India Turns Maritime Insurance Into Strategic State Power

By underwriting maritime risk, India is embedding insurance within the core of economic statecraft. In a fractured global order, control over risk is increasingly control over trade itself.

Srinath Sridharan

April 21, 2026 at 4:48 AM IST

iStock.com

Services Export May Overtake Merchandise in 2026-27, Fingers Crossed on AI

Services exports rose 7.9% to $418.3 billion in 2025-26, compared with merchandise exports of $441.8 billion.

Ajay Srivastava

April 15, 2026 at 3:24 PM IST

iStock.com

Why a Weaker Rupee Doesn’t Always Mean Stronger Growth

Exchange rate depreciation is often read as an engine of growth. For India, import dependence and balance sheet vulnerabilities tell a different story.

V Thiagarajan

April 14, 2026 at 2:22 PM IST

iStock.com

Will the Iran War Accelerate or Delay Energy Transition?

War-driven energy shocks raise costs and uncertainty, forcing a trade-off: accelerate the shift to renewables or delay transition as economies fall back on fossil fuels for stability.

G. Chandrashekhar

April 12, 2026 at 7:09 AM IST

iStock.com

The Fine Print India Keeps Glossing Over in Its New Trade Deals

India’s new trade agreements promise market access and export growth, but the fine print carries commitments that quietly narrow its policy space.

Surendar Singh

April 2, 2026 at 10:19 AM IST

Trade Gap Narrows Sequentially, but Oil Risks Loom Large: QuantEco

BasisPoint Insight

March 17, 2026 at 5:12 AM IST

Opinion

Why India Must Stay the Course on US Trade Deal

The US ruling trims presidential power, not trade risk. India’s answer lies in deeper competitiveness, not reclaiming lost protection.

TK Arun

February 21, 2026 at 8:27 AM IST

iStock.com/MAGNIFIER

Opinion

India Must Reassess US Trade Deal After Tariff Ruling

Sweeping tariffs are harder to impose now. Legal options exist, but they are slower, more limited, and vulnerable to legal challenge.

Ajay Srivastava

February 21, 2026 at 7:19 AM IST

Kremlin

India’s Trade Pact With Europe Offers Promise, Not Quick Gains

The India–EU FTA offers scale and promise, but strict standards, climate rules and structural gaps mean gains will be gradual, uneven and hard-earned.

G. Chandrashekhar

February 18, 2026 at 4:34 AM IST

PMO

Why Exchange Rate Stability Matters More Than Ever for India

As alarmist calls on the rupee clash with the IMF’s own labels, this piece asks why exchange rates matter, and why stability cannot be left to markets alone.

Michael Debabrata Patra

February 16, 2026 at 2:43 AM IST

India–US Trade Deal: Pragmatic Statecraft, Not Diplomatic Surrender

India’s US trade deal looks asymmetric on paper, but macro constraints, capital dependence and geopolitics made acceptance rational statecraft, not surrender.

R. Gurumurthy

February 11, 2026 at 3:02 AM IST

iStock.com

Trump's Trade Truce Won't Restore the US-India Relationship

While the interim trade deal may ease tensions, trust – the essential currency of any strategic partnership – is unlikely to be restored any time soon.

Brahma Chellaney

February 10, 2026 at 3:56 PM IST

White House

India’s Missing Power Is Financial

India has economic scale and military strength, but without a deep bond market, it remains a limited power.

Rahul Ghosh

February 9, 2026 at 10:58 AM IST

India Opens Its Market, the US Keeps Its Levers

The interim US–India trade framework eases exporter stress but embeds uneven concessions, as India front-loads market access while US relief stays conditional.

Sangeeta Godbole

February 7, 2026 at 2:40 PM IST

iStock.com

Tariff Relief for India, Tariff and Strategic Gains for the United States

India has agreed to align more closely with the US on economic security, potentially constraining its freedom to trade with third countries and tying its policies to US sanctions and geopolitical priorities.

Ajay Srivastava

February 7, 2026 at 12:37 PM IST

White House

MPC Review

Silence Is the RBI’s Strongest Signal This Week

With rates on hold and markets already speculating far ahead, the Reserve Bank’s best contribution may be to resist the temptation to explain the future.

