Publications : Opinion & Commentary
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Path for Inclusive India Lies in Decentralisation
Green growth cannot be an afterthought. We need to promote climate-resilient agriculture, regulate construction, and community-led action for lifestyle changes.Sri Lanka & Bangladesh Look East
The shifting sands of the South Asian trade landscape may be worthy of some serious reflection for India’s regional trade strategy.All Powers Great and Small: Why Bigger Isn’t Always Better in...
Shivshankar Menon examines the shifting dynamics of global geopolitics, emphasising the historical evolution from empires to modern superstates and the continued relevance of small states.India’s Missing Jobs — and Where the Next Government can Find Them
We are staring at an employment crisis, which could get worse. But with policy support that could change.Do Electricity Distribution Franchisees Work? It’s High Time for a...
As the energy transition unfolds, the role of the discom is transforming.Developing World Must Raise Own Climate Finance
Developed countries and MDBs can raise just a third of the requirement. Carbon pricing and ETS will have to play a bigger role.Beyond PLI Targets
A comprehensive strategy is needed to propel India’s manufacturing capabilities.‘Developing Just a Small Part of City as Smart Doesn’t Take us...
Om Prakash Mathur talks about how India needs to manage its urban growth much faster, how the programme to develop smart cities has not helped and how, despite successive Finance Commissions recommending increasing the grant-in-aid to our municipalities.Navigating India’s Urban Challenges
India's leading urban scholar and the author of "Changing Paradigms of Urbanisation: India and Beyond" Om Prakash Mathur reveals how rigid urban land and labour markets have actually slowed down the rate of India's urbanisation.Questioning Katchatheevu Agreement Could Damage Ties, Credibility: Former...
Former envoys to Sri Lanka say the Ministry of External Affairs’s position for the past decade has been in line with previous government thus farThe Long Road to Liberalisation
Laveesh Bhandari reviews "Stumbling Into Reforms (1977 to 1998)" the second volume of "India's Finance Minister" series by AK Bhattacharya.Even Under Capitalism, There is Hope for Climate Change Solutions
Vikram Singh Mehta reviews the book book Climate Capitalism: Winning the Global Race to Zero Emissions by Akshat Rathi.Why India Must Put Africa at the Heart of its Global South Vision
As Africa houses three-fourths of humanity and over 39 per cent of the global GDP, there's a growing call to reform existing structures towards a more inclusive and representative system focused on development.India’s Energy Transition
Laveesh Bhandari and Rajat Verma examine the fiscal implications that are to be borne in mind to arrive at equilibrium in the taxes.Three’s not a Crowd for Improved Climate Action
Pooja Ramamurthi argue that partnerships with bridging powers are increasingly vital to unpicking North-South gridlocks and effective climate cooperation.The Dip in Private Medical Colleges
Apart from being churned frequently, the regulatory norms entail high capital and operating costs.This is What’s Slowing Down the Clean Energy Transition
With Big Oil's 2050 forecast that places oil and gas at the centre of energy basket, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to achieve net-zero carbon emissions targetsConsumption Trends and Monetary Policy
The falling share of food in households’ spending will help, given food inflation also drives inflation expectations.Podcast | Why are house prices so high in India?
In this episode, Shishir Gupta discusses the factors behind the high cost of housing in India and suggests possible solutions.Behind the rise in Rural Consumption Spending
The National Rural Livelihood Mission, better targeting and delivering of benefits, wider reach of digital infrastructure have contributed to the spurtIndonesia & Pakistan: Not Two Peas in a Pod
Unlike Pakistan, Indonesia has harnessed its natural advantages to nurture a sustainable growth trajectory.Interview | Can private capex offset govt spend curbs in FY25?
Shishir Gupta provides insights into the RBI urging the private sector to take over the responsibility of driving capex. Could it slow down the momentum of govt capex in FY25?Disruption Ahead
Optimists uphold that the productive deployment of AI will eventually increase prosperity and well-being universally, as had happened with electricity or telephones.The Real Reason Middle Class Indians Can’t Afford to Buy Homes — and...
The first step in improving affordability is to release land supply in a planned and transparent manner. This will increase competition and put pressure on prices.Podcast | A Fresh Look at India’s Neighborhood First Policy
Constantino Xavier joins Milan Vaishnav to assess the Modi government's approach to managing India's relationship with its neighbors across the Indo-Pacific in this episode of Carnegie's Grand Tamasha podcast.With Elections in at Least 83 Countries, Will 2024 be the Year of AI...
Regulatory panic could do more harm than good. Rather than poor risk management today, rules should anticipate the greater risks that lie ahead.Govt Must Rethink the Role of Defence Attaché
With growing capabilities and interests, India needs to reconsider the current terms of the partnership between the military and our diplomats.Interview | Large Organisations Should Consolidate and Streamline Their...
Deepak Maheshwari talks about how national cyber security strategy should be one of the top policy priorities of the government post the elections in India.Is Cutting UK Taxes Ahead of a General Election Affordable or Not? An...
The possibility of tax cuts in the upcoming budget is being speculated widely in the UK. But can the British economy afford them?Interview | Fixing Taxi Fares, Bajaj CNG Bikes, Maruti Shares, Hot Money
How will CNG bikes change the two-wheeler industry if it succeeds? Shyamasis Das shares his insights.Ukraine War, Gaza Conflict and Middle East Strikes: It’s Time Businesses...
Vikram Singh Mehta advises businesses to integrate scenario planning into risk management processes to tackle political risk in an increasingly uncertain global context with upcoming elections in several countries.When an Admiral gets to Helm China’s PLA
The choice of a defence minister from the Chinese navy is also an attempt to avoid further embarrassment for China, domestically as well as externally.What if Regulation Makes the AI Monopoly Worse?
In an industry already primed for concentration, creative alternatives for safeguarding the public interest are needed.The Importance of ASEAN for India
The evolving regional trade context should be the primary guiding factor for the AITIGA review.Interview | Should India-Pakistan Trade Resume?
Sanjay Kathuria discusses obstacles hindering India-Pakistan trade and explores insights on sensitive lists, solar partnerships, and a USD 37 billion trade potential.Setting Course for the IMEC: Gaza War has Delayed Plans for the Corridor,...
The Israel-Hamas war has naturally compromised any significant movement on fleshing out the gigantic ambition of an economic corridor through one of the world’s most divisive, conflict-ridden regions.A Square Peg in a Round Hole
The regulation of state-owned discoms can create challenges. Upon getting conflicting directives from the government and the regulator, such entities prioritise the former’s orders.On a Sobering Note
The International Monetary Fund’s deep dive into global trade fragmentation and restrictiveness shows lasting consequences of raised costs, feeding into inflation and weakening growth.Why are We Staring at a Global Debt Problem Yet Again?
Hidden debt is a major problem across the world that the G20 Data Gaps Initiative needs to resolve, writes Anoop Singh.A Disconcerting Slowdown: Depressing Consumer Demand Dulls the Shine of...
Private final consumer expenditure (PFCE) growth is estimated tumbling to 4.4% this year from 7.5% in FY23, and one-third its growth rate at the recovery peak in FY22, 11.2%.Podcast | Trade Ties: Exploring South Asia’s Evolving Geopolitical...
Sanjay Kathuria discusses how the geopolitical competition in South Asia is influencing trade relations and policies of the states engaged in the region.Interview | Does India Need a Climate Change Resilience Authority?
India is experiencing extreme weather conditions. Is it time for a climate change resilience authority?Ensuring the Credibility of India’s GDP Estimates
Two pressing issues have reignited the debate about the credibility of India’s GDP growth rate.Improving Healthcare Access to Address the Rise in Non-communicable...
The authors outline the incidence of diseases in Indian states over the last two decades, and the role that the PMJAY programme plays to alleviate constraints to healthcare accessInterview | A GDP Growth Rate of 7.5% for the Next 10 years is Feasible...
Montek Singh Ahluwalia, former Deputy Chairman of the erstwhile Planning Commission says India needs a better export strategy to take advantage of the shift in global demand away from China.On a High
It must be noted that the demand signs are not unqualified. Private consumption, the prime driver for fresh business plans and investments, is not as correspondingly upbeat as the moodInterview | Dual Control of PSBs by Finance Ministry & RBI is Wrong:...
The veteran economist said that the ultimate responsibility of regulating a PSB, including removing the Chairman, if necessary, should rest with the RBI, as is the case with private banks.To Lead the Global South, India Must Leverage Its Bridging Power
India actively works with the United Nations on South-South development, being one of its largest financial donors.Was CoP-28 a Cop-out or Did the Conference Achieve Something?
CoP meetings have routinely talked of the need for a fair and just transition, consistent with the principles of "common but differentiated responsibilities" but they never discussed how to apply it in practice.Charting the Emerging Geography of AI
The authors present an index of the 25 countries that are vying for global leadership on AI — and the factors that determine which nations will pull ahead.New Creditors, Differing Interests and Coordination Issues are Hobbling...
An IMF analysis suggests that several low-income countries (LICs) have been at high risk of debt distress or are in debt distress. Between 2010 and 2022, interest payments on both domestic and external debt of developing countries increased by 64%, and of African countries by 132%.How the Psychology of Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden and MBS is Driving Oil...
The dominant drivers of the crude oil market today are not the fundamentals of demand and supply, but the non-fundamentals, the psychology of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Joe Biden and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.Podcast | COP28: Spotlight On Indian Climate Diplomacy
In the last one decade, India has cast itself as being part of the climate solution—which in turn has created the space for diplomatic negotiations.Interview | Unlocking Africa’s Job Creation Potential: Insights from...
The interview provides valuable insights into the complexities of the African job market and potential pathways to overcome its challenges.Can a Polarised India Deter China?
If the smartest thinkers in the US can worry about its political dysfunction and can call for ‘rebuilding support at home’, Indians should worry too, about how our country’s external aspirations are articulated and achieved.Rekindling Corporate Investment
To achieve the levels seen in 2008, it is essential to increase corporate productivity, write Shishir Gupta and Rishita Sachdeva.Climate Diplomacy Must Begin at Home
It is now time to invest in a strategic capacity so that India's climate diplomacy is better equipped to transform prevailing climate commitments into action.How to Maximise the Advantage of India’s Young Population
India could dominate the global labour force by 2030 if it’s able to effectively utilise its growing young population.A Renewed Focus on Emerging Technologies
Fully realising the potential of emerging technologies in the military requires altering existing organisations and approaches.The Virtues of Restraint
Shivshankar Menon writes about why the use of force is rarely a sufficient response to terrorismThen and Now
CSEP Senior Fellow Renu Kohli provides a comparative illustration of the domestic context of the Indian economy then and now to identify critical aspects that could potentially affect the translation of high expectations into actual outcomesThe Self-Serving Overreach of Benjamin Netanyahu in Gaza
Democracy has the built-in check of electoral accountability. But that happens only every 4- 5 years. In the interim, leaders have considerable latitude to exercise power ostensibly for the purpose of ‘national security'.A Cap-and-Trade System will Help Slash Emissions More Efficiently
A key feature of a cap-and-trade system must be a steady reduction in allowances per unit of output over time, calibrated to the net-zero target, write Montek Singh Ahulwalia and Utkarsh Patel.India’s Global Climate Strategy
India’s progress in driving the need for climate mitigation and adaptation has been commendable and swift. A key question is whether results in terms of reduced carbon emissions will arrive.Need a More Effective Role: Re-Channelise these through MDBs, and Rethink...
