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Focus Story


 Agenda for   formulation of an economic     Apart from investments,   employment opportunities.     As India builds its                                                        advancements by actively   intensity of extreme       The government should
                                                                                            driving job creation and
                                                                 Further, the initiatives to
                                                                                            economic growth.
        policy framework to set the
                                                                                                                                                                                adopting and integrating
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      announce a Green
                                                                                                                                                                                                           weather events due to
                                     boosting consumption,
                                                                 enhance women’s
        scope for reforms which will
                                     which has the largest share
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Transition Fund, leveraging
                                                                                                                                                                                new age technologies.
                                                                                                                                                                                                           climate change, addressing
                                                                 participation in workforce,
                                     in GDP, is also a
        catapult the economy to
                                                                                                                                                                                Offering grants to AI/deep
                                                                                                                                                                                                           water security has become
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      funds earmarked for green
                                                                                            manufacturing capabilities,
 Sustaining India’s   sustained economic growth.   sine-qua-non for sustaining   such as setting up of   it can tap into international            4. Research, innovation       tech startups at the       an urgent priority. The    initiatives, CSR funds, and
                                     the domestic high growth
                                                                 women hostels, creche
        Effective implementation of
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      private sector and
                                                                                                                                                                                                           government should set up
                                                                                                                                                                                product development stage
                                                                                            markets through increased
        these reforms hinge on the
                                     trajectory. Enhancing
                                                                 facilities, women specific
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      philanthropy contributions.
                                                                                                                                                                                                           a National Mission on
                                                                                                                                                                                and introducing
                                                                                            exports. With global trade
        collaboration between Centre
                                                                 skilling programs and
                                     incomes in the hands of
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      A portion of the lending
                                                                                                                                                                                challenge/hackathons for AI
                                                                                                                                                                                                           Water Security that
                                                                                            restructuring, India can
                                     individuals, by offering a
        and the states, hence,
                                                                 promoting market access
                                                                                                                                                    and technology
 High Growth   institutional platforms should   marginal relief in income   for women-led self-help   benefit by building reliable                  adoption are critical to    startups at the            monitors water resources   support should be
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      earmarked for MSMEs.
                                                                                                                                                                                commercialization stage
                                                                                                                                                                                                           through a public database
                                                                                            and resilient supply chains
                                                                 groups, will drive inclusivity
                                     tax at the lower end of the
        be established to build
                                                                                                                                                    remain competitive on
                                                                                                                                                                                                           and lays out strategic goals
                                                                                                                                                                                will promote technological
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Finally, a National
                                                                                            through enhanced
        state-level consensus on
                                                                 in the employment
                                     slab spectrum, the recent
                                                                                                                                                    the global stage:
                                                                                                                                                                                advancement. The
                                                                                                                                                                                                           for sustainable water
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Commission on Adaptation
                                                                                            manufacturing and exports.
                                     announcement in the
                                                                 landscape.
        reforms in areas such as land,
                                                                                                                                                    Research and innovation
                                                                                                                                                                                                           management. Promoting
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      should be set up to
                                                                                                                                                                                government should ensure
                                                                                            Establishing a Global Trade
 Trajectory  labour, power (including   Union Budget on the     In addition, a slew of      Promotion Organization                                  are crucial to stay         responsible use of Artificial   climate-smart agriculture   address India's vulnerability
                                     income tax changes in the
        renewable energy),
                                                                                                                                                    competitive in a rapidly
                                                                                            will support domestic
                                                                 measures announced for
                                                                                                                                                                                                           and other water-efficient
                                                                                                                                                                                Intelligence (AI) by
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      to climate change. This
                                     new tax regime is hence
        agriculture, education, health,
                                                                                                                                                    evolving technological
                                                                 boosting MSMEs through
                                                                                            exporters and help the
                                                                                                                                                                                developing a
                                                                                                                                                                                                           farming practices will also
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      commission should develop
        water, and fiscal sustainability.
                                     welcome and would
                                                                                                                                                    landscape and sustain the
                                                                                            country reach the target of
                                                                 increased MUDRA loan
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      policies based on risk
                                                                                                                                                                                comprehensive framework
                                                                                                                                                                                                           help address water stress.
        These platforms can help to
                                     hopefully facilitate
                                     consumption among the
 First 90 Days of New   foster collaboration between   2. Focus on health,   limit, introduction of credit   US$2 trillion in exports of            growth momentum.            for the ethical use of AI.   To achieve the net-zero   assessments, engage with
                                                                                            goods and services. This
                                                                 guarantee scheme, credit
                                                                                                                                                    Operationalization of the
                                                                                                                                                                                                           target by 2070, clean
                                                                                                                                                                                Besides, establishing robust
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      experts and stakeholders,
        central and state
                                     middle class.
                                                                 support during stress
                                                                                            body should set up
                                                                                                                                                    Anusandhan National
                                                                                                                                                                                data governance policies.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      and build grassroots
                                                                                                                                                                                                           energy transition is
        governments, ensuring that
                                                                                            branches in key trading
                                                                 period, setting up of
                                                                                                                                                    Research Fund with a
                                                                                                                                                                                                           imperative.
                                                                                                                                                                                Addressing AI skill gaps by
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      capacity to enhance
 Government to Set the   reforms are effectively   education and   e-commerce export hubs,   hubs worldwide to                                      financial pool of Rs 1 lakh   initiating skill training     Several policy measures to   resilience and adaptive
        implemented across the
                                     employment
                                                                                            facilitate global market
                                                                 among others, will further
                                                                                                                                                    crore dedicated to spurring
                                                                                                                                                                                programs, also require
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      capability. The path to a
        country.
                                                                                                                                                                                                           expedite energy transition
                                                                 drive employment.
                                                                                            access for Indian products.
