Raisina Hill

Perils of overestimates: Balancing deficit targets with accurate estimates

The sharp downward revision in personal income-tax collections for 2024-25 was perhaps one of the main reasons for the government applying the brakes on its revenue expenditure

Continuity and change: Bureaucratic rejig signals shift in economic focus

To begin with, there appears to be a crackdown on the practice of secretaries holding dual charges for several months

Regulating the regulators: Less diversity may weaken reform principle

Note that the erosion of these principles followed in the early years of reforms did not happen suddenly or only now. This occurred gradually over the last many years

Govt's civilian staff grows, but is it leading to efficiency gains?

Union Budget for 2025-26, presented earlier this month, provides an idea of how the Centre has gone about recruiting staff in all its departments and ministries, other than those in the armed forces

Ambivalence on PSU policy: Budget 2025 eyes higher dividends, lower equity

In a departure from the past many years, its contribution to the PSUs' capital outlay by way of equity and loans will decline

Army chief justifies decision to replace 1971 war painting with new artwork

Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi on Monday justified replacing an iconic painting of Pakistan's surrender in the 1971 war at his office in Raisina Hills with a new artwork titled "Karam Kshetra". The painting on the 1971 war was removed from the Army chief's lounge in December and it was subsequently installed at the Manekshaw convention centre. The shifting of the historic painting had anguished many Army veterans and the decision came under some criticism. "If you see the golden history of India -- it has three chapters. It has the British era, the Mughal era and the era before that. If we wish to connect that and the Army's vision, symbolism becomes important," Gen. Dwivedi said. The new painting, "Karam Kshetra", meaning "Field of Deeds", is a creation of Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Jacob of the 28 Madras regiment. It portrays the Army as a guardian of "Dharma" that protects the nation's values and reflects its evolution into a technologically-advanced integrated force, accord

Focus back on raising revenue

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

Organising for the energy transition

Greater effectiveness will come from improved organisation design in the Union government

MoS Lekhi pitches for 'reforming multilateralism' in Raisina Dialogue

She said whenever and wherever there is a breakdown of law and order and immorality, "every such time, the "righteous conduct are abrogated", and nature will throw up somebody to correct the system

Slovenian foreign minister arrives in India to attend Raisina Dialogue

Slovenian Foreign Minister Anze Logar on Monday arrived in India to take part in the Raisina Dialogue. This Dialogue will view participation from 90 countries.

Finance ministry Twitter followers cross 2 mn, Home ministry has 4.9 mn

The ministry started its twitter handle @FinMinIndia in July 2014

Democratise New Delhi

Redevelopment plans for Lutyens' Delhi should go far enough

What is putting Raisina Hill at odds with regulatory institutions?

There is an understating in the political executive that without pushing at the regulatory regime, it would not be able to achieve what it intends to do

A K Bhattacharya: Don't lose the digital momentum

Increasing e-transactions would be the economy's real and perhaps only gain from demonetisation

A K Bhattacharya: The importance of picking the right people

Over half the top team in the Union finance ministry retiring or completing their terms

A K Bhattacharya: Time to trim the bureaucracy

A leaner bureaucracy would help Narendra Modi keep his promise of maximum governance with minimum government

A K Bhattacharya: Time to arrest the GST slide

That the tax reform fell prey to demonetisation is beyond dispute

A K Bhattacharya: Key ramifications of note ban

There are five takeaways from the developments since the announcement of demonetisation on Nov 8 by PM Modi

A K Bhattacharya: Storm over investment treaties

The government must engage with developed countries and at least put on hold the termination of bilateral investment treaties till fresh pacts are finalised

Demonetisation won't curb fresh generation of black money

Unlike in 1978, currency notes this time have been demonetised via a notification. Given the limitations of the bank branches network, it's puzzling why the govt didn't fix a longer deadline to allow the use of old notes for public utilities