Innovating solutions for India's challenges
India first needs to innovate the solution itself, and then focus on the product. Is splitting RBI an option?
RBI as the monetary policy authority deserves autonomy. The problem arises when it also functions as the regulator for banks. Stock markets? Nah! How about rum instead?
Dilip D'Souza is totally baffled by the strange and unfathomable ways of the stock markets. The business of financial inclusion
Business systems that serve customers who are starkly above or below the average customer on any parameter need to be differently designed. Forcing one-size-fits-all products is not a good solution, says Rama Bijapurkar. Why are financial regulators suddenly vocal?
Is the exit of the capital markets joint secretary the reason behind this, wonders A K Bhattacharya. Why is the PM's wish being violated by the govt?
Not enough people in the government or the private sector have the confidence in creating industrial and mining projects that offer win-win deals to tribals, says Rajni Bakshi. The 'neta-babu raj'
The licence permit raj has morphed into a system which is just as crippling. Why Kamal Nath lashed out at Montek Singh
If Kamal Nath launches a broadside, it is because his ministry now can no longer afford to ignore the advice that comes from Yojana Bhavan. Udaan gives school dropouts a second chance
Nachiket Mor is today championing the concept of residential bridge schools for dropouts. What's the philosophy of investing?
Very few investors give a serious thought to the underlying issues involved in an investing style and if it fits their personal risk-profile. Bandhs: Acts of terror by another name
If Naxalites and extremists disrupt normal life, destroy public property, inject fear into people and make them retreat into their homes and away from public places, we call that terrorism. What is a state-sponsored bandh? Flight delays? Time to fix 'soft' infrastructure
We need is to build a culture of systemic planning and skills of facilitation to align objectives and goals if we really want to solve the complex issues we face in our lives today. India's growth? Private sector to the fore
India needs more public investment, to sustain upwards of 9 per cent national income growth and also to fuel private sector dynamism. The PM has 8 councils of advisors, but...
With an eighth council now in place, no one can accuse Manmohan Singh of being ill-advised. Food security? Over 8 crore fake ration cards!
The real challenge before the government is to improve the institutions that are charged with the responsibility of delivering food to the consumer through the existing public distribution system (PDS). Why Pawar must quit as agriculture minister
The Union Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Agriculture, Sharad Pawar, who also doubled as president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and has now become president of the International Cricket Council (ICC), has reportedly pleaded with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that his ministerial burdens be reduced so that he can devote more of his time to his cricketing responsibilities. 7 ways to improve infrastructure in Indian cities
The challenge for India is to write a new chapter in low-cost urban development. Recover your environment! Here's how
Next week's 'Recover your environment' workshop in Hyderabad is a tiny step towards compensating for how little has changed since the Bhopal tragedy, says Rajni Bakshi. The sad saga of media regulation in India
The story of media regulation is India would be funny if it was not so pathetic. The pros and cons of Direct Taxes Code
Direct Taxes Code will make politically difficult changes feasible The failure of the food security bill
Unlike in langars, free feeding under the food security bill may force people to swallow their shame. We must have ambitions beyond profits: FM
We are working to make our government more efficient and transparent, says Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee. New techniques of brand building
A brand can move from creating affinity to inspiring awe and respect Decision making and business in India
Why strategic initiatives should be taken based more on a vision and entrepreneurial "gut-based" decision process in India, writes Arvind Singhal Global economy yet to come out off the boil
Although companies have been able to tap bond markets, the recovery of global financial markets is shaky How India can catch up on broadband
The government can invest some of the Rs 100,000 crore from the spectrum auctions to help India catch up on broadband Had Mukesh and Anil got together earlier...
'The diplomatic observer in me rejoiced in the clear and unmistakable evidence about the spread of wealth to hitherto unconventional regions and individuals in a fast changing world.' Infosys at Chandigarh and why SEZs work
Govt should examine how SEZs can overcome their main problems over land acquisition. Why we must give Trai's broadband plan a hand
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's visionary plan to build India's Information Super Highway has been very carefully thought-out and needs all the support we can give it, says Ajit Balakrishnan. What we must learn from the Bhopal tragedy
The US is less concerned about who's jailed and more about a huge compensation from BP. Here comes Reliance!
The flip side of decontrol is greater competition for oil PSUs, says Sunil Jain. Non-executive directors: Only after the perks?
