AAPI: May 2025

DELHI, May 2025

Index of this Newsletter

INDIA

INDIA & THE WORLD

21. China Halts U.S. Soybean and Corn Imports Amid Trade Tensions: Report
22. India Total Exports: India’s total exports grow by 6.01% to reach a record $824.9 billion in 2024–25
23. India EU Free Trade Agreement: India, EU reaffirm 2025 deadline for ambitious FTA, boost strategic trade ties
24. How to Really Install a Creative Economy
25. The happiness equation: Moving beyond economics to empathy, trust, sharing and caring

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DELHI, April 2025

NEWSLETTER, April 2025

INDIA

– GENERAL POLICY, INFRASTRUCTURES, COUNTRY FINANCES, ETC.

1. Trust as infrastructure: Why India’s next welfare revolution must be built on communication

ET Gov. 03 May, 2025

Just like in health, educational outcomes rely on TRIAD: Trust, Relationships, and Inclusion Across Delivery.

India has built one of the world’s most expansive welfare delivery architectures—from Jan Dhan Yojana to Poshan Abhiyaan and PMMVY. We have achieved scale. We have achieved reach. What we now need is depth—depth of connection, depth of trust.

As we digitise welfare, the physical pipeline has strengthened. But the emotional and behavioural bridge between citizens and the system remains under-built. The question in many Anganwadi centres and rural households is no longer “What is the scheme?”—it is “Will it actually work for me?”

That’s not an awareness gap. It’s a trust deficit. And bridging it is not optional—it is the next frontier of India’s development journey.

The Trust Deficit Is a Delivery Deficit

In governance, the final mile is not where the infrastructure ends—it’s where belief must begin. Policy design and fund flow are necessary, but not sufficient. Behaviour change precedes service uptake, and that change hinges on three things traditional IEC tools often lack:

C³ = Credibility, Clarity, and Conversation.

A poster can inform a mother about iron-folic acid supplements. But will she take them if her husband or mother-in-law thinks they're unnecessary or harmful? A dashboard can say cash has been transferred. But will the money be spent on nutrition if there's no trusted voice explaining why it matters?

Communication, therefore, must evolve—from monologue to dialogue, from broadcasting to bridge-building, from delivery to engagement.

Case Study: Rajasthan’s Cash Plus Model

Rajasthan offers a remarkable blueprint. Faced with high malnutrition rates in its tribal districts, the state launched a pioneering Cash Plus model, integrating Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT) with a comprehensive Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) strategy.

This wasn’t merely a financial intervention. It was a capability transfer—ensuring that women, families, and frontline workers understood their rights and had the agency to act on them.

Trust in Action: What the Data Shows

Between 2021 and 2024, biannual evaluations conducted across five tribal districts—Udaipur, Dungarpur, Banswara, Pratapgarh, and Baran—uncovered significant systemic shifts in maternal and child health practices:

Home-based nutrition counselling increased by 44%

Dietary diversity among pregnant women rose by 49%

Early breastfeeding improved by nearly 49%, now reaching 90% of newborns

54% more women used cash incentives specifically for nutrition

Over 150,000 community meetings were held, led by trained frontline workers

These numbers tell a story of systemic impact—but behind them lie deeply human shifts in knowledge, agency, and action.

A jeep driver in Udaipur began delivering leafy greens to villages after learning about nutrition at a local health meeting. A mother-in-law in Dungarpur used sign language to share health messages with her hearing-impaired daughter-in-law. These are not statistical outliers—they are the trust dividends of meaningful communication.

A 5-Point Agenda to Institutionalise Trust-Based Governance

Let’s build a new model of governance grounded in TRUST:

Two-Way Communication

Resource Frontline Workers

User-Centric Technology

Social Norm Inclusion

Track Trust Metrics

1. Embed Two-Way Communication in System Design

Gram Sabhas, helplines, and WhatsApp channels must evolve into interactive platforms—where citizens can ask, clarify, challenge, and co-create. This marks a shift from compliance to conversation.

2. Equip Frontline Workers as Behaviour Influencers

ASHAs, Anganwadi Workers, and ANMs are not just service agents. They are trust-bearers. Equip them with empathy-driven training, digital tools, and facilitation skills—so that their voice matters more than any campaign slogan.

3. Design Human-Centred Technology

IVRS systems, mobile apps, and dashboards must speak the jan bhasha. They must be localised, intuitive, and inclusive. Design must begin with the end-user, not just the backend.

4. Make Trust a Measurable Indicator

Let’s evolve from I-O-I (Inputs–Outputs–Indicators) to R-C-R—Reliability, Confidence, Repeat Use. Rajasthan tracked awareness, male involvement, and visits as proxies for trust. National dashboards must now include “trust scores.”

5. Involve Men and Families in Behaviour Change

Women’s health is a household outcome. Rajasthan’s success stemmed in part from including men in counselling, food planning, and digital nudges. This is the “S” in TRUST—Social Norm Inclusion.

From Rajasthan to the World: Exporting a Trust-Driven Model

India is recognised globally for its digital public goods—Aadhaar, UPI, and CoWIN are synonymous with scale and speed. But the next export-worthy innovation is relational delivery.

The DBT+SBCC model in Rajasthan can guide countries modernising welfare while rebuilding public trust. As India shapes G20 dialogues and South-South cooperation, this “Cash + Conversation” model can be a pillar of development diplomacy.

Why This Matters for More Than Nutrition

While Rajasthan’s example focuses on maternal and child health, the underlying principle applies to foundational learning.

A parent may enroll their child because of RTE provisions, but sustained attendance and learning outcomes depend on one crucial factor: trust—in teachers, infrastructure, and the system’s intent. (As highlighted in the Annual Status of Education Report – ASER).

Just like in health, educational outcomes rely on TRIAD: Trust, Relationships, and Inclusion Across Delivery.

The New Mandate: Build Trust, Then Deliver

India has built the rails. The next leap is emotional infrastructure. Communication must no longer be treated as a peripheral tool—it must be designed, resourced, and evaluated like core infrastructure. Because when public systems speak with clarity, credibility, and compassion, they do more than deliver—they connect.

And when citizens begin to trust not just the message, but the messenger, governance becomes not only visible, but transformative. Let us build a welfare state where information is not just shared, but believed—where delivery meets dignity, and where trust is not a byproduct, but the very foundation of India’s next development revolution.

2. ITI Upgradation Scheme: Cabinet Approves ₹60000 cr national scheme for ITI upgradation and skilling centers of excellence

ET Gov. 8 May, 2025

The scheme aims to address systemic gaps in India’s vocational training ecosystem, including infrastructure deficits, outdated courses, and low aspirational value of ITIs.

NEW DELHI: In a major move to modernize vocational education and boost employability across India, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the National Scheme for Industrial Training Institute (ITI) Upgradation and the establishment of five National Centres of Excellence (NCOE) for Skilling.

The ambitious ₹60,000 crore Centrally Sponsored Scheme is designed to transform 1,000 government-run ITIs into industry-aligned, aspirational hubs of skills training over the next five years. The funding includes contributions of ₹30,000 crore from the Centre, ₹20,000 crore from States, and ₹10,000 crore from industry, with 50% of the Centre’s share co-financed by the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank.

Reimagining ITIs as Industry-Driven Institutes

The scheme introduces a hub-and-spoke model, upgrading ITIs with modern, capital-intensive trades relevant to high-growth sectors such as electronics, automotive, and renewable energy. It also includes a robust industry-led Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) implementation model—marking a clear departure from past upgrade initiatives.

Under the scheme:

1,000 ITIs will be upgraded to offer revamped trades aligned with current industry needs.

Five National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs)—located in Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kanpur, and Ludhiana—will be enhanced, with one Centre of Excellence for Skilling established in each.

50,000 trainers will undergo pre-service and in-service Training of Trainers (ToT).

20 lakh youth will be trained over five years through flexible, industry-driven programs.

Closing the Skill Gap, Aligning with Viksit Bharat Vision

The scheme aims to address systemic gaps in India’s vocational training ecosystem, including infrastructure deficits, outdated courses, and low aspirational value of ITIs. It aligns closely with the government’s ‘Viksit Bharat by 2047’ vision, emphasizing skills as a central driver of India’s transformation into a global manufacturing and innovation powerhouse.

Crucially, the program will match local workforce supply with evolving industry demand, enabling MSMEs and large industries alike to tap into a pipeline of job-ready skilled workers.

This landmark initiative builds on a decade of incremental efforts to modernize skill development and positions India to meet both domestic and global demands for skilled manpower in the 21st-century economy.

3. BharatNet’s last mile revolution: Wiring villages, bridging gaps, powering new possibilities

ET Gov. 22 Apr. 2025

“BharatNet is an ambitious project of the central government to provide broadband connectivity to all village panchayats in the country”: Jyotiraditya Scindia, Union Minister of Communications.

Across India’s rural heartland—where geography often isolates and governance struggles to reach—broadband cables are now bridging more than just physical gaps; they’re connecting communities to education, healthcare, and opportunity.

At the core of this transformation is BharatNet, the Government of India’s flagship rural broadband initiative that aims to connect over 2.6 lakh Gram Panchayats to high-speed internet.

Designed as a multiphase, future-ready network, BharatNet is not just a technological infrastructure project—it is a bold social contract to ensure that digital inclusion becomes a foundational right for every citizen.

“BharatNet is an ambitious project of the central government to provide broadband connectivity to all village panchayats in the country,” said Jyotiraditya Scindia, Union Minister of Communications.

From Vision to Reality: The Evolution of BharatNet

The BharatNet initiative has evolved through three distinct phases. The first phase, completed in December 2017, connected one lakh Gram Panchayats using existing government telecom infrastructure.

The second phase, currently underway, aims to extend connectivity to another 1.5 lakh Panchayats using a mix of technologies—including optical fiber, satellite, and radio. This phase has seen extensive collaboration between central agencies, state governments, and private players.

The third phase, under the Amended BharatNet Program (ABP) approved in August 2023, is where the project turns from expansion to fortification. This phase introduces a ring-topology design, IP-MPLS routing, a ten-year operations and maintenance model, power backup systems, and a Remote Fibre Monitoring System (RFMS). It is built not only for today’s needs but for a 5G-enabled future.

“Currently, 2.12 lakh Gram Panchayats are connected, and the rest will also be linked in a similar way. An amount of ₹1.39 lakh crore has been allocated for this,” said Minister Scindia, underscoring both the progress and the scale of financial commitment.

Funding the Digital Backbone

With an aim to provide broadband connectivity to all Gram Panchayats (GPs) in the country, more than 2.18 lakh GPs have been made service ready (as on March 19) under the BharatNet project.

The government has demonstrated strong fiscal support for BharatNet. Initially funded through the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF)—now restructured as the Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN)—the project received over ₹42,068 crore for Phases I and II. As of December 2023, around ₹39,825 crore had already been disbursed.

With the launch of the Amended BharatNet Program, the government committed an additional ₹1,39,579 crore, reflecting a strategic intent to not just complete the network but to make it robust, secure, and scalable. This includes long-term operational contracts, energy reliability provisions, and a push toward intelligent monitoring systems.

The Numbers Behind the Network

As of March 2025, BharatNet has made 2,18,347 Gram Panchayats service-ready, having laid 6.92 lakh kilometers of optical fiber and achieved a total fiber footprint of over 42 lakh route kilometers. Over 1.04 lakh Wi-Fi hotspots have been deployed, and 12.21 lakh Fibre-To-The-Home (FTTH) connections have been commissioned.

The execution is spearheaded by Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL) and BSNL, the latter now serving as the single Project Management Agency under the amended program.

“Under BharatNet's phase II, one lakh towers of 4G network will be set up across the country. These towers are planned to be set up mainly in unconnected areas. This will create a good communication system even in the most remote areas of the state,” added Scindia, highlighting the convergence between broadband and mobile connectivity efforts.

