Green growth cannot be an afterthought. We need to promote climate-resilient agriculture, regulate construction, and community-led action for lifestyle changes.

The shifting sands of the South Asian trade landscape may be worthy of some serious reflection for India’s regional trade strategy.

This paper assesses the feasibility of India achieving its stated goal of net zero by 2070 and presents a medium-term strategy for what would be required over the next decade to achieve this objective.

Shivshankar Menon examines the shifting dynamics of global geopolitics, emphasising the historical evolution from empires to modern superstates and the continued relevance of small states.

The paper outlines the technical attributes and features of the mathematical modelling programs, such as sectoral coverage, economic growth assumptions, modelling algorithms, optimisation methods, etc., with an emphasis on the usability and scalability of the models.

A new policy brief from the Task Force on Climate, Development and the IMF seeks to improve the RST’s design by taking stock of the early experiences of RST programs.

We are staring at an employment crisis, which could get worse. But with policy support that could change.

As the energy transition unfolds, the role of the discom is transforming.

Developed countries and MDBs can raise just a third of the requirement. Carbon pricing and ETS will have to play a bigger role.

A comprehensive strategy is needed to propel India’s manufacturing capabilities.

Om Prakash Mathur talks about how India needs to manage its urban growth much faster, how the programme to develop smart cities has not helped and how, despite successive Finance Commissions recommending increasing the grant-in-aid to our municipalities.

India's leading urban scholar and the author of "Changing Paradigms of Urbanisation: India and Beyond" Om Prakash Mathur reveals how rigid urban land and labour markets have actually slowed down the rate of India's urbanisation.

Former envoys to Sri Lanka say the Ministry of External Affairs’s position for the past decade has been in line with previous government thus far

Laveesh Bhandari reviews "Stumbling Into Reforms (1977 to 1998)" the second volume of "India's Finance Minister" series by AK Bhattacharya.

Vikram Singh Mehta reviews the book book Climate Capitalism: Winning the Global Race to Zero Emissions by Akshat Rathi.

As Africa houses three-fourths of humanity and over 39 per cent of the global GDP, there's a growing call to reform existing structures towards a more inclusive and representative system focused on development.

Laveesh Bhandari and Rajat Verma examine the fiscal implications that are to be borne in mind to arrive at equilibrium in the taxes.

Pooja Ramamurthi argue that partnerships with bridging powers are increasingly vital to unpicking North-South gridlocks and effective climate cooperation.

This paper argues that India must prioritise the development of multimodal transportation infrastructure beyond coastal areas to bridge the current gap between maritime and land-based initiatives around the Bay of Bengal and spur the creation of sub regional, regional, and inter-regional economic corridors.

Apart from being churned frequently, the regulatory norms entail high capital and operating costs.

Effective implementation of the CCTS will enable Indian enterprises to demonstrate their commitment to low-carbon production processes using green technologies, which can reduce CBAM costs and expand green energy-intensive export opportunities in the EU market.

Considering experiences across various states, the paper advises caution in prescribing the IBDF model as a “standard” policy solution for loss reduction.

With Big Oil's 2050 forecast that places oil and gas at the centre of energy basket, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to achieve net-zero carbon emissions targets

The falling share of food in households’ spending will help, given food inflation also drives inflation expectations.

In this episode, Shishir Gupta discusses the factors behind the high cost of housing in India and suggests possible solutions.

The National Rural Livelihood Mission, better targeting and delivering of benefits, wider reach of digital infrastructure have contributed to the spurt

Unlike Pakistan, Indonesia has harnessed its natural advantages to nurture a sustainable growth trajectory.

Shishir Gupta provides insights into the RBI urging the private sector to take over the responsibility of driving capex. Could it slow down the momentum of govt capex in FY25?

Optimists uphold that the productive deployment of AI will eventually increase prosperity and well-being universally, as had happened with electricity or telephones.

The first step in improving affordability is to release land supply in a planned and transparent manner. This will increase competition and put pressure on prices.

Constantino Xavier joins Milan Vaishnav to assess the Modi government's approach to managing India's relationship with its neighbors across the Indo-Pacific in this episode of Carnegie's Grand Tamasha podcast.

The Indo-Pacific countries should use their domestic capacities optimally and participate in global supply chains with a diverse range of partner countries in mining, processing, assembling, and final-use activities. India is currently discussing trilateral cooperation with France and Japan.

The authors argue that there is a need to extend and facilitate access to the ultimate global financial safety net layer: the IMF. We illustrate that by pointing out how Morocco and Mexico have boosted their defensive power by having access to IMF precautionary lines of credit.

Regulatory panic could do more harm than good. Rather than poor risk management today, rules should anticipate the greater risks that lie ahead.

With growing capabilities and interests, India needs to reconsider the current terms of the partnership between the military and our diplomats.

Deepak Maheshwari talks about how national cyber security strategy should be one of the top policy priorities of the government post the elections in India.

The Centre for Social and Economic Progress is delighted to share the Annual Report for the calendar year 2023.

The possibility of tax cuts in the upcoming budget is being speculated widely in the UK. But can the British economy afford them?

This study reviews the strategic aspects and related ramifications of existing and potential surface trading routes between India and the three South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries: Nepal, Bangladesh, and Bhutan, and the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) member country Myanmar.

This study explores the relationship between economic growth and non-income components (health and education) of the Human Development Index (HDI) for 26 Indian states during the period from 1990 to 2019.

How will CNG bikes change the two-wheeler industry if it succeeds? Shyamasis Das shares his insights.

In this paper, Jaimini Bhagwati and Shalini Chauhan trace the legacy of India's railway system, its expansive growth, and ongoing challenges.

Vikram Singh Mehta advises businesses to integrate scenario planning into risk management processes to tackle political risk in an increasingly uncertain global context with upcoming elections in several countries.

