India’s first crewed spaceflight programme, Gaganyaan, has entered its final phase, with the maiden human spaceflight now scheduled for the first quarter of 2027, according to Jitendra Singh, Minister of State, Department of Space. Singh said the successful test vehicle earlier this year laid a strong foundation for the next trial in 2025, followed by...
Category: ECONOMY & POLICY
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Defence Budget Set for Rs.500 Billion Top-up
Following successful missile strikes on nine major terror camps in Pakistan, India is reportedly considering an additional Rs.500 billion defence allocation this fiscal, according to government sources. The military operation, which began on 7 May, was later extended to 11 air bases, crippling Pakistan’s air defence infrastructure. The neighbouring country has long been accused of...
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Operation Sindoor: The Indigenous Edge
India’s aerial strikes on terror infrastructure inside Pakistan under Operation Sindoor have been more than a tactical success. They are also a defining moment for India’s indigenous defence manufacturing. The first phase of the operation, running from May 7-10, saw homegrown technologies in air defence systems to precision-strike capabilities outperform foreign alternatives, proving India’s strategic...
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Logistics parks, multimodal cargo hubs poised for rapid growth
Following the successful launch of the Bangalore Logistics Park at India’s third-busiest international airport in late April, Ramanathan Rajamani, CEO, AISATS, is now focused on the seamless operationalisation of the country’s largest multimodal cargo hub at the upcoming Noida International Airport. An engineering graduate and a master’s in logistics from the National University of Singapore,...
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Greening India’s Freight Economy
As India’s freight volumes continue to expand, the associated CO2 emissions are rising just as rapidly. To establish itself as a global leader in sustainable logistics, the country must pursue bolder, deeper, and more deliberate systemic reforms, argues Vivek Lohia. India is moving fast, whether by roads, rails, and across seas. With its freight economy...
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Empowering Aatmanirbhar Infra Financing
With the right safeguards and incentives, India can lay the groundwork for a truly aatmanirbhar (self-reliant) infrastructure financing ecosystem—one where citizens don’t just contribute to the nation’s development but actively co-build and co-benefit from it, argues Shivam Bajaj. Once marred by mounting non-performing assets, regulatory gridlock, and land acquisition hurdles, the Indian infrastructure industry was...
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The Corridor of Opportunity
All emerging economic and military powers require secure trade routes. Take, for example, the Suez Canal, a vital gateway for global trade. It attracts about 12-15 per cent of global trade and about 30 per cent of global container traffic, with more than $1 trillion in goods transiting annually. The blockage of the Suez Canal...
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The New Power Corridor
The nations involved in the proposed IMEC collectively account for nearly half of global GDP, totalling $47 trillion. Therefore, to fully unlock the benefits of this multilateral initiative of immense geopolitical significance, they must work towards resolving security concerns and harmonising trading regulations, writes Manish Pant. Experts often refer to the proposed India-Middle East-Europe Economic...
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Collaborating Beyond Bricks and Steel
All stakeholders, including industry, government, investors, institutions, and communities, need to work together to build infrastructure that is not only functional but also resilient, inclusive, and sustainable, opines YR Nagaraja. In India, infrastructure is more than just roads, bridges, and buildings; it’s the foundation of our growth story. It determines how efficiently we live, how...
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Investments in Renewables, Roads, and Real Estate to Reach ₹17.5 Trillion by FY26: Crisil
While these investments may face regulatory delays, market fluctuations, and infrastructure bottlenecks, strong cash flows, prudent financial management, and sustained investor confidence will support stability across the three sectors. As part of the current transformations, India’s renewable energy, roads, and real estate sectors are expected to attract significant capital, according to the country’s leading ratings...