Op-Eds

Evidence from borrowing countries reveals systematic twin-objective failure While financial institutions promote debt swaps as ‘win-win’ solutions that address both debt distress and development financing, borrowing countries report a systematic failure in achieving both objectives, revealing an inversion of development finance principles. Experiences across various developing countries highlight this critical contradiction. While Belize’s Prime Minister...   Read More

For India, the challenge is to strike a balance between tactical necessity and economic priorities. On April 2, United States President Donald Trump announced a broad set of bilateral tariffs that stunned the world. The tariffs were high and uneven: India faced a 26 per cent tariff; China, 34 per cent; and the European Union,...   Read More

Financial literacy should not be an occasional campaign or an app feature-it must be an ongoing, evolving journey. In this age of digital transformation, the proliferation of apps, online courses, and gamified learning tools has brought financial education to our fingertips. But the question remains: are we truly learning, or merely consuming content in a...   Read More

India’s economy may stay in a low equilibrium if we do not act to resolve well identified restraints on women taking up employment. A comparison of urban and rural data shows that neither setting is working for women, even if the reasons differ. As India inches closer to the $5 trillion economy mark with human...   Read More

India can be a global leader in technical textiles. With nearly 2 per cent of the contribution to the country’s GDP, India is the sixth largest exporter of textiles globally and holds 3.9 per cent share in world textile exports. The sector provides direct employment to over 45 million people and indirect jobs to over...   Read More

Jharia’s master plan is the £511m investment that climate finance cannot see. The most serious constraint on climate finance in developing countries today is not simply a shortage of capital, but a persistent mismatch between how finance is structured and how climate action is pursued. Public investments that reduce environmental risk, enhance economic resilience and...   Read More

Formalising part-time work with fair pay, making transport and housing women-friendly, and enforcing laws. Otherwise, urban women’s work participation will be stuck at 28% As India’s economy rapidly transforms and modernises riding on a youthful population, a booming digital and physical infra, and a spirit of optimism, conditions are favourable for the country to become...   Read More

From UPI processing over 17 billion transactions in a single month to kirana stores & vegetable vendors using QR codes, digital finance in India is no longer a luxury — it’s a lifeline. This surge has brought unprecedented financial inclusion, especially in rural and semi-urban areas. But while access has grown, awareness has not kept...   Read More

Over two-thirds of Indians who use digital devices struggle with basic digital banking transactions, highlighting the persistent challenge of bridging the digital literacy and access gap. India, amidst rapid technological advancement, stands at a critical juncture in its digital journey. The nation has demonstrably invested in the foundational pillars of digital financial services through significant...   Read More

A country that aims to supply piped drinking water to every rural household continues to lose billions of litres of water daily because of inadequate treatment. India’s water and wastewater treatment market, valued at $13.1 billion in 2023, is projected to reach $23.85 billion by 2033. This number mirrors India’s accelerating urbanisation, climate fragility, and...   Read More