Editorial Analysis

India’s recent $2 billion procurement of military drones from domestic manufacturers marks a significant milestone in the country’s defence modernisation and Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) agenda and strengthens indigenous manufacturing.

The recently released National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-6 by MoHFW highlights India’s advancements in child nutrition and maternal health, while also revealing persistent challenges related to infant feeding practices, dietary quality, maternal workload, and local-level implementation gaps.

India achieved its NDC target of 50% installed electricity capacity from non-fossil sources ahead of 2030, yet solar curtailment of 2.3 TWh and 44 GW of unsigned PPAs in 2025 reveal that the transition has moved from a capacity challenge to a systems challenge.

The global shift of semiconductor manufacturers toward AI-oriented chips has created a shortage of memory chips used in consumer electronics. It has increased prices of smartphones, laptops, refrigerators, air conditioners, televisions, and other devices, contributing to retail inflation in India.

The recent visit of the Prime Minister of India to France, including meetings with the French President on the sidelines of the G-7 Summit in Evian has reinforced the growing India–France partnership centred on technology, innovation, defence and strategic autonomy.

The proposed Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) Amendment, 2026 introduced the Creditor-Initiated Insolvency Resolution Process (CIIRP) aimed at faster resolution of stressed assets while preserving enterprise value.

Disability pensions in India remain fragmented, inadequate and uneven across States even after India’s rapid digitalisation and expansion of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) systems.

The implementation framework for labour reforms has been completed with the notification of the rules under the four Labour Codes. However, trade unions and labour scholars have raised concerns regarding several provisions and the absence of adequate worker safeguards.

Recent debates and other policy forums questioned whether weakening reforms, changes in India’s Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) framework, declining net FDI, and rupee depreciation indicate a loss of economic momentum and investor confidence.

India’s FTA network has expanded to 15 agreements covering 27 countries. with the India–Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) coming into effect, while negotiations with several other countries and blocs are nearing completion.