 Agenda for Accelerating   Apart from this, we list out   generation is critical for     Government may consider     The government has             private sector research and   5. An integrated approach   announced in the budget,   resilient and sustainable
                                                                                                                                                                                priority consideration.
                                     inclusive and
                                                                                                                                                    innovation at commercial
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      future requires an
                                                                                                                                                                                                           including taxonomy for
                                     sustainable
                                                                                                                                                    scale in the union budget
                                                                                            implemented numerous
                                                                 establishing an
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      integrated approach that
 Growth  the 5 key thrust areas which   development: Education   International Mobility     reforms to improve the                                  will propel research and    for addressing water       climate finance and setting   addresses water security,
        should underline the focus of
                                                                                                                                                                                security, clean energy
                                                                                                                                                                                                           up of energy targets for
                                     and health are critical
        the new government.
                                     pillars for achieving       Authority under the        ease of doing business, and                             innovation.                 and adaptation is key to   hard-to-abate industries,   promotes clean energy and
                                                                                            this pace of reforms should
                                                                 Ministry of External Affairs
        1. Government should         inclusive and sustainable   (MEA) to leverage global   be continued to enhance                                 India should be at the      a sustainable future:      are laudable steps towards   builds adaptive capacity.
          continue its thrust on     growth. The government      manpower shortages and     the investment climate and                              forefront of technological   With rising frequency and   clean energy transition.
 T  he Indian economy has   First quarter of   This initial period should   THE TASK AHEAD IS TO   capex and boost   should announce roadmaps   open overseas employment   manufacturing
          consumption demand
                                     to increase expenditure on
 focus on laying a clear and
 exhibited remarkable
 strength and resilience amidst   the new   detailed roadmap, prioritizing   MAINTAIN THIS   while focusing on fiscal   education to 6 per cent of   avenues for Indian   competitiveness. Defining
                                                                 workforce.
                                                                                            timelines with deemed
 a challenging global   reforms, and implementing   MOMENTUM AND   prudence: Investment,   GDP and on health to 3   3. Thrust on building   approvals for regulatory
 impressive growth rate of 8.2  government   key initiatives that will drive   STEER THE COUNTRY   particularly public capex,   per cent of GDP to ensure   manufacturing and   permissions, establishing a
 environment. With an
 TOWARDS BECOMING A
                                     affordable and accessible
          has been the key driver of
 the nation forward. Each
 per cent in 2023-24, India has   action taken should signal a   DEVELOPED ECONOMY   India’s growth story in the   quality education and   export competitiveness   centralized online
                                                                                            grievance redressal
 emerged as the fastest   should set the   strong commitment towards   BY 2047  post-pandemic period.   healthcare for all.  should continue:   mechanism, decriminalizing
 growing major economy in   continuing the reform   Government should     India's young population,   Complementing the   business laws, and
 the world for three   tone for   trajectory and accelerating   continue its thrust on   with a median age of 28   services sector growth,   introducing self and
 consecutive years. This   growth.  One of the foremost tasks for   capital formation. Along   years, represents a vibrant   rapid manufacturing   third-party certifications
 achievement is underpinned   actioning high   the new government is   with the focus on   workforce that requires   growth is essential for   under various laws are
 by robust macroeconomic   building consensus on   infrastructure, government   decent job opportunities.   realizing the goal of  Viksit   crucial measures that can
 fundamentals and solid policy   growth and   next-generation reforms.   should also prioritize   Generating employment   Bharat. Government   enhance ease of doing
 reforms that have fortified the   Sustained reforms have   health, education, and rural   and livelihoods is critical to   initiatives such as the   business. Additionally,
 economy and weathered it   development   propelled India to its current   infrastructure, such as   Production Linked
 from global shocks. As the   position, but to maintain this   irrigation, warehousing, and   reap the benefits of   Incentive (PLI) scheme,   government should
 new government takes the   driven agenda  high growth, next gen reforms   cold chain infrastructure.   demographic dividend and   which have helped tap   continue its focus on
 reins, it inherits an economy   in areas that fall under state   While continuing the   drive inclusive growth in   India’s vast manufacturing   reducing the cost of doing
 at a high tipping point which   or concurrent domains are   thrust on capex, the   the economy. The budget’s   potential, need to be   business. Including
 is poised for further growth   The first quarter of the new   crucial.  The Union Budget   government must adhere   massive thrust on job   sustained. Expediting the   petroleum products and
 and development. The task   government will be crucial in   2024-25 has identified next   to fiscal prudence to   creation, including the   implementation of labour   electricity in GST will help
 ahead is to maintain this   setting the tone for actioning   generation reforms as a key   maintain macroeconomic   announcement of three   codes and launching   reduce power and logistics
 momentum and steer the   a high growth and   priority area, emphasizing the   stability, targeting the   schemes under   national missions for   costs. A task force may also
 country towards becoming a   development driven agenda.   budgeted fiscal deficit of   Employment Linked   advanced manufacturing   be set up to examine ways
 developed economy by 2047.  4.9 per cent of GDP for   Incentives (ELI) and   and materials will further   to reduce high shipping
                                     increased allocation
                                                                                            costs for Indian exports
 Mr Sanjiv Bajaj, Past President, CII & Chairman, CII Economic Affairs   FY25.  towards skilling is poised   enhance India's   and imports.
 Council and Chairman & Managing Director, Bajaj Finserv  to generate significant   manufacturing capabilities,
 06  ANALYSIS, RESEARCH, THOUGHT LEADERSHIP & ADVOCACY                                ANALYSIS, RESEARCH, THOUGHT LEADERSHIP & ADVOCACY  07
                                                                                           QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF ECONOMICS
 QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF ECONOMICS
 AUGUST 2024                                                                                          AUGUST 2024
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