Perils of 'self-reliance'

Protectionism will hurt India's economy and its people

When Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced the concept of “aatmanirbharta” or self-reliance to the nation in his televised address on the subject of the government’s relief and stimulus package, he was careful to distinguish India’s efforts from isolationist policies and said that self-reliance would allow a more vigorous embrace of the global economy. In subsequent days, some senior government officials also sought to emphasise that self-reliance, in this context, did not mean protectionism. Yet this messaging seems to have been walked back more recently. Twice now in the past week — once in his radio broadcast, and again while addressing