New Delhi: India should not create a “tariff wall” in its drive towards an Atmanirbhar Bharat, because that will not help the country in becoming part of the global supply chains, economist and former Reserve Bank of India governor Raghuram Rajan said on Wednesday.

Talking of the Atmanirbhar Bharat, or the self-reliant India, initiative that was launched in May, Rajan said he “can’t quite tell” what it was.

It could either be a “rebranding” of Make in India or a move towards protectionism, he said, citing recent decisions by the country to impose import tariffs.

“When we talk about Atmanirbhar Bharat, I am not quite sure which side is being emphasised. If it says that let’s create the environment for production, I think that makes a lot of sense. It basically iterates what Make in India (means), it’s basically repositioning, rebranding Make in India,” Rajan said at the 12th Annual Internat ..

“When we talk about Atmanirbhar Bharat, I am not quite sure which side is being emphasised. If it says that let’s create the environment for production, I think that makes a lot of sense. It basically iterates what Make in India (means), it’s basically repositioning, rebranding Make in India,” Rajan said at the 12th Annual Internat ..

India should also focus on its educational sector for there lies potential in it becoming a source of service exports, he said.

India should adopt an individual fiscal commission that monitors the country’s debt targets and points out any lack in transparency, or instances where the true fiscal position is being hidden, Rajan said. “Adopt a debt target, and put in place legislation that shows you will move towards that fiscal target,” he added