India@ 2047: Can Bharat Become a $30 Trillion Economy? Aditya Pittie's Bold Blueprint
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The Wire
25 minutes ago
- The Wire
From ‘Howdy Modi' to ‘Cannot Name Trump': How Modi Has Taken a Hit from Trump's Tariffs and Taunts
Trump's actions hit directly at the pillars propping up Modi's domestic political strength in ways visible and hard to immediately fix. Prime Minister Modi, accompanied by US President Donald Trump, writes in the visitor's book at the White House. Photo: Press Information Bureau/GODL. New Delhi: US President Donald Trump's announcement of steep tariffs on India, his criticism of the Indian economy as "dead" and his public overtures towards Pakistan have placed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, more than India as a nation, in a uniquely difficult spot. While the impact on India as a country is tangible, it is a moment of political reckoning for Modi, who has been under pressure since the 2024 Lok Sabha elections when the BJP lost its majority in the house. Here are the reasons it places Modi in a tough spot. Destroys Modi's domestic image of a global statesman Modi has painstakingly cultivated an image of himself domestically as a top global leader exhibiting close personal friendships with the world's most influential heads of state, particularly in the US. Trump's public insults and punitive tariffs undermine this persona, making Modi appear ineffective or even powerless in protecting Indian interests and standing on the world stage. Under pressure from the US, he has already succumbed to China, even though Beijing continues to pile on pressure and refuses to make any concessions. This severely erodes Modi's political brand at home, where he and his party have used images from his foreign trips to project influence domestically. Political ammunition for domestic opposition With Trump – the first for an American president – openly criticising the Indian economy and labelling it 'dead', opposition parties such as the Congress have seized upon these remarks to portray Modi's economic approach and foreign outreach as failures. They argue that Modi's support of Trump during previous years has unravelled, leaving India diplomatically isolated and economically vulnerable. Modi's failure to name Trump in his Lok Sabha speech, despite an open challenge by leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi, has shown him as weak and scared of standing up to the US president. This provides ammunition for the opposition parties to politically target Modi when he is already being challenged by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh on the issue of the election of the new BJP president. Setbacks undermine Modi's central arguments The new US tariffs threaten to erode the competitiveness of Indian exports, damage investor sentiment and threaten to bury Modi's faltering attempts to get global manufacturing to India. Key labour-intensive sectors such as jewellery, textiles and certain electronics face certain job losses. These outcomes create immediate economic pain and threaten Modi's narrative of making India an economic powerhouse as the 'fourth-largest economy in the world'. If the US also follows through on penalties related to India's Russia policy, the fallout could be even more severe. Energy prices could rise and India's fiscal deficit could increase, putting further pressure on the budget and bringing greater distress to the people. Hyphenation with Pakistan sours nationalist dreams Trump's statements and overtures that club India with Pakistan, including praising a new US-Pakistan energy deal and openly patronising Islamabad, are a direct affront to Modi's narrative of India as a regional counterweight to both Pakistan and China. The perception that the US is tilting toward Pakistan, or using India-Pakistan tensions for leverage, is particularly damaging to Modi's core nationalist constituency, which takes pride in a strong, singular global standing for India. It believed that India cannot be equated with its neighbour or seen as needing US mediation to end the conflict. Modi's inability to secure even this basic gain of the UPA era damages his ' desh nahi jhukne doonga ' brand among his core Hindutva supporters. Loss of bargaining leverage hurts economy Modi's strategy had relied on fostering goodwill and leveraging the India-US relationship for favourable trade agreements and strategic cooperation. Trump's abrupt imposition of tariffs, at rates higher than those faced by competing Asian economies, signals that Washington is willing to use harsh tactics, regardless of personal or diplomatic ties. This despite Modi rushing to meet Trump after his re-election early this year. New Delhi is now left scrambling for a response, with very limited leverage, and must consider politically costly concessions or risk a further downturn in exports and economic growth. After 11 years of being in power, Modi can't shift the blame on anyone else and will be held accountable for the severe economic downturn in the public eye. In sum, Trump's actions and rhetoric hit directly at pillars propping Modi's domestic political strength and standing, in ways that are both visible and hard to quickly repair. The impact on India will be managed, but it is Modi, as a political leader and as an electoral brand, who now faces the greatest challenge in his eleven years in office. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
Mint
25 minutes ago
- Mint
BJP MP Ravi Kishan gives Samosa example to demand law to regulate food prices
Ravi Kishan, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP and actor, demanded the Modi government to formulate a law to regulate food prices in the country. Emphasizing different prices of food items served at various eateries, be it hotels, restaurants, or dhabas, Ravi Kishan said the government has not formed any law regarding the varying food prices. During the Zero Hour, Ravi Kishan said there is no uniformity of prices of single food items or dishes and quality. "Somewhere you get a Samosa at X rate in a dhaba while it is served at Y price point," he said adding, the size of samosas also vary. 'Dal Tadka' at some outlets you get for ₹ 100, while at others, it is ₹ 120, and in a hotel it is ₹ 1,000, he said. Also Read | PM Modi rebuts Donald Trump in Lok Sabha: 'No world leader asked India to halt Operation Sindoor against Pakistan' The lawmaker said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has brought in many transformative changes but this segment has not got its due attention. "Therefore, I demand that the government bring a law to regulate prices of food items, their quality and quantity so that customers get them at affordable prices," he said. Another BJP MP, Damodar Damodar Agarwal, raised the issue of illegal mining and blasting done by Jindal Saw Ltd in his constituency, Bhilwara, Rajasthan. He alleged that illegal mining had caused ecological destruction and environmental pollution. Agarwal claimed that the mining goes unabated despite intense protests and demanded the Centre take an action to stop it.
