gross Value Added and Gross Fixed CapitalFormation of supra-regional sectors of Railways, Communication, Banking & Insurance and Central Government Administration (iv) Input-Output Transaction Tables (IOTT) and (v) preparation of comparable estimates of State Domestic Product (SDP) Social Statistics Division (SSD) This Division is entrusted with Statistical monitoring of the Millennium Development Goals Environmental Economic Accounting, Grant-in-aid for research, workshop/seminars/conferences in Official/Applied Statistics, National/International awards for Statisticians, National Data Bank (NDB) on socio religious categories, Basic Statistics for Local Level Development (BSLLD) Pilot scheme, Time-use survey and release of regular and ad-hoc statistical publications. Economic Statistics Division (ESD) This Division conducts Economic Censuses, compiles All India Index of Industrial Production(IIP), Energy Statistics and Infrastructure Statistics, and develops classifications like, National Industrial Classification (NIC) and National Product Classification (NPC). Training Division This Division is primarily responsible for the training manpower in theoretical and applied statistics to tackle the emerging challenges of data collection, collation, analysis and dissemination required for evidence based policy making as also for planning, monitoring and evaluation. The Division also looks after the National Statistical Systems Training Academy (NSSTA), which is a premier Institute fostering human resource development in official statistics in India as well as at international level, particularly amongst developing and SAARC countries. Coordination and Publications Division (CAP) The Division looks after co-ordination work within CSO as well as with the line Ministries and State/UT Governments in statistical matters, organizes Conference of Central and State Statistical Organizations (COCSSO) and ‘Statistics Day’ every year, prepares Results Framework Document (RFD), Citizens’/Clients’ Charter and Annual Action Plan, Outcome Budget and Annual Plan of the Ministry. The Division is also responsible for implementation of Capacity Development Scheme and Support for Statistical Strengthening (SSS) , a Central Sector Scheme aimed at improving the Statistical Capacity and Infrastructure of the State Statistical System for Collecting, Compiling and Disseminating relevant and reliable official statistics for policy making and to promote their usage at the State/District and Block Levels. It is a nodal Division for administering the Collection of Statistics Act, 2008 and coordination of follow-up on the implementation of recommendations of NSC recommendations. The administrative work relating to Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) is also looked after by CAP Division.

What Is the Consumer Price Index (CPI)? The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a measure that examines the weighted average of prices of a basket of consumer goods and services, such as transportation, food, and medical care. It is calculated by taking price changes for each item in the predetermined basket of goods and averaging them. Changes in the CPI are used to assess price changes associated with the cost of living. The CPI is one of the most frequently used statistics for identifying periods of inflation or deflation. It may be compared with the producer price index (PPI), which instead of considering prices paid by consumers looks at what businesses pay for inputs. KEY TAKEAWAYS The Consumer Price Index measures the average change in prices over time that consumers pay for a basket of goods and services. It is the most widely used measure of inflation. The CPI statistics cover a variety of individuals with different incomes, including retirees, but does not include certain populations, such as patients of mental hospitals. The CPI is composed of the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) and the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U). The Consumer Price Index Understanding the Consumer Price Index (CPI) Inflation is the decline of a given currency's purchasing power over time; or, alternatively, a general rise in prices. A quantitative estimate of the rate at which the decline in purchasing power occurs can be reflected in the increase of an average price level of a basket of selected goods and services in an economy over some period of time. The rise in the general level of prices, often expressed as a percentage, means that a unit of currency effectively buys less than it did in prior periods. The CPI is what is used to measure these average changes in prices over time that consumers pay for goods and services. Essentially, the index attempts to quantify the aggregate price level in an economy and thus measure the purchasing power of a country's unit of currency. The weighted average of the prices of goods and services that approximates an individual's consumption patterns is used to calculate CPI. A trimmed mean may be used as part of this calculation. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports the CPI on a monthly basis and has calculated it as far back as 1913. It is based upon the index average for the period from 1982 through 1984 (inclusive), which was set to 100.1 So a CPI reading of 100 means that inflation is back to the level that it was in 1984, while readings of 175 and 225 would indicate a rise in the inflation level of 75% and 125% respectively. The quoted inflation rate is actually the change in the index from the prior period, whether it is monthly, quarterly, or yearly. Though it does measure the variation in price for retail goods and other items paid by consumers, the Consumer Price Index does not include things like savings and investments and can often exclude spending by foreign visitors. In July 2021, the Consumer Price Index increased 0.5% from June to July, slower than the 0.9% month-over-month increase from May. When compared to the year prior, the full index increased 5.4%, making it the largest 12-month increase since 2008.12 How Is CPI Used? CPI is an economic indicator. It is the most widely used measure of inflation and, by proxy, of the effectiveness of the government's economic policy. The CPI gives the government, businesses, and citizens an idea about price changes in the economy and can act as a guide in order to make informed decisions about the economy. The CPI and the components that make it up can also be used as a deflator for other economic indicators, including retail sales and hourly/weekly earnings. Additionally, it can be used to value a consumer’s dollar to find its purchasing power. Generally, the dollar’s purchasing power declines when the aggregate price level increases and vice versa. The index can also be used to adjust people’s eligibility levels for certain types of government assistance including Social Security, and it automatically provides the cost-of-living wage adjustments to domestic workers. According to the BLS, the cost-of-living adjustments of more than 50 million people on Social Security as well as military and federal civil services retirees are linked to the CPI.3 Who and What Are Covered in the CPI? The CPI statistics cover professionals, self-employed and unemployed people, people whose incomes are below the federal poverty threshold, and retired people. People not included in the report are non-metro or rural populations, farm families, armed forces, people currently incarcerated, and those in mental hospitals.4 The CPI represents the cost of a basket of goods and services across the country on a monthly basis. Those goods and services are broken down into eight major groups: Investopedia / Maddy Price The BLS includes sales and excise taxes in the CPI—or those that are directly associated with the price of consumer goods and services—but excludes others that aren't linked, such as income and Social Security taxes. It also excludes investments (stocks, bonds, etc.), life insurance, real estate, and other items unrelated to consumers' day-to-day consumption.5 Calculating CPI The BLS records about 80,000 items each month by calling or visiting retail stores, service establishments (such as cable providers, airlines, and car and truck rental agencies), rental units, and doctor's offices across the country in order to get the best outlook for the CPI.6 The formula used to calculate the Consumer Price Index for a single item is as follows: \text{CPI}=\frac{\text{ Cost of Market Basket in Given Year}}{\text{Cost of Market Basket in Base Year}}\times100CPI=Cost of Market Basket in Base Year Cost of Market Basket in Given Year​×100 The base year is determined by the BLS. CPI data for more recent years are based on surveys collected in earlier years. Types of CPI Two types of CPIs are reported each period: The CPI-W is the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers. Between 1913 and 1977, the BLS focused on measuring this type of CPI. It was based on households whose incomes were comprised of more than one-half from clerical or wage occupations, and in which at least one of the earners was employed for at least 37 weeks during the previous 12-month cycle. The CPI-W primarily reflects changes in the costs of benefits paid to those on Social Security. This measurement of CPI represents at least 28% of the country's population. The CPI-U is the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers. It accounts for 88% of the U.S. population and is the better representation of the general public. The BLS made improvements to CPI in 1978 and introduced a broader target population. This type of CPI is based on the spending of almost all of the population that resides in urban or metropolitan areas and includes professionals, self-employed workers, those living below the poverty line, those who are unemployed, and retired people. It also includes urban wage earners and clerical workers. Despite introducing the CPI-U in 1978, the BLS continued to take the traditional measure of the CPI-W. But since 1985, the main difference between the two indexes has been the expenditure weights assigned to item categories and geographic areas.

