23 March 2026
Chinese FDI, Supply Chains, and India\'s Manufacturing Ambitions
In 2020, India imposed restrictions on foreign direct investment (FDI) from countries sharing a land border, primarily to prevent Chinese firms from acquiring stakes in Indian companies. This month the government eased these rules through an amendment to Press Note 3 (2026), allowing Chinese investment of up to 10% equity under the automatic route. This threshold ensures such inflows are classified as FDI rather than foreign institutional investment (FII).The policy shift will trigger political opposition. Has Indias adversarial relationship with China changed? What about the continuing border tensions? And can economic logic outweigh these concerns?
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19 February 2026
The country has rushed to embrace artificial intelligence. Its impacts on jobs, the electrical grid, and water availability need to be taken into account.
India is hosting a massive global AI Impact Summit between February 16-20, with over 20 heads of state, 60 ministers, and around 500 global technology leaders attending. There is huge optimism, driven by the government, about India being at the forefront of the defining technology of this century. Many view artificial intelligence (AI) as the 21st centurys equivalent of the steamship or the airplane in the 20th. However, it is worth examining what AI actually entails and the less visible costs associated with it.
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15 December 2025
An analysis of the economic and geopolitical drivers behind Indias recent surge in free trade agreements.
India now appears poised to seal an FTA with New Zealand, even as talks continue with Oman, Chile, Israel, Canada and others. As one observer joked, we seem to have an FTA with every country except the Vatican. The quip may be exaggerated, but the question stands: why is India pursuing so many agreements, each demanding political capital and administrative effort? India is signing not only broad regional deals, such as with EFTA, but also bilaterals with countries already embedded in other regional blocs. What explains this sudden acceleration?
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11 November 2025
Examining whether artificial intelligence threatens jobs or simply transforms the nature of work.
The article explores the evolving relationship between artificial intelligence (AI) and employment, arguing that while AI-driven automation enhances efficiency and may initially displace certain job roles, it ultimately cannot replace human labor on the consumption side of the economy. Drawing parallels to the Y2K era, the author suggests that fears of mass unemployment due to AI are overstated. Instead, AI should be viewed as a productivity tool whose limitations in analytical transparency and dependence on human purpose underscore the continuing importance of human labor.
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11 November 2025
AI can make production increasingly sophisticated but consumption will need people with incomes
While artificial intelligence is transforming production and making processes more efficient, it cannot replace the human role in consumption. Labour will continue to be essential in sustaining demand, making fears of redundancy largely misplaced.
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11 November 2025
Why Indias young workforce and growing consumer base make it central to the global economic future.
This article explores how technological advances and demographic trends intersect to shape the global economy, emphasizing Indias pivotal role as a market driven by its large and youthful population amid global stagnation.
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08 October 2025
Global Experts Discuss Trade, Climate Policy, and Industrial Adaptation at AEDRs 2025 Conclave
The Association of Environment and Development Research (AEDR) hosted a one-day conclave on October 8, 2025, at PHDCCI, focusing on the intersection of trade, environmental policy, and sustainable industry. Experts highlighted the implications of global policy shifts, such as the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and the EUs Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, on Indian industries. Discussions underscored the need for domestic carbon markets, regional trade cooperation, and sustainable urban development to address mounting environmental challenges.
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29 August 2025
India faces steep tariff challenges as Trumps protectionist policies mix politics with economics.
Trumps renewed tariff war threatens global trade stability and hits Indian exporters hard, but its true motivations lie more in political theatre than in economic rationale.
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16 May 2025
Trumps revival of protectionist tariffs echoes McKinley-era nationalism, blending ideology, ego, and geopolitics in a deeply globalized world.
Donald Trumps renewed push for tariffs reflects more than economic protectionism it channels political theatre and historical nostalgia. While the tariffs aim to safeguard American industry, they risk inflating consumer prices, disrupting supply chains, and straining relations with allies like India. As the U.S. economy faces labour shortages and budgetary pressure, Trumps policies underscore a 19th-century mindset in a 21st-century economy. For India, the task lies in adapting pragmatically and strategically to shifting trade realities.
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02 May 2025
Understanding Trumps tariff war and its implications for global and Indian trade policy.
The escalating tariff battles led by the United States under President Trump echo the trade conflicts of the 1950s, with potential global repercussions. While the U.S. aims to reassert dominance through protectionism, India must navigate the evolving trade landscape strategicallyespecially by leveraging opportunities in services and recalibrating its trade negotiation approach.
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24 April 2025
Trumps tariff reversals expose deeper geopolitical ambitions where democracy risks becoming the ultimate casualty.
This article analyzes how Donald Trumps rapid tariff reversals reflect not just economic recalibration but a shift toward global power realignment. It argues that the return of U.S. unilateralism signals a new cold war with China, threatening democratic ideals in pursuit of economic dominance.
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18 April 2025
An analysis of the motivations and economic implications behind Donald Trumps renewed tariff strategies.
Manoj Pant examines the logic and consequences behind President Trump\\'s protectionist trade policies, drawing parallels with historical precedents and evaluating their impact on India and the global economy.
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04 April 2025
Why Indias best response to U.S. reciprocal tariffs may be strategic patience rather than retaliation.
This article analyzes the implications of the U.S. Trade Representatives new reciprocal tariff formula, arguing that while Americas global trade clout has diminished, India should avoid immediate retaliation and instead wait for clarity on tariff calculations and political negotiations.
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28 March 2025
Why Trumps tariff strategy may disrupt politics but is unlikely to trigger a 1930s-style global economic collapse.
This article examines the economic and geopolitical implications of Donald Trumps tariff policies, arguing that despite unsettling global politics, todays flexible exchange rates, global value chains, and multinational networks make a repeat of the Great Depression unlikely.
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14 February 2025
How Trumps return could reshape global trade, multilateralism, and the balance of economic power.
As Donald Trumps potential return to power looms, concerns rise over tariffs, trade disruptions, and weakening multilateral institutions. Yet, the global economy has evolved beyond U.S. dominance. Dr. Manoj Pant explores how geo-economics rather than geopolitics now defines global relations, with countries adapting to reduced dependence on the U.S. market and recalibrating toward regional cooperation and service trade interdependence.
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07 February 2025
Why codifying global trade in services is essential as non-tariff barriers rise and WTO negotiations stall.
This article highlights the growing importance of services in global trade, the challenges posed by non-tariff barriers and lack of reliable data, and why developing countries like India must adopt a structured approachthrough mutual recognition agreements and services trade indicesto negotiate effectively in this emerging frontier.
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10 January 2025
Trump\\'s renewed tariff threats may rattle global markets, but structural shifts in world trade make his impact limited.
As Donald Trump prepares for another term, concerns rise over his potential tariff wars and their effect on global trade. Yet, historical evidence and structural changes suggest that world trade is far less vulnerable today, with many countries having diversified away from US dependency.
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01 November 2024
Why reviving economic cooperation with China could be key to Indias next growth phase.
This article explores how evolving global trade dynamics, Chinas economic slowdown, and geopolitical shifts may create new opportunities for India to attract FDI and strengthen its export base through pragmatic engagement with China.
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14 July 2023
Encouraging rooftop solar adoption through tariff rationalization can help India meet its climate commitments cost-effectively.
The article argues that rooftop solar power (RTS) is a crucial yet underutilized component in Indias efforts to meet its emission reduction goals. It recommends that the Union Budget should phase out import duties on solar modules and cells to accelerate adoption, reduce household electricity costs, and support Indias commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.
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