India’s economic prospects continue to shine, as per experts at Agenda Aaj Tak 2025, indicating the country’s steady resurgence on the global stage due to robust macroeconomic fundamentals, labor reforms, and a youthful workforce poised to drive future growth.
Shamika Ravi, a member of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council, expressed optimism about India’s economic outlook, citing strong GDP growth and controlled inflation as reasons for celebration. She emphasized that solid macroeconomic indicators are contributing to the stability of labor markets and household welfare.
Ravi emphasized India’s gradual reclamation of its global economic standing, attributing it to the country’s young population with immense potential. She clarified that India’s exchange rate should not be misconstrued as a weakness but rather as favorable for exporters, underscoring that an economy’s true strength lies in trade surpluses and robust domestic demand.
Sumita Dawra, former Secretary of the Ministry of Labor and Employment, applauded the significance of the newly enacted labor codes, describing them as a pivotal decision that strikes a balance between worker welfare and business facilitation. She highlighted that these progressive reforms, ensuring minimum wages as a statutory right and extending social security benefits to workers across sectors, will enable businesses to expand and generate more employment opportunities.
In terms of India’s economic strategy, Ravi stressed the need to enhance the manufacturing sector to complement the country’s leadership in services. She identified skilled manpower and mid-level management as key constraints in manufacturing, while also emphasizing the importance of trade agreements to boost India’s global competitiveness.
Both experts touched on the upcoming India-US trade discussions, particularly noting the sensitive nature of agriculture in these negotiations. Dawra also discussed the impact of artificial intelligence on the workforce, foreseeing a shift towards new roles in innovation and technology, emphasizing India’s growing prowess in Global Capability Centers (GCCs) and digital services.
The experts highlighted the optimistic outlook of India’s economy under the banner of “Buland Bharat Ki Buland Tasveer,” but stressed that actual progress hinges on comprehensive reforms, enhanced skills, increased competitiveness, and inclusive growth at the state level.