Category: Indian economy
-
The EU–India FTA: Why the “Mother of All Deals” Could Redraw Global Trade Geography
When Ursula von der Leyen called the upcoming EU–India Free Trade Agreement the “mother of all deals” at Davos, it was not diplomatic exaggeration. It was a recognition that this potential agreement—linking nearly two billion people and close to one-fourth of global GDP—could structurally shift the direction of global trade,…
-
Beyond Tariffs: Why India and Canada Are Natural Partners in the Next Global Trade Cycle
A Canada–India Free Trade Agreement could become one of the most strategically important economic steps for both countries in the coming decade, provided it is crafted with precision, long-term vision, and sector-specific priorities. Unlike other FTAs where competitive interests dominate, Canada and India are complementary economies, with Canada endowed with…
-
Private versus Public Investment: What Is Really Pulling India’s Growth?
India’s current growth story sits at an unusual historical crossroads. At a time when headline GDP growth for FY26 is projected in the 6.5–7.4% range, the composition of that growth reveals a deeper structural imbalance. The economy is expanding, but it is being carried disproportionately by the state rather than…
-
When Factories Pause: Reading the Signals from India’s Manufacturing Slowdown
India’s factory output losing momentum in December—marking the slowest expansion in nearly two years—is not merely a monthly data point. It is a signal flare. Beneath the headline lies a deeper story about demand fatigue, global trade realignments, and the structural crossroads at which Indian manufacturing now stands. For an…
-
Can India Lead the Global AI Race?
The question of whether India can lead the global artificial intelligence race is no longer speculative—it is structural. History shows that technological leadership does not emerge merely from invention, but from the ability to combine talent, capital, policy, and scale into a self-reinforcing system. AI today sits at a similar…
-
The End of Easy Growth
Global business is moving into a structurally different phase—one where growth is slower, shocks are more frequent, and predictability is scarce. The post-Cold War era of liberalized trade, abundant liquidity, and volume-driven expansion is fading. In its place is an economy shaped by tighter monetary conditions, fragmented geopolitics, and policy…
-
The US Economy in 2025: A Surge, a Slowdown, and a Strategic Crossroads
The United States entered late-2025 on a surprising note: GDP growth accelerated to 4.3% (annualized) in Q3, the strongest pace in two years and far above market expectations. This resurgence—impressive on the surface—comes after a volatile period marked by policy reversals, tariff redesigns, and recession anxieties. Historically, such late-cycle surges…
-
India’s Microfinance Moment: From Financial Inclusion to Financial Fragility
Microfinance in India was born with moral ambition. It promised to democratise credit, liberate households from moneylenders, and convert the poor into micro-entrepreneurs. In its early decades, the narrative carried the glow of social transformation—small loans, collective responsibility, and women-centric empowerment were presented as antidotes to exclusionary banking. Yet, by…
-
The Long Road to an India–US Trade Compact: Between Strategic Convergence and Structural Friction
A Relationship Shaped by History, Not Habit The idea of an India–US Free Trade Agreement has resurfaced many times over the past three decades, only to stall at the intersection of economics and politics. Unlike India’s trade engagements with the EU, ASEAN, or even the UK, a US trade deal…
-
India–EU Free Trade Agreement: From Missed Opportunities to a Strategic Economic Reset
The India–European Union economic relationship has long been defined by potential rather than performance. Despite being natural partners—India as a fast-growing consumption and manufacturing base, and the EU as a technology, capital, and standards powerhouse—bilateral trade has remained modest relative to scale. The renewed push toward an India–EU Free Trade…
"Connecting communities, empowering nations: Unifying the Regional and Global Economy ." 