Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Abhishek Seth Author-Name-First: Abhishek Author-Name-Last: Seth Author-Email: abhishek_s@hs.iitr.ac.in Author-Workplace-Name: Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee Author-Name: Manish K. Singh Author-Name-First: Manish K. Author-Name-Last: Singh Author-Email: mks@hs.iitr.ac.in Author-Workplace-Name: Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee Author-Name: Diya Uday Author-Name-First: Diya Author-Name-Last: Uday Author-Email: diyaudaypatkar@gmail.com Author-Workplace-Name: xKDR Forum Title: Estimating property tax potential in urban local bodies using satellite imagery Abstract: Property taxes (PTs) are the primary own-source revenue for Indian urban local bodies (ULBs), yet actual collections fall short of potential, constraining service delivery. Existing studies have documented this gap but have been limited to state or district-level analysis due to the absence of reliable municipal data. This paper exploits new geospatial datasets-ULB boundary maps, nighttime lights, and building volume to estimate PT demand at the ULB level in Karnataka. Using cross-sectional data for 268 ULBs in 2019-20, we show that the sum of building volume (SoBV) within a ULB boundary alone can explain over 80% of the variation in PT demand across ULBs, with a 1% increase in SoBV predicting a 1.09% rise in demand. Benchmarking exercises reveal stark regional disparities aligned with historical administrative boundaries. These findings demonstrate how non-government spatial data can measure fiscal capacity, verify self-reported statistics, and highlight institutional legacies that shape urban tax performance. Length: 28 pages Creation-Date: 2026-01 File-URL: https://papers.xkdr.org/papers/2026Sethetal_nttlAndPropertyTaxPotential.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf File-Function: First version, 2026 Number: 47 Classification-JEL: H71, H72, R51, C21 Handle: RePEc:anf:wpaper:47 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Swayamshree Barik Author-Name-First: Swayamshree Author-Name-Last: Barik Author-Email: swayamshree_b@hs.iitr.ac.in Author-Workplace-Name: Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee Author-Name: Manish K. Singh Author-Name-First: Manish K. Author-Name-Last: Singh Author-Email: mks@hs.iitr.ac.in Author-Workplace-Name: Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee Author-Name: Harsh Vardhan Author-Name-First: Harsh Author-Name-Last: Vardhan Author-Email: harshv89@yahoo.com Author-Workplace-Name: xKDR Forum Title: Monetary policy transmission in primary and secondary markets: Evidence from Indian government securities Abstract: Central banks aim to achieve price stability by adjusting interest rates to meet their inflation target. However, when a central bank also manages the government debt, tightening policy rates raises borrowing costs, thereby increasing the probability of debt distress. To understand the nature of this trade-off, we examine how policy rate changes by the Reserve Bank of India affect the Government of India's actual borrowing costs. Using monthly data from 2004 to 2025 and an ARDL error-correction framework, we estimate the differential impact of policy rate on both primary and secondary markets and find a clear divergence. In secondary markets, pass-through is gradual and declines with maturity, whereas in the primary markets, transmission is immediate and near-complete, and it remains durably anchored to the policy rate in the long run. We interpret this as a distinctive feature of India's institutional arrangement, where captive investors and the RBI's discretionary authority over auctions keep sovereign borrowing costs closely tied to monetary policy. Length: 43 pages Creation-Date: 2026-04 File-URL: https://papers.xkdr.org/papers/2026Bariketal_monetaryPolicyTransmissionIndia.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf File-Function: First version, 2026 Number: 48 Classification-JEL: E43, E52, E58, G12, H63 Handle: RePEc:anf:wpaper:48 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Geetika Palta Author-Name-First: Geetika Author-Name-Last: Palta Author-Email: geetikapalta11@gmail.com Author-Workplace-Name: xKDR Forum Author-Name: Renuka Sane Author-Name-First: Renuka Author-Name-Last: Sane Author-Email: renuka@trustbridge.in Author-Workplace-Name: Trustbridge Author-Name: Susan Thomas Author-Name-First: Susan Author-Name-Last: Thomas Author-Email: sthomas.entp@gmail.com Author-Workplace-Name: xKDR Forum Title: When households first borrow: causes and consequences Abstract: We examine the impact of borrowing on consumption smoothing for households entering credit markets for the first time, using a large panel dataset with income, expenditure and financial choices of 150,000 households in India. Compared to households that never borrow, first-time borrowers are poorer, younger, less educated, and face higher income volatility. Their decision to borrow is often preceded by a change in income or consumption, regardless of whether it is a decrease or an increase. The act of borrowing increases both the level and the volatility of consumption expenditure. Credit does not help to smooth consumption, even for first time borrowers with no shocks to income and consumption. Higher volatility of consumption persists after borrowing, particularly for expenditure on non-durable goods such as food or planned household expenditure. This suggests that new borrowers use credit as one component of a broader risk-management strategy that involves multiple adjustments within their consumption portfolio. Length: 31 pages Creation-Date: 2026-06 File-URL: https://papers.xkdr.org/papers/2025Paltaetal_newtocredit.