New Delhi, Feb. 5 -- Economic Surveys tend to have a short shelf life. This could be because they are seen as the handiwork of technocrats, led by the chief economic advisor, and often read like academic wish-lists, devoid of the political economy considerations that determine whether governments take their advice.

It could also be because the Union budget follows soon after, taking everyone's attention away. Whatever the reason, Economic Surveys rarely enjoy more than a brief moment in the sun. This is unfortunate. Many of the ideas that helped lift India's trajectory of economic growth-such as the case for lower tariffs and privatization-were first mooted by these surveys. All of which means that the views expressed in the Economic Sur...