Which is why the most urgent change required in thinking is for the government to look again at its ministries. They need to be open to ideas from outside, to more short-term contracts, to special advisers and short-term contracts to independent analysts. Relying on a static, insulated corps of Delhi-centric policy economists or administrators with a bit of experience in special deputations, will not get us through this. The PM made an impact in DC because he was well-prepared — partly thanks to his new special adviser, the Chicago economist Raghuram Rajan. More of that, at every level, is essential. And here the crisis actually helps us: as I pointed out earlier, it means that quite a few people will be returning to India looking for something to do.

mihir.sharma@expressindia.com