Thank you dear subscribers, we are overwhelmed with your response.
Your Turn is a unique section from ThePrint featuring points of view from its subscribers. If you are a subscriber, have a point of view, please send it to us. If not, do subscribe here: https://theprint.in/
Today India is facing huge challenge in front of it. Global upheaval, where old order is dying and new world order is emerging, it might transition to be unipolar where China is ‘big daddy’ or a multipolar world which is most likely or in distant future India might have a chance to become dominant power itself.
Even if you are an idealist and think no power should dominate international system and we should abide by rules and democratic norms, you would like India to emerge force to good and stability. But if you are a realist like John Mearsheimer, you would know there is no higher power is international system, if you do not dominate others, you will be dominated by others. For e.g. India’s colonial past, China’s century of humiliation, French neo-colonialism in North Africa.
How do you prepare yourself for this herculean task? The answer is not keep pretending to be a “Vishwa Guru” but to do the reforms vital to become one. India must do internal reforms to strengthen, its position to take upcoming opportunity. Following reforms are must for the tumultuous time:
- Devolution of power to States, there are number of items, most of the you can say, in concurrent list which must be transferred to states. Agriculture related laws and income tax on it, public food distribution, religious civil laws, and most of the items. By transferring sensitive issues the state, we can ensure one or few states do not hamper others where they do not have any issues (e.g. farmers protests). Also, more avenues for them to earn and not look up to center with begging bowl.
- Smaller and more efficient states, we need more smaller states due to many reasons. E.g. Up with 80 seats is so dominant that country’s National politics is revolving around it. Every National party wants to appease the voter of UP. It is not healthy for a democracy. Within UP, the eastern region is quite distinct from the western region whether in of economy, culture, or politics. Metaphorically Bihar and Delhi in single state. We need a big overhaul in states, a mammoth reorganization of states. Notably, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Bihar, and Tamil Nadu. There are issues with previous creation on new states but current issues exceed those reservations.
- Restructuring of Polity– semi-presidential system with a strong upper house. Transfer defense and foreign affairs to (directly) elected president with 6 years term for long view, till now in India it is stable but polarization is happening in every sector, so better to be prepare for that. Also, with more smaller states, now we can fix a number for every state’s seat in upper house with slight variation but largely same, and give power to upper house to confirm many appointments in institutions which is done by Prime minister with cabinet. Also give options to states who they want to elect their Rajya Sabha MP, let the state legislature decide the method. This way we can also maintain ‘balance of power’ in case Lok Sabha seats are increased for northern states due to delimitation, increased power will be set off my new Rajya Sabha arrangements.
- Structural economic reforms: Here I am going to point out some of the major ones, no explanation needed on them because almost everyone agrees on them regardless of political affiliation.
- Single or two rate GST regime with much less compliance.
- Reformed Insolvency and bankruptcy Act for fast and easy redressal of bankruptcy in India.
- Economic data and statistical transparency with transferring this work wholly to RBI for better standards, reliability and depoliticization.
- Reducing number of public sector enterprises, possibly merge most in same sectors, gave them much more freedom. Also avoiding going into unnecessary business sectors, in retreat in some and focusing on governance and regulation.
- Making Competition commission of India a powerful body to avoid monopolies and unfair market distortion.
- Remove huge obstacles like variety of laws governing same sector, unnecessary regulations, permits, complicated Income tax law. Make things online as much as possible.
Above I mentioned some critical reforms, but there are many-many ‘mini reforms’ are waiting to be happened in India in many sectors which we really going to ease the life of a normal person and a businessperson too.
As my title suggest it is time for India to do EITHER REFORMS OR GET DEFORMED like many other states in international system in the past and present.
THANK YOU.
These pieces are being published as they have been received – they have not been edited/fact-checked by ThePrint.