The Signal: The Week Highlights

1. India To Scale “Ease Of Doing Business” Index

India’s rank under Modi leaped from 142 in 2015 to 63 in 2019. Govt. has zeroed in on 6 laggard segments – enforcing contracts, registering property & starting business — which prevented India from breaking into top 50 nations in the World Bank’s ease of doing business index

India looks to establish itself as foreign darling for the coming decade by aggressively resolving and resorting to cleaning up of it’s works and perks. Climbing up the Ease Index will propel India’s aim to replace China as the global growth engine by arousing more FII interest than it does today. By channelizing check-points, India can expedite growth verticals in the post-covid world. 

2. Budget To Be Bigger & Bolder 

FY21 has been a once-in-a-century fiscal year as it shone light on poor developments across  health, rural, consumer affairs, and infrastructure sectors. The covid shock has merited the country to call for a big and bold budget in the following year to support India’s $5 Tn GDP target by 2025

The road to recovery will not be easy as there will be challenges on the way. India witnessed shoots of recovery in tax collection from companies, GST revenue and direct tax collection. PMI for both manufacturing and services are in the expansion zone, but the fear of re-infection of the virus and lockdown stays. For now, the most essential factor is the restoration of confidence which is expected from Budget 2021.

3. World’s Biggest Vaccine Manufacturer In India To Get Serum Vaccine Nod

The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) may clear the shot for use if clinical data furnished by Serum Institute is found satisfactory. Covishield is Serum Institute’s version of the vaccine being developed by Oxford University and British drug-maker AstraZeneca Plc.

The Economy is on its way to brighter days as the early vaccine development and expectation of India’s Nod may spread the optimism in the market and earlier it was reflected with strong capital inflows

4. FII Flow Is India’s Winter Fashion

There is a growing interest among overseas investors about the country amid the government’s continuing reform measures to further improve the business climate. Defence production will be the areas for fresh overseas investments while easing compliance burden will be a priority area.

FDI recorded significant jump irrespective of global slowdown. Easing compliance and relaxed norms have attracted investors. The key sectors attracted investors are hardware, telecom, trading, construction, auto, chemical and pharmaceuticals. The trend is expected to continue with more development on ease of doing business.

5. Digital India Seeks Growth From Brick-&-Mortar 

The vitality of the infra vertical in the country is key in vaccinating the virality of the virus. The sentiment is reflected via benchmark policy in ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat’, and supported via boosted via latest IIP figures. It registered 3.6% last-month, growing at its fastest pace in last 7 months. 

Reading elemental growth of IIP shows how the infra sector is readying for a bounce-back. From a 100 Cr+ spend package to revived demand for steel and consumer durables shows willingness of country in printing its growth via manufacturing more manufacturing and service outputs.