The possibility of a deal between Iran and the world on its nuclear programme has some perils but much promise for India

Uday Abhyankar: The potential of opening up Iran

Business Standard

Our prime minister recently described Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani as a &ldquo;man of peace&rdquo;. The prime minister may be justified in his assessment; after all he has met Mr Gilani rather more often than you or I. But it is not Mr Gilani&rsquo;s pacific nature that is important &mdash; but rather his will and capacity to deliver peace.

Uday Abhyankar: For India, a year of talking to Gilani, but with eyes on Kayani

The allocation of 2G spectrum in January 2008 has generated a great deal of heat. But it is less clear how much light the passionate recriminations have cast. There are two sets of issues involved in this matter. First, the policy framework for the allocation of spectrum and second, whether there was any impropriety or illegality by ministers and officials concerned in the way in which the policy was implemented.

Uday Abhyankar: The other side of the spectrum 

Climate change negotiations are with us again, this time in Durban following the high-level meetings in Cancun (2010) and Copenhagen (2009). The aim is to agree on a regime to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (particularly CO2) post-2012, when the present commitments under the Kyoto Protocol run out.

Uday Abhyankar: Climate change talks - Dilemma in Durban

A smiling Bali Bai from Rajasthan was shown in the media recently receiving Aadhaar card number 210,000,000 from the prime minister and the chairperson of the United Progressive Alliance, as part of an initiative to use cash transfers through bank accounts linked to the Unique Identity (UID) system to deliver welfare support more effectively. This is vital, but the scheme properly implemented could do far more &mdash; bring about a grassroots transformation that changes the lives of India&rsquo;s poorest people.

Uday Abhyankar: Aadhaar's transformation

The process of economic reforms in India has had a curious pattern, lethargy punctuated by occasional bursts of activity. After dramatic reforms in the 1990s, recent years have seen only occasional and limited economic reforms with no coherent framework. It&rsquo;s not for lack of ideas &mdash; proposals for reform flow in from all quarters. The usual explanation is to blame the UPA government for lack of political will and lack of courage.

Uday Abhyankar

Uday Abhyankar

Uday Abhyankar

Uday Abhyankar: The potential of opening up Iran

Uday Abhyankar: For India, a year of talking to Gilani, but with eyes on Kayani

Uday Abhyankar: The other side of the spectrum

Uday Abhyankar: Climate change talks - Dilemma in Durban

Uday Abhyankar: Aadhaar's transformation

Uday Abhyankar: Reforms, entitlements and poverty