There is a need to tap into the potential of Special Drawing Right (SDR), especially at a time when the global community is struggling to mobilise finances for sustainable development and climate change.Act with Urgency to Reform the International Monetary System
An IMF restructured to function more equitably would reinforce its role in global monetary and financial governance.Quota Reform is an Opportunity for the IMF to Restore its Legitimacy
As the IMF strives to complete the 16th General Review and works towards some agreement on quota realignment as part of the 17th General Review, the IMF Board of Governors should strive to reach a consensus on three fundamental changes to the IMF’s resources and governance.China in Focus, Defence Reforms Get Underway
Defence reforms reimagine the relationship between the defence ministry and the military and foster greater inter-services collaboration.Curing the States’ Doctor Deficiency
The challenge is the production and distribution of doctors. The doctor availability across states is very variable, and there are numerous factors driving this: state’s economic status, public health expenditure, expenditure on medical education.Podcast | How India and China Compete in Non-Aligned South Asia and The...
China’s economic, diplomatic, and military activities in South Asia and the Indian Ocean island states have New Delhi concerned about Beijing’s growing influence in its neighborhood. In this episode of Global India, Tanvi Madan discusses with Constantino Xavier about how India is responding.Report card
Despite a pandemic, war, higher cost of living and interest rates, economic activity has not stalled or fallen into recession even as inflation continues to decelerate, writes Renu Kohli.The Essential Reform of the International Monetary System
Anoop Singh elaborates the essential pillars of a radically renovated International Monetary Fund (IMF) to face the challenges of the future.India Needs More Doctors — and How It Can Happen
The goal of equity requires attention to incentives and encouraging migration to low-availability areas rather than restricting production. The policy focus, therefore, should be on addressing the barriers to scale.How to Reverse the Longest Downturn in Corporate Capex
Corporate investment, which plays a critical role in driving economic growth, has been in a slump in India for more than a decade. This op-ed analyses the behaviour of corporate savings and investment since 2007-08.A Trust Redeemed: Celebrating and Reinforcing Achievements
Ramu Damodaran writes about trust between states, governments and people as a means to extend, and not inhibit, the promise and possibilities of national sovereignty.The Unconservative Edmund Burke
Edmund Burke is frequently seen as the forerunner of the conservative movement, not least for his fierce critique of the French Revolution. But both his admirers and his detractors have too often ignored the complexity of his thought, which in important ways challenges the politics of the contemporary right, writes Uday Singh ...Interview | Shivshankar Menon on India Canada Relations
In an interview with ABC News, Shivshankar Menon discusses India Canada diplomatic relations.Interview | Shivshankar Menon on Israel Palestine conflict
CSEP Distinguished Fellow Shivshankar Menon discusses the Israel-Palestine conflict with Republic World.Podcast | Shivshankar Menon on India, Narendra Modi, China, Australia and...
In this episode of The Director’s Chair, Michael Fullilove speaks to the leading Indian scholar and diplomat, Shivshankar Menon on Hamas’s attack on Israel, how India manages its relationship with China, and why he is an optimist about the relationship between India and Australia.Pakistan’s Missing Market
Resuming trade with India is a chance to escape spiraling crises, writes Sanjay Kathuria in this article.Mind the Financing Gap
The total flow of financial resources to the commercial sector, which provides a good grip on the strength of the real economy, is compiled by the central bank.Improving Data Quality a Prerequisite for Regulating States’...
If such data were to become available, markets could more effectively reward or punish governments at the Centre and states for their borrowing behaviours, write Kevin James and Shruti Gupta.Interview | Is India the Next Big Economic Power?
A happy convergence of circumstances and trends have created a perfect launchpad for India’s global economic ambitions. Unless there are some unexpected surprises, this trajectory, already underway, will fundamentally transform India.Did Mahatma Gandhi miss Nobel Prize because of an Air Crash?
A diplomat had nearly swung the honour for Gandhi in 1961Canada needs to see India – not just the Diaspora
Dealing with common challenges requires a political compact that addresses how both countries view Canada’s Indian diaspora and mitigating its worst impulses, particularly those fanning separatist embers in India.Podcast | A Big-Picture Look at the India-China Relationship
Shivshankar Menon shares his views on the India-China competition, the potential for cooperation or crisis, and what it means for India’s partners on the inaugural episode of Global India, in this podcast.Interview | Are Indian OEMs Shying Away from the Biofuel Push?
What prevents India's original equipment manufacturers (OEM) from transitioning to flex engines? Shyamasis Das discusses the challenges faced, including the high cost of flex engines.What India’s G20 Achieved for the Global South
A multipolar world with competing power centres, rising economic fragmentation, and deglobalisation will only compound the pressures on institutions like the G20. With great power tensions at an apogee, resolution might not matter as discussions and resolutions pivot to smaller and smaller “like-minded” groups, writes Karthik Nachiappan.Geopolitical 20
Time will tell if the geopolitically-driven initiatives prove economically sound, resolve the global debt-cum-climate challenges, and help invigorate the world economyG20’s Inclusive Thrust Should Extend to Global Governance on Health...
The inability of global governance to impose checks and balances to ensure that the health needs of less endowed countries are served is worrying, writes Sandhya Venkateswaran.Nepal-India Transit Trade Ties Can Unlock Economic Opportunities,...
Nepal and India have renewed their transit trade agreement, improving Nepal's access to Indian sea ports and inland waterways, boosting supply chain resilience. This also marks potential breakthroughs in cross-border electricity trade and digital payments.Interview | Montek Singh Ahluwalia on G-20
Montek Singh Ahluwalia discusses India's G-20 meeting with ANI News.The State of Urbanisation: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
Rakesh Mohan's valedictory lecture at IHD recommends devising policies to encourage research to study the phenomenon of industrialisation and urbanisation in India, for manufacturing to be located in towns and cities and calls for a unified system of governance.Let us Deploy Fiscal Federalism Against Climate Change
By strengthening the role of fiscal federalism in addressing climate change, it would enable India a more effective utilisation of financial resources (includin funds raised by green bonds), enhance state capacities, promote policy coherence and drive sustainable development across the country.Is India the World’s Next Great Economic Power?
Is India’s economic rise inevitable? There’s good reason to think that this latest round of Indo-optimism might be different than previous iterations, but the country still has major challenges to address to make good on this promise.Current Green Transition Solutions Disregard Social and Political...
Institutions have to be built that facilitate global cooperation, skill development and technology transfer and also enable the mediation of the domestic and international conflicts that have been inevitably aroused.Winston Churchill: Contextualising Debates about His Life and Legacy
Ramu Damodaran reviews the book "The Cambridge Companion to Winstn Churchill."Interview | The outlook for India’s Economy Shines Bright
Riya Sinha talks about India’s connectivity with neighboring countries, liberalization of the economy, and strategies to attract foreign direct investment.How to Fix Holes in the Financial Safety Net
In absence of significant governance reform, effectiveness of global financial safety institutions is eroding. India is better off relying, instead, on pursuit of prudent macroeconomic policies.Interview | How is India Balancing Minerals Exploration and...
Rajesh Chadha discusses critical minerals and its essential role in the manufacturing of green technology for India, in an exclusive conversation with India Stats.Interview | Is India’s plan to buy 10,000 electric buses enough?
Shyamasis Das discusses India’s plan to buy 10,000 electric buses on the Business Standard Morning Show.Environment Policy Needs Federalism to Play a Big Role
How well central and state-level administrations coordinate climate action will determine key outcomes, writes Anoop Singh.Lessons from the Legacy of a Scientific Stalwart
India's renowned technologist, VS Arunachalam leaves behind a legacy of scientific accomplishments and institution-building efforts, writes Rahul Tongia.NRF: What Research Should be Funded?
An effective National Research Foundation would prioritise excellence over relevance, support a wide range of projects, and stress funding millions of individual researchers.Another Step Back
India’s objective has been to narrow the trade deficit with China by manufacturing at home. The tariff-raising, safeguard duties have explicitly and systematically targeted lower imports.Out-of-pocket Health Expenditure in India: Inter-state Variations
In this op-ed, Janak Raj and Harshini Kumari explain the large inter-state variations in out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) on health in India.Trade: A Call to Action for Rapid Growth
For India to attain high-income status by 2047, it must urgently prioritise trade as the primary driver for achieving accelerated growth.Interview | Share Bazaar RBI Policy के बाद गिरा!
Janak Raj on RBI Monetary PolicyInterview | Tech Import Curb Regressive, Doesn’t Augur Well for Future
We have to be connected to the Asian supply chain for us to be competitive in manufacturing of laptops, desktops, tablets and other computer equipment. That is what we need to do rather than shutting them off.Interview | Laveesh Bhandari on Manufacturing Competitiveness
Post-1991 reforms did not achieve intended results, manufacturing competitiveness still a challenge, says Laveesh Bhandari.The Climate Crisis: What is the Global Way Out?
In the ‘era of global boiling’, challenge can only be met if we act in political, economic, financial concert, says Vikram Singh Mehta.Emerging Inflation Dynamics: The Past Could be a Poor Guide for Future...
In food-price management, factors that could hinder the government’s efforts seem to have been ignored, writes Renu Kohli.Voluntary Health Insurance and its Expansion
Madhurima Nundy and Pankhuri Bhatt write about the challenges to voluntary health insurance and its expansion.Are We Ready for HPV Vaccines?
India cannot afford to let women suffer and then perhaps die of the most curable cancer. Important here is to also strategize vaccination with regular screening for women aged 30 and above.India Hits the Accelerator on Critical-Minerals Security
By joining the US-led Minerals Security Partnership and pursuing other collaborations, India has taken significant steps towards ensuring resilient supplies of critical minerals.Incentivising Mineral Exploration
Rajesh Chadha, Ganesh Sivamani and Karthik Bansal provide recommendations that address the government’s concerns about only granting mineral concessions through auctions.For More Bang for the CSR Buck, Change the Rules
Any activity with a longer-term perspective takes time to show desired results. However, the CSR mechanism requires companies to report on the allocation and a detailed impact assessment, says Laveesh Bhnadari.India Seeks to Secure its Green Growth Strategy by Identifying a List of...