Transforming Governance, Healthcare, Education—and Lives

Beyond statistics, the impact of BharatNet is visible in the services it enables. Teachers in Jharkhand are streaming smart lessons, panchayat offices in Rajasthan are uploading land records online, and clinics in interior Odisha are conducting telehealth consultations. With high-speed internet, even the most basic services become more accessible and efficient.

“Digital infrastructure is the new foundation of development,” said Bhuvnesh Kumar, CEO of UIDAI. “Just like roads brought markets closer, the internet brings knowledge, health, and governance within everyone’s reach.”

Complementary programs such as the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA), which has trained over 6.39 crore individuals, are ensuring that the infrastructure is backed by capability.

From Connectivity to Capability: Private Sector Steps In

With BharatNet providing open access to telecom operators, ISPs, and content providers, the private sector now has a ready platform to scale digital services across rural India. This includes everything from financial inclusion tools to agricultural market platforms and digital health consultations.

“BharatNet lays the groundwork for innovation in fintech, agritech, healthtech—everything. It’s an infrastructure layer on which the digital India of tomorrow will be built,” said Nandan Nilekani, Co-founder of Infosys.

“Connectivity breeds commerce,” noted Rajan Mathews, former Director General of COAI. “BharatNet is opening rural markets to digital payments, e-commerce, and job creation.”

Building Forward with NABARD and CSCs

The Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) has partnered with NABARD to align BharatNet with rural development goals. Their collaboration focuses on enabling access to digital services for farmers, promoting agri-tech solutions, and encouraging participation in the digital economy.

CSC e-Governance Services India Ltd. is implementing last-mile delivery through FTTH and public Wi-Fi in Gram Panchayats. Over 11.4 lakh FTTH connections and more than 1.04 lakh access points have been established, with pilot projects testing overhead fiber deployment in hard-to-reach areas.

The Roadblocks: Challenges that Demand Urgent Attention

Despite its scale and intent, BharatNet faces structural and operational hurdles. Last-mile connectivity remains inconsistent—many villages have service-ready status without active access points.

Infrastructure security is also a concern, with frequent reports of fiber vandalism and equipment theft, particularly in areas without stable electricity or monitoring.

Coordination across multiple executing agencies—BBNL, BSNL, CSC-SPV, and state governments—has sometimes led to delays and diluted accountability. Procurement bottlenecks, contractual disputes, and ineffective grievance redressal mechanisms have been cited as limiting factors by several state audit reports.

Moreover, affordability and digital literacy remain significant barriers. While infrastructure may reach villages, the lack of awareness, devices, and usable content—especially in regional languages—prevents meaningful adoption.

“We’ve built the digital highway, but too many people still don’t know how to drive on it. We need to invest as much in users as we do in infrastructure,” said a senior telecom executive associated with rural broadband rollout.

Mobile and Broadband: The Twin Engines

BharatNet’s progress is bolstered by an expanding mobile infrastructure. As of December 2024, more than 6.25 lakh villages have mobile network coverage, and over 6.18 lakh villages are covered with 4G. This synergy between fixed-line broadband and mobile connectivity ensures that digital services can be accessed on the go as well.

“BSNL is already ahead of the curve. We have launched Direct-to-Device satellite messaging services,” said Scindia, underscoring the broader digital ambitions of India’s public telecom sector.

Conclusion: The Last Mile Is the First Step

With every fiber laid, BharatNet is not just wiring the country—it’s rewriting the possibilities for rural India. Its success will not be judged by infrastructure alone, but by the opportunities it creates—for students, for women, for small businesses, for farmers, and for local governments.

“This is the real ‘Digital India’—not in slogans, but in service delivery, inclusion, and empowerment,” said S. Krishnan, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and IT. “When a woman in a far-flung village logs into a government portal to claim her entitlements, that’s when the digital revolution becomes real.”

The challenge now is not just to complete BharatNet, but to fully activate it—and ensure that every citizen, regardless of geography, becomes part of India’s digital future.

(Anoop Verma is Editor-News, ETGovernment)

4. Transforming lives in Rajsamand: A model of inclusive growth through innovation & outreach

ET, 12th May 2025

In the heart of Rajasthan lies Rajsamand—a district rich in culture, history, and potential. At the helm of its transformation is Balmukund Asawa, IAS, whose governance philosophy is grounded in inclusivity, grassroots empowerment, and data-driven innovation.

Since taking charge as the Collector and District Magistrate, Asawa has spearheaded a series of impactful initiatives aimed at improving the lives of the most underserved sections of society.

From women-led enterprises and labour welfare schemes to real-time governance portals and universal insurance coverage, his administration reflects a deep commitment to making governance effective and empathetic.

In this interview with ETGovernment’s Yagrica Repswal, he speaks about the vision behind flagship programs like Saksham Sakhi and Mission Kutumb Kavach, the role of technology in governance, and his long-term roadmap for transforming Rajsamand into a model district of sustainable and inclusive development.

Edited excerpts:

What are your key priorities as the District Collector of Rajsamand, and what initiatives have you implemented so far?

Our mission is clear: development that reaches everyone, especially the most underserved. With that in mind, we launched four high-impact initiatives—Saksham Sakhi to power women-led enterprises, Shram Sambal for supporting labourers and their children, Mission Kutumb Kavach for universal insurance coverage, and Swachh Rajsamand, Swaasth Rajsamand to make cleanliness and public health a community movement.

And the results speak volumes. SHG women saw their sales jump from ₹22.5 lakh to ₹1.73 crore. Credit access also improved dramatically. Over 6,400 labourers’ children received scholarships worth ₹6.07 crore, and public spaces across the district have been transformed through collective action. It’s not just governance—it’s grassroots change in motion.

What inspired the launch of Saksham Sakhi, and how do you see it transforming rural women's lives?

Saksham Sakhi emerged from the gap that women in rural areas don’t just need financial assistance—they need structured support to become self-reliant entrepreneurs. Many were already a part of SHGs but lacked visibility, product refinement, and market connections. By focusing on skill-building, packaging, branding, and financial linkage, the initiative is helping these women take confident steps into the marketplace. The change is visible—not just in numbers, but in mindset. Women who once hesitated to speak up are now leading production units, handling bulk orders, and inspiring others in their communities. It’s a powerful transformation driven from the ground up.

How is technology being used in Rajsamand to improve transparency, public services, and infrastructure planning?

Technology is a vital tool for us in improving governance outcomes. Through the Rajsamand.org portal, we’ve created a system where inspections, public services, and developmental progress can be tracked in real-time. Regular reviews by officers ensure that issues like water supply, sanitation, and service delivery are monitored and addressed quickly. This system has not only made our response faster but has also built greater accountability across departments. It’s a shift toward smarter administration that connects the field directly to the decision-making table.

Mission Kutumb Kavach aimed at providing financial protection to every eligible citizen. What was the core vision behind launching this mission, and how did you identify the need for such a large-scale intervention?

Mission Kutumb Kavach was launched to expand insurance coverage to citizens who had previously been left out of schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana. Despite the affordability and importance of these schemes, many families had missed out due to a lack of awareness and support. We saw this as a critical gap and decided to address it through a district-wide campaign that combined on-ground camps with intensive outreach.

Between October 2024 and January 2025, enrolment drives were conducted across all gram panchayats and urban wards. The campaign involved close coordination with banks, NGOs, SHGs, and industries. We set clear targets, simplified the enrolment process, and ensured that every eligible beneficiary received their policy documents promptly. The results were encouraging—beneficiaries under PMJJBY rose from 2.15 lakh to 2.80 lakh, and those under PMSBY grew from 4.00 lakh to 5.07 lakh, resulting in 1.72 lakh additional citizens covered within a single financial year. This initiative not only provided financial security to families but also increased trust in public welfare systems.

What is your long-term vision for the development and growth of Rajsamand?

Rajsmand has all the ingredients to become a leading district—heritage, talent, natural beauty, and strong community spirit. Our long-term vision is to unlock this potential by focusing on sustainable development, balanced urban-rural growth, and opportunities for youth and women. We are investing in education, healthcare, skill development, and tourism—while also working to strengthen agriculture and small enterprises. The aim is to build a district where progress is visible, inclusive, and future-ready. With the active participation of the community, we are confident that Rajsamand can set an example for holistic and people-focused governance.

5. Cooperative Societies: Digital drive transforms Gujarat’s cooperative economy into a tech-enabled powerhouse

ET Gov. 6 May 2025

Efforts toward digitalization, financial inclusion, and strengthening institutions across various sectors indicate a positive growth trajectory.

AHMEDABAD: The cooperative movement in Gujarat - deeply embedded in the state’s socio-economic fabric - is undergoing a strategic transformation. While the historical impact of these institutions, notably the global success of AMUL in the dairy industry, is well-recognized, the current emphasis is firmly on leveraging their collective strength for broader economic expansion and enhanced prosperity throughout the state.

A significant catalyst for this renewed dynamism is the central government's establishment of the Ministry of Cooperation in 2021. This dedicated ministry has been pivotal in formulating and implementing policies aimed at modernizing and strengthening the cooperative sector nationwide. A key initiative is the ongoing digitalization of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), integrating them onto a unified digital platform to boost operational efficiency and streamline their connection with the wider financial ecosystem.

Reflecting this national impetus, the Gujarat state government is actively pursuing its own strategic interventions to fortify its cooperative sector, which comprises a substantial 87,201 registered societies.

Recently, the Lok Sabha passed a bill to establish Tribhuvan Sahkari University in Gujarat in 2025, following an extensive discussion led by Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah. This legislation paves the way for India’s first national cooperative university, to be located at the Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA) in Gujarat.

In his address, Shah underscored the historical significance of the bill, emphasizing its potential to strengthen India’s rural economy, promote self-employment, and foster innovation and research. The university will focus on providing contemporary education to emerging leaders within the cooperative sector, aiming to cultivate a new generation of leaders equipped with cooperative principles and modern management practices.

Named after the distinguished cooperative leader Tribhuvan Das Patel, the university will serve as a central hub for cooperative leadership development.

The Gujarat government has also placed considerable emphasis on strengthening the financial infrastructure of its cooperative sector through various strategic initiatives, with the ‘Cooperation among Cooperatives’ initiative standing out as a transformative step towards financial consolidation and modernization. This initiative aims to centralize bank accounts and deposits of various cooperative societies within district and state cooperative banks, thereby enhancing liquidity, credit access, and retention of capital within the community.

Initially piloted in Banaskantha and Panchmahal, the initiative saw the opening of over 4 lakh new accounts and an infusion of ₹966 crore in deposits. This success prompted a statewide rollout across all 33 districts. The pilot included the consolidation of accounts from 1,048 milk societies and the issuance of 3.32 lakh RuPay debit cards to members, supported by training for over 1,600 cooperative employees on digital transactions.

To boost financial accessibility, 1,736 societies, including prominent milk cooperatives, were equipped with micro-ATMs and linked as ‘Bank Mitra.’ This initiative reflects a strong push towards digital banking, reduced cash dependency, and enhanced convenience for rural communities.

Furthermore, the state government has facilitated digitalization through the establishment of the e-Cooperative portal, which streamlines the registration process for new cooperative societies and enables the online issuance of registration certificates. Since its launch in 2022, this portal has processed 2,138 new online registrations and 682 online registration renewals between 2021 and 2024. The e-Cooperative portal simplifies administrative procedures, making it more convenient for individuals to form new cooperatives and for existing ones to manage their operational requirements.

The regulatory landscape for cooperative banks is also evolving, with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) playing an increasingly active role in oversight and governance, thereby enhancing depositor confidence. The RBI has also introduced measures to ease regulations for urban cooperative banks, facilitating their expansion through the opening of new branches, a move expected to further deepen financial penetration across the state. Notably, urban cooperative banks in Gujarat have demonstrated robust financial health, with a low Gross Non-Performing Asset (GNPA) ratio compared to the national average.

The Gujarat budget for 2025-26 further underscores the government's commitment to financial support, with specific allocations for the cooperative sector. This includes financial assistance for PACS to integrate with the Core Banking System of District Cooperative Banks, an interest subvention scheme for PACS with an allocation of ₹10 million, and a financial incentive of ₹54.9 million for the formation of new PACS. These budgetary provisions demonstrate a targeted approach to strengthen the financial viability and operational efficiency of primary level cooperatives. Moreover, the government has implemented significant tax reforms to benefit cooperative societies. The Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT) rate for Cooperative Societies has been reduced from 18.5% to 15%, aligning it with the rate applicable to companies.

While the dairy sector, anchored by the AMUL, remains a vital component of Gujarat's cooperative structure, the focus is broadening to encompass diverse sectors. AMUL continues its growth trajectory, with its brand's total revenue projected to reach ₹1 trillion by FY26. The state government is also actively supporting farmers through cooperative structures, facilitating access to credit and improving market linkages for agricultural produce.

Looking ahead, Gujarat's cooperative sector is well-positioned to contribute significantly to the state's economic goals and align with India’s Viksit Bharat @2047 vision. Efforts toward digitalization, financial inclusion, and strengthening institutions across various sectors indicate a positive growth trajectory. With their strong community engagement and member-focused approach, Gujarat's cooperatives are set to drive inclusive development and ensure that the benefits of progress are widely shared. Fueled by proactive policies and modernization, the sector is on a transformative journey, leveraging its strengths to support national priorities and create sustained economic dynamism and inclusive growth.

- Agriculture, Fishing and Rural Development

6. DRDO develops indigenous polymeric membrane for sea water desalination

ET, 16 May, 2025

From Akash missiles to Akashteer command systems, from loitering munitions and counter-drone swarms to cyber arsenals and anti-missile missiles—India's ongoing Operation Sindoor has unfolded as a vivid demonstration of a deep-tech-powered warfare doctrine.

The Armed Forces are navigating the volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) terrain of modern conflict, fortified with a readiness toolkit built not only on valor but on robust, responsive technologies. But the challenge goes further: to manage the brittle, anxious, nonlinear, and incomprehensible (BANI) realities of information warfare and cognitive conflict.

In this emerging battlefield and the broader strategic context, a New Tech World Order is taking shape—governed by the Four Ds: Data, Digitisation, Digitalisation, and Disruption. Disruption, especially, is no longer a mere by-product of innovation; it is its very engine. It reshapes technologies and business models alike, pushing the world into an era of dual-use dominance—where innovations can bolster both economic and national security capacities.

Against this backdrop, as India celebrates National Technology Day, the pivotal question must be asked: How can India, as an emerging global technology powerhouse, achieve true technology sovereignty?

The Call for a National Technology Strategy

India’s vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047, grounded in Atmanirbhar Bharat, and powered by platforms such as Make in India and Gati Shakti, requires a clear, purpose-driven, and articulated National Technology Strategy (NTS). The ambition must be to not merely “develop” technologies but to own, institutionalise and export them.

India has commendable institutions like TIFAC (1988) and the recently launched Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF, 2023). But what is missing is a binding, visionary strategy to unify and amplify their work under one coherent framework.

India must craft a white paper—National Technology Strategy: A Charter for Sovereignty—outlining sectoral missions (like Mission Quantum, Mission Semiconductor, Mission AI) modeled on the success of IGMDP, with time-bound milestones and outcomes. This strategy must start with a resounding declaration: “We the People of India, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a Technological Sovereign Power…”

The Need for a National Technology Act

Big visions need big enablers. Much like the Defence Production Act (1950) in the US or RERA (2016) in India, we require a National Technology Act (NTA)—a legislative and regulatory framework that ensures coherence, accountability, and long-term continuity in technology development. This Act would empower a central authority, much like SEBI or RBI, to oversee and harmonise national R&D across agencies, ministries, and states.

A core proposal within this Act should be the One Technology, One Program (OTOP) principle—ensuring coordinated, non-duplicative, and synergistic efforts in fields such as quantum computing, AI, and cyber-physical systems.

Building a Unified National R&D Organisation

India is already rich in R&D capacity: DRDO, ISRO, CSIR, MeitY, DST, RDSO, and others have sprawling infrastructure and budgets. Yet, these institutions often work in silos. A National R&D Organisation, drawing together the capabilities of existing innovation hubs, Centers of Excellence, and sectoral labs, would enable the synergy India so badly needs.

Whether it’s satellite-aided fisheries monitoring by ISRO’s SAC, unmanned rail crossings managed by RDSO, or battlefield systems designed by DRDO—technologies like NAVIC can be a unifying thread, demonstrating how integration multiplies effectiveness. A national framework can eliminate overlap and direct investments toward unified outcomes.

Institutionalising Corporate Professional Responsibility (CPR)

India led the world with the CSR law in the Companies Act 2013. Now it must go one step further. In FY 2021–22 alone, 301 major Indian industries spent ₹12,260 crore on CSR. Imagine if just 2% of that effort was channeled annually into a Corporate Professional Responsibility (CPR) Technology Development Fund.

Development of deep-tech solutions follows a rigorous DevOps cycle: define, build, fail, iterate, recover. This trial-and-error model demands substantial patient capital. Institutionalising CPR funding could provide a sustainable source for this high-risk, high-reward innovation engine—fueling India's start-up and strategic tech ecosystem alike.

Strengthening India’s IPR Strategy

Technology sovereignty must go hand-in-hand with IPR sovereignty. Every innovation, design, or algorithm that emerges from Indian labs must be safeguarded under an aggressive, proactive intellectual property strategy. This not only builds national wealth but also strengthens India’s global negotiating power in multilateral tech and trade regimes.

Harnessing the Demographic Dividend

India’s youth is its biggest strength. But it needs more than education—it needs certified skilling ecosystems that match global benchmarks. Public libraries in the US are now hubs of 3D printing, AR/VR, and coding labs. Why not in India?

The transformation of libraries into digital and innovation skill hubs, integrated with formal certifications (semi-skilled, skilled, expert), could position India as a human capital superpower. Foreign language training at the school level, tied to export-intensive industries, can boost global employability. The NEP must be dynamically deployed to align skilling with national tech goals.

Setting and Surpassing Global Standards

India must aspire not only to produce world-class technologies but also to define global standards. Japan’s 5S principles—Sort, Shine, Set, Standardise, Sustain—are a model India can adopt across its defence and manufacturing sectors.

A National Production Act, mirroring global quality standards and compliance models, would ensure India's products—especially in defence and aerospace—are globally competitive and reliable across life cycles.

Becoming a Global MRO Hub

The journey to self-reliance doesn’t end with production. It must stretch from womb to tomb—through full-spectrum Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) services. Pegged at $500 billion globally, the MRO market is forecast to reach $760 billion by 2030. In defence and aerospace alone, India stands at just $4 billion.

With its youth power, robust manufacturing base, and industrial corridors, India can become the MRO hub of the Global South, offering lifecycle support not only for domestic production but for export partners as well.

National Technology Broadcast Day – 11 May

Like the Union Budget, India needs a National Technology Broadcast on May 11 every year—a “Tech Budget” for the nation. It would serve as an annual review and projection: showcasing breakthroughs, laying out technology roadmaps, and reinforcing the government’s commitment to sovereignty through innovation.

Conclusion: India’s Triple-Tech Frontiers

India’s technological renaissance is being driven on three transformative fronts:

Make in India – to seed a consistent “Made in India” brand.

Atmanirbhar Bharat – to reduce external dependence and build export-ready tech.

Startup India – to energise innovation through young entrepreneurs and new ventures.

Together, these initiatives have created an unprecedented innovation bandwidth. But the final frontier is Technology Sovereignty—the ability to define, build, secure, and deploy technology on our own terms.

Strong technology leadership builds a strong technology base. A strong base ensures sovereignty. And a sovereign technology ecosystem earns global respect—especially in an age defined by VUCAD: Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity, and Disruption.

India proved its mettle during the pandemic with vaccine sovereignty. Now is the time to scale this success across every critical technology vertical. Let us commit, year after year on May 11, to make India not just a participant but a torchbearer in the new world tech order.

(The author is a Lt. General (retired); Views expressed are personal)

7. Mizoram accelerates PACS computerization to empower cooperative sector by 2025

ET Gov. 18 Apr. 2025

Amit Sharma, Secretary to the Government of Mizoram for ICT & Cooperation, today injected a sense of urgency and purpose into the state's cooperative sector.

Chairing a pivotal meeting of the State Level Monitoring & Implementation Committee (SLIMC) at the Secretariat, he underscored the critical need for the time-bound completion of the Primary Agriculture Credit Cooperative Societies (PACS).

The meeting saw active participation from key stakeholders, including the Registrar Cooperative Societies, Joint Secretary of the Department of Finance, Deputy General Manager of NABARD, CEO of the Mizoram Apex Cooperative Bank, and the Joint Registrar Cooperative Societies.

Spearheading the discussion across various agenda points, Secretary Sharma galvanized the attendees by emphasizing the immediate necessity of a comprehensive survey, to be conducted through the Registrar Cooperative Societies office. This survey will meticulously assess the current stage of PACS computerization – a primary focus for the Government of Mizoram, aligning with the Ministry of Cooperation's targets during this significant UN-declared International Year of Cooperatives, 2025.

Looking ahead, Secretary Sharma directed efforts towards exploring the potential for maximizing the inclusion of remaining PACS in the second phase of computerization. This strategic move aims to deliver a significant boost to the cooperative sector throughout Mizoram.

Demonstrating a proactive approach, Secretary Sharma urged the NABARD team to ensure the seamless execution of ongoing training programs essential for the successful completion of PACS computerization. He further instructed the Registrar Cooperative Societies office to support the customization of the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software.

This customization will be crucial for incorporating a diverse range of loan products, including vital agricultural loans (both short-term and long-term) and Kisan Credit Cards (KCC). Emphasizing accountability, Secretary Sharma directed his team to meticulously record all decisions made and to provide a detailed progress update at the next SLIMC meeting.

In a pragmatic decision before the meeting concluded, Secretary Sharma approved the inclusion of Zotlang MPACS under the PACS Computerization initiative. This decision came in light of the Kolasib Village Farming Cooperative Society Ltd becoming defunct, as reported by the Joint Registrar Cooperatives following a site visit. This swift action demonstrates the commitment to ensuring that resources are directed towards active and impactful cooperative societies.

8. Empowering Bharat’s villages: Modi govt’s big bet on panchayats to foster grassroots development

ET Gov. 28 Apr. 2025

Madhubani: Prime Minister Narendra Modi distributes National Panchayat Awards 2025 during an event to mark National Panchayati Raj Day, in Madhubani district, Bihar, by inaugurating and laying the foundation for development projects worth over Rs 13,480 crore.

These projects, spanning electricity, railways, and infrastructure, are set to create new jobs and boost poll-bound Bihar’s growth. This event drives home a message that the ruling establishment at the Centre is fully committed to strengthening the Panchayati Raj system, a bedrock of rural governance that brings development to India’s 6.65 lakh villages and 2.68 lakh Gram Panchayats.

National Panchayati Raj Day, observed annually on April 24, honors the system’s role in grassroots governance. Established through the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1993, Panchayati Raj ensures villages have a voice in their development.

The system’s foundation was laid in 1957 by the Balwantrai Mehta Committee, which recommended a three-tier structure: Gram Panchayat at the village level, Panchayat Samiti at the block level, and Zila Parishad at the district level. Rajasthan led the way in 1959, with the system formally launched by Jawaharlal Nehru in Nagpur. Today, it remains vital for rural progress and citizen participation.

