An Agenda for India’s Growth

Since 1991, P. Chidambaram has been deeply involved with the economic reforms that have changed India for the better. He firmly believes that economic freedom is linked not just to higher growth, more jobs and larger incomes, but has undeniable connections to political freedom, empowerment, transparency and good governance. This book is as much a tribute to Chidambaram’s eloquent advocacy of economic freedom-­and the courage he displayed in implementing it-as about setting the agenda for country’s next wave of reforms.

The authors of the essays in this volume are accomplished experts in their respective spheres. Together, they cover a wide range of issues: fiscal and monetary policies, strengthening financial inclusion, revitalising agriculture, buoying stock markets, policy on natural resources, external trade reforms, urban infrastructure renewal and security aspects of growth. The volume not only offers perceptive analyses on these topics  but also charts out the clear roadmap for a growth-oriented, caring and compassionate agenda for the country’s future.

Contents

About the Editor/Contributors

1. Introduction – Sameer Kochhar
2. Reforms: Past, Present and Future – C. Rangarajan
3. Policies for Strong Inclusive Growth – Montek S. Ahluwalia
4. Rejigging the Elephant Dance – Duvvuri Subbarao
5. Financial Inclusion: An Insider’s View – Ashok Jha
6. Urbanisation and India’s Economic Development – Isher Judge Ahluwalia
7. Goods and Services Tax: Challenges of Ensuring an Acceptable Structure – M. Govinda Rao
8. Banking for the Last Mile – Sameer Kochhar
9. Security: What Chidambaram Changed? – Sameer Kochhar and Gursharan Dhanjal
10. India: From Value Added Tax (VAT) to Goods and Services Tax (GST) – Parthasarathi Shome
11. Second Decade of Securities Market Reforms: An Evaluation – U. K. Sinha
12. Indian Exchanges at Crossroads – Vijay L. Kelkar
13. An Agenda for Nine Per cent Growth – Tarun Das
14. Agriculture Growth in India: The Hope and Despair Syndrome – Y. S.P. Thorat
15. Reformer by Instinct and Choice – N. K. Singh