Clean charging must lead Indias EV thrust
Our policies aim to enable the proliferation of electric vehicles, as they should, but we also need innovative plans to ensure that we rely mostly on clean energy sources to charge them.
A cap on capitalism: Is it time for India to debate one?
The idea of a wealth ceiling might seem unworkable and outdated, a relic of socialist thinking, but it still needs to join our policy discourse.
Putin's mega win comes as no surprise
Vladimir Putin has been re-elected Russias president with a record mandateabout 87% of the vote, the highest in Russias post-Soviet historyin an election that paves the way for his fifth term in office. His geopolitical gamble against Nato may yet work, it seems.
How is Election Commission preparing for the new challenge of the misinformation monster?
Misinformation is not just an electoral issue in Indian elections but across the many democracies going to polls this year. Last months Indonesian elections already pointed to this malaise, while the run-up to the US elections this November is already throwing up worrying indications. This is a much more potent problem than what the Cambridge Analytica data scandal in the run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections was.
There will be intense scrutiny as the election cycle intensifies during this period, and EC assumes its role as the daily adjudicator. One would do well to remember Supreme Court's recent words about the importance of the purity of the electoral process: '...free and fair elections are a part of the basic structure of the Constitution'.
Plato's observation holds true even today: Those who tell stories rule the world
Apart from being a cognitive skill, public speaking is a character skill too, making it perhaps the most powerful force multiplier a leader could deploy.
Not even far-flung Antarctica could escape the covid virus
How the Sars-CoV-2 reached there is a lesson in humility for humanity at large. We exert far less control over pathogens and public health than wed like to think.
Lets reform Indias bankruptcy code but without getting in the way of commerce
Theres a case to tweak the IBC. But India should take care to oil the wheels of business and not throw in a spanner.
Indian democracy is at a significant crossroads
As the schedule for this years Lok Sabha polls is announced, the countrys debate over the future of our democracy features legitimate misgivings over campaign finance and synchronized elections.
Tesla: Red carpet welcome in India?
Not quite. India has lowered import barriers for EVs made by big automakers, but with significant conditions. While we may finally see Tesla cars on Indian streets, what we need is a plan that ensures its renewable power than runs EVs as they proliferate in the country.
Streaming investments into India
Slow worldwide Net FDI in India rose appreciably in the five years before the pandemic. During Covid, it soared further. Thereafter, it more than halved. It is easy to imagine here that the global FDI pot has shrunk, leading to a fall in FDI flows worldwide. After all, higher rates and tighter liquidity worldwide took their toll on investments. Indeed, global FDI flows have slowed. But within that, India's share has fallen, meaning India is hurting more than other countries.
Why India needs to reform its degree apprentices programmes
Amartya Sen acknowledges progress in combating 'son preference' in Haryana and UP, while emphasizing the need for innovative employer financing solutions to bridge the skills gap and empower millions of youngsters in the workforce. The skill ecosystem should be aligned with employer supply chains through three reforms to NEP-enabled degree apprentices (DAs). These reforms would not only create new financing for 'repair and prepare' of millions of youngsters but also create structural connectivity between education, employability and employment.
Post-polls, expect economic transformation and overhaul of the citizen-state interface
Modi's agenda Should Modi return for a third term, as is widely expected, what would be his likely agenda? In recent days, GoI has offered telling clues of its economic direction. The thrust is on manufacturing, but more than that on an economic transformation and an overhaul of the citizen-state interface.
Frontier-market debt is back in favour but with attendant risks
US Fed actions or domestic political troubles in bond-issuing countries could make it harder for them to service their debt.
Free tuition will not solve the problem of pricey education
Grants by the wealthy are helpful but only for a few beneficiaries.
Survey results should be taken with a pinch of caution
They offer us useful signals but we must be mindful of the limitations in their ability to reflect reality.
How India could become the worlds first quick-commerce success story
The leading platforms have taken big strides towards profitability by pushing products with a high average selling price, optimising the brand mix, rationalising discounts and optimising the expansion of dark stores.
My crypto journey: A high, and two lows
Punting on Bitcoin, even with play money, proved to be a roller-coaster ride for this investor.
The Photogate embarrassment of the British royal family reflects a wider malaise
Social media scrutiny over Princess of Wales's edited family photo sparked speculation, revealing societal obsession with perfect self-image presentation, even among royals. Technology enables flawless self-portrayal, prompting reflection on the evolving norms of perfection in public image.