Rural development through schemes

The Central Government has introduced several schemes to uplift rural India, focusing on employment, housing, and infrastructure. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) provides jobs to millions, while the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana - Gramin (PMAY-G) has built over 4 crore permanent houses for the poor, with plans for 3 crores more.

These homes primarily benefit economically weaker sections, Dalits, and people hailing from lower strata of society. The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) has connected remote villages with roads, boosting access to markets and services.

The Union Budget 2025-26 has earmarked Rs 1,88,754.53 crore for rural development, targeting employment, women’s empowerment, education, and infrastructure. Over the past decade, more than Rs 2 lakh crore has been channeled to Panchayats, funding houses, roads, gas connections, water supply, and toilets. These efforts have created jobs for laborers, farmers, vehicle operators, and shopkeepers, injecting new energy into the rural economy.

Technology, infrastructure for rural India

Technology has transformed Panchayati Raj, making governance more accessible. Over 2 lakh Gram Panchayats now have internet connectivity, and more than 5.5 lakh Common Service Centers (CSCs) provide services like birth certificates, death certificates, and land records. Digitalization has simplified processes, saving time and effort for rural citizens. Even in remote areas like Ladakh and Siachen, 4G and 5G networks have been established, ensuring connectivity in challenging terrains.

Modern infrastructure is reshaping rural India. For the first time, over 12 crore rural households have tap water connections, and 2.5 crore homes have been electrified. Gas connections have reached families who once relied on traditional stoves, improving health and convenience. Enhanced connectivity through roads, railways, and airports has opened new economic opportunities, allowing rural producers to access larger markets. These advancements align with the vision of a developed India, where no village is left behind.

Despite progress, challenges remain. Uneven implementation of schemes, lack of awareness, and limited capacity in some Panchayats hinder development. Women’s participation in Panchayati Raj, though improved, needs further encouragement.

The government must focus on training Panchayat leaders, ensuring transparent fund use, and addressing regional disparities. A risk-based approach, tailoring schemes to local needs, could maximize impact. For instance, drought-prone areas need water conservation projects, while flood-prone regions require better drainage systems.

Balancing empowerment and efficiency

The Panchayati Raj system has empowered villages by giving them decision-making power, but its success depends on efficient execution. Schemes like MGNREGA and PMAY-G have reduced poverty and improved living standards, yet bureaucratic delays and corruption in some areas undermine their benefits.

Digital tools have streamlined governance, but digital literacy gaps in rural areas need attention. The government’s focus on infrastructure is commendable, but long-term sustainability requires integrating renewable energy and eco-friendly practices into rural projects.

The Union Budget’s substantial allocation signals strong intent, but outcomes hinge on grassroots accountability. Panchayats must be equipped with skilled personnel and clear guidelines to utilize funds effectively. Encouraging local entrepreneurship and women-led initiatives can further drive economic growth. By aligning schemes with local realities, India can ensure inclusive development that uplifts every village.

Needless to say, Panchayati Raj and rural development are intertwined pillars of India’s progress. The government’s investments in infrastructure, technology, and schemes reflect a commitment to empowering rural communities.

As India moves toward becoming a developed nation, the Panchayati Raj system will continue to play a pivotal role in ensuring no one is left behind. In the words of Mahatma Gandhi, who championed rural upliftment, “The soul of India lives in its villages.” By strengthening Panchayati Raj, India is not just building infrastructure but nurturing the soul of its rural heartland.

(The author is a commentator on social and political issues; Views expressed are personal)

9. Boost Rice Yields with Innovation and Better Management, Says Dr. Paroda

Rural Voice, Apr 28, 2025

Addressing key challenges, Dr. Paroda highlighted that many farmers in Punjab have abandoned hybrid rice cultivation due to poor procurement by millers, resulting from low head rice recovery. He urged breeders to focus research on improving head rice yield to restore farmer confidence and drive higher productivity.

Agricultural scientist and former Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Dr. R.S. Paroda, has raised a pressing concern for India’s agricultural sector, pointing out that while China achieves an average rice yield of 6 tonnes per hectare, India lags behind at just 3.5 tonnes. Speaking at the Diamond Jubilee event of the Annual Group Meeting of Rice Researchers under the All India Coordinated Research Project on Rice (AICRPR) — organised by the ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research (ICAR-IIRR), Hyderabad, from April 26 to 28, 2025 — Dr. Paroda emphasised the urgent need to bridge this yield gap through the development of improved rice varieties and enhanced management practices.

Dr. M.L. Jat, Secretary, DARE, and Director General, ICAR, opined that changing consumption patterns, climate change, and environmental degradation must be taken very seriously. He stressed that the development of varieties, technology, market policy, and socio-economic factors must be thoroughly researched. Dr. Jat also emphasised that farm scientists should focus on region-specific agri-food systems in India. He noted that the area under rice cultivation must be reduced by 5 million hectares while simultaneously increasing production by 10 million tonnes. Nitrogen use efficiency, water use efficiency, methanogenesis, and phosphorus use efficiency should be key areas of focus.

AICRPR is the largest network dedicated to a single crop — rice — comprising more than 500 researchers across all rice-growing states in the country. The Diamond Jubilee Annual Group Meeting of Rice Researchers was convened to deliberate on the progress of rice research carried out in 2024, to discuss the latest developments, and to frame the technical programme for 2025.

Dr. R.M. Sundaram, Director, ICAR-IIRR, presented the progress report for 2024 and outlined the future plan of work related to rice research for 2025. He also revealed that ICAR-IIRR is the first institute in India to develop genome-edited rice, using the Samba Mahsuri background, with a 19% yield advantage to boost production, productivity, and farmers' profits.

Dr. Aldas Janaiah, Vice-Chancellor of PJTSAU, mentioned that organised rice research in Telangana began in 1928 under Nizam rule. The construction of the Himayat Sagar Dam helped farmers adopt rice cultivation, and today, Telangana has become a surplus rice-producing state in the country.

Dr. D.K. Yadava, Deputy Director General (Crop Sciences), ICAR, stated that incentivisation in rice research and genome editing represent new frontiers for rice research in India. Since the enactment of the Seed Act in 1966, India has released 1,500 rice varieties. He noted that 20% of agricultural exports are from rice, generating Rs. 48,000 crore in foreign exchange. Dr. Yadava stressed the need to expand the area under hybrid rice and mentioned that herbicide-tolerant rice varieties are a boon for Basmati rice farmers in the Indo-Gangetic Plains and for direct-seeded rice cultivation in north-western India.

The AICRPR workshop was inaugurated by Dr. M.L. Jat, Secretary, DARE, and DG-ICAR, on April 27, 2025, at 9:30 AM. The three-day programme was coordinated by Dr. R.M. Sundaram, Director, ICAR-IIRR, Hyderabad. Distinguished scientists who attended the inaugural function included Dr. D.K. Yadava, Deputy Director General (Crop Sciences), ICAR, New Delhi; Dr. Aldas Janaiah, Vice-Chancellor, PJTSAU, Hyderabad; Dr. R. Sarada Jayalakshmi Devi, Vice-Chancellor, ANGRAU, Guntur; Dr. A.K. Singh, Emeritus Scientist, ICAR-IARI, New Delhi; Dr. S.K. Pradhan, Assistant Director General (FFC), ICAR, New Delhi; and Shri Ajay Bhalotia, Chairman, Fortune Rice Ltd. The event also witnessed participation from delegates representing ICAR-National Rice Research Institute (ICAR-NRRI), Cuttack; ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR-IARI), New Delhi; AICRPR network partners; dignitaries from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Philippines; and executives from private seed companies across India.

10. India’s Summer Harvest Feeds Freight Boom, but Farmers Pay the Price

Rural Voice, 03 May, 2025, R. Suryamurthy

The timing of this rental hike is especially critical. April and May are peak months for harvesting and dispatching perishable produce such as mangoes, watermelons, muskmelons, and vegetables like okra and cucumbers. For millions of Indian farmers, especially those cultivating perishable crops, the rise in logistics costs can erode already modest profits.

A sharp 4% to 6% increase in truck rentals across major Indian trunk routes in April has emerged as a double-edged sword—signaling robust economic activity but tightening the noose on farmers, particularly smallholders, by pushing up the cost of transporting bumper fruit and vegetable crops to market.

According to the Indian Foundation of Transport Research and Training (IFTRT), the surge in freight rates has been driven by a spike in cargo volumes from the summer harvest, brisk movement of manufactured goods, steady consumer demand, and stable operational expenses for truckers. While this rental upswing reflects a healthy transport sector, it has direct implications for India’s agricultural economy—where margins are often razor-thin.

“Truck rentals going up just when farmers are moving their summer produce to markets means they take home less,” said a senior agricultural economist based in Delhi. “In some regions, the hike in transport cost alone can shave off 5–10% of a farmer’s returns.”

This impact is felt disproportionately by small and marginal farmers—who constitute over 85% of India’s farming population—because they often depend on third-party transporters and have less leverage to negotiate freight or delay sales until prices improve.

Truck rentals rose by 5.5% to 6% on key routes connecting industrial and agricultural hubs such as Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Nagpur, and Vijayawada. Eastern and Northeastern regions saw slightly lower increases of 4% to 4.5%. This is the most buoyant rental performance since the post-COVID recovery period, IFTRT said in its April bulletin.

The rise has been fueled by an 8–10% increase in cargo availability—from summer fruits and vegetables to rising dispatches of consumer goods, cement, two-wheelers, and FMCG products. Spending from rural India has also picked up following healthy wheat and chana (gram) harvests, IFTRT noted.

Retail and part-load freight operators have taken advantage of the demand surge by hiking per-kilogram freight rates and passing on 5% GST levies to customers. Yet, the sector remains marred by tax evasion, with some transporters and traders colluding to bypass GST—hurting both public revenue and the competitiveness of law-abiding firms.

While freight charges for high-value cargo are partly cushioned by improved vehicle quality—nearly 50% of new trucks sold are now rigid closed-body carriers ensuring cargo safety—this benefit is rarely extended to small farmers moving perishable goods in bulk.

The rental hikes expose systemic gaps in rural logistics and infrastructure. “Without adequate cold storage, farm gate procurement, or rural aggregation centres, farmers are forced to rely on market-bound trucks, whose prices fluctuate with demand,” said an analyst tracking rural supply chains.

The IFTRT called on state governments to offer support infrastructure—such as rural parking, loading bays, and small truck facilities—to help keep transport affordable for local routes. It also cautioned against falling prey to vehicle manufacturers lobbying for large-scale scrapping of older, roadworthy trucks used in rural haulage, saying such moves hurt small fleet owners and raise logistics costs.

While IFTRT expects rental rates to remain firm until the monsoon’s onset in July, the think tank flagged a significant geopolitical risk: any escalation following the Pahalgam massacre or full-fledged conflict with Pakistan could derail economic stability, hitting trucking and agricultural trade alike.

In contrast to the volatility, some silver linings remain. International crude prices are low—hovering around USD 64.60 per barrel—and the rupee is relatively strong at ₹84.60 per dollar. IFTRT has urged policymakers to pass on the benefit by slashing diesel and tyre prices by 10–15% to reduce transport costs across the board.

For now, farmers navigating this peak dispatch window are caught in the crossfire of strong economic momentum and rising operational pressures. Without targeted interventions, the burden of higher freight could eat into the gains of a good harvest—threatening rural incomes and food supply chain resilience.

- Industry and Manufacture

11. With Second GCC, Walmart Looks to Build Tech Muscle

ET, 16 Apr. 2025

Walmart’s Indian technology arm has leased nearly 465,000 square feet of office space in Chennai for setting up its second global capability centre (GCC) in the country, enhancing the US retail giant’s investment commitment in the country’s robust tech ecosystem.

WM Global Technology Services India Pvt Ltd rented the office space at the International Tech Park Chennai (ITPC). Located at ITPC’s Block 1, the property was leased from Radial IT Park Pvt Ltd. It spans five floors with a chargeable area of 465,447 sq ft, showed the lease document shared by Propstack, a data analytics firm.

