Governance and Political Studies
The Case Against Smaller States

In his book, “The Story of the Integration of Indian States”, V.P Menon, who was Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s right hand in ensuring that the British legacy of lapse of paramountcy which virtually gave independence to the Princely States in India....

Launch of Public Money, Private Agenda - The Use and Abuse of MPLADS

Public Money, Private Agenda – The Use and Abuse of MPLADS, a book written by Dr.A.Surya Prakash, Distinguished Fellow, VIF was launched at an impressive function at the VIF by Mr.Shivraj Patil, the Hon’ble Governor of Punjab on Aug 22, 2013. The....

Thoughts for Change - We can do it; APJ Abdul Kalam & A Sivathanu Pillai; Pentagon Press; PP 289; Price Rs 495

The ancient civilization Sindhu/Indus/Hindu/India- steeped in arts, culture, administration and most of all science and a great reserve of natural resources, became a lucrative target for marauders who converted or killed and either way, plundered, ....

Vimarsha: Institutional Subversion in India –Implications for the Nation & its Security with Mr Mahesh Jethmalani

VIF organized Vimarhsa on Saturday, July 20, 2013, where senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani dwelt at length on the topic ‘Institutional Subversion in India – Implications for the Nation and its Security’. In his introductory remarks, Ajit Dov....

Quattrocchi is Dead But Ghost of Bofors is Still Around

The news of the demise of Ottavio Quattrocchi, the Italian businessman and close friend of UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and her late husband and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, last week has prompted some people to say that with his passing, the ....

Allahabad High Court Ban on Caste Rallies: A Wake Up Call

The recent Allahabad High Court verdict banning caste based political rallies in Uttar Pradesh has reignited the debate on the role of caste in Indian politics. The reactions to the court order were on expected lines with the national parties welcomi....

The Pawan Bansal Case: Gaping Holes in CBI Probe

Remember Alice in ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ and her meeting with the Cheshire Cat? The cat vanishes, leaving only her grin behind, at which Alice says, “Well! I’ve seen a cat without a grin but a grin without a cat! It’s the most....

Intelligence vs. Investigation, Or CBI vs. IB?

The controversy surrounding a major confrontation between India’s premier investigating agency, the Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI), and the nation’s internal intelligence agency, the Intelligence Bureau (IB), which has been aired in the ....

Transparency: An Anathema to Indian Political Parties?

The strong and adverse reaction of national political parties to the recent order of the Central Information Commission (CIC) bringing them within the purview of the Right to Information Act (RTI) has provided proof, if proof was needed, that most of....

What Should Be the Strategy of Political Parties for 2014 General Election?

When India became independent, for the first twenty years, India had more or less one party rule in that the Congress dominated the political scene. The leadership was strongly influenced by Gandhian ideals and the leaders were personally honest, au....

Contact Us