Making our country an attractive home for the wealthy will fast-track Viksit Bharat
As Indians, we gravitate to regions that are Indian-friendly and already sustain a diaspora and emigre population. Similarly, it will be important to create a healthy, vibrant environment that could nurture different expat communities.
Entrants challenge Asian Paints in India's decorative paints sector. Industry consolidation impacts stakeholders. Zephyr Teachout and Viral Acharya advocate curbing monopoly practices for consumer welfare. CCI's role in overseeing big business growth is crucial amid sector consolidation.
Better use of data could help small caps and their investors flourish
Rather than condemn an entire class of stocks as inherently risky, Sebi should harness the account aggregator network to give analysts the data they need to find the winners of tomorrow.
Election synchrony: Convenient or costly?
A panel headed by former president Ram Nath Kovind submitted a report on simultaneous national and state elections to President Droupadi Murmu. It explains how it can be achieved, but will it result in many more elections?
Happiness: A scarcity thatll take long to eliminate
That the UN deemed happiness worthy of celebration tells us how elusive it is for most of the world. After all, economic well-being is a necessary but not sufficient condition for it.
We must learn to be more human in the age of artificial intelligence
Classic human attributes like empathy and language felicity will gain in value as these enable us to make the best use of AI tools. Trying to be more like computers wont get humans anywhere.
The proliferation of EVs could make decarbonization harder to achieve
EVs look set to use more power than the country can clean. To solve this problem, electric cars will require solar roofs so that they can charge while parked in the sun, even as we push for a cleaner electricity grid, use battery swapping to minimize surge charging and encourage public transport.
Free trade has two faces and the one offering harmony must prevail
Its a force for good if we make proper use of it for common prosperity. Theres still hope. We must democratize trade and not let narrow interests dictate its patterns.
OpenAI can win back the trust it lost by being more transparent
A company making powerful AI tools needs to be more open about their design and innards. We need to know more about their training data sets, creator consent policies and much else.
The fallacy of crypto as an alternative to fiat currency
The notion of cryptocurrency offering a solution to currency debasement is misplaced. As its volatility has shown, it is neither a useful store of value nor a reliable medium of exchange.
View: AI regulation must be more nuanced than set out in GoIs half-baked advisory
A recent advisory says that under-testing or unreliable AI models that are available to users on the 'Indian internet' must take GoI's explicit permission, and be deployed only after appropriately labelling the possible and inherent fallibility or unreliability of the output generated. But this is problematic.
The things a few calculations tell us
State Bank of India and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation face criticism for delays in tasks, like submitting records and building a bridge, due to seemingly manageable challenges.
Letters to the Editor dated March 14, 2024
March 2024 treating your portfolio badly? Read this
A well-allocated basket of assets ensures that you are not riding a roller coaster and instead you are gradually moving up in life, as steadily as possible
The Agni-5 trial has strengthened Indias strategic deterrence
Its success places India in the league of a few countries with this special missile technology and pushes up the cost that an adversary would have to bear for a military misadventure.
We could make up for the covid disruption of schooling if we try
India neednt have an educationally lost generation but it requires us to acknowledge the problem. Some states get it, others dont.
The Indian stock market is undergoing some turbulence with mid- and small-cap stocks falling sharply amid talk of a bubble. Its earnings that must drive prices, not how much money there is in pursuit.
Bengalurus water crisis may reflect an even larger one
What Indias technology hub seems to lack is the collective will to act in favour of the larger good.
Success in solar energy may be a curse for Chinese panel manufacturers
A tidal wave of investment in solar panels has led to a market glut, with prices sliding. Manufacturers are stricken but itll speed up the race for clean energy.
13th Ministerial Conference of the WTO: Multiple narratives need not perplex us
What may seem like overwrought negotiations on world trade may yet yield clarity. We need progress on e-commerce, food security, fisheries and dispute settlement, among other issues.
The power of multilingualism in a globalized economy
Language education is crucial for preparing a versatile workforce. Proficiency in English and multilingual competence are valuable skills in a globalized world. In an interconnected future, language education becomes vital for cultural understanding and professional versatility in a globalized world. Multilingualism is essential for understanding diverse cultures and seizing business opportunities in a globalized world.
Joined by the Vindhyas: Contrary to belief, Indias not cloven by a yawning north-south divide
Consider per-capita GDP in the top half of states. The richest are the mini-states of Goa and Sikkim. Among major states, toppers are Telangana and Karnataka, but Haryana, a northern state, is a close third. Tamil Nadu comes lower. Next are Gujarat, Kerala and Maharashtra. The West is India's industrial powerhouse. Mumbai is India's commercial capital.
