Satish Jha

𝑨𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒗𝒂𝒕𝒊 𝑸𝒖𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒖𝒎 𝑽𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒚 – 𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑰𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒂’𝒔 𝑸𝒖𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒖𝒎 𝑭𝒖𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 At Uddandarayunipalem, a transformative 𝟓𝟎-𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐞 technology ecosystem is taking shape positioning Amaravati at the forefront of next-generation innovation. Envisioned as a nucleus for advanced research, deep-tech collaboration and future-ready enterprises, Amaravati Quantum Valley will feature: 🔹 8 iconic Quantum Towers rising between 𝟐𝟗 𝐭𝐨 𝟒𝟖 𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐬 🔹 A dedicated Quantum Computing Centre designed as a G+1 innovation hub 🔹 A dynamic ecosystem enabling collaboration between research institutions, startups, industry leaders and global partners With foundation works progressing, Amaravati is moving beyond infrastructure building the foundations of India’s quantum-driven knowledge economy. The Quantum Valley is not just a project it is a decisive step toward strengthening India’s capabilities in quantum research, advanced computing and deep-tech excellence. #Amaravati | #QuantumValley | #Innovation | #DeepTech #EmergingTechnologies | #FutureReady | #DigitalIndia | #apcrda

27

#Oman & #India CEPA, let me save you 200+ pages of reading. Here’s the real takeaway. 📌 The Oman–India CEPA is a long-term strategic bet for Oman, and there are clear advantages worth highlighting upfront. 1️⃣ This is not a narrow tariff deal. CEPA is a deep agreement that reduces the cost of doing business, improves predictability, and provides a clearer, rules-based framework for trade, services, and investment. 2️⃣ CEPA locks in policy visibility. Much of what looks like “new openness,” especially in services, already exists in Oman’s investment regime. The agreement simply documents it clearly for foreign investors. That visibility matters for credibility, investor confidence, and long-term planning. 3️⃣ The agreement anchors Oman more firmly into India-linked value chains , one of the fastest-growing major economies globally. That optionality alone has strategic value, particularly as global trade fragments and companies look for stable, predictable hubs connecting Asia, the GCC, and Africa. So no, don’t be shocked by the 100% foreign ownership headlines. That’s largely how our system already works, not a sudden policy shift. 📌 That said, my focus is always on quality of growth, not headline numbers. Before moving into my concerns, let me be clear: #Omanization and labour laws remain fully intact. CEPA does not mandate labour inflows, and Oman retains full sovereign control over visas, quotas, and employment policy. But I still see two structural gaps: 1️⃣ No built-in link to training or knowledge transfer, as the agreement opens doors for capital and services, but it is not tied to skills development, workforce upgrading, or technology transfer. Those outcomes are left entirely to domestic policy, and to whether investors choose to deliver them. 2️⃣ Many of the sectors with full foreign ownership already rely heavily on expatriate labour, with no profit repatriation limits and a risk of crowding out SMEs. If ownership, management, labour, and profits all sit outside the domestic income loop, headline investment numbers may look strong, but net benefits to local firms, workers, and income circulation could remain limited. This is worth attention. But let’s be honest: these agreements facilitate opportunity, they don’t guarantee outcomes and CEPA is a framework, not a shortcut. So whether it delivers inclusive growth or capital-only growth now sits firmly in the hands of: - investors, - business owners, and - domestic policy execution.

228

15 Comments

"Electricity cost recovery and the political imagination: A comparison between private and public distribution in India's biggest cities" by Ajay Shah and Susan Thomas. The Leap Blog, today. India's electricity system is hobbled by inadequate cost recovery, often attributed to the political difficulty of making households pay. New research challenges this narrative by comparing household electricity expenditures in major cities: those with private distribution (Bombay, Delhi, Calcutta) versus public (Bangalore, Madras). Using CMIE CPHS data, the analysis reveals that private distribution achieves vastly superior payment collection. Even after controlling for household affluence, the difference is stark—the wealthiest quartile in public distribution cities pays a median of just Rs. 75 per month, compared to Rs. 1500 in private distribution cities. This suggests the persistence of subsidies and theft is less an intractable political problem and more a failure of political imagination, as several states demonstrate that urban households can, and do, pay for electricity. https://lnkd.in/dbKGQDq8

101

4 Comments

India stands at a rare economic inflection point. Global supply chains are being reconfigured, multinational corporations are seeking diversification beyond single-country dependence and domestic consumption within India continues to rise at scale. This creates a historic opportunity for Indian manufacturers — particularly SMEs — to evolve from local suppliers into globally relevant industrial enterprises. However, ambition alone cannot build manufacturing leadership...Industrial growth requires capital that is patient, growth-oriented and aligned with long-term expansion. Public markets can fundamentally change this trajectory and this is where SME-IPOs become strategically important. Visit https://valueaxis.in to scale up your SME business.

