Raj Center

Deepak and Neera Raj Center on Indian Economic Policy | SIPA | Columbia

[Yoshita Singh योषिता सिंह @Yoshita_Singh]

India's economic growth, our own journey is not just for our own first principles of economic growth but also a huge opportunity for our international partners: @IndianEmbassyUS @AmbVMKwatra @Columbia @raj_center
I report @PTI_News
https://t.co/6h1hrCUQBQ @APanagariya

[India in New York @IndiainNewYork]

Ambassador H.E. Vinay Kwatra (@AmbVMKwatra) delivered the Special Address at the Columbia India Economy Summit 2026 at @Columbia University, organized by The @raj_center on Indian Economic Policies; he highlighted India’s governance reforms over the past decade that have strengthened transparency, ease of doing business & digital public infrastructure; he also emphasized on growing India–U.S. cooperation across sectors; Ambassador appreciated Prof. Arvind Panagariya’s @APanagariya leadership in convening a thoughtful and impactful Summit.

@MEAIndia @IndianEmbassyUS @IndianDiplomacy @binaysrikant76

[Raj Center @raj_center]

Join us live for tomorrow's "Columbia Indian Economy Summit: The Quest for a Developed India"

Click here to join: https://t.co/oh9f3DUtOm

[Arvind Panagariya @APanagariya]

India’s stellar growth continues to embarrass and surprise forecasters; UP emerges as the new star state; and suggestions for reforms by the center and states.

[Raj Center @raj_center]

Register now for our upcoming conference on Saturday, April 11th. "Columbia Indian Economy Summit 2026: The Quest for a Developed India."

Click here to register: https://t.co/T6A9V1BGOb
Seating is limited. Breakfast, lunch, and reception included with ticket.

[Ruchir Agarwal 🌍 @RuchirAgar]

What prompted me to write about the “obesity economy” in India?

In part, this chart from The Lancet (Caleyachetty et al., 2021) — which truly shocked me.

It shows that South Asians face the same diabetes risk at a BMI of around 24 that Europeans do at 30.

For example, if you are 5’8” and 70 kg, you may carry the same risk as a white person weighing about 90 kg.

I have sadly seen this up close in my own family — people who looked 'healthy' but were already at risk.

It’s why India — and many other countries — need health benchmarks built on their own biology, not on generic “global” norms.

Source: https://t.co/Gv1YfLf9Kt

[Raj Center @raj_center]

Check out this recent op-ed in Mint on India’s growing “obesity economy” by our Director @RuchirAgar and India’s Chief Economic Advisor, Anantha Nageswaran — exploring how India overcame hunger, but now faces a new health and economic challenge.

[Ruchir Agarwal 🌍 @RuchirAgar]

India has largely overcome chronic hunger. Now we must confront obesity.

In @livemint (with Anantha Nageswaran):

•⁠ ⁠India has made extraordinary progress against hunger — poverty fell from ~50% in the 2000s to <5% today.
•⁠ ⁠But economic progress has changed the nature of India’s health challenges — from scarcity to excess.
•⁠ ⁠At BMI ~24, Indians face the same health risks Europeans do at 30 — meaning nearly 30% already face obesity-level risks.
•⁠ ⁠This isn’t cosmetic — it’s macroeconomic: >50% of young urban Indians may develop diabetes; heart disease causes 1 in 4 premature deaths; obesity may already cost emerging economies ~2% of GDP.
•⁠ ⁠Our policies beat famine — but haven’t adapted to abundance: cheap calories, less movement, relentless marketing.
•⁠ ⁠India now faces a twin burden: undernutrition and obesity, often within the same communities.
•⁠ ⁠Way forward: adopt a realistic BMI (~24), sustain GST 2.0 health taxes on sugary drinks, improve food labels, encourage healthier diets, promote daily activity, and design cities for movement.
•⁠ ⁠We ended scarcity — now we must ensure abundance brings health, not disease.

Read the full column 👉 https://t.co/UTTxK8wp0p

[Ruchir Agarwal 🌍 @RuchirAgar]

India has largely overcome chronic hunger. Now we must confront obesity.

