flags-g20-membership-concept-summit-260nw-2237447197 Courtesy: Shutterstock
14 June 2023

India’s G20 presidency at midpoint

India’s year-long G20 Presidency completed six months at a time of global economic slowdown and sharpening geopolitical contestation. While India has done well in leveraging the Presidency to articulate its vital goals, the success of the upcoming Delhi Summit will depend on achieving consensus, additionality, and implementability.

pakistan economy Courtesy: Reuters
24 May 2023

South Asian Currencies in Crisis

India’s South Asian neighbours have all seen sharp currency devaluations since early 2022. These are a result of maintaining artificially strong exchange rates, made possible by remittances from migrant workers. However, by postponing the inevitable devaluations, these states have made their economic crises much worse.

india SL Courtesy: Business World
18 May 2023

India and Sri Lanka Beyond the IMF

The Sri Lankan economy is showing signs of stabilizing after experiencing the worst contraction in its history in 2022. Decisive policies by President Ranil Wickremasinghe, timely Indian aid, and an IMF Programme have laid the groundwork for a return to growth. India and Sri Lanka must now shift from an aid relationship to one which deepens bilateral trade and investment flows.

rupee Courtesy: Amit Bhandari
27 April 2023

Towards multi-currency trade

The dominance of the U.S. dollar in global trade and its status as a fiat currency means it is unlikely to be replaced in the near future. However, the repeated and continued use of sanctions has created the need for a multi-currency trading regime. India must now prepare alternative payment systems and promote the use of the Indian rupee in global trade.

Port-of-Matabari Courtesy: India Shipping News
24 April 2023

A new troika for India’s Northeast

India’s Northeast is developing and getting close to its goal of being part of the Indian mainstream in connectivity and business – which is also critical for the success of India’s Act East Policy. For both goals, Bangladesh and Japan are invaluable partners and friends. The troika’s collaboration can be a model in the region.

shipping-containers-Nantong-eastern-China-Jiangsu-Province-trade-ap Courtesy: The Week
13 April 2023

India-Russia in the shadow of sanctions

In 2022, increased sanctions were imposed on Russia by the U.S., E.U., and their allies. The track record of Western sanctions shows they are quick to be imposed, but slow to be removed. In the current environment, it is reasonable to assume that sanctions on Russia will stay in place for a very long time. India should plan its defence and commercial relations accordingly.

world-bank png Courtesy: CNBC-TV18
13 April 2023

Deepening multilateral development bank reform

The World Bank has published a reform roadmap for multilateral development banks. It touches upon operational change, but in a limited way. The roadmap remains largely silent on how a 21st century World Bank can better address some of the long-standing frustrations that borrowers express about working with it and other such development banks.