Modi's narrow domestic focus is killing Indians' economic freedom

Citizens should be able to decide where to invest their money and where to go for vacations

Ritesh Kumar Singh

April 15, 2025 17:18 JST

The Modi government should focus on addressing common irritants faced by all businesses, such as difficulties in contract enforcement or suffocating compliance burden that discourages entrepreneurship. © Reuters

Ritesh Kumar Singh is founder and chief executive of policy research at Indonomics Consulting in New Delhi.

In reversing the reforms of 1991, which helped India become an economic powerhouse, the Modi government has slowly and steadily brought back the "license, permit, and quota raj" -- leading to a shrinking of economic and financial freedom for both Indian businesses and consumers.