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The parents were right, folks; we should have been looking out for a government job, especially if you reside in the startup capital of India. In a move that has left <keyword id="19974189" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="private-sector" source="keywords">private sector</keyword> employees green with envy, the <keyword id="19896017" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="karnataka" source="keywords">Karnataka</keyword> cabinet on Monday decided to implement the recommendations of the <keyword id="20985744" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Seventh-Pay-Commission" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Seventh Pay Commission" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Seventh Pay Commission">Seventh Pay Commission</keyword>, resulting in an impressive 27.5% hike in the basic salary of state government employees. <h2><keyword id="20727223" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="pay-hike" source="keywords">Pay hike</keyword> like few others</h2>The Chief Minister is expected to make the official announcement in the Legislative Assembly, detailing how over seven lakh state government employees will benefit from this substantial increase starting August 1, as per sources. The Seventh Pay Commission, chaired by former chief secretary K Sudhakar Rao, has recommended this hefty pay rise, which will cost the state exchequer an additional Rs 17,440.15 crore annually. This move comes on the heels of the interim 17% salary hike given by the former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai in March 2023, to which the current administration is adding another 10.5%, making the total hike 27.5%. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111663090" title="The latest trick companies could be using to pay workers less" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>The decision for this remarkable pay raise wasn't just an act of benevolence, however. The Karnataka State Government Employees Association had announced plans to go on an indefinite strike starting August, pressuring the Siddaramaiah government to act decisively. With this hike, the state administration aims to not only meet the demands of its employees but also to bolster morale and productivity within its workforce. <h2>Miles above the average</h2>To put this in perspective, let's compare the raise to the private sector. HR research firm Aon's latest survey indicates that while India Inc. is set to offer an average hike of 9.5% in 2024, the manufacturing sector is expected to be the most generous with a 10.1% increase. Financial institutions come close with a 9.9% hike, and Global Capability Centres (GCCs) of multinational firms are likely to offer 9.8%. Even tech product companies, known for their competitive salaries, are projected to give an average hike of 9.5%. Yet, all these figures pale in comparison to the Karnataka government's increment. <h2><keyword id="21315567" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="employee-retention" source="keywords">Employee retention</keyword></h2>As private companies grapple with attrition rates that have almost reached pre-pandemic levels, the Karnataka government's move could be seen as a strategic effort to attract and retain talent. Aon's study shows that attrition in 2023 was 18.7%, a decrease from over 21% in 2021 and 2022. By offering a significant pay hike, the Karnataka government is positioning itself as an attractive employer in a competitive <keyword id="19916569" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="job-market" source="keywords">job market</keyword>. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111115782" title="Flexibility, salary key jobseeker parameters for new roles in India: Report" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>However, even if you look at salary increments across Asia Pacific countries, India's expected average hike of 9.5% is significantly higher than its neighbours. Bangladesh follows at 7.3%, China at 5.7%, and Japan at a modest 3.6%. Karnataka's 27.5% hike, therefore, is not just a national highlight but an extraordinary figure in the broader regional context. In an era where private sector employees are often seen as the beneficiaries of generous pay hikes, Karnataka's state government has flipped the script. With this 27.5% salary hike, the allure of a government job in Karnataka has never been stronger.

Time for a govt job? Karnataka announces impressive 27% pay hike for state employees

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The FTC finalized its rule to make canceling subscriptions easier.</li><li>The rule targets "negative option" programs, such as auto-renewing subscriptions.</li></ul>The government has had it with <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cancel-subscriptions-easier-flight-refunds-customer-service-gym-memberships-2024-8">companies making it difficult for consumers to cancel</a> their subscriptions.The Federal Trade Commission <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/10/federal-trade-commission-announces-final-click-cancel-rule-making-it-easier-consumers-end-recurring">announced in a press release</a> on Wednesday a final "click-to-cancel" rule that will require companies to make canceling subscriptions just as easy as signing up for them."Too often, businesses make people jump through endless hoops just to cancel a subscription," FTC Chair Lina Khan said in the agency's press release. "The FTC's rule will end these tricks and traps, saving Americans time and money. Nobody should be stuck paying for a service they no longer want."The agency said that its amended rule, most of which goes into effect 180 days after being published in the Federal Register, will apply to "almost all negative option programs in any media." A negative option, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/04/24/2023-07035/negative-option-rule#:~:text=Negative%20option%20offers%20come%20in,as%20acceptance%20of%20an%20offer.">according to the Federal Register</a>, is when an offer contains a term or condition that lets the seller interpret a customer's silence, or lack of affirmative action, as acceptance of an offer — like, for example, auto-renewing subscriptions.The updated rule will prohibit companies from misrepresenting or omitting facts when marketing negative options, require companies to provide important information before the customer gives over their credit card, and make sure that the companies get the customer's explicit consent before they are charged, the FTC explained.The agency said its rule aims to address common problems with these types of subscriptions, such as companies obscuring the terms of their subscriptions, customers getting billed when they didn't agree to pay, and companies making it difficult or impossible to cancel subscriptions.The FTC said it gets thousands of complaints a year about companies' subscription practices. According to the FTC, that number has been on the rise in the last five years. In 2021, for example, the agency received an average of 42 consumer complaints a day, according to the press release. In 2024, the agency has received nearly 70 complaints a day on average.The FTC's crackdown on <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cancel-subscriptions-congress-ftc-dark-practices-autorenewal-2023-2">deceptive subscription practices</a> has been a long time coming. The agency <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ftc-subscriptions-cancel-negative-option-rule-gym-memberships-2023-3">first announced its proposed rule last year</a> but had to go through a lengthy public comment process before it could be finalized. During that process, the agency said it received more than 16,000 comments from consumers, federal and state government agencies, consumer groups, and trade associations.

