Gross National Happiness- Underestimated and underutilized

Even in times of unprecedented technological advancements, ease of travel, smooth connectivity and all that has made our lives more comfortable, we are not happy. Large sections are dissatisfied with the current political setup, some resent the religious demography of the nation, some are excessively intolerant to what is practically trivia, etc. A part of our vexation can also be attributed to inequitable resource distribution and a deploring climate. Clearly, even growth in double digits can not ensure the real well being and satisfaction of people.

Years ago, a tiny Himalayan kingdom gave to the world an idea, which is still underestimated and underutilized, the concept of Gross National Happiness (GNH). Economic or industrial growth is limited to resource and employment generation. GNH is an aggregate that measures how well economic gains are distributed across the economy and how well they impact lives.

This is no abstract concept. There are clearly defined parameters of measurement and a UN Resolution, formulating it into a much required and relevant index.
The four pillars of the GNH are as under:
1. Ensuring Sustainable Development
2. Preservation and promotion of cultural values
3. Conservation of natural environment
4. Establishment of good governance

These are further classified into 9 domains:
a) Psychological well being
b) health
c) education
d) time use
e) cultural diversity
f) good governance
g) ecological diversity
h) community vitality
i) living standards

To further add substance to it, the UN General Assembly decided to bring out a 'World Happiness Report' every year. In 2016, out of 185 countries, Bhutan, the brain behind GNH, ranked 84. Denmark topped the list while Syria and Burundi were found to be the most unhappy countries.India stands at 118 (we are better than just the African continent). Surprisingly, Pakistan is happier at 92!

This is hence, a more accurate index of measuring development as true development or growth lies in betterment of the living standards of people. The objective of the government shouldn't be within the periphery of macroeconomic growth, number boosting and revenue generation, it ought to venture into a citizen's life and ensure his contentment.

Christmas is in our hearts

We don't decorate a tannenbaum,
or get a gorgeous mistletoe
neither do we hang our stockings,
nor lay the table with milk and cookies.
No lights on the fence,
or coloured ribbons on the ceilings.
No candles or turkeys,
no people in new woolens,
or the pretty snow covered roads,
in my arid homeland.
Yet we see a beautiful emotion,
the joy of giving; and
together celebrating and rejoicing.
Sharing with family and friends,
lots of the soft rum cake,
a glass of ginger ale,
those hot, crisp cookies;
and lots of gifts we do share.
We too felt,
the warmth of kind wishes
from a loved one;
the cheer of the party,
as we all get merry.
It's more than just presents and glitter,
those are just a part,
There's no Christmas,
if it isn't in your heart.


Wishing all the readers a Merry Christmas.

 

Have we come full circle?

There is a huge wave of rightist ideologies carpeting the world. There is a right of centre government in India, following BJP’s phenomenal victory and leadership of an extreme rightist Modi ; UKIP in the UK successfully spread a ‘rightist’ air which resulted in the populace demanding an exit from the supranational union.  Germany, Japan, quite possibly with LePenn in France, Venezuela, Poland, Denmark and Hungary; all are showing an inclination towards the political and cultural right wing.  The most substantial evidence though, is the victory of the carpetbagger right-winged Trump. 

Not just in politics, even in the economic sphere, a rightist mindset seems to have set in. There’s increasing apprehension and scepticism regarding globalization which apparently has failed to do all that it initially promised. There is a huge global slowdown, foreign trade is at very low levels, even India’s both exports and imports have fallen. An increasing call for promoting domestic production and manufacturing is almost like rekindling of the century-old Swadeshi movement. 

It won’t be totally wrong to call this a resurgence of old thought. 
-Theoretically and practically, there seems to be again a rising support for slightly autocratic regimes, as is evident from the trends in franchise across the globe, since extreme liberal forms haven’t succeeded in delivering economic growth. 
-A very relevant instance of this would be the re-emergence of terrorism driven by conflict in religious ideology. This sort of violence and retrograde thought in this century is indeed making world peace putrescent. The world is moving ahead so why at all, have such tendencies emerged again?

Over time, people have lived in a system and when burdened with its shortcomings, called for a revolt to institutionalize another. The pros of the newer alternative have almost always outweighed its shortcomings in the minds of people and with time, it succumbs to fate similar to that of its predecessor. Years ago, Marx explained this phenomenon with the theory of Dialectical Materialism.  

Masses outraged with suppressive Feudal Lords revolted to establish laissez faire, equal opportunities for all and boom; capitalism broke the chains of feudalism.  But oh, the relatively richer ones absorbed all the power and the gap between the classes only widened more with the passage of time. They were tired of years of oppression, strict labour laws and a class struggle, when Marx and Engels gave the idea of a society with no-class divide, centralisation of means of production, rule of the proletariat, public welfare and equal wage distribution and there they go embracing communism. But poor thing was also subject to manipulation by the ones in power, subject to jobbery and blotched by restrictions on dissent and free opinion and there we are, bringing the damn thing down again. So, now we have a new kind of system which is a farraginous mix of features of all other systems, resulting in its own set of pros, cons, contradictions, scope and limitations. 

We are a microscopic unit of an infinite universe. We have limitations in resources, space-reach and life-span. Universal laws apply to each and every constituting unit, corresponding to its composition and structure. In such a world, trends and ideas are bound to resurface. 
Man has over millennia evolved and adapted to survive in the changing climatic and geographical conditions. So does our thought. They are generated in specific situations, shared for a while and buried as we move on to newer ones more suitable for newer conditions.

Institutions we find just suitable right now, may yet not be the answer to an open-ended political thought process. Some trends may have resurfaced; some might stay, some we might do away with, indicative of ‘the circle’ being completed. Life cycles are similar to business cycles. Be it fashion styles, prose writing, art, political theories or cultural mindsets, all are bound to complete a cycle wherein they develop, reach a peak, fall out of favour and die down slowly. Interestingly, this applies to such life cycles themselves and they repeat themselves in evolved and varied forms. We might be disappointed with certain developments presently but again, it’s a transient world.

PURPLE

Colour life with purple,
a mix of fierce red and calm blue
and so be rare.
Wear a lighter shade,
be elegant and luxurious
and conquer with delicacy.
A tinge darker,
to chant in spirituality
and spread positivity.
Breathe lavender,
and have a Purple Heart.
Put on violet robes,
exhibit royalty of thought.
Or play in lilacs
& fascinate with unique amour.

