This book is a comprehensive work which incisively analyses, from a theoretically informed perspective, crucial aspects of India’s journey from partial divestiture to privatisation, accompanied by case studies of enterprises being privatised in FY 2022.
Naib begins with the economic role of the state followed by theoretical and empirical evidence on the state versus private ownership in the first two chapters. Next, an overview of public sector in India including the New Public Sector Enterprise Policy for Atmanirbhar Bharat-2021 is discussed, before a broader examination of the global experience with privatisation is done. Naib then goes on to explore India’s journey from partial divestiture to privatisation from 1991 to 2021 in four time slots based on the political party in power. The book also looks at big ticket privatisation and asset monetisation proposed in FY 2022. Many criticised the design of National Monetisation Plan as it may lead to concentration of wealth, increasing inequalities, asset stripping, and consumers paying higher charges. The book closes by presenting six instances of big-ticket privatisations ranging from airlines, airports, banks, insurance, as well as industries such as petroleum and telecoms.
The book’s timely data and analysis of key developments will interest researchers in the fields of divestiture and privatisation in India.