NREGA - A failure http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/nrega-is-money-down-the-drain/article2742118.

ece In this article, the author talks about the distortions created in the free market by social sector schemes such as NREGA. Since the act discourages labor from searching for gainful employment and also reduces urban migration of surplus labor, there are costs to the economy in the form of higher labor wages, higher real estate costs etc. Also, no meaningful infrastructure is created for the country through the work provided to people under NREGA. By creating useless 'non-jobs, the act promotes dependency among the unfortunate rural, illiterate and unskilled population. Corruption and leakage of funds is another issue that plagues schemes like NREGA. In the long run, the economy as a whole is worse off. Rupee Depreciation http://profit.ndtv.com/news/forex/article-why-the-rupee-might-reach-70-against-dollar-326228 http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/opinion/comments-analysis/us-fed-holds-tapering-we-have-onlybreathing-room-not-an-elixir/articleshow/22780237.cms The major reason behind the sharp depreciation of the rupee in the past 2-3 months was the fear in the markets about the US Federal Reserve tapering down its $85 billion a month bond buying program. Investors had put in huge amounts of dollars in emerging markets by borrowing on very low rates in the US. A fear of tightening of currency supply caused them to withdraw their dollars from the emerging markets, leading to sharp fall in values of several currencies including the rupee However, the depreciation of rupee was more severe compared to others due to some of the structural weaknesses of the economy such as a very high Current Account Deficit. Now that the Fed has given a breather to the markets by deciding to postpone the tapering, India has a chance to set its house in order, bring the CAD under control and stabilize the currency. The following two articles discuss the way ahead. UPA vs NDA http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/NDA-created-more-jobs-than-UPA-did/Article11080343.aspx http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-07-02/india/40328372_1_national-highways-statehighways-total-road-network http://www.firstpost.com/business/puzzle-did-nrega-also-kill-25-million-jobs-in-the-economy63306.html Governments can be compared on several fronts such as economic activity, foreign policy, social harmony - to name a few. The articles quoted here compare UPA and NDA goverments based on their economic policies such as job creation, infrastructure enhancement etc. Overall, NDA seems to fare better than the UPA on these counts. Another dimension where the two governments can be compared

is education (Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan of NDA vs Right to Education Act of UPA).Secularism Vs Communalism : http://indianpolitytoday.wordpress.com/tag/secularism-vs-communalism/ http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Debate-on-communalism-and-secularismsterile-useless-Yashwant-Sinha/Article1-1092960.aspx Formation of new states: divisive politics http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-08-04/india/41057301_1_creation-new-states-least50-states http://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/creation-of-new-states-threatens-india-sunity-n-santosh-hegde-113080601386_1.html Decrease in investor confidence: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324009304579044612662587916.html?KEYWORDS=D ecrease+in+Investor+confidence http://www.pionline.com/article/20130924/DAILYREG/130929956/state-street-global-investorconfidence-down http://www.pionline.com/article/20130828/DAILYREG/130829903 http://bit.ly/1b6eyD0 Announcing Modi as PM candidate Doom or Boom for BJP http://www.sunday-guardian.com/analysis/the-rise-and-rise-of-tomorrows-prime-minister-narendramodi http://thepeopleschronicle.in/?p=19424 Patent regulations in Pharma Boon or Bane? http://www.equitymaster.com/detail.asp?date=02/16/2001&story=4&title=Patents-Boon-or-bane http://www.pharmabiz.com/ArticleDetails.aspx?aid=74388&sid=9