The Secretariat

Groundwater Policy Part 2: The climate and topography of Gujarat make aquifer recharge exceedingly slow there relative to the extraction rate. Top it up with #climatechange, pollution, and the absence of #GroundwaterBill in the state, and the resource becomes stressed. We spoke with Alka Palrecha and Ashish Upadhyay, PhD about the guidelines we have and the reforms we need as we turn to Gujarat: https://lnkd.in/gZRjwPYy If you’re looking for Part 1:https://lnkd.in/g2_P7DhH #CGWB #nationalwaterpolicy #WaterUsersAssociations #StateWaterPolicy #JalShakti

Though the geoeconomic ground is caving in as #Trump takes office, India should #lookwest- where the light in the tunnel shines. India's strengthened collaboration with a dynamic #Gulf may prove a cornerstone. Moving beyond the US and Europe onto where our priorities align is the way forward, write D Dhanuraj and Gazi Hassan for The Secretariat: https://lnkd.in/gZbHXBCU #GCC #KochiDialogue2025 #ADIA #CEPA #giftcity #saudi2030

The #RBI has expressed reluctance to cut the rates when deposits are not showing growth. But #Sitharaman and #PiyushGoyal have echoed analysts’ concerns about the high borrowing cost. All indications also manifest that a #ratecut is the call of the time. Analyse the credit and demand trends for the last few quarters and the reform steps with Mahua Venkatesh Sengupta: https://lnkd.in/gmV-9kDJ #rbipolicy #bankingchallenges #slowingdemand #reporate #inflation #gdpgrowth

TRAI Rules Update: Now, keep your SIM active for 90 days with a prepaid balance of just Rs. 20! It's a huge relief for #Jio, #BSNL, #Airtel, and Vi users, who had to pay a hefty sum for data packages when they ran out of SMS-call balance. They can also access other networks when their own SIM loses signal. These steps come on the heels of #TRAI asking telcos to extend their STV-CV validity, besides offering the top-up voucher of INR10, as previously reported by Rajeev Narayan for The Secretariat Read what more the TRAI mandated here: https://lnkd.in/ggnZd6xW #TRAInewrule #Offers #IndianTelecom #policyplunge

Crucial departments like #CBI, #NIA, and #CRPF are waiting for officers. Around 233 IPS positions are vacant at the central agencies and paramilitary forces. In this regard, the MHA has written to the state secretaries inviting nominations on a central deputation basis. The numbers for SP to DG-level posts are inside: https://lnkd.in/gR-nGjH2 #ipsshortage #MHA #DoPT #centraldeputation #paramilitary #fromthecorridors

As Trump becomes more vocal about #tariffs in his second regime, leaders worldwide prepare for the worst. Calculating from the global trade order in the US President’s first regime, #ArvindPanagariya gives his insights into what India can expect. As he spoke to The Secretariat, the Finance Commission chairperson outlined the roadmap for the country- from systemic changes in the investment sector and labour reforms to the #FreeTradeAgreement with the EU and England. Our exclusive conversation lists all the prospects: https://lnkd.in/g-p7nDBQ #whitehouse #tradewar #chinaimport #globaltrade #supplychain #financecommission #globalmerchandiseexport #EU

Groundwater- a sharply depleting resource- is largely in the private domain. Unlike surface water such as canals, monitoring extraction from pumps is difficult. Further, steps for regulation face backlash from landowners.  For this, #ModelGroundwaterBill proposes a monitoring framework involving the community. We spoke with experts like Ashish Upadhyay, PhD and drew a picture of India's groundwater situation: https://lnkd.in/g2_P7DhH #CGWB #nationalwaterpolicy #groundwatermonitoring