Why policies fail

Policymaking is not an easy job, and State Capability in India sheds light on the complexities of this task

State Capability in India

Authors: T V Somanathan & Gulzar Natarajan

Publisher:Oxford University Press

Pages: 446

Price: Rs 1,495

The mismatch between the promises and delivery of the Indian state is striking and intriguing. Even after spending trillions of rupees over seven decades, school learning outcomes are poor, child and maternal mortalities remain high, farm and firm productivity are low, crime rates are high, and legal and regulatory compliances are poor. Experts and commentators attribute this to poor execution of policies. “Policies are good, but implementation is bad” is a constant refrain. The reality, however, is nuanced and multifaceted for those with boots on