Do it yourself

  South Block’s Doctrine, North Block’s Dilemma Past four weeks have marked a watershed in the geopolitics of South Asia. A terrorist attack in Pahalgam (J&K, India) on 22 nd April 2025, resulted in the brutal killing of 26 tourists (25 Indian and 1 Nepalese). The terrorists were believed to be from groups actively supported by the Government/Army establishment of Pakistan; and operating from the Pakistan Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (PoJK) and Pakistan. The Government of India responded to the attack by (i) taking several diplomatic and economic measures against Pakistan over the next couple of weeks, and (ii) targeting terror infrastructure in PoJK and Pakistan, on 7 th may 2025, reportedly killing 70-100 terrorists and their allies. A number of terrorist training camps and hideouts were also destroyed in the targeted precision airstrikes by the Indian Airforce (IAF). The operation was code named “Operation Sindoor”. Pakistan escalated the conflict by launching artill...

  As per media reports, the finance ministry officials shall start exercise for preparation of Union Budget for FY22 from 16 October 2020. The exercise usually starts with the finance ministry official and the finance minister meeting with various stakeholders, especially the business representatives; representatives of professional bodies like ICAI; officials from other administrative ministries; officials from state finance ministries; and policy making and statistical bodies etc. The suggestions made in these meetings are then considered in the preparation of final draft the budget documents. Budget making is normally a very complex exercise that requires special skills to strike an optimum balance between the expectations of various stakeholders. These expectations are invariable at odds with each other. Therefore pleasing most of the stakeholders is almost an impossible task. In past many finance ministers have used some Big Bang announcement to overwhelm the stakeholders so...