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There has been a cumulative 74.2 per cent decline in income disparity coverage for those earning up to Rs 5 lakh annually between fiscal years 2013-14 and 2022-23, said a State Bank of India (SBI) report on Friday. To paraphrase the "often myth of worsening inequality" in India, the research report from the Economic Department of SBI has analysed the income disparity curves of assessment years (AY) 2014-15/FY14 and AY24/FY23. A comparison of disparity in income during AY15 and AY24 shows that there is a clear rightward shift in the income distribution curve, signifying people in lower income brackets are increasing their income to converge towards their share in population, it said. "Our analysis shows that there has been a cumulative 74.2% decline in income disparity coverage for those earning up to Rs 5 lakh. This shows the continuous efforts of Govt are reaching the bottom of pyramid that is leading to increase in income of 'lower income group' people," said the report titled 'H
Fair price shops dealers held a protest here at Jantar Mantar on Wednesday demanding a minimum income guarantee of Rs 50,000 per month and a continued supply of food grains under the old Prime Minister's Garib Kalyan yojana (PMGKY) Scheme. The protesters from All India Fair Price Shop Dealers' Federation (AIFPSF) had come from different states and gathered at Jantar Mantar. The body's national general secretary Biswambhar Basu said that they demand a continued supply of food grains under the old PMGKY scheme as before and a minimum monthly income guarantee of Rs 50,000. The organisation came with a roster of 11 demands in all. Among its other demands were a minimum margin of Rs 764 only per quintal and allowing the fair price shop dealers in rural areas to function as direct procurement agents (DPA) for rice and wheat.
Mutual funds focussed on investing in fixed-income securities witnessed an outflow of Rs 13,815 crore in February, making it the third month of withdrawals in a row despite expectations that the rate hike cycle was nearing its end. In comparison, such funds saw an outflow of Rs 10,316 crore in January and Rs 21,947 crore in December. Prior to that, debt funds saw a net infusion of Rs 3,668 crore in November 2022, data from the Association of Mutual Funds in India (Amfi) showed. Of the 16 fixed-income or debt fund categories, nine witnessed net outflows during the month under review and the remaining six saw inflow. The heavy withdrawal was seen from liquid funds. Overall, debt funds continued to witness outflows at Rs 13,815 crore during the period under review. "With the central bank's focus on moderating inflation, the monetary policy has been tailored to ensure a disinflation process. Despite expectations around the February rate hike of 25 basis points likely being amongst the