"Ever since he took office in 2014, India’s prime minister Narendra Modi has relentlessly pursued a protectionist agenda. His administration has repeatedly increased tariffs, licence requirements and other restrictions on importing a wide variety of goods to promote domestic manufacturing. He wishes to build an “Atmanirbhar Bharat” (self-reliant India), which essentially involves import substitution. One of his ministers even suggested that India “end imports” entirely, and maximize exports. This kind of economic nationalism, however, is self-defeating.
Consider Modi's mission of Digital India. Its aim is to transform India into a knowledge economy and "digitally empower" citizens. What has the government done to achieve this? It has made smartphones and computers more expensive with tariffs. Writing in the Indian newspaper Mint, Vivek Kaul explains that tariffs have made mobile phones more expensive over the years.
Similarly, the government recently increased tariffs on laptops, among many other things. In a country where 800 million people cannot afford smartphones and an even greater majority cannot afford a laptop, it is morally and economically unjustifiable to raise their price further. How will people be “digitally empowered” when such tariffs are imposed?"
Consider Modi's mission of Digital India. Its aim is to transform India into a knowledge economy and "digitally empower" citizens. What has the government done to achieve this? It has made smartphones and computers more expensive with tariffs. Writing in the Indian newspaper Mint, Vivek Kaul explains that tariffs have made mobile phones more expensive over the years.
Similarly, the government recently increased tariffs on laptops, among many other things. In a country where 800 million people cannot afford smartphones and an even greater majority cannot afford a laptop, it is morally and economically unjustifiable to raise their price further. How will people be “digitally empowered” when such tariffs are imposed?"