US President Donald Trump’s economic policies in his second term have rekindled the debate between protectionism and globalisation. The way Trump has been threatening to impose tariffs is being watched cautiously in India. A traditional approach might not help India navigate the economic minefield, especially with an increasingly volatile geopolitical situation and a protectionist Trump administration. Do we need to return to Swadeshi economics? Perhaps, that is the only way out. The RSS laid a broad roadmap for creating jobs without being affected by either globalisation or protectionism in every part of the country. In its 2022 resolution, it said, “The overall participation in the economy need to be boosted. Efforts are essential to adapt new technologies and soft skills appropriate to our societal conditions.” Both the RSS and its ideological mentee, the SJM, have shown great concern about generation, which remains a major challenge for the Indian economy. It is noteworthy that there are many successful models of employment based on local production.