Captive in the mind

Captured by strong arms of society,
dragging slowly behind the mob.
Tied to chains of frivolous recreation
succumbing to whims of leisure
Submitting to confines of prejudice,
whipped by age-old diktats.
Giving in to set structures,
frozen brains, not hearts.

Slavery was abolished all over the world centuries ago but unfortunately, nothing has changed.
We are slaves. Not scared and weak slaves like those few centuries ago but fully conscious and aware slaves. We surrender to desire, greed, indolence and hinder our very own refinement. We fall weak before the opinion of the majority and knowingly cage difference in thought. We let distractions take control of our actions and kill our own ambitions and goals. We tie ourselves to pride and ego. Even if we are proven wrong, we just can not admit it. Worst of all, we submit to fear. Fear doesn't always imply being scared, cowardly or apprehensive and it isn't as typical as fear of material things. Fear comes in more latent forms, for example, not having courage to go against popular perception. We fear change. Unconsciously, over time, we have begun to find comfort in existing structures, however wrong or baseless a part of it maybe.

The only  difference in slavery prevalent in those days and now is that an external oppressive force controlled actions that time and today we are consciously allowing ourselves to be controlled by forces that are so easy to conquer. And the latter is worse.

#InternationalDayforAbolitionofSlavery

 Over time, forms of exploitation of women and harassment have changed and to some extent they have reduced too. Thus our understanding of feminism and the needs for women empowerment have also changed. Besides challenging the rigid norms of a prejudiced society, we need that constant flame of self-confidence, belief and optimism to overcome all the existing impediments that stop us from being ourselves. Be it body shaming, undermining one's worth, being excessively conscious or putting ourselves on the pedestals of 'righteousness' that an age-old patriarchal society has set; we need to fight it all, and fight it we will.

Celebrating valour, spirit of the dauntless female, undying patriotism and remembering the most celebrated fearless Queen of all times, Manikarnika Tambe on her 188th birth anniversary.

Economy trumped for good?

To all those who believe the US is doomed with Trump as the President.
People all over the world are aghast with Trump's victory. Fears of increasing racism, discrimination against women, oppression of minorities, xenophobia, etc loom large in their minds. Many fear he'll bring about fundamental changes in economy, market functioning and politics that will affect the present scenario negatively. Some even fear he'll nuke the Middle East.

Somewhere down the line, all of us have given legitimacy to the idea of US hegemony. We are so dependent on US of all developed nations for intervention especially in anti-terrorism programmes, world trade and climate change control that we forget it has issues of its own to deal with.
People in US are highly dissatisfied in spite of the prosperous 'global image' of the country. It is in a heavy debt of $17.8 trillion, markets are virtually eaten up by foreign goods; why can't the US be entitled to some protectionism? Trump's policy is essentially of non-intervention and putting the nation first. The whooping majority with which Republicans swept the polls is a clear indication of the sentiment in the US. The Head of State is a directly elected representative who ought to represent the nation in true sense. 

Trump is a businessman. He's neither conservative nor liberal; he's pragmatic. US currently needs a fast economic recovery in terms of international debt repayment and job creations; which Trump has enough experience in. His business career is marked with a few failures but on the whole, he has had huge successes which can be reflected in his economic policies. He's suggested Corporate Tax cuts and deductions in business loopholes and tax exemptions leading to increased state revenue. As per an article in the Economic Times, "Trump understands quite a bit about the way business and economy works, he definitely understands a lot about construction and buildings. So, when the US government embarks on its stimulus and infrastructure build out, he is going to hold his people accountable and they will actually build stuff that will be very useful. One of the things that Larry Summers, former Treasure Secretary, has advocated for a long time is massive stimulus spending on infrastructure in the US given their low interest rate environment and that is exactly what president Trump intends to do. So, it is the best possible medicine for the US economy. It is good news for the global economy."

His intentions of building a 'wall' at the US- Mexican Border received bitter criticism. However, his statement on involvement of a majority of Mexicans in increasing crimes in the US isn't wrong. According to FBI data, Mexicans are responsible for 80% of the crimes, especially in southern states of the US. They are bringing drugs, murderers, rapists, etc. Worse, they are influencing the American population leading to perpetration of crimes. A stricter immigration policy or a 'wall' will ensure only talented and deserving citizens find their way in the US territory.

Why Clinton would not have been a good choice

For all those people who are anguished because of Trump's victory and who are feeling deeply sorry for a 'deserving' Clinton, here's why Clinton wouldn't have been a good choice:

Her filliping stance
Trump has been accused of flip-flopping but Clinton's no different.
- She voted in favour of the War on Iraq and later she said she was against it.
- She was pro-Israel, then anti-Israel and now she's pro-Israel again
- She supported the Second Amendment rights of private gun holders and has also praised Australia's gun confiscation program.

NOTE:
- In 2008, she lied about being under a sniper fire with her daughter in Bosnia.
- "At this time, what difference does it make?" This is exactly what she, in the capacity of a government official, had said after a public blaming of the attack on the American Consulate where four Americans, including the Ambassador to Libya were killed in Benghazi.

The Controversial email scam
Setting up a private server and leaking confidential information and later taking responsibility, claiming in her defense that 'all other secretaries of state have done the same.' Responsible much?

Stance on Terrorism
So you think Trump is a threat to peace?
- Like mentioned before, she was in favour of the war on Iraq.
- In 2011, she claimed in an interview that Assad was a 'reformer'.
- Governments of Saudi Arabia and Qatar that have been keeping the ISIL alive, actually funded her campaign. What could the reason possibly be?

A 'deserving' first female president ?
All the self-proclaimed feminists out there, she is no ideal feminist.
- You accuse Trump for disrespecting women? Well, she defended a child rapist and 'laughed about it'.
- She rubbished all claims of sexual harassment , misogyny, etc against her dear husband and called all the victims 'trailer trash'. She even went so far as to threaten one of the victims in person.

Hillary Clinton has been sincerely involved in some very noble causes as well and her decades of experience in politics is commendable too but this doesn't mean we overlook her wrong side. It is indeed disappointing that the most developed democracy has still not got its first woman president and we were tis close.
But we do not want to compromise, right? Someday, we will have a lady standing for this post, hopefully Michelle Obama in 2020, and we will be proud of her.

