P Chidambaram

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Wisdom dawns but challenges remain

June 14,2026 06:40:22 AM

These are tried and tested measures. They are expected to attract more foreign currency inflows: the estimate is USD 30-40 billion — may be more — to augment the foreign exchange reserves

The proof of the pudding is…Sign In to read

June 07,2026 06:40:53 AM

The Supreme Court judgment noted that the outcome of the SIR exercise in Bihar was the net deletion of approximately 47,00,000 names from the electoral roll of 2003. Six persons out of every 100 adults in Bihar were excluded from the final electoral roll

P Chidambaram writes: Cockroaches of the world have unitedSubscriber Only

May 31,2026 06:40:48 AM

Mobility is the life-spring of cockroaches. The high fuel prices limit the mobility of cockroaches. The price of petrol in Delhi is Rs 102.12 and the price of diesel is Rs 95.20

Govt lost sight of the ballSubscriber Only

May 17,2026 06:45:04 AM

The PM’s plate is full. He must re-visit the regulatory regime; roll back the present regime which is as oppressive as the pre-liberalisation regime; sternly rein in the investigative agencies; stabilise the exchange rate; reduce the tax rates

Churn and change in three statesSubscriber Only

May 10,2026 06:35:09 AM

The Opposition parties must firmly push back. BJP will be the conservative pole. Other political choices and alternatives must be preserved for India to remain a democratic, federal and secular country

P Chidambaram writes: Mitigating costs of start-stop warSubscriber Only

May 03,2026 06:45:00 AM

The government claims that ‘all is normal’. The RBI seems more aware of the costs and consequences of the war

P Chidambaram writes: A decisive moment in historySubscriber Only

April 26,2026 06:45:56 AM

The lesson of the 2024 LS elections is that despite many parties forming the I.N.D.I.A. bloc, they could not defeat the BJP. With give and take, the I.N.D.I.A. bloc has the potential to expand itself. If the parties do not learn the lessons, many small parties will fall by the wayside and may disappear

P Chidambaram writes: Poisoned arrows shot downSubscriber Only

April 19,2026 06:40:03 AM

The Lok Sabha elections of 2024 had been fought on the plank of ‘Danger to the Constitution’. The Constitution (131st) Amendment Bill revived the fears. The Bill was thankfully defeated

P Chidambaram writes: An election-eve gambitSubscriber Only

April 12,2026 06:45:14 AM

The government’s intentions are not honest or bonafide. Win or lose the battle in the Lok Sabha, the BJP will take the issue of women’s reservation to the hustings. If the BJP passed the Bill, it will triumphantly crow that the number of seats reserved for women has been increased from 182 to 272

P Chidambaram writes: The interesting times of AprilSubscriber Only

April 05,2026 04:55:33 AM

The electoral battle in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal will be between the Left-of-centre and the Right-of-centre political formations. The performance of each party will cast a halo or a shadow on its fortunes. It is especially so for the BJP that is considered alien to the two regions’ political and social ethos

P Chidambaram writes: Millions of citizen non-voters!Subscriber Only

March 22,2026 07:00:08 AM

Millions of the adult population — on average 10 per cent — are missing from the electoral rolls. Are the missing persons adult, yes. Are they citizens, yes, unless proved to the contrary. So, why are they missing? 

P Chidambaram writes: He who started war must stopSubscriber Only

March 15,2026 06:55:55 AM

War exposes every country and everyone. When Russia invaded Ukraine, India did not condemn it but said, “This is not an era of war.” Such homilies were absent when the US abducted President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela. They are conspicuously absent in the current war in West Asia

P Chidambaram writes: India bends to world’s policemanSubscriber Only

March 08,2026 07:05:19 AM

The US President cannot declare war against another country without the authorisation of the US Congress. Such interventions are also against the UN Charter. Apart from being illegal, it is illegitimate for any country to change the regime of another sovereign nation

P Chidambaram writes: Brace for a roller-coaster rideSubscriber Only

March 01,2026 06:02:44 AM

The domestic developments could weaken Mr Trump and he may face electoral setbacks in November 2026. The Republicans may lose control of one or both Houses of Congress. That will render Mr Trump’s administration a ‘lame-duck’ with two more years to go

P Chidambaram writes: Aye for AI, but some fear tooSubscriber Only

February 22,2026 07:00:32 AM

If AI will do all our work, and bring prosperity to all, what will humans do? While the impact of AI unfolds during the next few years, it is time to ponder the question

P Chidambaram writes: US audacity, not reciprocitySubscriber Only

February 15,2026 07:05:32 AM

The riddle is what will India buy for USD 500 billion over 5 years. This will wipe out the small trade surplus India enjoys with the United States. The US has few goods that will help bolster India’s economy

P Chidambaram writes: A critique Survey useful, Budget lazySubscriber Only

February 08,2026 07:51:58 AM

My charitable view is that the Finance Minister and the government do not care for the Economic Survey. The uncharitable view is they think we are inhabiting a planet that is not part of the solar system

P Chidambaram writes: Heed favourite economist’s adviceSubscriber Only

January 25,2026 07:01:56 AM

I am unable to put my finger on a measure in 2025 that will qualify as a significant economic reform. In a subtle dig at the government, Dr Panagariya has listed six measures the government ought to take in 2026. The agenda is an indictment of the anti-reform stance of the government in the last 11 years

P Chidambaram writes: No unemployment in India!Subscriber Only

January 18,2026 07:00:29 AM

The theory that unemployment is not a big issue is a myth and hypocritical. While the government is self-congratulatory, we know that joblessness is the darkest stain on the body economic

P Chidambaram writes: A new sheriff in townSubscriber Only

January 11,2026 07:01:42 AM

Two hundred years after the Monroe Doctrine was declared by the 5th President of the United States, and despite the widespread doubt about its power and efficacy, the doctrine was invoked by the 47th President of the United States.

Indian word of the year 2025Subscriber Only

January 04,2026 06:10:38 AM

The main culprits are the State, the leaders in pivotal positions, and some organisations that have been emboldened due to the patronage of the State.

P Chidambaram writes: The second killing of Mahatma GandhiSubscriber Only

December 21,2025 07:04:07 AM

What started with Jawaharlal Nehru has now reached Mahatma Gandhi. The BJP’s grave wrongs will not be forgiven by the people of India

P Chidambaram writes: Distortion of history, disdain for futureSubscriber Only

December 14,2025 07:05:45 AM

No one raised a controversy on the two-stanza national song since 1937. Why now? Parliament and the governments ought to be concerned with the pressing problems of the people in the present and on the ambitious goals of the country for the future

P Chidambaram writes: When debate is stifledSubscriber Only

December 07,2025 07:05:14 AM

To put it bluntly, the government does not believe that a vibrant and debate-rich Parliament will strengthen democracy. The government, led by Mr Modi, is implacably opposed to dialogue, discussion and debate

P Chidambaram writes: Appeal to reason in an unreasonable ageSubscriber Only

November 30,2025 07:15:54 AM

I am afraid some of the ‘lot’ that currently hold the positions of governor are certainly not the ‘good lot’. What they are, I leave it to the reader. What they do and what they do not do are before the people of India.