Predictably, the opposition parties and the extended anti-Modi cabal have seized the opportunity to attack the Modi government and accuse it of gross economic mismanagement.

In the background, the Modi–Jaishankar doctrine is evident. Multi-alignment, not non-alignment, strategic autonomy without yelling anti-West slogans, and a determined unwillingness to let either Washington or Beijing dictate whom India may cooperate with. This is as much about avoiding overdependence on China as it is about rejecting Western pressure.