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Op-Ed NOVEMBER 13, 2026 | The Indian Eye 18

permanent loyalty. 9 | From victory to accountable
Success should be assessed
through employment retention, real governance
A democratic mandate should
wages, housing affordability, debt produce transparent, measurable
burdens, health access and institu- results. Congress and state govern-
tional trust—not the number of press ments can publish public dashboards
releases or announced programs.
for employment, wages, housing,
healthcare costs, education out-
4 | U.S.–India relations after the comes and legislative activity. Bipar-
election tisan oversight can strengthen trust
A change in congressional con-
trol does not automatically rewrite even when policy disagreements re-
main substantial.
foreign policy. The presidency retains
significant authority over diplomacy,
tariffs and immigration administra- For U.S.–India cooperation, a
tion, while Congress influences law, parallel scorecard could track
oversight and appropriations. The
bipartisan strategic case for U.S.–In- bilateral investment, new man-
dia cooperation remains substantial: ufacturing jobs, joint research,
American research, capital and com- exchange students, clinical
mercialization capacity complement
India’s STEM talent, manufacturing The 2026 U.S. elections may ultimately be remembered for more than a change partnerships, regulatory col-
ambitions and expanding market. laboration and patent com-
in congressional balance (Agency photo) mercialization. The diaspora
Five priorities for a pragmatic bi-
lateral agenda dent exchanges, facilities opened and opportunity. No ideology has exclu- can help connect universities,
1. H-1B and talent mobility technologies commercialized. sive ownership of that demand. industry and public institutions
2. Tariffs and trade India’s youth may increasingly
3. Student exchange and universities. 6 | A global generational question: judge leadership by graduate em- without becoming an instru-
4. Foreign direct investment Bangladesh, Nepal, India and Eu- ployment, examination integrity, en- ment of partisan campaigning.
5. Pharmaceuticals, AI, IT and inno- rope trepreneurial opportunity, research
vation These expectations invite inter- capacity and institutional fairness.
The most constructive objec- national comparisons, but compari- This is a question for study, not proof Conclusion | Democracy begins
tive is not to transfer jobs from one sons require restraint. In Bangladesh that India and the United States are again after the votes are counted
country to another, but to create and Nepal, any assessment of youth following identical political trajecto- The 2026 U.S. elections may ul-
more high-value work in both. Joint mobilization must examine the par- ries. timately be remembered for more
ventures, co-development, resilient ticular employment grievances, gov- than a change in congressional bal-
supply chains and shared intellectu- ernance concerns and institutional 7 | Are voters demanding qual- ance. Their deeper significance will
al-property frameworks can make conditions involved. Neither coun- ifications, integrity and perfor- depend on whether public dissatis-
the relationship more productive and try’s experience should be reduced to mance? faction becomes constructive reform.
less vulnerable to political cycles. an American narrative or presented A constructive shift would be for Younger citizens have reasons to de-
as proof of a uniform generational voters to assess candidates’ compe- mand affordable living, meaningful
5 | Making America stronger movement. Political change must tence, record, ethics and responsive- employment, transparent institutions
through partnership—not isola- also be judged by the institutions and ness rather than personality or polit- and credible pathways to advance-
tion protections that follow it. ical identity alone. Formal degrees ment. Their expectations are neither
National competitiveness de- India’s circumstances are dis- matter in some roles but do not sub- exclusively Democratic nor Republi-
pends on domestic investment and tinct, yet its young citizens have stitute for judgment, public service can.
international collaboration. The equally legitimate expectations con- or integrity. A strong résumé does Across the United States, India
United States can reinforce its scien- cerning graduate employment, exam- not guarantee ethical leadership. In- and other democracies, citizens have
tific leadership through research uni- ination integrity, entrepreneurship dependent journalism, reliable data, the right to challenge elected repre-
versities, advanced manufacturing and institutional fairness. The gov- accessible public records and media sentatives through peaceful, consti-
and investment while engaging In- erning coalition’s claims about infra- literacy are essential if this standard tutional means. No party owns that
dia’s engineering and scientific work- structure, welfare and development is to become meaningful. demand. The United States and In-
force. India, in turn, can strengthen deserve examination, as do opposi- dia can show how democratic compe-
regulatory predictability, research tion criticisms concerning inequality 8 | Political money and Super tition and international cooperation
funding, intellectual-property prac- and accountability. Opposition lead- PACs: influence versus outcomes reinforce one another through sci-
tices and skills development. ers should face the same standards of A heavily financed candidate ence, education, investment and the
A proposed U.S.–India Part- evidence and performance expected can lose. That demonstrates the dignity of work.
nership for Shared Prosperity could of those in office. limits of advertising, not the dis- Democracy does not end when
have five pillars: human capital and European comparisons require appearance of donor influence. votes are counted. That is when ac-
STEM excellence; pharmaceutical similar care. Housing, energy, mi- Claims that Super PACs “failed bad- countability begins.
and healthcare innovation; recipro- gration and public services pres- ly” across the election require evi- _______________________________
cal manufacturing and investment; ent different political challenges dence comparing spending, district H. S. Panaser is President &
AI, semiconductors and digital across countries. Dissatisfaction can competitiveness, candidate quality, Co-Founder, Global Indian Diaspora
transformation; and democratic in- strengthen parties on the left, right or vote margins and independent ex- Alliance (GLO-INDIA), USA and
stitutions and people-to-people ties. outside established alignments. The penditures. The more defensible Chairman, Global Indian Trade &
Results should be tracked in jobs common question concerns whether lesson is that money can buy visibil- Cultural Council, USA
created, research grants, patents, stu- institutions offer credible routes to ity but not guaranteed legitimacy.

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