Kalyan Ram

February 5, 2026 at 2:29 PM IST

India to Lift US Imports to $100 Billion/Year Under Trade Deal: Indian Express

BasisPoint Insight

February 4, 2026 at 6:14 AM IST

A ‘Done Deal’ Announced, But Where Are the Details?

A trade understanding between Washington and New Delhi has been announced with confidence abroad and restraint at home. Does this restraint reflect a forced agreement, or the discipline of a state that understands the costs of premature commitment?

Srinath Sridharan

February 3, 2026 at 6:10 AM IST

White House

Friendship, Peace and the Careful Politics of Modi–Trump Signalling

Beyond tariffs, the Modi–Trump exchange was rich in signalling, with praise for peace and friendship used to steady ties tested by trade tensions and geopolitics.

BasisPoint Insight

February 3, 2026 at 5:23 AM IST

PIB

India–US Trade Deal, the EU Trigger and the Limits of Celebration

The India–US trade deal offers tariff relief, not a clear win. India has conceded ground, gained breathing space, and must now wait for the fine print to determine the balance.

BasisPoint Groupthink

February 3, 2026 at 4:24 AM IST

White House

Trump’s Trade Tweet Hands India Tariff Relief, But at a High Strategic Cost

The India–US trade truce eases market nerves, yet the concessions implied in Donald Trump’s announcement risk tilting the deal sharply in Washington’s favour.

Dhananjay Sinha

February 3, 2026 at 1:54 AM IST

Greenland’s Lesson for India: US Trade Deals Don’t Guarantee Protection

In a volatile global order, restraint, diversification and sovereign decision-making matter more than promises that can be withdrawn overnight.

Ajay Srivastava

January 18, 2026 at 6:00 AM IST

Jens Cederskjold/ Via Wikicommons

Budget 2026

Don’t Miss the Window to Overhaul Tariffs and Customs to Boost Trade

None of the reforms will succeed in isolation. Implemented together, they could lower trade costs, attract investment and position customs as a facilitator rather than a bottleneck. But the policy window is narrow.

Ajay Srivastava

January 18, 2026 at 4:05 AM IST

iStock.com

Opinion

Disengaging with Iran Only Sensible Way Out

US secondary tariffs put India–Iran trade in a bind, forcing New Delhi to weigh strategic ties against far larger economic exposure to the US market.

G. Chandrashekhar

January 14, 2026 at 7:33 AM IST

iStock.com

Why Blaming a Missed Call Won’t Explain the India–US Trade Impasse

Trade deals of this scale hinge on unresolved policy differences—on tariffs, agriculture, digital trade and regulatory autonomy—not on symbolic gestures.

Ajay Srivastava

January 9, 2026 at 2:57 PM IST

White House

Venezuela Shock: Capture of Oil Reserves Core Issue, India Remains Unaffected

India was a major buyer of Venezuelan crude in the 2000s and 2010s, but bilateral engagement has weakened sharply since 2019 due to US sanctions.

Ajay Srivastava

January 4, 2026 at 5:59 AM IST

US Government/Via Wikicommons

An End to a Year of Trade Shockers, But the Storm Still Rages

Trade shocks may be fading, but tariff risks, legal battles and supply-chain realignments still loom, keeping global commerce on edge even as 2026 begins.

Vijay Chauhan

January 1, 2026 at 4:35 AM IST

iStock.com

Why Are Our Markets Behind the Curve?

Despite strong macro fundamentals, Indian markets lag peers. Global rotation, AI exuberance and timing gaps may explain the disconnect, hinting at a delayed rebound.

Michael Debabrata Patra

January 1, 2026 at 3:46 AM IST

Amey Bane/iStockphoto.com

The Underpriced Asset Class: Pleasant Uncertainties

Markets price fear well but relief poorly. Peace in Ukraine could compress uncertainty, steady the dollar, lift EMs and drive rotation.

R. Gurumurthy

December 23, 2025 at 5:48 AM IST

iStock.com

India’s China Trade: Volatile Exports, Rising Import Dependence

India’s exports to China surged 90% in November 2025. What’s behind the numbers?

