Corruption-Biggest threat for Vikshit Bharat

India’s growth is slowed down by corruption and judicial delay. As per the World Bank, corruption impacts GDP between 1-2 %. Inordinate judicial delay encourages corruption. However looking at the best practices by countries, tackling corruption is not insurmountable. Lessons from Singapore, Hong Kong, Estonia and others show that decisive action, technology adoption, and institutional independence can bring rapid results.

For India, the path forward lies in digital governance, judicial modernization, independent oversight, and public engagement. A justice system that is transparent, timely, and corruption-free will not only restore citizens’ faith in the rule of law but also unlock the country’s vast economic potential.

 Can Delhi Learn from the Metro and Transform Itself?

Delhi is a city of contradictions. On its surface, life often feels chaotic—traffic jams, broken pavements, poor waste management, and rising pollution. Yet, hidden below this disorder lies one of India’s finest examples of world-class urban management: the Delhi Metro.

When the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation was formed, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee took a bold decision. By giving it complete independence and shielding it from political and bureaucratic interference, he ensured the project would not be strangled by red tape. The legendary E. Sreedharan, a railway professional of rare integrity and discipline, was entrusted with leadership. The result is visible today—a supremely efficient system that has redefined public transport in India’s capital and competes with the best in the world.

The Metro did more than connect the city. It changed the behavior of its people. Step into a station, and you see the contrast with Delhi above. Despite carrying millions daily, passengers are mostly disciplined, quieter, and often found queuing patiently. Stations and trains are clean, safe, and reliable. This transformation proves a crucial point: once citizens encounter a well-oiled, transparent, and trustworthy system, they willingly follow protocols.

The Metro offers Delhi valuable lessons. Its success rests on principles that the city itself urgently needs. Projects were completed on or ahead of schedule—something rare in India. Contracts were transparent, corruption was minimized, and global standards were maintained. Safety, punctuality, and maintenance were never compromised. Most importantly, the organization functioned with a citizen-first culture.

Can these lessons be applied above ground? If the footpaths, roads, waste management, drainage, and public spaces were handled with the same professionalism and autonomy, Delhi would be a very different city. A clear vision, empowered leadership, strict timelines, and clean contracting could replace today’s patchwork approach. Sustainability—already a feature of the Metro through solar panels and water conservation—could become central to city planning.

 “Our grandparents called it food. Corporates now sell it back to us as superfood”

In just 50–60 years, India’s food habits have been reshaped — not by health, but by corporate marketing. A country which had thrived on local healthy food has been forced to move to unhealthy and often expensive substitutes by marketing it as healthy.

🔸 Cooking oils: Cold-pressed mustard, groundnut, sesame, and coconut oils — rich in natural nutrients — were replaced by refined oils and vanaspati (Dalda). Refining strips oils of antioxidants, and vanaspati introduced harmful trans fats linked to heart disease.

🔸 Ghee challenged: Once central to Indian diets, ghee was marketed as “old-fashioned” and replaced by cheaper hydrogenated substitutes.

🔸 Grains: Millets and unpolished rice gave way to polished rice and refined wheat.
🔸 Packaged foods: Traditional breakfasts like poha or idli were sidelined by sugary cereals (often 30–40% sugar) backed by heavy advertising.

What’s the outcome?
• India now has 100+ million diabetics (IDF 2023).
• Childhood obesity is growing at 8–10% annually.
• By 2030, lifestyle diseases will cause 3 out of 4 deaths in India (WHO).

The irony? What our grandparents ate — ghee, cold-pressed oils, millets, fermented foods — is being rebranded today as “superfoods.”

🌱 The revival has begun: the UN declared 2023 the International Year of Millets, organic and cold-pressed oils are back in demand, and awareness of traditional diets is rising.

Reclaiming India’s food wisdom isn’t nostalgia — it’s a public health necessity.