The CAA perplexity: Religion as a citizenship criterion
The Indian government issued rules on Monday for CAA applications, but the judiciary is still to look into whether this controversial policy passes Constitutional muster
Much more private credit will be needed to feed Indias rapid economic expansion
We must develop these sources because banks alone cant satisfy Indias fast-growing appetite for credit.
Fears of technological change are vastly exaggerated
A look at the past two centuries shows that weve always swung from technophobia to acceptanceand we will probably do likewise with AI.
Policy coordination can boost e-commerce across the Asia Pacific region
Supported by a growing middle class, widespread internet-and-mobile adoption and a digital payments revolution, e-com is booming in the region. What we need now is an APAC forum led by India for regional cooperation and policy harmonization that would work to the benefit of sellers and buyers alike.
The Indian film industry needs to up its movie marketing game
The casual approach in evidence is at odds with the film industrys real business challenge. Until the industry addresses the leakage of marketing expenditure and embraces transparency, well see good movies being let down by sloppy marketing.
Bitcoins bounce holds a lesson for central banks
As its fresh peak defies crypto doomsayers, Bitcoins value as an artefact of the digital age lies in the mirror it has held up to the way monetary policy is usually conducted everywhere.
Farmers protest: Navigating MSP and food security dilemma
India should strive to lead the negotiations to raise trade and agriculture-related concerns of the global south at various WTO platforms
Spectrum auction prices are still too steep
The DoT is refusing to align prices of 5G spectrum with market conditions and is instead trying to maximise revenue. This is no doubt a consequence of the so-called 2G scam campaign the BJP ran when it was in opposition.
Gender equality is an even bigger driver of economic progress than we thought
Several studies confirm that it holds a vital key to prosperity. Failing to achieve it would represent a massive opportunity loss.
SC's rebuke: SBI is in hot water
The Supreme Court pulled up State Bank of India for its delay in disclosing details of electoral bonds. Will the schemes promised secrecy survive?
An election without opposition unity will be a no-contest
The Trinamool decision to fight Lok Sabha elections solo in West Bengal reflects disunity within the INDIA bloc. For the opposition to put up a credible fight against the BJP, it must try a whole lot harder.
Mutual funds versus bank deposits? Dispel that myth.
The success of Indias mutual fund industry has not been at the cost of bank deposit growth in the country. Take a good hard look at what the data reveals.
Leash laws for dogs tell us a lot about humans
Americas current trend favours tighter canine control. But these laws vary, suggesting a case of the tail wagging the dog.
Chinese EV dominance is clear but should we be worried?
Western auto makers seem rattled but the Indian market is still in play for domestic EV manufacturers.
Rooftop solar scheme is a great initiative. Lets secure its implementation
A major obstacle in the scheme is the complexity faced by households in installing rooftop solar systems
Debunking myths about women and the workplace
While women might be able to enter the workforce at the same footing as men, the probability of them lasting longer in the workforce is lower
We need to make freedom of speech low-brow in India
Free speech has the potential to become a mass right, like food and water, if rescued from intellectuals.
Dont let hybrids muddle our path to net-zero: EVs must prevail
Hybrid advocacy seems aimed at prolonging the ICE age of unclean vehicles while we urgently need pollution-free transport.
China needs to look beyond its domestic troubles
While a home focus is important, Beijing should take care not to get isolated globally. A new foreign minister would go a long way to help explain China's global viewpoint.
Election fever grips Bollywood and Indias financial sector
Impending polls are palpably influencing cinema content and regulatory action in the finance sector.
Searching for an invisible Ninth
The search for a ninth planet in the Solar System continues, with astronomers using mathematical predictions to narrow down possible locations, highlighting the role of mathematics in understanding celestial bodies beyond the known eight planets.
Bridging the gap: How women can lead the charge on corporate boards
Women approach problems and opportunities from diverse angles and can challenge conventional wisdom, stimulate innovative thinking, and uncover new solutions to complex issues
We need a bridge consumption survey to accurately analyse Indian pover
Now that we have an official CES after a gap of a decade-plus, we can use it to update macro indicators. Ideally, a bridge survey should be conducted for comparability with past data.
Financial literacy will empower women: Beti bachao, Vitt sikhao
Indian women will be truly empowered only once they become both financially literate and capable across every socio-economic group. Financial or vitt education needs to be stepped up. Theres a very long way to go.
