Indian cities need $2.4 trillion for climate infrastructure by 2050: World Bank (Financial Express)
India needs over $2.4 trillion in investments by 2050 to build resilient, low-carbon urban infrastructure, as cities brace for a near doubling of their population to 951 million, according to the World Bank. Without timely adaptation, India could face annual flood losses of $5 billion by 2030 and $30 billion by 2070, while proactive measures could save over 130,000 lives from extreme heat by mid-century. With 70% of new jobs expected to come from cities by 2030, the report urges immediate investment in green housing, flood-resilient transport, stormwater regulation, and heat-mitigation infrastructure to secure sustainable urban growth.
‘We’ll crush your economy’: US Senator issues stark warning to India, others over Russian oil imports (Financial Express)
US Senator Lindsey Graham has warned that Donald Trump, if re-elected, will impose 100% tariffs on countries like India, China, and Brazil for continuing to buy Russian oil — a move that could severely impact India’s economy and energy security, given Russia now supplies 35% of India’s total oil imports, up from just 2% in 2022. India has firmly pushed back, with officials reaffirming that energy security remains a top national priority, stressing that the country will source oil “from wherever necessary,” regardless of potential sanctions. Experts note that if Russian crude becomes inaccessible, India could shift to costlier alternatives like WTI or Middle Eastern supplies — a shift that would raise the import bill and strain the economy without the cushion of discounted barrels.
Plan to revive Digital Competition Bill causes alarm (Financial Express)
India’s revived push for the Digital Competition Bill (DCB) could strain ongoing trade negotiations with the US, as it mirrors the EU’s Digital Markets Act — a law the US strongly opposes for allegedly targeting American tech giants. According to think tank Esya Centre, the bill could lead to a 1% drop in GDP—equivalent to 1.08 times India’s defence spending—and cause a 1.25% fall in employment, potentially affecting 7.3 million jobs, especially hitting MSMEs and digital advertisers. While the government stresses the need for caution and evidence-based market studies before implementing ex-ante regulations, concerns remain that hasty regulation may harm India’s digital economy and its global trade posture.