The expansion follows Walmart leasing about 950,000 sq ft in Bengaluru in the December quarter from realty developer Prestige Group to set up its first GCC in India.

“The lease agreement begins on January 1, 2025, and spans a tenure of 60 months. The agreed rental rate is ₹70 per sq ft per month, translating into a monthly rent of ₹3.26 crore,” the document showed. “Walmart has also deposited a six-month rental amount as security, totalling approximately ₹19.55 crore,” it mentioned.

As per the agreement, the rent will escalate by 4% annually over the lease term.

Experts say the addition of the Chennai centre reflects Walmart’s strategy to build a strong pan-India tech presence.

“Chennai’s IT corridor has emerged as a prominent hub for GCCs due to the availability of skilled talent, well-developed infrastructure, and cost advantages. Walmart’s decision to establish operations in ITPC further validates Chennai’s growing prominence in the global tech landscape,” a person said.

India has become a pivotal part of Walmart’s global tech strategy. The Chennai GCC will house teams working across critical technology functions that power Walmart’s global retail ecosystem and can seat 4,500 employees. From data engineering and artificial intelligence to cloud computing and cybersecurity, the Chennai facility will serve as a key contributor to Walmart’s innovation agenda.

“With capability centres in both Bengaluru and Chennai, Walmart is positioning itself to leverage India not just as a back-office location but as a full-fledged innovation hub,” said the person cited above. “This dual-city presence enhances agility, talent access, and operational resilience — cornerstones for the next phase of growth in a rapidly evolving global retail environment.”

Walmart’s latest expansion underlines the growing importance of India in global retail-tech strategies and highlights how multinationals are increasingly integrating Indian talent into their core innovation and operational framework. These firms are increasingly leveraging India’s deep talent pool by establishing their GCCs as strategic hubs or second headquarters, driving innovation, digital transformation, and high-value capabilities.

Expansion into multi-functional centres, consolidation of existing operations, and the entry of new players are expected to fuel GCC-led leasing activity. Industry experts project GCCs will comprise about 40% of total office space absorption across India’s top cities in 2025, said CBRE in its latest report

12. Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme: Electronics manufacturing gets a ₹22,919 crore boost with launch of ECMS guidelines & portal

ET Gov. 28 Apr. 2025

Union Minister Vaishnaw described ECMS as a horizontal scheme that will support not just electronics but also industrial, power, automobile sectors and more. He emphasized that a complete ecosystem for electronics manufacturing is coming into place across the country.

In a move to strengthen India’s electronics manufacturing ecosystem, Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw today launched the guidelines and online portal for the Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS) in New Delhi.

The initiative marks a major milestone in India's journey toward becoming a global electronics hub, reinforcing the government’s strategy of deepening manufacturing capabilities across the entire value chain.

Speaking at the event, Vaishnaw outlined India’s progressive journey in electronics manufacturing. “We started by building confidence through finished products, enabling downward integration. We moved from module-level manufacturing to component manufacturing, and now we are stepping into material manufacturing, the building blocks of components," he said.

Highlighting the sector’s exponential growth, he noted, “Electronics production has grown five-fold and exports have increased more than six-fold, with an export CAGR exceeding 20% and production CAGR over 17%.” Mobile phones, servers, laptops, and IT hardware, he said, have witnessed particularly strong momentum.

Building a Complete Ecosystem

Describing the ECMS as a horizontal scheme, Vaishnaw emphasized that it would support not just electronics, but also the industrial, power, and automobile sectors. “A complete ecosystem for electronics manufacturing is coming into place across the country,” he asserted.

He stressed the twin priorities of innovation and quality, urging companies to establish design teams and strive for Six Sigma standards. "Participants must build strong design capabilities and adhere to the highest quality benchmarks. Those failing to meet quality standards will be cut short," he warned, emphasizing that India’s global leadership in electronics will be driven by these pillars.

Strong Foundations for AI and Data Solutions

Vaishnaw also highlighted India's growing capabilities in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data-driven innovation. He informed that 350 datasets have been uploaded to AI Kosh, and four new AI tools developed by IITs will soon be launched. "Techno-legal solutions are being created to further strengthen the electronics ecosystem," he added.

A significant highlight of the event was the selection of Sarvam AI to build India’s first indigenous AI foundational model, signaling a major milestone for the country’s AI ecosystem.

ECMS: A Comprehensive and Innovative Scheme

Secretary of MeitY, S. Krishnan, emphasized that ECMS aims to firmly position India as an electronics manufacturing superpower. “MeitY will work closely with all stakeholders to ensure the scheme’s great success,” he said.

The scheme, approved by the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi earlier this month, adopts a comprehensive approach, incentivizing the entire electronics supply chain. In addition to supporting the manufacturing of components and subassemblies, ECMS also incentivizes capital equipment and subassembly of manufacturing equipment, creating an integrated and efficient ecosystem.

A presentation during the event detailed the scheme’s unique features, notably its offering of hybrid incentives — a first for any such initiative — linking fiscal incentives directly to turnover, capital expenditure, and employment generation. The incentive structure is also designed to reward early and efficient applicants through a first-come, first-served approach.

The scheme guidelines, crafted to be clear and simple, uphold the principle of ease of doing business, ensuring streamlined compliance and efficient execution.

Industry Applauds Government’s Vision

The event witnessed participation from over 200 stakeholders, including senior government officials, embassy representatives, domestic and global industry leaders, financial institutions, consulting firms, and media. Industry leaders praised the seamless implementation of Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes by MeitY and lauded the efficiency with which incentives are being disbursed.

The significance of the occasion was also underscored by a minute of silence observed at the start of the event in memory of the victims of the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam.

Scheme Details: Driving Growth and Employment

The Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme is set to have a transformative impact:

Budget Outlay: ₹22,919 crore

Tenure: 6 years (FY2025-26 to FY2031-32, with a 1-year gestation period)

Incentive Structure:

Turnover-linked incentive

Capex-linked incentive

Hybrid incentive (combination of turnover and capex incentives)

Employment-linked incentives

Application Window: Opens on 1st May 2025 through ecms.meity.gov.in

The scheme targets an investment of ₹59,350 crore, production output of ₹4,56,500 crore, and the creation of 91,600 direct jobs, along with many more indirect employment opportunities.

India’s electronics sector has already witnessed a dramatic transformation, with domestic production soaring from ₹1.90 lakh crore in FY2014-15 to ₹9.52 lakh crore in FY2023-24, and exports rising from ₹0.38 lakh crore to ₹2.41 lakh crore during the same period. Electronics has now emerged as India’s third-largest export commodity.

The Ministery of Electronics & Information Technology believes that with initiatives like the ECMS and the growing vibrancy of India's AI ecosystem, India is poised to consolidate its position not only as the world’s second-largest mobile manufacturer but also as a global electronics and technology powerhouse.

(Anoop Verma is Editor-News, ETGovernment)

13. Apple Ships 98% of its iPhone Exports to US from India in March

ET, 01 May 2025

To pre-empt higher tariffs on imports from China, Apple shipped nearly 98% of its total iPhone exports from India to the US in March, said a S&P Global Market Intelligence report.

Shipments in the last month before tariff announcements appear to have gathered momentum from US-bound iPhone cargo amounting to 82% of the exports in the 3 months to February, showed data. S&P said iPhone exports more than tripled in March as Apple ramped up production in India ahead of tariff announcements.

The Trump administration announced a 10% base tariff on imports from most countries, and additional reciprocal tariffs on countries it runs a trade deficit with, including China and Vietnam which exports the majority of consumer electronics products to the US.

With Beijing retaliating against the US action, the reciprocal tariff on China has gone up to 245% for some products. However, consumer electronics items including smartphones and laptops have been exempted from reciprocal tariffs. The Trump administration will announce special tariffs for these products, sometime in May.

Following the reprieve, S&P said Apple is reported to be planning to replace the entirety of its sourcing of iPhone for the US market from mainland China, from India in 2026.

“The move requires substantial investment and collaboration from contract manufacturers including Tata Electronics, supported by India's production-linked incentive schemes. While India has streamlined foreign investment processes, actualising these investments could take months,” S&P said.

Tata Electronics, Pegatron (now owned by Tata) and Foxconn Hon Hai are the three iPhone suppliers from India.

The market research firm said expanding iPhone production capacity would enhance India's reputation in global supply chain, particularly if a US-India bilateral trade agreement is secured by the third quarter of 2025, despite potential challenges like labour strikes.

14. Appliance Makers Set to Dial In Next Electronics Boom

ET, 4 May 2025

The smartphone industry may be the star of India’s manufacturing incentive programme, but consumer electronics and home appliance manufacturers are now getting in on the act.

Agencies

The smartphone industry may be the star of India’s manufacturing incentive programme, but consumer electronics and home appliance manufacturers are now getting in on the act.

Brands and contract manufacturers such as LG, Samsung, Haier, Havells, Godrej Appliances, Dixon Technologies, Amber Enterprises, PG Electroplast and Epack Durable have lined up record investments of over ₹13,000 crore to be executed over the next one-two years, according to executives. That’s more than twice that of FY24 and FY25 put together. This excludes the investments most of them will make under the recently announced incentive scheme for electronic components, plans for which are still being finalised by the companies, the executives said.

Chief executives said proposed investments will create capacities for both domestic and export markets to prepare for opportunities under the emerging tariff regime and backward integration into components. This is despite demand having been bleak for almost 10 quarters now, except for premium products.

Amber Enterprises CEO Jasbir Singh said components such as printed circuit boards are asset-heavy business and without government incentives it did not make business sense to make such high investments until now. LG Electronics is investing ₹5,001 crore in a new plant in Sri City in Andhra Pradesh.

The Sri City plant will be LG Electronics’ third unit in the country, having set up its last factory about two decades ago. This one will produce home appliances including ACs. Samsung meanwhile will be spending over ₹1,000 crore to expand capacities at its plant in Tamil Nadu.

Haier is making a fresh investment of ₹800 crore in India to expand its AC production capacity with a new plant and it aims to start making PCBs. It’s already invested about ₹1,600 crore in India. In the last fiscal year, Haier spent ₹200 crore, while the South Korean duo made no major manufacturing investments. Godrej Appliances has started trials of an AC compressor developed in-house and plans to set up a new plant to make it.

Havells India will invest ₹2,000 crore in the next two years on a new R&D centre and a refrigerator factory among other projects, the company told analysts on an earnings call. Its capital expenditure in the last fiscal year was ₹800 crore. Capex over the next five years will far exceed what it’s spent in the last 20 years, Havells managing director Anil Rai Gupta told ET. He said the company is also evaluating investment in components.

The Make in India initiative, the Phased Manufacturing Programme and the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme helped transform mobile phone manufacturing in the country. India is now the world’s second-biggest maker of these devices with more than 300 factories compared with two in 2014. The value of mobile phones manufactured has risen to ₹4.22 lakh crore in FY24 from ₹18,900 crore in FY14, as per the latest government data. The mobile phone PLI scheme alone attracted cumulative investment of ₹10,905 crore till February 2025.

In contrast, the investment in manufacturing of other electronic products such as televisions, home appliances, laptops and electronic components has lagged. The industry is said to be lobbying for a PLI scheme for refrigerators.

Contract manufacturer Amber plans to invest ₹2,000 in the next two fiscals on two PCB plants and other projects. Industry executives said Dixon aims to invest ₹900-1,000 crore in FY25. PG Electroplast and Epack Durables want to more than double the investments they made last year. Company executives did not comment.

The current high capex cycle across the electronics industry is aimed at building a component ecosystem and preparing for opportunities when consumption improves, said Vikas Gupta, MD—operations, PG Electroplast.

