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Indias Online Gaming Bill 2025: Regulation or disguise for prohibition?
India's online gaming market faces uncertainty with the proposed Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill 2025. The bill's focus on prohibition over regulation, particularly regarding real-money games, threatens to undermine the domestic gaming industry and investor confidence. Concerns arise over overlooking in-app purchases and the potential for creating black markets, hindering India's digital ambitions.
Will the new Online Gaming Bill spell disaster for India's betting platforms?
The government's new online gaming bill may halt online betting. It follows a pattern of stifling industries instead of regulating them. Earlier, commodity futures and forex markets faced similar fates. The move comes before a Supreme Court ruling on gaming legality. The court will decide on skill versus chance and GST issues.
India Inc post-pandemic: Record profits, cash surge, but private investment lags
Post-pandemic, India Inc. witnessed significant deleveraging, increased profits, and substantial cash reserves, fueled by tax cuts and lower interest rates. Despite improved capacity utilization and investment announcements, fixed asset creation has slowed. Private sector investment participation has increased, but promoter holdings have declined, indicating a need for greater private sector engagement in India's growth story.
Indias energy choices are rooted in national interest, not Western approval
Recent criticism from US officials, including Peter Navarro, regarding India's continued import of Russian crude oil is misplaced. India prioritizes its energy security. Discounted Russian crude benefits Indian consumers and industries.
BSNLs global tech tie-ups put Jabalpur at the heart of Indias 5G and AI future
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited collaborates with Ericsson, Qualcomm, Cisco, and Nokia. They will establish training centers at Jabalpur's BRBRAITT. This initiative aims to create Telecom Innovation, Research and Training Centre. The focus is on 5G, 6G, AI, and cybersecurity training. This will boost local economies and equip India with a skilled workforce. India aims to lead in telecom innovation globally.
Eight steps for exporters, especially MSMEs, to take to cope against Trump tariffs
India faces challenges from US tariffs and Chinese export curbs. To counter this, the article suggests strengthening India's industrial base. It also suggests reforming government procedures. Lowering import duties and supporting nascent tech sectors are important. Unleashing the corporate debt market and promoting prompt payments are crucial. Investing in technology and reducing reliance on rare earth magnets are also needed.
A chill is setting in that will take a long time to recover in the India-US relationship
The India-US relationship has deteriorated, with disproportionate responses from the White House despite India's efforts to address trade concerns. Political imperatives in the US, rather than trade merits, seem to be driving the decisions, leading to a chill in relations and a hardening public mood in India.
From pharmacy to innovation hub: Why India needs a regulatory revolution in biotech
India aims to transition from a global pharmacy to an innovation hub by reforming its regulatory landscape. The focus is on AI-powered approvals, adaptive trials, fast-track pathways, and a single-window digital platform. Creating public market access for biotech startups and incentivizing investment are crucial to compete with China's advancements in drug innovation.
Is CASA elixir losing its magic?
ICICI Bank's attempt to increase minimum balance requirements may've signaled a shift away from mass-market banking. UPI's rise has diminished the value of CASA deposits due to faster money transfers and reduced float. Banks are now re-evaluating their strategies as the CASA era wanes, seeking innovative ways to build stable deposits in a fintech-dominated landscape.
GST reforms must streamline rates, boost compliance and ensure fair dispute handling
The Prime Minister is pushing for GST reforms before Diwali, urging states to adopt the shared draft. Concerns persist regarding unpredictable tax rates and overlapping investigations, leading to numerous demand notices. The article suggests rationalizing rates, expanding the tax base, and adopting a nuanced approach to compliance, including preventing non-compliance and supporting taxpayers.
Trump and Putin still walking on thin ice
A Trump-Putin summit occurred in Anchorage. Discussions focused on the Russia-Ukraine war. Trump wants a peace agreement, not just a ceasefire. He puts pressure on Volodymyr Zelensky to make a deal. The summit aimed to de-escalate hostilities. Trump seeks assurances from Moscow. He hopes for a Nobel Prize. Further talks are expected in Moscow.
Freedoms not just another word for nothing left to lose this I-Day long weekend
For those of you emitting a disapproving dad grunt at my treatment of the day India gained its hard-won freedom from a public-owned multinational company when my father was 7, let me defend myself by saying that to truly celebrate something like Independence Day, one should tap into its celebratory core, and less into its dutiful, commemorative aspect. Unless you're in school, of course, where a good brainwash is always rejuvenating for nanha munha to be rahi and desh ka sipahi.
You can't do without your 'boys' & 'girls'
Anyone from the upper middle class upwards cant be seen to move about without a flunkynfactotum its so dclass to lift a finger.
When a tariff-ic idea in the Stone Age left every OG and Magog stone broke
'A tariff,' explained the magus, 'is something that is imposed as a supposedly corrective measure to deter trade imbalances. For instance, Magog 1 can impose a 25% tariff on Og 1, whereby for every boulder weight of roots and berries and wood that Og 1 supplies, Og 1 has to accept 1.25 boulder weights of woolly mammoth from Magog 1.
Minimum balance, only banks win while depositors lose out
ICICI Bank's MAB hike controversy has brought the practice under scrutiny, questioning its appropriateness. Introduced in the 1990s amid deregulation, MAB aimed to boost bank income, but it disproportionately affects depositors, hindering financial inclusion and economic growth. The RBI's hands-off approach raises concerns about banks' freedom in setting MAB.
Dogs and the community are interdependent
A community dog named Kalu, injured and maggot-infested, sought refuge with the author, revealing a larger issue of abandoned black Labradors, victims of superstition. Kalu's story highlights human selfishness and the resilience of street dogs, who offer valuable lessons if treated with respect. He ultimately chose the author's home for his final year, demonstrating love, trust, and dignity.
Dravidian iron for the Aryan horse
Challenging earlier theories, recent research suggests Aryans were traders, not invaders or migrants, drawn to India by its iron smelting technology. They exchanged horses for iron, influencing Indian culture through language, genes, and patriarchal customs. This exchange explains the presence of horses in Vedic texts and the spread of Indo-European languages and genetic markers in India.
How India can electrify trucks to meet climate & clean air goals
India's e-truck scheme marks a crucial step towards decarbonizing freight, addressing fuel consumption and emissions. A long-term roadmap with electrification milestones, charging infrastructure tailored to freight, and supply-side regulations like fuel efficiency norms and ZEV mandates are vital. These measures will accelerate e-truck adoption, reduce logistics costs, and strengthen energy security.
International order faces strain. Trump's tariffs against Brazil highlight this. Brazil challenges this via WTO and BRICS. India's regional trade lags. Emerging economies like India must act collectively. They should defend rules-based systems. Sovereignty requires robust institutions and coalitions. Multilateralism is crucial. Climate, trade, and food security are linked. Emerging economies must set norms.
