The do-no-harm principle

All policies drafted by any department of the government should be subject to passing the test of principles laid down by the PM

The government’s decision to change its mind on what were quite apparently counter-productive economic policy measures — such as the surcharge on FPIs and the criminalisation of CSR commitment violations — shows that it is willing to listen. One cannot be sure what triggered the change, whether it was the falling stock market, acute discomfort of industry and even pro-government commentators, or the Prime Minister’s Independence Day speech in which he batted for wealth creators by calling wealth creation a national service. If India is to indeed make the “big leap” that PM Modi promised on August 15, one should