Swapnil Karkare

VinFast, Tesla and BYD highlight a shift in India's auto industry, with newer entrants weighing imports, assembly and partnerships against deep localisation.

I have observed that even though countries celebrate self-reliance in their internal politics, they are keen to strengthen partnerships with other countries (sometimes desperately).

ASEAN is deepening economic ties with China, Japan, South Korea and India across semiconductors, batteries, critical minerals, AI, energy and supply chains.

The West Asian war has disrupted LNG flows through the Strait of Hormuz, forcing Europe and Asia to compete for cargoes as gas storage needs rise.

Semicon 2.0 goes beyond chip assembly and packaging. That is the lowest value-addition process in the entire supply chain. But India doesn't want to stop at that. It wants to develop the ecosystem around chips.

India is building rice buffers, markets are adjusting to rising risks, and GIFT City is creating another channel for global capital.

Indian government bond yields have risen as global yields climb, narrowing the gap with US Treasuries and putting pressure on equity valuations and risk premiums.

In an increasingly self-reliant world, developing countries are competing harder for foreign capital. India and Vietnam have an added advantage.

Global rice prices are climbing as India, Thailand and Vietnam face supply pressures, while Asian countries stockpile the grain amid weather and food security concerns.

The AI race and the humanoid race may look like two different technology stories. But underneath, they are increasingly about the same thing: who controls the ecosystem needed to build the technology.

The US may have Tesla, leading AI companies, enormous amounts of capital and some of the world's best robotics researchers. China has something less glamorous: an irreplaceable supply chain.

AI is splitting into two competing blocs as China controls critical minerals while the West dominates chips and AI technology. Here's what it means for India.

India's smartphone manufacturing is moving beyond assembly, while Vietnam advances up the supply chain and US bond yields face pressure from inflation and debt.

India first focused on building scale. Now, it wants more suppliers, components, design and R&D in the country.

As these celebrities have grown older, so have the consumers who once followed them. That audience is now more mature, wealthier and making bigger decisions.

US Treasury buybacks can influence bond yields temporarily, but inflation, heavy borrowing, AI investment and geopolitical shifts may keep interest rates elevated.

The foundations that quietly shape India's future often lie beyond the headlines.

India's large-scale, integrated production and skilled workforce allow it to make higher-value products that many quality-conscious Western buyers are willing to pay for.

India has a long history of putting its faith in exceptional individuals when institutions fall short — but real reform begins when citizens learn to trust the institution, not just the hero.

India's stance on a BRICS currency comes as members face major differences in exchange rates, economic structures, capital flows and political trust.