Insights, a blog published by IMPRI.
Policy UpdateShivali Yadav Background For almost sixty years, India operated its Major Ports based on the Major Port Trusts Act of 1963. That system relied significantly on Boards of Trustees, while tariffs were mostly determined by another entity, the Tariff…
The Sovereign Gold Bond (SGB) scheme was conceived as part of a broader strategy to curb India's heavy reliance on physical gold imports, which were seen as a drag on the current account deficit and a source of unproductive household savings. The scheme was first announced in the Union Budget 2015-16 by then Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, approved by the Union Cabinet on 9 September 2015, and formally launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on 5 November 2015, alongside the Gold Monetisation Scheme and the Indian Gold Coin (PMO India, 2015).
The rapid expansion of digital technologies has created new opportunities for economic and social development, but it has also led to increasingly sophisticated forms of cybercrime. Recognising the need for a coordinated national response, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) established the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) as a scheme in 2018 to create a framework for the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of cybercrime. I4C was subsequently established as an attached office of MHA with effect from 1 July 2024 (Ministry of Home Affairs, 2026).
The introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in 2017 has brought the various central and state level indirect taxes under one unified indirect tax framework. However, the proliferation of the GST regime has also led to growing tax related disputes. Such disputes lead to ambiguity for the taxpayer, as well as cause additional burden on tax administration. Hence, a specialised appellate body was required for the successful implementation of GST
The proliferation of digital technologies underscores the importance of cybersecurity, critical technologies, and supply chain resilience to Australia's and India's national security, economic growth, and innovation capacity. Advancements in artificial intelligence, semiconductors, quantum computing, biotechnology, and digital infrastructure present significant opportunities, yet concurrently introduce risks, including cyber threats, technological disruptions, and supply chain vulnerabilities.
A deep-rooted Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has replaced the old marine commercial link between India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). With Prime Minister Narendra Modi's historic visit in 2015—the first by an Indian premier in 34 years—diplomatic relations, which were initially established in 1972, gained fresh impetus. This visit changed the emphasis from a buyer-seller energy dynamic to a multifaceted combination of infrastructure, security, and high technology.
Agriculture remains a cornerstone of India’s economy and rural livelihoods. Agriculture and allied activities employ around 46.1% of the country’s workforce, making the sector one of the largest sources of employment in India, while contributing nearly one-fifth of national income at current prices. The sector is particularly important for rural communities, where agriculture continues to account for the majority of employment (Economic Survey 2025-26). Improving agricultural productivity is essential not only for increasing farm output but also for strengthening rural livelihoods and ensuring long-term food security. Within this context, the availability, quality and suitability of seeds assume particular importance. Seeds determine a significant part of a crop’s yield potential and influence its ability to withstand pests, diseases, drought, heat, flooding and other environmental stresses. As climate change increases production risks and agricultural resources such as land and water face growing pressures, the development and widespread adoption of high-yielding, pest-resistant and climate-resilient crop varieties have become increasingly important to India’s agricultural policy agenda