Wednesday, May 27, 2020

MODI 1.0 AND 2.0 REGIME AND THE ECONOMIC AND FISCAL LAW REFORMS: ENUMERATED AND EXPLAINED


Modi 1.0 and 2.0 formats of governance had many Machiavellian moments of glory and triumph.  Electorally, the BJP party upscaled its tally of 282 Lok Sabha seats in the 2014 general elections to 303 in the 2019 general elections, again, a testimony for the deliverance of electoral promises and the growing public support it continued to garner.  If the multi-faceted metamorphosis brought into the state craft and the national resurgence created by the successive Modi governments can be one dimension of its trail blazing historic engagement with its citizenry, it is yet another to take stock of the innumerable and laudable changes it brought about improving the quality of life.   The various positive vibes it evoked in the minds of common man, the perceptible changes in good governance and eradication of corruption in public life instilled greater confidence and endeared the Modi governments to the common man.  There are several facets of the development agenda vigourously and assiduously pursued by the Modi 1.0 and 2.0 governments which has positively touched and enhanced almost all sectors and stakeholders of the nation.    While there are several aspects and attributes to speak of and celebrate in the 1.0 and 2.0 governments, it would be beyond the scope of this work to undertake such an expansive enquiry and appraisal.

So, let me assure you that this endeavor is not intended to be an ode to the political statesmanship of the party leadership which steers the 1.0 and 2.0 governments.  There are better political scientists and self-professed commentators who could do a better job than me in those realms.  But, there is one no less significant, and at the same time an undeniable, but the most unsung contribution that the Modi 1.0 and 2.0 governments have made and been making towards structurally crafting economic reforms, fiscal and economic legislative innovations and relentlessly pursuing a reformist agenda.  This work would chronicle, collate and coalesce the contributions thus far made by the 1.0 and 2.0 government in ushering in bold, robust and timely structural reforms and the economic legislations.  It is aimed to bring under the view-piece the laudable changes brought into the areas, including, but, not limited to the revamping of the arbitration regime in our country; the introduction of Goods and Services Tax Act and Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code; cracking the whip through the Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income & Assets) and Imposition of Tax Act, 2015; the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018; infrastructure development; disinvestment; banking reforms and cleaning the balance-sheets of the banks; Direct Benefit Transfers; Make in India; PSU bank mergers; FDI liberalization; Covid-19 led reforms etc.
In order to do justice, an attempt will be made in these columns in the coming days to unravel some of the facets and factors of such economic reforms in sufficient detail that Modi 1.0 and 2.0 governments have bequeathed to us.  The inaugural issue will address the relevance and the contribution made towards enacting a Fugitive Economic Offenders Act and bringing to justice before Indian courts the economic offenders who have fled the country.
Best regards,

M. SIVARAMAN
Corporate Lawyer, Researcher & Speaker

No comments: