This year, the Delhi Economics Conclave, the finance ministry's annual jamboree of thinking heads, was held at a hotel in Vasant Kunj, located in the southern suburb of Delhi, away from the usual five-star hotels in the leafy Lutyens' zone neighbourhood. Given that a large number of the capital's scribes live in the eastern suburbs of Mayur Vihar, Noida and Indirapuram, and operate out of central Delhi, the long commute appeared to have put off some attendees. When they asked why the venue of this year's conclave was so far removed from the regular places, a finance ministry official replied, "The necessary approvals came very late this year. By the time we started searching for a venue, most of the hotels were already booked, this being the peak wedding season."