The Economic Times

West Bengal's new budget prioritizes job creation, but the path through manufacturing faces significant hurdles like fragmented land and infrastructure challenges. Experts suggest a services-led growth strategy, leveraging the state's skilled workforce and diaspora. This approach, focusing on connectivity and supportive regulation, can build a non-farm economy, eventually making industrialization more viable by offering alternatives to land ownership.

India successfully navigated the Strait of Hormuz closure, ensuring energy security for its citizens. Despite a significant drop in West Asian LPG supplies, domestic production was ramped up, and new international sources were secured. Price disruptions were mitigated through government subsidies and excise duty cuts, keeping fuel costs significantly lower than in other nations. This resilience was built on years of strategic infrastructure development and diversification of crude oil sources.

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's visit to India signals a deepening economic partnership, focusing on resilient supply chains and high-tech manufacturing. The summit highlights a strong alignment between political will and commercial needs, aiming to redefine global supply chains. Discussions will center on semiconductor interdependence, energy security, and next-generation mobility, leveraging India's market reforms and Japan's technological prowess to build a robust economic ecosystem.

A new wearable biomarker, 'Entropy,' measuring body energy consumption, has stirred the bio-hacking community. While the name is catchy, the article questions its scientific accuracy and the proven benefits of such tracking, drawing parallels to existing wearables with questionable efficacy. The author highlights human bias towards action and the allure of new tech, suggesting 'Fugacity' as a more fitting, albeit esoteric, name for future biomarkers.

Following the NEET paper leak, a re-test offered relief to millions. This highlights the immense scale of Indian examinations and the need for insurance. General insurers could design policies for candidates and testing agencies, covering risks like leaks, accidents, and cancellations. Drawing parallels from celebrity and sports event insurance, this innovation could manage stress and opportunity costs for all involved in India's competitive academic landscape.

A new Hindi series, Raakh, revisits the chilling 1978 Geeta and Sanjay Chopra murders, fictionalizing the events with new characters. While drawing inspiration from real-life tragedy, the show delves into the psychology of brutality and the complexities of justice. It highlights the investigator's struggle and the societal implications of whose stories get told, offering a gripping portrayal of evil and its random impact.

A satirical take on the debate over passports and citizenship, exploring identity, migration and bureaucracy with humour while questioning what it really means to be an Indian citizen.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarked on a three-day visit to Seychelles to attend its National Day golden jubilee celebrations. He will hold bilateral talks with President Patrick Herminie, aiming to strengthen the maritime neighbour's friendship and cooperation.

West Bengal finance minister Swapan Dasgupta, while presenting the 2026 state budget, said the new BJP government plans to revive the Calcutta Stock Exchange (CSE) as part of its Viksit Bharat and Viksit Bengal vision. The 118-year-old exchange has remained inactive for over a decade.

A remark by an External Affairs Ministry official on Passport Seva Divas that a passport is a travel document, not a document of citizenship sparked confusion and debate, with many questioning whether passports still serve as proof of Indian citizenship.

India's defence strategy has shifted from 'Make in India' to 'Aatmanirbharta', emphasizing indigenous development and discouraging imports. While significant progress has been made in building sophisticated platforms, critical technological gaps, particularly in engines, persist.

Jammu and Kashmir Police have registered a case against several Army personnel, including a commanding officer, for allegedly storming a police station in Kishtwar. The incident reportedly followed the seizure of a private vehicle owned by an Army official for traffic violations. The FIR details an unprovoked assault on police personnel and damage to government property, with the Army stating the matter is under examination and promising appropriate action.

India's ambitious industrial expansion faces a critical hurdle: water scarcity. As manufacturing's GDP contribution targets 25%, companies must prioritize water resilience. With per-capita freshwater dwindling and climate change exacerbating stress, secure and predictable water systems are paramount. Future industrial growth will hinge on regions demonstrating water security, efficient allocation, and advanced reuse, making water efficiency a key competitive proposition.

India's AI growth risks exacerbating severe water stress as data centers, crucial for AI infrastructure, consume vast amounts of water. Cities like Hyderabad and Bengaluru, already facing shortages, are becoming AI hubs. While AI promises inclusive growth, its physical demands strain local resources, necessitating urgent policy reforms and location-specific planning to balance digital ambitions with sustainable resource management.

US trade representative Jamieson Greers recent visit to New Delhi is seen as a key step toward finalising a US-India trade framework, with American whiskey emerging as a major point of interest in the negotiations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized inter-departmental coordination during a Union Cabinet meeting, highlighting the successful NEET-UG re-exam as a prime example of a whole of government approach. He stressed that seamless collaboration across ministries is key to overcoming challenges, recalling similar calls for coordinated efforts during the West Asia crisis to ensure energy security and aid for citizens.

When brands go after metrics and impressions, what is forgotten is getting into the minds of customers.

India's charity sector, vital for social needs, faces evolving regulations aimed at transparency. While scrutiny is accepted, current rules create uncertainty for genuine organizations, diverting resources from beneficiaries. The article advocates for clearer guidance, opportunities to rectify errors, a risk-based approach, and better inter-agency coordination. The goal is to deter misuse while empowering legitimate charities to serve society effectively.

India's ethanol blending program is safe and beneficial, the government assures, dispelling fears about E20 fuel invalidating vehicle insurance. This globally accepted practice, seen in countries like Brazil, has saved India over Rs 1.4 lakh crore in foreign exchange and boosted farmers' incomes. The initiative enhances energy security, cuts emissions, and supports cleaner mobility, with the government committed to its safe and transparent implementation.

Silicon Valley's AI talent war saw tech giants acquire engineers. However, Meta's Mark Zuckerberg broke the mold by investing $900 million in Indian fintech startup Cred and bringing its founder, Kunal Shah, into WhatsApp's C-suite. Shah, a non-engineer with deep consumer insights, is tasked with boosting WhatsApp's payments and commerce, especially in emerging markets, leveraging his proven entrepreneurial success.

The National Family Health Survey 2023-24 reveals India's success in expanding welfare delivery and essential service access, reaching nearly universal coverage for electricity, banking, and improved water. However, the report highlights a growing challenge of lifestyle-related diseases and persistent issues in sustained behavioral change, impacting human capital and economic productivity.

Metas $900 million investment in Cred and the reported appointment of founder Kunal Shah to a global role at WhatsApp marks a significant shift in how the messaging platform may evolve.

William Faulkner, a Nobel laureate, highlighted a timeless truth. Words can be deceptive, but actions demonstrate genuine intent and character. This principle applies to relationships, leadership, and friendships. In today's world, where words are amplified, Faulkner's message reminds us to observe deeds over declarations. People are remembered for what they do, not just what they say.