G. Chandrashekhar

Chandrashekhar is an economist, journalist and policy commentator renowned for his expertise in agriculture, commodity markets and economic policy.

India’s Trade Pact With Europe Offers Promise, Not Quick Gains

The India–EU FTA offers scale and promise, but strict standards, climate rules and structural gaps mean gains will be gradual, uneven and hard-earned.

G. Chandrashekhar

February 18, 2026 at 4:34 AM IST

PMO

Wheat Under Heat: Rising Temperatures Raise Harvest Concerns

Rising temperatures in key northern states could impact wheat yields just as harvest nears, posing risks to supply, prices, and procurement efforts amid fragile reserves.

G. Chandrashekhar

February 11, 2026 at 7:12 AM IST

iStocks/branex

Why Govt Should Hike Customs Duty on Gold, Vegetable Oils

Budget 2026

India’s surging gold and edible oil imports are widening the trade deficit, pressuring the rupee and hurting farmers, making a strong case for restoring higher import duties.

G. Chandrashekhar

January 29, 2026 at 7:04 AM IST

iStock.com/D. Talukdar

Budget Must Treat Critical Minerals as Economic and Security Assets

Budget 2026

India’s growth and security now depend on critical minerals. This Budget must move past intent and set out how the country plans to secure supply.

G. Chandrashekhar

January 23, 2026 at 5:01 AM IST

istock.com

Budget Must Rescue Indian Agriculture From Drift and Denial

Budget 2026

India’s farm crisis needs more than MSPs and subsidies. Budget 2026 must pivot to outcomes, technology and accountability, or risk surrendering food security and farmer incomes.

G. Chandrashekhar

January 21, 2026 at 12:09 PM IST

iStock.com

Millets: Turning a Policy Mirage into a Daily Food Miracle

Even after increases in minimum support prices, returns over cost for millets are still inferior to crops such as wheat or mustard.

G. Chandrashekhar

January 16, 2026 at 11:25 AM IST

iStock.com

Disengaging with Iran Only Sensible Way Out

Opinion

US secondary tariffs put India–Iran trade in a bind, forcing New Delhi to weigh strategic ties against far larger economic exposure to the US market.

G. Chandrashekhar

January 14, 2026 at 7:33 AM IST

iStock.com

Global coal demand set to slow gradually; India may buck the trend

Global coal demand is nearing a plateau as renewables rise, but India may defy the trend, balancing self-reliance goals with continued coal imports.

G. Chandrashekhar

January 9, 2026 at 9:03 AM IST

iStock.com

India’s Protein Blind Spot: Why Growth Has Not Fed the Nation Well

India’s malnutrition problem is not about shortages. It is about neglecting protein in food policy, even as domestic sources remain abundant and underused.

G. Chandrashekhar

December 17, 2025 at 11:33 AM IST

iStock.com

The Nutrition Blind Spot in India’s Food Security Journey

India may be food-secure, but it is far from nutrition-secure—malnutrition continues to erode health, productivity and economic potential across states and age groups.

G. Chandrashekhar

December 9, 2025 at 4:08 AM IST

iStock.com

Import Visibility Needed to Complete India’s Edible Oils Data Reform

Monthly production reporting is useful, but without visibility on import contracts, policy timing will remain reactive rather than anticipatory.

G. Chandrashekhar

November 25, 2025 at 9:52 AM IST

Playing the Palm Oil Price Game

Palm oil’s brief premium over soft oils has faded as supply improves, demand eases and biodiesel economics weaken. With prices retreating and forecasts turning overheated, India faces a timely policy choice on duties and domestic growers’ interests.

G. Chandrashekhar

November 20, 2025 at 7:42 AM IST

iStock.com

Chronic Delays in Kharif Estimates Are Fuel for Market Volatility

Repeated delays in releasing Kharif production estimates are stoking needless speculation, weakening market confidence and undermining policy credibility.

G. Chandrashekhar

November 17, 2025 at 9:36 AM IST

iStock.com

Prune the List of Major Oilseeds and Sharpen Policy Focus

India needs a rethink on its oilseed strategy, with four of the nine “major” oilseeds no longer meriting MSP support. A sharper focus on crops like sunflower could cut import dependence and boost self-reliance.

G. Chandrashekhar

November 7, 2025 at 11:47 AM IST

Istock.com/bdspn

India’s Net Zero Dream Faces a Copper Reality Check

India’s green transition depends on resources it does not fully control. Unless we fix our copper deficit, the path to net zero may falter.

G. Chandrashekhar

November 4, 2025 at 8:02 AM IST

Istock/Phonlamaiphoto

Five Forces That Will Shape India’s Commodity-Driven Future

India’s economic rise will be powered by commodities, but five global forces will test how wisely it balances ambition, resilience and resource needs.

G. Chandrashekhar

October 31, 2025 at 6:15 AM IST

Arunvrparavur/Via WikiCommons

Regulate Bullion Trade for Transparency

The government should establish a robust mechanism to monitor the source of funds used in gold imports and implement end-to-end regulation of the bullion trade.

G. Chandrashekhar

October 27, 2025 at 4:38 AM IST

iStock.com/rvimages

India’s Growth Will Run on Commodities, But Are We Ready?

India’s next phase of growth will be fuelled by commodities like food, metals, energy, and fibre. But the question is whether we can scale up without exhausting resources.

G. Chandrashekhar

October 22, 2025 at 4:09 AM IST

iStock.com

Fixed Vegetable Oil Tariffs: A Recipe for Market Distortion

Locking vegetable oil tariffs for years would rob policymakers of flexibility, harm consumers and farmers, and chiefly benefit refiners.

G. Chandrashekhar

October 18, 2025 at 4:51 AM IST

iStocks/Kalinovskiy

Mission Pulses: Does It Pack The Protein Punch India Needs?

Rajesh Mahapatra

G. Chandrashekhar

October 16, 2025 at 4:15 PM IST

The Bureau

Bears Dominate Dalal Street, Equities Log Decline Led by Financials

Pakistan Bombs Afghan Cities, Minister Says it is ‘Open War’: Reports

Risk Appetite Wavers After Nvidia Slide and Iran Talks Stall

SEBI Overhauls Mutual Fund Categories, Ends Solution-Oriented Plans

Stablecoins Are Raising New Risks for Emerging Markets

FTA Revival and Uranium Deal Could Define Carney’s Visit: GTRI

US Slaps 126% Duty on Indian Solar Exports, Subsidised Parts From China Under Lens

Duvvuri Subbarao on India’s Growth, Inflation Targeting and Centre–State Faultlines

Learning to Shoot: I Tried to Fly Before I Could Walk