The Economic Times

Donors and academic freedom: Given stormy seas in today’s India, funding must be diversified beyond a few business sources

Ashoka University’s reputation as a world-class liberal arts university has been dented by Prof Pratap Bhanu Mehta: His media columns highly critical of the BJP proved very inconvenient for those running Ashoka. Former chief economic adviser Arvind Subramanian also resigned …

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‘Just Enough’ Democracy

Indian freedom declines from ‘free’ to ‘partly free’. But it remains resilient Swaminathan S Anklesaria Aiyar Earlier this month, Freedom House’s 2021 report (bit.ly/ 3enIBz8), measuring political and civil liberties across the world, downgraded India from ‘free’ to ‘partly free’. …

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It’s in Our Common Interest

India needs new fiscal rules targeting the interest-revenue ratio he Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act of 2003 aimed for prudence and stability by reducing the Centre’s fiscal deficit (FD) to 3% of GDP by 2008. Alas, the Great …

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Make Real an Urban Legend

India’s political system is too topdown. In a first-past-the-post electoral system, few talented new faces can gain enough critical mass to win elections. India’s political parties tend increasingly to represent family dynasties. In addition to the Gandhis, we have regional …

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Disunited We Stand, Firmer

Democracy is not about unity — it is about differing and dissenting New US President Joe Biden mentioned ‘unity’ 20 times in his inaugural speech on January 20. So have innumerable past presidents. The mainstream US media are calling for …

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