21 October 2016: How central planning came to India

Kumar Anand
Free A Billion, Mumbai

Abstract:
This session revisits independent India’s economic history, especially the first two decades. What were the policies that were implemented by the leaders of the time? What was the thinking and motivation behind some of these policies? Why is it that rapid industrialisation did not lead to a corresponding improvements in the general living standard of Indians? An answer to some of these questions are attempted, which contradicts the prevailing mainstream opinion on some of these matters.

It is often believed that ideas of economic freedom and reforms are “not Indian” and have been imported from the ‘West’. However, research into modern Indian history showcases the rich indigenous liberal tradition that stood against ideas of a centrally planned economy. This session also briefly presents an overview of such a tradition, which remains largely overlooked or forgotten today.

Date: October 21, 2016
Time: 04:30 P.M.

Venue:
Conference Hall, Ground Floor
R&T Building
National Institute of Public Finance and Policy,
18/2 Satsang Vihar Marg, Special Institutional Area,
New Delhi-110067(INDIA)

Location:

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Note:
Those who are interested may please confirm your participation at bins.sebastian@nipfp.org.in

21 October 2016: Public choice theory: a story of the ideas

Kumar Anand
Free A Billion, Mumbai

Abstract:
Public Choice Economics uses the insights of economics to explain political processes such as elections and bureaucracy. It explains that the probability of "market failure" must be compared with the probability of "government failure", in order to make rational choices about what should be done by governments and what should be done by markets.

This session introduces the field of Public Choice and its origins. This is a talk where we take a closer look at the history of ideas in Public Choice, how it developed over the last three centuries, who were the thinkers, what were the building blocks that were introduced, and what present day public policy relevance does the theory has for us.

Date: October 21, 2016
Time: 03:00 P.M.

Venue:
Conference Hall, Ground Floor
R&T Building
National Institute of Public Finance and Policy,
18/2 Satsang Vihar Marg, Special Institutional Area,
New Delhi-110067(INDIA)

Location:

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Note:
Those who are interested may please confirm your participation at bins.sebastian@nipfp.org.in

18 October 2016: Seminar on Impact of FFC and restructuring of Centrally Sponsored Schemes of Centre and States on Health Expenditure

Organised by:
Macro/Finance Group, NIPFP

Program

Abstract:
NIPFP is organising a seminar to deliberate and discuss the impact of the changed fiscal scenario in lieu of the 14th Finance Commission recommendations and restructuring of the Centrally Sponsored Schemes, on the Health Expenditure commitments of the Centre and States. These changes have initiated a process of overhaul of the fiscal architecture at both Central and State levels. The motivation for the seminar is to bring together researchers and stakeholder to share their views and initiate a dialogue.

Date: October 18, 2016
Time: 10:30 A.M.

Venue:
Conference Hall, Ground Floor, R&T Building
National Institute of Public Finance and Policy,
18/2 Satsang Vihar Marg, Special Institutional Area,
New Delhi-110067(INDIA)

Note:
Participation is registration based only. Those interested may please register at bins.sebastian@nipfp.org.in

Location:

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6 October 2016: Problems of market abuse in India

Sandeep Parekh
Finsec Law Advisors

Abstract:
The concept of securities regulations covers a field straddled between the fields of finance and law. While both manipulation and insider trading prohibition—fall under the broad umbrella of fraud, in India the law on insider trading has somewhat diverged on its own course.

A fair securities market is one in which the savers and the users of capital are brought together in a mutually beneficial partnership. A significant impediment in a productive relationship is asymmetry of information, which, along with conflict of interest, ranks among the major ills that adversely affect the interests of investors. Greed, leading to dropping one's guard, is equally at the root of investors coming to grief. The securities market has no shortage of persons who take advantage of the unequal relationship between the less informed investor and the better informed but less scrupulous purveyor of products. It merits saying that the securities market in the absence of fraud, manipulation, mis-selling, insider trading and the like, can reward all participants. Yet, regrettably, some investors have seen the bulk of their savings vanish on account of illegal and criminal practices. This seminar will discuss the broad contours of both fraud and insider trading and progress to current issues in the enforcement and interpretation. Both false positives and false negatives are an issue with the enforcement.

