Newton Thinks

Interested in Food, Literature, Politics, Technology and Science

[Lalit Rathi - LKR @lalitinvestor]

I think India has completely misread the biggest economic shift of the last decade.

Unfortunately the Government of India has failed. Not marginally. Not partially. It has failed in a big way.

For years we have been told that India is the fastest-growing large economy in the world. That our demographics are unmatched. That our consumption story is intact. That global investors cannot ignore us.

Yet look at what has actually happened.

Over the last 4–5 years the world witnessed one of the biggest reallocations of capital in modern history.

Trillions of dollars moved.

The US attracted capital into AI. Taiwan became the semiconductor capital of the world. South Korea became a key beneficiary of the memory and AI boom. Vietnam emerged as a manufacturing destination. Singapore strengthened its position as Asia's capital hub. UAE became a magnet for global entrepreneurs and family offices.

And India?

India largely watched from the sidelines while continuing to sell the same consumption story.

The numbers tell the story.

Net FDI inflows into India have fallen sharply from their peak years.

Private equity activity has slowed materially.

Venture capital funding is a fraction of what it was during the 2021 cycle.

Foreign investors have been net sellers for prolonged periods.

And despite all this there seems to be very little introspection within the system..

Instead every explanation sounds familiar.

"It's a global issue."
"It's temporary."
"It's an AI bubble."
"It's because of interest rates."

At some point we need to stop explaining away reality.

Capital does not care about narratives.

Capital follows opportunity.

And we failed to create enough of it.

China built manufacturing ecosystems that are still decades ahead of us. America built the world's most powerful innovation engine. Taiwan built the semiconductor backbone of the digital economy.

India built compliance.

Ask any foreign investor.

They worry about:

* tax uncertainty
* regulatory complexity
* currency depreciation
* capital movement restrictions
* compliance burden
* endless approvals

These are not ideological issues. These are execution failures.

What makes this even more worrying is that India continues to depend heavily on a consumption-led growth model.

But where does that consumption come from?

A large part comes from:

* salaried professionals
* IT employees
* financial services
* real estate-linked employment
* urban middle class spending

Now look at what AI is doing.

Whether people like it or not this is no longer a passing theme.

It is already reshaping hiring.

It is already reshaping productivity.

It is already changing how businesses think about incremental headcount.

If India misses this wave as well then the consequences will not be limited to the IT sector.

The ripple effects could hit:

* housing demand
* automobiles
* travel
* entertainment
* premium consumption
* retail spending

The second-order impact may be larger than the first-order impact.

And yet where is the urgency?

Where is the national AI mission at scale?

Where are the world-class research incentives?

Where are the regulatory reforms to attract global capital?

Where is the accountability from bureaucrats who have repeatedly missed these shifts?

The most dangerous assumption being made today is that demographics will save India.

Demographics are not an advantage by default.

They are only an advantage if jobs are created faster than aspirations.

Otherwise demographics become pressure.

And pressure eventually becomes unrest.

The world is moving faster than at any point in modern history.

The uncomfortable truth is that India is not competing against its own past anymore.

India is competing against countries that are moving with far greater speed and urgency.

The next 3 years will decide whether India becomes a genuine economic superpower or remains a country endlessly talking about its potential.

Potential does not attract capital. Execution does.

[Renuka Jain @RenukaJain6]

How government has turned a blind eye to financial and mental trauma faced by air travellers. Only in India no one is accountable for such unacceptable behaviour by airlines.

[Calcutta Tram Users Association @_CTUA_]

When the state govt of West Bengal is moving towards Supreme Court in order to discontinue the tram service of Kolkata
Please help us to save Kolkata tramways, valuable insight are welcome

Yesterday’s high court hearing !
https://t.co/4rqYzP2Dcr

[Newton Thinks @saibalbishnu]

This is an interesting way to look at the increasing #inequality in #India

[P R Sundar @PRSundar64]

"India’s GDP in 2024 is approximately $4 trillion (₹330 lakh-crore), with a population of 1.4 billion, resulting in a per capita income of about $2,800. However, this figure is misleading when we consider wealth distribution. Ambani and Adani alone have a combined wealth of around $200 billion. The top 10 wealthiest individuals account for about $420 billion, the top 200 individuals for about $1 trillion, the top 1% of the population for $1.6 trillion, and the top 5% for $2.5 trillion.

