The recommendations of the Fourteenth Finance Commission (FFC) have been hailed almost unanimously for ushering in a new era for Centre-state relations in India. The most significant of these recommendations – accepted by the government – is the one that devolves 42% of the divisible share in the centrally levied tax pool to the states, […]
Two thousand and fourteen was a sweeping year for India and India politics. Eight of the nine State elections that were held last year had the winning party emerge with an overwhelming margin of at least twice as many seats (with the exception of Jammu & Kashmir). The general election indicated a similar pattern with […]
The Aam Aadmi Party under Kejriwal is now set to rule the capital for 5 years. While the mandate in its favour is overwhelming, it would perhaps face its stiffest test as a party in power. In the recent past, no issue has been as politically important for Delhi as that of women’s security. The […]
The BJP has been handed a comprehensive defeat in the Delhi elections. For some, that might mean a defeat of the BJP’s Vision Document 2050, which ends with Kiran Bedi’s “6-S” formula as the model for an ideal Delhi. Yet, the importance of these 6Ss – “Surakshit, Swachh, Saakshar, Saksham, Sanskaari, Sab ki” can hardly […]
With the world’s youngest population and increasing migration from the hinterland to the cities, it is no wonder India’s urban hubs continue to be constrained for resources. Through an innovative approach to address these constraints, Change Makers, a Pune-based NGO, is seeking to organize and mobilize local citizen groups to initiate and impact neighbourhood change. […]
As Delhi goes to the polls for the 2nd time in a little over a year, a great deal of attention is quite naturally focused on statements and promises made by the main political parties in the fray. However, the period before elections is also a good time to look at where the state stands […]
When the Delhi’s Chief Ministerial Candidate, Arvind Kejriwal commented on the exchange of money for votes, I was reminded of a story from my ancestral town. A few years ago, Panchayat elections were held in West Bengal. A week before the election a message cryptically spread through the town that the pricing for votes had […]
Life in India is defined by social and economic hierarchies. In the past my efforts to contribute towards India’s development, attempting to raze such hierarchical constructs were often limited to the social and private sectors. However, through the Swaniti Initiative Fellowship, I gained an insight in to the power of harnessing the public sector and […]
Is national health care enough? Infant mortality data suggests a growing disparity amongst states In 2005, India launched the National Rural Health Mission, a ground breaking government scheme intended to improve access to basic healthcare. Comparing one progress on one crucial indicator [What does this mean?]—infant mortality rate—from 2006 to 2012 reveals a troubling picture. […]
As the Modi Administration talks about the Digital India Campaign, one of it’s most promising decisions could be to focus on improving digital infrastructure in schools. The Modi government’s ambitious “Digital India” initiative aims to usher in a holistic, all-encompassing digital transformation in India. It aims to enhance effectiveness, efficiency and transparency in sectors like […]