Governance and Political Studies
Publications
Round Table Discussion on ‘Bicameralism and the Role of Rajya Sabha’

With the Council of States i.e Rajya Sabha increasingly perceived as an arena for political muscle-flexing and stonewalling key legislations of the government in recent years, there has been growing demand in the country to review its composition and functioning. Most notably, Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself made a strong pitch for holding elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies together at a BJP meeting in March, while Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, according to media reports, has suggested scrapping the Rajya Sabha altogether.

Half Lion: How PV Narasimha Rao Transformed India; Vinay Sitapati; Penguin Viking Books

When Pamulaparti Venkata Narasimha Rao became the country’s Prime Minister, he came with few expectations. His track record as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh (then undivided) and many years later as Union Cabinet Minister was mediocre. The party that had selected him to head the national Government owed its allegiance to 10, Janpath and saw him as a stop-gap arrangement. Although he had won many elections, he wasn’t the type to set the stage on fire — Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, who had worked closely with him, once said Rao had the “charisma of a dead fish”.

Nehru: A troubled Legacy by RNP Singh

Hardcover: 354 pages Publisher: Wisdom Tree (23 June 2015) Language: English ISBN-10: 8183284426 ISBN-13: 978-8183284424 Online Available at amazon.com

Vimarsha on Teacher’s Day: Prof J S Rajput, former NCERT, Director

Noted educationist and former NCERT Director Prof J S Rajput addressed the Vimarsha programme at VIF on the occasion of Teacher’s Day on September 5, 2014.

Vimarsha on Transforming Centre-State Relations a talk by Shri Dhirendra Singh

Former Home Secretary Shri Dhirendra Singh delivered a talk on Transforming Centre State Relations under the Vimarsha series at VIF on July 11, 2014. The session was presided over by former Delhi Lt Governor Shri Vijai Kapoor.

Nehru Era’s Defence and Security Policies and Their Legacy

Introduction During the nationalist movement and struggle for independence, there was little attention paid to articulation of India’s defence and security policies by the Indian National Congress (INC). Allusions to concepts and precepts of defence of an independent India were entirely absent from INC party resolutions and documents or for that matter in the speeches of the political leadership. Click here to read full Paper

Release of India Uninc

India Uninc, authored by noted economist Prof R Vaidyanathan, was released by former Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani, former Union Minister Dr Subramanian Swamy and Ajit Doval, Director, VIF at a function at the Foundation’s auditorium on February 14, 2013. Speaking on the occasion, Prof Vaidyanathan lamented that the so-called unorganized sector in the country which accounted for 40-50% of the country’s income was being treated as a residual sector. He listed regulations and non-availability of credit among the factors hindering the growth of this sector.

Vimarsha on ‘Democracy and People’s Participation’ with Dr. S.Y.Quraishi

Vivekananda International Foundation welcomed Dr. S.Y.Quraishi, the former Chief Election Commissioner of India, to talk on “Democracy and People’s Participation” on 27 December under its monthly series of talks by eminent personalities, Vimarsha. Mr Ajit Doval, KC, Director VIF, welcomed Dr Quraishi and set in the agendas for the talk.

Launch of ‘Beyond A Billion Ballots’ at VIF

‘Beyond A Billion Ballots’ by Dr Vinay Sahasrabuddhe was launched at a function at the VIF by former Chief Election Commissioner Dr S Y Quraishi, Political Commentator B V Rao and Ajit Doval, KC, Director, VIF, on September 24, 2013. Addressing a panel discussion on the occasion, Quraishi said while Indian democracy had certain shortcomings, it also has several achievements to its credit such as granting of equal voting rights to women, for which women in other advanced democracies such as US and UK had to struggle for over a century.

Launch of ‘Character – the Power Supreme’ at VIF

‘Character – the Power Supreme’, the last book authored by late B P Singhal, former Director General of Police, Uttar Pradesh and Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, was launched at a function at the VIF by former Deputy Prime Minister Shri L K Advani on September 8, 2013. Four other inspirational books written by Shri Singhal in Hindi viz ‘Jeevan Ki Disha’, ‘Divya Manav Banne Ki Kunji’, ‘Pragati aur Anushasan’, ‘Jeevan Ka Saar’ were also released on the occasion. In his keynote address, Shri Advani paid rich tributes to the former civil servant, Parliamentarian and social worker.

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