15. Kota Airport Approval: Centre approves greenfield airports for Kota in Rajasthan, Puri in Odisha

ET Gov. 7 May, 2025

NEW DELHI: In a significant move to strengthen regional air connectivity, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has granted in-principle approval for the development of greenfield airports in Kota (Rajasthan) and Puri (Odisha). The approval was announced by Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu on Monday.

The proposed Kota Airport is a long-awaited infrastructure project for the Hadoti region and has been actively championed by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, who represents the Kota-Bundi constituency. His consistent engagement with the ministry has played a crucial role in expediting the project, an official release said.

Kota, widely recognized as an educational and industrial hub, will benefit immensely from enhanced air connectivity. The new airport is expected to support the region’s growing population, facilitate business travel, and connect the city to major domestic and international destinations.

This development marks a major milestone in Rajasthan’s infrastructure growth and reflects the Government’s ongoing efforts to make air travel more accessible and inclusive, it said.

Meanwhile, the in-principle approval for a greenfield airport in Puri, Odisha, holds deep significance for the spiritual and tourism sectors. As the home of Lord Jagannath and one of India’s most revered pilgrimage centers, Puri attracts millions of visitors annually. The proposed airport is poised to significantly boost religious tourism, improve last-mile connectivity, and stimulate regional economic development.

Once operational, the Puri airport will offer direct air links to major metropolitan cities, reducing travel time and enhancing convenience for pilgrims and tourists alike.

Both projects are aligned with the Union Government’s vision to promote equitable development through improved infrastructure and last-mile connectivity, making air travel affordable and accessible to every citizen, it added.

- Services (Education, Healthcare, IT, R&D, Tourism, etc.)

16. Diya Kumari Deputy CM Rajasthan: Rajasthan's path to prominence in MICE tourism by leveraging global platforms, investing in facilities

ET Gov. 18 April, 2025

Diya Kumari, Deputy Chief Minister and Tourism Minister of Rajasthan, has highlighted the significant potential of MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) tourism to strengthen the state's economy.

She emphasized the importance of hosting international events, such as the IIFA Awards 2025, in elevating Rajasthan's appeal in the global tourism market.

According to the Minister, these events will not only showcase Rajasthan's unique culture but also encourage investment in the tourism sector, generate employment opportunities, and provide benefits to various tourism-related industries.

In 2025, Rajasthan is actively working to establish itself as a primary destination for MICE tourism. This commitment is reflected in the state's substantial budget allocations and well-defined strategies focused on improving tourism infrastructure and attracting international events.

A key event in this endeavor is the 14th edition of the Great Indian Travel Bazaar (GITB), scheduled to be held in Jaipur from May 4–6, 2025. Organized through a collaboration between the Department of Tourism, Government of Rajasthan, the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), GITB serves as a leading platform for promoting inbound tourism.

GITB 2025 is expected to facilitate over 11,000 pre-arranged business-to-business meetings between more than 275 international tour operators from approximately 50 countries and around 200 Indian exhibitors. The event will display a wide array of tourism offerings, including heritage, adventure, wildlife, healthcare, and MICE tourism.

To further solidify its position in the MICE sector, the Rajasthan government has approved an initial investment of ₹25 crore for the development of a dedicated MICE Centre in Jodhpur. This facility aims to attract both national and international conferences, exhibitions, and corporate events, thereby stimulating the state's economy and creating job opportunities.

During the Rising Rajasthan Global Investment Summit 2024, the Tourism Department signed 1,320 Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) valued at ₹96,967.61 crore. These agreements cover various sectors such as hotels, resorts, entertainment parks, eco-tourism, MICE, and wellness tourism, and hold the potential to create over 2 lakh jobs.

Recognizing the crucial role of tourism as an economic driver, the Rajasthan government has allocated ₹975 crore for tourism infrastructure in the 2025–26 budget. This investment is aimed at developing prominent tourist destinations, promoting night tourism, and enhancing cultural heritage sites, thus attracting a diverse range of tourists, including those interested in MICE activities.

In addition, the government plans to establish the Rajasthan Tourism Infrastructure and Capacity Building Fund (RTICF) with an allocation exceeding ₹5,000 crore. This fund is intended to improve existing facilities and promote the state's tourist attractions on a global scale.

The Union Budget 2025–26 also includes several initiatives designed to support the MICE sector nationwide. This includes an allocation of ₹2,230.03 crore for tourism infrastructure development, focusing on the construction of convention centers, exhibition halls, and transportation facilities to enhance India's capacity to host large-scale MICE events.

The government also plans to develop 50 key tourist destinations in partnership with states, where states will provide land for essential infrastructure like hotels and convention centers, which will be included in the Harmonized Master List of Infrastructure Sub-sectors to facilitate better financing and development support. Skill development is another key focus, with intensive training programs planned for youth in Institutes of Hospitality Management to create a skilled workforce for the tourism and hospitality sectors.

Connectivity will be enhanced through the expansion of the UDAN scheme to connect an additional 120 destinations, improving access to various regions for MICE events. Lastly, visa facilitation will be improved through streamlined e-visa facilities and visa fee waivers for selected tourist groups to attract more international delegates to MICE events in India.

Rajasthan is actively inviting investments in various areas to further boost MICE tourism. This includes the development of world-class convention infrastructure such as convention centers, expo halls, and multipurpose event spaces in key cities like Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur, and Ajmer, with proposed incentives for Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models, especially in Jaipur, which is being developed as a MICE capital.

The state is also promoting the use of heritage properties like palaces, forts, and havelis as unique luxury MICE venues, catering to the growing demand for royal-themed corporate events. Expansion of hotel and resort infrastructure, including upscale and mid-segment chains with dedicated MICE facilities, is being encouraged in strategic locations like Pushkar, Mount Abu, and Ranthambore.

Investments in connectivity and transport services, such as tourist transport fleets, airport-hotel shuttle services, and luxury train charters, are also being incentivized to support seamless MICE mobility, with airport enhancements in Jaipur, Udaipur, and Jaisalmer.

Recognizing the importance of digital infrastructure, the government is promoting investment in high-speed internet, AV technology, and digital event services at potential venues. Finally, the Rajasthan Tourism Policy 2020 offers various tax incentives and aims to ease the process of doing business for tourism investors, which are actively promoted at events like GITB.

Through these concerted efforts in enhancing tourism infrastructure, promoting significant events like GITB, and strategically investing in MICE facilities, Rajasthan is demonstrating its strong commitment to becoming a leading destination for both business and leisure tourism. With ongoing strategic investments and collaborations, the state is well-positioned to offer exceptional experiences to tourists and business travelers from around the world.

17. Empowering women & startups: India's financial commitments & policy shifts in recent years

ET Gov. 10 May, 2025

The government of India has demonstrated an evolving commitment to supporting startups, empowering women entrepreneurs, and fostering economic growth through targeted schemes and investments in the last five years. This analysis examines the financial allocations, initiatives, and their impact on women-led businesses and startups in India.

In light of this, it can be seen from the recent budget that significantly highlighted the First-Time Women Entrepreneur Scheme, which aims to provide five lakh first-time women entrepreneurs with term loans of up to ₹2 crore over five years, benefiting SC/ST entrepreneurs by leveraging the Stand-Up India model.

The government extended Section 80-IAC tax benefits for startups for another five years to support long-term growth until April 1, 2030. Access to credit was improved through government-backed loans of ₹10-20 crore with a reduced guarantee fee of just 1%, targeting 27 focus sectors aligned with the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.

Further, marking two decades of gender budgeting the government has set an ambitious target of integrating 70% of women into the workforce under the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision while the Female Labor Force Participation Rate (FLFPR) increased to 41.7% in 2023-24 concerns arose over reduced funding for the PM Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) from ₹1,012.50 crore in 2024-25 to ₹862.50 crore in 2025-26.

On the other hand, rural employment also saw a boost with MGNREGS allocation increasing to ₹40,000 crore, though only 33.6% was included in the gender budget. Despite 80% of women being involved in agriculture, only 13.9% of landowners are women, and agricultural schemes like Krishonnati Yojana (₹2,550 crore) continue to lack dedicated provisions for women farmers.

The figure above shows the Indian government's evolving support for women entrepreneurs and startups over the last five years. It is highlighting key policy interventions a significant milestone is the introduction of a fresh ₹10,000 crore Fund of Funds in 2025 aimed at fostering startup growth, particularly in deep-tech sectors the government has launched a scheme providing term loans of up to ₹2 crore for first- time women and SC/ST entrepreneurs, reflecting an inclusive approach.

The rising allocation in the gender budget including increased funding for MGNREGS signals a stronger commitment to women-led development. While some schemes, like PMEGP have seen budget cuts, the overall trend indicates an enhanced policy focus on boosting women’s participation in entrepreneurship and the workforce. However, a year wise budget can be seen below:

Budget 2020-21 despite the growing number of women-led startups, there was a lack of direct financial and policy support the startup ecosystem saw no dedicated funds for women entrepreneurs, and the focus remained on welfare schemes like Poshan Abhiyan and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao digital governance was introduced for tracking nutrition through Anganwadi workers.

Budget 2021-22 focused on pandemic recovery and women’s workforce inclusion, introducing social security measures for gig and platform workers while allocating ₹2.23 lakh crore to health and ₹35,000 crore for COVID-19 vaccination; there was still no direct financial aid for women-led startups.

Budget 2022-23, as India saw 46 unicorns emerge in 2021 of which were women-led the government introduced measures to support innovation in women’s colleges. Relief under Atmanirbhar Bharat provided some support to MSMEs, but the reach for women-led MSMEs remained limited. While the government proposed academic incubation for women, financial incentives for female entrepreneurs were still lacking budget 2023-24 marked a shift towards economic inclusion and empowerment with 81 lakh rural women mobilized into Self-Help Groups (SHGs). Startup incentives included a 100% tax deduction extension to March 31, 2024, and an increase in the loss carry forward period to 10 years capital constraints remained a significant challenge for women-led MSMEs.

Budget 2024-25 Budget strongly pushed for women’s entrepreneurship by introducing 50-year interest-free loans for startups and increasing funding under PM Mudra Yojana which sanctioned ₹22.5 lakh crore benefiting 30 crore women entrepreneurs’ skilling initiatives under the Skill India Mission trained 1.4 crore youth.

Budget 2025-26, unveiled major financial initiatives to support startups, MSMEs, and women entrepreneurs a fresh ₹10,000 crore Fund of Funds (FoF) was launched for startups, building on the existing corpus of ₹91,000 crore via Alternative Investment Funds. To encourage deep-tech investment the government introduced a Deep Tech Fund of Funds to address funding gaps due to the long gestation periods of deep-tech startups. The incorporation period for startups was extended to 10 years, and a proposal was made to further extend the startup incorporation period by 5 years for added benefits.

(The authors are Assistant Professor and PhD Scholar; Views expressed are personal)

18. Pharmaceutical sovereignty: India’s path to self-reliance and global leadership

ET Gov. 30 April, 2025

Achieving complete pharmaceutical sovereignty will strengthen India’s reputation as a trusted global pharmacy. India’s pharmaceutical industry has earned global recognition as the "pharmacy of the world." India is the third-largest producer of medicines by volume, with its pharmaceutical sector valued at approximately $50 billion.

It significantly contributes to global healthcare by providing affordable generics to over 200 countries, accounting for around 20% of global generic drug exports. Despite these remarkable achievements, recent global disruptions, particularly the COVID-19 pandemic, have highlighted broader vulnerabilities in India's healthcare system, particularly the risks arising from dependence on imported pharmaceuticals and raw materials.

Pharmaceutical sovereignty refers to the ability to impose the will of the Government on all aspects of healthcare and pharmaceuticals such that the government is not subservient to the pressures of any other nation. This implies that the nation needs to have a secure supply chain for essential medicines, vaccines, and raw materials.

