Data Desk
The global transition to electric vehicles (EVs) is accelerating, driven by plummeting costs, technological advancements, and robust government policies. In 2023, electric cars accounted for 18% of global passenger vehicle sales – a ninefold increase from just five years prior in 2018, when the share was 2%, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).
Welcome to the Solopreneur Era, where creators are one-person businesses. They own their audience, no algorithm can take that away. The solopreneur model is particularly appealing to Millennials and Gen Z, with most Millennials and Gen Z identifying themselves as content creators.
India’s commercial ties with France have evolved dynamically over the years, punctuated by episodic fluctuations yet dominated by an overarching trajectory of resilience. A dispassionate analysis of total trade figures from FY 2019-20 to FY 2023-24 reveals a fascinating interplay of growth spurts, contractions, and shifting trade balances
India’s AI Regulation Strategy: A Middle Path Between Innovation and Oversight
Departing from a socialist form of governance and adopting a market centric approach post the 1991 LPG reforms, India’s average growth rate rose from 4% to 6%. Supreme Court’s ruling on Article 39(b) clarifying that not all private property can be considered as a community resource, reinforces individual property rights and allows the invisible hand of markets to drive the economy.
The comparison of AQI levels from 2018 to 2023 clearly shows that the AQI in the post Diwali day is always higher than pre Diwali and the Diwali day, indicating the rise in pollution and the economic woes that follows Diwali season.
From 2019-20 to 2023-24, India’s lithium imports grew by over 60%, reflecting an upward trajectory that is likely to accelerate further in the coming years. However, the data also indicates a fluctuating pattern—after an initial dip in 2021-22, the import value surged again, reaching a peak in 2023-24 at US $33.41 million.
The primary reason for increasing plastic pollution is mismanagement of plastic waste. China has made significant strides in improving its waste management efficiency. India and other developing countries have a long road ahead.
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation surged, prompting the RBI to raise interest rates. While inflation has since edged closer to the RBI’s 4% target, underlying inflationary pressures remain. As a result, the chances of the key policy rate budging at the next MPC meeting are slim to none.
Today, as in FY24, the Centre’s capex stands at 3.2% of GDP; up from 1.5% of GDP in FY18. Budget documents mention a whopping Rs. 11,11,111 crore allocated just for infrastructure.
From the early 2000s, with exports of just US $44 billion, India has exploded onto the global trade scene, surpassing US $450 billion today. It’s been a wild ride, and the best is yet to come.
Carbon taxes – a phrase that might conjure up images of bureaucratic jargon or a monster lurking in your electricity bill. The unsung eco-warrior of fiscal policies or just another line item on a stretched budget? In India, the idea of taxing carbon is a cocktail of necessity, ambition, and pragmatism, stirred with a generous dose of data. Let’s explore the scope, reasons, scalability, and future of carbon taxes in India with a quirky twist and some cold, hard numbers to spice things up.