What Is the Producer Price Index (PPI)? The producer price index (PPI), published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), is a group of indexes that calculates and represents the average movement in selling prices from domestic production over time. It is a measure of inflation based on input costs to producers. KEY TAKEAWAYS The PPI is different from the CPI in that it measures costs from the viewpoint of industries that make the products, whereas the CPI measures prices from the perspective of consumers. The BLS separates PPI data into three main areas of classification: industry, commodity, and commodity-based final and intermediate demand (FD-ID).1 The PPI is considered an objective tool for adjusting prices in long-term purchasing agreements. Producer Price Index (PPI) Understanding the Producer Price Index (PPI) The PPI measures price movements from the seller's point of view. Conversely, the consumer price index (CPI) measures cost changes from the viewpoint of the consumer. In other words, this index tracks changes to the cost of production. There are three areas of PPI classification that use the same pool of data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics: industry, commodity, and commodity-based final and intermediate demand (FD-ID).1 The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) releases monthly information that includes the measurement of nearly 10,000 individual products and product groups. This data contains almost all industries that produce goods in the United States. Some of the sectors covered include construction, agriculture, manufacturing, and mining.2 Until 1978, the PPI was known as the wholesale price index (WPI). In 1982, the BLS reset all producer price index bases to 100, and this event became the base year.34 Each specific measurement period, product group, or individual product type, begins with a base period number of 100. As production increases or decreases, the movements can then be compared against the base number.3 As an example, say the production of balloons has a PPI of 115 for the month of July. The 115 figure indicates that it cost the balloon manufacturing industry 15% more to produce balloons in July than it did in June. Example of Producer Price Index (PPI) Businesses often enter into long-term contracts with suppliers. Because prices fluctuate over time, such long-term deals would be difficult with only a single, fixed price for the goods or supplies. Instead, the purchasing business and the supplier typically include a clause in the contract that adjusts the cost by external indicators, such as the PPI. For example, Company A might get a key component for its widgets from Industry Z. At the outset of the deal, the cost of that component is $1, but it includes a provision in the contract that the price will be adjusted quarterly, according to the PPI. So, three months after the contract is signed, the cost of the component could be $1.02 each if the PPI increased by 2% during the quarter, or $0.99 each if the PPI decreased by 1% during the quarter. Therefore, with the contract PPI indexed, the price of widgets will go up or down depending on whether or not the PPI went up or down and how much it changed. Bureau of Labor Statistics Released Data BLS produces thousands of product price indexes each month. An analyst can review information broken into three large categories and then further drill down to specific products or services.1 Industry Level Classification One of the classifications for BLS data is the industry-based category. The industry-based group measures the cost of production at the industry level. It tracks the changes in prices received for an industry's output outside the sector itself by calculating industry net output. BLS product price index includes approximately 500 industry-specific listings. Publications include over 4,000 product-related indexes. Further, the agency offers around 500 indexes for grouped industry information.1 Commodity Classification The second category is the commodity classification. This publication ignores the industry of production and combines goods and services by similarity and product make-up. More than 3,800 indexes cover produced goods and about 900 cover services. The indexes are arranged by end-use, product, and service.1 Commodity-Based Final Demand-Intermediate Demand (FD-ID) The FD-ID system regroups commodity indexes for goods, services, and construction into sub-product classes, which take into account the specific buyer of the products. The end-user or buyer is termed as either the final demand (FD) or the intermediate demand (ID) user. This classification considers the physical assembly and processing required for these goods. Here, BLS publishes over 600 FD-ID targeted indexes. 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Background In order to strengthen the coordination of statistical activities among the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, other Central Ministries and State Statistical Organisations, the Conference of Central and State Statistical Organisations (COCSSO) was organized for the first time in the year 1971. Earlier it was supposed to be organized once in every two years. keeping in view the usefulness of the Conference, it has now been decided to have it every year. Objectives The objectives of the conference are: To provide a platform for discussion on the statistical issues of common interest to the Central and the State Statistical Organistions; To provide an overall perspective to the development of statistical system and to make recommendations/suggestions on issues having bearing on the development of the statistical system; To solve the technical issues relating to statistics; To set up Working Groups on specific issues/tasks relating to official statistics; To provide guidelines in the collection of statistics and maintenance of statistical standards and quality, besides uniformity in statistical standards; To consider the Action Taken Report of the follow up action on the recommendations of the previous meetings(s) of COCSSO; and To review the role of the Statistical Advisers in the Central and States/UT Governments.

Indian Statistical Institute The Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) was registered on 28th April, 1932 as a non-profit distributing learned society under the West Bengal Societies Registration Act, 1860. The outstanding contributions made by the Institute in theoretical and applied statistical work culminated in the recognition of the Institute as an “Institute of National Importance” by an Act of the Parliament in 1959. The Headquarters of ISI is located at Kolkata. It has four centers located at Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai and Tezpur. Offices of the Institute, located in several other cities in India, are primarily engaged in projects and consultancy in Statistical Quality Control and Operations Research.

Programme Implementation (PI) Wing The PI Wing is headed by Deputy Director General (PI) reporting to the Additional Secretary. It has three Divisions: Twenty Point Programme (TPP) Division: The Division monitors the implementation of Twenty Point Programme (TPP) which was initiated in the year 1975. The Programme was restructured in 2006 and the thrust of TPP-2006 is to eradicate poverty and improve the quality of life of the poor and the under privileged people all over the country. The Programme covers various socio-economic aspects like poverty, employment, education, housing, agriculture, drinking water, afforestation and environment protection, energy to rural areas, welfare of weaker sections of the society, etc. There are 65 items monitored under TPP-2006 which consists of 162 parameters. Out of these, 20 items are being monitored on monthly basis. The monthly information in respect of 16 items is collected from various States/UTs and for the remaining 4 items, the information is collected from concerned Central Nodal Ministries. The monitoring mechanism for TPP-2006 includes monitoring at Central, State, District and Block level. Infrastructure and Project Monitoring Division (IPMD): The Division monitors important infrastructure sectors in the country to provide an overview of the performance with a view to highlighting slippages, if any, in respect of Power, Coal, Steel, Railways, Telecommunications, Ports, Fertilizers, Cement, Petroleum & Natural Gas, Roads, and Civil Aviation. The IPMD also monitors Central Sector Projects costing Rs. 150 crore and above with respect to time and cost overrun through their online monitoring software which is called OCMS (Online Computerized Monitoring System). Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) Division: The Division looks after the MPLAD Scheme which was launched on 23rd December, 1993, to provide a mechanism for Members of Parliament to recommend works of developmental nature for creation of durable community assets based on local needs. The scheme addresses locally felt developmental and infrastructural needs of the community and bridges the gap for developmental works. Since its inception, the Scheme has benefited the local community by meeting various developmental needs such as drinking water facility, education, electricity, health and family welfare, irrigation, non-conventional energy, community centers, public libraries, bus stands/stops, roads, pathways and bridges, sports, etc. The works are recommended by the Hon’ble MPs and sanction, execution and monitoring of the works is undertaken by the District Authorities as per the administrative, technical and financial rules of the State Governments. The scheme is governed by a set of MPLADS guidelines. The annual entitlement per MP per year is Rs.5 crore with effect from 2011-12.

