Nitin Desai

Nitin Desai

Nitin Desai is a renowned economist and Chairperson of the Advisory Board at Desai & Associates. He has had a long career in government as Secretary and Chief Economic Adviser in the Finance Ministry.

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Nitin Desai

The next phase in infotech growth calls for innovation beyond jobs, exports

India must look beyond employment and export growth to innovation that can compete with the US and China

Updated On: 24 Nov 2025 | 11:05 PM IST

A Sixth of Humanity: India's journey between democracy and economic growth

This narrative about India's development is described as an odyssey, perhaps because of the policy shortfalls and mishaps in the development voyage

Updated On: 03 Nov 2025 | 10:35 PM IST

The global internet challenge: AI era demands new governance consensus

The role of governments in influencing policy choices in internet governance has now been established. The previously dominant role of the US government has been diluted

Updated On: 13 Oct 2025 | 11:35 PM IST

Justice in climate cooperation: Restoring common but differentiated duties

The group of Non-Annex I countries can no longer be fully identified with the developing states, as 20 Non-Annex I countries are now included in the World Bank's list of high-income countries

Updated On: 15 Sep 2025 | 11:16 PM IST

Global climate failure: COP30 must push developed nations on mitigation

At COP 30 this November, the primary goal must be to increase pressure on developed countries to move faster and more credibly on climate mitigation

Updated On: 18 Aug 2025 | 9:54 PM IST

World needs willing allies to counter adverse impact of US actions

A major area of success that was important for speeding up development in the post-World War II era was the trade agreement among nations

Updated On: 21 Jul 2025 | 11:03 PM IST

Viksit Bharat by 2047 goal: Are we on track for tech advancement?

Public support for innovation must shift towards radical improvements in higher education and financial support for startups and new innovators

Updated On: 23 Jun 2025 | 10:52 PM IST

India needs entrepreneurship 2.0 with risk-taking, visionary founders

India, in fact, was a major exporter to West Asia, where two large empires - the Safavid and the Ottoman - provided a lucrative marketing area

Updated On: 26 May 2025 | 10:53 PM IST

A requiem for multilateralism in an era of increasing interdependence

The shift away from the '90s started with the turn of the millennium. Now it is even worse with the US asserting what it still considers its paramount power

Updated On: 17 Mar 2025 | 11:08 PM IST

Reviving manufacturing growth: Balancing govt and corporation roles

Ensuring manufacturing growth consistent with our development aims requires the government becoming less entrepreneurial and the corporations becoming much more entrepreneurial

Updated On: 17 Feb 2025 | 10:36 PM IST

Union Budget 2025: Balancing growth, demand, and financial strategy

The finance minister must focus on her direct responsibilities, not on programmes where her role is supportive

Updated On: 22 Jan 2025 | 10:45 PM IST

Manmohan Singh: A gentle but effective leader, man behind liberalisation

Dr Singh was very conscious of the fact that he had risen from a poor family to the highest levels of power, which shaped his view of his responsibilities

Updated On: 27 Dec 2024 | 11:12 PM IST

Reassessing Nehruvian policies: Growth, education, and social change

The policies of the first decade-and-a half of planned development are better characterised as Nehruvian Humanism

Updated On: 16 Dec 2024 | 11:12 PM IST

Market friendly, joint Centre-state approach key for new industrial policy

The growth boom in manufacturing that India experienced following the shift of focus from public sector to the private sector was driven more by market-friendly than business-friendly interventions

Updated On: 18 Nov 2024 | 10:16 PM IST

2024 Nobel Prize highlights role of institutions in global development

Growth is driven by technological dynamism even more than by security for private capital

Updated On: 23 Oct 2024 | 11:04 PM IST

Caste equality: Income disparity persists despite education, social capital

Caste equality can be promoted only by making caste a minor part of inheritance in a society where more and more families are inter-caste connected

Updated On: 16 Sep 2024 | 10:20 PM IST

Corporate governance: Should govt be market-friendly or business-friendly

Political acceptability comes more readily to a govt visibly involved in supporting non-corporate private sector, reducing income inequalities and regional disparities, and addressing caste concerns

Updated On: 19 Aug 2024 | 10:06 PM IST

The real challenge of Viksit Bharat@2047

The primary hurdle of the 2047 development goal lies in job creation for surplus agricultural workers and fresh workforce entrants

Updated On: 15 Jul 2024 | 10:40 PM IST

A progressive era for India?

The primary focus of development policy must shift decisively to expanding opportunities for the underprivileged

Updated On: 17 Jun 2024 | 9:55 PM IST

Priorities for the next govt

It must deliver on policies required for equitable growth

Updated On: 13 May 2024 | 9:55 PM IST