P Chidambaram
P Chidambaram is former Finance minister of India.
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P Chidambaram writes: Thankfully, dead on arrival
August 31,2025 07:01:44 AM
If the Bill to remove arrested ministers is passed, India will join the ranks of Belarus, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Cameroon, Congo (DRC), Myanmar, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Russia, Rwanda, Uganda, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe which routinely jail Opposition leaders
Sun, Aug 31, 2025
P Chidambaram writes: A case of breach of promiseSign In to read
August 24,2025 07:01:32 AM
The ebb and flow of political and security issues ought not to deflect it from rendering justice according to law. The legal issue was crystallized before the Supreme Court. The Court refrained from deciding the issue based on a promise to the Court
Sun, Aug 24, 2025
P Chidambaram writes: To ‘SIR’, with distrustSubscriber Only
August 17,2025 07:00:59 AM
Given the crude birth rate of Bihar, the number of persons who had, since the elections to the Lok Sabha in 2024, attained the age of 18 would certainly run into a few lakhs. Have they been included? The ECI did not respond, and nobody knows
Sun, Aug 17, 2025
P Chidambaram writes: Bull(y) in India’s shopSubscriber Only
August 10,2025 07:00:01 AM
India must let America know that it will stand firm, defend its interests, be open to fair trade, and ready to negotiate and conclude agreements, however difficult the process may be
Sun, Aug 10, 2025
P Chidambaram writes: Military boldness, political timiditySubscriber Only
August 03,2025 07:00:03 AM
The failure of intelligence and the absence of security forces in Pahalgam led to the tragedy. No one in the government has taken responsibility. The military’s gains in Operation Sindoor will have a deterrent effect on Pakistan but the political leadership’s timidity before the US and China may cancel the gains and give encouragement to Pakistan
Sun, Aug 03, 2025
P Chidambaram writes: Life is a mystery, not always beautifulSubscriber Only
July 27,2025 07:00:48 AM
What broke the cordial ties between Mr Dhankhar and the RSS/BJP? The speculation is that Mr Dhankhar’s decisions on the two motions broke the camel’s back. I disagree; the two motions were light straws. Obviously, there were more
Sun, Jul 27, 2025
P Chidambaram writes: ‘Mischief thou art afoot’Subscriber Only
July 20,2025 07:00:43 AM
The inevitable conclusion is that SIR is not an exercise to enable eligible citizens to enroll and vote. It is a dark, sinister plot to disenfranchise millions of poor, marginalized or migrant citizens. Over to the Supreme Court on July 28
Sun, Jul 20, 2025
P Chidambaram writes: How to build, how to growSubscriber Only
July 13,2025 07:00:21 AM
Public construction, especially of nationally important projects, do not suffer from constraints of land or money. But what do we see happening? Highways and new roads cave in; sewer lines burst flooding the road
Sun, Jul 13, 2025
P Chidambaram writes: The spectre never went awaySubscriber Only
July 06,2025 07:00:32 AM
The word ‘secular’ is anathema to the supporters of Hindu rashtra but can a plural, diverse, multi-religious and democratic country be anything but secular? I admire the French who are pre-dominantly Catholic but fiercely secular.
Sun, Jul 06, 2025
P Chidambaram writes | MoF: Accept or reject, don’t ignoreSubscriber Only
June 29,2025 07:00:13 AM
The GST laws have added to the burdens of business. The high and multiple rates of GST are per se bad. The rules, regulations, notifications, forms and compliances under the GST laws are worse.
Sun, Jun 29, 2025
P Chidambaram writes | Eleven years: a data-based critiqueSubscriber Only
June 22,2025 07:00:05 AM
Expenditure is a proxy for income and borrowing. The persons in the bottom 10% have an expenditure of Rs 50-100 per day. Ask yourself, with Rs 50-100 a day, what kind of food can a person consume? What kind of dwelling can a person have? What kind of medical care or medicines can the person afford?
Sun, Jun 22, 2025
P Chidambaram writes | Eleven years: A critiqueSubscriber Only
June 15,2025 07:00:55 AM
By all accounts, every power is concentrated in the hands of Mr Narendra Modi. He may deserve to claim sole credit for the government’s achievements; he should also bear sole responsibility for its failures
Sun, Jun 15, 2025
P Chidambaram writes: War against a fused frontSubscriber Only
June 08,2025 07:00:02 AM
I feel it would have been more appropriate to convene a special session of Parliament and for the prime minister or defence minister to make a statement on Operation Sindoor, and invite a discussion. However, it was egregious behaviour on the part of bhakts to troll General Chauhan (as they trolled Foreign Secretary, Mr Vikram Misri)
Sat, Jun 07, 2025
P Chidambaram writes: That’s the way the cookie crumblesSubscriber Only
June 01,2025 07:00:07 AM
Despite the dosti, America deported Indian ‘illegal’ immigrants in handcuffs and leg chains. Not a word of protest from the prime minister. Steep tariffs were imposed on imports from India; not a word. The U.S. voted in favour of IMF’s loan to Pakistan; not a word. Indian students face the threat of revocation of their visas; not a word. Student visa interviews have been suspended; not a word. The dosti lies in a shambles
Sun, Jun 01, 2025
P Chidambaram writes: Why no jobs for most youth?Subscriber Only
May 25,2025 07:01:50 AM
...The regrettable but inescapable conclusions are, firstly, that the applicants for jobs do not have the education or the skills to fill the jobs. And, secondly, that the jobs on offer are not attractive because of the structure of the enterprise or the emoluments
Sun, May 25, 2025
P Chidambaram writes: The irrepressible Mr TrumpSubscriber Only
May 18,2025 07:00:49 AM
There are other questions, but this is not the time or place to raise them. Mr Trump is irrepressible, he will not go away, he will make embarrassing statements, and he will give ample material for questions. Will we get answers or is silence the answer?
