Advocates of liberalisation argue that by reducing state intervention and increasing transparency economic reform reduces corruption. Recent allegations of corruption suggest that this may not be true. In a season for scandal, allegations of large scale corruption have captured political India's attention. The instances to which such allegations relate are many, varying from the sale of 2G spectrum and the mobilisation and/or disposal of land and mining resources to purchases made...

NIIRA RADIA — owner of PR company Vaishnavi Communications, among others — is not merely a fixer in the old sense of the word. She is a thermometer reading for a very ill society. In April this year, a clutch of mysterious documents had made their way to several media houses. At face value the documents seemed a synopsis of phone conversations between Niira — a powerful lobbyist for Mukesh...

Here is a background on the 2G spectrum controversy that resulted in Communications and IT Minister A. Raja of DMK resigning on Sunday: The issue dates to 2008 when nine telecom companies were issued scarce airwaves and licenses for second generation (2G) mobile phone services at Rs1,658 crore (less that $350 million) for a pan-India operation. As many as 122 circle-wise licenses were issued. The opposition said that by giving the airwaves...

India's telecommunications minister A Raja has resigned over claims that licences had been improperly given to mobile phone firms. He said he was quitting "to avoid embarrassment to the government". He denies wrongdoing. Opposition has been protesting over Mr Raja's alleged role in the sale of second generation (2G) licences. Federal auditors reportedly estimate that billions of dollars were lost as a result. Mr Raja - who belongs to the DMK party, an ally...

India's telecommunications minister has rejected calls that he resign over claims that licences were improperly allocated to mobile phone firms. Opposition anger over A Raja's alleged role in the sale of second generation (2G) licences has been growing. Mr Raja's ministry issued licences on a "first-come first-served" basis instead of Auctioning them, reports say. Federal auditors reportedly estimate billions of dollars were lost as a result. Mr Raja denies any wrongdoing. In May, India's...