5G in India 2023: Strong Pros and Cons.

“Stagflation a double whammy for the Economy”

  Theme:  World Bank’s President David Malpass warned about Stagflation in upcoming times. The term emerged during the 1973-1975 recession.   What is Stagflation: Stagflation is an economic condition where there is a high rate of unemployment along with rising inflation and slow growth in the economy. It occurs when there is a simultaneous appearance of all these three aspects in an economy. Inflation drives prices up but purchasing power down, as spending the same amount of money gets you less value as prices go up. Which means economic growth has slowed dramatically or ground to a halt, with high unemployment, a drop in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), slumping wages, and other factors.  Stagflation = High unemployment + Inflation + Economic slowdown   Causes of Stagflation: Example:- Disruption in the oil supply or a shortage of essential parts, which recently occurred during the Covid-19 pandemic with a disruption in the flow of semiconductors that slowed the production of everything from laptops to cars and appliances, etc. worldwide.  –        Inflation –        Unemployment –        Economic Growth   Stagflation vs Inflation: Example of Stagflation: It is expensive and challenging to end from a social and financial perspective. History has only a handful of instances of this. The most significant one took place in the United States in the 1970s. The arrival of economic stagnation in the  1970s was blamed on the US Federal Reserve’s unsustainable economic policy during the boom years of the late 1950s and 1960s. In the 1960s, the Fed took action to maintain low unemployment and increase overall demand for goods and services. However, the decade’s very low unemployment rate resulted in what is known as a wage-price spiral. The 1973 OPEC oil embargo also contributed to the unfavorable economic occurrence in the United States. The country’s industries were harmed by extremely high oil costs and shortages. New lows in demand resulted in decreased industrial output. Cure for stagflation: Conclusion: Growth is being negatively impacted by the conflict in Ukraine, China’s curfews, and supply-chain problems, as a result of stagflation which  makes it difficult for businesses to operate. Earnings and expenses are both rising. Meanwhile, slow or declining economic development and high unemployment may lead sales to stagnate or fall.It allows management to carefully assess their business and make changes to strengthen it. Productivity can be increased by businesses using time and money-saving technology. They may reconsider their pricing strategy, consider acquiring or merging with competitors, and bolster their balance sheet. Companies that take such measures to survive stagflation may find themselves in a strong position for growth when the economy improves.   Read more: https://www.economicshelp.org/blog/glossary/stagflation/ Also read: https://hirednex.com/rise-of-gig-economy-pros-cons-and-future/

Digital currency vs UPI in India 2023

  Theme:  Digital Rupee-Retail (e- R), was launched on December 01, 2022, within a closed user group (CUG) comprising participating customers and merchants. What is digital currency: A type of cash that is available in digital form and may be used for electronic transactions is referred to as “digital currency.”  Example:- e-CNY:- 15 of China’s 23 provinces have received the digital yuan, known as e-CNY, from the People’s Bank of China.   Digital currency VS Cryptocurrency: Digital currency vs UPI:   Here’s an example of how you might use digital currency and UPI in India: Let’s say you want to buy a new phone online from a store that accepts UPI payments. You can choose to pay for the phone using your digital currency, such as by using your debit or credit card to make the payment. The store will process the payment through the UPI system, which will instantly transfer the funds from your bank account to the store’s bank account. You will receive a confirmation of the payment on your phone, and the store will send you the phone once the payment is successfully completed. This entire process can be done quickly and easily, without the need to visit a bank or use physical cash. So the main difference between digital currency and UPI is that digital currency is a type of currency that exists in digital form and can be used for electronic transactions, while UPI is a payment system that allows individuals to send and receive money through their smartphones using a single mobile application. UPI is bank to bank transaction. For example, Person A’s account is in HDFC bank and B’s account is in SBI bank when person A transfers 500 rs to Person B then money from A’s bank account will get transferred to B’s bank account. Therefore, it is a bank-to-bank transaction. Whereas in digital currency there is no role of banks. It is just like cash suppose A transfers rs 500 to B via a Digital wallet. Here there will be no involvement of banks. Here, RBI is directly involved with the users, and this transaction can be tracked by the RBI. Here there is no need for a bank account of a person. So, overall both concepts are different. Benefits of digital currency in India: Increased efficiency: Digital currency can be transferred and verified electronically, which can make financial transactions faster and more efficient than using traditional methods such as checks or bank transfers. Reduced costs: Digital currency transactions can be less expensive than traditional financial transactions, as they often do not require intermediaries or incur fees for things like a currency exchange or bank transfers. Increased financial inclusion: Digital currency can make it easier for people who do not have access to traditional financial services, such as those in rural areas or with limited resources, to participate in the financial system. Improved security: Digital currency transactions can be more secure than traditional methods, as they often use advanced cryptography to protect against fraud and hacking. For example, if the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) were to issue a central bank digital currency (CBDC), it could potentially reduce the costs and risks associated with traditional financial transactions, increase financial inclusion, and improve the overall efficiency of the financial system in India.   Conclusion: The use of Digital currency in India could potentially have several benefits, such as increased efficiency, reduced costs, increased financial inclusion, and improved security. However, it is important to note that there are also potential risks and challenges associated with the issuance of digital currency, and it is not clear at this time whether the RBI will decide to move forward with this idea. References : Digital India vs UPI. Also read : Collectivism vs Individualism – Which is Strong? The Strong Impact of 5G on the global economy        

