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The hobnob for strengthening economic relation between the two Prime Ministers Shinzo Abe and Narendra Modi is not new. What is new in the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is that a new dimension in India-Japan relation is in the offing. This stems from the rejuvenation of India-China relation with Prime Minister Modi’s initiative to regale Chinese investors and China’s vying for Modi’s heart. Japan pitches for an expansion of relation with India beyond economy. During the visit of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in December 11-13, the much delayed civil nuclear cooperation deal and defence deal to produce jointly US 2 amphibious military aircraft in India are expected to be the top agenda. In addition, the affirmation of bullet train award to Japanese firms will get priority, after China having a setback in Indonesia a few months back.

As the United Nations (UN)-mandated climate change talks got under way and crossed the midpoint of its two-week marathon session of 195 countries across the globe wrestling to craft a legally binding agreement on emissions standards, plenty of hot air to further muddy the planetary balance is evident. It is little wonder that Lord Stern of Brentford, author of the UK government report on the economics of climate change, said that the Paris agreement, due to be signed up most probably in the absence of last-minute glitches, could commit nations to new emission targets but would not require governments to stick to them.

What is the politics behind the delay in Parliament passing the Goods and Services (GST) Bill? Despite all efforts from the government of the day since 2007, this controversial Bill is the victim of politics. While the BJP blocked it during the UPA regime, it is now the turn of the Congress to do so. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said last week in Parliament that “in a democracy, consensus is what gives the greatest strength”. It is exactly consensus which is eluding the GST.

November 10 was Kali Pujo, in West Bengal and elsewhere in the world. In all institutions and offices funded in West Bengal that are by the Union government, 11 November 2015 is a compulsory holiday, on account of Diwali. Kali Pujo on 10 November 2015 is not a holiday. In the official circular numbered F.No.12/5/ 2o1.4-JCA-2 dated 6 June 2014 from the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, at present under the Prime Minister himself, this is stated as Diwali with the word Deepavali in bracket. What is the 'standard' form and what is the alternate form tells the citizens what the Union government considers as standard and what it considers as 'other' variant. Whenever there are multiple names or forms of something like this, the variant of Hindi-Hindustan zones are considered standard. There are no exceptions even though the Indian Union doesn't formally claim itself to be a majoritarian nation-state.

BHOPAL: On November 29, 2015 Shivraj Singh Chauhan completed ten years in office, a feat which no BJP leader of Madhya Pradesh could achieve so far and also no Congress leader barring Digvijay Singh.

BHOPAL: Shivraj Singh Chauhan is celebrating 10 years of tenure as the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh. Under his rule, the state has joined the club of developed states of the country. BJP has got two third majority in Madhya Pradesh Assembly in 2003 on the issue of Road and Power. After Uma Bharti and Babulal Gaur Shivraj Singh Chauhan became the CM of the state on 29th Novermber, 2005. Now he has completed 10 years in his office. During these years he gave more emphasis on the schemes of social development and in addition he also worked for agricultural and industrial growth. He made his image as a son of the farmer on national level. Under him, the state got National Awards for Excellence in agriculture continuously. He organized Global Investors Summit, which helped the state economy to grow.

Inclusion of China’s currency – the renminbi – into the special drawing rights (SDR basket by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is really a recognition of the transition of China from real to financial economy.

Recent developments have raised questions which will influence future course of Punjab politics. For instance: Will the ‘offence is the best defence’ wartime strategy lately adopted by the Badals help them retrieve the lost politico-religious ground before the 2017 Assembly elections? Will they be able to meet the challenge posed by anti-incumbency and faulty governance which have hit the common man, particularly Akali Dal’s core farmer-Sikh constituency? Will they be able to counter the serious political challenge posed by the revamped state Congress with the fighter Capt. Amarinder Singh as its head?

The government of India did not shrink in keeping with a promise by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during the last Lok Sabha election which it won with a thumping majority, in the 18 months that the party along with its allies is in power. Instead, the government is expanding. Departments have increased. With around 65 ministers and 100 departments, the size of the Narendra Modi government is among the largest in democratic India. Functions of many departments have vastly increased or spread in recent times without much impact on economic growth though they may have improved financial inclusion and social environment. Barring the old Planning Commission, which is given a new name, NITI Aayog, and new identity, nothing much has changed in the government. The 2014 Lok Sabha election verdict provided the prime minister a great opportunity to cut the ministry and government to size and improve governance through better performance of the five Raisina Hills ministries and their adjuncts.

For the first time after a full 18 months of political bitterness carried to absurd lengths, the Modi Government has realised, belatedly though, that whatever the power at its command, the path of consensus-building in parliamentary democracy cannot be shunned altogether.