The GST Reform India Needs but Didn’t Get with Arbind Modi
In this episode, economic journalist and author Puja Mehra speaks to Arbind Modi, retired IRS officer and Senior Economist at the IMF and one of the chief architects of India’s Goods and Services Tax (GST), about what India’s broken tax system means for its growth ambitions. The conversation explores how GST’s design flaws have hurt competitiveness, why exempting large sections of income undermines fairness, and how Centre–State revenue sharing has created new fiscal strains.The discussion connects India’s tax choices to global shifts, from the Trump-era trade wars to the reordering of supply chains, making clear that without serious reform, India risks missing yet another growth opportunity.Tune in for insights on what it will take to reset India’s tax system, revive competitiveness, and lay the foundation for sustained 8% growth. This episode is both a masterclass in India’s tax system and a call for bold, evidence-driven policymaking.(00:00) Introduction(02:15) Why GST Hasn’t Delivered on Its Promise(07:42) Fixing GST Design and Efficiency(12:30) The Problem with GST Rates and Complexity(16:58) Corporate Tax Cuts and Their Consequences(21:47) Why Income Tax Exemptions Are a Mistake(27:15) The Centre–State Revenue Sharing Dilemma(32:44) The Case for Comprehensive Tax Reform(38:52) How GST Reform Could Unlock Higher Growth(46:10) Why Political Will Matters More Than Bureaucratic Hesitation(51:21) Decluttering GST and Fixing Excise Duties(55:23) Why Taxing Gold Jewellery Hurts the Poor(59:26) ConclusionFor more of our coverage check out thecore.inSubscribe to our NewsletterFollow us on:Twitter |Instagram |Facebook |Linkedin |Youtube
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Why India’s Russian Oil Imports are Suddenly Bugging Trump with Suhasini Haidar
In this episode, journalist Puja Mehra speaks to Suhasini Haidar, Diplomatic Affairs Editor of The Hindu, about what India’s failed trade deal with Donald Trump reveals about the country’s foreign policy. The discussion unpacks how India balances principles with pragmatism in global negotiations, the costs of missed opportunities in its own neighbourhood, and the deeper shifts from globalisation to populism that are reshaping trade worldwide. Suhasini also explains why India’s diplomatic space depends not only on economic choices but also on the strength of its democratic and pluralistic values.Tune in for insights on how India can navigate uncertainty, define its red lines, and reset its strategy for the future.For more of our coverage check out thecore.inSubscribe to our NewsletterFollow us on:Twitter |Instagram |Facebook |Linkedin |Youtube
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Trump Has Reset India and the World for at Least the Next 15 Years
In this episode, author and journalist Puja Mehra speaks to Neelkanth Mishra, Chief Economist at Axis Bank, about the lessons India can draw from past currency wars to navigate the turbulent years ahead. They discuss how, in the decade after the collapse of the Bretton Woods system, countries devalued their currencies to gain trade advantages—and how similar pressures are resurfacing today as major economies look to depreciate their exchange rates. Drawing on global historical patterns, Mishra explains why India’s medium-term balance of payments outlook is relatively stable, but also why access to foreign capital and careful currency calibration will be crucial for sustaining growth.He argues that the current period of global economic flux is a rare opportunity for India to take difficult but necessary reform decisions—removing barriers for entrepreneurs and farmers, improving access to technology, and building resilience against a more protectionist world order. Without such reforms, sustaining current growth rates could become a challenge.Tune in for insights on how India can use a moment of global turbulence to drive structural change, sustain economic momentum, and emerge stronger in an era of competitive currency moves.For more of our coverage check out thecore.inSubscribe to our NewsletterFollow us on:Twitter |Instagram |Facebook |Linkedin |Youtube
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Global Upheaval, National Ambition: India’s Policy Shifts in a Time of Flux
In this episode, author and journalist Puja Mehra speaks to economist Dr. Rajiv Kumar about his new book “Everything All At Once: India and the Six Simultaneous Global Transitions” co-authored with Ishan Joshi. The book argues that at a time the world is in a geoeconomic and technological flux, India’s development goals cannot be met through “business as usual.” Drawing on decades of experience, Dr. Kumar explains that India is perhaps the only country in world history that must develop while reducing its carbon footprint at the same time. This too at a time the US is abandoning its universalist approach, China is rising, and there is a widespread sense of unease in major capitals at the emergent fragmented world order. The sense of optimism at the end of the Cold War, despite lingering issues of power asymmetry and inequitable growth, has dissipated. Dr. Kumar argues that Indian policymakers must ensure they are not seduced into tackling the ongoing transitions in either a piecemeal fashion or within a linear framework. The six global transitions demand a rethink of policy priorities. In the absence of such a construct, India faces the unsavoury prospect of being caught in the middle-income trap, and not achieving its aspirations of becoming a developed economy (Viksit Bharat) by 2047, he cautions. Tune in for insights on how India needs to go about developing a new policy framework to successfully address the multiple simultaneous global challenges.For more of our coverage check out thecore.inSubscribe to our NewsletterFollow us on:Twitter |Instagram |Facebook |Linkedin |Youtube
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What India Gained—and Gave Up—in the UK Free Trade Deal
In this episode, author and journalist Puja Mehra speaks to trade policy expert Prof. Abhijit Das about the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that was signed on 24th July 2025 after years of negotiation. Hailed as a major breakthrough, the agreement promises tariff-free access for Indian exports like textiles, leather, and marine products, along with visa commitments for service professionals. But what lies beneath the surface?Prof. Das explains why, despite the initial excitement, the fine print raises concerns—ranging from stringent UK standards in agriculture and environment to new subsidy notification obligations and a surprising shift in India’s position on compulsory licensing for medicines. He unpacks what India has agreed to in areas like Intellectual Property Rights, labour, and gender, and whether these concessions could come at the cost of future policy flexibility.Tune in for insights and analysis of what this FTA really means for India’s exporters, its negotiating strategy, and its ability to shape trade policy in the years ahead.For more of our coverage check out thecore.inSubscribe to our NewsletterFollow us on:Twitter |Instagram |Facebook |Linkedin |Youtube
Join journalist Puja Mehra as she breaks down one story to give you all the context you need to understand how it fits into the larger picture of India's economy.
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