About Data Informatics & Innovation Division (DIID) Data Informatics & Innovation Division (DIID) is headed by Additional Director General (ISS) & Technical Director. Computer Center was set up in 1967 under the then Department of Statistics in the Cabinet Secretariat with 3 Honey-well-400 Computer Systems to meet the data processing needs of various Government Ministries/Departments/Organizations and Public Sector Undertakings located in and around Delhi. The Honeywell-400 Systems were replaced in 1981 by a more powerful third generation Burrroughs-3845 mainframe Computer System. After about a decade, the Burroughs-3845 Computer System was replaced in May, 1992 by a 4th generation mainframe Computer System DPS 7000/240. The Center has now a sophisticated PC-based computer system under Client/Server Architecture using WINDOWS 2008 as the operating system and ORACLE 10g as RDBMS along with software tools Visual Studio 2008, SPSS 17 & STATA/MP 12. Now, the Center is equipped with servers- HP server, HCL server, Sun Micro systems web server and IBM Server. The Data Center of the Ministry is operational round the clock i.e. 365x24x7 basis to facilitate the users. Data Informatics & Innovation Division (DIID) is mandated with the following responsibilities: Electronic Data Processing including Data preparation and Management Application software development for MoSPI Design , Development and Maintenance of the Ministry’s website CPI – Processing of pricing data, Compilation of Index and uploading monthly on web portal Data Documentation, Archiving & Dissemination in International standard using IHSN toolkit. IT Training's for the ISS / ISS probationers/ Non- ISS Cadre Officers sponsored by the Ministry and the officers sponsored by UNDP. Development of GIS based web enabled online query system of 6th Economic Census and other Census & surveys conducted by the Ministry using SAS BI tool. Development of National Fact sheet on India Economy (NFIE) indicators using SAS VA BI Tool. Workshop cum training for States/UTs DES personnel on Documentation of Micro data.

Central Statistics Office (CSO) The Central Statistics Office coordinates the statistical activities in the country and evolves statistical standards. It is headed by a Director General assisted by 5 Additional Director Generals. CSO has the following Divisions: a. National Accounts Division (NAD): This Division is responsible for the preparation of national accounts, which includes Gross Domestic Product, Government and Private Final Consumption Expenditure, Fixed Capital Formation and other macro-economic aggregates. The Division brings out an annual publication, titled “National Accounts Statistics”, containing these statistics. Other important activities of the Division are: (i) preparation of quarterly estimates of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at current and constant prices, (ii) estimation of Capital Stock and Consumption of Fixed Capital, (iii) estimation of State-wise Gross Value Added and Gross Fixed Capital Formation of supra-regional sectors of Railways, Communication, Banking & Insurance and Central Government Administration (iv) Input-Output Transaction Tables (IOTT) and (v) preparation of comparable estimates of State Domestic Product (SDP). b. Social Statistics Division (SSD): This Division is entrusted with Statistical monitoring of the Millennium Development Goals, Environmental Economic Accounting, Grant-in-aid for research, workshop/seminars/conferences in Official/Applied Statistics, National/International awards for Statisticians, National Data Bank (NDB) on socioreligious categories, Basic Statistics for Local Level Development (BSLLD) Pilot scheme, Time-use survey and release of regular and ad-hoc statistical publications. c. Economic Statistics Division (ESD): This Division conducts Economic Censuses, compiles All India Index of Industrial Production(IIP), Energy Statistics and Infrastructure Statistics, and develops classifications like, National Industrial Classification (NIC) and National Product Classification (NPC) d. Training Division: This Division is primarily responsible for the training manpower in theoretical and applied statistics to tackle the emerging challenges of data collection, collation, analysis and dissemination required for evidence based policy making as also for planning, monitoring and evaluation. The Division also looks after the National Statistical Systems Training Academy (NSSTA), which is a premier Institute fostering human resource development in official statistics in India as well as at international level, particularly amongst developing and SAARC countries. e. Coordination and Publications Division (CAP): The Division looks after co-ordination work within CSO as well as with the line Ministries and State/UT Governments in statistical matters, organizes Conference of Central and State Statistical Organizations (COCSSO) and ‘Statistics Day’ every year, prepares Results Framework Document (RFD), Citizens’/Clients’ Charter and Annual Action Plan, Outcome Budget and Annual Plan of the Ministry. The Division is also responsible for implementation of Capacity Development Scheme and Support for Statistical Strengthening (SSS) , a Central Sector Scheme aimed at improving the Statistical Capacity and Infrastructure of the State Statistical System for Collecting, Compiling and Disseminating relevant and reliable official statistics for policy making and to promote their usage at the State/District and Block Levels. It is a nodal Division for administering the Collection of Statistics Act, 2008 and coordination of follow-up on the implementation of recommendations of NSC recommendations. The administrative work relating to Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) is also looked after by CAP Division.

Statistics Wing The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation gives considerable importance to coverage and quality aspects of statistics released in the country. The statistics released are based on administrative sources, surveys and censuses conducted by the Center and State Governments and non-official sources and studies. The surveys are designed by using scientific sampling methods. Field data are collected through dedicated field staff. The methodological issues concerning the compilation of national accounts and other statistics are overseen by the Advisory Committee on National Accounts, Standing Committee on Industrial Statistics and Technical Advisory Committee on Price Indices. The Ministry compiles data sets based on current data, after applying standard statistical techniques and extensive scrutiny. India subscribes to the International Monetary Funds (IMF) Special Data Dissemination Standards (SDDS) and is currently fulfilling the Standards. The Ministry maintains an ‘Advance Release Calendar’ for dissemination on the Ministry’s website as well as on the Dissemination Standards Bulletin Board (DSBB) of the IMF. The Ministry releases the data sets covered under the Real Sector of SDDS through press notes and its website simultaneously. The Ministry has been designated as the nodal Ministry to facilitate the implementation of the SAARC Social Charter in India. The Ministry organizes technical meetings on a regular basis on various topics to assess the data gaps in the system and the quality of statistics currently released.The Ministry’s officials have been associated with international agencies on the development of methodologies, particularly in the area of national accounts, informal sector statistics, large-scale sample surveys, conduct of censuses, service sector statistics, non-observed economy, social sector statistics, environmental statistics and classifications. The Statistics Wing is mandated with the following responsibilities: acts as the nodal agency for planned development of the statistical system in the country lays down and maintains norms and standards in the field of statistics coordinates the statistical work in respect of the Ministries/Departments of the Government of India and State Statistical Bureaus (SSBs) prepares national accounts (including Gross Domestic Product) as well as publishes annual estimates of national product, Government and Private final consumption expenditure, Capital Formation, Savings, etc. and comparable estimates of State Domestic Product (SDP) compiles and releases Consumer Price Index (CPI) Numbers and Annual Inflation rates based on these CPI numbers maintains liaison with International Statistical Organizations, such as, the United Nations Statistical Division (UNSD), ESCAP, the Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific (SIAP), IMF, ADB, FAO, ILO, etc compiles and brings out reports as per the international/regional commitments such as Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) India Country Report and SAARC Development Goals India Country Report compiles and releases the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) every month; conducts the Annual Survey of Industries (ASI); and provides statistical information to assess and evaluate the changes in the growth, composition and structure of the organized manufacturing sector organizes and conducts periodic all-India Economic Censuses and follow-up enterprise surveys conducts large scale all-India sample surveys for creating the database needed for studying the impact of specific problems for the benefit of different population groups in diverse socio economic areas, such as employment, consumer expenditure, housing conditions and environment, literacy levels, health, nutrition, family welfare, etc.

