The notions of inefficiency and corruption dominate the critique of the Indian bureaucracy. While all critiques of too much red tape, power, and corruption carry undeniable merit, they miss a different layer of failure of this structure of Indian governance. Independent India inherited one of the most capable machines built by a colonial power and repurposed it in so many ways that the original capability is impossible to express. The real issue is that we use our most traine

On the morning of May 3, 2026, millions of Indians sat down in examination halls across India to write the NEET-UG examination to fulfil their dream of becoming doctors. Nine days later, the path to this dream was unceremoniously stopped by an all-too-familiar feature of the education system in Indian democracy. Across the SSC exam and state exams, yet another paper leak declared this path closed. Even the National Testing Agency (NTA) declared that the exam was cancelled and