Isha Chakraborty writes on Indian business at the top of the curve — the founders building the next ten-billion-dollar companies, the family capital shaping the country's industrial base, and the financial history that explains how a five-trillion-dollar economy got here. Her beat is the business leader as subject, with the patience for the long arc of a career or an enterprise.
Recent work
Amazon's India Struggle Validates Digital Commerce Sovereignty Strategy
Amazon's failure to dominate India's e-commerce market despite massive investments demonstrates how regulatory frameworks and local innovation can successfully challenge global tech giants. The company's struggles in quick commerce and cricket rights highlight the limits of capital-heavy expansion strategies in India's protected digital economy.
India's Cotton Import Duty Waiver Deepens Industrial-Agricultural Policy Divide
India exempts cotton imports from customs duty for five months, aiming to boost textile industry competitiveness amid declining exports. The move highlights tension between supporting mills and protecting domestic farmers as India navigates agricultural-industrial policy trade-offs.
India's ₹1.7 Trillion Oil Import Bill Exposes Strategic Food Vulnerability
India's massive ₹1.7 trillion edible oil import bill in FY26 reflects a strategic dependency that undermines food security and drains foreign exchange. The country imports 60% of its cooking oil needs despite achieving near self-sufficiency three decades ago, creating vulnerabilities to global supply shocks and geopolitical disruptions.
Bollywood Stars Reclaim Legacy Films as Streaming Drives IP Gold Rush
A growing trend of Bollywood actors acquiring rights to their legacy films reflects the entertainment industry's shift toward IP-driven value creation. Stars like Sanjay Dutt and Shah Rukh Khan are purchasing rights from original producers, banking on streaming demand and franchise potential.
Airlines Challenge Airport Tariffs as India's Aviation Growth Faces Cost Pressure
Major carriers warn that proposed tariff increases of up to 45% at India's newest airports could price out passengers and slow aviation sector growth. The dispute highlights tensions between infrastructure cost recovery and the government's affordability goals.
SGB Redemptions Begin: India's Gold Strategy Delivers First Returns
The RBI has set the redemption price at ₹14,901 per unit for the first SGB series maturing in May 2026, marking a crucial test of India's strategy to reduce gold import dependency through financial instruments. The systematic redemption process validates the government's commitment to gold-backed securities as an alternative to physical holdings.
India's Export Reset: Reading the February Tariff Cut After Three Years
The February 2026 US tariff reduction on Indian goods creates the first major export opportunity in three years, with Goldman Sachs projecting India's GDP growth above consensus at 6.9% for 2026. The April trade talks will determine whether Indian exporters can convert tariff room into lasting market share.