Shankkar Aiyar

Shankkar Aiyar is an Indian journalist, political economist, and author known for his analysis of India's policy issues and economic reforms. His work focuses particularly on the intersection of politics, economics, and governance in India. As a prominent columnist, Aiyar writes for major publications including The New Indian Express, Bloomberg Quint, and Business Standard. His research and commentary frequently address public policy, political economy, and the challenges of implementing reforms in India's complex democratic system. His books include "Accidental India: A History of the Nation's Passage through Crisis and Change" (2012) which examines seven transformative moments in Indian history, and "Aadhaar: A Biometric History of India's 12-Digit Revolution" (2017) analyzing India's biometric identification program. He is currently a Visiting Senior Fellow at the IDFC Institute. In addition to his writing, Aiyar has served as Consulting Editor at New Indian Express and India Today Group, contributing research and analysis on economic policy matters. His expertise spans areas such as public finance, governance reforms, and infrastructure development in emerging economies.

Readers respect Shankkar Aiyar's analytical approach to complex Indian policy issues based on reviews across platforms. His most reviewed book "Accidental India" receives specific praise for breaking down economic reforms through storytelling of key personalities and decisions. Readers highlighted: - Clear explanations of technical topics - Balanced perspective on controversial policies - Use of data and research to support arguments - Focus on real-world implications Common criticisms: - Writing can be overly academic at times - Some repetition between chapters - Could include more grassroots perspectives Ratings: Goodreads: Accidental India - 4.1/5 (209 ratings) Amazon India: Accidental India - 4.3/5 (89 ratings) Aadhaar: A Biometric History - 4.4/5 (42 ratings) One reviewer noted: "Makes economic policy digestible without oversimplifying." Another said: "Needed more voices from those impacted by the reforms."

The Gated Republic: India's Public Policy Failures and Private Solutions (2020) Examines how private enterprises in India have stepped in to provide basic services like education, healthcare, and water where public systems have fallen short.

Aadhaar: A Biometric History of India's 12-Digit Revolution (2017) Chronicles the development and implementation of India's biometric identification system, from its conception to nationwide rollout.

Accidental India: A History of the Nation's Passage through Crisis and Change (2012) Analyzes seven major crises in India's post-independence history and how they led to significant reforms and policy changes.