Mihir Swarup Sharma – Author, NDTV.com

Opinion: Survival Tips For India's Opposition In The Modi Era

Mihir Swarup Sharma | Friday October 25, 2019

Remember: the Opposition did not win these elections. So it should not celebrate. It has a long, hard road back to relevance. But these elections show that if it thinks small, acts locally, and is responsive to those of its workers who have remained loyal, it may yet survive the Modi era.

Opinion: "New Order" Doesn't Like Nobel Winner Abhijit Banerjee's Advice

Mihir Swarup Sharma | Tuesday October 15, 2019

There's a reason that economists like Sen and Banerjee were awarded the Nobel, and it's not because the Bank of Sweden wanted to anger the Indian right wing. The Economics Nobel is not a left-wing enterprise - quite the opposite. They were given prizes because of their careful study of issues related to poverty, welfare and growth. Nobody should imagine that they are ...

Opinion: The Impact Of "Howdy, Modi" On PM, Trump And NRIs

Mihir Swarup Sharma | Monday September 23, 2019

Will the obvious similarity in the two leaders' attitudes, their political orientation and their populist personas cause any of these non-resident Modi fans to stop for a moment and consider the contradictions of their own opinions? One wonders.

Opinion: What To Expect Of The Huge Corporate Tax Cut

Mihir Swarup Sharma | Saturday September 21, 2019

The government's Diwali gift to India Inc is one of the most expensive ever - and a clear admission that the Modi Sarkar has finally accepted that the economy needs drastic measures. The only question is whether the rest of us can afford it.

Opinion: With RBI Move, Team Modi Furthers Bad Economics Credentials

Mihir Swarup Sharma | Wednesday August 28, 2019

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made no secret of his desire to do things differently from every one of his predecessors, and at least when it comes to bad economics, he seems determined to fulfil that aim.

Opinion: Why Nirmala Sitharaman's Move Is A Tribute To Arun Jaitley

Mihir Swarup Sharma | Saturday August 24, 2019

The Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance government has, to put it mildly, under-performed on the economy. Under its watch the economy has sharply slowed twice, in spite of generally favourable global factors, particularly a low price for crude oil.

Opinion: SC Garg Became Fall Guy For A Growing Financial Mess

Mihir Swarup Sharma | Saturday July 27, 2019

SC Garg declared he was taking voluntary retirement shortly after it was announced that the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet had moved him to the Power Ministry.

Opinion: Super Rich Tax - A Bad Move Now Being Made Worse

Mihir Swarup Sharma | Thursday July 11, 2019

There is, in principle, nothing wrong with richer people paying a bit more in income tax. But when, in her budget speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman raised the surcharges on the super-rich, those taxpayers with an annual income of more than Rs 2 crore, it was - like much else with this government - badly thought through.

Opinion: What's Worth Noting In Nirmala Sitharaman's Budget

Mihir Swarup Sharma | Friday July 05, 2019

The first hour of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's budget speech presenting had one significant omission: any actual budgeting. There were barely any numbers in it. Instead, it was a lengthy medley of policy priorities, praise of the government's record, and quotes from Mahatma Gandhi and various spiritual leaders.

Opinion: Modi 2.0 Signals Clipping Of Wings For Doval

Mihir Swarup Sharma | Saturday June 01, 2019

It may seem unnecessary, or even irrelevant, to discuss Narendra Modi's choice of ministers for his second term as Prime Minister. After all, one of the most obvious aspects of his leadership style is the centralisation of power - early on in his first term, he made it clear to the seniormost bureaucrat in each ministry that they were now empowered to speak directly t...

Opinion: Don't Blame RG; He Is Not Why Modi Has Crushed Congress

Mihir Swarup Sharma | Thursday May 23, 2019

We do not live in Modi's India. We live in Indians' India, and the reason so many Indians adore Modi is because he represents their preferred conception of the Indian state and the Indian nation. No other explanation for these results is as compelling.

Opinion: If Exit Polls Are Right, Modi Could Assume He Has Next 10 Years

Mihir Swarup Sharma | Sunday May 19, 2019

"If I were Modi, and these numbers are replicated on 23 May, I would be asking myself: do I have another five years or another 10?"

Opinion: 5 Possible Reasons PM Modi Sat For A Press Meet On Silent Mode

Mihir Swarup Sharma | Friday May 17, 2019

Five years ago, in his last press conference as Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh said that Modi would be a disaster as his successor, and that history would judge Singh himself kindly. Today, as Singh's successor sat wrapped in a silence even deeper than Singh's, perhaps we should accept that Manmohan Singh was, as usual, right.

Opinion: Modi Interviews Should Be PR Disasters. Instead, He's On A Roll

Mihir Swarup Sharma | Tuesday May 14, 2019

It has been an interesting few days for Modi. He has the election all wrapped up, according to conventional wisdom, so he is presumably giving interviews now because he has nothing else to do before the results come in but to read a bit of poetry aloud and discuss mangoes. After all, nothing that he could ever say will shake his followers' faith in him. That's what "b...

Opinion: When Indian Army "Sited" Mythical Beast Yeti

Mihir Swarup Sharma | Wednesday May 01, 2019

If the Indian Army tells us on Twitter that it has found the Yeti, should we believe it?

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