Licence raj has been replaced by a resource raj
Hindustan times, August 28, 2014

By Pradeep S Mehta

While Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day speech inter alia highlighted petty corruption, it was RBI governor Raghuram Rajan who made a frontal attack on crony capitalism, i.e. big-bang corruption in another speech. Both cancers have to be attacked. Hopefully this phenomenon will subside if the government is as serious as it claims to be. What is crony capitalism? It happens when business colludes with the polity and bureaucracy to gain unfair advantages, like the 2G spectrum scam or the Coalgate affair when a handful of oligarchs got favours without any competition or proper procedures. Just these two scams cost the nation in excess of Rs. 300,000 crore, according to CAG estimates. More...

Institutions vs organisations in the reform agenda
Business Standard, August 22, 2014

By Pradeep S Mehta

Among several adrenaline-pumping measures, three points of Narendra Modi in his scintillating speech on Independence Day stood out. First, his ridicule of the siloed approach of different departments of the government. Second, rejuvenating the plan body by scrapping it and giving birth to a new body with active participation of the states. And third, to work in co-operation with the opposition parties to carry the reforms agenda forward. All three ideas need an institutional approach if they have to be realised in their true sense, and not just by establishing bodies to deal with them. Institutions must not be confused with organisations. Organisations are a part of an institutional framework for achieving its objectives. More...

Farmers Shifting towards High Value Cash Crops in Uttar Pradesh
Amar Ujala, August 10, 2014

So, we’re getting better roads. Here are some stumbling blocks
DNA, August 05, 2014

By Pradeep S Mehta

Laws governing land acquisition, environmental clearances and the modalities of PPP will have to be looked into again to make this ambitious road project a success. It would make great sense if the state government drafts a comprehensive policy for roads, transport and road safety, and establishes one composite independent regulator to deal with all the three dimensions under one roof. Such a move will ensure coherence rather than face turf issues with different agencies governing the three different aspects of smoother and safer transportation to the citizens of the state. Such a regulator will be insulated from different line ministries and thus can be more effective. More...