Kopi Time E172: ICRIER head Shekhar Aiyar on key aspects of India’s outlook

Kopi Time E172: ICRIER head Shekhar Aiyar on key aspects of India’s outlook

From Kopi Time podcast with Taimur Baig by DBS Bank

February 25, 2026 · 51 min · Episode 172

About this episode

Dr. Shekhar Aiyar discusses key aspects of India's economic outlook, including growth factors and challenges.

Dr. Shekhar Aiyar, Director and CEO of Indian Centre for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), returns to Kopi Time for a wide-ranging discussion on India. We begin with the clear, foundational tailwinds in place that could propel India’s economic growth higher in the coming years, followed by factors that could hold back growth, especially onerous regulation, insufficient spending on R&D, labour market rigidity, and complexities associated with state-centre relationship. We then move on to public finances, which is presently characterised by favourable debt dynamics and a consolidating fiscal stance. Building on that, we focus on budgetary allocations in key areas of the economy. Shekhar then touches on external matters, including the rupee, trade deals, and India’s calculus vis-à-vis China. A must-listen for India watchers.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People in this episode

Host: Taimur Baig

Guest: Dr. Shekhar Aiyar

Topics covered

  • India's economic growth
  • public finances
  • budgetary allocations
  • trade deals
  • rupee
  • state-centre relationship

Keywords

  • India
  • economic growth
  • public finances
  • budget
  • trade
  • rupee
  • China
  • regulation
  • R&D
  • labour market

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Indian Centre for Research on International Economic Relations

Places: India, China

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