To understand the issue of Pharmaceutical Sovereignty in a deeper manner, one needs to understand how India ended up signing the Indus Water Treaty which was not in the interest of the country, even though India had an upper hand, being the upper riparian state. India had to sign this Treaty as India had a shortfall of foodgrains and badly needed support in foodgrains in order to avoid starvation of its citizens. Therefore, India was arm-twisted into signing the Indus Water Treaty in-exchange for foodgrains.

Imagine there is another COVID like situation with a new virus and even though India is able to create indigenous vaccines, in line with what India did during the Wuhan COVID pandemic, it is not able to manufacture the vaccine as the supply of vaccine raw materials is controlled by an adversary.

What if the adversary now demands for giving up territory in-exchange of supply of vaccine raw materials, failing which millions of Indian citizens would die? What would be the options left for the Government of India? Thus, it is critical to develop a resilient supply chain and achieve Atmanirbharta in pharmaceuticals in order to avoid such challenges to India’s sovereignty in future.

China holds significant control over the global refining and processing capacity for critical minerals, which are vital for developing economies. Even minerals extracted outside Chinese territory frequently undergo processing at Chinese-owned smelters. This near-monopoly provides Beijing substantial influence over international supply chains. Historically, China has leveraged this dominance strategically by imposing export limits on essential materials, exerting economic pressure on competing nations.

For instance, in 2010, amid tensions related to the Senkaku/ Diaoyu Islands dispute, China curtailed rare earth exports to Japan, resulting in dramatic global price increases. And now the US has been targeted by China using rare earth metals as a leverage to subvert the will of the US government.

For India, achieving this sovereignty is both a strategic imperative and an opportunity to strengthen national security, boost economic resilience, and enhance India’s role in geopolitics. Taking a leave out of the Vaccine Maitri initiative during the Wuhan COVID pandemic, it is obvious as to the strengthening of the government’s hand that could happen because of a sovereign pharmaceutical ecosystem. India’s stature with her allies would be significantly enhanced, besides ensuring safety and adequate healthcare for our own citizens.

Atmanirbhar Bharat is one of the steps towards Pharmaceutical Sovereignty. However, in today’s world it is extremely difficult to have the entire supply chain of any product within the country, especially given that much of the upstream of pharmaceuticals lies with the chemical industry, which is not as mature in India as it is in other countries.

Therefore, achieving Pharmaceutical Sovereignty would include having multiple assured sources of raw materials and intermediates for our pharmaceutical industry. The goal now is to build on these efforts in a diplomatic, constructive manner – transforming lessons from past dependencies into a forward-looking strategy for self-reliance and global collaboration.

Supply Chain Vulnerabilities and Overdependence

Historically, India's pharmaceutical industry was largely self-sufficient, producing nearly 80% of required Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) domestically until the 1980s. However, significant changes began emerging in the 1990s as cheaper Chinese APIs entered the Indian market.

This influx gradually eroded the competitiveness of domestic manufacturers. Today, approximately 70% of India's API imports come from China, with certain critical medicines nearly entirely reliant on Chinese imports. This dependency exposes India to considerable risks, especially during global disruptions like the COVID-19 pandemic.

When COVID-19 first emerged in China's Hubei province, a global hub for pharmaceutical raw materials, factories closed and supply chains abruptly halted. India faced immediate shortages of essential APIs, underscoring the vulnerabilities of its pharmaceutical supply chain. Such disruptions highlighted how India's healthcare security and economic stability could be compromised if timely corrective measures were not undertaken.

One of the most illustrative examples of this vulnerability is the case of Penicillin-G, a key input in antibiotic production. In the 1950s and 1960s, Indian pharmaceutical companies such as Alembic, Sarabhai Chemicals, Hindustan Antibiotics, and Indian Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Limited (IDPL) took significant steps to domestically manufacture penicillin, a crucial antibiotic. Indian manufacturer’s investment soon allowed them to produce penicillin at significantly lower costs than European producers, earning global recognition.

This promising growth faced an abrupt disruption in the 1990s, when China aggressively entered the Indian market, selling penicillin-based raw materials at extremely low prices. For example, amoxycillin, a common penicillin derivative, was sold at just $9-10 per kg compared to the international market price of $25-30 per kg. Indian companies swiftly shifted to cheaper Chinese imports, causing domestic producers to lose their business.

The Government of India, unfortunately, failed to anticipate this strategic vulnerability. Instead of proactively protecting domestic industries, the government enforced Drug Price Control Orders (DPCO), a regulatory tool to keep medicine prices affordable by controlling them based on manufacturing costs.

The policy was intended to help consumers, but it unintentionally intensified pressures on Indian manufacturers. While the cost of medicines remained low, Chinese exporters, having captured the market, began hiking raw material prices by up to four times once Indian companies became fully dependent on them.

Between 1990 and 2008, import duties were also dramatically reduced from 120% to just 7.5%, making Indian producers even more vulnerable to Chinese competition. As a result, major Indian producers like HAL, JK Pharma, Torrent, and Alembic gradually exited penicillin manufacturing between 2003 and 2011. By 2012, India's penicillin production had drastically declined to just 2,500-3,500 mega-million units (MMU), whereas China’s soared to an overwhelming 160,000 MMU.

Recently, some positive steps have emerged, such as the approval granted to Hyderabad-based Aurobindo Pharma to resume Penicillin-G production domestically. While encouraging, this marks only an initial step in rebuilding critical pharmaceutical capacity. Ensuring India's pharmaceutical sovereignty requires broader strategic measures, including creating robust safeguards against unfair trade practices and ensuring sustained policy support for domestic manufacturers.

The Way Forward

Given the uncertainties of today’s geopolitics, it would not be surprising that shipping lanes through the South China Sea, or the Red Sea or the Suez Canal are cut-off, thereby, cutting off supply of vaccine raw material, APIs and KSMs. These risks underline the urgent need for India to enhance its domestic manufacturing and build a resilient pharmaceutical supply chain.

Recognizing these challenges, the Government of India has launched several strategic initiatives. A key measure is the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, introduced in 2021 with an allocation of ₹15,000 crore, to encourage domestic production of APIs, bulk drugs, and critical inputs.

The establishment of Bulk Drug Parks in Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh (Visakhapatnam), and Gujarat further supports this effort by providing modern infrastructure, cost-effective utilities, and common effluent treatment facilities that can make Indian manufacturing globally competitive.

However, manufacturing capacity alone is not sufficient. Strengthening the regulatory framework is equally important. India needs to enhance regulatory autonomy by ensuring that imported sub-standard products meet compliance requirements at the source in accordance with the standards set by the Bureau of Indian Standards, rather than placing the entire compliance burden on Indian manufacturers alone.

This approach will create a level playing field and prevent domestic producers from incurring disproportionate compliance costs. The goal is not protectionism for its own sake, but to build a resilient supply chain that prioritizes quality, safety, and reliability over the rock-bottom prices of dubious imports.

In parallel, India must continue building resilient international partnerships to diversify its import base. Strategic international partnerships, such as the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) Supply Chain Agreement, aim to build secure and diversified global supply chains. These collaborations offer India an opportunity to become a preferred global manufacturing hub, thereby increasing economic resilience and healthcare security.

Recent international legislative efforts, such as the US Biosecure Act, have created new dynamics by restricting partnerships with major Chinese biotech firms. This development positions India as a trusted source to attract global investments and partnerships, helping to mitigate the risk of any single point of failure in its pharmaceutical supply chain.

Achieving complete pharmaceutical sovereignty will strengthen India’s reputation as a trusted global pharmacy. Geopolitical realignments are driving companies to consider India as a production base, and domestic policy momentum exists towards an Atmanirbhar pharmaceuticals ecosystem. India is seen as a natural alternative hub for pharmaceutical supply chains as the West rethinks its reliance on China.

If India can upgrade its capabilities now it stands to capture a larger share of global investments and contracts that are looking for an alternative. This could translate into thousands of new high-skill jobs, thriving domestic industries in chemicals and biotech, and sustained economic growth.

(Ranjan Khanna is Principal Additional Director General, Directorate General of Export Promotion, CBIC, Dr. Jaijit Bhattacharya is President, Centre for Digital Economy Policy; Views expressed are personal)

19. National Supercomputing Mission powers India’s push for indigenous high-performance computing

ET Gov. 30 Apr. 2025

By fostering innovation, bridging the digital divide, and driving technological self-reliance, NSM positions India firmly on the path to becoming a global leader in high-performance computing.

NEW DELHI: The National Supercomputing Mission (NSM), a flagship initiative launched by the Government of India in 2015, is significantly advancing the country’s capabilities in indigenous high-performance computing (HPC). Jointly steered by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), the Mission aims to strengthen India's research, scientific development, and innovation ecosystems, an official release said on Monday.

As of March 2025, NSM has successfully deployed 34 supercomputers across academic and research institutions, achieving a cumulative compute capacity of 35 petaflops. More than 10,000 researchers, including 1,700 PhD scholars from over 200 institutions, have benefited from access to these facilities, resulting in the completion of over one crore compute jobs and the publication of over 1,500 research papers.

The Mission has fostered access for Tier II and Tier III institutions and has trained over 22,000 individuals in HPC and AI skills. Startups and MSMEs are also leveraging these facilities to drive innovation.

Key achievements under NSM include the indigenous development of the "Trinetra" high-speed communication network and the PARAM Rudra supercomputers, built using India's first indigenously designed HPC servers, "Rudra." In 2024, three PARAM Rudra systems were dedicated to young researchers across Pune, Delhi, and Kolkata.

Further bolstering India's global standing, the AIRAWAT AI supercomputing platform secured the 75th position in the Top 500 Global Supercomputing List at ISC 2023, Germany.

Phased into three stages—ranging from initial assembly to full indigenous manufacturing—NSM aims to make India self-reliant in supercomputing. An additional 45 petaflops of computing infrastructure is planned for 2024–25, with an investment of Rs 1,874 crore allocated towards infrastructure, R&D, and human resource development.

The National Supercomputing Mission is expected to receive a major boost from the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), which seeks to develop domestic semiconductor manufacturing capabilities, critical for building next-generation supercomputers.

By fostering innovation, bridging the digital divide, and driving technological self-reliance, NSM positions India firmly on the path to becoming a global leader in high-performance computing.

20. Indian Scientists Develop Eco-Friendly Silk-Based Optical Sensor For Early Cholesterol Detection

Zee News, 01 May 2025, Ananya Kaushal

New Delhi: A team of interdisciplinary researchers at the Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST) in Guwahati, an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), has developed an optical sensing platform for cholesterol detection, based on silk fibre functionalised using phosphorene quantum dots, it was announced on Wednesday.

Learn more

The synthesised sensors were highly sensitive as well as selective for cholesterol detection. Furthermore, the electrical sensing platform generates no e-waste, a key advantage of the fabricated device.

Both sensing platforms respond similarly to real-world media such as human blood serum, experimental rat blood serum, and milk. The work has been published in the “Nanoscale” Journal, published by Royal Society of Chemistry.

Detecting fatal diseases at their earliest symptoms is essential, as abnormal biochemical markers may sometimes accompany such disorders. Therefore, reliable point-of-care (POC) detection of biomarkers associated with these diseases is necessary for personalized health monitoring.

Cholesterol is an essential lipid in humans, produced by the liver. It is the precursor for vitamin D, bile acids, and steroid hormones. Cholesterol is necessary for animal tissues, blood, and nerve cells, and it is transported by blood in mammals.

There are two types of cholesterol: LDL (low-density lipoprotein), often referred to as 'bad' cholesterol because it can accumulate in the walls of arteries and contribute to severe diseases, and HDL (high-density lipoprotein), known as 'good' cholesterol.

India and the World

21. China Halts U.S. Soybean and Corn Imports Amid Trade Tensions: Report

Rural Voice, Apr. 27, 2025

In a major shift that could escalate ongoing trade tensions, China has suspended purchases of soybeans and corn from the United States since mid-January, according to a report by Nikkei Asia citing data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Amid the growing uncertainty, Japan is considering stepping up its purchases of U.S. soybeans as part of a new tariff agreement. Japan’s lead negotiator is scheduled to visit Washington from April 30 to May 2 to advance discussions.

