A K Bhattacharya

SBI's notice to MTNL presents an opportunity for ownership change

With mounting debts and dwindling market share, the need for a decisive government strategy is urgent

What's changed? Govt's 100-day celebrations reflect governance focus shift

The reason for the difference in the two governments' legislative intent is the reduced strength of the BJP in Parliament after the general elections of 2024

Fiscal prudence through disclosure: A key Budget move that went unnoticed

Statement 27-A, a voluntary disclosure of state-owned entities' borrowings, introduced in the Budget for 2024-25, enhances fiscal transparency and signals prudent fiscal management

BS@50: How money has moved between Centre and states in the past 5 decades

Annual government spending has shot up. Fiscal deficit concerns remain. Between the Centre and states, sometimes one has scored over the other. An overview of government finances since 1975

Tale of 2 decisions: Why lateral-entry scheme faced backlash and UPS didn't

Mothballing the lateral-entry scheme and launching the modified pension plan show how governance style can make a difference

Book review: Vikram Seth uses tech to enhance rhythm in Hanuman Chalisa

The short poem, running into just about 100 pages, has been translated with a lot of care and sensitivity keeping in mind what should make the poem more accessible to the readers

The PSU disconnect

Political calculations may have slowed privatisation, but economic policies to improve the public sector's performance brook no delay

To the top, by dint of merit: Meet Somanathan, newly appointed Cabinet secy

T V Somanathan, soon to become Cabinet secretary, has acquired the reputation of being a civil servant who could work with leaders of different political parties with equal ease and effectiveness

Union Budget 2024: Prudent, bold and savvy

As for the long-term vision of the Budget, there are some reassuring messages from the finance minister

Focus back on raising revenue

With the fiscal deficit target staring at the government, the FY25 Budget has limited expenditure options

The four pitfalls

Avoiding policy flaws more important than fulfilling India Inc's Budget wish list

A champion of trade liberalisation

Arvind Panagariya's book offers a rich and fascinating analysis of how protectionism has harmed the country's trade and economy

Make it more transparent

The Budget shouldn't ignore provisional figures for 2023-24 and use the extra RBI surplus to better effect

Governance challenges for a coalition

If the concerns over risking political capital are overcome, the long-term gains for the Indian economy will be immense

A better way to fix MGNREGS

The problems of the rural job scheme should be tackled through stricter monitoring, not by burden-sharing

Rising repatriation

As worrying as the recent decline in gross foreign direct investment is the increasing pace of disinvestment

Dr Subbarao's book of revelations

The former RBI governor's second book is a delightful read, filled with riveting anecdotes that shed light on the doubts and dilemmas faced by a civil servant with a clear sense of right and wrong

Beyond promises

The BJP's election manifesto raises many economic-policy issues requiring a more holistic approach

A question of spirit

Busy civil servants preparing a five-year plan for the next government raises questions about convention

The waning spirit of independent inquiry

In his latest book, N Bhaskara Rao provides a prescription to rejuvenate the social research landscape and stem the decline in its standards - something India can ignore only at its own peril