Abhishek Kumar

Base National Policy on Education on credible data

By Abhishek KumarAugust 7, 2021Education

Pradeep Mehta and Abhishek Kumar https://cippolc.in/pdf/Article-Base_NPE_on_credible_data.pdf (Co-authored) There’s no comprehensive and systematic data on the education system in India, and where it exists the government does not seem too serious about it… HRD minister Smriti Irani said the ministry would favour its own surveys over those conducted by ASER. India has unleashed a spate […]

Create a benchmark for quality education

By Abhishek KumarAugust 7, 2021Education

Pradeep Mehta and Abhishek Kumar https://bit.ly/2YH0oKn (Co-authored) At two separate public events recently, Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant laid great emphasis on health and education. India, he stressed, cannot register high growth for long without a good education (and healthcare) network; and for a good education system to develop, we must pose a challenge for […]

India Has Struggled to Link its Defence Needs to Strategic Goals

By Abhishek KumarAugust 7, 2021Industry

Pradeep Mehta and Abhishek Kumar https://bit.ly/2MJBcMQ (Co-authored) There has been a rapid change in geopolitical constellations around the world. Citadels of free trade have turned protectionist and the previously more-inward looking nations are now advocating for integrated global commerce and cooperation. Disruption has become the keyword and managing it, a challenge. But amidst the […]

In Defence of Indo-US Ties

By Abhishek KumarAugust 7, 2021Industry

Abhishek Kumar https://bit.ly/2YvOK5t (Authored) The US government has recently re-articulated its Asia Strategy. The term in use now is Indo-Pacific as opposed to Asia Pacific. From India’s perspective, this fits well into her ambition to be a global player in strategic affairs but one that comes with added responsibility. From the US perspective, this will […]

Purging the realty sector: Implementing a strong RERA can help weed out the problems

By Abhishek KumarAugust 7, 2021Industry

Abhishek Kumar and Priyam Purohit https://bit.ly/2f8Ml7P (Co-authored) In the absence of adequate protection, ‘consumers’ are usually vulnerable entities, more so when they are real estate consumers. It would not be wrong to say that for most of them investment into property is a lifetime decision as it involves years of savings and much financial planning. […]

Can we repair the train while it is running?

By Abhishek KumarAugust 7, 2021Industry

Pradeep Mehta an Abhishek Kumar https://www.asianage.com/india/all-india/061217/can-we-repair-the-train-while-it-is-running.html (Co-authored) Train accidents in India are phenomenally higher in comparison. In 2016-17 alone, train accidents in India have resulted in 238 causalities. Indian trains run at an average speed of 50-70km per hour — fairly low when compared to the trains in developed countries. Yet, train accidents in […]

The Cult of India’s Chief Banker

By Abhishek KumarAugust 7, 2021Industry

Pradeep Mehta and Abhishek Kumar https://bit.ly/2Yxa76q (Co-authored) Experts with an interest in the Indian economy are talking of only one name these days: Raghuram G. Rajan, the 23rd governor of India’s central bank, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Even before he assumed charge in September 2013, he was already a cult figure for many […]

How to Revive the TV Sector in India through Regulatory Revaluation (Co-authored)

By Abhishek KumarAugust 7, 2021Industry

Abhishek Kumar and Shipra Mathur https://bit.ly/3ksjR9b As per a recent FICCI-EY report, TV industry in India was valued at ₹78,800cr ($10.4bn) in 2019 with ₹32,000cr ($4.2bn) as advertising and ₹46,800cr ($6.2bn) as subscription revenue. Ironically, the industry is mired in struggle, thanks to the deeply-entrenched political economy and a regulatory framework that leaves much to […]

India will have arrived when yoga becomes yog again

By Abhishek KumarAugust 7, 2021Diplomacy

Pradeep Mehta and Abhishek Kumar India will have arrived when yoga becomes yog again (Co-authored) Prime Minister Narendra Modi has placed India in an advantageous position on the world map by travelling incessantly. Coupled with that the external affairs ministry has been organising global events in India in partnership with think tanks: Observer Research Foundation […]

Indo-US 2+2 Dialogue a Chance to Address Specifics in Context of Larger Geo-Political Goals

By Abhishek KumarAugust 7, 2021Diplomacy

Pradeep Mehta and Abhishek Kumar https://bit.ly/2KtXPC6 (Co-authored) An oft-used phrase these days in international relations is “rules-based international order”. Essentially, it means a shared commitment by all countries to conduct their activities in accordance with agreed rules that evolve over time, such as international law, regional security arrangements, trade agreements, immigration protocols, and cultural arrangements. […]

Multilateral cooperation will be the cornerstone of internet economy:

By Abhishek KumarAugust 7, 2021Diplomacy

Pradeep Mehta and Abhishek Kumar https://bit.ly/3dTmQ84 Globalisation has had its hey days since 1980s. In 2008, the financial crisis sent a rude reminder that all was not well with how people lived and worked. A decade later trade war between world’s two largest economies brought down the euphoria that the world is an ever-integrating global […]

How Does India Score Well on Competitiveness But Poorly on Ease of Doing Business

By Abhishek KumarAugust 7, 2021Ease of Doing Business

Pradeep Mehta And Abhishek Kumar https://bit.ly/2YNijiw (Co-authored) It’s that time of year when the topic of competitiveness is again making headlines. The World Economic Forum (WEF) has recently released the 2016 edition of their ‘global competitiveness report’. This year’s report reveals three interesting insights. First, mere monetary policy stimulus is not enough to revitalise growth. […]

