P Chidambaram Exclusive: Why He Says India's 'Default' Economic Model Falls Short On Growth & Jobs

The United States House of Representatives has passed the Lindsey Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, sending legislation to President Donald Trump that enables tariffs of up to 100 percent on major buyers of Russian crude oil and natural gas, including India and China. In response, the Ministry of External Affairs affirmed India's commitment to securing energy supplies through diversified sources while communicating bilateral and market implications to US interlocutors. Amid geopolitical developments and Russian crude accounting for 51.1 percent of Indian oil imports in July 2026, Chief Economic Advisor Dr V Ananth Nageswaran and Union Minister Kiren Rijiju examined India's economic trajectory and governance roadmap toward Viksit Bharat by 2047. Discussion points included banking sector balance sheet reforms, capital expenditure expansion, the Production Linked Incentive scheme, trade agreements, and administrative strategies under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi turned 76 on Thursday, September 17, 2026. This is a hilarious take on the celebrations of PM Modi with his closest friends and colleagues.

Chief Economic Advisor to the Government of India, V. Anantha Nageswaran, discussed India's path toward Viksit Bharat by 2047, macroeconomic stability, and growth drivers. Highlighting the transformation over the past twelve years, he stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi "is the architect of the economic policy" and credited structural reforms like the Goods and Services Tax, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, and large-scale infrastructure expansion for repairing balance sheets and boosting potential growth. Addressing rural incomes and employment generation, Nageswaran emphasized that economic growth must directly impact citizens' lives, detailing fiscal initiatives, deregulation, free trade agreements, and credit expansion for micro, small, and medium enterprises. He also touched upon global headwinds, including geopolitical conflicts and manufacturing competition, noting that India's domestic capital formation and manufacturing share of gross value addition continue to rise steadily.

In an interview, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju discussed his long-standing professional association with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Rijiju reflected on first meeting Modi in 1999 when both were handling party organizational responsibilities, highlighting Modi's emphasis on disciplined, time-bound execution with perfection. Rijiju stated, 'Modi Ji has transformed my own working system, my own way of looking at things.' He shared insights into Modi's hands-on governance style since 2014, noting how closely the Prime Minister tracked ministerial performance and follow-ups. Rijiju explained that Modi's electoral success and enduring popularity stem from having a coherent long-term vision, connecting every policy step, and leading a cohesive coalition under the banner of inclusive development.