URBAN AREA
Not politics, not interest rates: India's surging economy at risk from water
India is facing a growing water crisis, with the country's growing water stress potentially impacting its growth. The country's growing water stress could affect agricultural production and industrial operations, leading to food inflation and declines in income for affected businesses and workers, especially farmers. Contaminated water kills about 200,000 Indians each year, and the government is focusing on conserving the resource, recycling waste water, and reducing the country's over-reliance on the annual monsoon, especially in the agricultural sector.
Tough to sustain GDP growth above 7.5%; time-wise correction in market likely: Neelkanth Mishra
As mutual funds are sitting with Rs 1 lakh crore of cash, whenever there is a 4-5% drop from the peak, there is a spate of buying. So equities as an asset class are not seeing sharp drawdowns and in the short term make it safer to invest in and attract more funds. That is the cycle we are in, says Neelkanth Mishra.
India-Mongolia joint military exercise 'Nomadic Elephant' to begin in Meghalaya tomorrow
The 16th edition of Joint Military Exercise 'Nomadic Elephant' between India and Mongolia will be held in Umroi, Meghalaya from July 3-16. This annual exercise aims to enhance interoperability for semi-conventional operations in semi-urban and mountainous terrain. The previous edition was conducted in Mongolia in 2023. The recent 12th Joint Working Group meeting between the defense ministries of India and Mongolia reviewed bilateral defense cooperation and identified ways to enhance it, highlighting the potential for a fruitful partnership.
MMRDA inks Rs 850-crore urban infra financing pact with German development bank KfW
The funds procured from KfW and MMRDA's resources will be primarily allocated towards various sustainable development projects within and around the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. These initiatives include the development of green corridors, solid waste management systems, recycling and reuse facilities, and the promotion of renewable energy solutions to address environmental concerns and enhancing the quality of life for residents in the bustling metropolitan area.
Hamara gaon, hamara digital push
While smartphone adoption among low- and moderate-income (LMI) communities is growing, usage is limited to social media and messaging apps. This indicates that critical challenges continue to hinder the use of digital payments for close to 1 bn LMI people, especially women and people from marginalised communities.
In 2020, only 4% could not access an urban centre in India, reveals study
In 2020, only four per cent of India's population lacked access to an urban centre, according to a study published in the journal Nature Cities. The research, led by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, Italy, examined over 30,000 urban centres globally. The study highlighted that three per cent of India's population could only reach towns within an hour of travel.
- Go To Page 1
Budget 2024: Govt may adjust income criteria for housing aid in urban areas
The government is preparing to revise the income criteria for middle-income groups (MIGs) to qualify for assistance under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) [PMAY(U)]. This change, expected to be included in the 2024-25 budget, aims to better target the housing scheme in urban areas.
After 20 years, Nagaland holds civic body polls, over 20% voting recorded in two hours
This was a historic election in the northeastern state as the polling to three municipalities and 22 town councils was being conducted after a gap of 20 years. The last elections were held in 2004.
PMAY-U 2.0 to build 1 crore houses in urban areas will be launched soon, says ministry officials
The Union Cabinet of Modi 3.0 government, in its first meeting held on June 10 under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved government assistance for the construction of three crore houses under the PMAY.
Don't miss the tree for the woods
That is also a point to ponder: why do we plant trees? Like ancient emperors used to plant them to offer shade to "weary travellers", did we plant them in recent decades to give respite to cars, two-wheelers, cats, dogs, fruitwalas, presswalas and chowkidar cabins from the scorching sun? Or something more?
Norms prescribe higher pay for land use in transmission projects
Landowners will get compensated for the tower base area at 200% of the land value, against 80% now, as per the new norms, while compensation for RoW for the transmission corridor has been doubled to 30% of the land value. The move is aimed at reducing project delays because of compensation issues.
Delhi Heatwave: What's causing the extreme temperatures in the national capital?
Delhi is facing an extended period of intense heat, with the IMD issuing alerts for high temperatures. The city has experienced eight consecutive days of heatwave conditions, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius. Factors such as dry westerly winds, urban heat island effect, and global warming contribute to the severity of the heat. Relief is expected later in the week, but until then, residents are advised to take precautions against the scorching heat.
Narela to benefit from new metro extension linking Delhi, UP, Haryana
The Union Finance Ministry has approved the 26-km Rithala-Narela-Kundli Delhi Metro corridor, awaiting final Cabinet approval. This Rs 6,231 crore project will enhance connectivity among Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and Haryana, transforming the Narela sub-city. Funding is shared between the central and state governments, with significant contributions from the DDA and loans. The corridor, with 21 stations, will be a boon for Narela and Rohini sub-cities, improving access to key institutions and promoting regional development. Completion is expected in four years, with daily ridership projected to grow significantly by 2055.