7

Abhijeet Sinha’s elevation to Principal Advisor at SEPC represents an important strategic inflection for India’s service export sector. His experience in deploying blended finance instruments, digital tools, and PPP models offers pathways to unlock investment, elevate service-trade competitiveness, and strengthen India’s positioning in global markets. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/dGBB97Hd Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India Ministry of Power Govt of India Indian Ministry of Finance Abhijeet Sinha NHEV - National Highways for EV #ClimateFinance #ServicesExport #India #SEPC #ServicesExport #NHEV

28

PRESS RELEASE IIT Alumni Council Calls for Industry Collaboration to Manufacture Advanced Sustainable Materials at Global Scale • Elements like Lithium, Indium, Molybdenum, Cobalt etc occupy a unique position in the periodic table making them suited to certain applications. • However, many of these materials may not be earth abundant or indigenously available. Batteries or solar cells require cost effective materials in large quantities. • By drawing on data and expertise from the semiconductor industry, it is possible to replicate the functionality of scarce or expensive materials using coal, silicon or iron type abundant materials.

32

1 Comment

The financial world is witnessing a silent revolution called Tokenization. By enabling participatory capitalism, it promises to unlock the hidden value of India's stagnant assets. Read my full analysis in national edition of Dainik Jagran (22/01/26). #Tokenization #DigitalAssets #Blockchain #AssetTokenization #DigitalEconomy

21

India's overseas private sector investment in infrastructure projects in the Global South is substantial and "an important part of India’s expanding global strategic footprint". Excellent analysis by Archana Girish Kamath highlighting this trend and its implications.

19

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐖𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧, 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 - 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐲 Good research is not about collecting facts. 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 , about seeing how semiconductor policy links to employment in rural Gujarat, or how digital payments change a shopkeeper’s credit behaviour in Mehsana. 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐛𝐢𝐠 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐚, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬 𝐨𝐛𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐝𝐚𝐲. People often assume research in government happens through formal reports or thick policy notes. But on most days, it starts much simpler with observation, curiosity, and a willingness to keep learning. 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐨𝐭𝐬. Every morning, I read. Sometimes it’s an RBI bulletin, a GSRTC data dashboard, or a MoRTH logistics update. Other times, it’s a farmer’s feedback on solar charging stations or a startup founder’s note on digital lending. 𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐬, you begin to notice what the numbers don’t show - how a small decision on AI adoption, skill development, or road infrastructure can quietly shift lives at scale. We are not chasing information; we are connecting signals. When you see UPI transactions crossing 84% of all digital payments, or EV bus operations improving efficiency by 22%, or a rural startup building AI-led dairy solutions in Anand, these are not isolated events they’re clues to where the next leap will come from. Inside my team, it’s never one-way communication. An engineer studying predictive maintenance at GSRTC, a policy analyst reading the IndiaAI framework, and a district officer mapping PM Gati Shakti corridors all share their dots of knowledge. What makes the difference is how we connect them into direction. So when people ask, “How do you research these stories of transformation?” 𝐈 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐰𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬. 𝐖𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦. #research #dataanalytics #data #pattern #transformation #prediction #datacollection #reports #observation #fieldvisit

47

2 Comments

A late repost of my first article of 2026, evaluating the possibility of overcoming leadership and implementation deadlocks through sub-regional blocs such as the BIMSTEC bloc.

7

India’s development story is as much about crossing chasms as it is about building bridges. Abhijit Banerjee, Nobel laureate, in today’s TOI Innovision section, offers a brilliant, research-backed perspective on India’s challenges. A few striking takeaways: Surveys miss the top 1% — Banerjee points out that surveyors can’t access gated communities; even if they do, they’re politely asked to leave. This means the richest voices the very segment that forms Newspapers core readership are often invisible in data. Reading a physical product and engaging in physical activity is the new age luxury Exclusions define our development — Between the rich and everyone else, Tier 1/2 cities and the rest, those with air purifiers and those without clean water. His words underline how education including reading newspapers enables select individuals to cross these divides. A sobering statistic — Less than 0.3% of 220 million government job applicants (2014–24) actually secured a job. For most, applying was only a way to postpone the moment of accepting reality. Tier 3 and 4 India is both a challenge and an entrepreneurial opportunity. Banerjee’s piece is a must-read for anyone reflecting on India’s growth journey. #IndiaGrowth #Development #Education #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #Research #Policy #SocialChange #Newspapers @The Times of India @Abhijit Banerjee

87

4 Comments

Always encouraging to see more editorial space opening up for slower, pattern-led readings of the Indian power sector. Our latest opinion piece is now live with Enersider Markets Media. It's heartening to see such serious publications from the sector trusting our perspectives. When such platforms engage with deeper regulatory interpretation, it reflects a shift in the wider conversation. The column views the recent buyout price decision under the RCO framework through that longer arc. It goes beyond a pricing update. Regulatory trajectories are becoming easier to trace. Stakeholder consultation is leaving a clearer imprint on final outcomes. → Link to read the full article is in the comments. Are we beginning to pay closer attention to regulatory direction, not just regulatory events? Nishant Saxena | Comm'fident

