Category: Economies
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India–China Trade Deficit: Why Recalibration Is Urgent
India’s economic engagement with China has long been defined by asymmetry, but the latest numbers show just how stark that imbalance has become. A recent study by the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) highlights that India’s trade deficit with China has soared to $99.2 billion in…
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Accelerating Local Currency Trade Infrastructure: BRICS’ Strategic Shift Away from Dollar Dominance
In recent years, BRICS members have steadily advanced efforts to reduce their dependence on the U.S. dollar in cross-border trade. The momentum has accelerated in 2025, with new developments in digital payment systems, increased use of local currencies in settlements, and enhanced lending practices by the New Development Bank (NDB).…
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The Future of B2C Export Aggregators from India: From Parcel Pushers to Compliance Platforms
India’s next export growth spurt won’t come from a few superstar brands—it’ll come from thousands of micro-exporters selling directly to consumers worldwide. The connective tissue between these sellers and foreign buyers is the B2C export aggregator: a player that bundles storefronts, payments, compliance, logistics, and after-sales into one operating stack.…
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Apple’s Strategic Pivot: iPhone 17 Manufacturing Expands to India
Apple’s decision to assemble all four models of the upcoming iPhone 17 in India marks a historic shift in the global electronics supply chain. For the first time, the tech giant is set to roll out its flagship device entirely from Indian production lines, spanning five facilities, including Tata Group’s…
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Strategic Pivot: India and China Reconnect
Diplomatic realignment is visibly underway in Asia. As U.S.–India tensions rise, New Delhi appears to be recalibrating its external strategy by cautiously re-engaging with Beijing. Recent diplomatic visits, renewed discussions on easing border frictions, and signals of cooperation on select economic and regional issues indicate that India is exploring ways…
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Foreign Direct Investment in EMDEs: Trends, Challenges, and the Way Forward
Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows to emerging market and developing economies (EMDEs) have been on a steady decline as a share of GDP since the global financial crisis. In the boom years of the 2000s, FDI inflows reached nearly 5% of GDP in a typical EMDE by 2008. Today, they…
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India’s GST Puzzle: Why the 18% Slab Was Left Untouched
In a bold fiscal move, the Government of India is reshaping the Goods and Services Tax (GST) structure—reducing the 28% slab to 18% on some goods and services, and cutting the 12% slab to 5% for several essential commodities. While these measures aim to stimulate consumption and simplify compliance, one…
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BRICS at a Crossroads: Expansion and the Reordering of Global Economic Power
The global economic landscape in 2025 is witnessing a quiet but profound transformation. What began as a modest grouping of five emerging economies—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—has now evolved into a broad-based alliance of 11 full members, with Indonesia joining as the latest addition in January 2025. Beyond…
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Crossroads of Diplomacy and Trade—India’s Strategic Pivot in 2025
August 2025 marks more than just another chapter in global trade—it is the moment when India’s economic diplomacy was stress-tested. What began as a targeted tariff escalation has evolved into a full-spectrum diplomatic challenge, forcing New Delhi to reassess not only its trade priorities but also the very architecture of…
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Innovation Deficit and Digital Sovereignty: Why India Must Bridge the Gap Now
India’s ambition to become a global technology powerhouse is often celebrated in headlines, but the reality beneath the surface is more sobering. Despite its talent pool and thriving startup culture, India has yet to produce tech giants on the scale of Nvidia, TSMC, or OpenAI. Structural weaknesses in research commercialisation,…