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf File-Function: First version, 2026 Number: 49 Classification-JEL: D14, E21, G51, O16, I32 Handle: RePEc:anf:wpaper:49 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Jay Kulkarni Author-Name-First: Jay Author-Name-Last: Kulkarni Author-Email: jayvilaskulkarni@gmail.com Author-Workplace-Name: xKDR Forum Author-Name: Ajay Shah Author-Name-First: Ajay Author-Name-Last: Shah Author-Email: ajay@mayin.org Author-Workplace-Name: xKDR Forum Author-Name: Susan Thomas Author-Name-First: Susan Author-Name-Last: Thomas Author-Email: sthomas.entp@gmail.com Author-Workplace-Name: xKDR Forum Title: Better methods of running subsidy programs: Evidence from the Karnataka schemes of 2023 Abstract: Governments in developing countries spend heavily on subsidies, yet much of the money never reaches households: the macro-micro gap. We measure this gap in Karnataka, India, across a natural experiment. Karnataka has been delivering conditional Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT) for about a decade now. In July 2023 the state introduced new "guarantee schemes", and directed much of its DBT allocation to a near-unconditional scheme. Because administrative records are endogenous to the state that produces them, we measure household receipts independently, from the CMIE Consumer Pyramids Household Survey. We compare robust population estimates from this survey against the state's reported expenditure on DBTs in both periods. The gap averaged about 78% over the seven pre-2023 years and fell to about 17% after the shift. The paper contributes independently measured evidence on subsidy delivery in India and a replicable method for auditing welfare programs in the presence of longitudinal data. Length: 25 pages Creation-Date: 2026-08 File-URL: https://papers.xkdr.org/papers/2026Kulkarnietal_SubsidiesMacroMicroGap.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf File-Function: First version, 2026 Number: 50 Classification-JEL: H53, I38, O12, D73 Handle: RePEc:anf:wpaper:50 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Rounak Hande Author-Name-First: Rounak Author-Name-Last: Hande Author-Email: rounak.xkdr@gmail.com Author-Workplace-Name: xKDR Forum Author-Name: Utkarsh Narain Author-Name-First: Utkarsh Author-Name-Last: Narain Author-Email: utkarshnarain24@gmail.com Author-Workplace-Name: xKDR Forum Author-Name: Ajay Shah Author-Name-First: Ajay Author-Name-Last: Shah Author-Email: ajay@mayin.org Author-Workplace-Name: xKDR Forum Title: Measurement of renewable energy capacity in India Abstract: Accurate measurement of renewable energy capacity is a prerequisite for effective climate policy making. Yet, official statistics are rarely cross-validated against independent sources. Sound measurement helps policymakers meet globally-stated goals and guides the private sector in deploying capital. We compare solar and wind installed capacity from the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) against two independent sources: satellite imagery from Global Renewables Watch (GRW) and project-level data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) CAPEX database. For solar, GRW tracks CEA closely (95% as of January 2024) initially, but diverges by April 2026. The satellite estimate of 133 GW with a slight downward adjustment to account for non-operational plants likely represents true solar capacity in India as of April 2026. Wind estimates differ more substantially, with GRW reporting 122% of CEA capacity as of January 2024, likely reflecting higher turbine capacity factor assumptions. As of April 2026, CEA reports installed wind capacity of 56.4 GW. The CMIE CAPEX database accounts for roughly 48-75% of CEA-reported capacity for wind and solar respectively by April 2026, consistent with its role as a survey rather than a census, and indicative of sizeable unrecorded capacity. Our analysis establishes a benchmark to validate official statistics with alternative data. Additionally, we note that alternative sources like GRW and CMIE CAPEX can serve as valuable project-level resources supporting microeconomic research. Length: 13 pages Creation-Date: 2026-08 File-URL: https://papers.xkdr.org/papers/2026Handeetal_reMeasurement.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf File-Function: First version, 2026 Number: 45 Classification-JEL: Q42, Q43, Q48, O13, C82 Handle: RePEc:anf:wpaper:45 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ashok Pal Singh Author-Name-First: Ashok Pal Author-Name-Last: Singh Author-Email: ashok_pals@hotmail.com Author-Workplace-Name: Independent Author-Name: Karthik Suresh Author-Name-First: Karthik Author-Name-Last: Suresh Author-Email: mailkarthiksuresh@gmail.com Author-Workplace-Name: National Law School Author-Name: Susan Thomas Author-Name-First: Susan Author-Name-Last: Thomas Author-Email: sthomas.entp@gmail.com Author-Workplace-Name: xKDR Forum Title: Better public procurement for IT in India Abstract: Information technology (IT) systems are now ubiquitous in government. The Government of India has tripled its spending in real terms on IT procurement over the last fifteen years. IT procurement is tricky because these systems need continuous maintenance and refinement, and traditional systems of procurement are unsuitable for solving the incomplete contract problem that follows IT procurement. We build on three case studies from India -- Aadhaar, Passport Seva, and MCA-21 -- to make the case for why we need new thinking on IT procurement. Our solutions hinge around the fact that the government needs to build robust internal technical expertise even when system development has been outsourced. We make the case for flexible contracting, early concept verification, and strategic investments in state HR capabilities to successfully navigate the marketplace for digital services. Length: 35 pages Creation-Date: 2026-10 File-URL: https://papers.xkdr.org/papers/2026Singhetal_rp_itProcurement.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf File-Function: First version, 2026 Number: 51 Classification-JEL: D86, H57, K12, L86, O32 Handle: RePEc:anf:wpaper:51