In 1991, India went bust and rushed to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for help. At the time, India was famous (or perhaps infamous) for being the biggest beggar for foreign aid and food aid in the world. Attempts for three decades after becoming independent in 1947 to promote economic development through self‐sufficiency, socialist planning, and public‐sector […]
Globalization Has Propelled India to Prosperity Read More »
India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) promotes its Hindu nationalist agenda by claiming that India was the world’s richest region under glorious Hindu rule for thousands of years before being conquered by Muslim invaders in the 11th century and British invaders in the 18th century. BJP politicians say foreign invaders transformed a “golden bird” into
Indian Nationalism and the Historical Fantasy of a Golden Hindu Period Read More »
Indian democracy is flawed, but pessimists claiming that Modi will crush all dissent, abandon secularism, and make India a Hindu state have been proved wrong. NOVEMBER 24, 2020 • POLICY ANALYSIS NO. 903 By Swaminathan S. Anklesaria Aiyar India’s constitution guarantees democracy, civil liberties, and secularism. But fears of India becoming a Hindu authoritarian state have been voiced
Despite Modi, India Has Not Yet Become a Hindu Authoritarian State Read More »
The speed and consequences of Himalayan glacial retreat have been grossly exaggerated by the media and environmental activists. MAY 3, 2022 • POLICY ANALYSIS NO. 927 By Swaminathan S. Anklesaria Aiyar and Vijay K. Raina Many activists and journalists warn that rapidly melting Himalayan glaciers due to global warming will have catastrophic consequences. The glaciers have been
False Alarm over the Retreat of the Himalayan Glaciers Read More »
JULY 30, 2020 • POLICY ANALYSIS NO. 898 By Swaminathan S. Anklesaria Aiyar and Neeraj Kaushal Do historically isolated forest tribes need protection from modernization? Critics claim that modernization, especially through dams and mining, is disastrous for tribes and that tribespeople cannot handle commercial life, are easily duped, and end up destitute. Some modernization projects have fueled
FEBRUARY 5, 2020 • ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BULLETIN NO. 32 By Swaminathan S. Anklesaria Aiyar After seven years of negotiations, India has backed out of joining the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), a Free Trade Area (FTA) that was to include 16 countries—the 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia,
India Should Join Asia’s New Free‐Trade Area Read More »
MAY 21, 2019 • POLICY ANALYSIS NO. 869 By Swaminathan S. Anklesaria Aiyar India’s economic reforms since 1991 have largely been a tale of private‐sector success, government failure, and institutional erosion. Prime Minister Narendra Modi won the 2014 election with the slogan “Minimum Government, Maximum Governance.” Many mistakenly thought that he would be a radical reformer who would
A Reform Agenda for the Next Indian Government Read More »
OCTOBER 18, 2018 • POLICY ANALYSIS NO. 851 By Swaminathan S. Anklesaria Aiyar Indian prime minister Narendra Modi has been hailed as an economic liberalizer, having sharply criticized rising U.S. protectionism under the Trump administration. Yet Modi too has embarked on measures to protect and support manufacturing jobs in India. The latest Indian budget in February
India’s New Protectionism Threatens Gains from Economic Reform Read More »
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