In a pointed message that’s resonating across business and policy circles, Deepinder Goyal—co-founder and CEO of Zomato—has called for India to shake off external pressures and aim higher on the global stage. His comments come at a time when India is facing fresh trade barriers and diplomatic pushbacks. Most recently in the form of steep US tariffs targeting Indian goods and energy imports.
“Stay in Your Lane, India”: Goyal on Global Power Dynamics
Reflecting on how global powers treat emerging economies, Goyal wrote:
“Every few years, the world reminds us of our place. A threat here, a tariff there. But the message is the same: stay in your lane, India.”
This is a familiar feeling in India’s business and foreign policy landscape—every time the country tries to assert itself or act in its own interest, whether it’s buying cheaper oil or making ambitious technology bets, global heavyweights seem ready to apply pressure. Goyal’s message is a reminder of this hard reality.
Pushing Back Against Global Bullying
Goyal’s post goes beyond frustration; it’s a call to action. “Global powers will always bully us, unless we take our destiny in our own hands,” he wrote. He underlines what many entrepreneurs and policymakers in India feel: that playing by someone else’s rules will always leave India vulnerable to the changing mood of external powers.
Ambition Is the Answer
For Goyal, the answer is clear and simple—ambition at scale. He urges India to collectively decide to become the world’s “largest, most unapologetic superpower”—not only in terms of economic growth, but also in technology, defense, and, crucially, in mindset. The CEO’s words echo a growing sentiment in India’s startup and policy ecosystem: that self-confidence and homegrown innovation are the only ways to ensure India is never pushed around on the world stage.
Context: Why Now?
Goyal’s comments land at a sensitive moment. With new US tariffs, rising global uncertainty, and constant reminders of “India’s place” in the geopolitical pecking order. Several business leaders are voicing a growing impatience with the old narrative. His statement isn’t just about reacting to one tariff or policy—it’s a wider rallying cry for India to own its future, set its own agenda, and never apologize for its ambitions.
Indian Government Responds to Trump’s Tariff
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs labeled the added tariffs “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable,”. While emphasizing that India’s oil imports are market-driven and essential for its 1.4 billion population’s energy security. The ministry pointed out the inconsistency in the US and European Union continuing significant trade with Russia, including energy, which made singling out India particularly hypocritical.
The Bottom Line
In a world where economic and diplomatic threats can pop up at any time, Deepinder Goyal’s message taps into a powerful, urgent idea: That only by building world-class capabilities—and thinking big—can India claim its rightful place and never again be told to “stay in its lane.”
