Gold has evolved beyond its traditional role—which may help us mobilize holdings for financial resilience

Rajesh Shukla May 13, 2026

India’s relationship with gold is entering a new phase. For decades, gold was viewed largely as a macroeconomic problem, a major import that widened the current account deficit and increased dependence on volatile foreign capital. But the global environment has changed sharply. Today, gold sits at the intersection of geopolitics households finance...

Mature hands for money: India’s next economic reform lies in building financially aware households

Rajesh Shukla , Ashok Banerjee May 10, 2026

Over the past decade, India has executed one of the world's most ambitious financial inclusion programmes. With over 55 crore bank accounts opened, rapid expansion of digital payments, and deeper access to formal credit and insurance, the financial system has extended its reach across geographies and income segments. This transformation has been widely recognised as a foundational achievement for inclusive growth.

Tamil Nadu and Kerala: as their past success trails off, they must find new ways to sustain their economic momentum

Rajesh Shukla May 8, 2026

Tamil Nadu and Kerala are among India’s most socially advanced states, with new governments ready to take charge. These states are faced with a more sophisticated problem than many parts of the world, still grappling with basic developmental deficits. How do they maintain prosperity, create more economic resilience and generate the next generation of opportunity?

West Bengal may have another opportunity to fulfil its potential—here’s what it needs to do

Rajesh Shukla May 3, 2026

The political dust may have settled as West Bengal gears up for a new government, but the more profound questions are still to be settled. Elections offer the promise of renewal; governance must deliver it. For a state with such an intellectual legacy and political significance, the challenge is not winning elections, but turning stability into enduring gains in the well-being of its people.

From access to agency: Why India must get more ambitious with its goals for women’s empowerment

Rajesh Shukla April 9, 2026

India’s development narrative increasingly places women at the centre of an economic transformation. As Parliament prepares to operationalize the Women’s Reservation Act ahead of the 2029 elections, the focus on women’s participation in public life is intensifying. Over the past decade, policy efforts have expanded women’s access to bank accounts, jobs and...