India, Oct. 22 -- India's governance stands at an inflection point. At the national level, a strong and centralised leadership dominates the political and administrative machinery with unmatched control. At the state level, particularly in Punjab, the picture reverses - too many power centres, and persistent weak leadership has eroded institutional discipline. Together, they form a troubling paradox: A nation governed simultaneously by overreach and neglect.

Over the last decade, our governance ethos gas undergone a transformation. The Centre today prides itself on decisiveness, speed, and clarity of purpose, qualities that contrast sharply with the fragmented coalitions of earlier years. Yet this strong leadership has also cultivated a ...