How AI is perfecting the art of government obfuscation, Pg11

Key Highlights:

• Government press notes are criticized for using "obfuscation" through buzzwords and vague language to highlight achievements while concealing shortcomings.
• The article identifies two main techniques: "generic misdirection" using lofty vision language like Viksit Bharat 2047, and "concealment charm" which avoids specific data and comparisons.
• Examples cited include the Narcotics Control Bureau's Operation Trident lacking seizure figures and the National Social Assistance Programme press release omitting old pension rates.
• The Container Manufacturing Promotion Scheme announcement lacked deadlines for job creation and capacity targets.
• The article notes the announcement of Pradhan Mantri Viksit Gram Swaraj Yojana without reference to its predecessor, Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan.

Detailed Insights:

• The author draws parallels between modern government communication and the fictional politician James Hacker, known for using excessive words to obscure issues.
• "Generic misdirection" employs phrases like "digitally empowered society," "knowledge economy," "holistic," and "citizen-centric" without concrete details.
• The "concealment charm" tactic involves providing no baseline data, avoiding comparisons, using unquantified qualifiers, and non-specific timelines.
• For Operation Trident, the shift from "seizure-centric to network-centric" was used to pre-empt questions about specific narcotics seizure figures.
• The press note on the National Social Assistance Programme mentioned new pension rates but omitted previous rates, hindering assessment of the actual hike.
• The Container Manufacturing Promotion Scheme aimed to increase capacity tenfold to 7.5 lakh Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) and create jobs, but without specified deadlines.
• The article questions the classification of 32 lakh elected representatives as "beneficiaries" under the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Gram Swaraj Yojana if they receive no remuneration.
• The lack of mention of Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan when announcing Pradhan Mantri Viksit Gram Swaraj Yojana exemplifies hiding continuity or changes from previous schemes.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Obfuscation: The intentional act of making information unclear, obscure, or unintelligible, often in official communication.
• Bureaucratese: A style of language characterized by jargon, circumlocution, and abstract terms, typically used in official documents.
• Viksit Bharat 2047: A national vision for India to become a developed nation by its 100th year of independence in 2047.
• Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit (TEU): A standard unit for measuring the capacity of container ships and terminals, equivalent to a 20-foot long container.