November 06, 2026
In his Hindustan Times column, Vital Signs, OHT’s Dr. Ramanan Laxminarayan examines how trust in India is often concentrated within familiar circles shaped by caste, community, and shared identities, rather than extended to strangers.
Drawing on research across businesses, banking, and social interactions, he explains how social divisions and unequal treatment can make people less willing to trust those outside their own groups.
He highlights how shared activities, stronger institutions, and digital platforms can create opportunities to build trust across social boundaries.
Dr. Laxminarayan argues that India’s challenge is not a lack of trust, but the need to widen its reach beyond familiar networks and build a society where people can cooperate more readily.
Read the article here.