16

1 Comment

India heads to COP30 in Belem with both leverage and responsibility. The new “Baku to Belem Roadmap” targets $1.3 trillion in annual climate finance by 2035, but major questions remain — who pays, how much is grant-based, and how fair will the flow be? India’s expanding renewable capacity, green bonds, and leadership in ISA and CDRI give it credibility to push for justice and transparency. COP30 could be the moment when India’s climate diplomacy transforms from moral voice to strategic leadership. https://lnkd.in/gKaqS86i #COP30 #ClimateFinance #India #Sustainability #PolicyCircle

6

On the sidelines of the #IndiaAIImpactSummit 2026 in New Delhi, Tino Cuéllar, President, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, spoke with Swasti Rao from ThePrint. The conversation covered AI’s global impact, India–U.S. ties, China, and the evolving geopolitical landscape. https://lnkd.in/gRHnvFk3

12

Now available: Indo-US Tribune, Vol. 2, Issue 30 Delve into how India and the U.S. are strengthening global alliances through strategic diplomacy, tech leadership, and economic cooperation. This issue covers: Key developments in U.S.–India relations Trade and innovation updates Expert insights on geopolitical shifts 🔗 Read the full issue: https://indoustribune.com/ #IndiaUSRelations #GlobalStrategy #TechAndTrade #StrategicAllies #IndoUSTribune #Geopolitics #ModiInUS #ForeignAffairs #Innovation #India #Pakistan

1

🔹 Navigating the Indo-Pacific: India’s Vision and Strategic Outlook Ahead 🗓️ Delivered at CLAWS–SIS,JNU | 📍 9 July 2025 As global power dynamics pivot toward the Indo-Pacific, India’s strategic centrality in this vast and vibrant region has never been clearer. In my keynote at the Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS)—co-hosted with School of International Studies (SIS-JNU)—I outlined how India approaches the Indo-Pacific not as a battleground of blocs, but as a canvas of cooperation, connectivity, and collective security. 🌏 A decade ago, the “Asia-Pacific” construct dominated regional discourse. Today, Indo-Pacific reflects a reality where maritime trade routes, digital infrastructure, and climate vulnerabilities converge. India, once peripheral in this vision, is now pivotal. 🔺 Our Indo-Pacific vision rests on three interlinked pillars: Principled Realism – A commitment to a free, open, inclusive and rules-based order, with strategic autonomy at its core. Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) – A modular platform for multilateralism across ecology, disaster management, and beyond. SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) – A doctrine of regional solidarity, operationalised through radar grids, HADR, and defence partnerships. 🤝 India chooses partnerships over polarisation—from the Quad and ASEAN Outlook, to emerging formats like I2U2, the EU Indo-Pacific strategy, and the Colombo Security Conclave. ⚠️ Yet, we must also acknowledge the paradox of “competitive cooperation”: While the region faces fault lines— **Taiwan Strait tensions, cyber threats, **institutional inertia—competition can also drive public goods. Just as Cold War rivalry gave us satellite navigation, today’s Indo-Pacific contestations could yield: **New standards for governance **Greater bargaining space for small states **Safer seas via protocols like CUES 🛤️ Looking ahead, India’s five strategic action tracks: **Secure the Commons – From Indian Ocean surveillance to seamless Indo-Pacific MDA **Digital Norms – From DPI sandboxes to a regional digital charter **Resilient Supply Chains – From early warning networks to a logistics grid **Climate Security – From joint coastal adaptation to a Blue Resilience Fund **People-to-People Ties – From student mobility to a Knowledge Commons 🔚 Conclusion The Indo-Pacific is no longer a hyphen between continents—it is the hinge of the 21st century. India’s role is not just to navigate it, but to help shape its arc—through credible partnerships, grounded principles, and agile diplomacy. Let us move beyond metaphors, and into meaningful cooperation. #IndoPacific #Geopolitics #IndiaForeignPolicy #SAGAR #IPOI #Quad #DigitalDiplomacy #BlueEconomy #CLAWSSISDialogue #StrategicOutlook #RISIndia Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) Ministry of Foreign Affairs Kumaran Periasamy Sujeet Samaddar Amar Sinha

49

1 Comment

Ministry of cooperatives completes 4 years on 5th July, 2025. India commemorates the International Day of cooperatives reinforcing country's resolve to community-led sustainable economic growth. My article with Kamal Tiwary, Joint Secretary of EAC-PM on 'How Cooperatives can boost MSME potential" published in Business Line today.

134

8 Comments

Extending the carbon credit trading scheme (CCTS) to the power sector can be problematic as the jurisdiction of two regulatory bodies seem to overlap, namely, the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) and the electricity regulatory commissions. The power sector is a big ticket item as 40% of India's GHG emissions emanates from here. Perhaps, it is not without reason that the power sector has been left outside the fold of CCTS, at least for the time being. This piece has been co-authored with Diya Dasgupta, fellow, ICRIER.

111

3 Comments