For a Vishwaguru — a global sage — does Narendra Modi’s India blink a bit too much? New Delhi’s latest directive on wheat exports would confirm such a suspicion. First, Mr Modi’s government declared that India would, quite correctly, play the saviour and supply wheat to the world after shortages had been reported on account of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. This announcement was followed by a surprising decision to ban exports in order to keep an eye on domestic price situation. The U-turn had led to considerable confusion: there were reports of thousands of trucks laden with wheat being stranded in Kandla port in the absence of clarity. The U-turn has now been followed by a somersault. The Union ministry of commerce has announced specific relaxations. Consignments meant for overseas awaiting custom clearance would be allowed; export to Egypt would be renewed too. Cynical whispers suggest that a firm nudge from the United States of America to continue with the supply of wheat had forced New Delhi to don the garb of the messiah, once again.

Such speculations may not be admitted to by the powers that be. They may not be proved either. But that is not the point. The to-and-fro from the Centre cannot be an advertisement of policy prudence. Worse, Mr Modi’s interventions — domestic or foreign — have often been marked by haste as well as an inability to think through wider ramifications. Demonetisation, for instance, crippled India’s informal sector without denting either corruption or terror-financing. The lockdown brought about unprecedented disruption and suffering on the poor and the migrants. China and Pakistan have been the most notable failures on the foreign policy front. The prime minister’s personal touch — an unscheduled visit to Nawaz Sharif or sharing a swing with the visiting Chinese president — has not prevented Pakistan and — especially — China in continuing to be aggressive adversaries. That Mr Modi has not had to pay an electoral price for these bloopers only exposes the ineptitude of India’s Opposition. These slips reveal an enduring lacuna. Mr Modi’s regime has a marked preference for optics over substance — a typical hallmark of right-wing politics. What makes diplomacy effective is imagination, an ability to map the consequences of policy positions and, above all, subtlety. Mr Modi and his government, evidently, have no love lost for quiet efficiency