The position of director is more than the sinecure that all too many retired executives seek out because of the fees, car, and the opportunity to feel important, says T N Ninan. Letter to PM: 'I'm worried about our country'
We have been carrying open letters written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh by ordinary citizens of India , the so-called aam aadmi. The issue that we want to focus on for the moment is petro price hike and the consequent inflation. City scape: Where reason drives action
A peek outside your airplane window as you land in any Indian metropolis is confirmation of the fact that 26 per cent of Mumbai and an astounding 60 per cent of New Delhi lives in slums or substandard housing. Why India had no choice but to hike fuel prices
The government must be complimented for finally showing some determination in biting the bullet on petroleum prices. It must now stand its ground and ride the wave of political protests that are bound to be staged by an Opposition waiting to return to relevance. The G20 and 'Chermany'
The grouping has influenced China, but Germany will be more difficult. Let's build a few Chandigarhs
Chandigarh remains the only new independent city of any consequence built in independent India. Bhopal: Why India needs to arrest Keshub Mahindra
If the Bhopal judgment results in independent directors and CEOs/plant managers waking up to their responsibilities, that can only be a good thing. The world cup for advertising kicks off
A peep into the Cannes advertising contest. Oil at $300 a barrel: Will it or won't it?
Whether that happens or not remains to be seen, but any case of negativity on oil should be the last till oil starts shock news. Of Bhopal and a democracy we can be proud of
The magnitude of outrage triggered by the miscarriage of justice in the Bhopal gas leak tragedy is a moment of truth for all of us, says Rajni Bakshi. Many cooks make the broth cost-effective
Market forces always work and India has an intensely competitive service economy, says Rama Bijapurkar. Bhopal & BP: How they don't deal with it
T N Ninan writes on how the United States is handling the BP oil spill disaster and what India needed to do in the horrific Bhopal gas tragedy. Is speculation God's work?
Speculators do play a role in creating liquid markets. Other players like hedgers, arbitrageurs and long-term investors are not enough to create continuous market liquidity and prices. Why infrastructure is the defining issue?
A single unified definition of infrastructure should not be attempted. It is neither desirable, nor useful. Why UPA tolerates some ineffcient ministers
Almost without exception, all ministers from non-Congress coalition partners of the UPA have been behaving as though they are a law unto themselves. Cash for work - Asia's answer to crises
Policy makers in Asia are looking at social protection measures to provide relief. The answer to Maoism? People-friendly growth
The challenge of Maoism can be met with equitable and inclusive socio-economic progress. Mamata needs a crash course in public finance
It will be helpful advice for a chief minister-in-waiting who is going to have to deal with empty coffers and overflowing expectations All about the business of humanity
To cope with the backlash against globalisation, more and more transnational corporations are adopting strategies that go beyond short-term profit maximisation. Say goodbye to oil PSUs
In six years, they've lost Rs 156,000 crore to subsidies. Now, commerce and finance ministries in good terms
Relations between the commerce and finance ministries have improved with new personalities at the helm of affairs. The mystery of missing media mergers
The $17-billion Indian media and entertainment industry is very fragmented. Japan: Land of the setting sun?
More than a decade's economic stagnation had virtually paralysed Japan. While remaining the world's second-largest economy, it watched China's rise with part anxiety and part greed. Prosperity? The key lies in de-growth
What is required instead is a 'steady state economy' - where human economic activity strives for a balance with nature's economy in ways that would reduce or eliminate waste. India's sorry spectrum story
The approach to spectrum management is an object lesson in how not to use information and communications technology for development. GDP data: More shades of grey
The latest gross domestic product (GDP) numbers are reassuring, at first glance. GDP grew 8.6 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2009-10 (Q4FY10), with manufacturing and mining playing stellar roles. Krishna chants innovation mantra at USIBC meet
The India-US example, similarly, draws its strength not merely from engagement and understanding between governments, but from the vitality of private partnerships and the warmth of ties between our peoples. . Copyright vs copywrong: Giving a better choice
The amendments proposed to the Indian Copyright Act might seem like a great idea When trade unions lose their power
The short-lived strike by Air India employees makes one thing clear: the days of rampant trade unionism are over. More work + Blackberry = Holiday
The super-busy executives around you may make you feel redundant if your mobile is silent on a family holiday trip. Why Air India was right in imposing a 'gag' order
Air India's employees should not consider their company any different from other firms that allow only authorised personnel to speak to the media, says Kanika Datta. Who's afraid of Synthia?
Venter's patent application for his synthetic cell creation has set off a frenzied debate on monopolies in genetic research. 'You don't need IIM degree for a successful co'
There is nothing more inspiring than the story of a boy born on the wrong side of the tracks making it big against all odds. Green Scorecard: Private sector holds upper hand?
