On 3rd November 2021, the UK-based oil and gas exploration giant Cairn Energy Plc announced that it would drop all its current litigations against the Indian Government. These litigations would have allowed the company to seize the Government of India's assets in various countries such as the UK and France, as settlement of an ongoing tax dispute between the two parties. The question that now arises is why these litigations were made in the first place and how was the matter resolved. To answer this, we must look back at the Union Budget of 2012, where the provision for retrospective taxation was added via an amendment to the Finance Act. How did retrospective taxation emerge? During the years 2006-07, Cairn Energy had sold a section of its shares in Cairn India Limited via overseas transactions to entities such as Malaysia’s Petronas and the Vedanta Group as part of a reorganization process before its IPO launch. A similar transaction during this period was Vodafone's acquisi...
Balancing Act: Addressing India's Growing Credit-Deposit Gap and Its Financial Implications The growing disparity between credit and deposit growth in India's banking sector is indeed a significant issue with potential implications for liquidity, financial stability, and the broader economy. This divergence—where credit growth has outpaced deposit growth—can be traced to several interconnected economic, regulatory, and behavioural factors, and understanding them is key to addressing the potential risks posed by this trend. 1. Money Creation Process and the Expected Correlation In theory, when a bank extends a loan, it simultaneously creates a deposit, since the borrower’s account is credited with the loan amount. This is how the banking system expands the money supply. However, the current situation in India reflects a break in this expected relationship, as the loan growth exceeds deposit growth. As of October 2024, bank loan growth in India stood at 12.8% year-over-...
Reviving India's Manufacturing Sector: Government Incentives as a Game-Changer India has experienced the fastest growth rate among emerging economies, driven by its service sector and increasing consumer demand. However, the manufacturing sector, considered a crucial driver of long-term growth, remains largely underdeveloped. Currently, Indian manufacturing employs only 11% of the workforce and its contribution to the country’s GDP has remained stagnant. This contrasts sharply with other growing economies like Vietnam and China, where manufacturing significantly contributes to economic growth. To give a scale of comparison, China, recognized as the "factory of the world," contributes 28.7% to global manufacturing output, supported by a well-established ecosystem with advanced infrastructure, extensive supply chains, and economies of scale. Manufacturing accounts for 27% of China's GDP, driven by strong government policies, investment in industrial parks, and a focu...