(repost due to technical errors in the same post dated 10.11.2016)

Keeping the real festive spirit alive

All homes were embellished with scores of lamps. Every corner, every street was illuminated. From somewhere atop a hill, the entire city seemed to have donned a garb of glitter and light. The air resounded with the sound of crackers and fireworks. Within the homes, people engaged in elaborate rituals to pray to the Goddess of Wealth for prosperity. Fancy, many of them were consciously burning it up in flames outdoors. Perhaps people take symbolism literally and too seriously.
A festival to celebrate righteousness and goodness ends up being limited to a couple of days of splendor and gala. The prayers and rituals are just for the sake of following custom and tradition. How many do really understand the message or the lessons this occasion is trying to convey?
Again, in a few days, everyone will be back to one's doings with no change in conscience whatsoever. The fireworks, that gave immense pleasure to some eyes and ears; pleasure that I fail to understand, will only make the air around less fit for inhaling for weeks to come. Oh, and boycott Chinese goods they say. What a brilliant idea to disrupt the Chinese economy by bringing a 40% dip in cracker sales for one day! Kudos to our rationale!

Is this festivity? Or a colourful farce? All the sparkle and shimmer is absolutely fine and in fact must for celebration but it's wasteful and meaningless if we fail to celebrate the very spirit this festival is for. Diwali, is a happy celebration, a chance, a day that helps us make a good beginning by inspiring us to ablute our souls of negativity. To lighten the dark and ignorant minds of ours. To spread light in lives of those who have been living in a darkness of deprivation, discrimination, injustice and perennial gloom.

This diwali, celebrate the good in you and burn the evil that misguided you. It's never too late to repent or make changes. Any other day is just as good but this festive and positive energy could just make it easier.

71 years of the UNO

UN at 71- 17 Goals.

Humanity has entered the era of sustainability – with a global commitment to fulfill the great promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

On its 71st Anniversary, the UN identifies 17 simple steps to a better life on a healthier planet. These include donating, preserving, conserving and sharing of resources.

In its seven decades of existence, has the UNO really served its purpose?

Its various agencies can boast of having eradicated smallpox, getting more than 50% of the children in the world vaccinated, protecting human rights, preserving world heritage sites, having countries comply with several treaties and regulations to control climate change, prosecuting dictators like Charles Taylor and Milosevic for war crimes, etc.

However, the greater evils disrupting world peace are yet to be dealt with. The UNO, as of now, has failed to control the tumorous spread of the ISIS and other terrorist outfits. The very infamous genocide of Rwanda and the massacres in Serbrenica and Bosnia are examples of its failure to act as an organisation for maintaining international peace. 
The stagnant structure of most UN bodies, especially the Security council needs democratization. The P-5 have been permanent for way too much time now and it's time Africa, South America and Asia have their fair share of representation in the SC. Also, the use of veto needs to be regulated to prevent misuse as witnessed at the hands of China a few days back.

At least all the developing countries, if not all, should in effect press for reforms in the UN in order to ensure it exists as a relevant organisation in the coming years.

Garibi Hatao, Garib Nahi

In 1993, the UNO declared October 17 as the International Day for Eradication of Poverty. The theme for this year is 'Moving from humiliation and exclusion to participation:ending poverty in all its forms'. (hence the title xD)

For decades now, poverty has been a vicious complex web owing to economic as well as socio-cultural shortcomings. One-tenth of the world's population is below the International Poverty Line. In India, poverty is one of the major three challenges to economic development, the other two being illiteracy and excess population.  A staggering 21.9 %, that is. more than one-fifth of the population (approx. 340 million) comes under the BPL (Below Poverty Line) category. This also implies that the current number of poor people in our country exceeds the total population in 1947!

Poverty is a result of various factors like illiteracy, unemployment, economic crises and excess population. Hence, it can be dealt with only at a macro level. Though all the poverty alleviation programmes and public welfare schemes are quite helpful in overcoming the challenge, some crucial changes in monetary and financial policies are also required. A very essential goal being just distribution of income and wealth. Here, governments around the world face a dilemma- how to reduce debts and deficits and support development, growth and employment as anxious financial markets rattle the global economy. A similar challenge is ensuring fiscal sustainability while reducing inequality.

To ensure an equitable distribution of income and wealth, progressive taxation is one of the most emphasized solution. Tax and spending side of the equation should be viewed as a whole. Like,Value Added Taxes. These are not necessarily re-distributive in themselves but can be used effectively and efficiently to pay for spending to benefit the poor.

Income inequality is also exacerbated by tax evasion at the hands of the wealthy, who have greater opportunities for and benefits from tax evasion. Stringent laws against tax evasion are an equally important measure.

Also, there are a number of potential revenue sources that can contribute to both financial sustainability and improved equality:

1. Tax on Personal Income: Owing to weak administration in low-income countries, advanced economies are better able to use this tax in general, and rely on it for re-distributive effects through progressive rates. As supported by empirical evidence, fears that progressive rates will lead to labor migration are generally overstated.

2. Taxation of natural resources: They are sources of location specific rent. Taxing such rent is efficient and avoids the economic distortions arising from other factors of production.

3. Property Taxes: These are under-utilized in most of the countries. Low income economies specially have room to increase revenue from this source as incomes rise.

Poverty is not merely an economic problem, it is also a social stigma. Class differences lead to dissatisfaction and disharmony. Poverty also compels many to resort to theft and robbery to sustain for necessities.It is the poor who are easily brainwashed by anti-national groups and engage in terrorist activities. Also, to ensure increased levels of awareness and political equality, it is first necessary to achieve economic equatibility because, of what use are rights to an empty stomach?

The Man with Wings of Fire

A humble glint,
through winds of time and toil,
from The Luminous Sparks,
flared to form an inferno.
Rising with an Indomitable Spirit,
through troubled Turning Points,
a spark that Ignited Minds,
brought a Transcendence of Inspiring Thoughts.
Alas, all that now remains is but a vestige
of its romanticist rage for the high skies.
In spite of the cold and dampness
that now surrounds,
it will be reignited.
For O spark, You are Born To Blossom,
born to bring a Manifesto For Change,
born to scintillate Thoughts of Change,
with your blazing Wings of Fire.

Remembering our beloved late Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam
(15.10.2016) 

ELECTIONS IN DELHI UNIVERSITY

The Delhi University Student Union (DUSU) elections are due on Friday, September 9, 2016.
Many people are of the opinion, that student elections are a waste of time, energy and money and that they do not guarantee a stable political career most of the times. However, as of late, the nature of these elections has changed for good and is improving every year. As far as DU is concerned, we have some very dedicated intellectual candidates who work for the betterment of students in the University. And being a student, if you want to  see change or even righteously criticize the inefficacy of existing system, you have to be a part of it to bring the change you want to witness.