The choice of a defence minister from the Chinese navy is also an attempt to avoid further embarrassment for China, domestically as well as externally.

Laveesh Bhandari gave a lecture at the Indian School of Public Policy on January 31, 2024. He shed light on the dynamic nature of public policy and the importance of embracing diverse perspectives and disciplines to tackle real-world problems effectively. | Jan 31 Rajesh Chadha chaired a panel session on “Strategies and ...

As the global trade policy has moved away from World Trade Organisation (WTO) led multilateralism, towards Regional Trade Agreements, this blog tries to understand the evolution of India’s Regional Trade Agreement (RTA) strategy.

In an industry already primed for concentration, creative alternatives for safeguarding the public interest are needed.

The evolving regional trade context should be the primary guiding factor for the AITIGA review.

Sanjay Kathuria discusses obstacles hindering India-Pakistan trade and explores insights on sensitive lists, solar partnerships, and a USD 37 billion trade potential.

This Policy Brief explores how India has transformed into a positive force on the global stage, achieving domestic climate targets and spearheading innovative approaches in climate diplomacy.

The Israel-Hamas war has naturally compromised any significant movement on fleshing out the gigantic ambition of an economic corridor through one of the world’s most divisive, conflict-ridden regions.

The regulation of state-owned discoms can create challenges. Upon getting conflicting directives from the government and the regulator, such entities prioritise the former’s orders.

Brazil gears up to lead the G20 with a three-point agenda focusing on combating hunger, poverty, and inequality; sustainable development; and global governance reform.

The International Monetary Fund’s deep dive into global trade fragmentation and restrictiveness shows lasting consequences of raised costs, feeding into inflation and weakening growth.

Hidden debt is a major problem across the world that the G20 Data Gaps Initiative needs to resolve, writes Anoop Singh.

As a part of CSEP's ongoing work on securing critical minerals for India’s green technology and net-zero transition, this analysis incorporates emerging thoughts on Quad-ASEAN cooperation in creating resilient regional supply chains.

Private final consumer expenditure (PFCE) growth is estimated tumbling to 4.4% this year from 7.5% in FY23, and one-third its growth rate at the recovery peak in FY22, 11.2%.

Shivshankar Menon explores the shifting tides of diplomacy. This piece examines the evolving landscape of international relations in a changing world.

Sanjay Kathuria discusses how the geopolitical competition in South Asia is influencing trade relations and policies of the states engaged in the region.

India is experiencing extreme weather conditions. Is it time for a climate change resilience authority?

Two pressing issues have reignited the debate about the credibility of India’s GDP growth rate.

Rakesh Mohan was panelist for the session on “India, Pakistan and Bangladesh: Where did their growth trajectories diverge?” at the Pathways to Development Conference hosted by CDPR | Dec 18   Constantino Xavier and Riya Sinha presented their paper on “Strengthening India’s Land Linkages Around the Bay of Bengal” at MP-IDSA’s 15th ...

Daljit Singh's working paper examines the regulatory framework of the Indian power sector, often criticised for contributing to the financial strain of electricity distribution companies.

The authors outline the incidence of diseases in Indian states over the last two decades, and the role that the PMJAY programme plays to alleviate constraints to healthcare access

Montek Singh Ahluwalia, former Deputy Chairman of the erstwhile Planning Commission says India needs a better export strategy to take advantage of the shift in global demand away from China.

It must be noted that the demand signs are not unqualified. Private consumption, the prime driver for fresh business plans and investments, is not as correspondingly upbeat as the mood

The veteran economist said that the ultimate responsibility of regulating a PSB, including removing the Chairman, if necessary, should rest with the RBI, as is the case with private banks.

India actively works with the United Nations on South-South development, being one of its largest financial donors.

CoP meetings have routinely talked of the need for a fair and just transition, consistent with the principles of "common but differentiated responsibilities" but they never discussed how to apply it in practice.

The authors present an index of the 25 countries that are vying for global leadership on AI — and the factors that determine which nations will pull ahead.

India must significantly increase its public spending on health and education, and ensure its effective targeting. This would reduce people’s out-of-pocket expenses, allowing them to allocate funds to their other crucial needs and strengthen the interlinkages between human development and economic growth.

An IMF analysis suggests that several low-income countries (LICs) have been at high risk of debt distress or are in debt distress. Between 2010 and 2022, interest payments on both domestic and external debt of developing countries increased by 64%, and of African countries by 132%.

Pricing carbon, either directly or indirectly, provides a price incentive to producers to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, it is important to examine the impact of such governmental policies on the economy, emissions, and particularly households, who will bear the incidence of such taxes.

This paper focuses on tax buoyancy, which includes discretionary policy changes, to examine how the historical relationship of tax revenues with income may have been disturbed by exceptional shocks.

The study argues for the need to consider multiple factors, including efficiency, equity, sustainability, institutional considerations, and the possibility of reducing expenditures on non-essential goods.

The dominant drivers of the crude oil market today are not the fundamentals of demand and supply, but the non-fundamentals, the psychology of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Joe Biden and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

This report has been launched by Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (APF Canada) with an aim to present varied views from APF Canada-affiliated experts on Indo-Pacific Strategy and encourage an understanding of Canada's evolving role in the region.

Riya Sinha was panelist at the discussion on “Improving India’s Ease of Trading Across Borders: Opportunities and Challenges in Integrated Check Posts”, at Land Ports Authority of India | Nov 22  Rahul Tongia was invited for the expert discussion for COP28 with the Minister for Environment, Forests, and Climate Change, New Delhi ...

In the last one decade, India has cast itself as being part of the climate solution—which in turn has created the space for diplomatic negotiations.

This research specifically focuses on the uncertainties surrounding the potential impact of CBAM on trade-exposed sectors with high energy intensity, particularly in developing countries like India.

If the world must achieve zero emissions by 2050, it’s impractical and unfair to require all countries to reach that goal simultaneously.

