Building Blocks of the Indian Economy

S3 E20 In this episode of Building Blocks of the Indian Economy, we bring together all our insights to answer the question - with so much money flowing through the Union Budget each year, why is there still so much poverty in India?History buffs, do check out the book -The Ring of Services: The Story of a Very Indian British Rajhttps://www.amazon.in/dp/B07F5Y3H1N/Email: [email protected]

S3 E19 In this week's episode of Building Blocks of the Indian Economy we travel to Pune to explore the impact of the city's property boom on the Pune Municipal Corporation's budget. But we find out that, incredibly, Pune's elected corporators, do not get to govern their own city.History buffs, do check out the book -The Licence Raj: An Economic Comedy of Errorshttps://www.amazon.in/dp/B0876M8HYV/Email: [email protected]

S3 E18 In this week's episode of Building Blocks of the Indian Economy, we travel to the city maximum, Mumbai. We find out where India's richest civic body, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, gets all its money from, and, who decides how it all gets spent.History buffs, do check out the book -The Ring of Services: The Story of a Very Indian British Rajhttps://www.amazon.in/dp/B07F5Y3H1N/Email: [email protected]

S3 E17 In this week's episode of Building Blocks of the Indian Economy we travel to Mumbai to analyse the finances of the Maharashtra Government. Can the Maharashtra Government keep up its spending on schemes like the Ladki Behn Yojana, or is it heading into a debt spiral?History buffs, do check out the bookThe Licence Raj: An Economic Comedy of Errorshttps://www.amazon.in/dp/B0876M8HYV/Email: [email protected]

S3 E16 In this week's episode of Building Blocks of the Indian Economy we look at just how much of the government's tax revenue gets eaten up by repaying interest on its debts. Could the Government of India get into a debt spiral? Should it even be in debt at all?History buffs, check out the book -The Ring of Services: The Story of a Very Indian British Rajhttps://www.amazon.in/dp/B07F5Y3H1N/Email: [email protected]

S3 E15 In this week's episode of Building Blocks of the Indian Economy we look at the massive debt that the Government of India has built up. Every fifth rupee that the government now spends goes to repaying old loans. Is this addiction to debt permanent, or could the government go into debt detox?History buffs, check out the book -The Licence Raj: An Economic Comedy of Errorshttps://www.amazon.in/dp/B0876M8HYV/Email: [email protected]

S3 E14 In this week's episode of Building Blocks of the Indian Economy we account for all the money that the Government of India spends on India's cities. Has all the money spent on metro rail, Swachh Bharat and PM AWAS housing for the poor transformed life in urban India?History buffs, check out the book -The Ring of Services: The Story of a Very Indian British Rajhttps://www.amazon.in/dp/B07F5Y3H1N/Email: [email protected]

S3 E13 In this week's episode of Building Blocks of the Indian Economy we analyse the government's attempt to provide tap water to rural India - the Jal Jeevan Mission. We also ask - where did all the Swachh Bharat money go?History buffs, check out the book -The Licence Raj: An Economic Comedy of Errorshttps://www.amazon.in/dp/B0876M8HYV/Email: [email protected]

S3E12 In this week's episode of Building Blocks of the Indian Economy we look at the Government of India's massive food subsidy. Food is now free for 800 million Indians. But there is no such thing as a free lunch!History buffs, check out the bookThe Ring of Services: The Story of a Very Indian British Rajhttps://www.amazon.in/dp/B07F5Y3H1N/Email: [email protected]

S3E11 In this week's episode of Building Blocks of the Indian Economy we analyse India's gigantic fertiliser subsidy bill. There has been an interesting experiment in Andhra Pradesh however, which could save India a huge amount of money.History buffs, check out the bookThe Licence Raj: An Economic Comedy of Errorshttps://www.amazon.in/dp/B0876M8HYV/Email: [email protected]

S3 E10 In this week's episode of Building Blocks of the Indian Economy we start to explore budget spending on agriculture. Half of the total budget is spent on two big schemes - PM Kisan and MGNREGA. Is this a good or bad sign for rural India?History buffs, check out the bookThe Ring of Services: The Story of a Very Indian British Rajhttps://www.amazon.in/dp/B07F5Y3H1N/Email: [email protected]

S3E9 In this week's episode of Building Blocks of the Indian Economy we look at how the Government of India spends much more on the National Health Mission than on the more famous Ayushman Bharat scheme. Where does all the money go?History buffs, check out the bookThe Licence Raj: An Economic Comedy of Errorshttps://www.amazon.in/dp/B0876M8HYV/Email: [email protected]

S3E8 In this week's episode of Building Blocks of the Indian Economy, we assess the Government of India's spending on education. There is no problem with the quantity of Indian education, the problem is with its quality. Should the government spend more on students, or more on teachers?History buffs, do check out the bookThe Ring of Services: The Story of a Very Indian British Rajhttps://www.amazon.in/dp/B07F5Y3H1N/Email: [email protected]

