How have Indians at large fared under this government?
While we have no survey data on incomes since 2011-12, multiple sources suggest a decline or deceleration in what working Indians earned in the last five years. These grim readings may be at variance with claims made in the budget speech but...
PM Modi must forget the past, revive farm reforms; it’s the only way to repair rural economy
People can’t spend money they don’t have. For consumption in rural India to pick up, wages and incomes will have to improve, if not double
Pakistan is on edge as it goes to polls
There was violence on the eve of Thursday’s election, one flawed to begin with as Imran Khan is in jail and the army is asserting itself. The Pakistani economy, though, needs urgent reforms.
Is a truly uniform civil code possible in India?
Uttarakhand’s UCC proposal does aim at gender justice in family matters, but falls short on uniformity. The worry is that its live-in rules intrude in conjugal relations, its prism is heteronormative and it bears too political an imprint.
Maximize the Innovation Fund’s impact by focusing on key national goals
The ₹1 trillion fund must focus on high-tech manufacturing, industrial decarbonization and export competitiveness.
Online retailers must minimize wares being returned
Solutions to the problem of high post-purchase returns lie in a close grasp of what drives such behaviour.
Jerome Powell reduced Fed flexibility by going off-script
strapline: He broke with official policy by almost ruling out a March rate cut. Sometimes, 'less is more' is the best communication strategy.
The interim budget features hits and misses on climate pathways
It has worthy initiatives. India’s carbon reduction must go by hard-nosed realism so that we don’t back-load climate action.
This budget’s fiscal finesse favours the entire economy
The priority accorded to macroeconomic stability by way of fiscal deficit reduction will benefit all.
Hot wars and cold: Global geopolitics mustn't turn adverse for India
India’s stake in a stable West Asia is high and our long-term scenario planners must note the risk of US actions that might make ‘Pax Americana’ easier for China to overthrow.
India’s fintech entrepreneurs must accept that they are not above the law of the land
RBI governor Shaktikanta Das has said that the central bank aims to play a dual role of acting as a promoter of innovation as well as being the regulator
David Keith on why carbon removal won’t save big oil but may help the climate
Greens should cheer the blurring of the industry’s interests, says the academic
We need to scale up energy production—safely
Prime Minister Modi said that India’s primary energy demand is expected to nearly double by 2045. While renewables are key, nuclear power remains the elephant in the room.
Will global geopolitics stay favourable to India?
India’s stake in a stable West Asia is high and our long-term scenario planners must note the risk of US actions that might make ‘Pax Americana’ easier for China to overthrow.
RBI’s action on Paytm Payments Bank raises important questions
We should ask if risks are being properly assessed and whether retail investors need to be protected.
Reality check: Pragmatic policy could outperform check-list reforms
The government has managed to check almost every major box on the ‘reforms wish-list’ of India since 1991. It’s now time to focus on domestic demand and global markets.
Zoom woes: ‘Are you real?’ will soon replace ‘You’re on mute’
Fast-developing deepfake technology means anyone on a screen may be an AI creation. It’s time to adopt authenticity cues as deepfakes join our meetings.
Brace for a brave new world: Artificial intelligence versus human stupidity
One hopes that artificial intelligence will overcome human stupidity but it won’t get that chance if we destroy ourselves first.
MSME and gender issues must be kept apart from WTO rules
Each country must support small and medium enterprises and promote women’s entrepreneurship within its own context while global trade talks focus on market access.