National Sample Survey (NSS) The National Sample Survey(NSS) headed by a Director-General is responsible for the conduct of large-scale sample surveys in diverse fields on All India basis. Primarily data are collected through nationwide household surveys on various socio-economic subjects, Annual Survey of Industries (ASI), etc. Besides these surveys, NSS collects data on rural and urban prices and plays a significant role in the improvement of crop statistics through supervision of the area enumeration and crop estimation surveys of the State agencies. It also maintains a frame of urban area units for use in sample surveys in urban areas. The NSS has four Divisions: Survey Design and Research Division (SDRD): This Division, located in Kolkata, is responsible for the technical planning of surveys, formulation of concepts and definitions, sampling design, designing of inquiry schedules, drawing up of tabulation plan, analysis, and presentation of survey results. Field Operations Division (FOD): The Division, with its headquarters at Delhi/Faridabad and a network of six Zonal Offices, 52 Regional Offices, and 117 Sub-Regional Offices spread throughout the country, is responsible for the collection of primary data for the surveys undertaken by NSS. Data Processing Division (DPD): The Division, with its headquarters at Kolkata and 5 other Data Processing Centers at various places, is responsible for sample selection, software development, processing, validation, and tabulation of the data collected through surveys. Price and Wages in Rural India collected through schedule 3.01(R) is being processed at DPC Giridih. In addition, DPD is also processing the data of the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS). Industrial Statistics Wing (IS Wing), DPD, NSS, Kolkata is responsible for sample selection, data processing, validation, and tabulation of the Annual Survey of Industries(ASI) data collected through a dedicated web portal. Survey Coordination Division (SCD): This Division, located at New Delhi, coordinates all the activities of different Divisions of NSS. It also brings out the bi-annual journal of NSS, titled “Sarvekshana”, and organizes National Seminars on the results of various Socio-economic surveys undertaken by NSS.

The People’s Action for Employment Guarantee (PAEG) recently released a tracker with important metrics on Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) implementation. It showed that funds allocation this financial year (FY 2021) is 34% lower than the revised budget allocation of last year. And this year’s funds have been exhausted. Moreover, there is a pending arrears of Rs. 17,543 crore from previous years. In a welcome move since the media reports, the Chief Ministers of Odisha and Tamil Nadu wrote to the Prime Minister seeking additional funds for MGNREGA. In the light of this, there is a need to review the working of MGNREGA and analyse the issues associated with its implementation. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) MGNREGA is one of the largest work guarantee programmes in the world. Objective: The primary objective of the scheme is to guarantee 100 days of employment in every financial year to adult members of any rural household willing to do public work-related unskilled manual work. Legal Right to Work: Unlike earlier employment guarantee schemes, the act aims at addressing the causes of chronic poverty through a rights-based framework. At least one-third of beneficiaries have to be women. Wages must be paid according to the statutory minimum wages specified for agricultural labourers in the state under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948. Demand-Driven Scheme: The most important part of MGNREGA’s design is its legally-backed guarantee for any rural adult to get work within 15 days of demanding it, failing which an ‘unemployment allowance’ must be given. This demand-driven scheme enables the self-selection of workers. Decentralised planning: There is an emphasis on strengthening the process of decentralisation by giving a significant role in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in planning and implementing these works. The act mandates Gram sabhas to recommend the works that are to be undertaken and at least 50% of the works must be executed by them. Issues Associated With Implementation of Scheme Delay and Insufficiency in Funds Dispersal: Most states have failed to disburse wages within 15 days as mandated by MGNREGA. In addition, workers are not compensated for a delay in payment of wages. This has turned the scheme into a supply-based programme and subsequently, workers had begun to lose interest in working under it. There is ample evidence by now, including an admission by the Ministry of Finance, that delays in wage payments are a consequence of insufficient funds. Caste Based Segregation: There were significant variations in delays by caste. While 46% of payments to SC workers and 37% for ST workers were completed in the mandated seven-day period, it was a dismal 26% for non-SC/ST workers. The negative impact of caste-based segregation was felt acutely in poorer States such as Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal. Ridiculously Low Wage Rate: Currently, the MNREGA wage rates of at least 17 of the 21 major states are even lower than the state minimum wage for agriculture. The shortfall is in the range of 2-33% of the minimum wage. Ineffective Role of PRI: With very little autonomy, gram panchayats are not able to implement this act in an effective and efficient manner. Large Number of Incomplete works: There has been a delay in the completion of works under MGNREGA and inspection of projects has been irregular. Also, there is an issue of quality of work and asset creation under MGNREGA. Fabrication of Job cards: There are several issues related to the existence of fake job cards, the inclusion of fictitious names, missing entries and delays in making entries in job cards. Way Forward Strengthening the Scheme: There is a need for better coordination between various government departments and the mechanism to allot and measure the work. This is one of the best welfare schemes in recent years and it has helped the rural poor. However, government officials must take the initiative to implement the scheme and must not block the work. Gender Wage Gap: Some discrepancies in the payouts need to be addressed, too. Women in the sector, on an average, earn 22.24% less than their male counterparts. Short-Term Measures: State governments must ensure that public work gets started in every village. Workers turning up at the worksite should be provided work immediately, without much delay. Local bodies must proactively reach out to returned and quarantined migrant workers and help those in need to get job cards. Adequate facilities such as soap, water, and masks for workers must be provided free of cost, at the worksite. At this time, there is a need to speed up the payments to MGNREGA workers. Preferably, cash needs to reach the workers easily and efficiently. Long-Term Measures: The pandemic has demonstrated the importance of decentralised governance. Gram panchayats need to be provided with adequate resources, powers, and responsibilities to sanction works, provide work on demand, and authorise wage payments to ensure there are no delays in payments. MGNREGA should be converged with other schemes of the government. For example, Green India initiative, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan etc. Social Auditing creates accountability of performance, especially towards immediate stakeholders. Hence, there is a need to create awareness regarding government policies and measures in rural areas.

