So the image of Indian ‘babu-dom’ being the culprit, came to his rescue. However, the same concession may not be available the next time, and the unchanged ways of the Indian bureaucracy may spell Modi’s ‘babu-doom’.

Therefore, the initiatives which were not talked about are actually the most foundational ones. The lateral entry of professionals at the Joint Secretary level is one such endeavour which, if implemented at a desired scale, will bring a tectonic change in how the Indian state thinks and performs.