Raisina Hill

Govt's civilian staff grows, but is it leading to efficiency gains?

Union Budget for 2025-26, presented earlier this month, provides an idea of how the Centre has gone about recruiting staff in all its departments and ministries, other than those in the armed forces

Updated On: 25 Feb 2025 | 11:49 PM IST

Ambivalence on PSU policy: Budget 2025 eyes higher dividends, lower equity

In a departure from the past many years, its contribution to the PSUs' capital outlay by way of equity and loans will decline

Updated On: 11 Feb 2025 | 10:39 PM IST

Army chief justifies decision to replace 1971 war painting with new artwork

Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi on Monday justified replacing an iconic painting of Pakistan's surrender in the 1971 war at his office in Raisina Hills with a new artwork titled "Karam Kshetra". The painting on the 1971 war was removed from the Army chief's lounge in December and it was subsequently installed at the Manekshaw convention centre. The shifting of the historic painting had anguished many Army veterans and the decision came under some criticism. "If you see the golden history of India -- it has three chapters. It has the British era, the Mughal era and the era before that. If we wish to connect that and the Army's vision, symbolism becomes important," Gen. Dwivedi said. The new painting, "Karam Kshetra", meaning "Field of Deeds", is a creation of Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Jacob of the 28 Madras regiment. It portrays the Army as a guardian of "Dharma" that protects the nation's values and reflects its evolution into a technologically-advanced integrated force, accord

Updated On: 13 Jan 2025 | 10:11 PM IST

Focus back on raising revenue

With the fiscal deficit target staring at the government, the FY25 Budget has limited expenditure options

Updated On: 09 Jul 2024 | 9:53 PM IST

Organising for the energy transition

Greater effectiveness will come from improved organisation design in the Union government

Updated On: 09 Jun 2024 | 9:42 PM IST

MoS Lekhi pitches for 'reforming multilateralism' in Raisina Dialogue

She said whenever and wherever there is a breakdown of law and order and immorality, "every such time, the "righteous conduct are abrogated", and nature will throw up somebody to correct the system

Updated On: 04 Mar 2023 | 5:14 PM IST

Slovenian foreign minister arrives in India to attend Raisina Dialogue

Slovenian Foreign Minister Anze Logar on Monday arrived in India to take part in the Raisina Dialogue. This Dialogue will view participation from 90 countries.

Updated On: 25 Apr 2022 | 9:46 AM IST

Finance ministry Twitter followers cross 2 mn, Home ministry has 4.9 mn

The ministry started its twitter handle @FinMinIndia in July 2014

Updated On: 13 Jun 2020 | 7:50 PM IST

Democratise New Delhi

Redevelopment plans for Lutyens' Delhi should go far enough

Updated On: 18 Sep 2019 | 6:52 AM IST

What is putting Raisina Hill at odds with regulatory institutions?

There is an understating in the political executive that without pushing at the regulatory regime, it would not be able to achieve what it intends to do

Updated On: 04 Nov 2018 | 5:35 AM IST

A K Bhattacharya: Don't lose the digital momentum

Increasing e-transactions would be the economy's real and perhaps only gain from demonetisation

Updated On: 06 Mar 2017 | 6:21 PM IST

A K Bhattacharya: The importance of picking the right people

Over half the top team in the Union finance ministry retiring or completing their terms

Updated On: 19 Feb 2017 | 10:40 PM IST

A K Bhattacharya: Time to trim the bureaucracy

A leaner bureaucracy would help Narendra Modi keep his promise of maximum governance with minimum government

Updated On: 05 Feb 2017 | 10:40 PM IST

A K Bhattacharya: Time to arrest the GST slide

That the tax reform fell prey to demonetisation is beyond dispute

Updated On: 09 Jan 2017 | 9:35 AM IST

A K Bhattacharya: Key ramifications of note ban

There are five takeaways from the developments since the announcement of demonetisation on Nov 8 by PM Modi

Updated On: 11 Dec 2016 | 10:30 PM IST

A K Bhattacharya: Storm over investment treaties

The government must engage with developed countries and at least put on hold the termination of bilateral investment treaties till fresh pacts are finalised

Updated On: 27 Nov 2016 | 10:25 PM IST

Demonetisation won't curb fresh generation of black money

Unlike in 1978, currency notes this time have been demonetised via a notification. Given the limitations of the bank branches network, it's puzzling why the govt didn't fix a longer deadline to allow the use of old notes for public utilities

Updated On: 14 Nov 2016 | 9:42 AM IST

A K Bhattacharya: Keeping the PM in the loop

Speculation will be rife about why Ratan Tata wrote a letter to Narendra Modi after the board of Tata Sons removed Cyrus Mistry as its chairman

Updated On: 30 Oct 2016 | 9:21 PM IST

A K Bhattacharya: The dangers of exuberance

Income Declaration Scheme, 2016, didn't do as well as a similar scheme in 1997 and the government should avoid rolling out such schemes in the future

Updated On: 16 Oct 2016 | 9:48 PM IST

A K Bhattacharya: Inclusive decision-making

Now that the Railway Development Authority will be set up through an executive order, it would do well to take the Indian Railways management on board

Updated On: 02 Oct 2016 | 9:49 PM IST