India in a Fragmenting World: Trade, Technology and Economic Security
The Hindu has released an analytical e-book exploring how India is recalibrating its trade policy amid shifting global dynamics, addressing tariffs, energy sanctions, and the role of technology in growth. The collection examines free trade agreements, manufacturing policy, and energy partnerships wi
Key takeaways
- The Hindu published an e-book analyzing India's response to a fragmented global order and its impact on trade policy.
- Contents cover free trade agreements beyond tariffs, manufacturing policy, services export growth, and energy security through external partnerships.
- The discussion includes how India interacts with the US, China, and Russia, and emphasizes urban infrastructure and education as part of AI-driven competitiveness.
What Happened
The Hindu published an analytical e-book titled India in a Fragmenting World: Trade, Technology and Economic Security. The work presents a comprehensive look at how India is rethinking its strategy in response to evolving global dynamics. It surveys external pressures such as punitive tariffs and energy sanctions and examines the evolving nature of modern trade. The e-book also assesses the trajectory of India’s services sector and the need to modernise urban infrastructure and educational systems to sustain competitiveness in an era shaped by artificial intelligence.
The collection collects a series of essays by authors who discuss various facets of India’s trade and technology policy. These include analyses of free trade agreements beyond tariff reductions, the status of industrial policy in translating into manufacturing scale, the services sector’s export performance, and the interplay between India and major powers such as the United States, China, and Russia in the energy context. The overall aim is to map the choices India must make to become a resilient and technologically advanced economy within a shifting global order.
Why It Matters
The publication highlights that India is recalibrating its trade policy against a backdrop of a fragmented global order. By foregrounding topics such as carbon taxes, data governance, and energy security, the e-book points to strategic decisions that could affect India’s economic security and growth trajectory in the coming years. The focus on services, infrastructure, and AI-readiness underscores the central role of human capital and urban development in sustaining India’s competitive edge as it navigates external pressures and evolving trade regimes.
Background
The Hindu’s analysis situates India within broader shifts in global trade and technology policy, including evolving negotiations around free trade agreements and the increasing importance of policy components beyond tariff reductions. It also situates India’s economic strategy in relation to major external actors, including the United States, China, and Russia, particularly in relation to energy security and supply chains. The e-book appears to assemble perspectives from multiple authors to illuminate the choices India faces as it aims to advance as a global economic power while managing external dependencies and sanctions regimes.
Key Facts
- The Hindu published an e-book titled India in a Fragmenting World: Trade, Technology and Economic Security.
- Publication date shown: August 18, 2026, 10:25 am IST.
- The book analyzes global dynamics and India’s recalibration of its trade policy in response to external pressures.
- Topics covered include evolution of free trade agreements beyond tariff reductions, industrial policy and manufacturing scale, services sector export performance, and India’s interactions with the United States, China, and Russia on energy security.
- Authors featured include Ajay Srivastava, TCA Ranganathan, Rohit Lamba, Deep Pal, Santosh Pai, and a joint piece by Nandan Unnikrishnan and Aleksei Zakharov.
- The text notes the need to modernise urban infrastructure and educational institutions to sustain AI-driven economic competitiveness.
- Links to download a sample and to access the full e-book are provided in the publisher’s note.
What Happens Next
The material signals ongoing analysis and discussion around how India’s trade and technology policies will evolve in response to external pressures and new global norms. While specific policy actions or official announcements are not detailed in the summary, the e-book frames a continuing debate about balancing trade liberalisation with strategic protections and about building domestic capabilities to support a growing, technology-enabled economy.
Sources reviewed
Project Chintan independently synthesized and analyzed information cross-checked across the sources listed above.
Related stories
White House transshipment allegations: what it means for India
Assam CM sketches comprehensive flood rehab plan
Independence Day: Modi cites rise from Fragile Five to fastest-growing major economy