In @livemint (with Anantha Nageswaran):

•⁠ ⁠India has made extraordinary progress against hunger — poverty fell from ~50% in the 2000s to <5% today.
•⁠ ⁠But economic progress has changed the nature of India’s health challenges — from scarcity to excess.
•⁠ ⁠At BMI ~24, Indians face the same health risks Europeans do at 30 — meaning nearly 30% already face obesity-level risks.
•⁠ ⁠This isn’t cosmetic — it’s macroeconomic: >50% of young urban Indians may develop diabetes; heart disease causes 1 in 4 premature deaths; obesity may already cost emerging economies ~2% of GDP.
•⁠ ⁠Our policies beat famine — but haven’t adapted to abundance: cheap calories, less movement, relentless marketing.
•⁠ ⁠India now faces a twin burden: undernutrition and obesity, often within the same communities.
•⁠ ⁠Way forward: adopt a realistic BMI (~24), sustain GST 2.0 health taxes on sugary drinks, improve food labels, encourage healthier diets, promote daily activity, and design cities for movement.
•⁠ ⁠We ended scarcity — now we must ensure abundance brings health, not disease.

Read the full column 👉 https://t.co/UTTxK8wp0p

[Arvind Panagariya @APanagariya]

Best Diwali wishes to all including families for a healthy, prosperous and happy year ahead.

[Raj Center @raj_center]

Register now for our upcoming book talk and reception on Tuesday, October 14th. Join us for a discussion on "Accelerating India's Development: A State-Led Roadmap for Effective Governance" with author @karthik_econ

Register here - https://t.co/zjeTYRajRe
Purchase the book here - https://t.co/A7j9b6esTy

[Raj Center @raj_center]

Honored to have hosted India's Ambassador to the U.S., @AmbVMKwatra this afternoon for a fireside chat with @RuchirAgar titled,"India's Role in the Changing World Order"

[Raj Center @raj_center]

Register now for our upcoming event: India's Role in the Changing World Order

India's Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Kwatra, joins us on September 20th for a fireside chat with the Raj Center's Director, @RuchirAgar

Seating is limited. Click here to register- https://t.co/4lAkUhgHgj

[Ruchir Agarwal 🌍 @RuchirAgar]

”There is genuine risk here, and the RBI is right to be vigilant… But I wish supervisors would bring macroeconomics and economic growth more directly into their decisions. Financing is central to India’s growth story, and we underappreciate that.” - Agarwal

I spoke with @kimber_long at The Banker/FT on India’s macrofinance challenge: curbing financial stability risks while powering India’s growth. Read more below.

[Raj Center @raj_center]

Join us at the Indian Consulate in New York this upcoming Monday, July 21st at 5:00pm ET for "Developed India @ 2047" - Click here to register: https://t.co/Q9nyBBLqQE

[Raj Center @raj_center]

JOIN US LIVE tomorrow for our upcoming summit: https://t.co/u02mDv8zjb

[Raj Center @raj_center]

Registration for the upcoming Summit ends tomorrow. https://t.co/eNtmYKKAFr

*Registration is required to enter campus and access the event for security purposes.

Full schedule below. Breakfast, lunch &amp; reception are included with registration.

[Raj Center @raj_center]

Registration is now LIVE for this Spring's Columbia India Summit. Join us on April 19th @ColumbiaSIPA's Kellogg Center. Seating is limited. Tickets are available here - https://t.co/eNtmYKL8uZ

[Raj Center @raj_center]

Registration is now LIVE for this Spring's Columbia India Summit. Join us on April 19th @ColumbiaSIPA's Kellogg Center. Seating is limited. Tickets are available here - https://t.co/eNtmYKL8uZ

[Raj Center @raj_center]

A well-crafted US-India trade deal could unlock lasting growth for both nations. New piece by Raj Center economists @RuchirAgar and @krishna_pravin. @EconomicTimes - https://t.co/IlYKAn7Se7

[Arvind Panagariya @APanagariya]

Rockstar Bono learns the magic of markets. “I thought that if we just redistributed resources, then we could solve every problem. I now know … The off-ramp out of extreme poverty is, ugh, commerce, it’s entrepreneurial capitalism.” https://t.co/SHuWmxobVY

[Raj Center @raj_center]

Thanks to India’s Finance Minister Hon’ble @nsitharaman, The Nehru Development Model by Professor @apanagariya has now entered the parliamentary record of India. Listen to what she said in the clip below, quoting from the book: https://t.co/2UseUI6QmS
@nsitharamanoffc