Spectrum, the airwaves that enable wireless communication, has been the source of fierce controversy in India ever since India's comptroller and auditor general revealed a scandal in the allocation and pricing of this scarce resource. As the debate develops ahead of the latest auctions of spectrum, this book comes as a handy guide to the theoretical framework governing the technology and economics of spectrum.It is a comprehensive study that offers examples derived from practices around the world to illustrate the underlying principles of spectrum management. As importantly, it also offers a forward spin, with a section documenting future technologies that enable the use of spectrum spaces along with the accompanying economic rationale and policy prescriptions.This book starts with an introduction of the technology of wireless communications, proceeds to outline the economic principles that form spectrum management regimes and then presents the dynamics of the transition paths from leg

Spectrum and the policy continuum

Business Standard

India's economic growth depends on a number of complex and interlocking factors - economic reforms, programmes, implementation and proper distribution systems, besides the deliberate streamlining of socially calibrated market structures. It is creditable that the author, who is not an economist, has chosen to write a book presenting a logical analysis of the Indian economy against the socio-economic realities.He has divided the book in two parts. Part one provides a factual picture of economic reforms and part two contains suggestions for achieving 12 per cent growth in an inclusive manner.From an analysis of the Economic Surveys, the annual pre-Budget report of the state of the economy, the author contends that the Indian economy has done better in the past 20 years than in the previous 40. However, India's reforms have been far less impressive when compared with Southeast Asian countries, which have achieved double-digit growth. India has lagged, the author contends, because of "leth

Making reforms work for the poor

The Election Commission, questioning the timing of the direct cash transfer scheme, has asked the government to defer its implementation in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh till the end of the assembly elections. However, the scheme will be beneficial in both rural and urban areas if implemented with proper care, standing operating procedures are followed, and the public distribution system (PDS) is streamlined.

P K Vasudeva: Try transfers in towns first 

Public opposition has been building up ever since the field trials of genetically modified (GM) food crops, like GM corn, of multinational seed companies had started in the public-sector research stations in various states, including Haryana. A set of organisations calling themselves the Alliance for GM Free Haryana met the state Agriculture Minister Paramvir Singh in September, and requested him to stop all open-air field trials in the state.

P K Vasudeva: Don't abandon GM

As soon as Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee proposed a tax hike on gold in all its forms during the presentation of the Union Budget on March 16, jewellers across the country rose in unison in protest against the hike. After 21 days of striking work in vociferous opposition to the levy of excise duty, particularly on unbranded gold jewellery, they resumed business on the assurance of the finance minister that he will look into their demand of rolling back excise duty.

P K Vasudeva

P K Vasudeva

P K Vasudeva

Spectrum and the policy continuum

Making reforms work for the poor

P K Vasudeva: Try transfers in towns first

P K Vasudeva: Don't abandon GM

P K Vasudeva: Stay the course on black money