As part of the global phenomenon of trade liberalization, Nepal embarked on market-oriented trade reforms in the mid-1980s. These efforts intensified in the early 1990s after the restoration of a democratic system. Nepal's accession to the WTO in 2004 and commitment to comply with many conditions related to restructuring tariff rates and opening the economy in general and the services sector in particular further augmented that process.

This paper analyses employment trends and addresses the problem of creating decent and productive employment in the non-agricultural sector during the first decade of the 21st century. Its primary interest is to examine the transition from informal employment in the unorganised sector towards formal employment in the non-agricultural organised sector. There has been a slight structural shift in employment away from agriculture towards the non-manufacturing sector.

Meena Chaturvedi is an Indian Audit and Accounts Service official of 1987 cadre. After a 23-year career she took voluntary retirement to join SREI Sahaj e-Village Limited as chief executive officer (public services and e-learning) in October 2010.

Eleven state governments have enacted Right-to-Public-Services laws in the last couple of years without any pressure from the centre. All except one of these states are in the Hindi heartland which is known for its fractured polity. These enactments are perhaps an attempt to regain the faith of the middle class in the political and bureaucratic system. While there are limitations in their conceptualisation and implementation, the enthusiasm of the respective state bureaucracies in pushing for these laws is encouraging.

Why is India so eager to reactivate and conclude a dormant Doha Round that has little to offer the country? (Editorial)