Times of India ⁽⁹²⁾

Read full article Abstract: Perhaps the most powerful argument used by the proponents of the so-called Food Security Bill to further expand the highly inefficient, corrupt and leaky public distribution system (PDS) is adult hunger and malnutrition. Serious flaws exist, however, in both the diagnosis and prescription the proponents offer.Civil society groups and international organisations such as the World Health Organisation, Food and Agricultural Organisation and World Bank contend that one-fifth or more Indians suffer from hunger and many more from malnutrition. But this contention is principally based on the steadily declining trend in calorie consumption in India during the last two decades. The trend has been observed among all classes of consumers whether rich or poor, rural or urban.But when asked in the nationwide expenditure surveys whether they have had enough to eat throughout the year, the responses of Indians have shown exactly the opposite trend. Those replying in the negative to the question were 17.3% in 1983 but fell to 5.2% in 1993-94, 3.6% in 1999-2000 and just 2.5% in 2004-05.

Read full article Abstract: I recently wrote about why the accomplishments of chief minister Nitish Kumar - that at last bring hope to Bihar - could not be underestimated. Today, i turn to Gujarat, which has been generally more prosperous in the post-Independence era and has performed impressively under chief minister Narendra Modi.

Read full article Abstract: Large increases in revenues, made possible by accelerated growth, have allowed the UPA government to rapidly expand redistribution programmes — distribution of subsidised foodgrain, free elementary education, rural health and the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS). But only a small fraction of the benefits of these programmes actually reaches the intended beneficiaries. Leakages along various elaborate government distribution chains are endemic. In sharp contrast to China, the government in India is hopelessly ineffective and inefficient at the delivery of social benefits.

Read full article Abstract: Nitish Kumar has lifted the state from the depths, but much remains to be done The political row between chief ministers Nitish Kumar of Bihar and Narendra Modi of Gujarat has spilled over into an acrimonious debate on the performance of their respective states. Defenders of each state have gone on to rubbish the accomplishments of the other state. This is a painful spectacle since the achievements of both states are considerable and deserving of celebration rather than rebuke.

There is widespread belief in India today that one of the country's two main political parties, the Indian National Congress, has now run its course and will sink into oblivion. Unlike past predictions of the Congress's inevitable demise, this time the forecast of fatal decline is probably right. Read full article (on Project Syndicate) NEW YORK – Politics in Asia’s two giants, India and China, has suddenly turned very uncertain. China remains in authoritarian mode, of course. But egregious human-rights violations and suppression of dissent are raising the specter of growing internal disruptions, particularly in the wake of purges within the top leadership. By contrast, India, with its firmly rooted liberal democracy, smells to some like roses. But many believe that India, too, faces uncertain political prospects. In particular, there is widespread belief in India today that one of the country’s two main political parties, the Indian National Congress, essentially run by Sonia Gandhi and her son, Rahul Gandhi, has now run its course and will sink into oblivion. According to The Economist: “The Congress Party…is in a funk” and “in…