India needs entrepreneurs, not survivors

By Abhishek KumarAugust 7, 2021Jobs and Livelihood

Pradeep Mehta, Abhishek Kumar and Rahul Singh https://bit.ly/2Yx7t0u (Co-authored) The latest to join the list of important days in India is November 9, which has just been added to celebrate the National Entrepreneurship Day. Interestingly, it comes at a time when India has reported a significant improvement in World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business rankings […]

Doubling of farmers’ income needs more imagination

By Abhishek KumarAugust 7, 2021Jobs and Livelihood

Pradeep Mehta and Abhishek Kumar https://bit.ly/2ZDXpzB (Co-authored) There is enough evidence that increasing productivity does not necessarily result in increase in farm incomes. Many governments have come and gone promising a better future for India’s farmers yet the farming community continues to live in distress around the country. Therefore, there is a good reason […]

Empirical knowledge needed for job creation

By Abhishek KumarAugust 7, 2021Jobs and Livelihood

Pradeep Mehta and Abhishek Kumar https://bit.ly/2qjGPET (Contributed to) Every government faces challenges and there are some more prominent than others. Job creation is perhaps the most prominent of them all. In the face of declining agriculture opportunities, tough industrial competition, rising protectionism and reshoring, the inevitable realities of artificial intelligence, digitalization and automation will keep […]

India must take jobs to its people and not vice-versa

By Abhishek KumarAugust 7, 2021Jobs and Livelihood

Pradeep Mehta and Abhishek Kumar https://bit.ly/2J7yOfi (Contributed to) One of the first things that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has done in his second term is to set up two separate yet interlinked cabinet committees on investment and growth and employment and skill development, both to be headed by him. This shows the seriousness of the […]

The key to Indian Economy is in Better Wages for the masses – Part 3

By Abhishek KumarAugust 7, 2021Jobs and Livelihood

https://bit.ly/37DN25q In the previous article of this trilogy, we looked at the enterprise dimension within the textile and apparel sector and had argued that deeper sectoral analysis can throw crucial insights on how enterprises can remain competitive despite higher wages. Using the insights from the same sector, in this final piece, we will focus […]

The key to Indian Economy is in Better Wages for the masses – Part 2

By Abhishek KumarAugust 7, 2021Jobs and Livelihood

https://bit.ly/3mcIcAa In the prequel to this article, we had argued that to get the Indian economy back on track and for it to remain resilient, both the government and the business need to carry out reforms that will lead to better wages for all Indian workers. Therefore, an important point that was raised was […]

The key to Indian Economy is in Better Wages for the masses – Part 1

By Abhishek KumarAugust 7, 2021Jobs and Livelihood

https://bit.ly/34qgFoT Part 1 As per the latest World Economic Forum’s Inclusive Development Index, India ranked at a low 62nd out of 74 emerging economies. While the incidence of poverty has declined over the last five years, sixty per cent of Indians still live on less than Rs 230 per day. This, alas, is accompanied by […]

National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog – No Quick Fix

By Abhishek KumarAugust 7, 2021Institutions

Pradeep Mehta and Abhishek Kumar (Co-authored) “As an institution, Niti Aayog will have to emerge as a credible lean knowledge body or a think tank. In doing so, it needs to be equipped to think through sound policy initiatives for the medium term and beyond” Narendra Modi-led National Demo-cratic Alliance government came to power on […]

Will a New Vice-Chairman Mean a New NITI Aayog?

By Abhishek KumarAugust 7, 2021Institutions

Pradeep Mehta and Abhishek Kumar https://bit.ly/2ZGfBbF (Co-authored) Two and a half years ago, the NITI Aayog replaced the Planning Commission in what could be called a vengeful manner. In the same two-and-a-half-year period, the think tank’s vice chairman (VC) has now been replaced. Whatever may have been the reasons behind the former VC’s exit, the […]

Let CAG do reviews, not Aayog

By Abhishek KumarAugust 7, 2021Governance

Pradeep Mehta and Abhishek Kumar https://bit.ly/2YXbPOd (Co-authored) A review of the performance of such bodies appears in order; but the question is who should do such a comprehensive review? One day a government doctor gleefully told me that he can now buy a petrol jeep, which he could not have done under government rules, […]

The “New” Indian Economy: Posing A Conundrum for the State, Markets and the Democracy

By Abhishek KumarAugust 7, 2021Governance

Pradeep Mehta and Abhishek Kumar https://bit.ly/2YOndZQ (Co-authored) There is something about our societies that is changing so rapidly, with conversations on the role of state, market and democracies begining to gain traction of late. To begin with, India was not meant to be a market democracy, if the constitutional spirit is anything to go by. […]

What sort of federalism do we want?

By Abhishek KumarAugust 7, 2021Governance

Pradeep Mehta and Abhishek Kumar (Co-authored) https://bit.ly/2KvFWD3 Ever since the Modi government assumed office, the chant of ‘cooperative federalism’ has grown louder. First, the Cabinet resolution on the creation of the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog spelt it out and 40 days later the e-book on the new body reiterated the same. […]

Make in India: Governance is the key

By Abhishek KumarAugust 7, 2021Governance

Pradeep Mehta and Abhishek Kumar https://bit.ly/2yKTAwE (Co-authored) In the context of a nation, organic change is always in the making. It is slow but steady, whereas sudden paradigm changes happen when either organic churning reaches the tipping point or a strong leadership takes charge. In India’s case, it is the latter that can be […]

Citizen Welfare in India Needs Rules-Based Internet Governance

By Abhishek KumarAugust 7, 2021Governance

Divya Maderna and Abhishek Kumar https://www.thequint.com/voices/opinion/citizen-welfare-india-needs-rules-based-internet-governance The internet is the most democratic of all mass media. Today, there are more than 570 million active internet users in India, making it the second largest online market in the world. A 2019 report by the data consulting firm Kantar projects that this number may rise to 900 […]