The government steps in to make it easier to cancel your subscriptions 

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Australia plans to ban social media for users under 16, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.</li><li>The ban comes amid a global effort to curb kids' use of social media.</li></ul>With young people using social media more than ever, and those social media companies perfecting the algorithms that keep them engaged, concerns about social media addiction are taking root all over the world. Now, Australia wants to ban social media for everyone under 16.Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the plan on Thursday. Australia's social media ban will be introduced into Parliament during its final session this year, which begins on November 18. If passed, social media companies will have 12 months to figure out how to keep minors off their apps before the law is enforced, he said."This one's for the moms and dads," Albanese said in a press conference. "Social media is doing harm to our kids, and I'm calling time on it."Albanese told reporters that the proposed law would "put the onus" on social media companies to show that they are taking reasonable steps to keep children off of their apps, and not on parents."There will be no penalties for users," he said.Australia's announcement comes on the heels of a multistate lawsuit in the United States that seeks to hold TikTok accountable for deploying "addictive" strategies aimed at kids and teenagers.In October, attorneys general from 14 different states <a target="_blank" class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ny-ag-letitia-james-stealth-trump-fraud-tiktok-2024-10">filed lawsuits against TikTok</a>. They said the app is addictive and profits from damaging the mental health of children.Internal TikTok documents from the lawsuit filed in Kentucky showed that TikTok employees determined that young users can become addicted to the app after viewing 260 videos. Given that most TikTok videos are about 8 seconds, Kentucky's authorities calculated that a child could be addicted after just 35 minutes of using the app, the document says.In the UK, meanwhile, lawmakers introduced a bill in October that would require social media companies to exclude children under 16 from algorithms that harvest their data. The law is meant to make it more difficult for companies to push addictive content to children, according to The Guardian.In Australia, Albanese said that social media has seeped into every part of life, which led him to believe that a ban for underage users was "absolutely the right thing to do."Around 97% of teens use social media across various platforms in Australia, according to <a target="_blank" class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/australias-planned-social-media-ban-raises-teen-isolation-fears-2024-10-15/">Reuters</a>."This would be the number one discussion outside the schoolgate, on the sideline of tennis, cricket, football, netball, swimming — as parents gather, it's something of enormous concern," Albanese said.Albanese called the legislation "world-leading," but some experts oppose the ban, calling it too broad. More than <a target="_blank" href="https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/young-and-resilient/news/in_media/young_and_resilient_research_centre_joins_chorus_of_nearly_150_australian_and_international_experts_opposing_social_media_ban_for_u16s">140 experts</a> from Australia and other countries signed an open letter opposing the law, saying that the ban doesn't do enough to address children who need access to critical services through social media, among other concerns.Jackie Hallan, director at ReachOut, a youth mental health service, told the Associated Press that she also opposed the ban. According to Hallan, 73% of young people in Australia needing mental health services access it through social media."We're uncomfortable with the ban," Hallan told the outlet. "We think young people are likely to circumvent a ban and our concern is that it really drives the behavior underground and then if things go wrong, young people are less likely to get support from parents and carers because they're worried about getting in trouble."Meta's head of safety, Antigone Davis, told The Associated Press that the company would respect any age limitations that the Australian government wants to introduce."However, what's missing is a deeper discussion on how we implement protections, otherwise we risk making ourselves feel better, like we have taken action, but teens and parents will not find themselves in a better place," Davis said in a statement.Davis added that stronger parental control tools in app stores and operating systems would be a "simple and effective solution" to keep children from downloading unwanted apps.

Australia wants to ban kids under 16 from social media as world governments seek to crack down on the 'addictive' apps

