India to Tackle Global Trade Disruptions with Policy Agility and Investments: FM Sitharaman

Mumbai – Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday warned that the rise of protectionist trade policies poses a serious threat to global supply chains but assured that India is well-positioned to navigate such disruptions through policy agility and long-term investments.

Speaking at an event celebrating 150 years of BSE (Bombay Stock Exchange), Sitharaman said the government’s priority remains building a strong domestic economic foundation amid escalating global trade tensions.

“We will navigate the global disruptions with policy agility and long-term investments… The recalibration efforts on trade are very, very challenging,” she said.

The minister’s comments come as global stock markets continue to reel from trade war tensions triggered by the US administration’s imposition of sweeping tariffs on several nations, including India. Although the US has announced a 90-day pause on implementing these reciprocal measures, uncertainty continues to loom over global trade stability.

Sitharaman, however, highlighted India’s financial market resilience in the face of these global headwinds. She credited the growing confidence of retail investors and the expanding role of Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) for the market’s stability and strength.

“DIIs’ transition from supportive to dominant roles in Indian markets underlines the growing maturity and depth of India’s capital market,” she added.

The Finance Minister’s remarks reinforce the Centre’s commitment to strengthening India’s economic self-reliance and building robust systems to withstand international shocks.

She also emphasized that India’s long-term investment approach would continue to drive stability and growth, even as the global economic landscape remains volatile.