Summary of Important News Items and Editorials-107
Summary of Important News Items and Editorials-107
THE HINDU DATED 17TH FABRUARY 2026.
1) Trade deals “from a position of strength”: PM’s pitch to private sector
The Hindu reports Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s argument that India’s recent spree of trade agreements is being pursued “from a position of strength,” and that businesses must step up to seize the policy opening. The event is his interview framing trade pacts as market-access multipliers for MSMEs and key sectors, not as surrender to global competition. The logic is that India can now bargain better because macro stability, infrastructure push, and political continuity improve investor confidence and negotiating leverage. The stand is pro-reform and pro-integration, stressing standards, certification, and competitiveness to convert access into exports. The gist is that the government wants industry to treat FTAs as an opportunity for scale and value-add, while also accepting that deeper integration will force productivity upgrades.
Sign up free to read the full article
Access all current affairs, state notes, subject notes and more — completely free.