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Vice President Kamala Harris proposed a federal ban on price gouging for groceries.</li><li>While details are light, it would allow the FTC to intervene when companies charge excessive prices.</li></ul>Vice President Kamala Harris released the most detailed information yet on her economic platform, which pledges to lower prices for Americans.It won't be an easy feat.Last week, Harris announced a proposal for the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/grocery-costs-inflation-kamala-harris-ban-price-gouging-election-trump-2024-8">first-ever federal ban on price gouging</a>, a practice in which companies raise the price of goods to excessive levels. This move is part of her initiative to lower overall prices as Americans continue to recover from high inflation.The proposal is light on details but said it would enable the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general to investigate companies that don't comply with the ban.According to the fact sheet, Harris would also "crack down on unfair mergers and acquisitions" that enable big food corporations to raise prices and undermine competition.However, the president can't just tell a grocery store or its suppliers what prices to charge. Experts told Business Insider that anyone wanting to enact a ban would have to carefully define what qualifies as price gouging, leaving little room for interpretation to ensure the ban is applied consistently. Using the Federal Trade Commission to penalize anti-competitive behavior could be an effective way to address excessive pricing, as well.Many states have existing laws on price gouging that attorneys general enacted during pandemic price hikes, and even former President Donald Trump took action at the start of his term. But state laws are lacking in some areas — and that's where a federal ban could help.<h2 id="5e5f133b-10f8-410b-9725-d27f49a3383a">A state-level patchwork and Trump's take on a federal action</h2>Dan Scheitrum, an associate agribusiness professor studying grocery price gouging at California Polytechnic State University, told Business Insider that existing price gouging laws are a patchwork at the state level. He said states have struggled to crack down on the issue because of the scope they use to detect excessive price increases.For example, he said, some states would consider a 10% to 20% price increase during a national emergency price gouging "unless the retailer can prove that their inputs increased in price.""Other states define it very, very broadly and prohibit any unconscionable increase in price or any extreme increase in price. And that's very vague and overbroad," Scheitrum continued. "And the trouble with these price gouging laws is that they're either too specific or so broad that they don't often get litigated and found in favor of detecting price gouging."The pandemic served as a prime opportunity for states to go after price gouging. Scheitrum said that during the initial stay-at-home orders, consumers were changing how they purchased food, and key everyday items saw price swings — particularly eggs.A range of state attorneys general filed lawsuits against various egg producers over price gouging. For example, Minnesota's Keith Ellison reached a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Office/Communications/2021/10/25_SparboeFarms.asp">settlement</a> with a Minnesota-based egg producer in 2021 over accusations the producer raised egg prices excessively.The lack of consistency across states when it comes to the treatment of price gouging means it's not being enforced as effectively as it could, and that's one thing a federal ban could help combat, Scheitrum said.Isabella Weber, an economist at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, also pointed to Trump's efforts to crack down on <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/president-donald-j-trump-will-not-tolerate-price-gouging-hoarding-critical-supplies-needed-combat-coronavirus/">price gouging on medical supplies</a> during the pandemic. In March 2020, Trump signed an executive order to prevent hoarding and price gouging of medical resources, showing existing precedent for administrations to address price gouging in emergencies."I think it's feasible because, in the grocery sector, we are talking about extreme levels of corporate concentration. So it's not like you would need to investigate endless numbers of firms, but you would need to investigate a handful of gigantic firms," Weber said. "So the problem is severe, but it's in a way manageable because of the enormous level of concentration that we have in the food industry."<h2 id="a70032b2-a3d3-4b0a-9664-202f56c903ec">The FTC could be the most effective tool in preventing too-high prices</h2>Scheitrum said a problem Harris could encounter with her current proposal is conflating price gouging with unfair prices."If you were to try and cut down grocery prices today, there's no state of emergency. So most price gouging protections wouldn't apply at all. There'd be nothing to detect because there's no relative price to measure against right now," Scheitrum said. "So there's high prices from just inflation and increased prices across the board."But focusing on companies' anti-competitive behavior could have teeth, he said, given that many big players in the food industry have been sued or are suing regarding this issue.The FTC has investigated the cause of high grocery prices over the course of the pandemic. Most recently, the FTC and Justice Department launched an interagency effort to investigate why grocery prices are remaining high."Many large grocery chains are still raking in enormous profits — the FTC is determined to understand why," FTC Chair Lina Khan said during a virtual August meeting.The FTC has filed lawsuits against major companies like Amazon, Microsoft, and Google over anticompetitive behavior. The legal process is lengthy, but it could have success — the agency has succeeded in blocking major airline and biotech mergers that could stifle competition.<h2 id="953c5bba-944f-4186-82ac-280022cc4b53">A safeguard for a national emergency</h2>Weber said a federal ban on price gouging would allow the US economy to be prepared "for when the next shock hits.""The kind of profit bonanza that we have seen in the food sector, from the grain traders all the way down to the grocery stores, is not going to happen to that extent," she said.Some economists and Democratic lawmakers lauded Harris' announcement for managing price hikes and ensuring the food industry stays competitive. However, some conservative lawmakers and economists criticized the plan and its impact on the economy, with Trump even calling it communism for involving the government in prices.Weber said that implementing a federal ban on price gouging "makes a lot of economic sense" and would allow the government to manage excessive pricing in a national emergency, like what the US experienced during the pandemic."We are really talking about the prices of essentials," Weber said. "We're talking about the prices that really hurt when they go up so that a lot of these ideas of, 'Oh, prices go up and therefore people consume less and therefore prices go down again,' just doesn't apply because people need a place to live. People need to eat."The food industry isn't so sure. The Wall Street Journal <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/food-industry-pushes-back-against-kamala-harriss-price-gouging-plan-064c3bb1?mod=hp_lead_pos1">reported</a> on Monday that big companies are pushing back on Harris blaming corporate greed for high prices. "The proposal calling for a ban on grocery price gouging is a solution in search of a problem," the National Grocers Association told the Journal.Still, Weber said a federal ban isn't as extreme as some critics have said."So we are really talking about a cost-of-living crisis and the price of essentials to ensure a decent life," Weber added, "and not about price controls for the whole economy or anything like that."

