25 February 2026

Hope and Disappointment in India

KAUSHIK BASU

India’s promise is undeniable, yet political dysfunction and empty rhetoric continue to undermine its long-term prospects. The absence of reliable statistics, lagging innovation, and worsening air quality all point to institutional decay that only sustained, coordinated national action can reverse.

Last month, I traveled across India, listening, observing, and taking stock. While the journey was energizing and often inspiring, it left me with an open question: Where is the world’s most populous country headed?

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