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Money for nothing: DLF-Vadra 'alibi' on land deals is hogwash

Everything about the business empire that Vadra built and grew at an exponential rate, particularly since 2007, reeks of cronyism, given he is who he is: the son-in-law of Sonia Gandhi.

Land Bill will kill growth: Govt knows this, but does Sonia?

With several cabinet ministers getting the jitters on the Land Bill, the cabinet referred it to a GoM. But the Bill in its present form should really be killed.

Sibal jumped the gun: SC may well see Coalgate as a scam

Even after the SC opinion, it's clear that 70% of the coal blocks given away for free should have been auctioned. They were not meant for common good, but private profit

Chakravyuh: How India Inc moved from hero to villain

India Inc's objections to some critical references in a Bollywood song won't help. In the current climate of scams, crony capitalism is the villain

Power discom bailout is a big, big deal, but do it right

For the bailout of discoms to succeed, governments and discoms must be held accountable for their commitments - and not use this opportunity provided by the cleaning up of their books as a starting point for another round of populist profligacy.

Why 'reform' has always been a bad word in India

Thanks to the licence raj of the 1960s and the post-1990s reforms raj which came with a whole lot of corruption, the aam aadmi is unconvinced on reforms

Groping in the dark: Power crisis is a metaphor for India

The economic and political dynamic that underlies India's power sector - and the larger India story - is geared towards feeding a systemic collapse.

Rise of crony journalism and tainted money in media

The nexus between tainted money and journalism is about to kill good journalism.

Coal scandal is a perfect primer for the plunder of India

The improper allocation of coal blocks illustrates the prostitution of India's national resources by a cosy nexus among politicians, bureaucrats, business groups and power brokers.

Underachiever? In fact, Manmohan has excelled himself

Time magazine's characterisation of Manmohan Singh as an 'underachiever' is flawed. The man has risen way above the station in life that he was fated for.

Infosys wins 'visa case' in US court, but faces criminal probe

Infosys dodges a bullet after an Alabama court judge threw out Jay Palmer's 'harassment' lawsuit on a technicality. But the company still faces a criminal investigation over alleged visa fraud.

Republic of Lootistan: CAG, and the face of 'crony capitalism'

The CAG's reports point to a flawed process in the way government and private businesses interact. By debunking the reports, the government is shutting its eyes to the lessons embedded in the reports.

UPA's story: 100-day promises; 1,000-plus days of inaction

Nothing about Manmohan Singh's speech conveyed a sense of urgency about arresting the downward spiral in the India growth story. And foreign investors are voting with their feet.

Can PM fix the economy? Don't hold your breath...

Markets are expecting a dramatic revival of policy reforms under 'Finance Minister' Manmohan Singh. They may be in for a big disappointment.

Will Rahul say 'Mere Paas Ma Hai'? Or will PM have his way?

India's econmic future depends on whether Manmohan Singh resists Sonia's efforts to use the exchequer to get her son the top job in 2014.

Blame-game: Monty's 'defence' of Pranab is sneak attack on Sonia

In defending Mukherjee, Ahluwalia appears to be directing blame for the slowdown to Sonia Gandhi, whose welfarist economic philosophy has subsumed the UPA government.

Some sense at last on GAAR, but PM too must share the blame

Wisdom has dawned late on the UPA government on some of the flawed taxation proposals. But it must reflect on the mechanics of policymaking that derailed the economy and caused foreign investors to flee.

On Pranab's last day as FM, hopes of a new dawn for policy action

A flurry of policy announcements is expected today to arrest the rupee's fall, but the real test of policy action is whether the government acts to cut subsidies.

Manmohan can get economy, and himself, back in the groove

By a curious set of circumstances, the situation is propitious for Manmohan Singh to turn the economy around and secure his legacy.

PM's punditry at G20 is just the roar of an economic mouse

Rather than offering gratuitous advice to European leaders, Manmohan should practice what he preaches and propel the Indian economy back to a high-growth orbit.

Fitch hitch: Economic mirror may be cracked, but it doesn't lie

If our economic policymakers spent half as much time and energy addressing the core problems in the economy, they might not have to worry so much about what rating agencies have to say about it.

After Pranab who? Manmohan may get to keep finmin

But in the final analysis, whoever comes in will be handicapped by Sonia Gandhi's welfarist economic philosophy.

A fine mess you've landed the economy in, Pranab-da!

Government inaction is largely to blame for low growth and high inflation, but it is again passing the buck to the RBI. But cutting rates now will only compound the economic problems.

S&P's message: Manmohan-Sonia 'power trip' is junking India

Standard & Poor's traces the disastrous economic policymaking in India to the dysfunctional power arrangement at the top between Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh.

On economy, PM offers tired cliches; Modi offers a Big Idea

Manmohan Singh's comments on reviving the economy reflect the tiredness of a tired government. Modi offers a far more forward-looking vision of government as the facilitator of economic development.

What Maruti can do to prevent incidents like Manesar

Should the violence at Maruti's Manesar plant is a sign of a problem that companies across India are facing. How well should they treat their employees, particularly those at the lowest levels.

2012 is not 1991: Why UPA's snake oil remedies won't work this time

Manmohan Singh wants to do for the Indian economy in 2012 what he did in 1991. But the two situations are different and neither Sonia nor Manmohan have answers.

After Pranab who? Jairam may be brushing up his CV

If Pranab Mukherjee is elevated to the presidency, who will be the top contenders for the job? Jairam Ramesh has reminded us of his utility.

Sonia's UPA is taking us to new 'Hindu' rate of growth

Trying to create a premature welfare state by throwing freebies all around is taking India back to the old Nehruvian Hindu rate of growth.

Pranab-da, stop being in denial: the worst is far from over

Mr 'Micawber' Mukherjee and his team have colossally misread the economic situation as a cyclical downturn, not a systemic collapse. Until they snap out of their state of denial, the recovery cannot begin.