manmohanchidammontek Courtesy: WikimediaCommons
26 August 2013

Dreams out, reality in

The economic mismanagement by the ruling UPA in the past few years – by putting politics and polls ahead of economy and prosperity, and slavish obedience to political masters – has created an environment of crisis and desperation in India. Where did the country’s so-called economic ‘dream team’ go wrong?

niyamgiri Rita Willaert flickr Courtesy: Rita Willaert/Flickr
23 August 2013

Fair business, fair growth

While the rejection by Odisha’s Gram Sabhas of mining projects in the state indicates the triumph of direct democracy, concerns that international investors will shun India due to the fear of unfavourable conditions are rife. How can we work towards both greater democracy and mining projects necessary for growth?

Asia-Briefing_0 Courtesy: Asia Briefing
22 August 2013

India and China’s Retail Industries Compared

China ranks fourth globally for retail development, while India’s retail development ranking fell nine spots from the 2012 GRDI to 14th overall after experiencing backlash from the global economic slowdown. A comparison of India and China’s retail sectors reveals some lessons for retailers in both markets.

india-briefing-img. Courtesy: India Briefing
22 August 2013

The Falling Rupee Ushers in India as a Global Trade Dynamo

The U.S. economy is recovering, and the dollar strengthening, the lack of which has been behind much of the Global Financial Crisis over the past four years, and one that is largely responsible for the slowdown in China’s manufacturing. This is not a crisis, it’s a rebalancing, and the same is true for India.

pankajsaran2 Courtesy: Prachi Bidaye/ Gateway House
21 August 2013

Charting a new route to Bangladesh

Pankaj Saran, India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh, talks to Gateway House about the current relationship between the two countries and the prominent issues that need to be addressed for a durable partnership.

gandhi nehru ambedkar Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
14 August 2013

Liberalism is not post-modern opportunism

Over the past 30 years, Indian liberals have shed their values of tolerance, reason and dialogue. The rise of fundamentalism, strident socio-political discourse, and post-modernist individualism also indicate the decline of the liberal ethos. This is a threat to India’s vibrant philosophical liberal tradition

onions leliebloem flickr Courtesy: Dipayan Bhattacharjee/Flickr
14 August 2013

In search of economic liberalism in India

The reforms of the early 1990s did not bring economic freedom to a majority of the population. That explains a large proportion of the economic and social ills that affect India today. Why is economic life in India of the ‘Taliban type’? Why is illiberal thought still our guiding principle?