Articles by Bipin K Deokar

Indian agriculture has been doing far better in the years since 2004-05. This note explores available data to understand why this has been so. It is found that after 2004-05, public investment in agriculture increased, the National Horticulture Mission was launched, and more agricultural credit was made available that spurred private investment in agriculture as well. These policy initiatives resulted in increased yields and higher agricultural growth.

Large Indian corporate firms went on a borrowing spree abroad a few years ago attracted by the lower interests that came on external commercial loans. But sluggish profitability and currency depreciation are making it difficult for the firms to meet repayment obligations. In domestic borrowings, the corporate stress has led to higher non-performing assets of banks but there has been no sign of systemic risk to the banking sector.

The Reserve Bank of India has in its attempt to control the exchange rate volatility of the rupee perplexed the market. The short-term measures announced to limit money market liquidity went against its accommodative medium-term stance, causing considerable uncertainty in the market. In hindsight, they seem to have hurt the financial system as a whole.