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Sharmila Kantha
Sharmila Kantha is an industrial policy specialist with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). Associated with Indian industry for over twenty years, she has worked extensively on issues relating to economic policy and India’s international economic engagement. She is the author of three books on Indian business history and her articles have been published on several websites.
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Is the structure of Indian manufacturing geared towards job creation?
Government of India has envisaged adding 100 million jobs in manufacturing by 2022. This column finds that the structure of the country’s manufacturing sector is misaligned with the objective of job creation. Subsectors that have low potential to generate jobs dominate the manufacturing profile. To generate jobs, more employment-intensive subsectors should be promoted.
What does China’s ‘new normal’ mean for India?
China’s new normal – a growth rate of at least 6.5% - has been set as a target in its 13th Five Year Plan. In this article, Sharmila Kantha, Principal Consultant, Confederation of Indian Industry, contends that the potential implications of the Chinese deceleration for the Indian economy need to be analysed in detail.
Draft social security code: Will it help informal workers?
Labour law reform is considered as a key requirement for creation of new jobs as well as greater formalisation of existing jobs in India. In March this year, the Ministry of Labour and Employment brought out the draft social security code to amalgamate several Central labour laws and extend employment security to all workers. In this article, Sharmila Kantha discusses the positive features and practical aspects of the legislation.
Trends in India’s regional export diversification
The recent disruptions in global trade point to the emergence of a ‘new normal’, where flows of goods are vulnerable to factors such as conflicts, uncertain tariffs, and export restrictions. In this post, Sharmila Kantha examines the trends in India’s exports between 2017 and 2024 and deliberates on how the country can respond to this new normal through regional diversification in terms of its export markets.
India’s new FTAs: Strategic shift to developed economies
The recently concluded India-UK Free Trade Agreement is a part of a wider shift in India’s global economic strategy, which has involved a renewed focus on FTAs with developed countries. In this post, Sharmila Kantha contends that, in a changing global trade regime, India must tread with care to balance the markets to its West and East and align its geopolitical and geo-economic objectives
भारत के तेल निर्यात में बदलते रुझान और पैटर्न के निहितार्थ
शर्मिला कांता इस बात की चर्चा करती हैं कि भारत के तेल और गैस उत्पादन में गिरावट की प्रवृत्ति और वैश्विक माँग में उतार-चढ़ाव को देखते हुए, विशेष रूप से भारत के निर्यात में पेट्रोलियम उत्पादों की उच्च हिस्सेदारी चिंता का विषय क्यों है। वह भारत के तेल निर्यात और आयात की मात्रा और मूल्य के कुछ रुझान साझा करती हैं, साथ ही उन प्रमुख देशों के आँकड़े भी दर्शाती हैं जिनके साथ भारत व्यापार करता है। वह उत्पादन बढ़ाने और भारत के तेल निर्यात की स्थिरता सुनिश्चित करने हेतु कुछ नीतिगत सुझावों के साथ निष्कर्ष प्रस्तुत करती हैं।
Implications of shifting trends and patterns in India’s oil exports
Sharmila Kantha outlines why the high share of petroleum products in India's exports is a concern – particularly considering the declining trend in India's oil and gas production and fluctuating global demand. She shares some trends in the volume and value of India's oil exports and imports, as well as statistics on the key countries with which it trades. She concludes with some policy suggestions to increase production and ensure the stability of India's oil exports.
Global supply chain disruptions: Causes and the way ahead
The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has been disastrous for the global supply chains, with persistent effects since early 2020, and knock-on effects now gaining intensity. In this post, Sharmila Kantha discusses the factors responsible for supply chain disruptions, the global impact of the crisis, and the ways in which India – and the world – and private businesses can navigate the situation to build long-term resilience against similar crises.
Tapping export destinations for growth
TThe trade environment today is becoming increasingly murky and stormy, despite a strengthening global economy. India’s position – never very remarkable – is being further battered, and its embattled manufacturers and exporters face a risky external marketplace. Against this backdrop, Sharmila Kantha assesses which markets India should tap to intensively promote its exports in a targeted manner.
Mega-trading blocs: Where does India stand?
Emerging multilateral trading agreements, resulting in mega-trading blocs, seem to be replacing global negotiations through the WTO. In this article, Sharmila Kantha assesses the potential impact of these trading agreements on India, and contends that Indian policymakers and businesses would need to factor them into their future plans.