All the prospective candidates and organisations are campaigning voraciously. For the past one week, members of these organisations come to various colleges, declare their manifestos and previous achievements, distribute fliers and persuade people to vote in their favour. Some even try to maneuver public support in their favour by offering free movie tickets, discount vouchers, etc. Some heavily funded ones like the NSUI even offered to take students to so called 'fun n food villages'! If that is not a desperate attempt to practically bribe people, what is? Isn't it so similar to the tactics adopted by parties in 'larger-scale' elections?

At every corner in the campus, there is buzz regarding the elections. With NSUI almost out of the picture and SFI's ( Student Federation of India) perennial lack of adequate popular support, the prime competitors this time seem to be the AISA ( All India Students Union) and the ABVP ( Akhil Bhartiya Vidhyarthi Parishad).

AISA made an impressive move by having three women candidates in the panel of four. They also have been active in the protest against FYUP ( Four Year Undergraduate Programme) and  the recent CBCS (Choice Based Credit System) among other things, which very well is in their advantage.However, the recent infamous event involving accusation of rape against Anmol Ratan, a member of JNU AISA triggered mass fury. Given that AISA doesn't already have that strong a base in DU, this incident might have a negative impact on the faction of supporters it has.

ABVP, which forms the incumbent panel, is a strong contender. Apparently, it has a reputation of nurturing vandalism and hooliganism, but there must be much better reasons because of which it is the largest student organisation in the country and in the world, with roughly 3.2 million members!

Contrary to popular perception, ABVP is a highly self-funded organisation. It has sporadic nominal financial aide from the political organisations it is affiliated to. And as far as Delhi University is considered, ABVP has genuinely worked hard.
In almost 5-6 colleges, construction of new hostels have been commissioned; it was ABVP that 'cajoled' the protesting teachers of DUTA ( Delhi University Teachers Association) to start the long-delayed evaluation; it consistently persists the authorities for increasing the number of seats in colleges and hostels, etc.
The ABVP also encourages students to come forth with their grievances and quite surely, does look into the matters sincerely.

An innovative move during the elections this time, by some like-minded students of Miranda House, is the 'No Poster Party'. It seeks to protest against the littering of streets and the criminal wastage of paper, in the form of fliers and posters, during campaigning and wishes to promote paper-less campaigning.

The competition is in the air with all candidates giving invigorating speeches, groups shouting slogans, massive online campaigning, et al. Whose efforts bear fruit, we'll come to know after 48 hours.

Ind AS: Future of Financial Reporting

On 31 August 2016, the BRICS Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BRICS-CCI) organised a conference on Ind As: Future of Financial Reporting in the Indian Habitat Centre, New Delhi. The aim was to provide a platform for various Financial officers, Chartered accountants and other auditing professionals for a comprehensive deliberation on the introduction of a new accounting standard, the IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards) or Ind AS (Indian Accounting Standards). The conference commenced with a brief welcome note by Mr. B.B.L. Madhukar, Secretary General of BRICS-CCI after which the Special Guest, Mr. Nilesh S. Vikamsey, Vice-Chairman of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) addressed the gathering. Very eloquently, he expressed his views on the need, advantages, disadvantages, processes involved and probable challenges in the implementation of Ind AS. He talked about the systematic phase-wise execution of the new standard, the role of ICAI in this transition from the existing accounting standard Ind GAAP ( India-Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) to IFRS and called upon the industries to respond positively to the new standards.

Subsequently, an elaborate interactive session with the guests on the complex procedure of transition from the Ind GAAP to IFRS was conducted by Mr. Siddharth Talwar, Partner, Grand Thornton LLP, Mr. Amarjit Chopra, Senior partner, GSA & Associates and Mr. Keyur Dave, Director, GTI LLP, wherein all the major provisions in the new standards were extensively discussed. Comparison between current Ind GAAP and Ind AS, role of ICDS, carve outs in Ind AS, need for co-ordination between ICAI, NACAS and Industries were some points of discussion. The major topics under the IFRS that were talked on were:

1. Ind AS implementation roadmap and conversion process
2. Ind AS 1: Presentation of Financial Statements
3. Ind AS 16: Property, plant and equipment
4. Ind AS 17: Leases
5. Ind AS 109 and 32: Financial Instruments
6. Ind AS 18: Revenue
7. Ind AS 103: Business Combinations
8. Ind AS 101: First time adoption of Ind AS

Further, Professor Ambrish Gupta, FORE School of Mangement, talked about the Ind AS along with ICDS (Income Computation and Disclosure Standard) Tax, apprehensions of investors, concerns regarding effective execution on Ind AS and stressed on the need for “harmonization of all rules, regulations and standards for desired results”.
This was followed by a panel discussion on Ind AS, the panelists being Mr. Siddharth Talwar, Mr. Vijay Pal and Mr. Sumant Chadha, President, The Institute of Internal Auditors India. The enriching discusion covered issues like Fair Valuation, 'componentization' , Hedge accounting, possible changes in role of internal auditors in times to come, etc. Lastly, Chartered Accountant Gaurav Mittal shared his views on Taxation under the Ind AS regime.

Like the GST is to tax, IFRS is to accountancy. It will make book keeping more transparent and enhance the credibility of Indian Chartered Accountants abroad.(140 countries adhere to the IFRS including our neighbour Pakistan)

The IFRS was first introduced back in 2011 but due to stiff competition from industries and lack of adequate backing by the concerned ministries of the government, it could not be implemented. Hopes are, that it will finally receive a positive response in the coming financial year.

CHAGRIN

It is the impuissance;
and not the wounds that pain,
in going back in time,

to set things right again.

Mistaken were the assumptions
and things were not to hide.
An attitude that got contorted,
and drifted towards the wrong side.

Swept by extreme callousness,
Inadvertent that it was.
Love was desecrated,
And hurt it did cause.

Surreptitious deeds,
cost the diaphanous trust.
For wants, not needs,
and succumbing to sinful lust.

And when you rue,
sincerely you do remorse.
Ghosts of past shall haunt you,
making your plight worse.

Ah, the cries of broken hearts
and this vicissitude.
Long it will take to join again these broken parts
and sins to be completely spewed.

Ignoring the M in 'X-M'

Global trade is at an all time low and there are predictions of further dips. Despite so many nations increasingly liberalizing their economies since the past few decades, it is surprising why we are witnessing a very low increase in global trade. Some probable reasons could be:

1. Impact of global financial crisis and Great Recession
    The Great Recession hit global demand thus grievously   hurting exporting economies, especially the Euro Zone           which is facing high unemployment. 

2. The slowdown in China, can be said to be the primary reason for the slowdown. Due to this slowdown, there has     been a drastic fall in demand for iron, oil, etc. 

3. Hike in interest rates in the US and predictions of even higher ones have caused investment to flow out of   developing markets to 'dollar-based' assets.

4. Political turmoil in Brazil and Middle East, migrant crisis in   Europe, Brexit, etc is leading to uncertainty and                       apprehensions hence low investments.

Global trade has recently become less responsive to changes in global income because of slow expansions of global supply chains, reluctance of firms to work in complex global chains ( where raw material goes to one country, manufacturing takes place in another, assembling in another, marketing in another, and so on) and a shift in demand from trade-intensive investment to less trade intensive public and private investment. This has further led to a weak import demand, which has led to almost one percentage point reduction in growth of global trade.

Emerging economies,especially during a financial crisis or when under heavy debt, tend to focus only on exports and avoid taking imports. Imports often have negative connotations in public mind and trade barriers are often justified as a means of reducing import competition and protecting domestic markets. 

But imports can in fact, improve productivity and competitiveness and policies that restrict access to foreign sources of goods, especially intermediate goods and services, are more likely to produce firm closures and job losses- the very outcomes they were structured to prevent.

So the key to how imports actually improve trade productivity is trade in intermediate goods and services. Offshoring of parts of production can take place through either Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) or offshore-outsourcing (where intermediate material is produced by an independent foreign supplier). A firm can source an input from a foreign supplier where it seeks to lower costs and improve its competitiveness. Trade in these intermediates is hence not a loss of production to foreign players but is an explicit decision by domestic firms to maintain or improve its productivity. Failure to do so would result in job losses-not job savings.

More open markets therefore offer widespread benefits while protectionist trade policies impose high costs. Import barriers deny access to goods and services we need to compete internationally. Rather than protecting domestic jobs, these policies can produce plant closures and job losses.

Trade comprises both imports and exports; both are equally important for global economic performance. 

ANAADI AND KHILAADI

Shobhaa De does have a reputation of a riling commentator. No wonder her inconsiderate and irresponsible comments on our team at Rio drew mass criticism. Our players toil relentlessly despite lack of due encouragement from both government and society. They are mostly totally self- driven and the least we as citizens can do is, support our own team morally!

Well Shobhaa De per say isn't to blame here. She is perhaps one of the victims of an almost putrescent parochial vision. For a significant part of the population, brilliance and credibility is restricted to academia. They are highly apprehensive of accepting extra-curricular and unconventional activities as primary professions.  Even a healthy drift is looked down upon. Sports, especially are highly undermined. Mind it, excluding cricket. Cricket is a legacy of our colonial masters, how can we not carry it on? Sports are looked upon as mere games for recreation. And owing to loss of due recognition to the field, we're unable to harness the potential of our population. So many people do not even realize they could be good at a sport because they were never given an opportunity to explore their talent. Worse, those who do recognize their talent are unable to pursue it because of lack of support, encouragement and infrastructure.

The problems come at various levels. The worst of them being, absence of awareness. Now considering there are some aware and willing people, there's no infrastructure. Where there is some kind of infrastructure, there are, most of the times, no willing and capable coaches. Now if it's one of the rare places where there are coaches too, there is no maintenance. Stadiums are used for annual functions and concerts more than they are used for matches! Almost always, equipment is in ram-shackles. Broken rackets, rusty machines, torn nets and unclean areas of practice are common.  The very famous prodigy in athletics, Budhia from Orissa, almost ran away from the govt. hostel for sportspeople because the rooms were suffocating to live in. Potential players, you are on your own here on.

An evil influence of politics within sports federations is also responsible for searing sports. It is only unfair to put vested interests before merit. What's more dismaying is, even the talented and successful ones are ruthlessly ignored . It isn't rare to hear of Gold medalists and National Champions who have to resort to odd jobs for survival.

However, in the past decade, there has been an encouraging change in the approach towards the discipline. Many schools have started taking it seriously, Sports Authority of India is in the process of resuscitation of the field, more funds are pouring in from the government and we have newer generations who highly support sports.

A large part of this change should be credited to movies that brought the condition of sports in India to light. Starting from Chak de India, that perhaps set the trend, there have been many such films.
Iqbal, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Patiala House, Ferrari ki Sawaari, Mary Kom, Hawa Hawaii, Sultan and upcoming Dangal are some of the wonderful mainstream flicks.

Clearly, many times, movies do the job that essentially a curriculum is supposed to do, that is, changing perspective.

Who hasn't written those essays in school on 'why sports are necessary' and how sports help build up not only physical fitness but also mental health, confidence, team-spirit, discipline, positivity, leadership and what not. Seems that was only to fetch an 'A' in the unit test and not for applying in real lives.

What's saddening is, people are dual-faced on this subject. They won't let their child go to a sports club but will be highly critical of skilled players who still somehow make it to Championships. Pretentious sports enthusiasts are the ones who find faults with players who, despite a wonderful performance, are unable to carve a place on the victory stand. Well, passion and talent can take one to a certain extent only. Beyond that, one needs moral boosting and more importantly, due attention and training.

But Team India, we are proud of you. In the given conditions, you have fought your way to the place where you are now. May you get all that you deserve! 

A NEW HOME RULE

100 years ago today, miss Besant wouldn't have realised that the foundation of what she was going to lay, would transform a whole movement.

Besant's philosophy came at a time when moderates and extremists were beginning to reconcile, people were agitated with their miseries in the World War and the INC and Muslim League decided to unite. Because of Besant's contacts with the Theosophical Society, the Home Rule League attained an all India appeal very quickly. It went on to influence many young men who then became popular leaders of the struggle, including Jitendralal Bannerjee, Jawaharlal Nehru, Mohd. Ali Jinnah, Khaliquzzaman, among many others.

Tilak, highly influenced by the idea, set up his own Home Rule League and gave the very famous slogan, 'Swaraj is my birth right'. The movement set the stage for Gandhi's active participation in the Struggle. This period also marks the transition from the moderate phase of Indian politics to the agitational phase.

