Editorial Analysis

After more than a decade, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released Consumer Expenditure Surveys (CES) for 2022-23 and 2023-24, reviving debates on poverty estimation, poverty line methodology and the actual extent of deprivation in India.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s visit to India for the QUAD Foreign Ministers’ meeting has revived discussions on a comprehensive India-Australia Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA).

The recommendations of 16th Finance Commission (FC) triggered debate over fiscal autonomy of states, equity and efficiency in resource distribution and growing concerns over political and demographic implications after delimitation.

The recent escalation of conflict in West Asia and the resulting rise in global crude oil and LNG prices have once again highlighted India’s vulnerability to external energy shocks.

The recent visit of India’s Prime Minister to the Nordic countries, Italy and the Netherlands was significant for India’s strategic outreach aimed at strengthening partnerships in deep technology, innovation, green energy and digital sovereignty.

The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming (PROG) Act, 2025 was enacted to protect citizens from the harms associated with online real-money gaming and betting platforms. However, it appears to have pushed users toward illegal offshore betting platforms instead of reducing gambling activities.

The launch of ‘Su Sahay’, linked to the ‘One Case One Data’ initiative, highlights AI’s growing role in improving judicial accessibility and efficiency, even as courts are increasingly dealing with issues  like deepfakes, misinformation, and data privacy.

Electric Vehicles (EVs) are increasingly seen as a strategic solution for reducing oil dependence and improving energy security amid rising geopolitical tensions in West Asia, especially around the Strait of Hormuz that exposed India’s vulnerability to global crude oil price shocks.

As India seeks to emerge as a global scientific power through achievements in space missions, pharmaceuticals, and innovation, concerns remain regarding the structural barriers faced by women researchers, particularly during mid-career stages.

India has maintained relatively stable retail prices of key agricultural inputs such as urea and diesel through extensive support and agricultural subsidies, despite increasing international crude oil and fertilizer prices amid Middle East conflict.