Indian Expat Labour and Recalibration Realities The skyline of Dubai, once a symbol of untouchable prosperity, now sits under a shadow of regional recalibration. As Reuters recently noted, Dubai has successfully transitioned to a non-oil economy, with oil accounting for less than 2% of its GDP. It is now a
India Insider: Macro Stress a Capital Flow Problem, Not a Trade One Editor’s note: This article was originally written in January 2026. It has been updated to incorporate developments through February 2026, including the U.S – India interim trade agreement and subsequent capital flow data. India is currently experiencing what
India Insider: Agriculture Still Traps Nation’s Workforce A Field Survey in South India’s Agricultural Towns India’s growth story is usually told through noteworthy headline numbers. Yet beneath these aggregates lies a persistent imbalance, agriculture continues to employ a large share of the workforce, while contributing a much smaller share of
India Insider: Weakening the MNREGA Employment Guarantees When the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act was enacted in 2005, it was conceived as more than a poverty-alleviation program. It was a direct intervention in India’s rural labor market. By guaranteeing employment on demand at a statutory wage, MNREGA established
India Insider: Strategic Memory and Why Unilateral Power is Resisted After Independence, India was often described as “tilting” toward the Soviet Union. In reality, this was the outcome of India’s pursuit of Non-Alignment at a time when the United States was actively backing perceived rogue actors in South Asia, most
India Insider: Growth Without Development an Inequality Trap An India and Latin America Comparison India’s strong headline growth reflects a rapid expansion of aggregate output. Yet this growth often coexists with weak job creation, uneven human capital formation, and persistent inequality. This coexistence is not a temporary anomaly. It reflects
India Insider: The 8.2% Growth Mirage Needs a Reality Check India is celebrating the 8.2% real GDP growth result for Q2 FY26, as if it has entered a new economic orbit. Politicians are claiming victory and media is packaging optimism. The narrative is simple: India cannot be stopped. But once
India Insider: Why a Deep Corporate Bond Market is Needed India’s corporate bond market remains small relative to the size and ambitions of its economy. This is often described as a regulatory shortcoming. In reality, it reflects a deeper structural choice: India’s financial system was built to channel savings through
India Insider: Why Russian Oil Should Be Treated Skeptically As Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives in New Delhi for a bilateral summit, the mood in India’s capital is one of profound strategic tension. The core of the problem is India’s massive appetite for discounted Russian Crude Oil, which has shielded
India Insider: Nifty Defense Index Surges in 2025 Rearmament 2025 has marked a defining moment for defense equities, both globally and in India. The Nifty India Defence (Defense) Index, which tracks the country’s leading defense manufacturers, has surged sharply on the back of robust order flows, a structural policy shift, and
India Insider: The Need for Quality Jobs and Improved Safety Recent data released from the Ministry of Labor Statistics depicts a worrying aspect of India’s labor market. Every second urban young woman in Bihar and Rajasthan is unemployed. Nationally, one in four young women remains without work. This reflects deep
India Insider: Reserve Bank of India Intervention is Limited After weeks of steady appreciation due to Reserve Bank of India intervention on the 15th of October, the Indian Rupee has now returned to the same 88.72 levels against the USD before the policy action was enacted. The RBI’s recent offensive
