India

Livemint | English | News | Jan. 23, 2026 | UndeterminedPolitics and Elections

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will be the Chief Guest for India's 77th Republic Day, visiting India from January 25 to 27, 2026. Alongside António Luís Santos da Costa, President of the European Council, she will co-chair the 16th India-EU summit. On January 27, von der Leyen will hold restricted talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi focusing on a long-anticipated Free Trade Agreement (FTA), and both will meet President Droupadi Murmu. The India-EU FTA negotiations aim to enhance trade despite recent global tariff challenges, with hopes of signing the agreement soon. The EU is currently India's largest trading partner.

Ursula von der Leyen, a German politician and doctor, assumed office as European Commission President in 2019 and was re-elected in July 2024. She previously served 14 years in the German government, including as Federal Minister for Defence under Angela Merkel. A member of the centre-right Christian Democratic Union, she was born in Brussels and grew up bilingual. Her family background includes a father who was a CEO and state politician in Germany. She married Heiko von der Leyen in 1986.

Speaking at the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos, von der Leyen described the upcoming India-EU trade agreement as “the mother of all deals,” potentially creating a market of 2 billion people and accounting for nearly a quarter of the global GDP. The FTA negotiations, which had been stalled since 2013, are expected to significantly deepen economic ties between India and the 27-nation European Union.

The Hindu | English | News | Jan. 23, 2026 | UndeterminedEconomic Growth

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated at the World Economic Forum in Davos on January 21, 2026, that India is set to become the world's third-largest economy in the coming years. Economist Gita Gopinath supported this projection, suggesting the milestone could be reached by 2028 or earlier. Vaishnaw highlighted four pillars driving India’s growth: public investment in physical, digital, and social infrastructure; inclusive societal growth; manufacturing and innovation; and simplification measures. He forecasted India’s growth rate at 6-8% with moderate inflation over the next five years, underpinned by strong technology platforms and inclusive policies that have lifted 250 million people out of poverty.

Both Vaishnaw and Gopinath expressed concern over the potential global impact of high debt levels in wealthy nations, particularly referencing Japan’s recent bond market turmoil. Despite such external risks, they remain confident in India's trajectory toward economic prominence. Gopinath emphasized that the main challenge lies in raising India’s per capita income and achieving long-term development goals by 2047, which will require continued reforms in land acquisition, judicial processes, labor market flexibility, and skill development.

Industrialist Sunil Bharti Mittal echoed the optimistic outlook, noting the importance of a stable and supportive business environment and the growing domestic market. He acknowledged the challenge posed by heightened global competition and the lack of a large foreign market similar to the US for China, stressing the need for India to forge new trade agreements, including with the EU and potentially the US.

Vaishnaw also addressed concerns regarding high US tariffs, emphasizing India’s economic resilience and success in diversifying export markets. He noted India has become an important value chain partner globally, enabling export growth despite protectionist measures elsewhere. Gopinath highlighted pollution as a significant economic and health challenge requiring urgent attention as part of India's developmental agenda.

The Economic Times | English | News | Jan. 23, 2026 | UndeterminedPolitics and Elections

Bangladesh has officially launched campaigns for its general elections scheduled for February 12, 2026, marking the first polls since the 2024 uprising that ended Sheikh Hasina's autocratic rule. The elections will select 350 lawmakers, signaling a shift in domestic and regional political dynamics following a period of turmoil that included violence and widespread online disinformation warnings.

The main contenders, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami party, have commenced large-scale rallies. BNP leader Tarique Rahman, returning from exile in December 2025, has begun a nationwide campaign starting in Sylhet, a city significant for its Sufi Muslim heritage. Jamaat-e-Islami initiated its campaign in Dhaka, seeking to re-enter politics after years of suppression, aligned with the Muslim Brotherhood ideology. The National Citizen Party (NCP), formed by leaders of the anti-Hasina uprising and allied with Jamaat, also launched its campaign in Dhaka.

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, who was appointed caretaker prime adviser during the transitional government, will step down after the elections. Yunus, having inherited a fractured political system, is advocating for a referendum on political reforms concurrent with the polls to strengthen governance and prevent authoritarianism. He has also raised concerns about misinformation flooding social media, blaming both foreign and local sources.

Relations with India remain strained after Hasina fled there during the uprising and was subsequently sentenced to death in absentia for crimes against humanity related to the crackdown on protesters. Hasina, now 78, remains in hiding in India as Bangladesh prepares for its pivotal 2026 elections.