Constantino Xavier's essay offers a policy roadmap to enable Sweden and India to implement joint development cooperation initiatives in third countries in the Indian Ocean region and East Africa.

The interview provides valuable insights into the complexities of the African job market and potential pathways to overcome its challenges.

If the smartest thinkers in the US can worry about its political dysfunction and can call for ‘rebuilding support at home’, Indians should worry too, about how our country’s external aspirations are articulated and achieved.

To achieve the levels seen in 2008, it is essential to increase corporate productivity, write Shishir Gupta and Rishita Sachdeva.

It is now time to invest in a strategic capacity so that India's climate diplomacy is better equipped to transform prevailing climate commitments into action.

In India, existing mine closure legislation lacks provisions to adequately address the socio-economic and cultural aspects, highlighting the need for an improved policy paradigm.

This essay examines India’s energy security in the short and medium term and finds that development needs will drive the country’s energy policy, which balances energy security with the energy transition.

This study tackles the existing research and data gaps regarding pollution generation by incorporating sector-specific data from India’s greenhouse gas inventory.

India could dominate the global labour force by 2030 if it’s able to effectively utilise its growing young population.

Fully realising the potential of emerging technologies in the military requires altering existing organisations and approaches.

Shivshankar Menon writes about why the use of force is rarely a sufficient response to terrorism

CSEP Senior Fellow Renu Kohli provides a comparative illustration of the domestic context of the Indian economy then and now to identify critical aspects that could potentially affect the translation of high expectations into actual outcomes

Democracy has the built-in check of electoral accountability. But that happens only every 4- 5 years. In the interim, leaders have considerable latitude to exercise power ostensibly for the purpose of ‘national security'.

A key feature of a cap-and-trade system must be a steady reduction in allowances per unit of output over time, calibrated to the net-zero target, write Montek Singh Ahulwalia and Utkarsh Patel.

India’s progress in driving the need for climate mitigation and adaptation has been commendable and swift. A key question is whether results in terms of reduced carbon emissions will arrive.

There is a need to tap into the potential of Special Drawing Right (SDR), especially at a time when the global community is struggling to mobilise finances for sustainable development and climate change.

Madhurima Nundy and Pankhuri Bhatt's paper presents a detailed review and analysis of India’s health insurance landscape, with a focus on voluntary health insurance (VHI).

An IMF restructured to function more equitably would reinforce its role in global monetary and financial governance.

As the IMF strives to complete the 16th General Review and works towards some agreement on quota realignment as part of the 17th General Review, the IMF Board of Governors should strive to reach a consensus on three fundamental changes to the IMF’s resources and governance.

Rajesh Chadha was a panelist on a webinar hosted by CEEW and the Ministry of Mines titled “Decoding the G20 Consensus on Critical Minerals for the Energy Transition” | Oct 31 Madhurima Nundy was a discussant at the conference on “Integrating Health and Social Care Services for the Elderly in Asia: A ...

Shishir Gupta, Nandini Agnihotri and Annie George shed light on the state and dynamics of house prices in India by leveraging a unique dataset that gives house prices over the past 30 years.

Laveesh Bhandari and Aasheerwad Dwivedi study growth in electricity consumption, the key factors affecting it, and its link with economic activity.

Defence reforms reimagine the relationship between the defence ministry and the military and foster greater inter-services collaboration.

The paper highlights the economic importance of mining activities and the need to be environmentally responsible and safeguard the welfare and livelihoods of the local communities.

The challenge is the production and distribution of doctors. The doctor availability across states is very variable, and there are numerous factors driving this: state’s economic status, public health expenditure, expenditure on medical education.

China’s economic, diplomatic, and military activities in South Asia and the Indian Ocean island states have New Delhi concerned about Beijing’s growing influence in its neighborhood. In this episode of Global India, Tanvi Madan discusses with Constantino Xavier about how India is responding.

An increasingly competitive geopolitical context is fragmenting global climate governance and traditional modes of multilateral cooperation. The report maps both what has been done in the past as well as the avenues towards a comprehensive climate strategy built on greater policy coordination and expanded state capacity for India to engage externally.

Despite a pandemic, war, higher cost of living and interest rates, economic activity has not stalled or fallen into recession even as inflation continues to decelerate, writes Renu Kohli.

Rahul Tongia, Aarushi Dave and Utkarsh Dalal study the impacts of times-of-day and seasons on the different types of fuels for generation electricity, their output ramp (swing up or down) rates, daily swings between maximum and minimum output, and relative contributions of each fuel type.

Anoop Singh elaborates the essential pillars of a radically renovated International Monetary Fund (IMF) to face the challenges of the future.

Anoop Singh, Bernard Snoy and Michel Camdessus analyse the need to reform the international monetary system.

The goal of equity requires attention to incentives and encouraging migration to low-availability areas rather than restricting production. The policy focus, therefore, should be on addressing the barriers to scale.

Nikhil Tyagi and Rahul Tongia's paper attempts to examine the structure and legacy of electricity distribution in the state with a lens to examine how that impacts the future viability of the distribution companies (DisComs)

Corporate investment, which plays a critical role in driving economic growth, has been in a slump in India for more than a decade. This op-ed analyses the behaviour of corporate savings and investment since 2007-08.

Ramu Damodaran writes about trust between states, governments and people as a means to extend, and not inhibit, the promise and possibilities of national sovereignty.

Edmund Burke is frequently seen as the forerunner of the conservative movement, not least for his fierce critique of the French Revolution. But both his admirers and his detractors have too often ignored the complexity of his thought, which in important ways challenges the politics of the contemporary right, writes Uday Singh ...

In an interview with ABC News, Shivshankar Menon discusses India Canada diplomatic relations.

CSEP Distinguished Fellow Shivshankar Menon discusses the Israel-Palestine conflict with Republic World.

