Sunil Bajaj - Group Director - CAD, ABG | Former Director - Essar Group

 India is redefining its identity as a key catalyst in shaping the future of multilateral democracy. It is leveraging crucial platforms like the BRICS, G20, and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to drive global collaboration and syncing these frameworks with its national interests. These roles indicate a huge metamorphosis, showcasing India as more than just a participant. It is now an authoritative voice in global affairs. India’s strategic approach to multilateral diplomacy  When it comes to multilateral diplomacy, it holds great significance for countries. It empowers them to solve cross-border challenges with the help of cooperation and consensus. India’s approach to multilateral diplomacy can be defined by: Strategic balancing – It involves engaging developing nations as well as advanced economies. Bridging gaps – It means acting as a mediator between divergent geopolitical blocs to allow open channels across nations. Agenda leadership – It pertains to prioritising ...

 India was once famous as the global textile hub; cotton and fine muslins were reasons that paved the way for global trade routes leading here. Today, with the reset of global supply chains and the recognition of sustainable manufacturing, one question that has taken center stage is: Can India reclaim its dominance in the world apparel market? Unmatchable legacy of craft India’s textile heritage goes back hundreds of years, blending craft with scale. The textile industry is still the second-largest employer in India after agriculture. It supports over 45 million workers directly and even more indirectly. The country boasts of an unparalleled and diversified raw material production, ranging from jute to silk and technical fabrics.  However, the last three decades have seen a shift in global value chains and growing competition from countries like China, Vietnam, and Bangladesh. This has resulted in diverted apparel orders, causing a decline in demand for Indian textiles. Fragme...

  India has spurred optimism after showing a major leap in the global Ease of Doing Business rankings. However, with the growing pressure of tackling the demands of a developed economy by 2047, India faces one critical question: “How effectively are policies being executed at the ground level?” We have had recent transformative models, mainly the PM Gati Shakti and the National Single Window System, that have highlighted the significance of the “Ease of Policy Execution” and why we must focus on it. Bridging the gap between policy design and delivery India boasts of prolific policy makers with the best infrastructure blueprints, investment incentives, and digitisation missions. But we cannot ignore that the conversion from vision to measurable results is not without procedural complexity and limited ground-level capacity. One example is the GST that helped unify national taxation but tested organisations with compliance complexity. Labor reforms remain mired in non-uniform state ad...

We are standing in an era where the traditional linear economy model – take, make, dispose – has become outdated. India is currently grappling with resource scarcity, environmental degradation, and increasing waste management costs. To curb these issues, we need a revolutionary approach that has already gained momentum; it is called Circular Economy 2.0. This new-age strategy focuses on transforming industrial waste into valuable economic assets, opening new opportunities for wealth generation while addressing economic challenges. The evolution of circular thinking Circular Economy 2.0 goes beyond basic recycling and waste management. It focuses on creating a unique narrative around waste management where waste streams are converted into raw materials. This goes a long way in building closed-loop systems that minimise environmental impact while maximising economic value. This modern take on waste management uses avant-garde technologies such as AI, blockchain tracking, and advanced mat...

 India’s recently introduced new labor codes marked a historic transformation in the social security framework of the country. It was a momentous declaration that expanded coverage and enhanced worker protections across different sectors. Implemented on November 21, 2025, the four consolidated codes are a breather against the 29 fragmented laws that were integral policies for providing universal social security, especially benefitting gig, platform, contract, and migrant workers for the first time. These reforms focus on simplifying compliance for employers and extending minimum wage rights to all workers. It fosters a future-ready, inclusive workforce. Universal Social Security India had a fragmented social security system for decades. This left many workers unprotected, especially those in informal or gig jobs. Coverage stood at 19% in 2015, and it has surged to 64.3%, encompassing over 94 crore people. This is the first time that gig and platform workers, who form a major segmen...

India is proudly embracing homegrown digital platforms like Zoho. India Stack and the Open Network For Digital Commerce (ONDC). The country’s growing focus on digital sovereignty and data security has fostered this move. Moreover, the need for cost-effective, native digital forums tailored to the unique market needs of India has led to such innovations Zoho Digital sovereignty is the most integral element that has pushed India towards homegrown technology. It refers to the control over data and digital infrastructure within national borders. Leading companies such as Zoho exemplify this transformation as they build their entire technology stack, including hardware and software, locally in India. Zoho ensures that its data remains within India and is compliant with Indian laws. This significantly reduces dependence on foreign cloud infrastructure and proprietary software. Digital sovereignty is vital for enhancing national security, as the government and businesses are more inclined tow...