Is this a new low for techenclave?
The real long term competition will be from the likes of spaceX and blue origin. Govt funded showcases (e.g. Chinese, Russian Indian programs) will remain hobbled by the politics of the day.
India, which has a decent private sector, might have a slight advantage provided some of our big business houses (yes, that means Adani and Ambani) start to share the responsibility. However, competing for talent with spaceX will be hard.
This is such an awfully written article. The main points have been made in paragraphs start that with 'Reportedly...'. And it ends with the writer editorializing about motivation. Why inflict this trash on everyone?
TLDR: The govt changed the pay structure and a low level journalist was asked to convert it into 'Breaking mega super news'.