Economy

Shaktikanta Das, the new Reserve Bank of India governor, is trying to find a middle ground, analysts say.
Economy

India's central bank leans closer to Modi with extra dividend

New governor stakes out a middle ground, not irrationality, analysts say

22 February 2019
Nepal's existing rail link with India will be one of few parts of the network to use its southern neighbor's favored broad gauge. (Photo by Yuji Kuronuma)
International relations

Nepal hitches railway to Chinese standards in blow to India

Himalayan nation will use a Beijing-favored gauge except at southern border

22 February 2019
Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves to the crowd at a campaign-related event in the state of Haryana, on Feb. 12, 2019. (Photo by Kosaku Mimura)
The Big Story

Has Narendra Modi been good for business?

Tough reforms have recharged confidence, but protectionism and demonetization stain his record

20 February 2019
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The Big Story

Modi's business reforms: Nikkei Asian Review's report card

The prime minister's ambitious agenda receives mixed marks

20 February 2019
With products such as cotton yarn, India's merchandise exports are a low-margin high-volume activity.
Opinion

Indian R&D -- time to solve the puzzle

Why does a country with so much research talent produce little homegrown innovation?

19 February 2019
Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
International relations

India's Modi set to ask visiting Saudi prince for cheaper oil

New Delhi may sidestep Khashoggi murder in hopes of infrastructure investment

16 February 2019
The concern now is that more companies may find it difficult to repay debt leading to a vicious cycle of falling share prices and collateral values and further selling of pledged stock by creditors.
Markets

Share-backed loans rock India's founder-led firms

Tighter credit, debt raise specter of defaults

15 February 2019
Mismanagement by Modi's government, such as ban on high-denomination notes, exemplified economic problems. 
Opinion

Modi: promises, promises

With elections coming, India needs reform plans not populist pledges

15 February 2019
Narendra Modi addresses a public rally in Changsari near Guwahati, the largest city in the state of Assam on Feb. 9.
Opinion

India needs infrastructure to bolster remote north east

New Delhi should seek more investment partners to meet Beijing's challenge

13 February 2019
Demonstrators shout slogans at a march in New Delhi on Feb. 7 demanding jobs and better education.
Politics

Jobless and furious: Indian youth vow to oust PM Modi in election

Thousands of new voters protest, demanding jobs and better education

10 February 2019
The Reserve Bank of India's new governor, Shaktikanta Das, center, cited lower-than-expected inflation and a slowdown in China as reasons for its surprise rate cut on Feb. 7.  (Photo by Ken Koyanagi)
Economy

India cuts key rate in surprise move ahead of election

New RBI governor stresses objective of supporting growth

7 February 2019
The Reserve Bank of India's new Governor Shaktikanta Das is expected to shift the central bank's monetary policy stance from tightening to neutral, with preparations for easing soon. 
Economy

India's central bank expected to lay groundwork for rate cuts

New governor likely to initially shift policy stance to neutral in Modi's favor

6 February 2019
Narendra Modi's government has announced huge handouts to India's poor in the latest budget ahead of general elections due by May. Here, a woman peels sugarcanes on a railway track to sell it to sugarcane juice vendors at a slum area in Kolkata, India.
Economy

Modi's huge handouts could win votes but won't end poverty

Government must create jobs, not just offer cash: renowned Indian economist

5 February 2019
India's worklessness crisis is neither a recent nor a cyclical phenomenon.
Opinion

Modi's missed chance on jobs

India must deregulate to boost employment

5 February 2019
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4 February 2019
Employees work at a production line inside the Chery Jaguar Land Rover plant in Changshu, Jiangsu Province. The Indian-owned carmaker saw sales plunge in China.
Business trends

Asian companies see profit evaporating as China demand shrinks

From smartphones to autos, suppliers suffered double-digit declines last quarter

4 February 2019
India's oil demand recovered strongly in 2018, due in part to strong sales of commerical vehicles. (Photo by Mamoru Yago)
Economy

India to outpace China in increasing oil demand, report says

New Delhi says it will keep importing Iranian oil despite looming US sanctions

3 February 2019
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is under pressure to address growing agrarian distress and unemployment. 
Politics

India's Modi offers tax cuts and farm aid in pre-election budget

Slew of measures including new pension aimed at attracting voters

1 February 2019
Farmers in the village of Qutubgarh taking part in an economic experiment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's have extracted 1,200 kg of honey since Nov. 3. (Photo by Kiran Sharma)
Economy

Modi's 'sweet revolution' points Indian farmers to honey money

Beekeeping gains pace but fair-price and direct-distribution challenges remain

29 January 2019
Central Bank of Sri Lanka Gov. Indrajit Coomaraswamy expects the Indian Ocean tug of war between China and India to help his country secure aid. (Photo by Yuji Kuronuma)
Interview

Sri Lanka set to avert debt crisis this year: central bank chief

South Asian island plays balancing act to secure bailouts from China and India

27 January 2019
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 
Economy

Pressured Modi eyes relief for farmers in pre-election budget

Increased spending risks worsening fiscal deficit as tax revenues expected to fall short

25 January 2019
For weeks, Bangkok has not seen a clear sky, as the Thai capital experiences its worst air quality in years.
Economy

Asian countries rush to fight toxic air pollution

Bangkok deploys rainmaking plane while Seoul clamps down on diesel trucks

24 January 2019
Chinese President Xi Jinping, right, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their April 2018 summit. (Photo by China Daily/Reuters)
International relations

Xi plans India visit, as diplomatic chess with US intensifies

Trip expected as early as February, in bid to bolster ties with Modi

23 January 2019
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has run out of economic options. (Hindustan Times/Getty Images)
Opinion

Modi: the strongman losing his grip

In election mode, India's leader resorts to populist handouts to boost flagging support

22 January 2019
Sri Lanka is in dire straits as the debt-strapped country confronts a looming balance of payment crisis.
Economy

Sri Lanka seeks regional bailout as balance of payments crisis looms

Colombo looks to India and China for financial assistance and renegotiates with IMF

21 January 2019