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By:

Kaustubh Kale

10 September 2024 at 11:37:15 pm

Modak and the Art of Investing

As the aroma of freshly steamed Modaks fills homes during Ganesh Utsav, the festive spirit comes alive instantly. My mouth is already watering at the thought! The humble Modak, prepared with love to honour Lord Ganesha, may look simple from the outside. But anyone who has tried making one knows that a good Modak depends on several things coming together - the right ingredients, the right recipe, patience with the process, and finally, enjoying the result. Investing is surprisingly similar....

Modak and the Art of Investing

As the aroma of freshly steamed Modaks fills homes during Ganesh Utsav, the festive spirit comes alive instantly. My mouth is already watering at the thought! The humble Modak, prepared with love to honour Lord Ganesha, may look simple from the outside. But anyone who has tried making one knows that a good Modak depends on several things coming together - the right ingredients, the right recipe, patience with the process, and finally, enjoying the result. Investing is surprisingly similar. Choose the Right Ingredients A Modak is only as good as the ingredients that go into it. Fresh coconut, good-quality jaggery, properly prepared rice flour and the right flavours all contribute to the final result. Our investments and financial products are the ingredients of our financial plan. Equities, mutual funds, fixed income, gold and other investments each have a specific role to play. The objective is not to pick whatever appears most exciting at the moment, but to select suitable, good-quality investments that match our financial goals, time horizon and ability to take risks. Health and life insurance are equally important ingredients. Adequate coverage helps protect savings, the family, and their financial goals and dreams. Good ingredients provide the foundation. But ingredients alone are not enough. Get the Recipe Right You may have the finest ingredients in the kitchen, but if the proportions are wrong, the Modak may still not turn out well. The same applies to investing. Asset allocation is the recipe of a financial plan. Too much of one ingredient can spoil a Modak. Similarly, excessive concentration in one asset or too much money in low-return products can spoil a portfolio. Balance is key. A thoughtfully constructed portfolio brings different investments together in the right proportions. To keep asset allocation very simple - short-term goals can be planned through bank fixed deposits, recurring deposits and debt mutual funds. For long-term goals, one can consider hybrid mutual funds, equity mutual funds or direct stocks. Trust the Process Once the Modak is shaped and placed for steaming, constantly checking whether it is ready will not make it cook faster. Investors often make the same mistake. We keep checking markets, reacting to every correction, chasing recent performers or changing strategies because of short-term noise. Good investing requires patience and discipline. Invest regularly, review periodically and allow your financial plan enough time to work. Compounding is powerful precisely because it rewards those who remain invested for long periods. Sometimes, the best thing an investor can do is simply avoid unnecessary interference. Enjoy What You Have Created Finally comes the most important part - eating the Modak! The purpose of investing is not merely to accumulate the largest possible number on a statement. Wealth should eventually help us fulfil our goals, support our families, create financial security and enjoy life with greater peace of mind. A good Modak needs the right ingredients, the right recipe and trust in the process. A good investment journey needs exactly the same. This Ganesh Utsav, may Bappa bless us with the wisdom to make good financial choices, the patience to stay disciplined, and the prosperity to enjoy the fruits of our efforts. Ganpati Bappa Morya! (The author is a Chartered Accountant and CFA (USA). Financial Advisor. Views personal. He could be reached on 9833133605.)

Power Cuts Shortens Power

Suyash Padate
Nov 6, 2024
2 min read

Updated: Nov 7, 2024

Power Cuts Shortens Power

Few areas of Maharashtra are regularly facing power cuts as the demand has exceeded the supply. Rural Nashik, Ahmednagar, Aurangabad, and other parts of Marathwada are the areas facing power cuts of up to eight hours, sometimes even more. What has added to the woes of power-deficit in the state, a shortfall in supply by private power producers has led to the state electricity distribution utility restarting load-shedding to overcome the gap between demand and supply. The government has left with no option but to accept the grim situation. But at the same time one more factor which is responsible for the power cuts is the union government. Disruptions in the supply of coal which is seen as one of the reasons for the significant demand-supply gap in electricity.


The growth in electricity demand due to the soaring heat, rise in consumption by industrial and agricultural consumers and the nationwide coal crisis has affected coal inventories at state-owned Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Limited’s (MahaGenco) thermal power stations. The surge in demand for electricity has led to a deficit of around 2,500 to 3,000 megawatts (MW) in power. The state needs 25,000 MW of electricity. However, only 21,000 to 22,000 MW of electricity is being supplied. Maharashtra faces fear of power outage.


Significantly, the budget presented by the Mahayuti government gave some sigh of relief to the agrarian community with the announcements of various schemes. The Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar presented the state budget with the theme “Self-reliant Farmers, Prosperous Farmers”. Budget included schemes for direct seed subsidies, irrigation facilities, modern tech, ancillary industries, value addition to produce, and improved storage and market availability. The provision for free electricity for farmers, milk subsidy and solar power project for uninterrupted daytime electricity was highlighted in the budget.


Ajit Pawar announced a significant relief measure for the state’s farmers. Under the Mukhya Mantri Baliraja Vij Savlat Yojana, the government has made the provision to waive off electricity bill dues for a total of 44.06 lakh farmers. Additionally, the government also declared to bear the cost of agriculture pumps up to 7.5 horsepower capacity, providing a massive subsidy of Rs. 14,761 crore. This decision was taken in response to the recent drastic changes in seasonal weather patterns and global climate change, which have had a significant impact on the state’s agricultural sector. A Rs. 15,000 crore project has been undertaken to separate and solarize agricultural electricity grids, aiming to provide uninterrupted daytime electricity to farmers. The “Magel Tyala Solar Power Pump” scheme will provide solar power pumps to 8.50 lakh farmers, offering free electricity.


The power cut has directly affected the farmers and workers and labourers working in small industrial units. Due to power cut some of the industrial units pulled down the shutter as a result many casual workers rendered jobless.

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