Modi’s message

On Saturday Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed civil servants on the occasion of Civil Services Day. He said the occasion is one of “Appreciation, Evaluation and Introspection”.

He described civil servants as people with great capability and their contributions can benefit of the nation in a big way.

Though not all would be on the same page as Modi, but on this occasion all said ‘Yes, Prime Minister!’

Fiendish Twitter

The Centre recently held the first ever Central Public Centre Enterprises Conclave. At the event, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked all CPSEs to devise measurable goals and strategies. However, whether these government companies succeed or not is something to be seen. But, in addition to the goal setting, the Centre also wanted to ensure that all CPSE employees publicise the event. To ensure this, they were instructed to follow the CPSE Conclave twitter handle and retweet all the tweets. The directions were passed on through multiple channels to the employees, but with less than 900 followers, it is clear that most of the CPSE staffers didn’t consider the instructions to be relevant. Will the goals that the PM wants CPSEs to achieve also end up in the same way?

Barkindo’s pilgrimage

“I am on a pilgrimage” remarked OPEC Secretary General Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo as he stood awestruck at the Oil Discovery Well No. 1 where it all began.

Recently an OPEC delegation led by the Secretary-General visited IndianOil’s AOD Digboi Refinery, which is the oldest operating refinery in the world. The delegation was given a guided tour of the Digboi Centenary Museum with a detailed briefing about the facts that led to the discovery of oil in the remote corner of India in the late 19th century.

When asked about his visit , Barkindo said that Digboi was a name he had heard many times since his student days. “A dream is fulfilled finally as I have the distinct honour and privilege to visit the birth place of the oil industry that fuelled the current civilisation and will continue to do so in the foreseeable future.”

Imagined liabilities?

A top government official this past week scoffed at hacks for some media reports that alluded to huge hidden pension liabilities of the national carrier Air India and how this may dampen interest from prospective bidders for the proposed privatisation. Where is the question of hidden pension liabilities, when employees are not entitled to any pension, quipped this official. Clearly, the government seems to be determined to make a success of its privatisation efforts.

 

Music to the ears

Reserve Bank of India Governor Urjit Patel is known to be a man of few words.

That’s probably the reason why the world sits up and takes special notice every time he talks about the Indian economy and its prospects.

Speaking for Finance Minister Arun Jaitley (who is indisposed) at the International Monetary Finance Committee in Washington this past week, Patel revealed what economists in rating agencies have been telling us recently.

“There are now clearer signs that the revival in investment activity will be sustained”, Patel said. Coming from the RBI Governor himself, this is certainly good news.If you are wondering what the reason behind the revival in investment activity is, it is the capital goods sector that is leading the way!

 

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