Working Paper

May 11, 2026

Although India’s defence manufacturing capabilities are increasing, it still depends on a high proportion of imported equipment. The paper identifies three key areas requiring reform: governance and domestic policy, budgetary priorities, and technical capabilities.

Key Insights

Macroeconomic Policy, Trade & Competitiveness

MacroInsights: Gulf War Shock—How Resilient is the Economy?

Renu Kohli

May 4, 2026

Weak fiscal, external, and household sectors portend hard trade-offs and growth sacrifice.

Discussion Paper

Health and Human Development

Primary Healthcare in South and Southeast Asia

Alok Kumar Singh, Nadine Monteiro & Neethi Rao

April 30, 2026

This paper investigates the state of PHC in 10 countries across South and Southeast Asia, compares experiences from these countries and highlights common challenges and approaches that can inform future reforms.

Working Paper

Macroeconomic Policy, Trade & Competitiveness

Letting the Elephant Dance: Unlocking India’s US$500 Billion Export Opportunity

Baran Pradhan, Sanjay Kathuria & TG Srinivasan

April 27, 2026

India can significantly expand its goods exports without compromising the gains made in the services sector through tariff rationalisation, stricter standards discipline, high-ambition free trade agreements, and a more export-conducive macroeconomic environment.

Working Paper

Growth, Finance, Health & Human Development

Why Do Fewer Women Work in India? A Supply–Demand Perspective

Shishir Gupta & Aalhya Sabharwal

April 20, 2026

This paper seeks to answer two fundamental questions: 1) What explains India’s low female LFPR relative to its peers?, and 2) Why did it decline from 2004–2005 to 2017–2018 and then rebound?

Discussion Paper

Growth, Finance, Health & Human Development

Wheels of Change: Automation in India's Automotive Sector

Vandana Vasudevan

April 13, 2026

This study examines how automation is unfolding in India’s auto-component manufacturing and what it means for firms and workers.

Blog

Foreign Policy & Security

Critical Minerals, Critical People: Building India-Ethiopia Mining Partnerships Through Education

Veda Vaidyanathan & Sakshi Potdar

April 28, 2026

With growing interest in critical minerals and industrial supply chains, Ethiopia is emerging as a natural partner for India, Veda Vaidyanathan and Sakshi Potdar write.

Blog

Foreign Policy & Security

India and Italy: Bridging Continents Through IMEC

Abhishek Agarwal

April 24, 2026

This blog is part of a CSEP series that aims to provide a comprehensive, multi-angled analysis of the IMEC. This blog focuses on the Indo-Italian dimension, highlighting Italy's growing strategic importance in Europe, increased economic and diplomatic ties with India across technology, energy, and workforce development, and key opportunities and challenges in operationalising the corridor.

Blog

Foreign Policy & Security

An Indian Perspective: Bridging Continents Through IMEC

Abhishek Agarwal

April 24, 2026

This blog is part of a CSEP series that aims to provide a comprehensive, multi-angled analysis of the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).

Blog

Foreign Policy & Security

India’s 2026 BRICS Presidency: Key Priorities for a Multipolar World

Rajesh Chadha & Himanshu Jaiswal

April 21, 2026

India’s 2026 presidency of BRICS, at a time of weakening global governance, protectionist policies, and heightened uncertainty, carries renewed hopes and expectations of collaboration, governance, and delivery.

Strategic Considerations and India’s Defence Manufacturing Sector

Foreign Policy & Security