Based on all the headlines across Economic, Security, Environmental, and Governance domains, here are the three most significant, interconnected policy priorities facing the Indian government:
🎯 Top 3 Policy Priorities for the Indian Government
The recent national headlines highlight that India’s policy focus is divided between (1) navigating complex global economic headwinds, (2) addressing severe domestic social and environmental deficits, and (3) strategically modernizing its digital and defence infrastructure.
Priority 1: Securing Growth and Strategic Autonomy amid Global Fragmentation
The primary economic challenge is maintaining a high growth trajectory (IMF forecasts India’s growth at 6.6% in 2025) while managing significant international pressures that threaten its trade and energy security.
- Trade Headwinds: The trade deficit widened by 93% in September, and Indian exporters face the highest CBAM levy (estimated at €301 million) from the EU, demanding a rapid shift to cleaner production processes.
- Energy Security Challenge: The US sanctions on Russian oil majors force Indian refiners to find new suppliers, complicating India’s ability to manage its rising reliance on imported crude oil.
- Strategic Response: This pressure mandates a push for clean energy ambitions and strategic diversification of defense and economic partnerships, such as the strategic elevation of ties with Mongolia.
Priority 2: Closing the Social & Environmental Implementation Gap
There is a clear divide between announced policies and their effective implementation, particularly in environmental protection, social welfare, and judicial efficiency.
- Environmental Crisis: Despite the severe threat of air pollution, the Supreme Court had to rap States for no action on its order on stray dogs and also for laxity in framing hospital norms, underscoring an executive implementation deficit.
- Social Security and Welfare: While PF reforms are enabling social security for gig and unorganised workers, issues like judicial backlog (SC flagged execution petitions) and the need to restore the livelihood and dignity of forest communities under the 2006 Act remain major domestic tasks.
- Democracy and Governance: The urgency of administrative exercises like the pre-test for the Census and the launch of SIR 2.0 to cover 51 crore voters show the scale of basic governance challenges.
Priority 3: Battling Modern Digital & Cyber Threats
Rapid digitization has introduced new, large-scale threats to both national security and individual citizens that require immediate policy intervention.
- Cybercrime and Judicial Trust: The rise of the ‘digital arrest’ scam has forced the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognizance, highlighting a sophisticated cyber threat that damages public trust in institutions.
- Synthetic Media and Elections: The EC warns parties against misuse of AI-generated content during elections, recognizing the growing menace of deepfakes as a threat to democratic integrity.
- Modernization of Defence: India is making massive investments in indigenous defence acquisition (₹79,000 crore) and the space sector (90% of Gaganyaan development work done), demonstrating a strategic intent to secure its digital and physical borders.
