Articles by Shobhit Mahajan

An experience at the Delhi Jal Board regarding a complaint of overbilling reveals that the attitudes of public servants have changed, thanks to technology and grass-roots democracy.

We care so little about the quality of assets in our public environment, poor quality being an outcome of corruption. When can we hope for a change? Some thoughts on corruption.

The Indian Space Research Organisation's Mangalyaan mission is a remarkable success story. Over the last five decades of its existence, ISRO has notched up many successes and has played a key role in indigenous development of various technologies. Its various programmes are also outstanding examples of its ability to successfully perform complex technological and organisational feats. However, one has yet to see any specifi c spin-offs in the civilian domain of these fairly advanced technologies. Further, the gap between running a dedicated, focused technological mission and improving the general level of manufacturing competence and quality is huge. ISRO was earlier closely involved in the development of dual-use technologies, that involvement continues though the organisation has tended to downplay its role in military applications as it seeks to obtain a larger share of the global civilian space market.

A huge gap in the supply of higher education and demand for it has encouraged private sector participation, but a rigorous regulatory mechanism has to ensure high standards and affordability. More alarming is the serious shortage of faculty in institutions of higher learning, unequal access to the institutions, the non-availability of textbooks in Indian languages and students who are ill-equipped to handle the rigours of college education.