JK

The Silent Nexus in Infrastructure: An Unspoken Truth by JK Infrastructure is often called the foundation of a nation’s growth. In India , this foundation is expanding—expressways, metro lines , airports, renewable parks, and digital networks are rising at a historic pace. Yet behind the story of progress lies a silent nexus —a collusion of contractors, consultants, officials, and political authorities—that too often shapes projects not for efficiency, but for profit, influence, and short-term optics. The unspoken truth: cost overruns and poor quality are not always accidents—they are enabled by design. The Scale of the Problem As of late 2024, over 438 projects were delayed with cost overruns of more than ₹5.18 lakh crore . Reports repeatedly cite land acquisition, clearances, and scope changes —but field investigations reveal collusion and manipulation play a major role. Audit reports by the Comptroller & Auditor General (CAG) have flagged overruns in major schemes such as...

How Ancient Wisdom Warns Against Modern Downfalls The Universal Struggle Across history, kingdoms have crumbled, corporations have collapsed, and great leaders have fallen. The root cause is often not external enemies, but an internal trio — ego , wealth , and power . This “ fatal trio ” blinds vision, breeds arrogance, and erodes the very foundation of wisdom. Ancient Indian seers , poets, and philosophers foresaw this danger, encoding their warnings in simple yet profound verses. ⸻ Ego: The Blindfold of Pride Ego is the seed of downfall. It whispers invincibility to kings, rulers, and modern leaders alike. Kabir Das , the 15th-century mystic, warned: “बड़ा हुआ तो क्या हुआ, जैसे पेड़ खजूर पंथी को छाया नहीं, फल लगे अति दूर।” (What’s the point of being tall like the date palm? It gives no shade to travelers, and its fruit is out of reach.) The doha reminds us that mere greatness without humility is useless . Ego raises one’s stature, but isolates them from humanity. Inter...

  Despite years of policy announcements, not a single DPIIT-recognized Startup consultancy firm has ever been engaged in Railways, Highways, or other major ministries under procurement relaxations. This failure is not by accident, but by design. •Earlier manuals had full relaxation. •The 2025 Procurement Manual added a “20% cap” — effectively restricting Startups instead of enabling them. •Procuring entities then layer on ATC/SCC backdoor conditions , making participation impossible. The wording of Clause 7.3.3-6 itself raises doubts about intent — instead of easing access, it institutionalises barriers. The result is clear: zero participation, zero awards, zero nation-building. Policy vs. Practice: Why No Startup Has Been Engaged Under Procurement Relaxation 1.“A policy meant to empower first-generation entrepreneurs now restricts them with a 20% cap.” 2.“The PM’s Startup Mission promised opportunity, but Procurement Manual 2025 delivers exclusion.” 3.“Relaxation on paper...

India’s Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) has delivered record kilometres of roadways, marquee expressways , and ambitious monetisation plans . But beneath the concrete lies a troubling pattern: spiralling costs, brittle quality, opaque asset sales , and contractors who also double as political donors . “Highways must carry trust, not just traffic.” Take costs: the Dwarka Expressway ’s per-kilometre bill shot up more than tenfold compared with approvals. Then quality: fresh stretches crumbling within months, followed by blacklists after disaster strikes. Punishment after collapse is theatre, not accountability. Monetisation, too, raises questions. Without published valuation models, citizens cannot know if public toll revenues are being sold too cheaply. And the electoral-bonds disclosures revealed that highway contractors were also among the ruling party’s top donors —a structural conflict, whether or not quid-pro-quo can be proven. Capacity without credibili...

  To, , Department of Expenditure ( Procurement Policy Division ), Ministry of Finance Through:  Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) Subject:  Mandatory 100% Relaxation of Prior Experience & Turnover for DPIIT Startups — Removal of Restrictive Conditions under Clause 7.3.3-6 of the  Procurement Manual, 2025 1. Vision vs. Reality The  Prime Minister’s Startup Mission  was launched to enable first-generation entrepreneurs to participate in nation-building without being excluded by legacy-based filters of turnover and past experience. However: Clause  6.2.3  of the 2025 Procurement Manual correctly states that relaxation is  “not optional but has to be ensured.” Clause  7.3.3-6 , along with  additional restrictive conditions  inserted by procuring entities, imposes  caps, thresholds, and backdoor barriers  that defeat the very purpose of DPIIT Start-up recognition. 2. Key Problem (a)...

Ego Meets Iron: How Trump’s Tough Persona Could Fuel India’s Rise Under Modi  by JK In global politics, ego can be a liability. But under the right conditions, it becomes a weapon. Donald Trump’s ego is no secret—lowering, unyielding, and often impossible to ignore. Many see it as combustible. But when that combustible force meets the cold, calculated steel of Narendra Modi’s leadership, it could ignite something extraordinary: a more sustainable, resilient, and self-reliant India . Trump’s Ego Is a Negotiator’s Goldmine Trump is not a consensus builder. He’s a dealmaker who wants wins—his wins, on his terms. For most world leaders, that’s a nightmare. For Modi, it’s an opening. Modi knows how to frame India’s progress as a victory for his counterpart. Whether it’s defense contracts , energy deals , or tech cooperation , Modi can package these as Trump’s “biggest ever” accomplishments. Challengers Change the Game Both Trump and Modi are disruptors. Trump shatters diplomatic norms; ...

  PRIVATE SECTOR EMPLOYEES – STOP BEGGING FOR VALUE, START COMMANDING IT! by JK We’ve all seen it. Long hours. No weekends. Targets over health. Constant fear of termination. But here’s the truth they don’t tell you — our power is not in their hands, it’s in ours. Build Yourself Relentlessly Knowledge: Learn something new every day. Make yourself too skilled to be ignored. Skill: Master your craft until you’re the best in the room. Attitude: Carry professionalism with pride, but never accept exploitation. Networking : Build strong industry connections so your worth is recognized beyond one organisation. The Mindset Shift Stop fearing losing your job — start making your company fear losing you. When you create value, when your expertise becomes irreplaceable, the tables turn. That’s when respect, fair treatment, and opportunities follow naturally. Leave the Non-Valuers Behind If your workplace doesn’t value you, walk away without guilt. You’re not a replaceable cog — you’re a sk...