The tricky way the government could lower grocery prices

The <keyword id="22906567" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Unified-Pension-Scheme" source="keywords">Unified Pension Scheme</keyword> (<keyword id="19904859" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="UPS" source="keywords">UPS</keyword>) is a newly introduced <keyword id="20146379" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="pension" source="keywords">pension</keyword> system approved by the <keyword id="19909268" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-government" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Indian government" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Indian government">Indian government</keyword> aimed at providing guaranteed pensions, family pensions, and a minimum assured pension for central <keyword id="19933272" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="government-employees" source="keywords">government employees</keyword>. It is set to take effect from April 1, 2025. <h3>Who is eligible for the UPS?</h3>The scheme is applicable to central government employees who have completed a minimum of 10 years of service. It also reportedly offers a choice to current employees between the existing National Pension System (<keyword id="19919089" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="NPS" source="keywords">NPS</keyword>) and the new UPS. This includes employees who are retired or retiring on or before 31 March 2025 with arrears. Once selected, the choice will reportedly be final for both current and future employees. <h3>What are the key benefits of the UPS?</h3><ul><li>Guaranteed Pension: Employees will receive a pension equivalent to 50% of their average basic salary from the last 12 months prior to <keyword id="19908343" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="retirement" source="keywords">retirement</keyword>, provided they have completed at least 25 years of service. This is proportionately reduced for those with less than 25 years but more than 10 years of service.</li><li>Family Pension: In the event of the pensioner's death, the family is entitled to receive 60% of the pension amount that was being disbursed at the time of the pensioner's passing.</li><li>Minimum Pension: A guaranteed minimum monthly pension of Rs 10,000 is assured after retirement for those with at least 10 years of service.</li></ul><h3>How will the pension be adjusted for inflation?</h3>The UPS includes a provision for <keyword id="22911270" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="inflation-adjustment" source="keywords">inflation adjustment</keyword> through Dearness Relief (DR), which is linked to the All India Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (AICPI-IW). This ensures that the pension, family pension, and minimum pension keep pace with inflation. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112777109" title="GST Council meet: TMC&amp;#39;s O&amp;#39;Brien urges Sitharaman to withdraw 18 pc GST on insurance premiums" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>The government's contribution to the pension fund has been increased from 14% to 18.5% of the employee's salary. This is part of the government's commitment to ensuring the <keyword id="20615853" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="financial-security" source="keywords">financial security</keyword> of its employees in retirement. In addition to the regular pension, employees will receive a lump-sum payment at the time of superannuation. This will be 1/10th of the monthly salary (including basic pay and Dearness Allowance) for every six months of completed service. <h3>How does the UPS compare with the NPS?</h3>The UPS offers a guaranteed pension and family pension, whereas the NPS is a contributory scheme where the final pension amount depends on the accumulated corpus and market performance. Employees under the UPS have the security of a fixed pension, while the NPS offers potentially higher returns but with associated risks. The central government has made the framework of the UPS available to state governments. If adopted, it could benefit around 90 lakh state government employees currently under the NPS. <h3>What is the broader impact of the UPS?</h3>As per current estimates, the implementation of the UPS is expected to cost the government an additional Rs 6,250 crore in its first year. The costs will be reassessed every three years to ensure sustainability. The introduction of the new pension scheme is potentially a significant step toward ensuring the financial security and dignity of government employees in their retirement years. It remains to be seen whether it will effectively address the growing demands for a more secure pension system and improve <keyword id="21935721" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="employee-welfare" source="keywords">employee welfare</keyword>.

Confused by the newly introduced Unified Pension Scheme? Here’s all you need to know about how it will work

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Elon Musk pushed for federal regulation of autonomous vehicles during Tesla's earnings call.</li><li>The Tesla CEO has previously said he'd be interested in a cabinet role under a second Trump admin.</li></ul><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-ceo-elon-musk">Elon Musk</a> said Wednesday that he thinks autonomous vehicles should be approved at the federal level, rather than state by state, and that if he ends up with a role in the White House, he'd make it happen.The Tesla CEO made the comment on the company's earnings call Wednesday. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-stock-tsla-earnings-call-report-live-updates-2024-10">Tesla's third-quarter earnings</a> beat expectations, and its stock was up 12% in after-hours trading following the earnings release.Musk said during the call that he expects Tesla to have unsupervised fully autonomous vehicles on the road in Texas and California next year, pending state approval. He said he would be "shocked" if the company did not get approval, but that he thinks in general it would be better if autonomous vehicles were approved on the federal level."There should be a federal approval process for autonomous vehicles," Musk said on the call, adding, "If there's a department of government efficiency, I'll try to help make that happen. For everyone, not just Tesla."Musk did not mention Trump by name, but he previously said he would be enthusiastic to take on a White House role centered on enforcing <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-government-efficiency-ideas-wrong-experts-2024-9">government efficiency</a> should Donald Trump take office."I can't wait," Musk said on X, in response to a Washington Post report about Trump floating the idea of a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-trump-cabinet-election-x-2024-9">cabinet role for the billionaire</a>. "There is a lot of waste and needless regulation in government that needs to go."The US regulates autonomous vehicles on a state and federal level, according to the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.ncsl.org/transportation/autonomous-vehicles">National Conference of State Legislatures</a>. At least 29 states have enacted laws related to autonomous vehicles, the association said.Since his endorsement of Trump in July, Musk has been aiding the Trump campaign's ground game, flying to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-private-jet-hits-swing-states-campaigns-donald-trump-2024-10">swing states</a>, hosting town halls, and setting up <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-1-million-giveaway-legal-questions-2024-10">sweepstakes</a> that encourages people to vote, which some legal experts say could breach election law.At a Pennsylvania town hall on October 18, Musk proposed firing an unspecified number of federal workers while providing them a two-year severance.Musk did not respond to a request for comment.

