Indian government withdraws PLI for Ukrainian experts

In what could be termed as a ‘move’, the Modi government has withdrawn a new Production-linked Incentive scheme offered in early March within just two weeks of launching it. The PLI scheme, linked to local production of experts on Ukraine and Russia was withdrawn as it was utilized beyond the limits expected by Modi government leading to a glut in the market and emergence of cheap and low value production processes and products.  

So what is a PLI scheme, you ask? The Production-linked Incentive is a conventional and popular strategy used by governments to boost the production of goods considered necessary for job creation, social welfare, votes, cheap publicity and taxation. PLIs are nothing but a bunch of financial incentives for businesses to augment their output. Ok, now that is out of the way, lets see what went wrong.

With the start of the Ukraine-Russia war, the demand for experts on Ukraine and Russia and Eastern Europe in general shot up significantly leading to some TV channels importing guests such as Mr. McAdams and that arrogant Portuguese guy who questioned 300 dB anchor Arnab on his patriotic credentials. Alarmed by the emergence of a new form of dependence on foreign sources, Modi government moved fast and appointed a committee led by wannabe Trucaller stud Jyotiraditya Scindia.

Scindia went to over 20 countries, met many female experts, asked them if they were facing any problems in their home country, tried taking their numbers (but was chased away) and came back and recommended the PLI scheme to generate experts on Ukraine. The scheme was adopted immediately after a round of Samosas and tea by the National Committee on Manufacturing.

The new PLI scheme had two components. The first one targeted news and media outlets that were using foreign experts. Such outlets would get a tax break for hiring local Ukraine experts. The second component targeted universities and other places which could aid in the overnight production of experts on Ukraine and Russia. 

 

A freshly minted Ukraine expert getting ready to enter Republic TV newsroom

The scheme took off with such velocity that within 3 days, all TV newsrooms were filled with local experts on Ukraine. Some Covid-19 experts also turned into Ukraine and Russian experts overnight. Today, according to a government time pass survey, there are over 300,000 experts on Ukraine in India and the country has even offered them to friendly countries. Everyone from grocery vendors, carpet repairers, PhD scholars on the economic impact of allotropic forms of carbon, actors are now experts on Ukraine. 

Over 3000 companies applied for and received the PLI. 

To claim the PLI and create a new useless market segment, aquiretech firm Byjus had even acquired three online sofa repair shops and converted them into Ukraine and Russia Faculty camp. “In fact, they had launched a scheme for turning children under 3 into Russo-Ukrainian experts. They had got another round of funding for this from SoftDamp also,” said Cokeanand Gupt, senior researcher with Bata Institute for Strategic Studies.    

“Thanks to the glut in the market, the Modi government had to withdraw this scheme. If they would have continued, half of Indian population would have turned into strategic affairs experts on Ukraine,” an analyst with the Observer Effect Foundation said.