Media analyses of the Kelkar Committee on reducing import dependency in oil and gas have focused on the committee\’s suggestions on gas pricing. But it has also proposed new models for exploration and production contracts to reduce disputes and corruption, […]
A Kelkar Committee model could be the best option for oil and gas pricing Read More »
The Kelkar Committee has produced a road map for a market-determined price for natural gas. Inter-generational equity, it says, requires non-renewable resources like gas to be sold to the highest bidder. A lower price deprives future generations of their full
Sell gas at top prices like coal blocks, spectrum Read More »
When a general with excellent credentials was recommended for promotion, Napoleon asked “But is he lucky?“ In politics, as in war, luck counts for a lot. Narendra Modi today is riding a wave of good luck. GDP growth in the
Modi’s been lucky; now make it sustainable Read More »
Is Narendra Modi\’s new Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana — providing two bank accounts each to 75 million poor families, an overdraft of Rs 5,000, accident insurance cover of Rs 1 lakh and a life cover of Rs 30,000 —
Jan Dhan Yojana has all the characteristics of those bad old loan melas Read More »
RBI governor Raghuram Rajan has lambasted crony capitalism. Other critics say economic liberalization has enriched only cronies through monopoly profits from political allocations of land, minerals and spectrum. Now big corruption is rampant. But I distinguish between crony capitalism and
Corruption? Protection rackets more than crony Read More »
During the general election, I was among journalists that visited Varanasi, Narendra Modi’s constituency. In the evening we went down to the famous Dashashwamedha Ghat, winding our way through crowded bazaars full of beggars, sadhus, religious offerings and mementos. Most
Will Modi grab the idea of Kashi dwip? Read More »
Even if a Budget lacks any wow factor, as in Arun Jaitley\’s maiden effort, this hardly matters provided the government acts on the other 364 days of the year. The media are full of speculation of significant reforms on many
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley\’s first budget should spell out his vision for the next five years, downplaying projections for the coming year. This vision must include a tough budget this year and another tough one next year, pruning populist excesses
Budget 2014: FM Arun Jaitley must act tough for 2 years, bring long-term change Read More »
Narendra Modi’s fans expect him to extend his Gujarat model of development to all India. They think Modi’s “tough love” will lead to hard decisions that hurt immediately, but later yield handsome dividends. They believe Modi will, as promised in
Sher ki soorat, khargosh ka kaleja Read More »
Dear Prakash Javadekar, Your first instincts as Information and Broadcasting minister seem sound. You say you are willing “philosophically and ideologically“ to work towards abolition of the I&B Ministry, which has no place in a democracy with a free media.
Free the media, abolish the I&B ministry Read More »
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