Elon Musk said he'd push to regulate autonomous driving on the federal level 'if there's a department of government efficiency'

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Elon Musk is calling for deregulation and spending cuts to make the government more efficient.</li><li>The billionaire's mindset echoes previous efforts to run the US government like a business.</li></ul><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk">Elon Musk</a> is on a mission to make the US government more efficient, touting deregulation and decreased spending in public appearances as he <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-trump-cabinet-election-x-2024-9">courts a role</a> in a potential second Trump administration.The billionaire evangelized about efficiency during a live appearance at the All-In podcast Summit in Los Angeles on Monday, suggesting he would draw on his business acumen to slash federal spending if chosen as the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-adopts-elon-musk-plan-cut-government-spending-efficiency-reform-2024-9">head of Trump's would-be government efficiency commission</a>."We do have an opportunity to do a once-in-a-lifetime deregulation and reduction in the size of government," Musk said at the summit appearance about a potential <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-wants-elon-musk-on-his-cabinet-2024-8">Trump win</a>.But two political scientists told Business Insider that Musk's desire to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://hbr.org/2017/03/the-u-s-cannot-be-run-like-a-business">run the US government like a private business</a> — an approach many private sector professionals have supported for decades — isn't as foolproof as the CEO might think.Musk did not respond to a request for comment.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-donald-trump-feud-relationship-timeline-2022-7">Musk has done a 180</a> in his support for Trump. The billionaire endorsed Hillary Clinton in 2016, but after Trump won, accepted a role on two of the then-president's economic advisory councils. He later departed the administration, citing Trump's environmental policies.But since Musk officially endorsed Trump in July, he's repeatedly <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1834104386303520822">posted</a> on X about the need for government efficiency."The idea that you can run the entire government as a business, it's just not designed that way," said Patricia Crouse, a practitioner in residence of political science and public administration at the University of New Haven. "You have to work around our system of federalism."Trump, a businessman turned politician, based much of his first presidential campaign on the notion that his <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2017/03/27/trumps-idea-to-run-the-government-like-a-business-is-an-old-one-in-american-politics/">experience in the private sector</a> would guide his approach to politics.While perhaps misguided, both experts said it's not an entirely unfounded line of thinking. According to the academics, the government is inefficient in many ways, and accusations that federal agencies waste time and money are not always unwarranted.But the push to make the government work more like a business <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cost-efficiency-isnt-best-measurement-government-policy-2022-6">misunderstands a fundamental element</a> of US federalism — profit is not the end-all, be-all, political science experts said."Government is almost always more inefficient than the private sector because their motives are just different," said Christian Grose, a professor of political science at the University of Southern California.<div type="image" title="Al Gore and Bill Clinton stand at a podium holding a government report" height="1460" width="2921" msid="113345808" hostid="261" sizebytes="110754"></div><h2 id="7c8addd5-408c-4950-b159-3797e89f7a84">Profit vs. Protection</h2>Efforts to privatize parts of the US government date back decades. The modern-day push for a business-like government has its roots in <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/theres-a-big-difference-between-reaganomics-and-trumponomics-2017-3">Reaganomics</a>, the economic policy put forth by President Ronald Reagan in 1981, which reduced regulation, slashed government spending, and scaled down the federal workforce.The other side of the aisle took a similar approach in 1993 when then-Vice President <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/im-a-recovering-politician-and-wont-run-for-office-again-al-gore-2022-7">Al Gore</a> launched the Reinventing Government initiative, which attempted to streamline government processes and minimize bureaucracy.Former President George W. Bush also had a business background, making his pre-presidency fortune in the Texas oil industry. Once in office, Bush cut regulations with his Faith-Based and Community Initiative, which sought to outsource some social services to faith-based groups.Grose said the pro-business mentality is present in local and state government, too, adding that private sector professionals often run gubernatorial races on such platforms.Political experts said it makes sense that business leaders like Musk would see only inefficiency and wastefulness in the government's operations."In the private sector, the motive is profit. The less efficient you are, the less profitable you are," Grose said. "But inefficiency in the private sector isn't the same."The <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/privitizing-public-goods-healthcare-education-doesnt-work-opinion-2022-1">government's job isn't to make money,</a> but to regulate and keep people safe."Sometimes that's not efficient in an economic sense," Grose added.Consider, too, that the government and businesses serve very different stakeholders, Grose said. CEOs have to answer to stockholders and a board of directors — the president has to answer to every American in the country.<div type="image" title="Elon Musk and donald Trump sit at a table" height="2200" width="3300" msid="113345810" hostid="261" sizebytes="236978"></div><h2 id="77ff06c1-a7ce-42dd-87ed-6be17fc49a6d">The pitfalls of privatized government</h2>Crouse said the consequences could be dire if Trump and Musk are able to make massive cuts to federal agencies."If you decide you want to run the government entirely like a business, you're going to see things like poverty and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-job-market-unemployment-rising-federal-reserve-interest-rate-cut-2024-7">unemployment</a> increase because it becomes every man for himself," Crouse said.For all of its faults, the federal government has a fail-safe of sorts, thanks, in part, to its massive size, Crouse said. She added that outsourcing critical government services to private companies runs the risk that those services could disappear if the company went bankrupt."A business isn't really self-correcting, at least not as easily as government is," Crouse said.Crouse said that privatizing the federal government could also lead to increased corruption, pointing to the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/private-prisons-lobby-for-their-own-existence-2016-8">for-profit prison industry</a> as one example. In 2008, two Pennsylvania judges were convicted of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-trending-news-government-and-politics-6f30f575dc739415af1e5b47b1be50f0">accepting money in return</a> for sending kids to private detention centers to increase occupancy."Businesses are out to make a profit, so they're going to do what they can to increase profits, and if the consumer gets hurt in the process of doing that, well, that's all a part of business," Crouse said.Beyond the logistical issues associated with a business-like government, Grose said he was skeptical of the sentiment at the heart of Musk's comments earlier this week, casting doubt on whether a second Trump presidency would result in "once-in-a-lifetime" deregulation.While Trump did engage in <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wall-street-dodd-frank-deregulation-bill-trump-gop-obama-legacy-2018-5">some deregulation</a> during his first term, Grose said he didn't behave like a traditional business Republican, citing his tariffs and tax cuts, the latter of which helped the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.propublica.org/article/national-debt-trump">national debt surge.</a>"It's not obvious to me that he is a massive budget cutter based on past experience," Grose added.Both Crouse and Grose also expressed hesitation about taking business advice from Musk, pointing to the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-looks-like-he-is-destroying-x-intentionally-2023-11">breakdown of Twitter, now X</a>, after the billionaire bought the site in 2022.Ultimately, however, both said the 235-year-old federalism that governs America simply isn't equipped to handle the pressures faced by private businesses."My fear is that it would collapse," Crouse said.

