The governance dashboard (Assessment of NDA 2)

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 The governance dashboard (Assessment of NDA 2)

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• End of UPA and rise of NDA 2 : There was widespread anger against the UPA 2 regime (2009-2014). Reasons were -

1. Perception of large-scale uncontrolled corruption across various Ministries
2. Rights regime created via MGNREGA (Right to Work), RTI (Right to Information), Right to Food (Food Security Act FSA) and RTE (Right to Education). Finally came the Land Acquisition Act, 2013. The corporate world was very unhappy.
3. Elites and upper middle-income groups felt that this agenda is not the right one, and rooted for the challenger who offered  "development for all" and high profitability for corporates.

• Amiya Bagchi's observation : He wrote in 2014 that the corporate sector now firmly controlled the levers of Indian economy and the PM will be their strong supporter. [People may agree, may disagree]
• Change in world politics : Over past few years, the world has entered a strange new phase - of post-truth, alternative truth and fake news. We have polarising figures like America's Donald Trump, Brazil's Jair Bolsonaro and Hungary's Viktor Orban. Objective facts suddenly seem far less important than sentiments and beliefs.
• Data credibility : There are allegations that the strong reputation built by India since 1950s in data and statistics collection and interpretation has received a huge shock in past 5 years. The whole methodology of GDP computation stands changed, with surprising outcomes!
• Three broad areas : Still, even with data that's now questionable, analysis of government performance is possible through 
• (a) Economy, (b) Socioeconomic indicators, and (c) Governance.
• Economic growth and distribution : India and China are celebrated worldwide for high GDP growth rates. The change in GDP methodology has suddenly made comparison of NDA 2 with UPA 1 and 2 very tough. Still, new data shows that NDA 2 is below UPA 1, and barely equal to UPA 2. The average annual growth rates are - UPA 1 : 8.4%, UPA 2 : 7.2% and NDA 2 : 7.4%.
• Inequality driving growth : The 1991-2011 period drove inequality in India, and widened the urban-rural divide. Maximum loss in income shares was felt by farmers and informal sector workers. We get clear indication from income tax data, and global reports like "Credit Suisse Global Wealth Database“.
• Disturbing facts : Top 10% of income-tax payers are earning far more than bottom 50%. The wealthiest group (top 1%) owns more than 50% of India's wealth now. It has grown massively richer in 2014-18 period.
• Marginalised groups falter more : The most vulnerable and marginalised groups have lost even more - Muslims, SCs and STs.
• Demonetisation and GST : Great debate exists on this, but evidence indicates that a large number of Indians were adversely affected. GDP growth slipped from 7.8% to 6.8% in the DeMo year. Critics that these two policy moves, in one shot, benefitted the corporates while hitting at the root of the cash-dependent informal and agrarian sectors. Today's unemployment rates are an all-time high (leaked PLFS reports).
• The narrative today : Critics say that we witness today a combination of elite-oriented growth alongwith a majoritarian nationalist push.
• The choice is clear : Rabindranath Tagore had spoken about making a choice between a fundamentally exclusionary versus inclusion-based society.
• Summary : The conclusion of the NDA 2 regime is time to recall the promises made and deliverables executed.

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