India Archives - Page 5 of 25

India: The Year of Living Democratically

Last year was a high voltage year for Indian politics. Debates and deliberations across political and non-political arenas focused on the values and institutions forming the bedrock of Indian democracy. Questions of tolerance, secularity, the right to free speech and the protection of minorities’ interests became subjects for reflection in an increasingly urban India.

Meanwhile, government bans on Maggi products, beef, NGOs and pornography-provoked reactions from Bollywood celebrities as well as British and American media outlets.

India’s Modi May Have to Lower the Bar

In his first calendar year as Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi focused on economics. Through high profile trips abroad and ambitious proposals at home, Modi maintained an air of energy and initiative, but the results were modest. Meantime, domestic politics became more polarised, contributing to two high profile election defeats for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in state elections.

India Seeks Leadership Role on Behalf of WTO Developing Nations

India felt snubbed following the World Trade Organization’s talks in Nairobi in December, and the resulting decision to table Doha, so the country’s leaders have become much more vocal about WTO affairs than usual. In fact, reports have now surfaced that India seeks to lead a contingent of WTO member states from the developing world intent on having a greater voice in the organization’s affairs.

Despite Slowing Growth, India’s Modi is Optimistic

On the back of expanding global trade and buoyant exports, the Indian economy managed to grow at more than 9 percent annually between 2005–6 and 2007–8. However, following the global financial crisis, and subsequent sluggish world output and trade trends, economic growth in India has been lacklustre and remains well below potential.

OECD Report: India Biggest Exporter of Doctors and Nurses to Europe

A recent study by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has made some interesting findings about the pedigrees of doctors and nurses in Europe. As it turns out, a great number of these medical professionals came from India. In fact, India has been identified as the largest exporter of doctors and nurses to Europe.

Indian Economy Continues to Make Progress

According to official data, the Indian economy grew 7.4 percent year-on-year in the previous quarter, surging past China, according to AFP. This marks the third quarter in which India posted growth above 7 percent, outperforming China within each quarter. The good news raises the possibility that the central bank will keep interest rates unchanged. India showed expansion in such sectors as trade, manufacturing, finance and transportation.

India’s BJP not Feeling the Love in Bihar Election

As the Hindi saying goes: If you live in the water, do not make an enemy of the crocodile.

The ruling party in India, the BJP, was defeated in the Bihar state assembly elections. The party came out with 59 seats out of 243, down 35 seats from the previous elections and considerably worse than expected. Many were looking at the Bihar elections as a referendum of sorts on Modi’s first 17 months in power.

India Facing Trade and Investment Diversion

The conclusion of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations in early October 2015 has marked another substantive milestone in the global trade order. Rising doubts over domestic ratification aside, the world is keeping a wary eye open as it tries to grasp how the TPP will affect other ongoing free trade agreements (FTAs) and multilateral trade talks.

India is on the Outside of the TPP Looking In

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreed to on 5 October 2015 covers almost a third of world trade and 40 percent of global GDP. By not being part of the TPP, India risks losing out. According to a Center on Global Trade and Investment study, India’s nominal GDP is likely to trim by more than 1 percent because of trade and investment diversion caused by the TPP. The ensuing negative effects on India’s economy by way of revenue and job losses will be large.

India’s BJP Seems to Miss Golden Opportunities

There has been a saying in India of late: ‘India never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity’. This is in stark contrast to the Chinese aphorism that President Xi Jinping referred to while addressing the British parliament in October: ‘An opportunity missed is an opportunity lost’. No one would deny that India has great potential. However, over the last three decades there has been a sense that it has failed to fulfil this.