Time of India
42 minutes ago
- Time of India
Tariffs, Russia & the cost of autonomy: India must absorb pressure without losing its strategic balance
For nearly a decade, Manash Pratim Gohain has been a common face in various campuses of universities and colleges in Delhi. He can be easily spotted chatting with students, engaging with teachers over unlimited cups of tea and digging information to yield stories on city's schools, colleges and government's policies on education. He is assistant editor with The Times of India, Delhi. LESS ... MORE The recent imposition of a 25% tariff on select Indian exports by the United States — alongside threats of further penalties — signals a sharp turn in the tenor of India-US economic engagement. While framed as a routine trade enforcement action, the timing and broader context point unmistakably to a deeper message: Washington is uneasy with India's increasing strategic assertiveness, particularly its continued oil trade with Russia. Over the past two years, India has significantly ramped up its crude imports from Russia, capitalising on discounted prices amid Western sanctions following the Ukraine conflict. Russia is now India's top energy supplier. This has allowed India to cushion inflation, manage its current account, and maintain steady energy access. Yet, it has also drawn criticism from the West, which sees India's balancing act as diplomatically inconvenient, if not morally ambiguous. From Delhi's perspective, the policy is clear: national interest guides foreign policy, and strategic autonomy is non-negotiable. India has made it equally clear — at forums like the G20 and BRICS — that it will not be a passive recipient of geopolitical dictates. Whether it is importing Russian oil, opposing Western digital trade rules, or setting its own data governance norms, India is defining its own trajectory. This posture, while respected in principle by the US, is increasingly coming under strain in practice. The 25% tariff — potentially targeting sectors like steel, engineering goods, or chemicals — is not just about market access. It's a nudge, perhaps even a warning, that economic tools will be used when political alignment wavers. To be sure, the India-US partnership remains robust on many fronts: defence collaboration, Indo-Pacific cooperation, and critical tech initiatives like iCET are growing pillars of trust. But the tariff action highlights a recurring tension in India's foreign policy — how to deepen partnerships without compromising sovereignty. Politically, the Modi government is unlikely to back down. If anything, this development will be used to reinforce a familiar narrative: that India's rise comes with costs, and resistance from global powers is evidence of its growing clout. It also offers an opportunity to double down on domestic manufacturing, push for trade diversification, and strengthen south-south cooperation. The challenge, however, is real. Export sectors could be hit. Trade negotiations may stall. Investor confidence could waver if the friction escalates. But India's likely response will be measured — assertive but not confrontational, using diplomacy, WTO channels, and backroom talks to defuse tensions while preserving space for independent policy-making. For the US too, this is a moment to recalibrate. Using punitive tariffs against a strategic partner like India may offer short-term leverage but could erode long-term goodwill. Washington must reconcile its security interests with its economic assertiveness — and recognise that India's global rise will not always align with American preferences. Strategic partnerships in a multipolar world are not built on perfect agreement. They rest on managing differences with maturity. As India navigates this episode, the real test is whether it can absorb pressure without overreacting — and whether both nations can sustain a partnership built not on dependency, but on mutual respect. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
