Can State Level Public Enterprises in India Earn a Rate of Return

State level public enterprises (SLPEs) owe their existence more to historical factors than ideological considerations. They came into being on account of decisions in the former princely states to wind up departmental activities and organise them in the form of autonomous public enterprises. SLPEs have become a potent tool in the hands of state governments to implement public policy and account for a significant share of state capital outlays. This paper investigates whether such enterprises can earn a rate of return and if so, what can be done to achieve the same.