Monday, Dec 05, 2022
Journalism of Courage
Bibek Debroy
The writer is chairman, Economic Advisory Council to the PM. Views are personal.
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More From Bibek Debroy
Global Hunger Index: A survey that trivialised hunger
November 10,2022 04:16:00 AM
Bibek Debroy writes: It made serious errors in classification, methodology
Thu, Nov 10, 2022
Measure topography to ensure the equitable delivery of goods and services to all
October 13,2022 04:10:47 AM
Bibek Debroy writes: States can have differential sources of revenue. Alternatively, the cost of delivering that basket may vary across geographical zones. Measuring topography might be an idea worth toying with.
Thu, Oct 13, 2022
Bibek Debroy writes: As PM Modi said, the onus for labour reform is on the states
September 14,2022 18:00:47 PM
Bibek Debroy writes: Flexibility in laws, labour reform is being stymied at the state level
Thu, Sep 15, 2022
Remembering an older generation of Indian chess champions
August 11,2022 23:17:05 PM
Bibek Debroy writes: Moheschunder Bannerjee and Mir Sultan Khan were top players decades before the game attained its recent popularity in India
Fri, Aug 12, 2022
The true meaning of Tantra
July 14,2022 03:50:29 AM
Bibek Debroy writes: It has always been on the edge, not necessarily part of the mainstream. Scholars and practitioners of the art often give it a bad name.
Thu, Jul 14, 2022
Bibek Debroy writes: Under vague laws, bees are fish and cats are dogs
June 09,2022 04:18:37 AM
Bibek Debroy writes: Ambiguity of legislation means over-reliance on judicial interpretation. It also opens the door to greater corruption.
Thu, Jun 09, 2022
The good cop
May 12,2022 04:00:19 AM
Bibek Debroy writes: It's time to nudge states towards implementing measures for police reform directed by the Supreme Court in its landmark Prakash Singh verdict
Thu, May 12, 2022
Solving India’s idol theft problem
April 14,2022 04:00:20 AM
Bibek Debroy writes: Building an inventory of antiquities should be the first step
Thu, Apr 14, 2022
Throwing light on governance failure in Noida
March 10,2022 03:20:42 AM
Bibek Debroy writes: Recent CAG report raises questions on land acquisition, process of allotment to builders, points to governance deficits
Fri, Mar 18, 2022
What three recent cases say about our labyrinthine legal system
February 10,2022 04:45:26 AM
Bibek Debroy writes: Archaic laws, incomprehensible language and cases that go on for too long are obstacles on the path to justice
Thu, Feb 10, 2022
How the Seventh Schedule affects delivery of public goods
January 13,2022 04:15:45 AM
🔴 Bibek Debroy writes: Without delegation of funds, functions and functionaries, local governments are unable to respond to pressure from citizens who demand greater efficiency in this matter
Thu, Jan 13, 2022
Fear of numbers, letters and other irrational phobias
December 09,2021 03:31:41 AM
🔴 Bibek Debroy writes: As the naming of the Omicron variant and other examples show, it is not just 13 that is affected by the universal tendency towards discretion in using numbers as markers
Fri, Dec 10, 2021
How loopholes in Civil Procedure Code delay justice
November 11,2021 03:45:19 AM
Bibek Debroy writes: Anyone interested in legal reform, including budding lawyers, should learn how to plug these gaps.
Fri, Nov 12, 2021
Why and how is Devi celebrated during the Navaratri festivities?
October 14,2021 03:02:48 AM
Bibek Debroy writes: Devi worship is an ancient tradition in India, with different parts of the country honouring different forms of the deity.
Fri, Oct 15, 2021
Book review: Fun encounters of economist Shankar Acharya
September 12,2021 06:11:58 AM
From being offered Apu’s role in Satyajit Ray’s Pather Panchali to filling slightly inebriated Raj Kapoor’s glass, the former chief economic adviser’s autobiography, ‘An Economist at Home and Abroad’, is replete with humorous anecdotes and courteous professional observations
Sun, Sep 12, 2021
Lessons from Ricky Martin’s tax travails in India
September 09,2021 03:00:06 AM
Bibek Debroy writes: If delayed tax payments by tax-payers automatically invoke interest, shouldn’t delayed refunds also automatically invoke interest payments? What about the alacrity with which the department implements orders of appellate forums?
Fri, Sep 10, 2021
Getting all Indians tap water may be desirable. But what’s really needed is safe drinking water
July 22,2021 03:02:13 AM
Bibek Debroy writes: There’s no denying India’s water crisis, which can only be addressed with accurate data, big picture reforms.
Thu, Jul 22, 2021
On reforms and public expenditures, let’s not forget to scrutinise states
June 10,2021 04:10:28 AM
Bibek Debroy writes: There’s been an excessive focus on the Union government. The availability of data from state legislatures is an opportunity to monitor them better
Thu, Jun 10, 2021
Black marketing during the pandemic comes from longstanding, systemic flaws
May 13,2021 03:34:16 AM
Action not taken in the best of times now strikes back at us in the worst of times
Thu, May 13, 2021
Chenab bridge: A future icon of Indian Railways heritage
April 15,2021 03:55:39 AM
Upon completion, it will be the world’s highest railway bridge
Thu, Apr 15, 2021
The case of the disappearing manhole cover
March 11,2021 03:04:43 AM
Indian manhole covers have a global market. But the Howrah-based foundries making them are in decline.
Thu, Mar 11, 2021
National Rail Plan maps existing railway network on a GIS platform, identifies gaps
February 11,2021 03:02:23 AM
These are places where one needs new tracks and investments. Historically, such decisions were often driven by political considerations and were ad hoc. NRP bases those decisions on objective criteria.
Thu, Feb 11, 2021
Need to control prices of certain commodities is historically contingent
January 22,2021 03:40:43 AM
Bibek Debroy writes: Before liberalisation, there were around 80 Union government-level orders and around 150 state government-level orders decreeing various items as “essential”.
Fri, Jan 22, 2021
There are challenges in Covid vaccination drive, but these are not intractable
January 14,2021 03:00:49 AM
The problems in carrying out vaccination on this massive scale are apparent, but not intractable. States should be prepared for adverse events following immunisation (AEFI).
Thu, Jan 14, 2021
It may be necessary to formalise apiculture to disincentivise adulteration in honey
December 10,2020 03:06:43 AM
The only way we will ensure honey is genuine is through traceability and technology and digitisation makes this task easier.
Thu, Dec 10, 2020