'Promote Construction, Special Biz Zones For Job Creation'

Will the rise of populist nationalism elsewhere weaken India?

The rise of populist nationalism in a country tends to accentuate worries. When these people assume power, a wave of insecurity grips neighbours; it affects anyone who is competing with that country in any field. The populist nationalist wave around the industrial world essentially augments similar sentiment in other areas. Initially, populist nationalists feed on each other, but eventually, they become antagonistic as nationalist interests are so different.

Will we see trade wars like the US China one?

We have always had a protectionist streak, but reversed it with the 1991 reforms. Now you see some of it coming back tariffs are rising in steel and other sectors. This introduces an element of arbitrariness and eventually reduces our competitiveness. If you raise steel prices, it becomes more difficult to make automobiles in this country and makes our cars less competitive. Then the auto sector will say what about tariffs for us. Already, the e commerce sector is saying it needs protection. So, it does not stop.

Unlike China,