In a conversation with Strait Times, Rajesh Chadha and Ganesh Sivamani highlights the importance of the Critical Minerals list by the government as an acknowledgement of how “skewed critical minerals supply chains will impact India’s green transition”, but adds that the government’s attention should now be on securing a supply of these ...Why India Needs to Look Beyond Logistics to Improve its Manufacturing...
The government's intent is sensible, and infrastructure does seem to have improved over time. India jumped six places from 44 (2018) to 38 (2023) in the World Bank's Logistics Performance Index (LPI). However, there are two main fallacies in the argument that puts disproportionate importance on logistics cost as a key reason ...Locate the Many Indias
Do not presume the business models that have worked for you elsewhere will be successful in India: Vikram Singh Mehta to potential investors.How Clearance Processes for Land Mining can be Sped Up
Complexity of the clearance procedures and huge delays in granting them have become impediments to efficient use of mineral resources, write Karthik Bansal and Ishita Kapoor.CSEP Research on Critical Minerals Cited in the Report by the Ministry of...
The Ministry of Mines released the first-ever list of critical minerals for India on June 28. The report referred to key findings from the CSEP Working Paper Critical Minerals for India 2023 authored by Rajesh Chadha, Ganesh Sivamani & Karthik Bansal.Interview | More Than Geopolitics, There’s Now Also an Economic Basis to...
Siddharth Varadarajan spoke to India’s former National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to the US, the deals signed, the politics and economics involved, and China's role in bringing the two nations together.How Will AI Change Work? A Look Back at the ‘Productivity Paradox’ of...
The explosion of interest in artificial intelligence has drawn attention not only to the astonishing capacity of algorithms to mimic humans but to the reality that these algorithms could displace many humans in their jobs. The economic and societal consequences could be nothing short of dramatic.India is Adapting to the Shifting Climate Terrain
India has a unique opportunity to use the G20 presidency to drive climate cooperation as crises abound and the desire for deep climate action is dwindling.Ban Pan-masala Promotions
Jaimini Bhagwati writes about the dangers of celebrities advertising pan masala and how it can impact the youth.Assessing the Potential of Telemedicine in Health Care Services
Addressing concerns such as differences in data-sharing rules and guidelines, building a robust digital infrastructure, streamlining accreditation and qualification of doctors etc. can aid in telemedicine gaining widespread acceptance.Health Among Top Three Priorities for Indian Voters After Jobs and...
This suggests that political leaders may gain electoral capital from prioritising health in their election campaigns and during their terms in office.Finance Ministers and their Balancing Acts
Laveesh Bhandari reviews AK Bhattacharya's book "India's Finance Ministers: From Independence to Emergency (1947-1977)".Power Sector Needs a Regulatory Overhaul
Insufficient regulated tariffs are the dominant reasons for discom cash shortfalls. Fixing this is necessary and urgent says Rahul Tongia, Rajasekhar Devaguptapu and Nikhil Tyagi.An Opportunity and a Challenge in Northeast
In the last few years, India prioritised enhancing railway development in Manipur and Mizoram, inching closer to the border with Myanmar, writes Riya Sinha.View: Time to Make RERA Roar
Channels of information flow in real estate are limited; buyers rely on the media, intermediaries or hearsay to obtain information. This leaves buyers in the dark, impeding their ability to distinguish between good- and bad-quality housing. Ill-equipped with little to no information, they may purchase homes mired in litigation.Interview | Govt Listens When Think Tanks Talk. They are Growing in Clout...
India's aspiration to become a global climate leader is getting a boost from an expanding ecosystem of homegrown policy and research institutes. Here are 10, new and old. | An interview with Laveesh BhandariDiscom Gaps Need Urgent Systemic Fixes
Non-performance by discoms only explains a minority fraction of cumulative financial gaps of over ₹10L-crore — the real issues are more deep-rooted.Developing a Regional Single Window System in the Indian Ocean Region
India and Australia can support the development of a Single Widow System in fellow Indian Ocean Region states for trade facilitation at the regional level, writes Riya Sinha. This article was also co-published by Observer Research Foundation.Health and democracy in India: Do voters care about health?
Oliver Heath, Jyoti Mishra, Louise Tillin & Sandhya Venkateswaran examine how Indian citizens view health through a five-state survey on electoral perceptions around health in IndiaWe Must Incentivise Household Savings for a Fast Economic Growth
Shishir Gupta and Rishista Sachdeva suggest the need to push for household savings to acheive accelerated growth on a sustained basis.New Custodians of Corporate Governance
Private firms should fill the vacancies of independent directors with those who are younger, technically savvy, with domain knowledge to tackle future uncertainties, writes Vikram Singh Mehta.Mapping the Climate Transition by Identifying Policy Interventions
RBI’s report lays down a buffet of choices. Policymakers must now pick what is nutritious but also conforms to political taste.The IMF’s Turn to Lead on Climate
While the International Monetary Fund has made great strides on climate change in a short time, emerging markets and developing economies need resources to invest in resilience more urgently than ever.Asia Needs to Focus on Productivity to Lead Global Growth
Sustained productivity growth would be better driven by technological capital deepening with related organisational changes and increased competition that can result in more efficient methods of production, says Anoop Singh.India-China Rivalry Not Episodic or Contextual but Structural: Experts
It is not exactly true that India's rivalry with China is spoken of only in hushed tones. The Indian strategic community is quite vocal about this reality, & this rivalry is not limited to South AsiaIndia has Big Clean Energy Goals – So Why is it Banking on Coal?
India's renewables targets, while ambitious, will still not be enough to meet rising power demand, comments Rahul Tongia.The Case for Investing in Digital Public Infrastructure
Bhaskar Chakravorti lays out 8 qualities of successful Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) projects, and how the public and private sectors can coordinate to build them.The UK a Tax Haven?
Is the UK providing refuge to India's absconding financial scamsters? Jaimini Bhagwati examines.Universal Health Coverage – The Goal’s Nowhere in Sight
With the National Health Accounts suggesting poor expenditure on health, it is hard to assess when and how the Universal Health Coverage goal will be achieved, writes Janak RajGovt’s Increase in Health Expenditure a Welcome Step. But Indians are...
Analysing the GHE and OOPE data at national and state levels shows the need for deeper inquiry. The attribution of increased govt spending to declining out-of-pocket expenditure isn't apparent, write Alok Kumar Singh and Sandhya Venkateswaran.Towards a National Innovation System
Indian industry must see R&D as its way of building a future based on proprietary technology, writes Naushad Forbes, member of CSEP Board of Directors.Leaders of Tomorrow: Expert Panelists Predict India’s Economic...
The discussion touched on many important aspects of India's growth trajectory, and the panelists agreed that India is poised for significant growth in the next 20-30 years.Podcast | Path to Climate Justice in a Net Zero World | ft. Tejal Kanitkar...
In this India Energy Hour podcast episode, Rahul Tongia discusses how we can design equitable models for climate action.How GPT Mania Could Harm AI Innovation
The scramble to win the GPT race could divert essential resources from the development of more socially meaningful uses of AI, writes Bhaskar Chakravorti.Reforms Will Determine Whether China Can Return to Rapid Growth
Its economy should adjust its growth model again and financial liberalization could set a ball rolling to accelerate expansion.Does Nuclear Power have a Role in our Climate Change Strategy?
Yes, nuclear power has a role in climate change strategy, but we will have to rethink several aspects of our current policy on this form of energy before it can meet its promise.Why We Can’t ‘Pause’ AI
Mixed views on AI reflect the international community’s inability to look beyond narrow interests to address problems of global commons, writes Vikram Singh Mehta.Podcast | Should India Consider Phasing Out Nuclear Power?
There are questions on whether nuclear power, with its attendant concerns on cost and safety, remains a relevant option for a future that is fossil-free, particularly in India.Interview | Constantino Xavier on Operation Kaveri
WION News speaks to Constantino Xavier on Operation Kaveri and the crisis in Sudan.That Thucydides Trap Again
Does China have to inevitably face confrontation from the US and seek domination over India, asks Jaimini Bhagwati.Our Budget Speeches Capture the Evolution of Government Policy
From ‘an idea whose time has come’ to ‘Digital India’, the words used in Budget speeches have set the theme for India’s economic emergence, write Ayush Khare and Shruti Gupta.Experts Explain | What are the Challenges India Faces in Assuring...
A national critical minerals strategy for India, underpinned by the minerals can help focus on priority concerns in supply risks, domestic policy regimes, and sustainability.Interview | Growth Of Renewable Energy High In India, But Pace Not Enough
The lesson for us is that our supply system must be sufficient and flexible to allow such new technology to come in. And that raises another set of issues: Montek Singh Ahluwalia tells NDTV.Interview | Crypto Will Die a Natural Death as Investors Turn to Other...
Crypto grew because we had near zero interest rates in developed countries for an extended period so people were searching for higher returns, says Rakesh Mohan.Interview | More Financial Institutions May Fail Globally, But No Direct...
As interest rates keep increasing in the developed economies there could be some reversal of capital flows, and consequent impact on the exchange rate and the economy, Rakesh Mohan cautioned.Interview | Inflation-Targeting Framework has Clouded Thinking in Central...
Though there are multiple instruments to tackle inflation, every time there is a spike, the market expects monetary policy action, says Rakesh Mohan.Podcast | India’s Strategic Shift
Constantino Xavier discusses India’s foreign policy and its relationship with Russia.The G20 must help create a global financial safety net
The challenge is to develop a carefully sequenced agenda for the next few years until political conditions allow a broader reform of the international monetary system.India’s Fossil Fuel Lessons for Net Zero
As the transition to clean energy becomes imperative, India’s tryst with hydrocarbons can offer a roadmap of what not to do.It’s Financial Sector Greed Again
US and European regulators ignored basic risk management. But why do regulators allow financial sector firms to gamble with depositors' money?Interview | Will RBI Raise Rates Amid Global Banking Crisis? | Rakesh...
CNBC TV18 News interview of Rakesh Mohan on whether the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will raise the repo rates amid the global banking crisis.Podcast | Connectivity and Cooperation in the Bay of Bengal Region
In this episode of South Asia Chat, Ramita Iyer, Research Analyst, ISAS, speaks to the editors of the report - Constantino Xavier, and Amitendu Palit about the prospects and challenges in the region.Our New Trade Policy Must Calm Fears of Rising Import Restrictions
Trade restrictions may put FTAs and global value chain integration at risk; external imbalances can be addressed with other tools, says Montek Singh Ahluwalia.Look at AI, not ChatGPT
Few paid attention to the fact that the first alert of a mysterious new virus out of Wuhan, China, came through AI.Interview | Geopolitical Differences and Economic Ties
Rajesh Chadha discusses economic growth and geopolitical developments for India and Korea on Arirang News.India Should Adopt Flexible, Interest Based Negotiations, Not Oppose Trade...