S3E7 In this week's episode of Building Blocks of the Indian Economy we look at the real reason behind the Modi government's recent huge investments in the Great Indian Railways. Is it money well spent?History buffs, check out the bookThe Licence Raj: An Economic Comedy of Errorshttps://www.amazon.in/dp/B0876M8HYV/Email: [email protected]

S3E6 In this week's episode of Building Blocks of the Indian Economy, we look at the Modi government's ambitious road building efforts. Whilst there has been no shortage of ambition, there has been a shortage of money. Could there be a smarter way to build roads in India? History buffs, check out the bookThe Ring of Services: The Story of a Very Indian British Rajhttps://www.amazon.in/dp/B07F5Y3H1N/Email: [email protected]

S3E5 In this week's episode of Building Blocks of the Indian Economy we examine the price that India pays for living in such a dangerous neighbourhood. Roughly every tenth rupee that the government spends is on defence. But is it money well spent?History buffs, check out the bookThe Licence Raj: An Economic Comedy of Errorshttps://www.amazon.in/dp/B0876M8HYV/Email: [email protected]

S3E4 In this week's episode of Building Blocks of the Indian Economy, we explore the revenue that the Government of India raises from tariffs on imports and excise on petrol. These tax revenues have been getting smaller and smaller over the years, but could they be done away with completely?History buffs, check out the bookThe Ring of Services: The Story of a Very Indian British Rajhttps://www.amazon.in/dp/B07F5Y3H1N/Email: [email protected]

S3E3 In this week's episode of Building Blocks of the Indian Economy we explore the GST, the tax which touches all our lives, everyday, all across India. How do the Centre and the states share the GST revenue? Who ends up paying the most? And what can be done to simplify this simpler, but still quite complicated tax?History buffs, check out the bookThe Licence Raj: An Economic Comedy of Errors https://www.amazon.in/dp/B0876M8HYV/Email: [email protected]

S3E2 In this week's episode of Building Blocks of the Indian Economy we find out how a small number of tax payers contribute a huge amount to India's growing income tax revenues. But just how fair is India's tax system? Who does it target? And who does it leave out?History buffs, check out the bookThe Ring of Services: The Story of a Very Indian British Rajhttps://www.amazon.in/dp/B07F5Y3H1N/Email: [email protected]

S3E1 In this week's episode of Building Blocks of the Indian Economy we explore the effects of the Modi government's 2019 big fat corporate tax cut. We look back at how India's corporate tax rate was slashed and (not so) simplified and what effect this had on the the Indian economy in the end.History buffs, check out the bookThe Licence Raj: An Economic Comedy of Errorshttps://www.amazon.in/dp/B0876M8HYV/Email: [email protected]

S2 E24 Venture capital is quite a niche form of business finance - but it does make for some great reality tv shows! In this closing episode of season 2 of Building Blocks of the Indian Economy we find out just how much money venture capital firms burn in the search for the Next Big Thing - and whether it is all worth it in the end. History buffs, do check out the book The Ring of Services: The Story of a Very Indian British Raj https://www.amazon.in/dp/B07F5Y3H1N/ Email: [email protected]

S2 E23 NRIs, Indians working abroad, have sent home a record $120 billion in remittances, much more than the amount foreigners invest in India through FDI, Foreign Direct Investment. In this week's episode of Building Blocks of the Indian Economy we try to figure out whether this surge in remittances is a good or bad sign for the Indian economy. History buffs, do check out the book The Licence Raj: An Economic Comedy of Errors https://www.amazon.in/dp/B0876M8HYV/ Email: [email protected]

S2 E22 Pensions are a function of income - rising incomes lead to bigger pensions. In this week's episode of Building Blocks of the Indian Economy, we find out that the growth of India's pension system might be a better indicator of economic development than all the hype about GDP. History buffs, do check out the book The Ring of Services: The Story of a Very Indian British Raj https://www.amazon.in/dp/B07F5Y3H1N/ Email: [email protected]

S2 E21 It is usually banks which make the headlines, but in some financial markets insurance companies are bigger investors. In this week's episode of Building Blocks of the Indian Economy, we find out how letting Indian insurance companies invest in foreign markets could serve both economic and strategic interests. History buffs, do check out the book The Licence Raj: An Economic Comedy of Errors https://www.amazon.in/dp/B0876M8HYV/ Email: [email protected]

S2 E20 Non-Bank Financial Companies or NBFCs have sometimes been called "shadow banks". In this week's episode of Building Blocks of the Indian Economy we learn that NBFCs are definitely not in the shadows in India, they are in our faces, 24/7. History buffs, do check out the book The Ring of Services: The Story of a Very Indian British Raj https://www.amazon.in/dp/B07F5Y3H1N/ Email: [email protected]

