India, Dec. 30 -- Some politicians are destined not to attract flamboyant attention. Nirmala Sitaraman, the finance minister, falls under this category. Indeed, she is known to complain to friends that she never gets the credit, whether it is related to how she admirably handled the economy during the pandemic, and post-Covid period, and how she put more money in the pockets of firms, and individuals through lower taxes and GST. One can argue about her actions but she has emerged as one of the most competent FMs in this century.

Sitaraman projects the Modi regime's viewpoints, and announces reforms that were considered tough, if not impossible, a few years ago. This year was possibly the one when she put her best foot forward and, mind y...