City dwellers rely more on Ayush than rural folk, says govt data
The results of the first nationwide study done on Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa and Homoeopathy found that 52.9% of the people in urban areas used Ayush system of medicine for the prevention or treatment of ailments during the last 365 days, compared with 46.3% in rural areas.
Better ForeCaste: Gap in consumption shrinks; spending by SC, ST, OBCs rose 1% faster each yr
Consumption spending in marginalized groups like Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes has seen a faster annual growth rate of 9.2% between 2011-12 and 2022-23, indicating a decline in consumption inequity between upper and lower castes in India. The monthly per capita consumption of these groups nearly tripled in rural areas.
Consumption inequality down in a decade
The Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) results revealed a decline in consumption inequality over the last decade in India. The share of the top 10% households in consumption decreased by 1.9% in rural areas and 4% in urban areas. The Gini coefficient, a measure of inequality, showed a decline between 2011-12 and 2022-23, indicating a positive trend in income distribution.
BJP wins more vote share in urban India, but it's a different tale in the rural
Lok Sabha election results highlighted the Bharatiya Janata Party's dominance in urban areas, securing 40.1% of the vote compared to Congress' 21.4%. However, BJP's share dipped in semi-urban and rural regions. The NDA fell short of the 400-seat target, winning 293 seats, while the INDIA bloc, led by Congress, secured 232 seats. Notably, the BJP faced challenges in Uttar Pradesh and southern India. The term of the 17th Lok Sabha concludes on June 16, 2024.
NDA performs strongly in metros while INDIA bloc dominates rural areas
NDA shows strength in metro cities like Delhi, Bangalore, and Pune in Lok Sabha elections. Mumbai region defies trend. INDIA bloc excels in rural areas, while BJP dominates in Delhi and Bangalore.
Why Mukesh Ambani can't ignore a new consumer habit
Reliance Industries (RIL) chairman Mukesh Ambani is expanding the company's retail empire to include quick commerce services through JioMart. This move aims to compete with players like Blinkit and BigBasket, leveraging Reliance's extensive reach and resources. The shift towards quick commerce reflects changing consumer habits, favoring convenience and instant deliveries.
Urbanisation led to 60% more night-time warming in Indian cities than non-urban areas: Study
A study by IIT Bhubaneswar found that urbanization has led to 60% more night-time warming in over 140 Indian cities compared to surrounding non-urban areas. Cities like Ahmedabad, Jaipur, and Rajkot were most affected, with Delhi-NCR and Pune also experiencing significant warming. The urban heat island effect, where concrete and asphalt store and release heat, is the main cause. T
Kerala tops youth unemployment rate, Delhi registers lowest: PLFS Survey
The survey, which covered 22 states and Union territories, identified Jammu & Kashmir, Telangana, Rajasthan, and Odisha as other states with high unemployment rates in this age category.
Better half: Are women faring better in urban job market?
Women’s labour force participation in urban areas rose to its highest level in Q4FY24 since the start of the series in 2018, whereas the unemployment rate declined further to 8.5%. But their share in salaried work has declined further. Ishaan Gera takes a look:
Aadhar Housing Finance makes a flat debut
"Although the company made a debut with a flat opening, its wide geographical distribution network and strong fundamentals offer good opportunity for the long-term as its target customers are low-income groups from rural and semi-urban areas," said Raj Gaikar, analyst, Samco Securities. "The housing finance credit share of rural and semi-urban locations is rising continuously, giving housing finance companies (HFC) an opportunity to expand their operations."
India's unemployment rate dips to 6.7% in March quarter
The National Sample Survey (NSSO) revealed that the unemployment rate in urban areas for individuals aged 15 years and above decreased slightly to 6.7% in the January-March period from 6.8% a year earlier. The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) indicated that unemployment rates for both males and females experienced fluctuations over the quarters.
Time to look at long-term stories rather than momentum picks now: Seshadri Sen
Seshadri Sen analyzes market dynamics post-exit poll, emphasizing short-term corrections and long-term investment strategies in manufacturing, consumer discretionary, cement, and aviation sectors. He advocates strategic stock selection and patient investing for optimal returns.
India will remain a rewarding market on a bottom-up basis: Ashwini Agarwal
I think there was a lot of disruption in the rural disposable income on account of the disruption in jobs in the urban area on a post COVID basis. But I think with manufacturing picking up several of those jobs are coming back and those transfers from urban to rural India might be getting back.
Voters cite heat, harvest, holiday for low turnout
ET reporters from various states wrap up on the factors affecting voter turnout in the 18th LS election. The big turnout drop across 19 of the 20 constituencies in Kerala in Phase 2 - at 66.2% turnout against the 77.8% of 2019 - has come as a surprise for most.
ET Graphics: Women's employment in India shows improvement, but reaching top a challenge
India registered significant improvements in employment parameters for women last year, according to official data. However, getting to the top remained an uphill task.
Load More
