67% and 57% of Indian firms report 'much less than normal' profits, costs: IIM-A survey
By Our Representative The Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad’s (IIM-A’s) latest Business Inflation Expectations Survey (BIES), even as pointing out that the average inflation expectations of the firms reverted to below 4% for the first time since October 2020, the profit margin expectations of Indian enterprises continue to remain subdued. Stating that “One year ahead business inflation expectation declined sharply by 44 basis points to 3.87% in May 2023, from 4.31% reported in April 2023”, the survey -- carried out by the Misra Centre at the IIM-A in order to contribute to effective monetary policy formulation by providing valuable insights to by various policy makers, government and industry -- said, “Sales expectations of the reporting firms have relatively improved. However, over 57% of the firms are still reporting ‘much less than normal’ or ‘somewhat less than normal’ sales in May 2023.”
Profit margins: % response
Authored by Professor Abhiman Das, the survey said, “Over 26% of the participating firms in May 2023 perceive profit margins are ‘about normal’ – down from 30% reported in April 2023, adding, “Over 67% of the firms are reporting profit ‘much less than normal’ or ‘somewhat less than normal’ sales in May 2023”, suggesting “the profit margins expectations remained subdued.”
Current costs per unit compare with this time last year: % responses
Stating that “Overall, the cost perceptions data indicates further moderation of cost pressures”, the survey results showed that “the percentage of firms perceiving significant (over 6%) cost increase has further declined”, though adding, “Majority (over 30%) of the firms perceives that costs have gone up moderately – in the range of 3.1% to 6%.
Sales levels: % response
The survey report further said that while the “sales expectations of the reporting firms have relatively improved” and the “percentage of firms reporting ‘normal sales’ sales has increased to 29% in May 2023, from 23% reported in April 2023”, it noted, “However, over 57% of the firms are still reporting ‘much less than normal’ or ‘somewhat less than normal’ sales in May 2023.”
By Bhaskaran Raman* On 28 Sep 2023, the movie “The Vaccine War” by Vivek Agnihotri was released internationally, as the story behind India’s Covid-19 vaccine development. While there will be many a review written, as for other movies, a technical review is important, as the film is supposed to be fact-based, on the science and scientists behind the science.
By Shamsul Islam* Balraj Madhok's died on May 2, 2016 ending an era of old guards of Hindutva politics. A senior RSS pracharak till his death was paid handsome tributes by the RSS leaders including PM Modi, himself a senior pracharak, for being a "stalwart leader of Jan Sangh. Balraj Madhok ji's ideological commitment was strong and clarity of thought immense. He was selflessly devoted to the nation and society. I had the good fortune of interacting with Balraj Madhok ji on many occasions". The RSS also issued a formal condolence message signed by the Supremo Mohan Bhagwat on behalf of all swayamsevaks, referring to his contribution of commitment to nation and society. He was a leading RSS pracharak on whom his organization relied for initiating prominent Hindutva projects. But today nobody in the RSS-BJP top hierarchy remembers/talks about Madhok as he was an insider chronicler of the immense degeneration which was spreading as an epidemic in the high echelons of th
Counterview Desk Reacting to a Counterview story , "Rewiring history? Bose, not Gandhi, was real Father of Nation: British PM Attlee 'cited'" (January 26, 2016), an avid reader has forwarded reaction in the form of a link , which carries the article "Did Atlee say Gandhi had minimal role in Independence? #FactCheck", published in the site satyagrahis.in. The satyagraha.in article seeks to debunk the view, reported in the Counterview story, taken by retired army officer GD Bakshi in his book, “Bose: An Indian Samurai”, which claims that Gandhiji had a minimal role to play in India's freedom struggle, and that it was Netaji who played the crucial role. We reproduce the satyagraha.in article here. Text: Nowadays it is said by many MK Gandhi critics that Clement Atlee made a statement in which he said Gandhi has ‘minimal’ role in India's independence and gave credit to naval mutinies and with this statement, they concluded the whole freedom struggle.
By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.
By Bharat Dogra* A lie repeated a hundred times will not turn a lie into a truth. The big media should realize this and stop perpetuating the lie of the green revolution saving India from hunger, long after the world has awakened to the reality of how harmful the green revolution has been from the point of nutrition, food safety, environment and climate change.
By Rajiv Shah* The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual.
Nalanda mahavihara By Our Representative Prominent historian DN Jha, an expert in India's ancient and medieval past, in his new book , "Against the Grain: Notes on Identity, Intolerance and History", in a sharp critique of "Hindutva ideologues", who look at the ancient period of Indian history as "a golden age marked by social harmony, devoid of any religious violence", has said, "Demolition and desecration of rival religious establishments, and the appropriation of their idols, was not uncommon in India before the advent of Islam".
Counterview Desk The advocacy group Coalition for a GM-Free India has urged the Supreme Court of India to pass orders to implement the unanimous recommendations of the five independent experts of the Court’s Technical Expert Committee, including the Government of India’s experts.
Counterview Desk Farmer rights group Khedut Ekta Manch Gujarat in a letter to Bhupendrabhai Patel, chief minister, with copies sent to the officials concerned, has asked the Gujarat government to form an independent committee to investigate the recent massive flooding in Narmada, even as seeking proper compensation to those affected by the disaster, many of whom are farmers.
By Shamsul Islam* RSS-BJP rulers of India have been trying to show off as great fans of Netaji. But Indians must know what role ideological parents of today's RSS/BJP played against Netaji and Indian National Army (INA). The Hindu Mahasabha and RSS which always had prominent lawyers on their rolls made no attempt to defend the INA accused at Red Fort trials.
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