In this episode of The Director’s Chair, Michael Fullilove speaks to the leading Indian scholar and diplomat, Shivshankar Menon on Hamas’s attack on Israel, how India manages its relationship with China, and why he is an optimist about the relationship between India and Australia.

The policy brief from the Task Force on Climate, Development and the IMF proposes a ‘loss and damage package’ at the IMF that spans its surveillance, lending toolkit and global policy coordination.

Gulzar Natarajan and V Anantha Nageswaran make the case that poverty alleviation, growth, and climate-related transition, which require both public and private funds, need to be pursued in parallel.

Resuming trade with India is a chance to escape spiraling crises, writes Sanjay Kathuria in this article.

The total flow of financial resources to the commercial sector, which provides a good grip on the strength of the real economy, is compiled by the central bank.

Rajesh Chadha, Ganesh Sivamani and Karthik Bansal presented their work on critical minerals at the 19th Central Geological Programming Board (CGPB) Committee-III meeting hosted by the Ministry of Mines. CSEP has also been nominated as one of the permanent invitees to Committee III on Non-Ferrous and Strategic Minerals | Sept 29 Rajesh ...

If such data were to become available, markets could more effectively reward or punish governments at the Centre and states for their borrowing behaviours, write Kevin James and Shruti Gupta.

A happy convergence of circumstances and trends have created a perfect launchpad for India’s global economic ambitions. Unless there are some unexpected surprises, this trajectory, already underway, will fundamentally transform India.

A diplomat had nearly swung the honour for Gandhi in 1961

Dealing with common challenges requires a political compact that addresses how both countries view Canada’s Indian diaspora and mitigating its worst impulses, particularly those fanning separatist embers in India.

Shivshankar Menon shares his views on the India-China competition, the potential for cooperation or crisis, and what it means for India’s partners on the inaugural episode of Global India, in this podcast.

What prevents India's original equipment manufacturers (OEM) from transitioning to flex engines? Shyamasis Das discusses the challenges faced, including the high cost of flex engines.

A multipolar world with competing power centres, rising economic fragmentation, and deglobalisation will only compound the pressures on institutions like the G20. With great power tensions at an apogee, resolution might not matter as discussions and resolutions pivot to smaller and smaller “like-minded” groups, writes Karthik Nachiappan.

Time will tell if the geopolitically-driven initiatives prove economically sound, resolve the global debt-cum-climate challenges, and help invigorate the world economy

The inability of global governance to impose checks and balances to ensure that the health needs of less endowed countries are served is worrying, writes Sandhya Venkateswaran.

Renu Kohli, Honey Karun and Saumya analyse the non-price policy measures that aim to lower carbon emissions across the G20 countries.

Nepal and India have renewed their transit trade agreement, improving Nepal's access to Indian sea ports and inland waterways, boosting supply chain resilience. This also marks potential breakthroughs in cross-border electricity trade and digital payments.

Montek Singh Ahluwalia discusses India's G-20 meeting with ANI News.

Rakesh Mohan's valedictory lecture at IHD recommends devising policies to encourage research to study the phenomenon of industrialisation and urbanisation in India, for manufacturing to be located in towns and cities and calls for a unified system of governance.

By strengthening the role of fiscal federalism in addressing climate change, it would enable India a more effective utilisation of financial resources (includin funds raised by green bonds), enhance state capacities, promote policy coherence and drive sustainable development across the country.

Is India’s economic rise inevitable? There’s good reason to think that this latest round of Indo-optimism might be different than previous iterations, but the country still has major challenges to address to make good on this promise.

Institutions have to be built that facilitate global cooperation, skill development and technology transfer and also enable the mediation of the domestic and international conflicts that have been inevitably aroused.

Rakesh Mohan met the Finance Minister of India Nirmala Sitharaman at the North Block, New Delhi on August 25.           Madhurima Nundy attended a workshop at the India International Centre for a project titled “Public-Private Mix in Continuity of Care for Older Persons: Study of Select Countries in ...

Ramu Damodaran reviews the book "The Cambridge Companion to Winstn Churchill."

Riya Sinha talks about India’s connectivity with neighboring countries, liberalization of the economy, and strategies to attract foreign direct investment.

In absence of significant governance reform, effectiveness of global financial safety institutions is eroding. India is better off relying, instead, on pursuit of prudent macroeconomic policies.

Rajesh Chadha discusses critical minerals and its essential role in the manufacturing of green technology for India, in an exclusive conversation with India Stats.

Bhavyanshi Sinha's interview of Sreeradha Datta offers a comprehensive view of the current and future prospects of BIMSTEC as a regional initiative.

Shyamasis Das discusses India’s plan to buy 10,000 electric buses on the Business Standard Morning Show.

How well central and state-level administrations coordinate climate action will determine key outcomes, writes Anoop Singh.

India's renowned technologist, VS Arunachalam leaves behind a legacy of scientific accomplishments and institution-building efforts, writes Rahul Tongia.

This Policy Brief by Rakesh Mohan discusses the need for a system view to address a host of road safety issues through research and development.

An effective National Research Foundation would prioritise excellence over relevance, support a wide range of projects, and stress funding millions of individual researchers.

For critical minerals, especially those with no known domestic resources, mineral-wise strategies are required to ensure their robust access for India’s manufacturing needs and climate change mitigation ambitions.

India’s objective has been to narrow the trade deficit with China by manufacturing at home. The tariff-raising, safeguard duties have explicitly and systematically targeted lower imports.

In this op-ed, Janak Raj and Harshini Kumari explain the large inter-state variations in out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) on health in India.

For India to attain high-income status by 2047, it must urgently prioritise trade as the primary driver for achieving accelerated growth.

Janak Raj on RBI Monetary Policy

We have to be connected to the Asian supply chain for us to be competitive in manufacturing of laptops, desktops, tablets and other computer equipment. That is what we need to do rather than shutting them off.