S2 E19 After a spate of loan defaults just before the pandemic, Indian banks were "recapitalised", which is another word for a "bailout". In this week's episode of Building Blocks of the Indian Economy we ask - have Indian banks learnt from their past, or are they making the same mistake, just in a different way? History buffs, do check out the book The Licence Raj: An Economic Comedy of Errors https://www.amazon.in/dp/B0876M8HYV/ Email: [email protected]

S2 E18 Government officials have raised concerns that Indians are not depositing in their bank accounts like they used to. In this week's episode of Building Blocks of the Indian Economy we find out that the problem is not with a lack of deposits, but with a lack of jobs, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. History buffs, do check out the book The Ring of Services: The Story of a Very Indian British Raj ⁠https://www.amazon.in/dp/B07F5Y3H1N/⁠ Email: [email protected]

S2 E17 The Reserve Bank of India has launched a pilot project for a digital rupee. In this week's episode of Building Blocks of the Indian Economy, we find out how the digital rupee could revolutionise the banking system and make life a whole lot harder for the corrupt. History Buffs, do check out the book The Licence Raj: An Economic Comedy of Errors https://www.amazon.in/dp/B0876M8HYV/ Email: [email protected]

S2 E16 The UPI, United Payments Interface has been a fantastic innovation, making digital payments free for millions of users. In this week's episode of Building Blocks of the Indian Economy, we find out who actually pays the bills for all these trillions of "free" transactions. History Buffs, do check out the book The Ring of Services: The Story of a Very Indian British Raj https://www.amazon.in/dp/B07F5Y3H1N/ Email: [email protected]

S2 E15 Because it never had any to start with! In this week's episode of Building Blocks of the Indian Economy we look at the money supply and the Reserve Bank's attempt to control it. We learn that the independence of the Reserve Bank of India has always been a bit of a myth, and why this is not such a bad thing. History buffs, do check out the book The Licence Raj: An Economic Comedy of Errors https://www.amazon.in/dp/B0876M8HYV/ Email: [email protected]

S2 E14 Russia is building up huge rupee surpluses from its oil exports to India. In this week's episode of Building Blocks of the Indian Economy, we look at what the Russians are going to do with all their newfound rupees. History buffs, do check out the book The Ring of Services: The Story of a Very Indian British Raj https://www.amazon.in/dp/B07F5Y3H1N/ Email: [email protected]

S2 E12 Some have claimed that George Soros is behind the Hindenburg report, casting an evil eye over the Indian economy. In this week's episode of Building Blocks of the Indian Economy we examine Soros's record as a currency raider, and whether he could attack the Indian rupee. History buffs, do check out the book The Licence Raj: An Economic Comedy of Errors https://www.amazon.in/dp/B0876M8HYV/ Email: [email protected]

S2 E12 An Indian rupee is now worth about half what it was a decade ago. In this week's episode of Building Blocks of the Indian Economy we find out the reasons for the decline of the rupee, and what can be done to make it stronger. History buffs, do check out the book The Ring of Services: The Story of a Very Indian British Raj https://www.amazon.in/dp/B07F5Y3H1N/ Email: [email protected]

S2 E11 The Indian rupee is fully convertible for everyday transactions, but not so much for big capital transactions. In this week's episode of Building Blocks of the Indian Economy we find out why the Government of India is so scared to allow for free exchange of the rupee. History Buffs, do check out the book The Licence Raj: An Economic Comedy of Errors https://www.amazon.in/dp/B0876M8HYV/ Email: [email protected]

S2 E10 India has become the biggest options market in the world - by volume. In this week's episode of Building Blocks of the Indian Economy we find out why so many millions of Indians developed a sudden interest in this obscure derivatives contract. History Buffs, do check out the book The Ring of Services: The Story of a Very Indian British Raj https://www.amazon.in/dp/B07F5Y3H1N/ Email: [email protected]

S2 E9 India's love for gold is deeper than ever. In this week's episode of Building Blocks of the Indian Economy, we explore the economics of the great Indian gold obsession, and how the new India International Bullion Exchange at GIFT City might make gold a bit cheaper in India. History Buffs, do check out the book The Licence Raj: An Economic Comedy of Errors https://www.amazon.in/dp/B0876M8HYV/ Email: [email protected]

S2 E8 Consumers of natural gas in India complain about high prices. Producers complain about low prices. In this week's episode of Building Blocks of the Indian Economy we find out how both can benefit from natural gas at half the current price. History Buffs, do check out the book The Ring of Services: The Story of a Very Indian British Raj https://www.amazon.in/dp/B07F5Y3H1N/ Email: [email protected]

