Loose connection

The latest power distribution scheme reflects old structural flaws

The hefty Rs 3-trillion scheme to reform power distribution in India highlights the inability of the political class across Indian states to tackle the basic structural flaw in the sector: Tariff reform. This scheme was announced by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her Budget in February this year and was cleared by the Cabinet on Wednesday. The laborious title of the latest programme — Reforms-based and Results-Linked Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme — reflects this elusive objective. It marks the second scheme under the Narendra Modi government since the Ujjwal Discom Assurance Yojana (UDAY) was announced in 2015 but the