New Delhi, April 4 -- It doesn't quite feel like summer holidays when even simple plans demand second thoughts and over-planning. You step out to your favourite neighbourhood dosa joint, only to be told they're serving only idlis today, well, because dosas consume more LPG. Your afternoon filter coffee jolt now costs Rs.5 more, a sharp 25% jump from the usual Rs.20, LPG crises again. And suddenly, travel plans that once felt exciting now feel uncertain and scary.

West Asia may well be the epicentre of the ongoing war involving Iran, the US and Israel, but its ripple effects are already global and intensifying. While we're nowhere near the disruptions of the pandemic, this is a moment to prepare for volatility. It's sensible to pause big ...