When I'm extremely sad or upset or stressed I can't eat either. Even if I try to eat or force myself to eat i just can't i feel like puking or my body won't be taking it inside so I just stop forcing cuz it feels worse to eat. I think its depression and god damn this word shouldn't be normalised but sadly most of the world is depressed :( m pretty sure it has a lot to do with scientific explanation but it is how it is Some people can not eat during extreme sadness or in an unsafe environment where they feel threatned

Developed countries have an extremely poor track record on climate action. In keeping with this trend, the recently declared enhanced pledges for climate action, including declarations of net-zero emissions by 2050, also fall woefully short of what is required to ensure the safety of the planet. The pressure on developing countries to “do more” and declare similar net-zero pledges is, therefore, nothing but shifting the burden of climate action onto the backs of the world’s poorest populations. Moreover, India has announced that it will reach carbon neutrality by 2070 as part of a five-point action plan that included reducing emissions to 50% by 2030. There is a need to analyse the decision in the interest of development needs of India. Energy For Development There is a strong link between energy use and development. No country has managed to ensure reasonable levels of wellbeing for its people without increasing energy supply. This would not be a problem if India could produce energy in abundance without carbon-dioxide emissions. Unfortunately, energy sources that are available, which can then be directed for specific purposes such as industrial production or transportation, often have other effects, most notably the emission of carbon dioxide, the greenhouse gas most responsible for global warming. From 1850 till 2019, the world has emitted approximately 2,500 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide. Developed countries, home to 18% of the global population, are responsible for over 60% of these emissions. Their unconstrained use of fossil fuel resources has allowed these countries to modernise their economies and achieve much higher levels of well-being than the remaining 82% of the population that resides in the Global South. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) articulates the principle of differentiation between rich and poor nations and the need for the former to take lead in addressing the problem of global warming. However, almost three decades since the UNFCCC, the story of climate action has been one of utter inaction by the world’s richest countries, who have repeatedly shifted targets for emissions reductions and also for climate finance to the future. The recent focus on net-zero declarations and the pressure on all countries to submit pledges for the same, is yet another attempt in the same direction Net Zero Emission Net-zero emissions refer to the balancing of anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions, either globally or in a region, with anthropogenic removals of the GHG so that the net effect is zero emissions. The push for such declarations from all countries began around 2019 at COP-25, when there was one year left for the Paris Agreement to come into effect. The very idea of net-zero declarations by individual countries and regions emerged from the need to hide the inaction of developed countries for the past 30 years. Even these declarations for the future are far from adequate to ensure the safety of the planet. The “enhanced pledges” of the US, UK and EU (27) for 2030, and their currently declared intention of achieving net-zero emissions around 2050, imply that just these two major regions will consume over 30% of even the remaining carbon budget. Together with China, they will emit at least 20% more carbon dioxide than is available to the world to limit warming to below 1.5 degrees Celsius. Way Forward Development For All: The world needs much more ambition from rich countries (developed countries) so that less developed countries get some room to develop. The world needs to eliminate the multiple forms of drudgery and deprivation that a large majority of our people are subjected to. This requires ensuring access to modern, affordable, and reliable amenities and services to all. It is also critical to prepare for a world that is quite likely to be more than 1.5 degrees Celsius warmer. Our first defence against the climatic impacts in such a world will be development. Strengthening Climate Governance: India needs to build and strengthen its domestic institutions for climate governance. This will require identifying linkages between development needs and low carbon opportunities. In this context, a climate law can be useful. Reaffirming CBDR: In this upcoming climate change negotiations, India needs to reaffirm the long-standing principle of “common but differentiated responsibility” (CBDR) that requires richer countries to lead and argue against any pledge that risks prematurely limiting Indian energy use for development. Increase Renewable Capacity: According to the Council on Energy, Environment and Waters implications of a Net-zero Target for India's Sectoral Energy Transitions and Climate Policy' study, India's total installed solar power capacity would need to increase to over 5,600 gigawatts to achieve net-zero by 2070. The usage of coal, especially for power generation, would need to drop by 99% by 2060, for India to achieve net-zero by 2070. Consumption of crude oil, across sectors, would need to peak by 2050 and fall substantially by 90% between 2050 and 2070. Green hydrogen could contribute 19% of the total energy needs of the industrial sector. India’s energy future must be determined by the developmental needs of its people and their protection against the impacts of climate change. India’s efforts in the energy sector are evidence that it is punching far above its weight where climate action is concerned. While India does its fair share to check global warming, this should not be a blank cheque to developed countries to free ride on its efforts. It is essential that the fair share of India’s carbon space and consequently the energy future of its people be secured now. Conclusion In accordance with the best available science as compiled by the most recent report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the countries who pledged for Net-Zero Emission must be asked to declare how much of the remaining carbon budget they plan to consume before they reach net-zero. The answer to this question is critical in determining where the world is headed. In this global context, our energy path for the future must be carefully charted, allowing flexibility, while keeping the interests of our poorest and most vulnerable populations at the centre of any pledges we make.

