Category Center for the Study for Finance and Economics

India and Australia: A Fresh Curve in Cooperation

Insights, Center for Habitat, Urban and Regional Studies, Center for Human Dignity and Development, Center for International Relations and Strategic Studies, Center for the Study for Finance and Economics, Economy and Infrastructure, Governance and Law, International Relations and Strategic Studies, Public Finances and Macroeconomics, Public Policies, Programs and Schemes

India’s recent defence engagement with Australia reached a new milestone during Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s visit to Canberra and Sydney earlier this month for the inaugural Australia-India Defence Ministers’ Dialogue. The visit, the first by an Indian Defence Minister to Australia in over a decade, produced key defence agreements that upgrade the relationship from declaratory strategic convergence toward greater operational cooperation. The discussions included a Joint Maritime Security Collaboration Roadmap to advance maritime cooperation, as well as renewing and strengthening the Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation.

Harsh V Pant and Harsh V Pant
December 9, 2025

Mining Power: China, the US, and the Fight for Rare Earth Dominance

Insights, Center for International Relations and Strategic Studies, Center for the Study for Finance and Economics, Center for Work and Welfare, Economy and Infrastructure, Environment, Energy, Climate Change and Sustainable Development, Governance and Law, International Relations and Strategic Studies, Livelihoods, Employment and Well-being, Public Finances and Macroeconomics, Public Policies, Programs and Schemes, Science and Technology

Beijing’s new export curbs on rare earths and other tech materials mark a new phase in its bid to weaponize its supply dominance. As Xi tightens control over inputs critical to the US and Trump threatens China with a 100% extra tariff, who will blink first?

Beijing is tightening its clamps on components that are integral to technology supply chains. Lithium batteries and related material, artificial diamonds that have industrial uses and rare earths like holmium, erbium, thulium, europium and ytterbium have been put on China’s export-control list.

Harsh V Pant and Harsh V Pant
December 9, 2025

Reinventing the Public Sector: Strategic Disinvestment as an Engine of Growth

Insights, Center for the Study for Finance and Economics, Economy and Infrastructure

Although GST rate rationalization was lauded, another low-hanging fruit that could come next is disinvestment.

IMPRI Desk
December 6, 2025

Political Flux and Economic Headwinds: Reading the CCP’s Fourth Plenum

Insights, Center for International Relations and Strategic Studies, Center for the Study for Finance and Economics, Economy and Infrastructure, International Relations and Strategic Studies

The much-delayed Fourth Plenum of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Central Committee met in Beijing from October 20-23. Of the seven plenary sessions during a CCP congress, the fourth typically focuses on strengthening the party and governance. At this meeting, the formulation of the 15th Five-Year Plan for 2026–2030, personnel appointments and policy changes took precedence over other matters.

IMPRI Desk
December 3, 2025

What Exactly Makes a Crony Capitalist?

Insights, Center for the Study for Finance and Economics, Economy and Infrastructure, Entrepreneurship, ICT and Innovation, Governance and Law, International Relations and Strategic Studies, Livelihoods, Employment and Well-being, Public Finances and Macroeconomics, Public Policies, Programs and Schemes

From the exploitative moneylender of iconic movies like Mother India to the factory owner who employs goons to beat up workers who dare to stand up against exploitation, the protagonist of business has tended to be portrayed, in the public discourse, as being deficient in ethics. Of late, a subspecies of the immoral tycoon has grownlarger than life: the crony capitalist.

IMPRI Desk
December 2, 2025

Trump’s “Make It in America” Push Is Falling Flat

Insights, Center for Habitat, Urban and Regional Studies, Center for Human Dignity and Development, Center for International Relations and Strategic Studies, Center for the Study for Finance and Economics, Economy and Infrastructure, Entrepreneurship, ICT and Innovation, Governance and Law, International Relations and Strategic Studies, Livelihoods, Employment and Well-being, Public Finances and Macroeconomics, Public Policies, Programs and Schemes, Social Sector

The most momentous event of the last week has been the Gaza ceasefire. It has brought respite for Palestinians from genocidal slaughter and famine, and brought 20 hostages back home to Israel. The peace deal is still fragile, and could unravel.

IMPRI Desk
December 1, 2025

Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (2025)

Policy Update, Center for Environment, Climate Change and Sustainable Development, Center for the Study for Finance and Economics, Environment, Energy, Climate Change and Sustainable Development, Insights

Policy UpdateAtharva Salunke Background: The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) is the principal body responsible for exploration and production, refining, distribution, import, and export of petroleum, natural gas, and allied products in India. Since oil and gas are…

IMPRI Desk
November 19, 2025