Post-1991 reforms did not achieve intended results, manufacturing competitiveness still a challenge, says Laveesh Bhandari.

In the ‘era of global boiling’, challenge can only be met if we act in political, economic, financial concert, says Vikram Singh Mehta.

In food-price management, factors that could hinder the government’s efforts seem to have been ignored, writes Renu Kohli.

The paper argues for a rethink of the existing regulatory and policy requirements pertaining to setting up and, more importantly, scaling up medical colleges, in order to ensure a greater number of seats per college, and for a more equitable distribution of seats.

Constantino Xavier was speaker at the India-Japan Forum hosted at Ananta Aspen Centre | July 28 Constantino Xavier was a panelist at the launch of the CSEP edited report “Connectivity and Cooperation in Bay of Bengal” organised by Verité Research, Colombo, Sri Lanka | July 24   Constantino Xavier discussed CSEP’s Sambandh ...

Rahul Tongia highlights the complexities of green supply and green consumption. More RE is inevitable and welcome. Better accounting and signalling (such as time-of-day and congestion pricing) can help grow RE at lower overall system costs.

Madhurima Nundy and Pankhuri Bhatt write about the challenges to voluntary health insurance and its expansion.

India cannot afford to let women suffer and then perhaps die of the most curable cancer. Important here is to also strategize vaccination with regular screening for women aged 30 and above.

By joining the US-led Minerals Security Partnership and pursuing other collaborations, India has taken significant steps towards ensuring resilient supplies of critical minerals.

While Nepal has experienced significant political and social transformations, the economic conditions and precarity that force Nepali men to migrate in the first place have not changed.

Rajesh Chadha, Ganesh Sivamani and Karthik Bansal provide recommendations that address the government’s concerns about only granting mineral concessions through auctions.

The United States would benefit from working with India to help address the infrastructure needs of smaller South Asian countries, writes Riya Sinha.

Any activity with a longer-term perspective takes time to show desired results. However, the CSR mechanism requires companies to report on the allocation and a detailed impact assessment, says Laveesh Bhnadari.

In a conversation with Strait Times, Rajesh Chadha and Ganesh Sivamani highlights the importance of the Critical Minerals list by the government as an acknowledgement of how “skewed critical minerals supply chains will impact India’s green transition”, but adds that the government’s attention should now be on securing a supply of these ...

This policy brief synthesises insights, relating to key challenges faced in achieving UHC, from six emerging country case studies—Brazil, China, Indonesia, Mexico, Thailand, and Turkey—with varying contexts in their journey towards UHC.

The government's intent is sensible, and infrastructure does seem to have improved over time. India jumped six places from 44 (2018) to 38 (2023) in the World Bank's Logistics Performance Index (LPI). However, there are two main fallacies in the argument that puts disproportionate importance on logistics cost as a key reason ...

Abhishek Kumar and Divya Srinivasan use data from India (the second-largest steel producer in the world) to estimate the effect of large movements in metal prices during 2011-16.

Do not presume the business models that have worked for you elsewhere will be successful in India: Vikram Singh Mehta to potential investors.

Complexity of the clearance procedures and huge delays in granting them have become impediments to efficient use of mineral resources, write Karthik Bansal and Ishita Kapoor.

The Ministry of Mines released the first-ever list of critical minerals for India on June 28. The report referred to key findings from the CSEP Working Paper Critical Minerals for India 2023 authored by Rajesh Chadha, Ganesh Sivamani & Karthik Bansal.

Riya Sinha was a panelist at ORF Kolkata’s discussion on India and Bangladesh’s Vision of the Indo-Pacific | June 30 Rakesh Mohan was speaker at the discussion organised by Boston University IMF Task Force on Climate Change at IMF, Washington DC | June 21 Laveesh Bhandari was speaker at the webinar on ...

Shruti Gupta and Kevin James examine the regulatory framework and institutional gaps surrounding off-budget borrowings in India.

Siddharth Varadarajan spoke to India’s former National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to the US, the deals signed, the politics and economics involved, and China's role in bringing the two nations together.

The explosion of interest in artificial intelligence has drawn attention not only to the astonishing capacity of algorithms to mimic humans but to the reality that these algorithms could displace many humans in their jobs. The economic and societal consequences could be nothing short of dramatic.

India has a unique opportunity to use the G20 presidency to drive climate cooperation as crises abound and the desire for deep climate action is dwindling.

This Working Paper examines the key aspects of the relationship between economic growth (EG) and human development (HD) at the all-India and the state-levels.

Jaimini Bhagwati writes about the dangers of celebrities advertising pan masala and how it can impact the youth.

Addressing concerns such as differences in data-sharing rules and guidelines, building a robust digital infrastructure, streamlining accreditation and qualification of doctors etc. can aid in telemedicine gaining widespread acceptance.

This suggests that political leaders may gain electoral capital from prioritising health in their election campaigns and during their terms in office.

Laveesh Bhandari reviews AK Bhattacharya's book "India's Finance Ministers: From Independence to Emergency (1947-1977)".

Insufficient regulated tariffs are the dominant reasons for discom cash shortfalls. Fixing this is necessary and urgent says Rahul Tongia, Rajasekhar Devaguptapu and Nikhil Tyagi.

In the last few years, India prioritised enhancing railway development in Manipur and Mizoram, inching closer to the border with Myanmar, writes Riya Sinha.

Rajesh Chadha, Ganesh Sivamani and Karthik Bansal provide an overview of India’s historical, current, and proposed exploration policies, good international practices, issues with the existing system, and recommendations for creating a globally-competitive exploration regime.

Channels of information flow in real estate are limited; buyers rely on the media, intermediaries or hearsay to obtain information. This leaves buyers in the dark, impeding their ability to distinguish between good- and bad-quality housing. Ill-equipped with little to no information, they may purchase homes mired in litigation.

