CATEGORIES

RTI Act Amendment: Killing One More Institution?

The issue of RTI Act Amendment basically is: Should the truth about the arbitrary, autocratic, corrupt and opaque functioning of government and its instrumentalities be brought in the open and made accountable? When the government is killing the Information Commission it is expressing its own fear of the truth and is projecting a false image before the public.

Rob Peter To Pay Peter

PSUs were assiduously built from the blood and sweat of the taxpayers. Their sales were controversial and scandalous. Some were sold to other PSUs at high prices, they were purchased by private players at ridiculous prices, and the government used the proceeds largely to lower its looming fiscal deficits

India Inc. In Distress

A fear psychosis has pervaded India Inc. unleashed by a mountain of bad corporate loans and a dictatorial insolvency law. Alam Srinivas explores how financial terror has gripped the country.

Hamster On A Wheel

The demand to ban TikTok and break the encryption technology of WhatsApp highlights the challenges that rapidly evolving digital technologies pose for India. The absence of data protection laws further exacerbates the problem, leaving millions of Indians vulnerable to behavioural manipulation by vested groups. Vivek Mukherji reports.

Bengal At Peril, Naturally

Bengal is staring at all round environmental disaster, from north to south. But nobody except some environmentalists is concerned

The Future of China-India Relations

China and India are rising almost simultaneously.

Should IAS Be Discredited?

There is unspoken anguish and agony among those who came into the IAS as a mission and not mercenary service. Some of them are imploding and this could turn into explosion if not promptly addressed and remedied

Honey Trap Scandal - MP Power Elite Exposed

Shocking disclosures of a middle-aged woman’s perverted ingenuity has brought to the fore the debauched underbelly of bureaucracy and politics of Madhya Pradesh.

Adhir Chowdhury - A Local Phenomenon On A National Stage

Adhir Chowdhury, the Congress leader in this Lok Sabha, has led a controversial life. he decimated the Left in his constituency Baharampur in Bengal and soon became a strongman of the region. Charged with a number of cases, it remains to be seen how Chowdhury fares at the national level

The New Logistics Messiah

Karnataka cadre officer N Sivasailam has been creating ripples with his no-nonsense approach to the critical logistics department. he’s the single window bureaucrat blue-pencilling the logistics matrix to take the economy to the uS$5 trillion trajectory over the next five years

Much Ado About Nothing

In a new world order, dominated by a multi-polar world, India needs to establish herself strongly along with the uS, Russia, Eurozone, China, and Japan. Modi’s personalised diplomacy is a huge attempt to achieve this objective. his endeavour is to leverage India’s status as an economic power to achieve political and diplomatic clout. Naturally, the spectacular extravaganza at Houston has been hailed by many as a shining feather in Narendra Modi’s cap. but as the show was watched by millions, Modi’s blatant endorsement of Trump’s candidature – ab ki baar Trump sarkar – left diplomats and bureaucrats baffled. diplomacy has always been a behind the scenes activity – nuanced and sensitive – and not a roll of the drums. as Prime Minister of India, Modi represents over a billion Indians and yes, he was voted back to power with a resounding majority to lead India. No, he was probably not given the mandate to support Trump. Now, diplomats and analysts the world over are keeping a close watch on his fast-paced diplomatic marathon. Implicitly, the question that begs an answer is whether India has a stake in Trump’s re-election. Can any country have a stake in another’s politics? Let us recall the noise over Russia’s alleged interference in the 2016 American elections. So what if Modi was on a stage and loud and clear – the implied effect is the same. after all the Indian diaspora in the US is over 3 million and represent a sizeable vote bank. This at a time when Trump is fighting to extricate himself from possible impeachment, not to mention the various alleged scandals that have clouded his four-year-term. Modi’s hurrah for Trump is sure to have a cascading effect and whether it is positive or negative in nature only time will tell. Seema Guha explores Modi’s diplomatic forays and analyses whether India has gained any leverage so far.

Why Reservation?

As happens with most things in India, the social structures penetrate into politics and make themselves visible in terms of economic demands. Reservations and quotas are the economic manifestations of this complex process.

Long Shadow of the Past

With the Punjab & Haryana High Court setting aside the decision to grant backward class status to Jats in the State, the reservation demand has now snowballed. But the agitation lacks a tall Jat leader who can make the difference.

Time for Rahul to Go for a Purge

A combination of Priyanka as the organisational head and Rahul as the parliamentary face could put Congress on a trajectory of comeback.

In Defence of Rahul Gandhi

In politics, you win some, you lose some. Why not give Rahul the same rope that we extend to other pugilists in the ring?

Writing for a Decade...in Vain?

For the people of the country, things refuse to improve, whether it is Manmohan Singh at the helm or Narendra Modi. While corruption and sycophancy led to the failure of Singh, autocratic decisionmaking and polarised politics raise concern today.

Reforming the Income-Tax Act

The tax system of a country needs to be tailored in accordance with the state of society, economic composition of taxpayer groups, stability and efficiency.

Man of Ideas

NC Saxena, who never shied away from calling a spade a spade, is arguably the only civil servant who has done over 100 research papers on governance,forestry, fiscal policy, poverty, nutrition, rural development and minorities.

demonetisation: the jury is still out

the three tests of success or otherwise of the move of demonetisation would be peoples’ reaction to it, the result of up elections and the widening of tax base within a reasonable period.

Recognise the Small Entrepreneur

Developing the micro sector would not only help the less privileged sector of society, but also help in achieving inclusive socio-economic development.

Trump Alters World View

The 45th US President Donald Trump has not only upset China with his various pronouncements, his ascendency has also fired nationalist sentiments in Europe. India needs to tighten its act to cash in on the opportunities that present themselves in this altered scenario.

Is IAS Self-Destructing?

Without analysing and understanding the reasons for the shortage of IAS officers, which is mainly due to the archaic recruitment system and chaotic cadre management, PMO has opted to abandon the constitutional scheme of things and run to the market.

My Right Or State's?

The Supreme Court judgment on the right to privacy will have far-reaching repercussions. It will decide whether an individual’s right is larger than that of the State.

Chartered Accountants In PM's Line Of Fire

Black sheep can be found in any walk of life, but their few numbers can hardly justify condemning an entire group or profession.

Doctor With A Mission

An oncologist of repute, Dr Barat Barai is the man behind Narendra Modi’s successful Madison Square Garden reception in September 2014.

Inner Dimension

Most people do not realize to what extent their lives moulded by memory.

Lessons Of Life

On the verge of joining the Atomic Energy Commission, father’s death changed the course of Vinod Vaish’s life and brought him into civil services

Gita: Good Governance Models

To understand, analyse, interpret and adopt good governance models, we need to imbibe lessons from the Bhagavad Gita which is an ism-neutral, religion free treatise on management, relationship management and welfare economics.

Innovation is the mantra

gfiles—the largest publication in its domain reaching the entire spectrum of the central and state governments including ministers, governors and members of Parliament, central and state civil services, public sector undertakings, judiciary, diplomatic arena, banks, financial institutions and enjoying 21 lakh hits on internet—awards 11 best civil servants of the country at the fifth gfiles governance awards ceremony

Dissecting 'Demonetisation'

Withdrawal of 86 per cent of cash in circulation has thrown the economy into a tailspin.