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Thursday, October 30, 2025
TopicPMO series

Topic: PMO series

Brajesh Mishra was the most powerful principal secretary in any PMO

From overseeing planning of Pokhran tests to mending ties with the US, Pakistan and China, Brajesh Mishra implemented the foreign policy sketched out by the Vajpayee government.

Indian economy would’ve liberalised long before 1991. But Bofors scandal stalled it

The whole truth regarding the 1991 reforms is that India was in the process of revamping its industrial and trade policies from the last years of Rajiv Gandhi’s tenure.

‘Sonia wouldn’t become PM’—Congress ‘whisper campaign’ that denied PC Alexander President post

The irony with PC Alexander was that when Indira Gandhi returned to power in 1980, she handpicked him as Principal Secretary and he became her political adviser, conscience keeper and administrative trouble-shooter.

Morarji Desai, principal secretary V Shankar gave PMO its name. Then the office was downsized

The Morarji Desai PMO was divested of the IB, the R&AW, and the Foreign Investment Promotion Board. But the civil servants still looked up to V Shankar for guidance and advice.

‘Coup’ against LK Jha, tussle between PN Haksar and PN Dhar—Indira Gandhi PMO was never dull

PN Haksar emerged as Indira Gandhi's ideological beacon and moral compass, playing a pivotal role in ‘Garibi Hatao’ and transformed her image from a 'goongi gudiya' to an 'Iron Lady'.

LK Jha to PN Haksar & PK Mishra, how PMO became India’s power hub

It’s ironic that the PMO, often accused of giving India a de facto presidential form of governance, was created by one of the most consultative prime ministers, Lal Bahadur Shastri.

On Camera

Russia’s super-missile test shows a new, expensive technological race—with dire outcomes

The test raises a question. Why have Russian nuclear strategists now invested in the Burevestnik, when the US abandoned nuclear ramjet propulsion in 1964?

Karnataka, Telangana, TN, Maharashtra power 40% of services output, pan-India growth uneven—NITI Aayog

Report on India's services sector examines state-level dynamics, maps disparities and suggests ways to tap into the sector’s potential.

India pulled out of Tajikistan’s strategically important Ayni air base in 2022. Here’s why

Tajikistan did not want to extend the lease because of apparent pressure from Russia & China over non-regional military personnel at the air base, it is learnt.

Deepfake on duty: when I asked AI to read Op Sindoor citations

On 21 Oct, a buzz went up that the govt had released full list of gallantry award recipients along with Op Sindoor citations. I put an AI caddy on the job. It took me into a never-ending rabbit hole.