India's aspiration to become a global climate leader is getting a boost from an expanding ecosystem of homegrown policy and research institutes. Here are 10, new and old. | An interview with Laveesh Bhandari

Non-performance by discoms only explains a minority fraction of cumulative financial gaps of over ₹10L-crore — the real issues are more deep-rooted.

Renu Kohli's Discussion Note discusses three significant reasons why the observed tax buoyancy in the recovery year, FY23, must be interpreted with caution.

India and Australia can support the development of a Single Widow System in fellow Indian Ocean Region states for trade facilitation at the regional level, writes Riya Sinha. This article was also co-published by Observer Research Foundation.

Anindita Sinh interviews Lopamudra Maitra Bajpai, on her book, "India, Sri Lanka and the SAARC Region: History, Popular Culture and Heritage" and the unorthodox approach to interpreting culture and connectivity in South Asia.

In this paper, Nikhil Tyagi and Rahul Tongia examine the equilibrium of retail pricing, beginning with the question whether prices are in compliance with the Electricity Act 2003 enshrined National Tariff Policy, which states that cross-subsidies should be limited to ±20% of costs.

Oliver Heath, Jyoti Mishra, Louise Tillin & Sandhya Venkateswaran examine how Indian citizens view health through a five-state survey on electoral perceptions around health in India

Shishir Gupta and Rishista Sachdeva suggest the need to push for household savings to acheive accelerated growth on a sustained basis.

Shruti Gupta and Kevin James examine the regulatory framework and institutional gaps surrounding off-budget borrowings in India. It attempts to build a comprehensive understanding on the methods used for such borrowings and ascertains their true extent.

Private firms should fill the vacancies of independent directors with those who are younger, technically savvy, with domain knowledge to tackle future uncertainties, writes Vikram Singh Mehta.

RBI’s report lays down a buffet of choices. Policymakers must now pick what is nutritious but also conforms to political taste.

While the International Monetary Fund has made great strides on climate change in a short time, emerging markets and developing economies need resources to invest in resilience more urgently than ever.

Sustained productivity growth would be better driven by technological capital deepening with related organisational changes and increased competition that can result in more efficient methods of production, says Anoop Singh.

 Shivshankar Menon was decorated with the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star. He was felicitated by Suzuki Hiroshi, Ambassador of Japan to India. | May 26     Rakesh Mohan gave the address at the inaugural session of the CII Conference on Consumer Credit & Finance. | May 26   ...

The paper demonstrates that a mandatory disclosure law on housing projects can have important, pro-efficiency effects in a developing country, and suggests that such laws may be efficient in a regime of low-state capacity.

It is not exactly true that India's rivalry with China is spoken of only in hushed tones. The Indian strategic community is quite vocal about this reality, & this rivalry is not limited to South Asia

India's renewables targets, while ambitious, will still not be enough to meet rising power demand, comments Rahul Tongia.

Bhaskar Chakravorti lays out 8 qualities of successful Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) projects, and how the public and private sectors can coordinate to build them.

Is the UK providing refuge to India's absconding financial scamsters? Jaimini Bhagwati examines.

In this episode of the Hopkins Podcast on Foreign Affairs, Constantino Xavier discusses India’s foreign policy and its relationship with Russia.

This T20 Policy Brief calls on the G20 governments to recognise the importance of critical minerals and strengthen their supply chains.

With the National Health Accounts suggesting poor expenditure on health, it is hard to assess when and how the Universal Health Coverage goal will be achieved, writes Janak Raj

Analysing the GHE and OOPE data at national and state levels shows the need for deeper inquiry. The attribution of increased govt spending to declining out-of-pocket expenditure isn't apparent, write Alok Kumar Singh and Sandhya Venkateswaran.

Indian industry must see R&D as its way of building a future based on proprietary technology, writes Naushad Forbes, member of CSEP Board of Directors.

The discussion touched on many important aspects of India's growth trajectory, and the panelists agreed that India is poised for significant growth in the next 20-30 years.

In this India Energy Hour podcast episode, Rahul Tongia discusses how we can design equitable models for climate action.

Rajasekhar Deveguptapu and Rahul Tongia comprehensively analyse DisCom finances using a long time series that aims to examine and answer pertinent questions on finances and performance.

The scramble to win the GPT race could divert essential resources from the development of more socially meaningful uses of AI, writes Bhaskar Chakravorti.

Its economy should adjust its growth model again and financial liberalization could set a ball rolling to accelerate expansion.

Yes, nuclear power has a role in climate change strategy, but we will have to rethink several aspects of our current policy on this form of energy before it can meet its promise.

Based on eight case studies by analysts and scholars from Bangladesh, Nepal, India and Sri Lanka, the report examines China’s growing role in a range of sectors in these four countries, including education, public diplomacy, technology, social media, civil society, party politics, religion, and governance.

Mixed views on AI reflect the international community’s inability to look beyond narrow interests to address problems of global commons, writes Vikram Singh Mehta.

Rahul Tongia discussed the need for an equitable global energy transition with Sunita Narain, Director General, Centre for Science and Environment and Greg Muttitt, Energy Economist, IISD on April 19.   Rajasekhar Devaguptapu gave a presentation on ‘Electricity Tariff Reforms – Case Study on India’ to a delegation from the Government of ...

There are questions on whether nuclear power, with its attendant concerns on cost and safety, remains a relevant option for a future that is fossil-free, particularly in India.

WION News speaks to Constantino Xavier on Operation Kaveri and the crisis in Sudan.

Does China have to inevitably face confrontation from the US and seek domination over India, asks Jaimini Bhagwati.

From ‘an idea whose time has come’ to ‘Digital India’, the words used in Budget speeches have set the theme for India’s economic emergence, write Ayush Khare and Shruti Gupta.

A national critical minerals strategy for India, underpinned by the minerals can help focus on priority concerns in supply risks, domestic policy regimes, and sustainability.

