Opinion: Is The 'Freebies' Debate Genuine Or A PM Modi 'Master Stroke'?

Praveen Chakravarty | Friday August 19, 2022

In June, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in a report raised alarm over the deteriorating fiscal condition of state governments caused by rising expenditure on what they termed 'freebies'.

Opinion: Akhilesh Yadav Is Correct In Asking For Ban On Opinion Polls

Praveen Chakravarty | Tuesday January 25, 2022

These opinion polls are not merely reflective of the opinions of Indian voters but a strong determinant of their voting behaviour too. The Election Commission of India cannot continue to turn a blind eye to this dubious practice.

Opinion: From Modi To Sitharaman, The Total About-Turn On MNREGA

Praveen Chakravarty | Monday February 15, 2021

In February 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a speech in Parliament, ridiculed the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) program as a symbol of the policy failures of the previous United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government headed by Dr. Manmohan Singh and, in his typical coarse style, taunted that he would bleed the program to a slow...

Opinion: In GST Row, Centre Throws Nationalism Argument At States

Praveen Chakravarty | Monday August 31, 2020

Rules by bureaucrats, legalese by lawyers and analysis by economists are cold, futile methods to resolve this crisis when the need of the distressed hour is a warm, empathetic hand of the political leadership.

Opinion: The Economy, Unlike BJP, Cannot Be Bullied Into Submission

Praveen Chakravarty | Monday September 16, 2019

The government needs to 1) Acknowledge the problem, 2) Accumulate wisdom and 3) Act decidedly. We owe this to the hundreds of millions of Indians whose very livelihoods are at risk.