If India wants to achieve a growth rate of 7%-plus in the years ahead, it should also aim for a strong export performance. World trade is likely to grow more slowly in the future than it did in the past. But, even so, India should aim at expanding its exports at rates ...What India, As President of G-20 and Architect of Credo of Non-violence,...
Is there not a threshold beyond which the severity of human suffering renders meaningless words like “political sovereignty”, “national security” and “territorial integrity”?Podcast | Critical Minerals in India
In this episode of South Asia Chat, Devyani Chaturvedi, Research Analyst, ISAS, is in conversation with Rajesh Chadha, Senior Fellow at CSEP about India’s critical mineral supply chain and its vulnerabilities and opportunities.Canada, India should change Script and Become Real Partners
To fortify their long-term relationship, both countries need to clinch more immediate opportunities while also insulating the relationship from episodic political turbulence.J&K lithium find: Celebrate with caution but further exploration...
The 5.9 million tonnes of lithium announced by Geological Survey of India are “inferred resources” at present. General and detailed exploration must follow, also roping in private mining expertise, if we are to see the lithium by 2030.The towering legacy of diplomat Dasgupta
Ramu Damodaran's tribute to the late Ambassador Chandrashekhar Dasgupta who served as Indian ambassador to the European Union, Belgium, Luxembourg and China.The Adani crisis is exactly what India needs
The Adani issue can bring about long ignored reforms in the country.The Adani affair
This article reflects on the alleged negligence of Indian regulators in the context of the anti-climactic return of capital to those who had subscribed to the Adani Enterprises follow-on public offer (FPO) of Rs 20,000 crore.India’s vishwa guru ambitions need to be backed by resources,...
Man power and resources can strengthen India's vishwa guru ambition. It will need those resources for cooperation and competition with other countries.R&D: An Inside Job
For innovation to power economic growth, Indian industry must raise its investment in in-house R&D five-fold, writes Naushad Forbes.Bad debts of 2011-2016 could partly be pinned on a metal price crash
A majority of the firms responsible for defaulted loans between 2017-2020 constituted iron and steel businesses.Mine the gap: Reclaiming critical minerals from urban mines
Securing the supply chains of critical minerals will be imperative for India to meet its Aatma-Nirbhar Bharat goals and climate mitigation commitments.Addressing gender inequlalities: India needs bold steps
India will prioritise inclusive growth and development along with women empowerment as it assumes the presidency of G20 this year. This is a desirable objective.Why Electricity Subsidies Need an Urgent Rethink
Who is deserving of a subsidy is difficult to answer, for this is a policy choice. However, we can benchmark policies by examining who gets how much subsidy.Out of Alignment
Shivshankar Menon examines what a year of war in Ukraine has revealed.Price Cap, Energy Geo-Politics
US petroleum firms have benefited the most from sanctions on Russia. Europe has been pushed into a relationship of energy dependency with the US.Of Love, Of Selfishness and a World
Ramu Damodaran writes for Indepth News.Can Developing Economies Have High Growth Without Using Coal? A Debate.
Rahul Tongia and Jason Bordoff square off on a question that will confront emerging nations in the coming years.Where’s the Capital for Climate?
At COP26, the PM set a clear target that India, with the help of global investment, will achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2070. For this it will undertake actions such as greater use of renewable energy, reduced energy intensity, etc. It's a tough task, but the process is on and ...Pressure on the Rupee Recedes
There’s no certainty if RBI will be able to replenish its forex reserve stocks. The process could be quite long drawn, says Renu Kohli.Interview | Questions on the Economy with Montek Singh Ahluwalia
Montek Singh Ahluwalia answers some pertinent questions on the Indian economy and upcoming issues.Interview | At about 5-6%, Economy Won’t Collapse but it Won’t...
Montek Singh Ahluwalia tells Outlook Business that a private sector-led economy can deliver sustained GDP growth. He also suggested a closer examination of the much touted double digit growth and cautions against protectionism.Interview | Exclusive interview with Montek Singh Ahluwalia: What to...
In an exclusive interview with Moneycontrol, Montek Singh Ahluwalia speaks on the state of the economy, and what is needed to unleash India's growth potential. and delves into the reforms needed in the external sector.CO23016 | India’s Optimism for a New Regional Order
The global pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war have had a dual structural impact that accelerated Asia’s regional transition, which has been slowly evolving amidst rising US-China competition. India sees the ongoing disruption as a challenge, but also as an opportunity to realize its role as a bridging power to shape a new ...Non-Performing Assets: Dented by Iron and Steel
The large decline in metal prices during 2014-16, predominantly driven by Chinese imports, made domestic firms in the metals sector uncompetitive. A decline in profitability affected the loan repayment capacity of many firms in the metals sector and they defaulted, creating non-performing assets (NPAs) for banks.The Supreme Court’s Supremacy
Jaimini Bhagwati writes about how the Supreme Court should not be challenged, yet judges should not select judges.Podcast | A World Between Orders
Shivshankar Menon discusses what’s at stake in Ukraine, India’s place in this changing world, and what order could emerge from today’s great-power competition.The Man Who Stood Against the Tide of History
Ramu Damodaran reviews Kishan S Rana's book on Winston Churchill.India’s New Growth Recipe: Larger Firms
Large Indian firms are yet to become global champions. Given the global headwinds, India should focus on improving the competitiveness of these companies so that they can tap into large external markets far more than they have managed so far, say Shishir Gupta and Rishita Sachdeva.View: A more Competitive India Inc can Grow Faster and Bigger, and Capture...
There are, indeed, some green shoots visible, especially on the corporate and export front, which may help accelerate growth in the short run. However, transforming this head-start into faster long-term growth requires an improvement in competitiveness.India’s Transition to Green Energy will have a Significant Impact on...
Another effect of the energy transition that needs to be considered is the impact on employment; in some states, a significant proportion of the people are engaged in coal mining. The effect on employment may not be severe but it will be challenging because it is concentrated in a few states.Set the G20 Pace on Plugging Public Finance Data Gaps
Anoop Singh discusses how “data for development" will be an integral part of India's G20 presidency.The Path to Decarbonisation in the Wake of the Russia-Ukraine Conflict
Against this international backdrop, India must pivot the needle of its energy compass towards short-term energy security and long-term decarbonisation. Irrespective of who is to blame for global warming, India cannot afford to develop first and clean up later.Indian Rupee Goes Digital
Digital currency and fail-safe wireless connectivity should have preceded demonetisation, says Jaimini Bhagwati.India: Looking to Help Frame a New Global Balance
India has been playing a silent but important role in pushing Brussels...and other European capitals, to recognise that the future global balance of power hinges on what happens in Asia.A Buffer Against Banking Stress
It is advisable for banks to build a counter-cyclical commodity price buffer during upswings in commodity prices which can be used during periods of downswings.Four Steps to Make India’s Energy Transition Less Painful
India must make a fiscal transition alongside the energy transition. Here's how it could make a start.The Answer for India’s Economic Recovery: Labour-intensive Manufacturing
India's economic recovery calls for a focus on labour-intensive formal manufacturing. High under-employment and poor-quality employment have hampered a much needed move away from agriculture.Of Pele, of Brazil, of Rio
Ramu Damodaran writes about Brazil in UNICEF and the UN.COP27: Joining the dots between Binsar and Sharm El-Sheikh
To resolve the environment-development conflict, begin with local initiatives that can be scaled-up and provided market access through support of government and collaborative linkages with corporates, NGOs and specialists, writes Vikram Singh Mehta.Meritocracy & Reservations
Has merit become a bad word in India? For India's exceptional human resources to remain in the country, it needs to phase out all caste, community, and income-based reservations, writes Jaimini Bhagwati.Watch: Rakesh Mohan on the State of the Indian Economy
In an interview to Karan Thapar for The Wire, Rakesh Mohan discussed the state of the economy six weeks before the end of the year, focusing specifically on growth, investment, unemployment, poverty, inflation and the state of the rupee.To Save Twitter, Elon Musk Should Fire Himself
Musk’s conflicts of interest make him too dangerous to run the global public sphere, writes Bhaskar Chakravorti.Was COP27 a Cop-Out?
The loss-and-damage fund is welcome but other vital issues were left hanging. India’s G20 presidency may help us find clarity.The Perils of Overestimating and Underestimating Capex Projections
States have been significantly overestimating CSS receipts. CSSs are typically co-financed by the Centre and the states, and the central grant under the CSS is only received when the states release their own contribution. Unsurprisingly, poorer states find it harder to reliably avail central CSS grants under this model.Podcast | Are Current Climate Initiatives Unfair to Developing Nations?
Rahul Tongia speaks to Kai Ryssdal of NPR Marketplace about how current climate initiatives are unfair towards developing nations.Green Cess Needs a Makeover
A graded form of an ecological tax must be levied on the value of outputs of sectors that are polluting, write Rajat Verma and Ganesh Sivamani.Hindustan Times Leadership Summit 2022: Meeting Challenges of Resetting...
Hindustan Times Leadership Summit 2022: Many envisage a return to fiscal rules to strengthen credibility. But today’s situation offers an opportunity to rethink fiscal rules and the underlying fiscal frameworks.Critical Minerals Needed for India’s Green Transition
Securing the critical minerals required for manufacturing green technologies must become an urgent priority, or else India – and the rest of the world – risks falling short of its climate change mitigation targets.The Overvalued Rupee: Managing Exchange Rate Volatility and Forex Reserves
Since the 1950s, a cocktail of partisan domestic interests has resulted in the Reserve Bank of India and the Indian government favouring an overvalued rupee, writes Jaimini Bhagwati.What is leading economist Rakesh Mohan’s view on inflation?
How will global slowdown affect India? When will RBI's steps to rein-in inflation start show results? Rakesh Mohan answer these in a conversation with Business Standard.How India Handles China will Determine Success of Foreign Policy
The issue of how India handles China is likely to remain India's most complex external challenge.Nature Contributes to Economic Prosperity and Well-Being
Experts emphasize that while a statistic such as GDP does a good job of showing the value of goods and services exchanged in markets, it does not reflect the dependency of the economy on nature, nor its impacts on nature, such as the deterioration of water quality or the loss of a ...Why NPAs Are Not Just About Bank Governance
Probing the links between twin balance sheet crisis and external commodity shocks could lead to a better understanding of the problem.Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2022: Three Features that Will be Very...
