governance, political economy, institutional development and economic regulation
The national hype around the “beef ban” issue and the rise in the price of toor daal has done what the combined political force of other parties could not do — humble Narendra Modi in Bihar. Both are self-goals by the Bharatiya Janata Party. photo credit: http://www.arun-wicfy.quora.com Whose duty is it anyway to regulate agri. […]
Read More Beef and Toor fry BJP in BiharDoes the proposed national “beef ban” and the rabid intolerance for “beef-eaters” illustrate a new and disturbing trend in Indian politics? Are we squandering away our “secularism”? India has been a “secular” state in practice all along. All the bells and whistles to ensure equal rights for all citizens, irrespective of religion, have existed in […]
Read More Stop being a bully Statephoto credit: http://www.morror.uk.co So what did the Silicon dudes, collectively representing around $500 billion in purchasing power, think of the case placed before them by the self-made, roughhewn yet charismatic Indian Prime Minister — the man with a penchant for the dramatic? From the looks of it, they thought he was kosher. Someone they could […]
Read More The San Jose windowIt all began 300 years ago with the ringing command of “Koi hai?” — Is anyone there? This being how the ruling, colonial elite announced their arrival at home, in the office or, indeed, anywhere, if there was no one to receive them. The immediate response was a servant at home, or a peon in […]
Read More Government peons: nuts and bolts of a rusted steel frameworkParis in December is not quite what it is in springtime. But who cares if someone else is footing the bill! Paris is the venue of the next Conference of Parties (COP), from November 30 to December 11. An annual jamboree that has been trying, since 1992, to limit carbon emissions and save the planet […]
Read More Climate “warriors” head for the December 2015 Paris joustIt is just as well that Finance Minister Jaitley was away in Turkey rapping with the G20 about “India’s strong fiscal fundamentals”, even as a small part of that fiscal stability was compromised, with nothing much gained, except possibly 20 million votes that the armed forces represent. Faujis (armed forces) deserve better but not this […]
Read More Retired Generals win OROP: will the tail of pensions now wag the dog?Onions comprise less than 1% by value of India’s agricultural production. The average Indian consumes less than 800 grams of the stuff per month. Onion is a seasonal fruit. Supply traditionally dips during July to September as only the stored winter crop, harvested around March, is available for consumption. No dearth of onions photo credit: […]
Read More Some more onions pleasephoto credit: http://www.realhappiness.in The Ganga is pure liquid crystal, dazzling in its brilliance along a thirty kilometer stretch beyond Shivpuri in Uttrakhand, flanked on both banks by unblemished white sand beaches or towering, forested cliffs. This is the best known haven for white-water rafting in North India. Thanks to a bunch of intrepid environmental […]
Read More Shivpuri: riverine tourism on the GangaAbandoned Faujis Delhi. Fauji veterans agitate, unsuccessfully thus far, for implementing the One Rank One Pension principle. This is a promise, unadvisedly made to them, by both the previous and the present government. They boycott the celebrations commemorating the 1965 war. Even those who fought to win that war stay away effectively devaluing the event. […]
Read More Indian angstphoto credit: ex-servicemenwelfare.blogspot.com Ex-servicemen are angry that their attractively titled demand — one rank, one pension — is not being implemented by the government. OROP as a “brand” is a huge communication success, hitting all the right buttons — simplicity, easy comprehension and being evocative of equity. It is not surprising therefore that Prime Minister […]
Read More Soothe gussa fauji pensioners
Opinion India 