Ranjan Mathai, Former Foreign Secretary of India, joins Ganesh Sivamani to discuss what India must do to secure its domestic and international supply chains of ‘critical minerals’.

The lesson for us is that our supply system must be sufficient and flexible to allow such new technology to come in. And that raises another set of issues: Montek Singh Ahluwalia tells NDTV.

Crypto grew because we had near zero interest rates in developed countries for an extended period so people were searching for higher returns, says Rakesh Mohan.

As interest rates keep increasing in the developed economies there could be some reversal of capital flows, and consequent impact on the exchange rate and the economy, Rakesh Mohan cautioned.

Though there are multiple instruments to tackle inflation, every time there is a spike, the market expects monetary policy action, says Rakesh Mohan.

Constantino Xavier discusses India’s foreign policy and its relationship with Russia.

An assessment of the IMF-led work on climate change with a development centered approach.

The challenge is to develop a carefully sequenced agenda for the next few years until political conditions allow a broader reform of the international monetary system.

An extension of an earlier study with a focus on 43 select critical minerals that emphasizes the need for a national strategy to ensure resilient critical minerals supply chains.

As the transition to clean energy becomes imperative, India’s tryst with hydrocarbons can offer a roadmap of what not to do.

US and European regulators ignored basic risk management. But why do regulators allow financial sector firms to gamble with depositors' money?

Rakesh Mohan chaired the discussion on Naushad Forbes’ book “The Struggle and the Promise” on March 30 at the India International Centre. Anoop Singh was panelist at the 2nd G20 International Financial Architecture Working Group Meeting, organised by the Government of India in Paris on March 30. Rajesh Chadha was a part ...

CNBC TV18 News interview of Rakesh Mohan on whether the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will raise the repo rates amid the global banking crisis.

In this episode of South Asia Chat, Ramita Iyer, Research Analyst, ISAS, speaks to the editors of the report - Constantino Xavier, and Amitendu Palit about the prospects and challenges in the region.

Trade restrictions may put FTAs and global value chain integration at risk; external imbalances can be addressed with other tools, says Montek Singh Ahluwalia.

Few paid attention to the fact that the first alert of a mysterious new virus out of Wuhan, China, came through AI.

Rajesh Chadha discusses economic growth and geopolitical developments for India and Korea on Arirang News.

If India wants to achieve a growth rate of 7%-plus in the years ahead, it should also aim for a strong export performance. World trade is likely to grow more slowly in the future than it did in the past. But, even so, India should aim at expanding its exports at rates ...

Is there not a threshold beyond which the severity of human suffering renders meaningless words like “political sovereignty”, “national security” and “territorial integrity”?

In this episode of South Asia Chat, Devyani Chaturvedi, Research Analyst, ISAS, is in conversation with Rajesh Chadha, Senior Fellow at CSEP about India’s critical mineral supply chain and its vulnerabilities and opportunities.

To fortify their long-term relationship, both countries need to clinch more immediate opportunities while also insulating the relationship from episodic political turbulence.

The 5.9 million tonnes of lithium announced by Geological Survey of India are “inferred resources” at present. General and detailed exploration must follow, also roping in private mining expertise, if we are to see the lithium by 2030.

Ramu Damodaran's tribute to the late Ambassador Chandrashekhar Dasgupta who served as Indian ambassador to the European Union, Belgium, Luxembourg and China.

The Adani issue can bring about long ignored reforms in the country.

This is an edited and revised adaptation of remarks by Shivshankar Menon from the E-Launch and Discussion of The State of Southeast Asia: 2023 Survey Report conducted by the ASEAN Studies Centre at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) – Yusof Ishak Institute, Singapore, on February 9, 2023.

This article reflects on the alleged negligence of Indian regulators in the context of the anti-climactic return of capital to those who had subscribed to the Adani Enterprises follow-on public offer (FPO) of Rs 20,000 crore.

Man power and resources can strengthen India's vishwa guru ambition. It will need those resources for cooperation and competition with other countries.

For innovation to power economic growth, Indian industry must raise its investment in in-house R&D five-fold, writes Naushad Forbes.

A majority of the firms responsible for defaulted loans between 2017-2020 constituted iron and steel businesses.

Securing the supply chains of critical minerals will be imperative for India to meet its Aatma-Nirbhar Bharat goals and climate mitigation commitments.

India will prioritise inclusive growth and development along with women empowerment as it assumes the presidency of G20 this year. This is a desirable objective.

While the Bay of Bengal is located at the fulcrum of the Indo-Pacific, between the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, it continues to act more as a divider than a link between land and maritime neighbours such as India

Who is deserving of a subsidy is difficult to answer, for this is a policy choice. However, we can benchmark policies by examining who gets how much subsidy.

Shivshankar Menon examines what a year of war in Ukraine has revealed.

US petroleum firms have benefited the most from sanctions on Russia. Europe has been pushed into a relationship of energy dependency with the US.

Constantino Xavier and Riya Sinha comment on the MEA Budget and how India can become a leading power in an increasingly uncertain, competitive and complex international arena.

Marty Shwarz and Rahul Tongia examine the performance of wind power across climatology, technology, and location.

Ramu Damodaran writes for Indepth News.

Rahul Tongia and Jason Bordoff square off on a question that will confront emerging nations in the coming years.

At COP26, the PM set a clear target that India, with the help of global investment, will achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2070. For this it will undertake actions such as greater use of renewable energy, reduced energy intensity, etc. It's a tough task, but the process is on and ...

There’s no certainty if RBI will be able to replenish its forex reserve stocks. The process could be quite long drawn, says Renu Kohli.

Montek Singh Ahluwalia answers some pertinent questions on the Indian economy and upcoming issues.

Montek Singh Ahluwalia tells Outlook Business that a private sector-led economy can deliver sustained GDP growth. He also suggested a closer examination of the much touted double digit growth and cautions against protectionism.