But the toughest opposition to a strategy for halting climate change also comes from entrenched private interests, says Rajni Bakshi. What Chhattisgarh needs is jobs
Chhattisgarh needs special people's offices to identify skills and link them to earning possibilities Celebrating the decline of Europe
Given the dynamics of the world today, it is inevitable that a relative decline in European power will occur. Fiscal consolidation: What needs to be done
Stronger fiscal surveillance should be accompanied with broader macroeconomic surveillance, to go to the roots of sustainable growth. Bonanza for PSU gas players
In the short run, ONGC and OIL should both reap a bonanza given the government hike. Why India should welcome all capital inflows
If India can fast utilise currency flows for long-term projects, the regulatory regime could be more liberal. Death of India's marketplaces
It will be a sad day when most of India will shop only inside enclosed, characterless shopping malls. Trai and the Great Democratic Liberator
The cellphone is a Great Democratic Liberator: 'Great' because of its impact on people; 'democratic' because it gives the same benefits to all; and 'liberator' because it frees us from the terrible infrastructure, says Rama Bijapurkar. Greek lessons for world economy
Democracy, nation-state and globalisation can't go together; we can have at the most two at one time, says Dani Rodrik. $1-trillion aid surprises markets
The only amount that is actually committed in the Europe rescue package is 60 billion pound from an EU emergency fund Brands: A few thought starters
The kind of feeling a brand evokes dictates the kind of relationship it will have with it consumers. Many a times, strong feelings remain long after the message fades, says Bobby Pawar. India's infrastructure: What needs to be done
It is time infrastructure managers started adopting the best practices in project execution, says Vinayak Chatterjee. Telecom tussle: Raja's in the saddle again
Given how the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's (Trai's) recommendations on 2G spectrum will hit telecom firms, it's not surprising that telecom stocks have plunged. The price poor people pay for huge projects
A principle adopted to ensure rehabilitation of evacuees alongside progress on projects is known for violations. Asia paves way for global recovery
As the world climbs out of the deepest recession in recent history, Asia is leading the global recovery. Greece crisis and the consequences for India
If the Greek crisis spirals into a larger European sovereign debt crisis and possible fragmentation of the eurozone, India's trade and capital flows could be hit, says Shankar Acharya. EU policy-makers in action to ensure stability
Last week's panic in financial markets finally forced European policy-makers into taking decisive action. Businessmen and society: A conflicting relation
Businessmen and society have a strangely contradictory relationship. Why Roche lost a patent battle in India
The Valcyte case is vital as it bars incremental innovation and recognises the right of patient groups to oppose patents. India can gain from the crisis
The Indian economy, by and large, will withstand the current crisis like it withstood the Asian and Western world credit crises. More woes for India's telecom sector
Lower margins, caused by substantial cash outflows and increasing competition, are seen as negatives for the sector. How Jairam Ramesh has made a difference
'Jairam Ramesh is almost single handedly bringing about a paradigm shift within the government.' Column: Greek lessons for India
The wisdom of capping FII access to local debt, restriction on ECBs, etcetera is now apparent. Govt must talk to RBI to protect exporters' intere
The commerce ministry must talk to the Reserve Bank of India and see how India's view can be represented and exporters' interests best protected. The IMF, Greece, and 'immoral hazard'
Greece was an opportunity for the IMF to set a precedent for an orderly debt resolution programme. What's wrong with economics and how to fix it
A New York-based institute seeks to empower new economists to challenge outdated approaches with innovative and ethical economic strategy and Indian policy makers must take note of it, says Rajni Bakshi. Experiments with education: The IT way
A touch-screen computer on classroom tables in New Delhi helps activity-based learning go online. What India must learn from China
Emulate China's coordinated policies for strategic sectors, and we'll rely less on commodity exports. Can you trust the IMD's weather forecast?
Given IMD's past record on forecasts, the latest one could also go wrong. Glut of MBAs: Where are the jobs?
There are no easy solutions except that MBA colleges have to reinvent themselves and their programmes immediately before they add more capacity, and all new aspirants for an MBA programme should keep in mind that an MBA degree from even a high-ranking institute may not translate into a dream job in the near future! Should Mumbai be made a Union Territory?
If Mumbai has to be India's Shanghai, it should remain more open to talent and enterprise, says Business Standard. Column: Why RBI still needs to go easy
If excess liquidity is coming back to RBI, there is precious little that higher policy rates can achieve Has Apple invented a new computing paradigm?
The iPad might allow Apple to disrupt the publishing industry, as it has done with music and telecom already, says Rajeev Srinivasan. Farming: Maharashtra shows the way in pest control
NCIPM's awareness-cum-surveillance project helped reduce the pest-infected area in Maharashtra by 67 per cent. The cost and efficacy of tax sops
The revenue foregone due to tax incentives in 2009-10 is estimated at Rs 5,40,269 crore. The IPL's capitalist ideology
IPL is a metaphor for a new India - crass, brash and razzmatazz - but it is in big trouble. Rising inflation: The govt got it wrong
This failure of basic short-term policy is surprising, given the star power that this government brings to its economic management. Will Greece's debt do apart Europe's union?
Every financial crisis has political and geo-political consequences. Spectre of bankruptcy comes to China
China's businessmen have always needed resilience, but now they must become accustomed to the spectre of bankruptcy. February 2010 | March 2010 | April 2010