FES INDIA PAPER New Delhi, July, 2014 DAUNTING CHALLENGES AND HIGH OPPORTUNITIES: INDIA AFTER THE ELECTIONS 2014 What the New Government Needs to Focus On Narendra Modi’s foreign policy priorities make a clear connection between his domestic and international agenda. A majority in the Lok Sabha gives him greater liberty to launch initiatives and, perhaps, even deliver on agreements that have been stalled in Parliament. Women’s voices and their social contributions have to be acknowledged and valued. The new government needs to optimise empowerment schemes, pass critical pending legislation and, above all, ensure an unbiased implementation of the law. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been voted to power on the promise of a strong economic revival and sustainable development. But as the new government takes on the task of reviving a sluggish economy, the challenges before it are daunting.