Category Thematic Areas

Relevance and Reliance on China’s Provisions of providing Financial System

The crises in Sri Lanka and Pakistan are raising questions about the relevance and the costs of their reliance on the alternative financial system provided by China’s Belt and Road Initiative

On March 6, China became the last major bilateral creditor to provide financing and restructuring assurances to Sri Lanka. Following this, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has agreed to make a final decision on Colombo’s $2.9 billion bailout package. Sri Lanka’s consistent back-and-forth negotiations with the IMF and China indicate a broader development in South Asia. In 2022, two other South Asian nations and participants of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) — Pakistan and Bangladesh — had sought financial assistance from the IMF. These developments in the subcontinent indicate that developing countries are furthering their economic interests and stability by approaching the IMF and the West, even as they try not to antagonise China.

India’s Monetary Policy Autonomy from Rich World Crises lies in limiting Portfolio Inflows

Tanking stock markets may not be the best background in which to discuss curbing portfolio inflows into India. But to insulate Indian policymaking from the fickle twists and turns of the US Fed and regain monetary autonomy, India must impose capital controls on short-term portfolio flows.

Doubling of Income, Really?

INDIA’S per capita income, representing the average income of an Indian citizen, has risen from INR 79,000 in 2013–14 to INR 1,71,000 in 2022–23 — an increase of 116 percent. Therefore, some claim that incomes have more than doubled in India since the present ruling dispensation took office. The catch is that: a) this includes the price increase during the period and hence does not represent the real increase in incomes, and b) the data for 2022–23 and two earlier years is provisional and subject to revision.

Reimagining Public Policy in the Context of Emerging Global and Domestic Trends

It is a privilege to deliver the inaugural address for the Conference on Public policy Research, Pedagogy, and practice organized by the Delhi School of Public Policy and the Motilal Nehru College, University of Delhi. In any discipline, particularly in the social sciences and in professional programs, research, pedagogy, and practice need to be tailored to the emerging context and challenges which the discipline needs to help understand and address. The title of my address has the terms “Reimagining Public Policy”. It also stresses “Emerging Global and Domestic Trends”.

budget 23 urban development

Union Budget 2023-24 and Urban Infrastructure and Development Financing: Promising Yet Concerning

Indian cities with their contribution of around two-thirds of the GDP are expected to play an instrumental role as the country’s ‘engines of economic growth'. The union budget 2023-24 has tried give a push to cities by way of capital expenditure.

India- Australia ties: Forging New Relations to Upscale Trade

Indian foreign policy has been geared toward setting up strong partnerships in recent years. From a nation that was diffident about getting together with like minded partners, New Delhi today is demonstrating its commitment in forging ties with those nations with whom it feels politically in sync. Trust based partnerships are re-defining the global landscape today and India is moving ahead with a degree of seriousness not seen in recent history as it configures its global posture as a leading power in the international system. This is particularly true of the Indo-Pacific where old partnerships have been resurrected and new ones have been crafted at a time of significant flux in the regional order. It is India’s engagement with Australia that stands out for the speed with which the two nations have been able to transform their bilateral engagement.

SC directs EC’s autonomous functionaries towards strengthening Democracy

By directing the Election Commission to be appointed by a non-partisan panel, the Supreme Court strengthens democracy. But more needs to be done for institutional independence. EC, as well as all other regulatory bodies made autonomous of the executive, should be made answerable to designated committees of Parliament. This is essential to ensure the democratic accountability of all institutions to the ultimate sovereign, the people.

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