Recently, [Raghuram Rajan][1], a former chief economist at the International Monetary Fund and current Governor of central bank of India, while addressing undergraduate students of Economics, said:

> ... In this country there is a tremendous need for capable economists. I see that every day in my work. There is a need in Delhi, in Mumbai and all over the country. We have lost a generation of economists...**The kind of economics we need is based on a good understanding of the fundamentals of economics, such as price theory and general equilibrium, which is the hardest concept to understand.** *A lot of policy-making is done without an understanding of general equilibrium* which is often the key contribution that an economist can make to the dialog. The kind of economics we need is based on rigorous fundamentals – blood, sweat, tears, and toil. ...

I am a student of public policy in India, aiming to achieve a key position in public policy making. As much as his above statements make me worry at many levels, they also set a a goal for me to achieve. 

In this context, given my background, what do I read to gain *"that expected level"* of understanding? How should my learning path look like?

Had I been present in that addressing of his, I would've surely I asked him these questions.

  [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raghuram_Rajan