Ajay Srivastava

December 21, 2025 at 9:59 AM IST

iStock.com

India Expands Gulf Trade Footprint with Oman CEPA

For India, the most visible gains lie in merchandise exports. Oman has offered immediate zero-duty access on about 98% of its tariff lines, covering roughly 99% of India’s exports by value.

Ajay Srivastava

December 18, 2025 at 4:25 PM IST

PIB

Oman Trade Deal Anchors India’s Expanding Gulf Strategy

The structure of the CEPA broadly mirrors the commitments India offered the United Arab Emirates under their bilateral trade pact, reflecting New Delhi’s evolving template for Gulf trade agreements.

Ajay Srivastava

December 17, 2025 at 4:05 PM IST

iStock.com

USTR Shares One-Sided Narrative on Trade Bargains With India

The conversation, so far, is heavily tilted toward opening India’s markets for US farm products and biofuels, with little clarity on market access for Indian exports.

Ajay Srivastava

December 10, 2025 at 4:16 PM IST

Via WikiCommons

Why India–Canada Trade Needs CEPA Back on the Agenda

India-Canada trade is rising steadily, yet remains under-leveraged for two large economies. Without CEPA, growth will continue, but unpredictably and below potential.

Rajesh Kumar*

December 10, 2025 at 5:59 AM IST

PMO India

RBI Trade Relief Measures Timely, Targeted With a Clear Sunset Window

The RBI’s trade relief package shows an institution relying on hard-earned crisis lessons to offer temporary support without loosening discipline.

Mint Owl

November 19, 2025 at 11:05 AM IST

India’s US Exports Rebound After Four Consecutive Months of Decline

Globally, India’s exports declined by 11.8%. Overall, India saw growth in just five markets and declines in fifteen, reflecting a patchy and fragile export landscape.

Ajay Srivastava

November 17, 2025 at 2:54 PM IST

iStock.com

US Trade Deal: A Three-Step Plan for Protecting India’s Interests

India faces a triple threat: tariffs, sanctions, and pressure to concede on trade. Can New Delhi protect its energy, exports, and digital future?

Ajay Srivastava

November 1, 2025 at 5:07 AM IST

iStock.com/MAGNIFIER

RBI Economists Flag Risks As Global Volatility, FPI Outflows Weigh On Economy

External uncertainty and financial market stress pose fresh challenges. The global divergence in monetary policy is also adding to volatility.

BasisPoint Insight

March 19, 2025 at 4:02 PM IST

Dairy In Focus As India, New Zealand Resume Trade Talks

India, New Zealand restart FTA talks after a decade, with dairy access a key hurdle. Can they bridge differences on tariffs and market access?

Ajay Srivastava

March 18, 2025 at 8:32 AM IST

India’s Trade Deficit Narrows To 42-Month Low As Imports Plunge

BasisPoint Insight

March 17, 2025 at 3:43 PM IST

How Trump’s Anti-Globalism Could Backfire

Trump's tariff-driven economic strategy clashes with America's reliance on foreign capital, risking a debt crisis if global investors pull back. Protectionism, market instability, and retaliatory policies could undermine Trump's promised economic revival.

Harold James

January 31, 2025 at 6:49 AM IST

The Bureau

UAE to Exit OPEC, Citing Strategic Shift in Energy Policy

Asian Markets Drift Lower Ahead of BOJ Decision and Iran Developments

India–New Zealand FTA: Services & Mobility May Outweigh Goods Bargain

India’s Textile and Garment Exports Slip in Real Terms

Brent Crude Above $106 as Hormuz Tensions Cloud Global Supply Outlook

US Tariff Refund: India’s $12 Billion Gain Hinges on Case-to-Case Negotiations

RBI Bulletin Warns of Risks to Inflation from Second-Round Effects of West Asia Conflict

NSE Moves Closer to IPO as SEBI Settlement Panel Finalises Penalty in Co-Location Case: Reports

Deficient Monsoon, Iran War: A Double Shock to India’s Rural Economy

Learning to Shoot: I Tried to Fly Before I Could Walk