)
35 years of liberalisation
35 years of liberalisation
Half a lifetime after the 1991 reforms: Lotuses bloom in muddy waters
Thirty-five years after the 1991 reforms, India has grown dramatically but unfinished reforms, weak public services and job creation remain major challenges
 "35 years of liberalisation")
'Extract after extract in Manmohan's 1991 speech was from my mini Budget'
Former finance minister Yashwant Sinha says his 1990 mini Budget shaped Manmohan Singh's 1991 speech, while calling for continuous reforms and infrastructure-led demand growth
Updated On : 04 Aug 2026 | 12:02 AM IST "35 years of liberalisation")
We realised after 1991 that we have to innovate, not wait in Delhi: Murthy
As long as we have corporate leaders who understand the power of AI and ensure that their employees are well trained, I do not see any problem, says Infosys cofounder N R Narayana Murthy
Updated On : 24 Jul 2026 | 11:22 PM IST "35 years of liberalisation")
1991 Budget speech was Freedom Day for us; whole world was open: Mittal
Sunil Bharti Mittal says the 1991 reforms transformed India's business landscape, paving the way for Airtel, and calls for continued reforms to sustain growth
Updated On : 27 Jul 2026 | 2:25 PM IST "35 years of liberalisation")
Latest Updates on 35 years of liberalisation
History shows weak govts managed to push more reforms: Naushad Forbes
Naushad Forbes says India needs deeper economic reforms, lower trade barriers and greater deregulation to revive manufacturing, exports, private investment and growth
 "History shows weak govts managed to push more reforms: Naushad Forbes")
Real change after 1991 was cultural; it shifted biz dynamics: Cyrus Guzder
Liberalisation transformed logistics, but fragmented trucking and infrastructure gaps remain major constraints
 "Real change after 1991 was cultural; it shifted biz dynamics: Cyrus Guzder")
'The 1991 reforms were brought in reluctantly; there was distrust of biz'
India has an opportunity again with China turning the reform clock back in some ways, says the man who helped launch Pepsi and Reebok in India
 "'The 1991 reforms were brought in reluctantly; there was distrust of biz'")
35 years of liberalisation: The making of India's regulatory state
India's regulatory framework must evolve towards greater independence, transparency and accountability as markets and regulators mature
 "35 years of liberalisation: The making of India's regulatory state")
1991 reforms: Quant analysis shows liberalisation gains are petering out
India's global percentile ranking has improved modestly since 1991, but weak per capita gains and external vulnerability remain key drags
 "1991 reforms: Quant analysis shows liberalisation gains are petering out")
How the fashionable Indian was spoilt for choice after 1991 reforms
Liberalisation brought a flood of international brands into India, but failed to help create a global brand from within the country
 "How the fashionable Indian was spoilt for choice after 1991 reforms")
35 years on, govt remains firmly in the business of doing business
India's privatisation drive has remained slow, with the government retaining a significant commercial presence across key sectors.
 "35 years on, govt remains firmly in the business of doing business")
35 years of liberalisation: How the reforms bus bypassed India's farms
Three decades after economic liberalisation, India's farm sector still faces deep structural constraints, from weak markets and investment to subsidy dependence and resistance to reform
 "35 years of liberalisation: How the reforms bus bypassed India's farms")
35 yrs of liberalisation: Hyderabad's journey from IT hub to 'Future City'
Economic liberalisation, policy continuity and global investments transformed Hyderabad from a historic trading centre into a powerhouse of IT, pharma, GCCs and emerging technologies
 "35 yrs of liberalisation: Hyderabad's journey from IT hub to 'Future City'")
After every difficulty, we emerged much stronger: ITC's Sanjiv Puri
In an interview at the company's headquarters in Kolkata, Chairman and Managing Director Sanjiv Puri speaks to Ishita Ayan Dutt about how liberalisation transformed the competitive landscape
 "After every difficulty, we emerged much stronger: ITC's Sanjiv Puri")
India's space sector: Slow burn, hard-won successes - and then liftoff
From PSLV's breakthrough in the 1990s to Chandrayaan and private-sector reforms, India's space programme has transformed over 35 years
 "India's space sector: Slow burn, hard-won successes - and then liftoff")
'In 1991, we faced both an economic as well as external relations crisis'
Saran says that India must shore up relations in its neighbourhood before it can aim for global leadership and that it must not succumb to pressure from the United States
 "'In 1991, we faced both an economic as well as external relations crisis'")
35 years of liberalisation: India's workforce remains largely informal
Despite decades of economic reforms, informal and contractual work remains entrenched as weak manufacturing growth, small firms and skill gaps constrain formal job creation
 "35 years of liberalisation: India's workforce remains largely informal")
Setting up NSE was the biggest reform in the capital mkts: Raamdeo Agrawal
Raamdeo Agrawal, cofounder and chairman of Motilal Oswal Financial Services talks about how reforms changed the equity culture in India
 "Setting up NSE was the biggest reform in the capital mkts: Raamdeo Agrawal")
India Inc failed to ramp up R&D spends despite '90s economic reform push
Cumulative spending on R&D was just $7.2 bn in FY26, against $61 bn spent by Alphabet alone in 2025
 "India Inc failed to ramp up R&D spends despite '90s economic reform push")
How reforms in banking shifted from boosting competition to building scale
On July 21, 1993, RBI provided in-principle approval to HDFC and Unit Trust of India, or UTI (its lender later became Axis Bank), for starting banking companies
 "How reforms in banking shifted from boosting competition to building scale")
Ease of doing business is not a consideration even today: Anjan Chatterjee
Speciality Restaurants' Anjan Chatterjee on liberalisation, scaling brands, competition and the challenges confronting India's restaurant industry
 "Ease of doing business is not a consideration even today: Anjan Chatterjee")
The economic reforms paradox: A few states dominate FDI inflows
Just seven states accounted for nearly 82% of all FDI equity inflows to India from January 2000 to March 2026
 "The economic reforms paradox: A few states dominate FDI inflows")
The battle for shelf space: How reforms ramped up competition in FMCG
India's FMCG market evolves from global-brand dominance to fierce local, regional and digital competition
 "The battle for shelf space: How reforms ramped up competition in FMCG")
35 yrs of liberalisation: Tax system makes progress, but reforms unfinished
India's tax system has come a long way since 1991, but simplifying GST, clearing tax disputes and improving taxpayer services remain key priorities
 "35 yrs of liberalisation: Tax system makes progress, but reforms unfinished")