The many challenges facing electricity distribution certainly need attention. But focusing on multiple discoms in an area, particularly when an alternative for providing choice exists, may distract from more fundamental issues. And it could create more problems.What Drives Media Reporting? | The Media Rumble 2022
What makes an event newsworthy? Shishir Gupta and Nandini Agnihotri shed light on what drives media reporting in this virtual session.Natural Gas: The Bridge on India’s Path to Energy Atmanirbharta
India has a long way to go before it can fully wean itself off fossil fuels. During this transitional phase, gas producers should be granted unfettered marketing and pricing freedom.‘A seed nurtured half a world away’ — What do Utah farms have to do...
UVU’s upcoming conference, “Why it Matters” connects the United Nations with the farmsteads of Utah.India’s National Priorities are Best Served Domestically
We should scale down expectations and time expended on preparing for the SCO and G20 summits, says Jaimini Bhagwati.SVAMITVA May Reinforce Inequalities in Rural India
The most serious drawback of SVAMITVA is its refusal to integrate gender into the scheme, writes Kaveri Thara.Putting Women at the Centre of Foreign Policy
More than a moral mission, by nurturing a feminist dimension in its Neighbourhood First policy, India will be able to better achieve its regional interests, says Riya Sinha and Constantino Xavier.‘India’s Nepal Policy has not Changed. There Will be Shifts, but...
Former Indian foreign secretary and national security advisor Shivshankar Menon on the changing power dynamics in South Asia, India’s political turmoil, and SAARC.UHC in India: Insights from Indonesia and China
Benefit coverage has to be comprehensive to include preventive, curative, rehabilitative services to ensure continuity in care, rational practices and a cost-efficient system, write Madhurima Nundy and Pankhuri Bhatt.Back in Time, Ep 2: Montek Singh Ahluwalia on India’s liberalisation
Podcast | Montek Singh Ahluwalia discuss independent India’s sociopolitical, cultural and economic history with Kunal Kamra.Towards A More Equal Society
Anchoring Change: lessons from seventy-five years of successful grassroots intervention.Nepal’s Delicate Foreign Policy Balancing Act
By understanding Kathmandu’s domestic aims and regional balancing, both New Delhi and Washington can play to their strengths and maximize the developmental impact of their projects in Nepal.Where to Find Top AI Talent
As the demand for artificial intelligence (AI) grows, so does the demand for AI talent. To find diverse AI talent, companies will need to look outside the usual technology talent hubs, such as the San Francisco Bay Area.Municipal Finance in Focus: How India can Empower its Urban Local Bodies
The low and deteriorating level of delivery of urban services needs to be addressed urgently. Cities contribute about 63% of India's net domestic product (NDP). Hence, deterioration in service delivery levels will impact their growth potential.Review: Recalibrate by NK Singh, With Select Insights from PK Mishra
A new book provides valuable snapshots of the evolution of Indian policymaking while also pointing out where policy shifts are needed.Why India Needs to Secure its Critical Minerals Supply Chains
Rajesh Chadha and Ganesh Sivamani reflect on India's critical minerals supply chain and the risks associated with not securing mineral needs.The key to economic recovery that will spur private investment to pick up
Infrastructure created through programmes such as PM Gati Shakti and the production-linked incentive scheme will allow private investment to pick up gradually, write Ayush Khare, Divya Srinivasan and Rishita Sachdeva in The Economic Times.India needs climate action targets for next 10 years
A 10-year-plan will help increase public consciousness and generate a public debate on aspects of the strategy that may seem contentious, write Montek S Ahluwalia and Utkarsh Patel in MintThe Road to Energy Atmanirbharta
Leadership to balance short-term pressures of elections with longer-term imperatives of sustainability is needed, writes Vikram Singh Mehta.For Energy, it’s not RE vs Coal – Adopt a Portfolio Approach
India is undergoing an energy transition, but it must not write off coal. The most cost-effective way to balance the grid in 2030 will be to keep both thermal power and renewables in the basket of options.Drone Strikes: Targeted Killings Raise Troubling Questions
The increasing range and automation of drone strikes are a matter of global concern, says Jaimini Bhagwati.Using construction technologies to solve mass housing woes
A reflection on the challenges to adoption of alternative technologies in mass housing projects and the way forward for the Global Housing Technology Challenge program.Seventy Five Years of Indian Foreign Policy: Key Successes, and the Gaps...
Indian diplomacy has been bold and innovative but today's challenges require another reworking of statecraft in pursuit of the country's 'unvarying concerns' – safeguarding its sovereignty and overcoming poverty.Six Monthly Indicators of Recession
The US economy isn’t in recession but may slip into one, writes Anoop Singh.Nobody Wants the Current World Order
How did all the major powers—even the United States—became revisionists.Synopsis of Indian Thinking about China, 2018-2022
Constantino Xavier and Gil Rozman trace the evolution of Indian thinking about China from 2018-22 and recognize linkages with its response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.Naysayers are Wrong, India Does have Success Stories
Too many people believe that India cannot fulfil the promise of its founding fathers. There are stories and examples that show it is possible, writes Vikram Singh Mehta.How Indian Minerals and Metals Fare in Trade and FDI
How do Indian minerals and metals fare in trade and FDI? Rajesh Chadha and Ishita Kapoor explain.IPEF versus RCEP
The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) has military ramifications, but the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) does not, says Jaimini Bhagwati.Why is Sri Lanka in Crisis, and What Comes Next?
Constantino Xavier looks at how Sri Lanka’s governing choices over many years led to crisis, the difficult reforms ahead, and the implications of the collapse for other developing nations throughout Asia and Africa.How US Demand Helped Expand Labour-intensive Manufacturing
Understanding the US-India trade composition is also important, as the US is the only big trading partner with which we have a trade surplus, says Abhishek Kumar and Divya Srinivasan.A New Cold War May Call for a Return to Nonalignment
Why a growing number of countries want to avoid getting stuck in a great-power tussle—again.India’s Start-ups are on Fire, but Unicorns can’t Automatically Spur...
Economic miracles only happen when globally competitive firms tap into external demand, says Shishir Gupta.Uber Files Gives us a Glimpse of Big Tech’s Playbook for Market...
Bhaskar Chakravorti writes: It is time we reformed the education of future entrepreneurs and disruptors and the many stakeholders who enable them, to put the human cost of disruptive innovation front and center.The Trade Policy India Needs
Integration with global value chains will require a rethink of our high and uncertain tariffs as well as bolder trade alliances, say Montek Singh Ahluwalia.Political Forum and Development Goals
Ramu Damodaran explores how High Level Political Forum (HLPF) is a remarkable innovation that led to its in inception as part of the sustainable development agenda.How Biden’s “Internet for All” Initiative Can Actually Fulfill Its...
Despite the laudable intentions, Biden's "Internet for All" initiative will likely not be able to achieve its goals as it’s currently conceived, writes Bhaskar Chakravorti.The Life and Times of Montek Singh Ahluwalia | Podcast
Montek Singh Ahluwalia joins Amit Varma in episode 285 of The Seen and the Unseen to discuss his life, his learnings and the liberalisation of 1991.The Pandemic-flagged Need for a New Fiscal Framework
India should consider moving toward a new principles-based fiscal strategy, rather than returning to a fiscal framework based on rigid numerical fiscal targets, writes Anoop Singh.After Ukraine, the New Energy Disorder
Vikram Singh Mehta writes: Ukraine war has disrupted old energy order. We cannot afford to continue with our existing siloed approachDismal Realities about Healthcare in the National Capital Region
"It is surprising that the Indian insurance regulator allows so many exceptions under private health insurance."International Day of Women in Diplomacy
Ramu Damodaran reflects upon the journey of women's representation at the United Nations on the ocassion of International Day of Women in Diplomacy.“Despite Warnings, Central Banks in Developed Countries do not Take...
Rakesh Mohan answers Bloomberg HT's questions about the causes of global inflation and the effectiveness of central banks' policies against hyperinflation.Policy Revamps that Will Help Scale Storage Technologies
The key need for improving storage is innovation, which is not just a technical issue but extends to business models and regulatory frameworks. While there is a need to scale up production, we should also revamp how we integrate and plan for storage, writes Rahul Tongia.The Ukraine Conflict has Raked up Old Dilemmas
Vikram S Mehta writes: Issues related to energy security, climate change mitigation have been brought to the forefront.जलवायु बिगड़ने के साथ भारत का...
भारत में जलवायु परिवर्तन के कारण हो रही घटनाओं को अब ‘अप्रत्याशित’ नहीं कहा जा सकता है इसलिए सरकार को उनके लिए वैकल्पिक तरीकों के साथ तैयार होना पड़ेगा.With its GST ruling, the Supreme Court has Articulated an Alternative to...
The verdict recognises the legitimacy of state-Centre contestations, setting a precedent for state autonomy and Indian federalism, says Kevin James.The Indo-Pacific Economic Bloc Offers India a New Opportunity
We’ll have to re-examine our traditional positions wherever needed to make the most of economic integration under the Indo Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), says Montek Singh Ahluwalia.Power Sector must Brace for Trouble as Climate Worsens
India can no longer label extreme climate events as ‘unforeseeable’. The Union govt must prepare for them with alternate approaches.India Could Drink Sustainably from the Spring-Wells of Development
Jaimini Bhagwati argues how India, as a swing state could seek greater accommodation of its strategic and economic interests with the West in light of the undeclared war with Russia and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) countries.Right to Health Laws Need Political Support
Realising the right to health requires a system that enables quality and affordable access to health services for citizens, writes Sandhya Venkateswaran and Nikhil Iyer.Western Companies Can Help Ukraine by Sending Work
Ukraine’s tech outsourcing sector, one of Europe’s largest, has adapted nimbly to the war.Delaying Action does not Protect Growth: Montek Singh Ahluwalia on RBI...
The central bank affects the real economy not just through short-term interest rates but through a host of other instruments, including the quantity of money, the level of credit and liquidity and, more broadly, financial stability, says Montek Singh Ahluwalia.A Renewed Focus on India’s Border Management
Riya Sinha argues that simultaneous developments on both the security and socio-economic fronts will be key in India's renewed approach to land border management.Corporate Misgovernance in India
NSE has blotted its record even with separate chairman and managing director roles, says Jaimini Bhagwati.Could S Jaishankar Don the Kissingerian Mantle?
If there were an India-led peacemaking initiative, Jaishankar might be the best qualified to crack the Ukrainian diplomatic impasse, writes Vikram Singh Mehta.Explosive Dying Declaration?
Government and judiciary must collaborate and investigate into Kalikho Pul's accusations, says Jaimini Bhagwati.What Drives the Media’s Coverage of Social Issues?
