C.P. Chandrasekhar

C.P. Chandrasekhar Columnist

More stories by this author

Members of the All India Confederation of Commercial Taxes Association protesting in New Delhi against the Central government taking away a major share of revenue from States under the GST Act.

How the Modi government is dismantling India’s federalism, politically and fiscally

States’ access to resources is seemingly conditional on having a “double-engine sarkar”, even as governments’ space for economic policy is shrinking.

C.P. Chandrasekhar

Union government has imposed a duty of 40 per cent on export of onions effective till December 31 to meet the demand of domestic market. A labourer loading onions onto an e-rickshaw at Sitapur Mandi in Lucknow on August 26.

Why India is unable to curb inflation

The “business friendly” government appears unwilling to come down heavily on footloose speculators garnering quick gains.

C.P. Chandrasekhar

Employees working in an information technology firm at Rushikonda in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.

Is India booming at 76? GDP’s failure to recover fully indicates otherwise

The perception of rating agencies discounts the fundamental and structural weaknesses that have plagued the Indian economy for long.

C.P. Chandrasekhar

At a foreign currency exchange market in Islamabad on July 11. Pakistan’s desperately low forex reserves have been boosted after the IMF loan and flows from Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

IMF’s urgent loan to Pakistan driven by the West’s paranoia over China

The Fund’s urgency to extend a short-term loan is aimed at stemming Chinese influence in the strategically important country.

C.P. Chandrasekhar

At an Essar Oil oil refinery in Vadinar, Gujarat. Oil product exports revenue has boomed in the past few years only as a result of global volatility in crude prices and cannot be a substitute for growth in exports of other goods.

On oil’s slippery slope: India’s goods exports struggle to stem decline

Exports in June dropped to $33 billion, the seventh monthly year-on-year decline, reversing what appeared to be a remarkable post-COVID recovery.

C.P. Chandrasekhar

Outside a petrol pump in Colombo on April 12, 2022. Sri Lanka’s economic woes show no sign of easing even as the government has announced a plan to restructure its domestic debt.

Sri Lankan debt crisis to get worse if IMF prescription is heeded

The IMF’s insistence that Sri Lanka reduce its domestic debt will only end up reducing the value of citizens’ savings tied up in retirement funds.

C.P. Chandrasekhar

A worker at a steel factory near Jammu, a file picture.

GDP estimates fail to adequately capture informal sector

The inherent bias in GDP statistics is exaggerated when it treats performance in the unorganised sector and organised sector as the same.

C.P. Chandrasekhar

Outside a State Bank of India branch in Kolkata. The country’s top bank posted an 83 per cent rise in net profit for the quarter ended March from the corresponding previous period.

Public sector banks turn a profit but privatisation not on cards for now

This presents a neoliberal dilemma as the government needs them to support crony capitalists and derisk private investment in infrastructure.

C.P. Chandrasekhar

Passengers at a ticketing office of Go First airlines at the Birsa Munda Airport in Ranchi on May 4. The airline had cancelled flights for three days starting May 3, a day after filing for bankruptcy.

Go First filing for bankruptcy raises questions about ‘open skies’ policy

The government has constantly tweaked policy to favour private entrants in the airlines sector.

C.P. Chandrasekhar

At a protest outside the IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings, in Washington on April 14.

No concrete outcomes at IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings

The lack of progress is attributed to the unwillingness of the institutions to reform themselves.

C.P. Chandrasekhar

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman interacting with World Bank President David Malpass at the annual Spring Meeting of the IMF and the World Bank, in Washington on April 12.

A road map to limbo: World Bank-IMF plans to resolve global economic crises

This seems to show a shift in the organisations’ focus away from the very poor towards increased participation of the private sector.

C.P. Chandrasekhar

A Silicon Valley Bank branch in Tempe, Arizona, as seen on March 14, 2023 . The bank’s collapse was a “textbook case of mismanagement”, said a top Federal Reserve official.

Does collapse of key banks in US, Europe portend a return to 2008?

The early responses to banking fragility challenge the prevailing central bank notions of how to fight inflation.

C.P. Chandrasekhar

Sign in to Unlock member-only benefits!

Bookmark stories to read later.
Comment on stories to start conversations.
Subscribe to our newsletters.
Get notified about discounts and offers to our products.