India’s “Competitive Integration” Strategy: FTAs, Semiconductors, and Skilling

NITI Aayog’s Arvind Virmani clarifies that the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision promotes competitive global integration through strategic FTAs, not economic isolation. He highlights the 2026 Budget’s focus on securing supply chains for semiconductors and rare earth minerals as critical for manufacturing. Key interventions include a new equity support fund for medium enterprises and reforms to attract diaspora investment into growth sectors like AI. Virmani also redefines job creation, emphasizing that scalable skills, not formal job titles, are the true drivers of employment.