India will focus on policy agility, long-term vision: FM Sitharaman

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday said India will focus on policy agility and long-term vision to navigate the global challenges amid ongoing trade recalibrations worldwide. The intensification of tariff wars and the rise of protectionist policies have the potential to disrupt global supply chains, increase production costs and create uncertainty in investment decisions across borders, she said while speaking at an event to mark stock bourse BSE's 150th anniversary in Mumbai. "India is confident...we will navigate these global disruptions with policy agility and long-term vision.The world is volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous, she said, pointing out that India stands firm in this environment with its strong macroeconomic fundamentals. The country offers investors policy stability, growth, prudent macroeconomic policies and democratic institutions, she noted. "The most effective path" for building economic resilience is to foster domestic efficiencies and competitiveness, Sitharaman said. The finance minister appreciates how the retail investors have placed their faith in the markets today, and the role played by women and youth in particular, but warned that any small omission or commission will shatter this newfound faith in the markets.

Over the years, the number of companies with a market capitalisation of over Rs 1 lakh crore has increased steadily, rising from 1 in the year 2000 to 30 just before the pandemic, and then rising sharply to 81 today.

There are at least 55 companies today with over a million… pic.twitter.com/aaeTcLiVcW

— Nirmala Sitharaman Office (@nsitharamanoffc) April 17, 2025

The BSE's 30-share benchmark Sensex is the sensitive pulse of the Indian economy and the bourse mirrors the growth potential of the Indian economy, Sitharaman noted.

(Business Correspondent)