India's evolving consumption patterns reflect a dynamic economy poised for a middle-class-led transformation. A deeper analysis of what this consumer trend shift indicates...

The Haryana government's decision to implement the Supreme Court’s August 2024 order on sub-categorization within the Scheduled Castes (SC) reservation system marks a transformative shift in India’s approach to affirmative action. This move allows states to create sub-categories within the SC community, ensuring that reservation benefits are more effectively targeted toward the economically disadvantaged. Haryana’s swift action sets a powerful example for other states to follow, showcasing how policy can address the internal disparities within the SC community. This sub-categorization strategy seeks to refine affirmative action by ensuring that the most marginalized sections of society, who are still in need of support, receive the intended benefits...

A ride along Delhi Metro's tony neighbourhoods can be intuitively reflective. Zoomers in branded tees and hemp pants carry recyclable bags with bold messages while millennials pore over mobile content flitting through OTT feeds, reels, social media and the occasional news flash. A couple of Gen X'ers occupy one corner and are obviously less flashy, notwithstanding their smart watches and high-end shoes. Boomers are spread out in the coach, and one among them watches the action unfold with a casual yawn while browsing spiritual videos on YouTube. An elderly lady next to the man sports a bag that screams 'It's Mine', suggesting a craving for personalisation even at 65 or 70. The journey, in a nutshell, encapsulates the way India consumes...

India has made remarkable progress in reducing income-based extreme poverty over the past several years, but this journey has been anything but straightforward. From 2015 to 2023, the country experienced a sharp rise in extreme poverty, worsened by the covid pandemic, followed by an equally dramatic recovery. Household income data from PRICE’s ICE 360 surveys (2016, 2021 and 2023) provide critical insights into these fluctuations and sheds light on how government interventions, economic resilience and social programmes shaped the fight against extreme poverty....

As India strides toward its vision of Vikshit Bharat (developed India), it must confront the realities of economic inequality, particularly in the agricultural sector, where disparities are deeply entrenched. Agriculture, employing nearly 50% of the population but contributing only 17% to the GDP, reflects a vast divide between smallholders with marginal incomes and a small group of wealthy farmers who control a substantial share of the sector’s wealth. To address this imbalance and drive India’s developmental goals, implementing a well-structured taxation policy for affluent farmers is essential. This would not only generate much-needed revenue but also promote greater economic equity....