Economy & Policy Analysis

Statsguru: Skewed priorities in priority sector lending across districts

A report by the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister has flagged sharp regional imbalances in priority sector lending and called for a more equity-focused PSL framework

Inflation prints: Wholesale, retail paths diverge amid West Asia turmoil

Over financial years 2017-2026, the volatility of WPI, measured by standard deviation, was almost three times higher than that of CPI, according to the rating agency

Datanomics: Why trade imbalance with Vietnam is a concern for India

Trade deficit with Vietnam widening since FY19

Austerity and symbolism: Matching intent with action amid crises

Following through announcements with enforcement of measures is key, as a run through recent Indian economic history shows

Can India's cotton mission deliver without adopting new technology?

Experts argue that India's Mission for Cotton Productivity may struggle to revive yields and exports unless next-generation genetic technologies and science-led reforms are adopted

Statsguru: Big welfare promises confront strained state economies

Welfare promises dominate politics even as several states face rising fiscal stress and uneven economic capacity

Opinion: India has window of opportunity to unlock tourism boom from Europe

India's improving value perception, geopolitical stability and diverse offerings create a rare opportunity to sharply increase foreign tourism revenues from Europe if approached systematically

What sells ought to be good: How metrics reshaped our idea of quality

Can we build systems where quality and scale coexist - not because quality always wins, but because losing the ability to tell the difference may cost us more than we realise?

India is the third-largest economy in the world in real terms

PPP-based estimates show India as the world's third-largest economy, highlighting how currency distortions mask real purchasing power, domestic demand strength, and global economic influence

War, oil and the rupee: Why policy is playing defence, not stimulus

India's policy response to rising oil prices and geopolitical risks remains cautious, prioritising macroeconomic stability over stimulus as inflation pressures and second-order effects begin to emerge

Why India needs to develop concentrated solar thermal power plants

India's solar boom has exposed grid and storage challenges, making it essential to scale up concentrated solar thermal power alongside batteries and pump storage for reliable round-the-clock energy

West Asia war impact managed well, but some concerns remain: Madan Sabnavis

More importantly, the inflation has been kept under control as of now with the government absorbing a large part of the crude oil cost increase.

Datanomics: India-New Zealand FTA to boost trade, mobility, investment

India and New Zealand have signed a free trade agreement to boost trade, investment, and mobility. Though current trade between the two remains limited, the pact is expected to support India's exports

Insurance for All by 2047: What India needs to fix to meet the goal

Irdai's 'Insurance for All by 2047' vision aims universal coverage, but falling penetration, rural access gaps and affordability challenges raise questions over achieving the target

Why India still lacks big audit firms despite rapid economic growth

Low audit fees, firm bias, technology gaps and regulatory hurdles continue to limit the scale and competitiveness of India's domestic audit firms

When geopolitics becomes economics: India's moment in a disrupted world

Geoeconomics is no longer a subset of geopolitics; it is fast becoming its primary language

AI, Iran, and capital flows: Warning signs for India's middle class

Job losses, reduced asset values, increased inflation can have many long term impacts on the morale and the social fabric that will be hard to predict

Is India's inflation targeting sufficiently capturing the digital economy?

As digital payments reshape consumption patterns, questions arise over whether India's CPI-based inflation targeting adequately reflects real transaction prices in a rapidly evolving economy

Rethinking energy security: Why digital power infra matters more than ever

As global disruptions expose vulnerabilities in energy systems, digital power infrastructure and smart grids are emerging as critical pillars of energy security for India's rapidly growing economy

How India is emerging as testing ground for agri-based carbon markets

Amazon's $30 million rice carbon credit deal highlights India's role in scaling agriculture-based carbon markets while raising questions on trust, verification, and farmer benefits