Title: Policy Paradigms and Development: Reflections on India

Speaker: Prof. Dr. Rahul Mukherji, Professor and Head, Department of Political Science, South Asia Institute, Heidelberg University

Date and Time: 17th August, 2022 at 3.00 PM (IST)

Zoom Link Meeting: https://bit.ly/3QDizbb 

Patna 17 August. Political scientist Dr. Rahul Mukherji has said that an idea within the State can lead to good policy steps if the bureaucracy has the political backing. "Ideas within the State matter more because they result in policies which ultimately increase the State capacity," said the expert.

Mukherji, a political scientist at the Heidelberg University, Germany was delivering a talk entitled 'Policy Paradigms and Development: Reflections on India' at ADRI on Wednesday.

Citing examples from Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal, Dr. Mukherji said that bureaucracy must have the insider view of things and such a technically sound executive will most likely deliver, if they are backed by strong institutions and political will. Dr. Mukherji cited several examples of successful policy interventions from Andhra Pradesh that, he said, were direct results of political will. For instance, Dr. Mukherji said, during YSR's rule in Andhra Pradesh, many reforms could be carried out with much ease just because of the sound decisions of lawmakers. While at the same time, in contrast, in West Bengal, Dr. Mukherji said, MGNREGA could not be properly implemented because the political will was absent.

ADRI member-secretary Prof. Prabhat P Ghosh welcomed the guests on the occasion.