The move comes as China, once a major buyer of U.S. agricultural products, turns to other suppliers. In 2024, China imported more than 27 million tonnes of soybeans from the U.S., valued at $12.8 billion, making up about half of U.S. soybean exports. However, that relationship appears to be unraveling as trade disputes intensify.

Nikkei reported that China recently signed contracts for 2.4 million tonnes of Brazilian soybeans earlier this month - a volume equal to roughly one-third of China's typical monthly soybean consumption. Officials from the Brazilian Soybean Producers Association described the purchase as unusually large, signaling China's strategic shift away from U.S. agricultural imports. The U.S. soybean exporters are expressing concern over the developments.

China’s imports from the US

China primarily imports agricultural products from the United States, including soybeans, oilseeds, and grains. Soybean imports - largely used for animal feed - had already suffered during former President Trump’s first term when the two nations engaged in an earlier trade war.

At that time, China began diversifying its import sources, turning to other countries for agricultural supplies. Now, with a newly imposed 125% tariff on all U.S. imports, analysts expect China’s purchases of American commodities like soybeans could drop to near zero. U.S. soybean exports to China now face a total tariff burden of 135%, combining a 10% duty introduced in March with the additional 125% announced this month.

During the first US-China trade conflict, Brazil - the world’s leading soybean exporter - emerged as a major beneficiary, as Chinese imports of Brazilian soybeans surged. Since 2010, Brazil’s soybean exports to China have grown by more than 280%, while U.S. exports have remained largely stagnant.

Strengthening this relationship, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Brazil on a state trip last November, reinforcing ties between the two nations. In 2024, China accounted for more than 73% of Brazil’s total soybean exports.

A report by CNN says that with Brazilian soybean production forecasted to reach record highs this year, China is expected to further increase its imports from Brazil, as well as from Argentina - the world’s third-largest soybean producer after Brazil and the U.S.

The U.S. agricultural sector lost around $27 billion during the 2018 trade war, with soybeans alone accounting for 71% of the losses, according to the American Soybean Association. Today, many American farmers - particularly those in states that supported Trump in the 2024 election - are still grappling with the economic fallout. Only Illinois, the largest soybean-producing state, and Minnesota, the third-largest, backed former Vice President Kamala Harris in the last election.

22. India Total Exports: India’s total exports grow by 6.01% to reach record $824.9 billion in 2024–25

ET Gov. 03 May, 2025

India's exports of goods and services hit an all-time high of $825 billion in 2024-25, driven by a record surge in the shipments of services that reached $386.5 billion in the last fiscal despite global trade headwinds, according to the commerce ministry data. Total exports were worth $778.13 billion in 2023-24.

India’s total exports have touched an all-time high of US$824.9 billion in the financial year 2024–25, as per the latest data released by the Reserve Bank of India on services trade for March 2025.

This marks a growth of 6.01% over the previous year’s export figure of US$778.1 billion, setting a new milestone in the country’s trade trajectory.

Services exports continued to drive the growth momentum, reaching a historic high of US$387.5 billion in 2024–25, up 13.6% from US$341.1 billion in the previous year.

For March 2025, services exports stood at US$35.6 billion, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 18.6% compared to US$30.0 billion in March 2024.

In 2024–25, merchandise exports excluding petroleum products rose to a record US$374.1 billion, registering a 6.0% increase from US$352.9 billion in 2023–24 — the highest ever annual non-petroleum merchandise exports.

23. India EU Free Trade Agreement: India, EU reaffirm 2025 deadline for ambitious FTA, boost strategic trade ties

ET Gov. 3 May, 2025

NEW DELHI: India and the European Union have reaffirmed their commitment to conclude a comprehensive and forward-looking Free Trade Agreement (FTA) by the end of 2025, aiming to deepen strategic economic ties and create a future-ready trade framework, the Ministry of Commerce & Industry said in a statement on Friday.

In a high-level dialogue held recently, India’s Minister of Commerce & Industry, Piyush Goyal, and Maroš Šefčovič, European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, engaged in substantive discussions to address global trade challenges and accelerate progress on the long-pending trade pact. The renewed push follows strategic guidance from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during the EU College of Commissioners’ landmark visit to New Delhi in February 2025.

The meeting underscored the mutual importance both sides attach to building a balanced, commercially meaningful, and mutually beneficial partnership. Officials reviewed progress across various negotiation tracks and committed to maintaining momentum through monthly rounds and virtual engagement. The next round of negotiations is scheduled for May 12–16, 2025, in New Delhi.

India emphasized that while tariff-related issues are critical, equal attention must be given to addressing non-tariff barriers (NTBs). Regulatory frameworks, it stressed, should remain inclusive, proportionate, and free from trade-restrictive approaches.

The proposed FTA aims to reflect the dynamic nature of global commerce by advancing digital trade, supporting resilient supply chains, and expanding market access. Both sides expressed optimism that the agreement, once finalized, will be a transformative pillar of the broader India-EU strategic partnership—fostering innovation, enhancing regulatory cooperation, and driving economic competitiveness.

Investment flows and people-to-people mobility were also identified as key enablers of long-term economic vitality. The agreement aligns with India’s broader ambition of emerging as a "Vishwa Mitra" or global partner and supports its Vision 2047 development agenda.

As India actively pursues multiple bilateral and multilateral trade agreements, the India-EU FTA is seen as a cornerstone in its evolving global trade strategy, promoting fair trade, economic inclusion, and diversified production networks.

24. How to Really Instal A Creative Economy

ET, 3 May, 2025

This week, there was considerable focus on influencers who shared their ideas about making India a ‘creative economy’ at the inaugural World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit.

India, of course, is already a creative economy. But one reckons what the speakers were talking about was to optimise the country’s creative industries, both monetarily as well as in terms of enhancing India’s soft power globally.

The concept of ‘creative economy’ was developed in 2001 by John Howkins — reformatted in 2013 by Pedro Buitrago and Iván Duque (the latter, a former Colombian president) as ‘orange economy’ — to describe economic systems where value is based on ‘novel imaginative qualities rather than the traditional resources of land, labour and capital’. While India’s advantages in this sphere — rich story-telling legacy, huge pool of consumers and creators, tech-ableness — are much touted, focus could be given to four key ingredients that make for a steady, hyper-fertile ‘dream factory’.

-One, freedom — to create, without patrons, guardians or regulators constantly looking over the shoulders to ensure that the proverbial mob approves, or doesn’t disapprove, a creation.

-Two, a genuine critical culture that reviews, critiques, applauds and elaborates on the many contents created. Not just saying Movie X is great and Novel Y is bad, but why they are so, without any statutory push or pull.

-Three, patronage. All content — ‘art’ or otherwise — needs financial food. A culture where creative arts and sciences are seen as investments, with its own set of RoIs, has to be inculcated. And, most importantly, four, putting the individual on top. The individual creator, armed with the three other conditions, can be both incubator and brand ambassador of an economy where productions of creativity can thrive, minus the dead weight of a soviet-type ideological collective.

25. The happiness equation: Moving beyond economics to empathy, trust, sharing and caring

ET Gov. 3 May 2025

Trust and benevolence are fundamental ingredients of happiness and satisfaction because they ensure a lot of security and in turn reduce substantial anxiety.

The world happiness report offers a ranking of countries where residents are happier than others. The foundation of such an enquiry lies in contesting economic wellbeing as a yard stick of happiness where means matter more than ends. With the evolving societal order and human interaction with technology, the loneliness in humans is increasing day by day and the purpose of life seems misplaced to a great extent.

The moral message of caring being twice blessed sounds befitting given that an act of caring makes those cared for being blessed as equally as those who care. Hence caring or caring forms the basis of a healthy human relationship giving rise to happiness. This caring construct in a larger scape involves trust, benevolence, charity and kindness in a society that induces happiness or contentment. Benevolence is a feature that balances the recipient and those exhibiting benevolence that generates an atmosphere of trust.

The unhappiness otherwise displayed stems from mis-trust and lack of generic benevolence and kindness at large. This induces an individualistic perception guiding happiness originating from others unhappiness more than being happy based on being with purpose of life that is lived for others. The aspect of caring and sharing can display in numerous ways involving sharing of meals or sharing a living space to doing charity or donating for other’s wellbeing. Evidence suggests that sharing a living space and sharing a meal counter to being alone increases life satisfaction.

There remain stark differences in rates of meal sharing across nations and it bears a strong association with subjective well-being almost as equal as it is with income and employment. While residents of some countries share almost all the meals with other people, there are residents of other countries who consume their meals all alone. This particular feature bears a strong association with life satisfaction across age, gender, culture regions and nations. Dining alone has been an emerging trend in recent times particularly among the young which reduces social connectedness. In fact, meal sharing gives rise to less loneliness, greater social support and positive reciprocity.

Another dimension of happiness and satisfaction arises out of co-residence which obviously has undergone a transformation worldwide with reduced household sizes. Despite this reality, it is observed that average life satisfaction is more among people having co-residence with children and extended family members. While people living on their own have lower levels of happiness, it can also be true for some living in large sized households that is largely triggered by diminished economic well-being. This particular aspect of happiness expression needs an understanding of the quality and quantity of interpersonal relationships and the bonds underpinning them.

Social connections are often considered vital to expression of well-being and this has assumed significance in the evolving digitalized environment that encourages more exchange with machines than men. On this count social disconnect is quite prevalent among young adults who do not have anyone to count on for social support. In 2023, 19 per cent of the young adults across the world reported having no one that they could count on for social support.

Social ties during young adulthood in the guise of friendship have a long lasting impact offering an outlet for sharing that reduces loneliness and depression. The worst that is observed is in terms of underestimating the empathy of peers keeping many disconnected from a range of relationships. There is a need for intervention to bridge the empathy-perception gap towards strengthening social and emotional ties to serve towards a wider social network.

Trust and benevolence are fundamental ingredients of happiness and satisfaction because they ensure a lot of security and in turn reduce substantial anxiety. This requires prosocial behaviour in terms of acts like donating, volunteering and helping strangers. Increase in such altruistic behavior ensures more happiness and satisfaction. A rise in engagement in prosocial behavior has a bearing on survival with an adverse association with deaths of despair.

While deaths of despair have reduced in most European countries, it has risen in the United States and Republic of Korea. Deaths of despair are largely suicides and deaths due to drug abuse and alcohol etc. which are indicative of lack of life satisfaction. Such deaths are more than double among elderly when compared with young adults and four times more in men compared with women. Reducing such unwanted mortality calls for promotion in pro-social behavior that involves conditions of greater social connectedness with trust generating a sense of security and purpose of life.

The current trend in extremism in attitude with lack of tolerance and accommodation of alternative viewpoints are often termed as rightist ideological shifts but it originates from lack of life satisfaction and trust that shapes values more than ideologies and class struggles. The global trend towards the right is perhaps due to lack of happiness and social trust where polarization becomes easy. Unhappy people with discontent on any ground generate a large trust deficit that translates into extreme positioning and they are more likely to become hard liners without a space for negotiation and compromise. Therefore, what we see in the contemporary world is largely emanating from rising distrust and lack of benevolence.

Imagining life satisfaction and expression of happiness being shaped by wellbeing alone gets contested in evaluating the same under varying circumstances across world nations. While adversities that make living difficult can always generate unhappiness, the positive expression of life satisfaction rests not merely on sufficiency in means but a fulfillment in purpose of life. Human happiness therefore is largely conditioned by the mutuality of existence with a potential of being useful for others more than for oneself. Hence unhappiness and discontent can always be remedied through creating an atmosphere of trust and benevolence more than addressing human greed and infinite desires.

(The author is Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Bio-statistics, International Institute for Population Sciences; Views expressed are personal)

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