In an exclusive interview with Moneycontrol, Montek Singh Ahluwalia speaks on the state of the economy, and what is needed to unleash India's growth potential. and delves into the reforms needed in the external sector.

The global pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war have had a dual structural impact that accelerated Asia’s regional transition, which has been slowly evolving amidst rising US-China competition. India sees the ongoing disruption as a challenge, but also as an opportunity to realize its role as a bridging power to shape a new ...

In this edition of Sambandh Scholars Speak, Anindita Sinh interviews Mayumi Murayama on her book, Northeast India and Japan: Engagement through Connectivity, co-edited with Sanjoy Hazarika and Preeti Gill.

Constantino Xavier and Riya Sinha were speakers with LPAI Chairman Aditya Mishra at the panel discussion on regional connectivity organised by the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service. The discussion was a part of the Induction Training Programme for IFS Officer Trainees of the 2022 batch.    Divya Srinivasan presented her paper “Commodity ...

The large decline in metal prices during 2014-16, predominantly driven by Chinese imports, made domestic firms in the metals sector uncompetitive. A decline in profitability affected the loan repayment capacity of many firms in the metals sector and they defaulted, creating non-performing assets (NPAs) for banks.

Jaimini Bhagwati writes about how the Supreme Court should not be challenged, yet judges should not select judges.

Shivshankar Menon discusses what’s at stake in Ukraine, India’s place in this changing world, and what order could emerge from today’s great-power competition.

Ramu Damodaran reviews Kishan S Rana's book on Winston Churchill.

Large Indian firms are yet to become global champions. Given the global headwinds, India should focus on improving the competitiveness of these companies so that they can tap into large external markets far more than they have managed so far, say Shishir Gupta and Rishita Sachdeva.

There are, indeed, some green shoots visible, especially on the corporate and export front, which may help accelerate growth in the short run. However, transforming this head-start into faster long-term growth requires an improvement in competitiveness.

Another effect of the energy transition that needs to be considered is the impact on employment; in some states, a significant proportion of the people are engaged in coal mining. The effect on employment may not be severe but it will be challenging because it is concentrated in a few states.

Anoop Singh discusses how “data for development" will be an integral part of India's G20 presidency.

Against this international backdrop, India must pivot the needle of its energy compass towards short-term energy security and long-term decarbonisation. Irrespective of who is to blame for global warming, India cannot afford to develop first and clean up later.

Shishir Gupta and Rishita Sachdeva analyse growth performance over a period of 26 years to understand the drivers behind India's economic growth.

Digital currency and fail-safe wireless connectivity should have preceded demonetisation, says Jaimini Bhagwati.

Karthik Bansal and Ishita Kapoor's paper discusses three case studies on Jharkhand, Odisha and Karnataka to highlight procedural problems with obtaining licenses and permits for mining.

The paper finds that the availability of greater data makes it possible to assess a large set of crops over a long period of time, and therefore, greater data points can yield highly robust results.

India has been playing a silent but important role in pushing Brussels...and other European capitals, to recognise that the future global balance of power hinges on what happens in Asia.

The Sambandh blog looks at new approaches to strengthening trade and revitalising economic links between South Asia and Southeast Asia.

It is advisable for banks to build a counter-cyclical commodity price buffer during upswings in commodity prices which can be used during periods of downswings.

India must make a fiscal transition alongside the energy transition. Here's how it could make a start.

Abstract India’s coal-heavy electricity system is the world’s third largest and a major emitter of air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Consequently, it remains a focus of decarbonisation and air pollution control policy. Considerable heterogeneity exists between states in India in terms of electricity demand, generation fuel mix, and emissions. However, no ...

India's economic recovery calls for a focus on labour-intensive formal manufacturing. High under-employment and poor-quality employment have hampered a much needed move away from agriculture.

Ramu Damodaran writes about Brazil in UNICEF and the UN.

To resolve the environment-development conflict, begin with local initiatives that can be scaled-up and provided market access through support of government and collaborative linkages with corporates, NGOs and specialists, writes Vikram Singh Mehta.

This analysis provides valuable guidance about the development of the power sector and the costs associated with different development pathways.

The results of this research describe the challenging technological and policy advances needed to achieve the temperature goals of the Paris Agreement.

Has merit become a bad word in India? For India's exceptional human resources to remain in the country, it needs to phase out all caste, community, and income-based reservations, writes Jaimini Bhagwati.

In an interview to Karan Thapar for The Wire, Rakesh Mohan discussed the state of the economy six weeks before the end of the year, focusing specifically on growth, investment, unemployment, poverty, inflation and the state of the rupee.

Riya Sinha interviews Tilak Devasher, Member, National Security Advisory Board of India, and Consultant, Vivekananda International Foundation, on his fourth book, The Pashtuns: A Contested History.

Musk’s conflicts of interest make him too dangerous to run the global public sphere, writes Bhaskar Chakravorti.

The loss-and-damage fund is welcome but other vital issues were left hanging. India’s G20 presidency may help us find clarity.

States have been significantly overestimating CSS receipts. CSSs are typically co-financed by the Centre and the states, and the central grant under the CSS is only received when the states release their own contribution. Unsurprisingly, poorer states find it harder to reliably avail central CSS grants under this model.

Rahul Tongia speaks to Kai Ryssdal of NPR Marketplace about how current climate initiatives are unfair towards developing nations.

The paper separates motivation as a distinct factor for analysis because, in the absence of strong incentives, not every political opportunity may lead to attention to an issue, and finds that reforms were motivated by a need to gain political legitimacy by an incoming regime, or by its political ideology, or a ...

In this edition of Sambandh Scholars Speak, Nitika Nayar interviews Hazrat Bahar, on his book chapter, “Image of China in Afghan Media."

Health systems in Thailand have been frequently researched since its reforms in early 2000s, especially in the context of  health coverage (UHC).