The Chief Economic Adviser speaks to Swarajya on the thinking behind the Survey's 17 chapters, the risks that keep policymakers alert, why delayed gratification is an economic imperative, and the hard institutional choices India faces in a fractured world.

Prof. Prasanna Tantri speaks with Diksha Yadav on the Union Budget 2026 on the following:

—Government Expenditure Falling to One of the Lowest Ratios in the World

—Defence Budget Finally Crosses 2% of GDP

—Why Major Schemes Missed Spending Targets

—The Capex Ideology: Not All Capital Expenditure Is Good

—Centre Cuts Deficit, States Adds—Net Debt Still Rising

—The Dangers of the Freebie Cycle

—RBI Printing Money to Keep Rates Down Is Bad Advice

—F&O Regulation: The Problem Was Real, But STT Hike Is the Wrong Solution

—Sovereign Gold Bond Tax Change Is a Plain Breach of Contract

—FTAs & trade deal: The Real Benefit Is Competition From Imports, Not Exports

—The Real Benefit to the Middle Class Is…

Political commentator from UP, Amit Yadav, explains:

• Why Pankaj Chaudhary? The Strategy Behind BJP's New UP Chief

• The Kurmi Factor: Can BJP Win Back Lost Ground?

• Voter List Fiasco: 4 Crore Names Deleted, 80% BJP Supporters, Cadre Remains Inactive on the Ground

• Inactive Cadre Crisis: How Ground-Level Apathy Cost BJP in 2024

• The Need for Cabinet Reshuffle and Organisational Overhaul

• 2027 Battle Begins: What SP Is Doing Right & What It Is Doing Wrong