'The twenty-first century is India's to lose'

After the wave of nostalgic books on the British Raj in recent years and on Indian philosophy in an earlier era, it is now fashionable to write futuristic books on India. Curiosity about the secret......

Maintain integrity of Indian education

It is ironical that even as the Chinese have embarked on an ambitious plan to create 100 world-class universities, Arjun Singh is beginning to dismantle the IITs, IIMs, and AIIMS, India's symbols......

Nuts and bolts of fiscal reforms

The Task Force on the Implementation of the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act, 2003, chaired by Dr Vijay Kelkar, submitted its report on July 16.It is, in a substantial sense, an......

Kelkar reforms? GDP can grow at 13%

The reform measures listed by the Kelkar Task Force, if implemented, will result in the Indian economy growing at a nominal rate of 13 per cent by 2008-09. Also, by that year, tax reforms are......

Kelkar II: Two cheers and a boo

The Kelkar task force on fiscal responsibility and Budget management has done a great job on most fronts. In its broad sweep, Kelkar II has displayed both dynamism and clear-sightedness. The......

Cenvat may be cut to 12%

The task force on the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act, chaired by Vijay Kelkar, adviser to the finance minister, has recommended that the central value-added tax rate should be......