Editorial Analysis

India and Canada are seeing a resurgence in engagement after the India-Canada Joint Leaders’ Statement, with defence, critical minerals, space and technology cooperation emerging as priorities for both countries in the changing global security environment.

NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Ashok Kumar Lahiri recently said India needs to significantly improve its investment rate to maintain its growth momentum.

The recent initiatives like ‘City Economic Regions’ (announced in Union Budget 2025-26), and introduction of Urbanisation Premium Grant to facilitate rural-to-urban transition in 16th Finance Commission have revived the debate on India’s undercounted urbanisation and need for better urban governance.

India’s first hydrogen train was recently flagged off by the Prime Minister of India at the Jind railway station in Haryana, making India the third country in the world after Germany and China to roll out hydrogen trains in commercial passenger service.

The Parliament of India is set to take up the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill to synchronise Lok Sabha and all state assembly elections, inserting a new Article 82A and amending Articles 83 and 172.

India’s tourism and hospitality sector has been making news again with sustained post-pandemic growth, increased investments, FAITH’s policy recommendations and the government’s focus on making India a global tourism powerhouse.

Recent global reports like World Inequality Report 2026 and UN report Counting What Counts correctly point out women’s labour market disadvantages but do not sufficiently capture the wealth dimension of gender inequality.

Concerns over India’s falling fertility rate, ageing population and regional demographic imbalances have resulted in a need for a cautious balanced approach to adapting to population change and calls for a return to traditional values.

India is focusing more on the link between AI and its Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) to improve governance, service delivery, Jan Vishwas (trust-based governance), and build state capacity for inclusive development.

India is focusing more on the link between AI and its Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) to improve governance, service delivery, Jan Vishwas (trust-based governance), and build state capacity for inclusive development.