The movement reached its peak in 1917. The Russian Revolution too played a major role in attracting people to the idea of Home Rule. Ultimately, the British were forced to come up with the Mont-Ford Reforms in 1918, which introduced dyarchy. Franchise was extended, bicameral provincial legislative councils were established, certain subjects like Public Health, Education, Local-self government were transferred, more powers were given to central and provincial legislatures and 3 out of 8 people in Viceroy's executive council were to be Indians.

Although these provisions didn't satisfy Indians and drew a lot of criticism, it was an essential moment in history of administrative structure in India.

Today, we need another Home Rule Movement. As the term suggests, we need to start a movement of reforms from our 'homes'. To start incorporating positive changes in us. Before protesting for change, we ought to change ourselves. We ought to rule ourselves with principles that we wish others to follow. We often underestimate the power of individual action. How does it matter if I alone throw a small wrapper on the street, or ignore an injured person on a highway, or get away with breaking headlights? Not all of them are doing it so does my action really make any difference? Well, if the multiplied result of such actions can be catastrophic then multiplied result of individual virtuous action can be utopic too. Imagine how things would be if every person obeyed the law, spoke the truth, planted a tree and minded his own affairs with sincerity. But one has to start the cycle of good, regardless of what happens around.

It is easy to come out on streets, blame entities and call for change. But that cannot happen unless we ourselves follow it.

This isn't a novel idea. In fact, this is the most elementary lesson we are taught. But ironically, sometimes the simplest things seem to be the most difficult to do. We are so caught in a complex web of vice that being simple and good seems almost divine.

And this is just a matter of beginning.

TEMPORARY TURBULENCE OR A TUMOROUS TRANSITION?

It is more than mere coincidence that all parts of the world are witnessing some sort of regressive events. Characteristics of mid 20th century era have recently manifested themselves in a series of incidents today.

• A racial and anti-foreigner sentiment has encompassed a majority of the Great Britain, resulting in the much dreaded Brexit. 
• Developed economies of Spain and Portugal fail to abide by the norms of the EU. 
• Increasing intolerance even in a 21st century-super power like the USA is evident from the horrendous and unfortunate events at Orlando and Dallas, among many others. No wonder why a significant section of people are in support of an irrational Trump, who practically advocates such sentiment. 
• Ethnic disputes are on the rise once again in many parts of Africa, especially in South Sudan. 
• A dominating and brazen China comes out openly in defiance to the ruling of the Arbitration Court in the Hague, endangering regional unity of South-East Asia.
• While the African nations struggle to stabilize democracy, a well established democracy, Turkey, faces a military coup. 
• Islamic fundamentalism is spreading like a tumour through terrorist outfits who are insanely butchering individuals, killing thousands of innocent masses, plundering cities, destroying heritage and ironically attacking people of their own community too! It is so difficult to fathom how a violent and fanatic group could target the people, following the very religion they seek to establish in the world, that too in their most revered and sacred month! The aims and objectives of these terrorist organisations remain unclear. 

It is not possible for so many events, similar in nature, to happen at the same time due to independent causes. Quite plausibly, there is a latent connection between all of them.

A very important factor here is the growing dependence on internet for both information and entertainment. It is frequently discussed but the impact is under estimated. Children and the youth have access to all kind of information at a very early age and they rely completely on internet for homework and projects. They have stopped having real human interaction and spend hours and hours indoors. Internet can offer only information, not wisdom to use that information fruitfully. A cumulative effect results into lesser usage of brain, inability to differentiate between right and wrong, lesser emotions and a tendency to get easily irritated. They are exposed to so many things at once that they lose interest in small pleasures of life. They then seek to do something new.

Also, a decisive role in human behaviour is played by the online content they are exposed to. Most people are into violent games or TV Series which are instrumental in developing a sadistic attitude in them. They seem to derive pleasure out of violence and killing. For them, killing is not taking lives of innocent people but is a mission in a game to be completed.

Another factor could be the wave of racial extremism. With the spread of globalization, people of many third world countries moved out to the western nations for jobs. Gradually they started eating up the jobs of the natives. This possibly generated a wave of anti-foreigner sentiment . Politicians like Trump and Boris Johnson, probably having no other major agenda to show off on the manifesto, started counting on this sentiment to satiate political interests. The unfortunate outcomes are for everyone to see.

Terrorism, discrimination and violence were prevalent a century back. It is dismaying to witness a reverse motion of development in spite of enhanced technology. When we should expect more tolerance, more harmony and more peace, we are pulling ourselves back into troubled times. Some say, with extremist groups going bankrupt now, we will soon witness some improvement in the situation. The hostile sentiment may not continue for long. But it is for time to tell whether this is just a passing phase or has Pandora's Box just opened?

स्वयं

यह मस्तिष्क भी कितना अद्भुत है,

ब्रह्मांड के अंश से मानवता के सफर का अभियंता है ।

पर कोसों दूर ग्रहों का आकार भांप लेने वाला,

शायद अब तक स्वयं को ही नहीं समझ पाया है।

जीवन को आसान बनाने के यंत्र सोच लिए,

पर खुद ही विचारों की उधेड़बुन में उलझ गया।

इस जटिल शरीर का चालक,

क्यों मन से सरल संबंध नहीं रख पाया?

कैसे समझता मन यह बात,

कि कामयाबी के लिए ज़रूरी, खुद को परखना है।

इसने तो ठोकरें खा कर ही,

सच्चाई को समझना सीखा है ।

विस्मय है इस विडंबना पर,

इस मन और दिमाग के अजीब से टकराव पर।

क्यों शीशे से साफ शब्द जु़बाँ पर नहीं आ पाते,

दुनिया में अर्थ खोजते- खोजते,

क्यों हम स्वयं को ही भूल जाते?

A SICKLY PLOUGH

Consumers are almost always hit by some or the other exorbitantly expensive crop. After onions and tomatoes, it is the turn of the pricey pulses. The successive governments do bring ambitious  programmes and policies to improve the dilapidating state of agriculture but they somehow fail to find their way from paper to soil.

With 58% of the population still engaged in the primary sector, India indeed continues to carry the legacy of an agrarian economy. The contribution of agriculture in the GDP in India is around 18% , which is three times the world average of 6.1%. Approximately 10% of the export value is from the agriculture sector alone. Agricultural production in India is second highest in the world and forms 7.6% of the total agricultural output in the world.

Despite there being such heavy dependence, the sector is in an abysmal state of affairs. Every year, 20 million tonnes of grain is lost to spoilage. This is about half of the total produce of Australia. There were as many as 5,650 farmer suicides in 2014, or an average of 15 suicides per day. China, with a landholding of almost half of that of India's, produced 600 million tonnes of agricultural output, against the 240 million tonnes of India in 2015.