PF claim rejection rate of 34%: Why?
The rejection rate of final provident fund claims rose to nearly 34% in 2022-23. In the age of Aadhaar, this is inexplicable.
End pink-washing: Companies should be earnest about gender equality
Regressive advertising campaigns reveal what goes on. As a broad project, we must tackle a major problem of pink-washing the diversity, equality and inclusion agenda that corporates are under scrutiny for.
Invest in women for a gender dividend to transform India
South Koreas policy dedication to gender parity in the 1990s serves as an example for India to emulate. Increased womens labour force participation gave its economy a new dynamism.
The world will win only when women win
Right now, no country grants women the same legal rights as men, but we must remember that gender equality is a fundamental human right and a powerful driver of economic development.
Lets enrol the private sector in a new three-way social contract
Private businesses joining hands with the government and society could help the world stare down challenges. The classic social contract needs an update.
White House race: Biden versus Trump again
The stage is set for a Joe Biden-Donald Trump rematch in the US presidential election due in November. Trumps polling lead over Biden means the world stands warned: Free trade may be in for a shake-up.
Bubble alert: Indias small-cap stock rush needs risk reduction
Sebi recently asked Indias mutual fund industry to take precautions. Investment caps for high-risk stocks may help but we also need far greater public awareness of asset inflation.
Towards a Viksit Bharat: The farm sector must play a bigger role in our economy
Prioritizing infrastructure and logistics capacity in the agriculture sector may help revive primary sector growth. For an inclusive journey towards developed country status, agriculture mustnt get left behind.
A Trump victory in the US will shake up the global economic risk scenario
While Trump and Biden share some foreign-policy priorities, the former's protectionist economic policies could spark a trade war and impact markets.
Going California sober could be bad for ones heart
That pot is a healthy alternative to alcohol is turning out to be just another marketing myth. A study shows cannabis users are at heightened cardiovascular risk.
Economic basics suggest RBIs 6.5% policy rate is apt
A good look at the impact of monetary policy on credit and GDP growth would argue against easing. One need not be a monetarist to agree that price stability should remain the central banks priority.
Why Sebi is worried about small-cap mutual fund schemes
Given limited buying interest from foreign investors, small-caps represent a relatively illiquid asset class. As such, the exuberance appears both unwarranted and unsustainable, especially in light of an inevitable market correction
Tata Motors demerger is backed by a dual-lane strategy
Itll unlock value by letting trucks take the slow lane while cars bet on fast-lane leadership at a key inflexion point of technology. It also proves conglomerate-sceptics wrong again.
Its time for Ulips to stop masquerading as mutual funds
Such misselling must end to protect consumers and life insurance should be promoted for what it actually is.
The state must find new ways to assert its authority online
Its influence over the digital sphere is reliant on execution by private firms but this isnt an ideal scenario.
Updating urban definitions could optimize our resource allocation
The 16th Finance Commission should redefine cities and rework the formula for urban fund devolutions.
Apples $2 billion fine marks a new dawn for antitrust regulation
The EU has taken a welcome lead in taking on digital dominance. Spotifys row with Apple over its App Store led to the penalty.
Flagging FDI: India must find ways to attract more of it before it's too late
An emerging economy short of savings must make good use of foreign direct investment as a strategic pivot to prosperity.
Sensex at 73,000: Time to stop your SIPs?
Systematic investment plans many a times end up being poor investment avenues. Now that the equity markets are at all-time highs is it time to stop your SIPs?
Merger or demergerwhat's the better route to unlock value?
Tata Motors has announced that it will split its passenger vehicle and commercial vehicle divisions into two separate entities. Reliance and Disney, on the other hand, have chosen to try and unlock value through a mega merger. Which route is better?
Fear of AI surfaces governments controlling tendencies in its latest policy
Recent developments, including the EUs Artificial Intelligence Act and the Global Partnership on AI, provide models for oversight and regulation
Inflation has played a starring role in India's 2023-24 growth
This fiscal years GDP deflator of 1.5% marks a drop from 7.2% in 2022-23 and contrasts with high CPI inflation. We may need to revise our price gaugesbut for truth reflection, not bias confirmation.
Corporate boards should foster a culture of data privacy in organizations
They should go beyond law compliance to integrate privacy objectives with their business strategy.
Bribery shield taken away by SC: Just as well
The Supreme Court has held that lawmakers are not immune from prosecution in cases of bribery for making a speech or voting a certain way in Parliament or state legislatures. Lawmakers, as our representatives, should welcome the verdict.