Experts may differ on the weightage to be given to the various reasons cited for the coal shortage earlier this month, but all will agree that the blame cannot be placed on the doors of any one entity or ministry. However, the Ministry of Coal and Coal India must certainly accept that they slipped up somewhere — whether in managing the production process, planning supplies or leaving vacant crucial leadership positions. The Ministry of Power/NTPC and power DISCOMs should also accept responsibility. There is no one public body at the central or state government level with executive oversight, responsibility and accountability for the entirety of the coal value chain. This is a lacuna that afflicts the entire energy sector. It will need to be filled to not only prevent a recurrence of another coal crisis but also for the country to realise its “green” ambition. Significance of Energy Security Energy Security means reliable supply of energy and access to energy resources and fuel in the required quantity and quality at reasonable prices. Energy security depends on many variables. Definitions of energy security for countries importing energy materials consist mostly of three aspects: Access to an adequate amount of energy resources, In an appropriate format, For an adequate price. India imports 80% of its oil needs and is the third largest oil consumer in the entire world. India’s energy consumption is expected to grow 4.5% every year for the next 25 years. Recently due to high International Crude Oil Prices, Current Account Deficit (CAD) inflated because of higher cost of oil import, raising concerns about long term economic stability in India, highlighting importance of energy security. Challenges of Energy Security in India Policy Challenges: Failure to attract international investment in domestic hydrocarbon exploration. Coal mining in India suffers from delays due to regulatory and environmental clearances. The NITI Aayog has produced an energy strategy but it has no executive authority and, as was the case with the Planning Commission document “Integrated Energy Policy” published in 2006. The Planning Commission document was endorsed by the Cabinet and yet the majority of the recommendations were ignored. Accessibility Challenge: The household sector is one of the largest consumers of energy in India. It is responsible for about 45% of the total primary energy use. In rural areas, biomass accounts for 90% of total primary fuel consumption for cooking. This has serious health impacts on the rural people. Infrastructure and skill related challenges: Lack of skilled manpower and poorly developed infrastructure for developing conventional and unconventional energy. India lacks transportation infrastructure for making energy accessible e.g. pipelines can be a useful way to boost the total supply of gas in the country. Gas will play a major role in the Indian energy mix because it can be used effectively in several demand sectors. Economic challenges: Coal, oil and natural gas are the most important sources of primary energy in India. Inadequate domestic supplies of these hydrocarbons are forcing the country to increase its import bill. Rising fuel subsidies create difficult conditions for the economy. External Challenges: India's fragile energy security is under severe pressure from its rising dependence on imported oil, regulatory uncertainty, international monopolies and opaque natural gas pricing policies. In wake of its difficult geographic location in South-Asia, India faces a strategic challenge to meet its energy needs. Failure to get onboard all interested parties in IPI (Iran-Pakistan-India) gas pipeline and TAPI (Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India) gas pipeline for assured supply of natural gas. Way Forward For the energy security purpose various steps can be taken- Legislative Action: The government can pass an Act (possibly) captioned “The Energy Responsibility and Security Act.” This Act should elevate the significance of energy by granting it constitutional sanctity; it should embed in law, India’s responsibility to provide citizens access to secure, affordable and clean energy and in that context, it should lay out measurable metrics for monitoring the progress towards the achievement of energy independence, energy security, energy efficiency and “green” energy. In essence, the Act should provide the constitutional mandate and frame for the formulation and execution of an integrated energy policy. Institutional Action: The government should redesign the existing architecture of decision-making for energy. Preference can be given for the creation of an omnibus Ministry of Energy to oversee the currently siloed verticals of the ministries of petroleum, coal, renewables and power. Such a ministry did exist in the early 1980s (albeit without petroleum). The minister-in-charge should rank on equal footing with the ministers of defence, finance, home and external affairs. An executive department within the PMO can also be established. It could be referred to as the “Department of Energy Resources, Security, and Sustainability”. The objective would be to identify and handle all of the issues that currently fall between the cracks created by the existing structure. It would be to formulate and execute an integrated energy policy, to leverage the weight of “India Energy Inc” and maximise India’s competitiveness in its dealing with the international energy community. Fiscal Actions: There should be easy access to finance and the government should incubate clean energy R&D and innovation. Raise Public Awareness : It would be to coordinate and implement the communication strategy to raise public awareness about existing and emergent energy-related issues, especially global warming. The department would have a narrower remit than the other energy departments but by virtue of its location within the PMO, it would, de facto, be the most powerful executive body with ultimate responsibility for navigating the “green transition”. Conclusion The Ministry of Energy should not alter the existing roles and responsibilities of the various ministries that oversee petroleum, coal, renewables and power, but would identify and handle all of the issues that currently fall between the cracks created by the existing structure.

The recent arrest of multiple suspects in the ISI terror module case shows that the threat of radicalisation in India is pervasive and increasing exponentially. Recently, a ISIS module was busted by the National Investigation Agency. The module was found to have a pan-India presence, stretching across Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Kerala. The investigations have gone on to reveal that online radicalisation played an important role in the recruitment of members as well as the preparation and/or execution of extremist activities by the members. In a speech before the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), the Indian Prime Minister identified radicalisation as the greatest threat to the security and safety of all member countries. It was asked from the member countries to heed the challenges and build effective responses. Such responses can broadly be classified under the following heads — deradicalisation, counter-radicalisation, anti-radicalisation and disengagement. In line with this vision, India must lead by example and develop responses systematically with due regard to constitutional values. Factors Behind Radicalisation Individual socio-psychological factors, which include grievances and emotions such as alienation and exclusion, anger and frustration and a strong sense of injustice. Socio-economic factors, which include social exclusion, marginalisation and discrimination (real or perceived), limited education or employment etc. Political factors, which include weak and non-participatory political systems lacking good governance and regard for civil society. Social media, which provides connectivity, virtual participation and an echo-chamber for like-minded extremist views, accelerates the process of radicalisation. Religious factors like the use of religion by Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (IS) to spread its influence all over the world is an example. Forms of Radicalism in India Politico-Religious Radicalism: It is associated with a political interpretation of religion and the defence, by violent means, of a religious identity perceived to be under attack. Use of Religion by ISIS to spread its influence all over the world is an example. Right-Wing Radicalism: It is a form of radicalization associated with fascism, racialism/racism, supremacism and ultranationalism. Left Wing Radicalism: This form of radicalization focuses primarily on anti-capitalist demands and calls for the transformation of political systems considered responsible for producing social inequalities, and that may ultimately employ violent means to further its cause. Some Steps Taken in India Institutional: The Ministry of Home Affairs had set up the Counter-Terrorism and Counter Radicalisation division in November 2017. The focus of the division is largely on the implementation and administration of counter-terror laws and monitoring of fundamentalist organisations such as the Students Islamic Movement of India, Popular Front of India, Jamaat-e-Islami and Sanatan Sanstha. Legislative Actions: Some acts such as Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA), NIA Act, 2008 deals with the associated issues. Moreover, strengthening the provisions in the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 to combat terror financing (for radicalisation purpose also) by criminalizing the production or smuggling or circulation of high quality counterfeit Indian currency as a terrorist act and enlarge the scope of proceeds of terrorism to include any property intended to be used for terrorism. Way Forward Definition of Radicalisation: Definition will allow the state to develop programmes and strategies to effectively combat such radical ideas, thereby addressing the problem of radically motivated violence. The definition of radicalisation would also help provide clarity as regards the purpose of implementation of the Action Plan. Deradicalisation Strategies at War-footing: The Indian state should develop and enforce de-radicalisation, counter-radicalisation and anti-radicalisation strategies at a pan-India and pan-ideology level on a war footing. Such attempts must be informed by the fact that the battle against radicalisation begins in the minds and hearts much before it manifests in terms of violence. Any programme aimed at deterring or reversing radicalisation must focus on the ideological commitment that enables the violence, rather than the violence or the justification of violence itself. Checking Cross-Border Flow of Propaganda: Efforts must be made to first stem the flow of propaganda from across the Indian borders. A uniform statutory or policy framework to deal with radicalisation, de-radicalisation and its associated strategies should be developed. Rehabilitation Measures: Arrested and convicted individuals must not only be prosecuted and punished as a measure of deterrence or retribution but their reformation and rehabilitation must also be prioritised. The promotion of the syncretic nature of religions in India should be promoted through the development of counter-narratives, promotion of constitutional values and virtues, promotion of sports and other activities in schools and other educational institutions aimed at mainstreaming the youth. Conclusion At the same time, it must be understood that radicalisation by itself is not bad and gains a positive or negative characteristic based upon its context. A mere deviation from conventional thinking must not be penalised. Radicalisation becomes problematic only where it has the propensity to lead to violence. The challenge lies in preventing such radicalisation. Developing a nuanced understanding of the process of radicalisation as well as its characteristics can help guide the Action Plan in effectively meeting such challenges.

