Anirban Bhattacharya, Author at Centre for Financial Accountability

Why are Bank Unions Going on Strike?

It is imperative that we see through the machinations being deployed and defend the right to collective action by the b...

Coverage General

Article

Combating Inequality, BRIC by BRIC

As the streets of Delhi are decked up with BRICS hoardings, and as we are (presumably) gearing up to hide our own gross ...

Article

Village Vibe Check: Nabard data exposes rural India’s huge economic crisis

Close look at Nabard’s latest sentiment survey reveals falling incomes, shrinking savings, and rising debt, exposi...

Coverage General

Article

Do We Now Have Something to Rely On?

It is educative and encouraging to see that this agitation and its participants – young and restless – have not only bee...

Coverage General

Article

Financial Inclusion has Remained only a Buzzword in Banking

Financial inclusion cannot be measured by the number of loans disbursed; it cannot be measured only by opening bank...

General National Finance

Article

Petrochemical boom in Budget 2026: Fossil lock-in amid climate crisis

INDIA’S 2025 was a year of unrelenting climate catastrophe. Extreme climatic events battered the country on 99 per...

Coverage Energy General Oil and gas

Article

Did the Budget Do Enough to Solve the Problems Faced by the MSMEs?

This budget has grabbed headlines for its support to the MSME sector, particularly with the announcement of the 10,...

General Post-Budget Series 2026 Union Budget

Article

The Labour Codes serve Capital

What better time to bring into effect the Labour Codes than right after a thumping victory in the Bihar elections. Bihar...

Coverage General Indian Economy

Article

A note complicating the claims around financial inclusion through Banking

When the RBI announced recently that its Financial Inclusion Index had jumped from 64.2 to 67 this year, celebrating ...

Coverage Debt Crisis & NBFCs General Indian Economy

Article

Loan Write-offs and Reduction in Rural Bank Branches Are Undermining Financial Inclusion in India

As the DFS gears up for its stock-taking meet, it must recall that true financial inclusion needs more public sector b...

Coverage Debt Crisis & NBFCs General Indian Economy

September 29, 2026

Anirban Bhattacharya

Why are Bank Unions Going on Strike?

It is imperative that we see through the machinations being deployed and defend the right to collective action by the bank unions. Kolkata: SBI employees hold placards during the United Forum of Bank Unions nationwide strike demanding the implementation of a five-day workweek, in Kolkata, Tuesday...

Coverage General

Article

September 16, 2026

Anirban Bhattacharya

Combating Inequality, BRIC by BRIC

As the streets of Delhi are decked up with BRICS hoardings, and as we are (presumably) gearing up to hide our own gross inequities with green screens, it is imperative that we point at this silence on addressing inequality. A NDMC worker carries out beautification work near Bharat Mandapam...

BRICS Coverage General International Finance

Article

September 16, 2026

Anirban Bhattacharya

Village Vibe Check: Nabard data exposes rural India’s huge economic crisis

Close look at Nabard’s latest sentiment survey reveals falling incomes, shrinking savings, and rising debt, exposing grim reality behind India’s rural claims The government should remember that the problem of excessive borrowing is concentrated largely among younger borrowers, who have...

Coverage General

Article

September 16, 2026

Anirban Bhattacharya

Do We Now Have Something to Rely On?

It is educative and encouraging to see that this agitation and its participants – young and restless – have not only been able to dispel the veil of fear in publicly speaking up against the might of this regime, but have also been willing to question the leadership of the present movement too. Ill...

Coverage General

Article

September 16, 2026

Anirban Bhattacharya

Financial Inclusion has Remained only a Buzzword in Banking

Financial inclusion cannot be measured by the number of loans disbursed; it cannot be measured only by opening bank accounts or simply through digitisation; it cannot be served with the idea of “efficiency”; it cannot be brought about through shrinking branches and rising correspondents replaci...

General National Finance

Article

September 16, 2026

Dr Vishvaja Sambath, Joe Athialy, Anirban Bhattacharya, Shivam Dwivedi

Petrochemical boom in Budget 2026: Fossil lock-in amid climate crisis

INDIA’S 2025 was a year of unrelenting climate catastrophe. Extreme climatic events battered the country on 99 per cent of days from January to November, devastating 17.4 million hectare of crops and claiming over 4,400 lives. The “Year of Extremes” brought heat waves that scorched Delhi, floo...

Coverage Energy General Oil and gas

Article

September 16, 2026

Anirban Bhattacharya

Did the Budget Do Enough to Solve the Problems Faced by the MSMEs?

This budget has grabbed headlines for its support to the MSME sector, particularly with the announcement of the 10,000 crore SME Growth Fund. Given the fact that MSMEs have suffered in recent times because of the tariff wars and the dwindling demand in the domestic market, the sector did need s...

General Post-Budget Series 2026 Union Budget

Article

December 8, 2025

Anirban Bhattacharya

The Labour Codes serve Capital

What better time to bring into effect the Labour Codes than right after a thumping victory in the Bihar elections. Bihar, a labour-sending state, saw out-migration, “palayan” of youth, lack of employment opportunities and low wages emerge as major issues in the run up to the elections. Yet, when a t...

Coverage General Indian Economy

Article

September 11, 2025

Anirban Bhattacharya

A note complicating the claims around financial inclusion through Banking

When the RBI announced recently that its Financial Inclusion Index had jumped from 64.2 to 67 this year, celebrating “significant improvement,” it painted a rosy picture that masks a troubling reality. The Department of Financial Services too has been trumpeting achievements in bringing ...

Coverage Debt Crisis & NBFCs General Indian Economy

Article

September 11, 2025

Anirban Bhattacharya

Loan Write-offs and Reduction in Rural Bank Branches Are Undermining Financial Inclusion in India

As the DFS gears up for its stock-taking meet, it must recall that true financial inclusion needs more public sector bank branches and staff. Soldiers and SBI officials at a PM Jan Dhan Yojana camp in rural Manipur in 2016. Photo: X/@easterncomd. It appears that a major stock-taking and brainstorm...

Coverage Debt Crisis & NBFCs General Indian Economy

Article