The shortcomings in the agricultural sector are mainly due to:

1. SMALL LAND HOLDINGS: After a farmer's death, is sons inherit the land tract and divide it among themselves. Their progeny further inherits smaller pieces of land and so on. Ultimately, the size of land-holdings gets smaller and smaller. This creates a lot of problems in proper irrigation and a lot of fertile land is wasted in creating boundaries.

2. POOR QUALITY OF SEEDS, FERTILIZERS: Most of the farmers, excluding the ones in regions of the Punjab, Haryana and the like, do not have access to high-quality seeds and fertilizers. As a result, per hectare production is very low and the quality of yield is also not satisfactory. The crops are more vulnerable to pests and since they're not strong enough,they are also likely to be affected even before they mature. Due to lack of fertilizers and pesticides, productivity remains low as quality of soil is not good enough.

3. IMPROPER IRRIGATION: Hardly one-third of India's agricultural land is under irrigation. Till date, most farmers depend on rains for irrigation, which more often than not is erratic. Also, large tracts of Punjab and Haryana have been rendered useless because of excessive irrigation and water logging. Hence, it's essential to maintain just the appropriate amount of irrigation.

4. LACK OF ADEQUATE MECHANIZATION: In many parts of the country, farmers still have to depend on manual labor for ploughing, sowing, irrigation, harvesting, etc. The manual process is in no way as efficient as machines. The mechanization of agriculture is very important to not only reduce the back-breaking work but also to ensure a better produce. 

5. INEFFICIENT AGRICULTURAL MARKET- Due to lack of a transparent and direct connection between buyers and farmers, middlemen tend to eat up the money that should actually be given to farmers. Poorer and unaware farmers are the worst hit. As a result, a majority of farmers do not get the due amount hence no incentive to improve the quality of produce.

6. SCARCE CAPITAL: Barring a few well-off farmers, the farmers in India barely have the finances to increase production. Most of these in fact produce just enough for sustenance. They have no resources to increase land under cultivation or diversify their produce or even buy better quality equipment. Since remote rural areas still do not have access to banks, farmers in those regions have to rely on the local moneylender who uses their helplessness and illiteracy to his monetary advantage. Such moneylenders keep the farmers in debt through fraudulent means and the poor farmer's family is caught in a debt-trap.

In order to enhance the productivity in the sector, not only must the government pay attention to the mentioned problem areas but also make provisions for FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES near the agricultural lands.
Let's consider the example of a fruit crop, apple. Many times due to lack of storage or insufficient sale, many tonnes of apples are ruined and have to be thrown. If there were, say a juice factory or a jam producing factory, much of that stock could be utilized and also ensured a regular side-income for the farmers.

The agricultural sector has potential for generating a much higher revenue. With the intervention of more agriculture-scientists and better measures effectively implemented by the government, we can uplift the status of the poor hardworking farmer and also improve food security.

AWAITING SMART CITIES

Of a staggering 1.3 billion people of India, 32% reside in the urban areas. In the coming 15 years, this ratio will most likely increase to 40% (or 600 million) . The contribution of the urban sector to the GDP is also projected to increase up to 75% by 2030. In order to maximize the potential of this sector, the Government of India has come out with a number of policies and programmes.

One of the strategies adopted is the creation of 'Smart Cities'. 
The goal is to administer a steady city growth and uplift the standard of living. The concept of a smart city is basically a vision to -

-aggregate all kinds of information and communication systems, 
-efficiently manage city's resources; and
-enhance amenities like power supply, water supply, waste management, law enforcement, etc. 


The government has identified a total of 98 cities from all states and union territories. These have fulfilled the criteria for being deemed as potential cities which can be converted to smart cities.
Of these 98 cities, 20 shall undergo the process in the FY 2016-17 and the rest will be divided in groups of 38-40 for each of  FY 2017-18 and FY 2018-19.

The 98 cities were shortlisted on the basis of the points gained after two stages of evaluation on the following parameters :

1. Existing Level of Services
2. Institutional Systems and Capacities
3. Self-financing
4. Past track record
5. Impact of proposal
6. Cost-effectiveness of Smart City Plan
7. Innovation 

SALIENT 'SMART CITY' FEATURES:

1. Expansion of housing opportunities
2. Improving transport network- increasing public transport facilities, reducing congestion and air pollution
3. Digitization of administration through e-governance
4. 'Smart' solutions for infrastructure- making buildings less prone to disasters, increasing cost-effectiveness
5. Giving an identity to the city based on its prime economic activity (textile, tourism, food, handicraft, dairy,etc.) 

The Cabinet has approved a sum 480 million rupees for development of the Smart Cities and a separate 500 million for rejuvenation of 500 others in the ' Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation' (AMRUT). In the first phase, each of the 20 shortlisted cities will be allotted 2 billion each . The remaining expenses will have to be borne by the respective state governments and the allied corporate entities.

The 'Smart City Mission' is indeed a progressive step in the efficacious utilization of the ever increasing urban populayse. The success, though, lies in resourceful implementation and not mere quixotic declarations. Some of the services to be incorporated in a smart city should also include-

1.Corruption-check bureaus
2. An administrative body dedicated only to education
3. A mechanism to check the real turnout of servicemen employed by Municipal Bodies.
4. An online portal for citizen forums, where citizens can regularly inform the local bodies of any changes required or register complaints.

REMINISCING SCHOOL DAYS

After a rejuvenating break of almost two months, one is back to wake up to incessant honking of school buses, kids foraging in the house for that lost pair of socks, parents frantically running with tffins and water bottles and managing to get the little uniform-clad kids ready just in time.
Sleepy eyes struggle to register the first lesson of the day and those five minutes before the teacher enters prove to be more productive than 60 days for completing holiday homework.

School indeed is the paramount phase in one's academic life.It teaches everything, from the ABCs of the alphabet to the ABCs of life. For that matter, the primary school is of utmost importance. The structure of academics in the years to follow is based on the strength of the fundamentals. Also, values learned during this time are what a student carries for an entire lifetime! Thus, schools must shift from a banal 'academic result oriented' approach to a more 'thought-enabling and morally enhancing' one.

Hence I feel immensely proud of having been a part of such a school for over 12 years! No amount of exposure, learning or even fun equals that we had in school. Clearly, 'our minds were without fear'!