Elon Musk's ideas about government efficiency are all wrong, political scientists say

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Despite the Kremlin's neutral stance, Russian state media shows it favors Donald Trump.</li><li>State media has ridiculed Kamala Harris while portraying Trump in a positive light. </li></ul>The Kremlin has long maintained it doesn't care who will win the US presidential election on November 5th."Generally speaking, the outcome of this election makes no difference to us," Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsweek.com/exclusive-russias-lavrov-warns-dangerous-consequences-us-ukraine-1964468">Newsweek</a> earlier this month.But despite what Russian officials claim, the country's state media tells a very different story."Russia absolutely cares a great deal about who wins the US election," Ann Marie Dailey, a policy researcher at RAND, told Business Insider."Russia will seek to sway the election in a way that minimizes US support for Ukraine."<h2 id="e100d3ae-6870-4e15-9852-ebf704ef6b7d">State media coverage</h2>Per <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/kremlin-says-trump-harris-should-leave-putins-name-out-us-political-battle-2024-09-11/">Reuters</a>, Harris' tendency to burst out laughing during interviews and debates has been ridiculed in Russian state TV broadcasts.Russian state TV has also played compilations of some of Harris' worst moments and made frequent sexist and racist comments about the presidential candidate."Kamala with the nuclear button is worse than a monkey with a grenade," Andrei Sidorov, the dean of the global politics department at Moscow State University, said on the Russian state-run Rossiya 1 channel, according to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.politico.eu/article/russia-punching-bag-joe-biden-us-elections-2024-washington-kremlin-propaganda-moscow/">Politico</a>.By comparison, Russian state TV's main Channel One news program often portrays Trump and running mate, JD Vance, as confident and intelligent, Reuters said.The discrepancy between how broadcasters view the two candidates was particularly clear after last month's presidential debate, which was widely regarded as a clear win for Harris.However, Russian channels struggled to explain what had happened.According to the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/putin-pals-bamboozled-as-complete-fool-kamala-harris-creams-our-donald/">Daily Beast</a>, hosts and pundits on Russian state television said that Trump was somehow "sabotaged" or "disadvantaged."<h2 id="89aa4f78-1a2e-46d5-a896-c7d61cc86e37">Covert influence operations</h2>It's not just seemingly biased reporting. Last month, TikTok said it removed accounts associated with Russian state media for "engaging in covert influence operations."<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/meta">Meta</a> also banned RT, Rossiya Segodnya, and other Russian state media networks from its platforms, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/meta-russia-misinformation-ai-generated-news-stories-us-election-2024-8">claiming</a> the outlets had used deceptive tactics to carry out interference activity.In a statement to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gllnx0p40o">the BBC</a> at the time, RT said: "It's cute how there's a competition in the West — who can try to spank RT the hardest, in order to make themselves look better."Don't worry, where they close a door, and then a window, our 'partisans' (or in your parlance, guerrilla fighters) will find the cracks to crawl through — as by your own admission, we are apt at doing."In September, the Department of Justice said in an indictment that an unnamed Tenessee firm — later identified as conservative company Tenet Media —<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/pro-trump-influencers-say-had-no-idea-russia-funding-videos-2024-9"> took almost $10 million from the Russian state media company RT.</a>The aim, according to the Department of Justice, was to "create and distribute content to US audiences with hidden Russian government messaging."Tenet Media published content from six influencers, all of whom publicly support former President Donald Trump. The influencers distanced themselves from the accusations and described themselves as being "victims."<h2 id="912b0f53-d5d1-4981-96d6-d368543c0822">Trump's influence</h2>"The Kremlin does absolutely care about this election the most," Mathieu Boulegue, a consulting fellow at Chatham House, told BI."They would much rather prefer a Trump presidency. They care so much about the elections that they're trying to rig and to play the elections by using propaganda, information warfare, and probably cyber activities."For Putin, a Trump presidency could help him achieve his goals in Ukraine. Trump has praised Putin for being <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-praised-smart-putin-us-stupid-country-2022-2">"smart" </a>and<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-vladimir-putin-ukraine-invasion-justification-genius-savvy-2022-2"> "genius"</a> after he began his unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.He has consistently backed a swift end to the war in Ukraine and has questioned why the US is helping Ukraine defend itself.The war has been costly for Russia. An unnamed US official <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-operations-ukraine-have-probably-cost-up-211-billion-us-official-2024-02-16/">told Reuters</a> in February that Russia's war in Ukraine has cost it up to $212 billion.A December 2023 <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA2421-1.html">RAND report</a> projected the direct costs of the war for Russia through 2024 to be $132 billion.Though Trump has offered few details on how the war could end, a peace plan suggested by Vance on a podcast <a target="_blank" href="https://thehill.com/opinion/international/4884798-the-trump-vance-plan-for-ukraine-is-insane/">in September indicates </a>that it'd involve Ukraine ceding the territory Russia holds and pledging neutrality.William Pomerantz, an analyst at the Wilson Center in Washington, DC, previously told BI that "Trump believes that he can end the war in Ukraine in a week, but that would require conceding to all of Putin's demands."The Kremlin did not immediately respond to a request by BI for comment.