Date: October 6, 2016
Time: 04:30 P.M.

Venue:
Conference Hall, Ground Floor
R&T Building
National Institute of Public Finance and Policy,
18/2 Satsang Vihar Marg, Special Institutional Area,
New Delhi-110067(INDIA)

Location:

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Note:
Those who are interested may please confirm your participation at bins.sebastian@nipfp.org.in

27 September 2016: The evolution of India Stack and the Unified Payments Interface

Sanjay Jain
EkStep and iSPIRT

Abstract:
The Government of India’s Open API Policy (2015) stated that the Government envisaged making its services digitally accessible to citizens through multiple channels, such as web, mobile and common service delivery outlets. The JAM trinity - Jan Dhan, Aadhaar and Mobile phones makes it possible for digital services to reach every Indian.

The India Stack is a name used to collectively cover specific APIs that allow govts and businesses to utilise govt. services to deliver services to Indian residents. These APIs have been developed by various organizations over the last 7 years, starting with Aadhaar, which launched an authentication API in 2010. These APIs are owned by government departments, and other public organisations.

India Stack provides 4 distinct layers:

A presence-less layer where a universal biometric digital identity allows people to participate in any service from anywhere in the country;
A paper-less layer where digital records move with an individual's digital identity, eliminating the need for massive amount of paper collection and storage;
A cashless layer where a single interface to all the country's bank accounts and wallets democratizes payments; and
A consent layer which allows data to move freely and securely to democratize the market for data;

Each layer has a specific technology - Aadhaar authentication and eKYC, eSign and Digilocker, Unified Payments Interface, and consent architecture - with corresponding public APIs.

Date: September 27, 2016
Time: 04:30 P.M.

Venue:
Conference Hall, Ground Floor
R&T Building
National Institute of Public Finance and Policy,
18/2 Satsang Vihar Marg, Special Institutional Area,
New Delhi-110067(INDIA)

Location:

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Note:
Those who are interested may please confirm your participation at bins.sebastian@nipfp.org.in

21 September 2016: Seminar on Quality of Services in Telecom and Data Services: Issues, Challenges and Solutions

Organised by:
National Institute of Public Finance and Policy, New Delhi

In collaboration with
CUTS International, Jaipur and Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi

[Agenda]

Abstract:
CUTS and IIT have recently published a report on QoS in mobile data services, which is available at: www.cuts-ccier.org/QOSII/pdf/Mobile_Internet_Services_in_India-Quality_of_Service.pdf.

Our aim is to bring together a diverse group of stakeholders to generate a debate on the findings of the study. This will be followed by a broader discussion on the next steps towards achieving better QoS in telecom and data services.

Date: September 21, 2016
Time: 04:30 P.M.

Venue:
Conference Hall, Ground Floor
R&T Building
National Institute of Public Finance and Policy,
18/2 Satsang Vihar Marg, Special Institutional Area,
New Delhi-110067(INDIA)

Location:

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Note:
Those who are interested may please confirm your participation at bins.sebastian@nipfp.org.in

19 September 2016: Global Rise of Populism and Elite Distrust: Its Roots and Political Response

Bruce Stokes
Pew Research Center

Abstract:
A rising tide of populism is sweeping the globe.  Political ideologies that were earlier seen as fringe dogmas in the Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Turkey, the UK and the US and even in Asia, are now very visible on the political landscape.  Mainstream politics in the UK and the US is arguably turning anti-global, and there is a growing distrust of elites, exemplified most strikingly in UK’s vote to leave the European Union.

Date: September 19, 2016
Time: 11:15 P.M.

Venue:
Conference Hall
Centre for Policy Research,
Dharma Marg, Chanakyapuri,
New Delhi–110021(INDIA)

Location:

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Note:
RSVP to president.cpr@cprindia.org