P.S. This is the oldest class photograph I could find. The transition in faces is unbelievable!

SEDITION vs FREE SPEECH

The news of the controversial JNU clips being authentic has yet again kindled the decades-old debate on Sedition vs Free Speech. There has been a plethora of opinions on the scope of Free Speech following this incident. 

Ostensibly, the Indian race is an irascible one. Perhaps the repetitive use of the term 'sedition' in the way it has been portrayed is responsible for such attitude. It has created a much  conception of it than has been enshrined in the IPC. Sedition is an extreme form of incitement of violence against the State and mere shouting of slogans, even anti-national, does not lead to sedition.
As per the Penal Code, a person is guilty of sedition, who,

" -----by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or otherwise, brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards the Government established by law."
Note: There are a few things that need to be kept in mind:

1-The expression "disaffection" includes disloyalty and all feelings of enmity.


2-Comments expressing disapprobation of the measures of the attempting to excite hatred, contempt or disaffection, do not constitute an offence under this section.

3-Comments expressing disapprobation of the administrative or other action of the Government without exciting or attempting to excite hatred, contempt or disaffection, do not constitute an offence under this section. 

Hence, advocating revolution, or even an violent overthrow of State, does not constitute sedition, unless there is incitement to imminent violence.Therefore, despite an immoral and non-patriotic conduct of the highest order, Kanhaiya, Khalid and Bhattacharya cannot be legally tried for sedition.

Reasonable restrictions on the Freedom of Expression were put for the primary purpose of ensuring that everyone had the space to enjoy one's freedom, without hurting the sentiments of another. Just exercising the right to put forward one's views doesn't fall under the purview of a crime as grave as sedition.

It is in the common knowledge of all that Arundhati Roy, Binayak Sen and Aseem Trivedi are the notable ones among those who have been accused of this offence. But none of them have been actually proven guilty by the Apex Court.

Our forefathers were far-sighted enough and provided for us just the echt rights and restrictions. An amalgamation of pre-conceived notions, limited thought process and
a latent 'un-acceptance' of radical and liberal thought fails the very purpose of those week- long deliberations. 

As Neal Boortz said, 'Free Speech was made to protect unpopular speech. Popular speech, by definition, needs no protection.'

Are the numbers penumbral?

The Modi government and the economic policy framers in India are being lauded for the impressive GDP growth, apparently making India the 'fastest growing economy in the world'.

People are going gaga over the government's phenomenal fiscal policies that yielded this phenomenal growth. Unfortunately, it is being credited for nothing more than a gross deceptive data.

As per the Chief Statistical Officer, TCA Anant,the exponential rise has been the result of total consumption of  1,40,000 crore rupees, which surprisingly was less than 30,000 crore just a year ago. A rise in Manufacturing from around 9. 5% to 12.6% in just a quarter FY is equally abstruse. IIP reported a rise of just 2% in factory output. Manufacturing, that forms 75.5% in the IIP, actually contracted by 2.8% . Moreover, production of Electricity and Gas has also supposedly increased to 9.3% from just 5.6% in the December quarter. TCA's figures have been deficient in credibility, both at the national and international level.

• There has been a frightening drop of 17,000 crore in Investment. 
• Gross fixed capital formation has also just maintained a decent growth of 4.4%.
• Imports fell by 5% and Exports too fell by 6%.
• Government expenditure in itself has been 'bad' at a mere 3.3%.
• WPI inflation has fallen.
• All state-owned banks are in red. The largest state-owned bank, State Bank of India, saw profits falling by 66%. Bank of India lost almost 6,000 crores in just one year!

This is about the Government. But the Private Sector isn't doing very well either.

• Sales have been negative but wages, positive.
• Intermediate consumption and expenditure of Private Cos has been way too less.
• Students in institutes like IITs and IIMs are on strikes as there are no sufficient corporate job offers. Companies like Flipkart and its peers are literally running short of money, hence, the shortage in on-campus recruitment. If the economy is really growing so fast, what rational argument can the government put forward, explaining the dearth of jobs?
• An increase of 15.5% in Private Profits isn't in line with the numbers that Companies have reported. Maybe India has a huge number of outperforming firms that are not even listed!

The real numbers can be adduced for the global lack of confidence in Modi's India. Beneath all the illusory glitter, India's growth rate, in reality, is a mere 4.4%, half of what is being projected. 

Let's hope this '7 POINT SOME DECEPTION' withers away and we get to see the authenticated facts.

DYNAMIC DEFENCE MINISTER, DECIDEDLY...

From a distinguished IIT-B alumnus to Chief Minister to Defense Minister, Manohar Parrikar stands tall as the most trusted and capable ministers of the BJP government. Not only is he dedicated and dead honest, he also uses his expertise efficiently to maneuver political machinery in the nation's interests. He exhibits simplicity in conduct and strong conviction in thoughts and action. His right-winged country- first approach is sure to give Pakistan and China a tough time.

Under Parrikar, the defense ministry has been revived and revitalized. Not only has he been able to do away with the nexus between middlemen, arms dealers and a few defense ministry officials, but also made the office much pro-active in handling crucial issues, be it the successful implementation of the Rafale Jet Deal or the One Rank One Pension issue.

Parrikar's commendable work speaks volumes of his credibility. Under him, 

1. All PSUs and ordnance factories have shown a 20% increase in turnover.

2. After 32 years, Indian-made light combat fighters have been inducted and a formation worked out.

3. Before Parrikar, Tejas aircraft were made and dumped. He made them operational. 

4. For almost 36 years, there was no indigenous production of guns. With him in office, successful trials of Dhanush have been carried out and will be soon put to use.   

5. His intervention in an arms deal saved 49,300 crore rupees. Just another example of his efficient working.

6. In March, Parrikar revealed that $3 billion dollars were just lying in an account in Washington. 

7. Defense products list for industrial licensing has been shortened.

8. Of all the acquisition proposals approved by the government, proposals worth 8890 crore come under 'Buy and Make in India' category.

9. Interactions with industry are now more intensified through DRDO and DDP.

10. Not only is he technically skilled, he also effectively utilizes his leadership skills. Over 18   personal meetings, he sorted out deals between the Air Force and Aeronautical Development Agency regarding the Tejas. Also, contracts worth 1.15 lakh crores have been finalized and contracts worth almost the same are in the pipeline.

These achievements have earned him accolades in merely two years. His relentless efforts portend a bright future for Defense in India. He has undoubtedly set a precedence for everyone; hope every minister follows his footsteps.