The US is not asking countries like India and Vietnam to take sides in the Asia Pacific region, but steps Beijing is taking in the disputed South China Sea are "self-isolating" and driving countries towards America, US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter has said.

As India is growing fast at over 7 per cent, the nature of BRICS bloc has undergone a major change with each member showing an economic performance very different from the other, IMF chief Christine Lagarde said today.

Confident of pushing GDP growth higher and continuing the reforms agenda, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today said one main reform which is still work in progress is 'ease of doing business' in India and steps are under way on that front.