To put this in perspective, excluding Ambani and Adani, India's per capita wealth drops to $2,700. Excluding the top 10 individuals, it falls to $2,500; excluding the top 200, it drops to $2,150; excluding the top 1%, it plummets to $1,730; and excluding the top 5%, it sinks to about $1,130. This last figure is below the per capita income of most Sub-Saharan African countries.

[Newton Thinks @saibalbishnu]

Honb’le CJI, we urge you to expedite #JusticeForAbhaya, the young doctor who faced unspeakable horrors at #RGKar. Delay in hearing not only stalls justice but fuels culture of impunity. Swift action essential to restore faith in the judiciary. @SupremeCourtIND @officeofCJI

[Newton Thinks @saibalbishnu]

@NewIndAssurance A total loss claim No. (98000031240391161893) is pending for a long time without resolution. Please expedite and resolve.

[Newton Thinks @saibalbishnu]

@MarutiSuzukiIns A total loss claim (No. 98000031240391161893 with New India Assurance) is pending for a long time, sent an Email to you. No cooperation received. Please help!

[Newton Thinks @saibalbishnu]

50 days of waiting for Justice.
আর কবে?
#JusticeForRGKar
#COMJNMH

[Newton Thinks @saibalbishnu]

#freeKalatan
#JusticeForRGKar
#JusticeForRGkor

[SanjuktaChoudhury @SanjuktaChoudh5]

came rushing out with folded hands. The CM asked him questions about the number of machines in his institute and the conditions they were in.While she barged in from one department to the other the Director of the institute, the renowned Neuro-Surgeon

[Newton Thinks @saibalbishnu]

Every Doctor and every citizen in the nation is waiting for a fair and fast justice. This is a litmus test for our beloved nation and specially it's judicial processes and courts. Every one is watching you @indSupremeCourt
Jai Hind 🇮🇳
#JusticeForRGKar
#WeWantJustice

[Aparna @chhuti_is]

Doctors have called for a human chin today across Kolkata. Details are here.

[Newton Thinks @saibalbishnu]

@sagarikaghose @BJP4India @cpimspeak @MamataOfficial Please stop preaching us!

[Newton Thinks @saibalbishnu]

@sagarikaghose You are the vested interest!

[Newton Thinks @saibalbishnu]

ডার্বি বাতিল করলে কর
বিচার চায় আর জি কর!

ডার্বিতে এই প্রথমবার
হেরে গেল সরকার!
❤️💛💚❤️

#EastBengalClub #MohunBaganAC
#JusticeForMoumita
#RGKarMedicalCollegeHospital

[Amit Malviya @amitmalviya]

On 16th Aug, West Bengal Govt’s Health Ministry has issued an 8 page long list of transfer orders, adding to the already chaotic situation.

On Mamata Banerjee’s target is Medical College Kolkata and Calcutta National Medical College. These two are the epicentre of protests against her fascist regime.

So far, five professors from these two prestigious institutes have been transferred out to colleges in Siliguri, Tamluk, Jhargram etc.

This is a desperate attempt to scare the senior doctor community into submission.

What is Mamata Banerjee trying to hide?

[Newton Thinks @saibalbishnu]

The perpetrators of the horrific, ghastly murder and rape of the #RGKarMedicalcollege
Doctor is being protected by Mamata, the protesting voices are being stifled, repressed, protesting Docs transferred. #ResignMamata
#AmarGhorRGKar
#justiceformoumitadebnath

[Riteish Deshmukh @Riteishd]

Stand up India !!

Every Voice Matters…

#justiceformoumitadebnath

[UNITED DOCTORS FRONT (UDF) @UDF_BHARAT]

We strongly condemns @MamataOfficial @BengalGovernor unjust transfer of faculty members who supported our protest.These punitive measures will not silence our demands for justice and security.We stand united and resolute in our fight.
@ANI @PTI_News @HMOIndia @PMOIndia @AmitShah

[Md Salim @salimdotcomrade]

Vandalism inside #RGKar which ⁦@MamataOfficial⁩ and police want to overlook and focus on protesters.