About the book

Supported by sixty years of research and analysis of public policies, the author Dr Rao offers a comprehensive overview of key public issues that unfolded during the last two years. Seventy articles, organized into eight themes—political parties, polls, citizens, governance, education, environment, media, and the future of villages—provide valuable insights into issues that remain relevant today.

A significant concern is that many of these public issues were either rushed through or obscured, leading to incomplete legislation and insufficient stakeholder engagement. This short-circuiting of the public policy-making process has resulted in several negative consequences. As the Chief Justice of India has noted, the ambiguity surrounding these laws has contributed to an increase in court cases. Moreover, many Acts have yet to be fully implemented or have struggled to take off.

To address these challenges, it is imperative to foster public awareness, citizen activism, and open discourse on contentious issues. Dr. Rao's collection of articles aims to contribute to these efforts by providing valuable insights and analysis.