Economy will be Modi’s personal focus

Subject

Modi's post-election cabinet appointments and likely policy trajectory.

Significance

Following a landslide victory in the general election, Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week announced his new cabinet. There were new appointments at the head of the defence, foreign, home and finance ministries.

Impacts

• The merger of the Central Statistics Office and National Sample Survey Office could further undermine trust in India’s GDP growth figures.
• If a crackdown on ‘illegal’ migration alienates neighbouring ally Bangladesh, Dhaka could draw closer to Delhi’s rival Beijing.
• Modi’s alliance will likely have a majority in the parliamentary upper house by 2021.