With reference to ‘Why the GOP’s jittery’ (April 17), the Republican leaders are a worried lot about the plummeting popularity of Donald Trump and the dwindling chances of the Grand Old Party in the coming mid-term elections. Mid-terms usually go against the party in power. Though Trump had vowed to reverse that trend and win in the mid-terms slated to be held later this year, he has been doing exactly the opposite and alienating his voters. As if the damage done by the Iran war started by him is not enough, with the increasing opposition to the war from his MAGA base, Trump has picked up a war of words with no less than the Pope himself. This could alienate a large part of Catholic voters as well as those of other denominations from the Republican Party.

Kosaraju Chandramouli

Hyderabad

Clear EV rules

With reference to ‘Clear the smoke’ (April 17), CAFE 3 norms tighten emission limits from April 2027. The aim is to reduce pollution and support small car makers. Yet heavier SUVs still emit more under current rules. Total vehicle emission limits still need cleaner vehicles to balance pollution. This matters because cities face high air pollution levels. Super credits give electric vehicles extra compliance benefit. This can make rules easier to meet and support growth. EV emissions must include power generation and need full life cycle checks. Without reliable data, policy impact may remain uncertain. Strong targets and firm enforcement will ensure real emission reduction.

S Balasubramaniyan

Villupuram, TN

GDP data recalibration

This refers to ‘Insights from new GDP data’ (April 17). The authors raise an important concern that deserves wider attention. A consistent overestimation of nominal consumption by 10-12 per cent in the old series is not a minor statistical footnote — it has shaped policy assumptions, investment decisions, and growth narratives for years. The tertiary sector revision is particularly significant given its dominant share in GVA. The MoSPI should publish a clear methodological note explaining what specifically drove the overestimation, so that users of GDP data can recalibrate their models accordingly. Also, the GDP deflator methodology warrants an independent review.

M Barathi

Bengaluru

Published on April 17, 2026