Russia claims it doesn't care who wins the US election. Its state media tells another story.

New Delhi: <keyword id="20016187" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hockey" source="keywords">Hockey</keyword> goalkeeper <keyword id="20544212" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="PR-Sreejesh" source="keywords">PR Sreejesh</keyword> will accompany pistol shooter <keyword id="20241095" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="manu-bhaker" source="keywords">Manu Bhaker</keyword> as the joint flagbearers of <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="India" source="keywords">India</keyword> during the closing ceremony of the ongoing Paris <keyword id="19933819" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Olympics" source="keywords">Olympics</keyword> 2024, the <keyword id="19896477" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Olympic-Association" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Indian Olympic Association" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Indian Olympic Association">Indian Olympic Association</keyword> (IOA) has announced. Secretary General of <keyword id="20063115" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hockey-India" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Hockey India" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Hockey India">Hockey India</keyword>, Bhola Nath Singh, heaped praise on Sreejesh for his exemplary leadership in India's bronze medal win at the Olympics. "PR Sreejesh deserved the honour of being the flag bearer. Hockey India extends its gratitude to the government for bestowing this prestigious recognition upon him," Bhola Nath told reporters. He confidently stated that the coutnry's team is the best in the world and capable of defeating anyone. "I can say it with utmost confidence, our team is the best in the world," Nath said while speaking to ANI. The organization celebrated the Indian team's remarkable achievement of securing back-to-back bronze medals, though they acknowledged the desire to have reached the final. "It has been an incredible achievement to win back-to-back bronze medals. We had hoped to reach the final. If <keyword id="21262191" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Amit-Rohidas" source="keywords">Amit Rohidas</keyword> hadn't been shown a red card, the outcome could have been different. With him on the field, we believe we could have won gold and his presence might have changed the result against Germany," he said. Singh emphasized that Amit Rohidas' absence from the semifinal may have impacted the team's performance and possibly altered the colour of their medal. Reflecting on the semifinal, Singh noted, "It simply wasn't our day." Despite the setback, the team's triumph in the bronze medal match was a source of national pride. Singh highlighted that millions tuned their television to watch the match, although many were unaware of their return to the country today, so, there was no crowd as such. "During the bronze medal match, 18-19 crore people were glued to their TV sets. Many were unaware of that we will be landing today, because we had not communicated it properly," Singh said. Secretary General of Hockey India also praised coach Craig Fulton for understanding the Indian players and the country so quicky. "Craig Fulton is a splendid coach. He understands the players of India and Hockey. He will be there with us till the next Olympics. In the 2028 Olympics, we will win the Gold medal for India," Singh said The celebration of the hockey bronze medal was a testament to the players' resilience and dedication. Hockey India, along with fans across the country, celebrated the players' success and their contribution to Indian sports.

PR Sreejesh and Manu Bhaker to be flagbearers of India during Paris Olympics 2024 closing ceremony

A group of paediatrics has written to the <keyword id="19905572" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Maharashtra-government" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Maharashtra government" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Maharashtra government">Maharashtra government</keyword> urging it to stop giving sugary food items in <keyword id="22835936" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="school-midday-meals" source="keywords">school midday meals</keyword>. The Maha Academy of Paediatrics. in its letter to state school education minister Deepak Kesarkar, said such food items could result in <keyword id="19914811" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="children" source="keywords">children</keyword> becoming diabetic and obese. The letter cited the government's GR on serving rice pudding to children four times a week under the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman Yojana (formerly known as midday meal scheme). "The GR mentions that 25 grams of sugar be added to the meals of students from Class I to V and 45 grams for students from Class VI to VIII," the letter said. "We need 25 grams of sugar per day. There are two types of sugar. One is added and the other is naturally present in food items. The students keep eating other food items throughout the day, which increases their sugar intake," Maha Paediatrics Association president Dr Ramgopal Chejara told PTI. "Adding 25 grams and 45 grams of sugar in these meals could make the children diabetic and obese. Our teams have visited schools. We have appealed to the government to stop giving such sugary food items," he said. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve too criticised the state government over this GR. The state government thinks the future generation is a factory to digest excess sugar, he said in a post on X. The Union government is imposing restrictions on ethanol production, while at the same time excess sugar is being given to schoolchildren, said Danve, who is Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/google-pixel-9-pro-fold-launched-in-india-at-172999-but-you-cant-get-your-hands-on-it-right-now/articleshow/112517193.cms">Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold launched in India at ₹1,72,999, but you can’t get your hands on it right now</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/ipo-scam-two-victims-from-hyderabad-lose-over-11crore-in-fake-ipo-scams/articleshow/112488051.cms">IPO scam – Two victims from Hyderabad lose over ₹11 crore in fake IPO scams</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/indias-wearables-market-decline-for-the-first-time-as-smartwatch-shipments-fall/articleshow/112397246.cms">India’s wearables market decline for the first time as smartwatch shipments fall</a>

