July 14, 2020 INDIA: Along with the disease, the politics China, Emerging Markets, India, Politics Modi Aditi Phadnis With Covid-19 infections rising (likely to touch 1mn in the next few days) and little sign that the country is going to flatten the curve anytime soon, the opposition, led by the Congress party, has sharpened its... Read More...
July 1, 2020 INDIA: Seeking to score a low-cost equalizer with China China, Emerging Markets, India, Politics Modi Aditi Phadnis In tacit recognition that a military response to China’s aggression on an undemarcated border could be foolhardy and unpredictable, India has embarked on a twin strategy of inflicting near-term economic pain on China while planning longer-term diplomatic and security... Read More...
June 11, 2020 INDIA: Modi escapes the blame – for now Emerging Markets, India, Politics covid-19, Modi Aditi Phadnis The recent resignation of two elected opposition (Congress I) lawmakers from their positions in the Gujarat provincial legislative assembly and their subsequent defection to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would not normally have caused political waves. But in... Read More...
May 13, 2020 INDIA: Covid-19 triggers nationalist economic response Emerging Markets, India, Politics covid-19, India, Modi Aditi Phadnis Hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a special economic package worth INR 20trn (USD 266bn or 10% of GDP), Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman spelled out some details about whom the financial assistance would support. In addition... Read More...
April 1, 2020 INDIA: The growing challenges of addressing Covid-19 India Coronavirus, covid-19, India, lockdown, Modi Aditi Phadnis The Indian government’s response to the Covid-19 spread was prompt. Once its experts recognized the threat of the disease, the government enforced social distancing, initially through a voluntary initiative and later through a national lockdown. However, without a simultaneous... Read More...
March 23, 2020 INDIA: Large parts of the country under lockdown; but is it enough? India Coronavirus, covid-19, India, lockdown, Modi Aditi Phadnis Around 100 million people across 80 districts, spanning 17 states and 5 federally-run union territories, are in lockdown until at least 31 March, as COVID-19 cases went up to 428 with seven deaths. Most mass transport systems have stopped... Read More...
March 2, 2020 INDIA: No shot in the arm from Trump’s visit Emerging Markets, India, Politics Coronavirus, covid-19, India, Modi, Trump Aditi Phadnis Last week’s visit of US President Donald Trump did not provide Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the desired opportunity to divert attention from citizenship controversies and a flailing economy. The Modi administration is unlikely to propose any meaningful policy... Read More...
February 24, 2020 INDIA: Trump’s visit – Mostly symbolism but also an investment in the future Emerging Markets, India India, Modi, Trump Aditi Phadnis President Donald Trump has begun his India visit today, 24 February, amid low expectations of concrete deliverables. A trade deal is already off the table with the unavoidable collision of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Make in India” and... Read More...
February 3, 2020 INDIA: 2020-2021 budget brings no cheer Emerging Markets, India, Politics Budget, India, Modi Aditi Phadnis The budget speech made by the finance minister is one of the most eagerly anticipated events of the year because of the economic and political priorities it sets out. Possibly because of fewer electoral challenges coming up in 2020,... Read More...
January 30, 2020 INDIA: Government banks on Trump visit to overcome domestic setbacks Emerging Markets, India, Politics India, Modi, Trump With protests against new citizenship laws showing no signs of abating and an almost certain defeat in the elections to the Delhi assembly due 8 February, the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) administration is trying to shift the... Read More...