Recession and its impacts

  Theme: It is expected that the world will slip into recession in 2023. Several countries are already on the brink of recession. For example, UK GDP contracted and Bank of America’s strategists said the US could fall into a recession in the first quarter of 2023. According to its survey, it was found that 91% of CEOs of top companies expect a recession in 2023.   What is a Recession ? Recession can be defined as extended periods of production decline that affect a large portion of the economy. Recessions often start when a significant decline in consumer expenditure across an economy occurs. When not managed carefully and promptly, it may often be catastrophic for an economy since it may result in an economic depression.   The present situation: Cause of the present situation: Impact of a possible recession on the world: India’s situation: Conclusion: Recession is a natural phenomenon in the economic cycle where the demand reaches a peak and starts to decline. Recessions have plenty of negative consequences, but with proactive measures from the government, their effects can be reduced and made into a mild recession to prevent severe negative outcomes. Many major countries will likely experience a recession in 2023. Also Read: India’s E-commerce Policy – Impact on the E-commerce Industry Also Read: Green economy What’s your take on the recession? Express your point of view through the comment section below. And subscribe to our blog to read answers to the trending GD topics.

COP 27 Outcomes: What You Need to Know About the Latest Climate Change Developments

COP 27 Outcomes: Latest Climate Change Developments Theme: A conference of parties (COP) was held in EGYPT on November 2022.   What is COP: COP is a series of United Nations for controlling climate change that took place yearly and was established in 1995. The main aim of these conferences is to monitor and review the progress in dealing with climate change, made by the members of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to limit climate change. It consists of 198 countries.   Objectives of COP 27: 1. To reduce global warming to 2 degrees Celsius to prevent irreversible damage. 2. To enhance climate resilience (capacity of social, economic, and ecosystems to cope with a hazardous event or trend or disturbance) in most vulnerable communities. 3. Deliver 100 billion dollars every year to help developing countries. 4. To stabilize the concentration of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere. 5. To strengthen public awareness about climate change in every nation.   Achievements: 1. COP 27 brought over 190 countries to find agreement on climate change, climate finance, decarbonization, biodiversity and agriculture. 2. The creation of the Green climate fund is one of the biggest achievements of COP, voluntary donations by rich nations to help low and mid-income countries to adapt to climate change and reduce emissions. 3. To continue the agreement which took place in Paris in 2015, COP 21 is to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees. 4. It included renewable energy for the first time and fossil fuel subsidies. Challenges: 1. Compared to COP 26 there was little progress from last year’s meeting in Glasgow on key issues around cutting planet-heating pollution. 2. No stronger commitment by countries to reduce methane emissions and to phase out fossil fuels. 3. It is also noted that there are no clear criteria mentioned by COP 27 to expand renewable sources of energy. 4. Because of no sufficient action, nations are no longer on track to reduce the 1.5-degree temperature. Conclusion: Overall, COP 27 ended with the announcement of historic loss and damage of funds, to continue the agreement which took place in Paris in 2015, COP 21 which is to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees. Overall, India performed well at Sharm El-Sheikh by supporting other developing countries on L&D, by proposing the phasing down of fossils and a set goal to reduce the low carbon emission strategy but advancement by the government in improving strategy is still needed for the nation’s development.   References:https://unfccc.int/cop27https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/cop27 Also Read:https://hirednex.com/green-growth-the-new-india-2023/ Smart Agriculture: Approaches and Benefits in 2023  