What influences media reporting? Shishir Gupta and Nandini Agnihotri's study explores reader interest as a factor that drives news coverage.Give Coal the Attention and Effort that it Needs
The fundamental issue remains woefully short stockpiles. With a recent increase in the domestic demand, and high global prices, the key is to address crucial issues of planning, feedback (or lack thereof), and risk, says Rahul Tongia.FTA with the UK can Weave Magic
An FTA with the UK can help recover ground lost to Bangladesh on textile exports because of its LDC status, say Abhishek Kumar and Divya Srinivasan.Coping with Fiscal Effects of Energy Transition
CSEP scholars Laveesh Bhandari and Asheerwad Dwivedi analyse how governments’ (both Centre and State) revenue from coal, oil and natural gas, will be affected over the next two decades as India shifts toward renewable energy sources.The Fantasy of the Free World: Are Democracies Really United Against...
Russia’s war in Ukraine might be a pivotal episode in a global contest between autocracy and democracy. Chastened by Putin’s gross violation of norms, democracies will band together in a muscular reaffirmation of the liberal international order.Montek Singh Ahluwalia on India’s Economic Prospects | Interview
Higher oil prices are the main problem for India if peace is not restored soon, says Montek Singh Ahluwalia.“It is Pragmatic, Morally Defensible for India to Buy Crude Oil from...
It is the same energy security imperative that drove Europe’s decision to continue buying crude from Russia, says Vikram Mehta.Has the Government Handled the Ukraine Crisis Well? | Interview
In a 45-minute interview with The Wire, the former national security adviser Shivshankar Menon said the Indian government must play a forceful and active role in finding a solution acceptable to all sides.District Mineral Foundation Funds and Welfare of the Mine-affected...
Under PMKKKY, 60 per cent of the DMF fund has been allocated to high priority areas such as drinking water supply, environment preservation and pollution control, health care, education, women and child welfare, the welfare of aged and disabled people, skill development and sanitation.India can Act today to Shape Tomorrow’s Terms of Connectivity with...
Trade incentives, border infrastructure or any other such unilateral initiatives are simple, low-cost ways for Delhi to reverse the lost time and rising costs of India-Pakistan disconnectivity.Global Fuel Price Rise and How Should India Navigate The Oil Crisis |...
In an interview with India Today, Vikram Mehta shares his perspective on how India should navigate the oil crisis as prices continue to rise globally.Why the Corporate Flight From Russia Is No Precedent for China
Despite the rising tensions with China, it is hard to see how the Ukraine war could set a precedent for a confrontation with a vastly bigger economic power such as China.Why AI Failed to Live Up to Its Potential During the Pandemic
The pandemic could have been the moment when AI made good on its promising potential. There was an unprecedented convergence of the need for fast, evidence-based decisions and large-scale problem-solving with datasets spilling out of every country in the world.Russia’s Ukraine Invasion; India Impact Of A ‘New Energy World...
In an interview with Strat News Global, Vikram Singh Mehta assesses the impact on India of gas, oil and financial sanctions on Russia after it invaded Ukraine, fuel prices, the repercussions on India and Russia’s energy assets in each other’s countries, and many more.Free Trade Agreements are Leading to More Imports Than Exports | Interview
Montek Singh Ahluwalia discusses Atmanirbhar Bharat, Russia - Ukraine crises and many more in an interview with the New Indian Express.How to handle impact of Ukrainian crisis on India’s energy sector
To deal with energy volatility, India must build reserves, revive conversations on pipeline with Iran, TurkmenistanThe Economy and India’s Future | Interview
In an interview with Mirror Now, Montek Singh Ahluwalia discusses the country's economic health and predictions for the post-Covid world.Timing and Design Key to Making Digital Rupee a Success
Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) runs the risk of financial disintermediation, which can alter saving-investment strategy and impact banking system in India, says Aasheerwad Dwivedi.India Must Act on Mining and Exploration of Critical Minerals for Green...
in 2015, India announced its Nationally Determined Contributions, including reducing its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) emission intensity by 33-35% in 2030 from 2005 levels. This commitment has been revised to a 45% reduction during COP26. Critical minerals shall play an important role to achieve these goals.What Drives Media Reporting?
Not only is the frequency of media reporting on urban conflicts greater, but each urban conflict is also covered much more extensively than those in rural areas; this is despite the fact that a much larger number of people are potentially impacted in the latter.Don’t Use Chips to Play Poker With Putin
Semiconductor blockades are powerful sanctions—but may not prove effective with Russia.Why Most Indians Don’t Trust News? A Study of Land Conflicts Answers
A study of 714 land conflicts in India find that beyond being ‘influenced’ or ‘sensationalised’, there are objective reasons that decide media coverage.What the Union Budget Got Right, and What it Missed
The budget’s capital-expenditure plan could support our recovery but reforms in important areas can’t be held off any longer.For India to be Financially Inclusive and Economically Better, Financial...
For a financially aware and empowered India, considerable effort and calculated steps need to be taken.Time to Rationalise Fuel Taxes
The delayed feedback from wholesale inflation to retail inflation is also reflected in the household inflation expectations survey of the RBI.How Will the Economy be Affected by Budget 2022? | Interview
In an interview with Times Now on the Budget 2022-23, Montek Singh Ahluwalia speaks on a host of issues including unemployment, job creation and the various measures taken to boost the economy.What the Government Needs to do to Boost India’s Growth | Budget...
Ahead of the Union Budget 2022-23, Business Today interviews Montek Singh Ahluwalia to take a deep-dive into the contours of the economy and understand what the government needs to do to boost India's growth.Bring Real Estate, Petroleum, Alcohol and Power into GST | Interview
Though the Indian economy is in recovery mode, the underlying growth impulses are weak, says economist Montek Singh Ahluwalia.‘Make in India’ a Work in progress
While the Indian government has rolled out policies to promote exports, trade policy is more inwardly oriented. The ‘Make in India’ initiative ignores the decades-long geographical fragmentation of the global production process, a reality that increases the import dependence of exports.We Need Wardens in Our Eco Parks
Take the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). It is assigned the task of monitoring air and water quality, and to also check commercial or industrial units that may pollute them. It is also allocated the task of supporting State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs), which carry out the monitoring, permitting and enforcing functions ...What is the Credibility of Government Accounting?
When the government presents the 2022-23 Budget, there will be relatively little attention spent on correlating the budget numbers with recent CAG reports or the deliberations of the PAC, says Jaimini Bhagwati.The ‘Whys’ Behind China’s Breathing-fire-24/7 Foreign Policy
The pattern of China’s internal politics and development has given a particular cast or shape to China’s external behaviour in the last decade.Does India’s Development Model Need an Overhaul?
While the effects of the recent pandemic have indeed set India’s economy back several years, it is not clear if, prior to it, the development model that we were pursuing was the one best suited to ensuring that we realise our full potential as a country and as a people.Enough of the Old ‘Level Playing Field’ Argument. Reduce Trade...
Data from the IMF's October 2021 World Economic Outlook reveals that India's real exports growth moves in tandem with the growth in global real exports. Consequently, the steep decline in India's export growth since 2018 onwards is mirrored by a decline in global export growth in general.Three Tech Industry Trends to Watch in 2022
Fringe players take on Big Tech, governments start regulating, and AI could finally prove its worth, writes Bhaskar Chakravorti.Can India Push China off its Dominant Perch?
"A compass to navigate the geopolitical churn with China." Vikram Singh Mehta reviews "Rising To The China Challenge" by Gautam Bambawale, Vijay Kelkar, Raghunath Mashelkar, Ganesh Natarajan, Ajit Ranade and Ajay Shah.Preparing for a Green Energy Shift in 2022
The ‘irresistible force’ for clean energy has met the ‘immovable object’ of an embedded fossil fuel energy system. How can policies reconcile this paradox?India’s Hopes and Dynasties
The country needs greater social harmony to accelerate economic development, says Jaimini Bhagwati.50 Global Hubs for Top AI Talent
As AI expands into more and more facets of our lives, there is also more scrutiny on who is developing it. Building ethical AI that works for everyone will require a diverse workforce that brings a broad range of perspectives.The Good, Bad, and Sober News that the NFHS Data Presents
As always, national averages belie inter-state differentials. Of note is the change in such differentials over the 2005-20 period.Wanted: New leaders to tackle climate change challenge
COP 27 should be led by a collective of experts, who can accelerate the implementation of the action plan towards Net Zero, says Vikram Singh Mehta.Interpreting India at the Summit for Democracy
For the Indian government, the future of democracy is being played out in Asia and Africa, where states are experimenting with competing governance models amidst China’s growing autocratic influence.‘The Fractured Himalaya: India, China, Tibet 1949-1962’ review: A...
The history of the critical initial years of a political relationship when India and China tried to manage issues such as the boundary question, and failed.Economic Heft and Foreign Policy Posturing
India's foreign policy options are circumscribed by its relatively inadequate economic size and technological capabilities, says Jaimini Bhagwati.In Defence, The Twin Transformations
The country’s political leadership took a leap in reimagining the military. But it must pay attention to structural issues.India Needs a Coordinated Approach for Decarbonisation of Economy
Long-term planning process must be changed and an autonomous, credible agency must provide independent advice, monitor progress.Does the Glasgow Pact Make Climate Finance Available to Us?
We must push hard for funds at next year’s CoP and do what’s possible at home to enhance flows of capital into green projects.The Glasgow Summit on Climate Change: What Has it Achieved?
A promising start on emissions reduction, but big emitters must do more and India needs to work out a detailed plan of action.Why India needs a Ministry of Energy
It would not alter the existing roles and responsibilities of the various ministries that oversee petroleum, coal, renewables and power, but would identify and handle all of the issues that currently fall between the cracks created by the existing structure.Interview | Did UPA Fall Back on Loosening Government’s Grip on...
In the Q&A with Business Standard, Montek Singh Ahluwalia dwells on the areas where he feels UPA did not meet up to the challenges and the progress made by the BJP on certain fronts.For Meaningful Financial Inclusion, We Need Clear Metrics
The purpose of any data or index is to offer us pointers on moving ahead. For meaningful financial inclusion, we must have meaningful metrics in the public domain.Net Zero: Pledges Are Not Enough
There are several problems with the so-called 'carbon neutrality' pledges. These can only be understood properly if they are accompanied by details and given tight accounting norms.How India’s Gati Shakti Plan Can Have an Impact Beyond Its Borders
India's Gati Shakti plan can generate positive spillover effects, strengthen India’s economic ties with its neighbours.The Saviour Complex of Facebook’s Critics
Whistleblowers and the Western media have exposed how the social media platform allows dangerous social media manipulation in developing countries. But why have they locked those very countries out of this conversation?1971 War Tilted Balance in India’s Favour
Bangladesh today is a development success story as that country overtook India and Pakistan in terms of per capita income and human development indicators.Net Zero Carbon Pledges Have Good Intentions. But They are Not Enough.
Reaching zero is important, but there is no universal consensus on when the date of net zero should be. The “sooner the better” remains a common refrain.Ahead of CoP 26 Meet: A Negotiation Strategy
The right approach is for each country to focus not on the net zero date but to indicate its emissions reduction trajectory consistent with its development imperatives.The Inside Story of India’s Coal and Power Crises
Simple arithmetic will show that power plants consumed more coal than they received, but given that generation wasn’t exceptionally high, does this mean the problem was supply?Power balance has shifted against us: Shivshankar Menon on India-China...