Sun, May 18, 2025
P Chidambaram writes: The Pahalgam paybackSubscriber Only
May 11,2025 07:15:41 AM
In a smart move, the government fielded two young women officers, one from the Army and one from the Air Force, to brief the media on live television. The nation watched. The only sour note was the absence of the prime minister at the all-party meetings held on April 24 and May 7
Sun, May 11, 2025
P Chidambaram writes: India applauds resolve, and waitsSubscriber Only
May 04,2025 07:05:46 AM
There are many reasons: the government expressed shock but not contrition; no one in authority acknowledged the grave lapses in security; the prime minister cut short his visit to Saudi Arabia and returned to Delhi but did not visit Pahalgam or Srinagar; an all-party meeting was called but Mr Modi skipped it and instead chose to visit Patna for a rally
Sun, May 04, 2025
P Chidambaram writes: Between Scylla and CharybdisSubscriber Only
April 27,2025 07:00:17 AM
The trade deficit with China exacerbates India’s current account deficit and is a ticking bomb. The surplus with the US has, to an extent, compensated the deficit with China. If the trade surplus with the US vanished thanks to Mr Trump’s tariffs and the trade deficit with China grew larger, it will worsen the situation for India
Sun, Apr 27, 2025
P Chidambaram writes: University education in perilSubscriber Only
April 20,2025 07:00:09 AM
Unless the UGC Act is repealed, re-imagined and re-enacted, University autonomy will be a distant goal. Unless endowments are created with alumni support, academic freedom will be illusory. Instead of self-reliant public universities, there will be a proliferation of private universities promoted and funded by wealthy families and corporates (with exceptions).
Sun, Apr 20, 2025
P Chidambaram writes: Mr Trump will be a loserSubscriber Only
April 13,2025 07:04:17 AM
Mr Trump’s pause on tariffs has given the world some hope to believe that economic sense will prevail on him. However, if Mr Trump revokes the ‘pause’ and re-imposes the tariffs he had announced on April 2, he will upend the world’s economy.
Sun, Apr 13, 2025
P Chidambaram writes: Malice toward MuslimsSubscriber Only
April 06,2025 07:20:00 AM
Hindu religious and charitable institutions are administered by Hindus and Hindus alone. No one would suggest — or accept — that in the administration of Hindu temples and religious/charitable institutions, non-Hindus may have a role. (In fact, there is a demand by the Andhra Pradesh CM that non-Hindus ought not to be appointed even as employees of the Tirupati-Tirumala Devasthanam)
Sun, Apr 06, 2025
P Chidambaram writes: Mr Modi stoops, will he conquer?Subscriber Only
March 30,2025 07:30:26 AM
India’s response so far has been secretive and reactive. The government announced tariff reductions in the budget for 2025-26. Mr Trump was not impressed. Mr Modi tried flattery, Mr Trump was not satisfied. The digital service tax (the ‘Google tax’) was withdrawn when the Finance Bill was passed. More concessions are under discussion. This is an unsatisfactory approach...
Sun, Mar 30, 2025
P Chidambaram writes: Collective action than dostiSubscriber Only
March 23,2025 07:17:10 AM
On larger geo-political issues, what will be Mr Modi’s reaction if the United States took control of the Panama Canal in a swift and bloodless operation... Next, what will be Mr Modi’s reaction if the United States took over Greenland “one way or another” as promised by Mr Trump? Can India say that Greenland is too distant and is not our concern?
Sun, Mar 23, 2025
P Chidambaram writes: Prepare to deal with dealmakerSubscriber Only
March 16,2025 07:05:54 AM
Mr Trump has made no distinction between foe (China) and friend (India), and is willing to make deals. “I have made deals all my life”, he boasted and, after inviting, humiliating and throwing out President Zelenskyy, he invited him back “when he is ready to sign an agreement” for presumably critical minerals — Mr Trump called it ‘payback’
Sun, Mar 16, 2025a better experience