Stop giving sugary items in school midday meals, paediatric group urges Maharashtra govt

New Delhi: The central government has approved the appointment of a new Chairman and <keyword id="19899229" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Managing-Director" source="keywords">Managing Director</keyword> of the <keyword id="19934368" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="State-Bank-of-India" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="State Bank of India" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="State Bank of India">State Bank of India</keyword> (<keyword id="19898108" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sbi" source="keywords">SBI</keyword>) as the current Chairman, <keyword id="20944427" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Dinesh-Kumar-Khara" source="keywords">Dinesh Kumar Khara</keyword>, is set to retire on August 28. According to a notification by the Department of Personnel &amp; Training, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on August 6 approved the proposal of the Department of Financial Services for the appointment of <keyword id="22230591" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Challa-Sreenivasulu-Setty" source="keywords">Challa Sreenivasulu Setty</keyword> as chairman of SBI. The ACC has approved the appointment of Setty, 59, the current Managing Director (MD) of SBI as the new Chairman of the country's biggest lender, for a period of three years, effective from the date he assumes office, on or after August 28, 2024. The government order states, "The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the proposal of the Department of Financial Services for the appointment of Shri Challa Sreenivasulu Setty (DOB: 26.09.1965), Managing Director (MD), State Bank of India (SBI) as Chairman, SBI for a period of three (03) years w.e.f. the date of assumption of charge of the office, on or after 28.08.2024." Additionally, Rana Ashutosh Kumar Singh, the current Deputy Managing Director (DMD) of SBI, has been appointed as the new Managing Director. His appointment will take effect from the date he assumes office. The government order read, "The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the proposal of the Department of Financial Services for appointment of Shri Rana Ashutosh Kumar Singh, Deputy Managing Director (DMD), State Bank of India (SBI) as Managing Director (MD) in SBI with effect from the date of assumption of office." According to SBI, Challa Sreenivasulu Setty joined the Board of SBI as Managing Director in January 2020 and currently oversees International Banking, Global Markets, and Technology wings of the Bank. He has previously headed the Retail &amp; Digital Banking vertical and various task forces/committees formed by the Government of India. Setty holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and is a Certified Associate of the Indian Institute of Bankers. He began his career with SBI in 1988 as a Probationary Officer. Over his three-decade-long career, he has gained rich experience in corporate credit, retail, digital, and international banking, as well as banking in developed markets. Setty has also held key positions within SBI, including Deputy Managing Director - Stressed Assets Resolution Group, Chief General Manager, and General Manager in the Corporate Accounts Group, Deputy General Manager in the Mid-Corporate Group, and Vice President &amp; Head (Syndications) at SBI's New York Branch. (ANI)

Centre approves appointments of new Chairman, Managing Director of State Bank of India

The Retailers Association of India (RAI) on Friday called for <keyword id="20141385" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="lower-taxes" source="keywords">lower taxes</keyword> for individuals to generate demand and spur <keyword id="20018646" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="consumption" source="keywords">consumption</keyword> besides seeking low-cost finance, subsidies and benefits on land rates and necessities such as <keyword id="20028294" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="electricity" source="keywords">electricity</keyword> for retailers ahead of <keyword id="6360189" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Union-Budget" source="Orion">Union Budget</keyword> FY25. Retailing in India accounts for about 10% of the country's GDP and the sector is second only to agriculture in terms of the number of people directly employed, RAI said in its pre-Budget memorandum highlighting areas that need attention in order to make the industry stronger. "To ensure the growth of the sector, the Union Budget for FY25 should focus on generating demand and spurring consumption by offering benefits or concessions in the form of lower taxes. It will boost the overall consumer sentiment and benefit the retail sector, it said adding, consumption equals to development and the "tax benefits and relief to individual <keyword id="59866" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="taxpayers" source="Orion">taxpayers</keyword> will increase the monthly disposable income and support consumption", the memorandum noted. Further, the budget should outline supportive policies, simplified regulations, skill development and simple goods and services tax (GST) norms to aid the development of the retail industry, RAI said. Asking for low-cost finance to retailers, the industry body said, "There is a need to provide lower interest rate to the retailers through the special announcement in the Budget to assure easier financing for the retail businesses." It also asked the government to consider the food and beverages retail sector as an essential service and said "subsidies and benefits should be given on land rates and other necessities such as electricity". RAI also said there is a need to expedite the formulation and implementation of '<keyword id="5649262" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="National-Retail-Policy" source="Orion">National Retail Policy</keyword>' to enable ease of doing business and that "such a step would provide a substantial boost to the retail sector". Stating that benefits to retail and wholesale trade MSMEs are restricted to priority sector lending only, RAI also recommended that retail and wholesale traders should be eligible for all benefits available to other MSMEs. Further, the retailers' body asked the Centre to encourage and incentivise states to adopt 'The Model Shops and Establishment (Regulation of Employment and Condition of Services) Act 2016 that enables states to choose to keep shops and other such establishments open 24X7 all through the year.

You Searched For "associated state government" and got 12 results

Time for a govt job? Karnataka announces impressive 27% pay hike for state employees

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Elon Musk's ideas about government efficiency are all wrong, political scientists say

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Russia claims it doesn't care who wins the US election. Its state media tells another story.

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Stop giving sugary items in school midday meals, paediatric group urges Maharashtra govt

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Centre approves appointments of new Chairman, Managing Director of State Bank of India

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