S2 E7 Could the Government of India reform agriculture without all the protests? In this week's episode of Building Blocks of the Indian Economy we look at the government's latest attempt to bypass the mandis and create a truly national market for agriculture. History Buffs, do check out the book The Licence Raj: An Economic Comedy of Errors https://www.amazon.in/dp/B0876M8HYV/ Email: [email protected]

S2 E6 The Government of India quite likes banning futures trading in agricultural commodities. In this week's episode of Building Blocks of the Indian Economy, we explore some revolutionary ideas which could get India's futures markets back up and running. History Buffs, do check out the book The Ring of Services: The Story of a Very Indian British Raj https://www.amazon.in/dp/B07F5Y3H1N/ Email: [email protected]

S2 E5 In an incredible series of events, bond traders removed the British Prime Minister, Liz Truss in October 2022. In this week's episode of Building Blocks of the Indian Economy, we ask - could they do the same to the Prime Minister of India? History buffs, do check out the book The Licence Raj: An Economic Comedy of Errors https://www.amazon.in/dp/B0876M8HYV/ Email: [email protected]

S2 E4 Government of India bonds have entered JP Morgan's Government Bond Index for Emerging Markets. In this week's episode of Building Blocks of the Indian Economy, we find out how this small step could have massive implications for economic policy making in New Delhi. History buffs, do check out the book The Ring of Services: The Story of a Very Indian British Raj https://www.amazon.in/dp/B07F5Y3H1N/ Email: [email protected]

S2 E3 India's corporate bond market could boom just like the stock market. In this week's episode of Building Blocks of the Indian Economy, we find out that the corporate bond market just needs, well, more corporates. History buffs, do check out the book The Licence Raj: An Economic Comedy of Errors https://www.amazon.in/dp/B0876M8HYV/ Email: [email protected]

S2 E2 The Indian stock market is highly globalised, sucking in money from near and far. In this week's episode of Building Blocks of the Indian Economy we find out where all the money comes from, and why. History buffs, do check out the book The Ring of Services: The Story of a Very Indian British Raj https://www.amazon.in/dp/B07F5Y3H1N/ Email: [email protected]

S2 E1 India leads the world in the number of IPOs, Initial Public Offerings on the stock markets. All is well on Day 1 of trading, but if you check back 10 years later, the picture is not so rosy. In this opening episode of Season 2 of Building Blocks of the Indian Economy we diagnose India's IPO fever. History buffs, do check out the book The Licence Raj: An Economic Comedy of Errors https://www.amazon.in/dp/B0876M8HYV/ Email: [email protected]

S1 E36 The Government of India's Make in India campaign has now become Atmanirbhar Bharat. In this closing episode of Season 1 of Building Blocks of the Indian Economy we ask - is Atmanirbhar Bharat taking us into the future, or back to the past? History buffs, do check out the book The Licence Raj: An Economic Comedy of Errors https://www.amazon.in/dp/B0876M8HYV/ Email: [email protected]

S1 E35 India has aspired to become an exporter of machinery since the 1960s. The only thing holding it back has been its import policy. In this week's episode of Building Blocks of the Indian Economy we learn how the Government of India picks one pocket, and pays into the other. History buffs, do check out the book The Ring of Services: The Story of a Very Indian British Raj https://www.amazon.in/dp/B07F5Y3H1N/ Email: [email protected]

S1 E34 The Indian capital goods industry is dominated by small scale manufacturing and held back by weird Government of India trade policies. It has been said that Wall Street banks are "too big to fail". But in this week's episode of Building Blocks of the Indian Economy, we ask - are Indian manufacturers big enough to succeed? History buffs, do check out the book The Licence Raj: An Economic Comedy of Errors https://www.amazon.in/dp/B0876M8HYV/ Email: [email protected]

S1 E33 Indian steel makers are among the most efficient in the world. But their steel becomes strangely expensive once it leaves the factory. In this week's episode of Building Blocks of the Indian Economy we explore the curious case of Indian steel - made at the cheapest cost, but sold at the highest price. History buffs, do check out the book The Ring of Services: The Story of a Very Indian British Raj https://www.amazon.in/dp/B07F5Y3H1N/ Email: [email protected]

S1 E32 Prior to the pandemic close to 700,000 medical tourists came to India. In this week's episode of Building Blocks of the Indian Economy we look at the global trade in healthcare. Can India increase its share of the medical tourism market? And would this be a good thing? History buffs, do check out the book The Licence Raj: An Economic Comedy of Errors https://www.amazon.in/dp/B0876M8HYV Email: [email protected]

S1 E31 Headlines often proclaim the massive shortage of doctors in India. In this week's episode of Building Blocks of the Indian Economy we find out that the answer to the question of how many doctors are needed in India depends on who you ask- the Government of India, the World Health Organisation, or, doctors themselves. History buffs, do check out the book The Ring of Services: The Story of a Very Indian British Raj https://www.amazon.in/dp/B07F5Y3H1N/ Email: [email protected]