We have to rely on ourselves to deal with China. We have started military reforms but it is too early to say we have been successful, says Shivshankar Menon.Quota share of BRIC countries in IMF should increase: Rakesh Mohan to...
Rakesh Mohan suggests the need to review the role of IMF due to changing economic weight of emerging countries, stressing on completing quota reforms and maintaining data integrity amid the World Bank discontinuing its Ease of Doing Business reports.RBI’s Growth Estimate ‘Exaggerated’ As It Fails To Reflect State of...
There are concerns on whether the 64.4 percent export growth will continue into the rest of the year as shortages of containers have led to a sharp rise in transport costs which could weaken performance.Low Private Investment Is a Weak Spot In The Economy
After the recovery of the economy next year, will we only get back to the growth rate of 4 to 5 percent which prevailed immediately before the pandemic, or to the much higher growth of earlier years?A Strategy For India In a World That is Adrift
The country’s path to power will be affected by the geopolitical and economic centres of gravity now shifting to Asia.Recognising The Role of Health in India’s Social and Economic Growth
When we focus on health, there has been progress, but India remains well below peer countries — and where it needs to be — in terms of the well being of citizens. This stems from multiple reasons.Cross-Border Terror Not Over-Arching Threat, SAARC Policy Needs Review
India must rethink its attitude to cross-border terrorism which is “not an over-arching threat” and also urgently review its SAARC policy or run the risk of China being admitted as a member in India’s absence, says Shivshankar Menon.A Green Response to Natural Gas Price Shock
The price surge must be leveraged to improve energy efficiency, intensify demand conservation and intervene to prevent the switch to coal, among other measures.National Monetisation Pipeline Betrays Narrow Outlook
Private-public investment structures make sense, but they must be modeled to also generate social value. In today’s world, there are no shortcuts to sustainable development.Neighbourhood’s First Responder: India’s Approach to Humanitarian...
Saneet Chakradeo maps India’s Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Relief (HADR) operations and its many dimensions – bilateral, multilateral, and civil society contributions.Indian Treasures at Home and Abroad
Historically significant sites, artefacts and papers in India and the UK should be made accessible to wider audiences.Monetisation of Government Assets
Leasing government-owned land would be easier and should be accorded higher priority.See Formal Sector at Pre-Covid Level by Year-end
The Indian economy has bottomed out and the formal sector is likely to get back to pre-pandemic levels by the end of this year.India and US have certain congruence in maritime security through IPS
"I think India and the US have a certain congruence in maritime security through the Indo pacific in keeping those sea lanes open, safe, free but I don’t think either side has linked that to whether India has a permanent seat in the UN security council or not."Indian tech unicorns are gaining at China’s expense. Is this a blessing...
The last thing India can afford is a bubble that bursts and for capital, talent and technology to take flight and seek refuge elsewhere.Strengthen Land Ports to Boost India-Bangladesh Economic Connectivity
It is pertinent to address several existing challenges at the land ports between India and Bangladesh that hinder seamless connectivity, says Riya Sinha.Jet Airway, Indian Economy, and the Middle Class
The Indian economy is recovering. But can we settle into a long-term high-growth trajectory?How Fair is India’s Non-fuel Mine Auction Process?
Rajesh Chadha and Ganesh Sivamani discuss challenges to the mining sector and recommend a thorough relook at the auctions regime.Govt Should Let Fiscal Deficit Rise to 7.5% to Boost Consumption,...
The government must provide adequate income support, particularly for the poor, as a way of tackling the collapse in private consumption, says Montek Singh Ahluwalia.India’s Failure to Help Afghan Friends is a Strategic Liability
The Afghan crisis reflects the absence of systems and capability to protect India’s local partners in active conflict zones. More than a moral issue, this failure is also a strategic liability.Challenges For Natural Gas to Become India’s Bridge Fuel
Rahul Tongia examines the relevance of natural gas both through the lens of competitive economic viability as well as other impacts.Is Monetising Public Assets a Good Idea?
In this podcast, Montek Singh Ahluwalia discusses the asset monetisation policy of the government.Reforming PSBs Most Important Task Ahead for Government
In this interview with Business Standard, Montek Singh Ahluwalia answers crucial questions on the economy.Former RBI Deputy Chief Warns of Rise in Bad Loans Due to the Pandemic
India’s expanded credit push to help small borrowers weather COVID-19’s impact risks fueling sour debt, says Rakesh Mohan.India’s 20.1% GDP Growth Encouraging: Rakesh Mohan
Former deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of India, Rakesh Mohan discusses the outlook for the Indian economy and policies amid the Covid-19 pandemic.One Nation One Ration Card will increase India’s food security
The One Nation One Ration Card scheme will create a central repository and help in the deduplication of ration cards, which in turn help in removing leakages from the system.India’s New Consulates and Subnational Diplomacy in South Asia
Constantino Xavier and Nitikar Nayar discuss how New Delhi's engagement with diverse subnational groups both within and across its borders will help define the future course of connectivity in South Asia.India is Failing its Afghan Friends
The absence of an asylum and evacuation system to protect partners in conflict zones is extracting costs, writes Constantino Xavier.Border Disputes? Let’s Make Boundaries Irrelevant Without Changing Them
Shivshankar Menon discusses the factors that make our boundaries contested.Higher Funding Alone Doesn’t Improve Urban Services
Adequate expenditure alone is not enough to improve public services and other outcomes, write Shishir Gupta and Rishita Sachdeva.A Time for Strategic Autonomy, Building Up National Strength
Shivshankar Menon writes about the need to strengthen India's autonomy while working with major powers and our neighbours.Should India Keep Quad Out of the Neighbourhood?
Constantino Xavier discusses policy consequences and the impact of India being perceived as a part of the "non-China" camp.India Can Grow and Cut Emissions at the Same Time
Montek Singh Ahluwalia unpacks the strategy policymakers could adopt for India's decarbonisation.Can we Offer a Credible Strategy for the Reduction of Emissions?
Let’s present CoP-26 a carbon-reduction strategy that includes adequate access to finance, writes Montek Singh Ahluwalia.How the US Created China’s Dominance
The US, more than other G7 countries, has called out the bristling hubris of a totalitarian China, writes Jaimini Bhagwati.Unpacking the Strategy Policymakers Could Adopt for India’s...
Montek Singh Ahluwalia unpacks the strategy policymakers could adopt for India's decarbonisation.Book Review | Betting on natural gas as a ‘clean’ fossil fuel
Bibek Bhattacharya reviews The Next Stop for Mint, focusing on natural gas' role in India's decarbonisation and its limitationsLessons on expenditure and performance on cleanliness on Indian cities
HT Insight features CSEP's recent study on mapping expenditure and outcomes for improved service delivery across Indian cities.Bringing Farming To Private Markets Is A Good Idea
Montek Singh Ahluwalia says he wishes the idea of agriculture reforms was communicated more effectively to farmers.The agenda for Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri
Hardeep Singh Puri should not see his responsibility through the siloed prism of oil and natural gas, Vikram Singh Mehta writes.Integrated check posts are boosting connectivity but challenges remain
Riya Sinha looks at India's increasing trade and passenger movement with Nepal, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.Pegasus expose and need for trans-national treaties to stall surveillance
Nurtured by repressive governments, the global surveillance industry is booming, writes Bhaskar ChakravortiIndus Waters Treaty is worth preserving
Selective cooperation with Pakistan, not mindless confrontation is the way forward, writes Jaimini BhagwatiEurope from Portugal to the Indo-Pacific
The unprecedented EU-India summit deepened ties but was also a political signal that Europe wants more weight in the Indo-Pacific.Biden’s ‘Antitrust Revolution’ Overlooks AI—at Americans’ Peril
A handful of companies have outsize influence on the world’s artificial intelligence. Policymakers must act now.Revisiting the role of funding for improved urban services
Stable city leadership, effective PPP, and citizen engagement play a key role in providing better SWM servicesInterview: How the 1991 reforms were announced
30 years ago on July 24 1991, Dr Manmohan Singh presented his historic budget when India made a definite break with the past.We should be thankful for the economy’s liberation
We owe a great deal to 1991 for liberating the economy from the dead hand of bureaucratic control.Interview: Reforms, Protectionism, Trade, and Growth
"If we raise duties to make Indian industry competitive, we’ll end up close to 1991."Why Article 282 needs a rethink as Centre and states battle for money
The use of Article 282 to implement centrally sponsored schemes remains a source of tension.Women leaders, and women voters, matter
Increasing Indian women's political participation has significant impacts on social policy and development prioritiesThe US must play champion of open world trade again
Among the needed reforms is a trade agenda that removes US President Joe Biden’s predecessor Donald Trump’s protectionist measuresThe response of Reserve Bank of India to Covid-19: Do whatever it takes
RBI has succeeded in achieving its broad objective of keeping financial system functioning smoothly.A third-generation strategy for accelerated growth and development
Indian economy is in trouble once again and it is time to usher in a third generation of economic reforms.Challenges for natural gas to become India’s bridge fuel
Rahul Tongia examines the possibilities for natural gas in India’s energy mix.The great leap to clean energy
Vivek Rae reviews The Next Stop: Natural Gas and India's Journey to a Clean Energy Future.Borders: From zones of security to commerce via ICPs
The Integrated Check Posts along India’s borders show the capacity of the Indian Government to deliver on infrastructure projectsIndia’s civilian leadership must step up
Between the Indian Army’s ‘supremo syndrome’ and IAF’s ‘all is well’ syndrome, India’s military effectiveness is compromisedAmerica’s economic resurgence and the sting in its tail
The surprisingly strong recovery in the US, whose economic expansion is outpacing the world’s as well as that of emerging marketsCheck green damage: India needs to strengthen environmental assessments
Comprehensive Environment Impact Assessments (EIA) are essential to determine the project’s benefits and externalitiesCan natural gas be a ‘bridge’ fuel in India’s energy transition?
India’s focus for natural gas should be where it displaces coal, especially 'dirty', inefficient coalThere is still hope for a more compassionate, united world
There is still hope that binding commonalities of humanity – trust, compassion, friendship, conversation – can usher change.Book Review: The Absent Dialogue
There is a constant search for harmony among the three principal stakeholders of national security.Interview | India’s 1991 liberalisation leap and lessons for today
The reforms were hugely successful but a lot remains to be done, Montek Singh Ahluwalia tells The HinduThe lessons of India’s economic reforms of 1991
Rakesh Mohan and and Montek Singh Ahluwalia on 30 years of the economic reforms that marked a turning point for IndiaIndia needs a third generation of reforms
In India’s development journey, two major policy departures in its approach to growth stand out. It is time for a third departure.The 1991 reforms: The right people at a tight time
The reforms were a product of an objective economic crisis, bureaucratic talent in key positions, and a plan on how to proceedFrom 1991, the lessons for the India of 2021
As India grapples with a post-pandemic economic crisis, there are lessons from thirty years ago on what to reform and how.What will be the impact of scrappage policy on India’s EV market?
