The year 2020 brought India its most serious economic and security issues in many years. The COVID-19 pandemic pushed the country into a recession. And a military conflict with China along Himalayan borders worsened relations with its powerful neighbor. India ordered one of the world’s most severe lockdowns in March, when it had just a few hundred coronavirus cases. But when the country started opening up, the virus began to spread quickly. By the end of the year, India was the second-worst hit nation, with nearly 10 million COVID-19 cases. Millions of people lost jobs and hundreds of small businesses closed. But experts warned that the economic problems went deeper than the health crisis. The first evidence of this came in April when India witnessed a never-before-seen exodus of migrant laborers. Having lost jobs in cities, millions walked hundreds of kilometers to their villages when all transport was halted. India has been the worst hit among large economies because nearly 90 percent of its workers survive on its informal sector. The economy is expected to fall by nine percent this year, its worst recession in 40 years. The Center for Monitoring Indian Economy estimated that about 120 million jobs were lost from April to June. … Continue reading There is a belated recognition in India that China, not Pakistan, is our only threat, VOA