India has a rich tradition of formulating policy through public consultation and engagement with experts. Landmark projects like Green Revolution and National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) were widely discussed beforehand, piloted and assessed afterwards, making the cost benefit calculations a subject matter of national scrutiny and future learning. Different waves of economic reforms during the 1990s, such as trade, tariff, foreign investment and banking reforms were preceded by widespread consultations.

An important exception has been the infamous policy of forced sterilisation during the Emergency era 1975-77. Indira Gandhi and her party paid a hefty political price for that but only after inflicting serious wounds on many poor victims.

Since coming to power in May 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promised a policy of inclusive development and ‘clean’ India: ‘Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas’ and ‘Swachch Bharat’. ‘Swachch’ also means transparent though transparency seems to be lacking in his approach to policymaking.

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