U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) in its 2021 report “National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers” has pointed out that India’s average tariff rate of 17.6% is the highest of any major world economy. With the aim to protect domestic industries from dumping and other trade distorting practices by China and others, India has increased its tariff rates and stricten its other non-tariff measures. Trade protectionism might have immediate benefits to the economy, however, all economists agree that, in the long term, it hurts economic interests of the country. Tools of Protectionism India, inter alia, other countries use various tools to protect its economy from unfair trade practices. Some of them being- Tariffs: A tariff is a tax imposed by a government of a country on imports or exports of goods. High tariffs will raise the cost for foreign producers to sell their goods in a domestic system, providing strategic advantages for local producers. India has one of the highest tariff rates in the world. Import Quotas: This is the act of limiting the number of a certain good that can be purchased from a given country, ensuring that domestic producers maintain a portion of the market share. Local Content Requirement: Instead of placing a quota on the number of goods that can be imported, the government can require that a certain percentage of a good be made domestically. India uses it for defence contracts and technology sectors issued in India. Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Measures: These two types of measures are allowed under the WTO to protect health and environment of other countries. They also bind other countries to follow a country’s standard in technical products. Anti-dumping duty: Dumping is the process of selling goods far below market value to drive out competition. India is the highest initiator of anti-dumping measures aimed at shielding domestic industry from import competition. According to the WTO, from 2015 to 2019, India initiated 233 anti-dumping investigations, which is a sharp increase from 82 initiations between 2011 and 2014. Rules of Origin: India amended the Rules of Origin requirement under the Customs Act. India has imposed onerous burdens on importers to ensure compliance with the rules of origin requirement. The intent appears to be to dissuade importers from importing goods from India’s Free Trade Agreement (FTA) partners. Arguments for Protectionism National security: The argument pertains to the risk of dependency upon other nations for economic sustainability. It is argued that in case of war, economic dependency can restrict one’s options. Also, the other country can affect other country’s economy in a negative way. Infant industry: It is argued that protectionist policies are required to protect industries in their initial stages. As if the market is kept open, global established companies can capture the market. This can lead to the end of domestic players in the new industry. Dumping: Many countries dump their goods (sell them at lower price than their cost of production or their cost in the local market) in other countries. The objective of dumping is to increase market share in a foreign market by driving out competition and thereby create a monopoly. Saving jobs: It is argued that buying more domestically will drive up national production, and that this increased production will in turn result in a healthier domestic job market. Outsourcing: it is common practice for companies to identify countries having cheaper labor and easier systems of governance and outsource their job work. This leads to loss of jobs in domestic industries. Intellectual Property Protection: Patents, in a domestic system, protect the innovators. On a global scale, however, it is quite common for developing nations to copy new technologies via reverse engineering. Arguments against Protectionism Trade Agreements: India has benefited immensely from international trade agreements. As per the Commerce Ministry data, India has entered into Free Trade Agreements (FTA) with about 54 individual countries. They provide tariff concessions thereby giving opportunities for exports of products including those related to small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Against WTO Regulations: India has been a member of WTO since its inception. WTO’s regulations prohibit imposing restrictions on imports from other countries. They can be imposed only for certain purposes like balance of payment difficulties, national security etc. Such barriers cannot be imposed to protect domestic industry from healthy competition. Inflationary in Nature: Protectionist policies by restricting imports, can lead to rising prices in the domestic market. Thus, hurting the interest of the consumers directly. Uncompetitive Domestic Industries: By protecting the local industries, they have no incentive to innovate or spend resources on research and development (R&D) of new products. Way Forward Improving Ease of Doing Business:Though progress has been made, India still lags behind many larger nations in critical metrics such as starting a business, enforcing contracts and registering property. Improving on these metrics can help Indian firms to compete globally and get a bigger market. Make In India: The focus should be on encouraging innovation, research and development and entrepreneurship in the country. This will prepare Indian companies to compete in the sectors of the future. Boosting Private investment: It will, in turn, boost up Growth, Jobs, Exports and Demand. Predictable and transparent Trade Policy: It will allow Indian firms to plan their capacity and finances in advance. They will be able to allocate their resources for expansion and R&D. This will allow them to be competitive in the international market Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) : India needs to effectively utilise FTAs, especially with East Asian nations (ASEAN), Japan, South Korea to its advantage to boost investments, exports and technology transfers to and from these nations. Resolving Trade Issues: Trade issues with US and other countries should be resolved at the earliest to eliminate investors' doubts in the Indian trade regime. Conclusion What India needs is to draw a fine balance between the interests of domestic industry and giving trade concessions to multinationals to attract foreign investment in the form of FDI. The goal of a $5 trillion economy by 2025 needs comprehensive, multidimensional and multi-sectoral efforts to achieve it.

India has the dubious distinction of having nine of the 10 most polluted cities in the world. These nine cities, all in north India, include Greater Noida, Noida, Lucknow, and Delhi. While many factors contribute to the polluted air, skies and human lungs of northern India, vehicular pollution bears substantial responsibility. So, it is unsurprising that the Indian State is slowly but steadily encouraging electric vehicles. And with this, we may be coming a full circle in terms of our ability to commute. While in the 1900s, the electric vehicle (EV) lost out to fuel-based ones, that may not be the case anymore. In 1886, Carl Benz, a German engineer applied for and was granted patent number 37435 for his “vehicle powered by a gas engine”. In a few months, the commercial production of the Benz motor car started. This is by most accounts the beginning of commercially-produced vehicles using gas engines. Interestingly, in 1880, a few years prior to Benz’s patent, William Morrison, a chemist from Iowa, United States, helped bring to life, a six-seater electric vehicle. By 1900, electric cars accounted for over one-third of the vehicles sold in the US. The forward march of electric cars was stopped by the mass production of the very reasonably priced Ford automobile.A reasonably priced car along with the cheap prices of gasoline in the early 1900s meant that the world as we now live in came to be, with fossil fuel-dependent vehicles — cars and bikes — thronging our streets. In this context, India must prepare itself with better charging infrastructure, battery-making factories and smart incentives for car companies and consumers to go electric Electric Vehicles (EVs) An EV operates on an electric motor instead of an internal combustion engine and has a battery instead of a fuel tank. In general, EVs have low running costs as they have fewer moving parts and are also environmentally friendly. In India, the fuel cost for an EV is approximately 80 paisa per kilometre. Contrast this with the cost of petrol which is today more than Rs 100 per litre in Indian cities, or Rs 7-8 per kilometre to operate a petrol-based vehicle. Prospects in India The private sector has appreciated the inevitability of the dominance of the EV. Companies like Amazon, Swiggy, Zomato and Ikea are deploying EVs for deliveries. Car manufacturers like Mahindra are partnering with consumers like Ola, while Tata Motors is partnering with Blu Smart Mobility in moves that will ensure more EV delivery and ride-hailing services. Associated Challenges Lack of Charging Infrastructure: The real challenge for the consumer is the lack of charging infrastructure in India. EVs are typically powered by lithium-based batteries. These batteries need to be charged usually every 200-250 kilometres or so for a car. So, there is a need for a dense proliferation of charging points. Issue of Slow Charging: It takes up to 12 hours for a full charge of a vehicle at the owner’s home using a private light-duty slow charger. To compound this technological problem of slow charging at home, there are a few charging stations around the country. This is woefully inadequate in a country as large and densely populated as ours. Lack of a Stable Policy For EV Production: EV production is a capital intensive sector requiring long term planning to break even and profit realization, uncertainty in government policies related to EV production discourages investment in the industry. Technological Challenges: India is technologically deficient in the production of electronics that form the backbone of the EV industry, such as batteries, semiconductors, controllers, etc. Lack of Associated Infrastructural Support: The lack of clarity over AC versus DC charging stations, grid stability and range anxiety (fear that batteries will soon run out of power) are other factors that hinder the growth of the EV industry. Lack of Availability of Materials For Domestic Production: Battery is single most important component of EVs. India does not have any known reserves of lithium and cobalt which are required for battery production. India is dependent on countries like Japan and China for the import of lithium-ion batteries. Lack of skilled workers: EVs have higher servicing costs and higher levels of skills is needed for servicing. India lacks dedicated training courses for such skill development. Way Forward Increasing R&D in EVs: The Indian market needs encouragement for indigenous technologies that are suited for India from both strategic and economic standpoint. Since investment in local research and development is necessary to bring prices down, it makes sense to leverage local universities and existing industrial hubs. India should work with countries like the UK and synergise EV development. Sensitising Public: Breaking away the old norms and establishing a new consumer behaviour is always a challenge. Thus, a lot of sensitisation and education is needed, in order to bust several myths and promote EVs within the Indian market. Viable Electricity Pricing: Given current electricity prices, home charging may also be an issue if the generation is from thermal power plants run on coal. Thus, a shift in the electricity generation landscape as a whole is what is required to facilitate the growth of electric cars. In this context, India is on track to become one of the largest solar and energy storage markets by 2025. A combination of solar-powered grid solutions that are organised with a general improvement in grid resilience will ensure adequate charging infrastructure for EV’s being a green option. Creating the Closed-Loop Mobility Ecosystem: Subsidizing manufacturing for an electric supplychain will certainly improve EV development in India. Along with charging infrastructure, the establishment of a robust supply chain will also be needed. Further, recycling stations for batteries will need to recover the metals from batteries used in electrification to create the closed-loop required for the shift to electric cars to be an environmentally-sound decision. The largest suppliers of lithium-based EV batteries are reported to be the Chinese and the South Korean companies. If this is so, then a new global order is emerging to replace the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). India must plan for its place in this order — with better-charging infrastructure, battery-making factories and smart incentives for car companies and consumers to go electric.

The recently held COP26 was widely hyped as the last chance to save the planet. The meeting began with a bang, but ended on a more modest note. Notwithstanding, it did make some progress even if much less than was needed. The summit had to deal with the disturbing prospect that the world was set to reach nearly +3°C by the end of the century, above the 2015 Paris Agreement target of “well below 2°C" and ideally 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. In this global problem of climate change, a much larger role is yet to be fulfilled by the world’s three largest emitters, the developed nations and undoubtedly India. Minutes of the Meeting: Achievements & Setbacks New Global and Country Targets: The Glasgow Summit has urged countries to consider strengthening their 2030 targets by COP27 to be held in Egypt in 2022. The summit targeted global warming not to exceed +1.5°C and got about 140 countries to announce target dates for bringing emissions down to net zero. The achievement is significant as in the Paris Agreement, the developing countries did not agree to reduce emissions but just the “emissions-intensity" of GDP. India has also joined the consensus and announced its net-zero target of 2070. This is a step ahead from India’s past position where it never accepted the need to reduce emissions. Glasgow Breakthrough Agenda: A potentially important development which emerged out of COP26 (but outside the COP process) is the Glasgow Breakthrough Agenda endorsed by 42 countries (including India). This is a cooperative effort to accelerate the development and deployment of clean technologies and sustainable solutions in areas such as clean power, road transport, steel and hydrogen. Phasing-Down Coal Consumption: Coal is the dirtiest of fossil fuels and an early phasing out of coal is clearly desirable. European countries have pushed hard for its phase out; however, developing countries have resisted this. A middle path, as suggested by India, was referred to at the COP26 calling for a “phase-down" of coal-based power. Best Case Scenario: An early assessment by Climate Action Tracker (CAT), an independent organisation, suggests that the targets declared, if fully achieved, could limit global warming to around +1.8°C. However, it also warns that the targets for 2030 are insufficiently ambitious. Unless significantly tightened, the world is more likely to end up seeing global temperatures rise by 2.1°C to 2.4°C. Setbacks of the Meeting: Voluntary Targets: The targets set at the meeting are voluntary with no mechanism for enforcement or penalties for non-compliance. Many targets are conditional on availability of adequate financial support. Lack of Specific Details and Actions: Many countries have not provided details on specific actions to be taken which would determine the actual trajectory to net zero which creates uncertainty about what will be achieved. Failure in Securing Climate Finance: The summit’s mild admonition only urges the developed country parties to scale up their provision of climate finance. It failed to firmly secure funding commitments from developed nations. Unequal Distribution of Carbon Budget: The world’s top three largest emitters (China, USA, Europe) which account for about 30% of the world’s population, would take up 78% of the carbon budget. China intends to hit peak emissions only by 2030, before going down to net zero in 2060; it would take up 54% of the global carbon budget against a global population share of only 18.7%. The US, with 4.2% of the total population, would take up 14.2% of the budget and Europe, with 6.8%, would take up 9.5%. This problem reflects the fact that focusing on net-zero dates does not ensure a fair apportioning of the available carbon space if the initial position in terms of emissions varies so greatly. Way Forward Suggestions for Largest Emitters: China, instead of increasing emissions up to 2030, as currently declared, may need to keep them at their current level for a few years and then go down to net zero by 2050. The US should achieve a sharper reduction in emissions by 2030, and also advance its net-zero date to 2040. Europe as a whole should follow the German/Swedish example and aim at net-zero by 2045. With this recalibration, the carbon emissions of this group would fall to 32% of the carbon budget, much closer to their population share. Suggestions for India: India’s 2070 target would take up 18.1% of the carbon space, which is a little higher than our population share of 17.7%. It should be willing to consider a modification in its trajectory as part of an agreed global package, in which other countries also take appropriate action. Coal-Based Power and India: India has made no commitments regarding phasing-down of coal-based power; however, its renewable energy goals 2030 are likely to reduce the share of the same from current 72% to about 50% by 2030. Also, the government shall consider ordering against establishment of any new coal-based plants apart from those currently under construction. What more is needed is a policy of accelerated retirement of older, inefficient and polluting plants, provided suitable financing can be obtained. Encouraging Electric Vehicles (EVs): India’s net-zero by 2070 also requires phasing out petrol and diesel in transport and shifting to Electric Vehicles (EVs) that use electricity from renewables. In order to make the country’s entire fleet emissions-free by 2050, the government may consider announcing against the sale of fossil fuel based vehicles after 2035. This would give the automotive sector about 15 years to restructure its production. Need of Policy Changes: Expanding renewable capacity requires policy action aimed at resolving problems such as stabilizing intermittent supply from renewables, building transmission infrastructure, creating efficient electricity markets and fixing the financial weakness of India’s discoms. These actions are not specified in the Nationally Determined Contributions but will have to be built into the domestic policy agenda in the years ahead. Conclusion The COP26 of Glasgow is a promising start on emissions reduction, however, on the part of global largest emitters, much more is expected to be done. In India’s context, it needs to work out a detailed plan of action with reference to phasing-down coal-based power generation and encouraging electric vehicles.