India’s vehicle scrappage policy introduced in the 2021 budget session aims at replacing end-of-life vehicles (ELV).Rajiv Gandhi opened the doors for 1991 reforms
Thirty years after he passed away, it is relevant to reflect on Rajiv Gandhi’s contribution to India’s economic reforms.Why India shows the need for democracies to prioritise healthcare
The Covid-19 pandemic offers the opportunity to reimagine the political foundations of health in India.In the next big disruption post Covid, the world must act together
No single entity, whether government, corporate or civic society, has the tools to manage the fallout of a systemic disruption‘India needs one institutional mechanism for bringing all the bodies...
We also need reforms related to pricing, taxation, development of infrastructure, relationship between the Centre and state governments, and R&D, says Vikram Singh Mehta.Implications for income generated through crypto trading
Levying tax on cryptocurrency cannot be avoided solely because of the form of income in which it is collected.India, China, and the stalemate beyond Ladakh
Behind the ongoing military stalemate at the LAC lies a stifling political stalemate between India and China.India can’t yet claim to be vishwa guru: Shivshankar Menon
Menon’s new book, India and Asian Geopolitics, is a “plea” for India to engage with the world, especially Asia.Book Review | The Next Stop: Why gas is not just hot air
The Next Stop is a "rich and insightful" book where 38 industry insiders with experience in natural gas band together, says reviewInterview: Shivshankar Menon On His New Book ‘India And Asian...
India-China relations will be reset and there’s no going back to the status quo, Shivshankar Menon tells Youth ki Awaaz.The great churning: Modi’s transformation of the Indian military
India’s current military transformation requires greater civilian participation and expertise in defense matters.India’s road to clean energy goes via natural gas
Decarbonisation is the endgame, but India must first ‘green’ its fossil fuel energy basket by increasing the share of natural gasChina tore up the modus vivendi in 2020, the LAC is now live: Shivshankar...
We are still in the middle of a negotiating a crisis... the crisis is nowhere near over until Depsang, Gogra [are resolved], says Menon.India should not risk leaning too much on one side of global politics,...
Shivshankar Menon, author of ‘Choices: Inside the Making of Indian Foreign Policy’ and ‘India and Asian Geopolitics : The Past, Present.’ tells ThePrint’s Editor-in-Chief Shekhar Gupta at ‘Off The Cuff’.Mineral auctions: How fair is the game?
India has a great mineral potential yet to be explored and large mineral-bearing land available for mining. However, the allocation of national resources has been a challenging exercise.A low-carbon future through sector-led change
In India, a sector-led, action-based approach could provide the framework to drive low-carbon transformation.Why is China aggressively turning to the sea now?
What is new for China is that it now must think as a maritime power, something it has never done for any extended period of time, if at all, writes Menon.Modi’s India plans to be ‘vishwaguru’ but forgets soft power is...
In ‘India and Asian Geopolitics’, Shivshankar Menon writes that being a vishwaguru plays well with Modi’s Hindu constituency but is hardly a realistic goal when India is a net importer of knowledge.Ramping up vaccinations should be accorded top priority by India
The command-and-control structure has let us down and we must soon let markets and the private sector play a larger role.Watch | Understanding ‘India and Asian Geopolitics’
Shivshankar Menon's new book offers a sweeping survey of India’s strategic history as part of the larger Asian geopolitical narrative.India-China ties set for ‘hard times’ over next 5-10 years:...
India and China have been working to ease tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh since the Galwan border clash in June 2020.The Next Stop | How is natural gas pricing done in India?
A new book edited by Vikram Singh Mehta looks at different aspects of natural gas use in India, including policy changes and reforms in pricing.The 1991 moment was 18 months in the making: Rakesh Mohan
In a conversation with Puja Mehra, Rakesh Mohan discussed the Indian economic control system in-depth, the command-and-control economy, and how much of this system was dismantled after 1991.New electricity consumer rules: Reading the impact on ‘rooftop solar’...
The older regime benefited just a handful. The new rules should spur a conversation on equitable and sustainable pricing frameworksIs natural gas India’s best choice for moving away from coal and fossil...
An excerpt from ‘The Next Stop: Natural Gas and India’s Journey to a Clean Energy Future’, edited by Vikram Singh Mehta.Why India needs a plan for climate talks
Irrespective of the direction in which climate talks move, India must announce a national target for phasing down coal-based generation of electricity.GV Ramakrishna: A steward of petroleum
The former petroleum secretary, who passed away two weeks ago, placed oil and gas exploration in India on a sure footing, writes Vikram Singh Mehta.Interview | MSS bonds must be part of the standard monetary policy...
During the interview, Dr Mohan said he fails to understand why the current Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) was not given the powers to take a call on the reverse repo rate.Need for caution in delicensing distribution
It would be better to focus on developing effective wholesale electricity markets, which, in turn, require well-functioning fuel markets.Interview | Expect K-shaped, not V-shaped, recovery: Part 1
In a 3-part interview, Rakesh Mohan analyses the Indian economy, banking reforms, the RBI's role, etc.Bolstering the ongoing mining reforms
Transparency apart, the auctions must provide enough revenues for the exchequer and incentives to industry.Road to decarbonisation: Govts must remove obstacles of poorly designed...
Decarbonisation has become a buzzword. To ensure it does not remain just that but translates into effective action on the ground, policymakers will have to build structures that reflect the woven, multidimensional, interdependent and interconnected nature of the energy ecosystem.Who gets to decide what is legitimate free speech — Big government or...
We now live in a new era of global diplomacy. It isn’t just states butting heads with other states; there are gigantic tech companies that have thrown their hats into the geopolitical ring.New electricity consumer rules: Reading the impact on ‘rooftop solar’...
The older regime benefited just a handful. The new rules should spur a conversation on equitable and sustainable pricing frameworksHas Trump permanently altered U.S. foreign policy?
"Trump has changed U.S. foreign policy because the world now sees the United States differently and because the world has gotten used to a less predictable and engaged United States of America."Upgrading India’s regional disaster relief strategy
The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced new dimensions to the India–China competition in South Asia and the Indian Ocean region.A decentralised approach and strong local governments can enhance...
Leveraging the true potential of our multi-level federal system represents the best way forward towards developing human capital.Chinese social media debates who is in control of Ladakh as India, China...
The February 11 agreement for disengagement on the north and south banks of Pangong Tso and the PLA Daily, for the first time, publicly claiming four Chinese casualties from the Galwan clash on February 19 have once again made China-India border standoff a major talking point in China.Enhancing competition in India’s power sector
Fixing Discoms is a pressing need, but it’s worth investing time in figuring out the details, including expected winners and losers, and possibilities for gaming.India must manage public finances better
The ministry of finance could launch the process of stakeholder consultations and prepare a time-bound plan for the implementation of comprehensive public financial management reforms at all levels of government.Meenakshi Ahamed’s book shows why Indo-US ties have progressed despite...
The pace of the further development of relations will depend crucially on the quality, knowledge and influence of the people that President Biden appoints to his India desk.Use the Ladakh crisis as an opportunity
Civilians need to focus, laser-like, perhaps by creating a Defence Reforms Unit nested within the National Security Council, to push the military to adopt necessarily painful organisational reforms.India’s fiscal architecture needs changes
The fiscal rules that have evolved over time in many advanced countries are now being tested during the COVID-19 crisis.India’s long game with the Generals
New Delhi will say what it can and do what it must. Expect public support for democracy and private engagement with the regime.A moment 30 years ago that had been a year and a half in the making:...
Rakesh Mohan narrates how the logic-defying system of industrial controls was dismantled, and discusses policies required to deal with the emerging challenges of redeploying labour.There is a need for high taxes uniformly across all tobacco products
Higher taxes will work in tandem with greater controls, and will help GoI pay for all the direct and indirect costs it incurs due to tobacco consumption.1991 reforms aimed at more than just BoP crisis: Montek Singh Ahluwalia
The balance of payments (BOP) crisis was the immediate trigger but the other challenge was problem of slow growth, says Montek Singh AhluwaliaThe Chinese chatter on Jack Ma and his mysterious disappearance
The world wants to know where is China’s most charismatic business leader Jack Ma, but the issue remains shrouded in secrecy and mystery.Book review: The Historian’s Eye
Romila Thapar provides a nonjudgmental cultural perspective on China.Connect East: Explaining India’s BIMSTEC focus
India’s growing interest in BIMSTEC reflects a geo-economic priority to correct the exceptional connectivity gap that continues to divide the Bay of Bengal region.Pandemic exposed the existing societal framework as unsustainable
We must ask what from 2020 should we reinforce, what must we rebuild and what should we tear down and build again?India-China ties: The future holds ‘antagonistic cooperation’,...
The crisis has made it clear that India’s China policy cannot optimise for both security and prosperity.What China hopes to gain from the present border standoff with India
China's actions have brought about what it should be trying to deter, i.e. closer India-US coordination.A name upon a grave: India needs a proper account of the army’s war dead
If we are unable to reconcile the numbers of war dead, then naming and properly honouring every single one, and looking after their next of kin, is not possible.Their ties go back in time but India, China were absent from each...
While exchanging goods, people, and ideas for centuries, India and China did not deal with other as states or impact each other’s politics or security until the 19th century.Which economies showed the most digital progress in 2020?
Now more than ever, digital capabilities are essential to ensure a country’s growth and economic resilience. But how do different economies compare as far as the current state and ongoing momentum of their digital development?Ownership and governance of private sector banks – Part III
Going beyond its recommendations on ownership of private sector banks, there are some other internal working group (IWG) recommendations that bear scrutiny.Ownership and governance of private sector banks: Part II
Among the key problems that arise from the ownership of banks by nonfinancial companies are those of conflict of interest.Why private banks, their ownership structures need to be strictly...
Basic principles and international practice suggest that opening the door to the ownership of banks in India by large corporate/industrial houses should be done, if at all, with utmost caution.Interview | Should corporates be allowed to own banks?
Rakesh Mohan talks about the proposal to allow corporates to own banks and the state of the economy.A new map for the end of Oil Age: Technology is answer to energy...
How should India, an economy dependent on fossil fuels, navigate future energy transitions? A new book has some pointers.Coal power plants need an integrated approach
The three issues — retirement, pollution control, and making plants flexible — are inter-related. They need to be addressed in an integrated fashion by distribution companies.