Archive · 22 Aug 2026
JS Deepak’s Memoir Offers A Candid, Humorous View Of Governance
JS Deepak wrote a book about his long career as a senior Indian government official.
He explains how important decisions about phones, trade and industry were made.
One chapter describes how officials designed a 3G spectrum auction after the 2G controversy.
The auction raised Rs 1.06 lakh crore.
Deepak also says the financial loss from 2G was larger than an official estimate.
In another case, he questioned a large BSNL purchase because he believed it might cost too much.
The book also tells funny stories about ministers, food, wine and government life.
The reviewer says the memoir is honest, entertaining and useful for understanding how India is governed.
JS Deepak’s memoir draws on his 38-year career as a Uttar Pradesh-cadre IAS officer.
The book details the 3G auction, which raised Rs 1.06 lakh crore, nearly 5.5 times its reserve price.
Deepak argues that the 2G spectrum loss exceeded the Comptroller and Auditor General’s estimate of Rs 1.76 lakh crore.
He questioned a Rs 36,000-crore BSNL procurement tender and estimated possible overpayment of more than Rs 8,600 crore.
The memoir combines policy accounts with humorous portraits of ministers, cultural digressions and reflections on trade and China.
- Who
- JS Deepak, a 1982-batch Uttar Pradesh-cadre IAS officer and former secretary of telecom and IT.
- What
- A review of Deepak’s memoir, I Dared to Dial Differently: An Insider’s Account of the IAS.
- When
- The memoir covers Deepak’s 38-year career; the BSNL episode described occurred on December 24, 2009.
- Where
- The events span Indian government departments, the telecommunications sector, Geneva and World Trade Organization negotiations.
- Why
- The book aims to explain policymaking and government from an insider’s perspective while recounting Deepak’s policy disputes, relationships and experiences.
Deepak’s Assessment
Official Estimate
2G spectrum loss
Deepak’s Assessment
Deepak argues that the loss to the exchequer exceeded Rs 2 lakh crore because lower-frequency 2G spectrum was more valuable than the spectrum used for comparison.
Official Estimate
The Comptroller and Auditor General estimated the loss at Rs 1.76 lakh crore and treated the relevant 2G and 3G/broadband wireless access spectrum as economically comparable.
- Author
- JS Deepak
- Book
- I Dared to Dial Differently: An Insider’s Account of the IAS
- Publisher
- Hachette
- Length and price
- 344 pages; Rs 799
- 3G auction proceeds
- Rs 1.06 lakh crore, almost 5.5 times the reserve price
- BSNL procurement
- A proposed Rs 36,000-crore tender that Deepak questioned
- Deepak’s policy estimate
- He estimated possible BSNL overpayment of more than Rs 8,600 crore