Tax vehicle entry into cities to fund metro rail expansion and lower pollution Traffic congestion and pollution in major Indian cities have become unbearable. The two are connected. When road jams occur, and a journey takes an hour instead of […]
Choke City to MetroPolis Read More »
The Balakot drama drowned discussion of an important event at the time — the US gave notice to withdraw zero-duty entry for Indian exports under its Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSP). The US said Indian protectionism was unfairly hurting US
How a diplomatic blunder got lost in din of Balakot Read More »
Indira Gandhi’s ‘Garibi Hatao’ swept the polls in 1971. Rahul Gandhi hopes to follow suit with NYAY (Nyuntam Aay Yojana), promising a minimum income of Rs 72,000 per year to the 50 million poorest families. Garibi Hatao flopped badly. So
Rahul’s minimum income plan is fatally flawed Read More »
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched a campaign to enthuse all citizens, especially youngsters — to join him in a ‘Main Bhi Chowkidar’ (I too am a watchman) campaign against corruption. Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad claims that the ‘Main
India needs more jailed crooks, not more watchmen Read More »
The hyper-patriotic heat over Indo-Pak aerial battles is diminishing. Other issues are getting more attention. The Election Commission has notified polling dates, so its model code of conduct for political parties is in force. This says no new projects or
Another Rs 2,000 per farmer won’t swing the election Read More »
A case for a minimum alternative tax on revenues, not on profits Few would believe that the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) managing director, Christine Lagarde, would ever call for developing countries to increase taxation of multinational corporations. She has done
Watch Out, Capital Dumpers Read More »
India thinks it is a potential superpower, with a world-class IT industry. Narendra Modi has launched Digital India. Yet India looks like the most backward of all democracies in one respect — the time taken for polling. In most democracies,
In Digital India, why do elections stretch for weeks? Read More »
India and Pakistan may now have an uneasy truce or a resumption of hostilities. Yet the chances of a temporary truce look high, after the return of downed Indian pilot Abhinandan Varthaman. The political outcome will boost Narendra Modi’s chances
Pulwama could help Modi swing the poll war Read More »
Ten million farmers have received their first instalment of ₹2,000 under the PM-Kisan scheme, and will receive ₹6,000 in a full year. Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi has promised a minimum income for all if elected. Many experts believe India is on
Cash Transfers? Yes. UBI? No Read More »
The terrorist attack at Pulwama, killing 40 Indian soldiers, provides Narendra Modi a huge but risky chance to portray himself as the toughest politician in India. Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s victory in the 1999 Kargil war helped him win the next
Stick to political theatre, it is safer than risking war with Pak Read More »
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