Table of Contents
The Hindu Newspaper Analysis 10th Feb 2018
Are fiscal risks increasing?
Budget 2018-19 has proposed amending the FRBM Act again, which will shift the target
of 3% •fiscal deficit-GDP ratio to end-March 2021.
The new statutory anchors relate to the general and Central government debt-GDP ratios
that are to be reduced to 60% and 40% of GDP, respectively, by 2024-25,
based on the recommendations of the report by the FRBM Review Committee
Missing the •fiscal responsibility targets year after year and changing the statutory framework
time and again bring the credibility of the government‟s commitment to fiscal discipline in
•the spotlight
As per the requirement of the FRBM Act of 2003, and amended in 2015
Diluting recommendations
In the proposed amendment to the FRBM Act, key recommendations of the review committee
were not accepted
Central government did not accept another recommendation of setting up a fiscal council,
which could independently examine the economic case
Central and State governments, keeping their •fiscal deficits
committee‟s recommendations, the debt – GDP levels of 60% and 40% of GDP for
the general and Central governments, respectively, were to be achieved by 2022-23.
These target dates have been shifted to 2024-25
It had specified a revenue deficit glide path, reaching 0.8% by 2022-23.
This too was not accepted
In the Budget for 2018-19, the total outlays for focus areas, namely, agriculture and rural
livelihoods, infrastructure & education, & health and social sectors, amount to 11.6% of GDP
More than ever, the •fiscal deficit needs continued vigilance.
Testing the diagnosis
Why traditional and scientific medical systems cannot be integrated
To understand this cruel reality, we must know what is common and what the differences are
among them.
All cultures wanted explanations why some fell ill while others did not, and,
What remedies cure different illnesses.
Ancient Indian and Chinese traditional systems and the more recent homoeopathy.
All of them are together called „traditional medicine‟.
Homoeopathy, the basic doctrine
Chinese system, the basic doctrine
Ayurveda, the basic doctrine
Europeans had lagged behind — until two-three centuries ago.
Scientific medicine developed and grew in Germany, Austria, France, Britain and
U.S. during the 18th and 19th centuries
Scientific medicine demands „accountability‟ on the part of the physician — for „correct‟
diagnosis and treatment.
Since such verifications and detailed not present in traditional medical system
Prelims Focus Facts-News Analysis
Page-1- Maldives crisis: India in touch with U.S., China
Trump, Modi talk over phone, decide to work together
Emergency in the Maldives still in place and worries about a constitutional crisis
India alone can be the game changer, the former President Mohamed Nasheed said. “I have faith in India,”
Page-5- Kerala, Punjab, T.N. in good health
Kerala, Punjab and Tamil Nadu were the top rankers in NITI Aayog‟s latest Health
Index report which has, for the first time- Nation‟s performance in the health sector
The document, developed by NITI Aayog with technical assistance from the World
Bank and in consultation with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare,
Indicates that Jharkhand, Jammu and Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh showed most improvement
Report was released on Friday by Amitabh Kant, CEO of NITI Aayog;
Preeti Sudan, secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare;
Junaid Ahmad, country director, World Bank