The Strong advantages of Neo banks over Traditional banks 2023

  Theme: The Concept of Neo bank emerged years ago(2013-15), but in India, this concept came in 2016 by the company ‘Niyo Solutions’. What are Neo Banks? Neo Banks are simply digital banks without any physical branches. Advantages of Neo Banks: Convenience:–  Customers can use these banks with the help of an app and they are easily accessible from anywhere and anytime. Lowers cost:– Neo banks charge lower interest on loans as well as they provide high interest on customers saving accounts also neo bank doesn’t require any physical branches so it helps banks to save their overhead costs. Speed:- Neo banks use advanced technology and help customers to register their accounts readily and process request time is quite low as compared to traditional banks. Examples of specialized Neo Banks:- Akudo:– These banks provide prepaid cards to teens so that the teenagers can safeguard their money as well as spend wisely. The tagline of the bank is – A Neo bank that rewards teens for mastering money.’  LXME:– It is India’s first bank for women-specific financial needs. Challenges of Neo Banks: Digital Literacy:- Tech literacy is quite low in India and these banks can only run online so, the banks are not able to cater to rural India. Building trust:- They don’t have physical branches like traditional banks because they feel risk in case of any issues or challenges. Services offered:– These banks offer a small range of banking services, unlike traditional banks. Recognition:– These banks are not yet recognised by the Reserve Bank of India(RBI) and hence it’s a huge challenge for Neo Banks. What are traditional banks? Traditional bank means those banks which have a physical presence and have a domestic banking license. These banks offer personal visits during specified office hours.  Services offered by traditional banks are cash deposit and withdrawal, ATM services, financial transactions, International transactions, opening accounts, Fixed deposits, etc.  Advantages of Traditional banks: Personal interaction:-  In-person service to customers to build more trust in banks. Cash transactions can be processed:– Cash and check services are easily accessible to customers A wider range of financial services:- They offer a variety of services, unlike Neo banks such as checking, savings, certificates of deposit, auto loans, investing, etc. Digital literacy is not required:- people who are less familiar with tech can also easily access traditional banks. Challenges of Traditional Banks: Interest rates on loans are higher as compared to Neo banks. Traditional banks provide less interest on money in a savings account.    While opening an account it requires a lot of paperwork and it is time-consuming.   Collaboration of Traditional and Neo Banks: Many of the Neo banks are collaborating with traditional banks as traditional banks can reach the young and techy generation as well as data-driven insights, and personalized experience helps neo-banks to achieve a good position in the market and retain customers’ trust. Chqbook neo bank is the first-ever neo bank in India that caters to small business entrepreneurs. Since September 2020, its Mobile Application has been downloaded by more than 1 million users dwelling in 500+ cities in India.  Conclusion: The meaning of ‘Neo’ means new. These are new-era banks without physical branches and can be easily accessible from anywhere via the Internet. They provide financial solutions such as payments, lending of money, payments, and more. They even provide investment facilities, debit cards, and more. It is still hard to judge whether Neo banks will be able to replace traditional banks in the future or not. Because still Neo banks are not recognized by the RBI (Reserve Bank of India).   References : https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/blexplainer/explainer-neo-banks-vs-traditional-banking/article37801052.ece Also read : IMF World Economic Outlook 2023 The Strong Impact of 5G on the global economy