The Economic Times

Budget expectations: India's salaried middle class is growing significantly. This expansion is reshaping consumption patterns and boosting financial investments. A larger group of taxpayers now has a stake in economic stability. This growing segment will influence policy debates and electoral outcomes. Their focus is on economic growth and improved living standards.

India's tax revenue growth has slowed significantly in FY26. This creates a challenge for the government balancing economic support and fiscal responsibility. Lower inflation and tax relief contributed to this shortfall. A weakening financial cycle also appears to be impacting tax collections. This trend may continue into FY27, requiring conservative tax forecasts and a strong signal of fiscal discipline.

Indias landmark FTA with the EU takes trade to a new scale, boosting exports, jobs and MSMEs while aligning growth with clean energy, resilient supply chains and deeper global integration.

MGNREGA is not a dole but a dignity-based right to work that strengthens rural incomes, womens participation and local assets. Proposed reforms risk weakening its legal guarantee, decentralised planning and support for poorer states.

India and the European Union have successfully concluded Free Trade Agreement negotiations. This landmark deal, initiated in 2007, marks a significant commercial and strategic step. The agreement aims to strengthen trade flows between the two entities. It will reduce barriers for Indian businesses entering the EU market. European firms will gain access to India's growing economy.

India's democracy faces challenges as politicians often prioritize personal gain over public interest. However, the nation's constitution, crafted by unelected individuals, established vital independent institutions. These bodies, like the Supreme Court and armed forces, command public respect. They provide essential checks and balances, safeguarding minority rights and ensuring a robust democratic framework beyond mere elections.

India faces a mixed outlook with Trump's administration, marked by high tariffs and a lack of trade deals, while Pakistan and China gain attention. New US defense strategy sidelines India, focusing on 'strategic stability' with China. Meanwhile, US diplomats are reportedly engaging with Islamist groups in India's neighborhood, raising concerns in Delhi.

As PM E-DRIVE subsidies end, Indias EV shift must move beyond battery size to focus on efficiency, reliability, financing and localisationbuilding a post-subsidy ecosystem rooted in performance, data and consumer trust.

India and the European Union are at a turning point after decades of slow progress on deeper ties, driven by major shifts in global geopolitics. The EUs traditional pillarssecurity reliance on the US, energy ties with Russia, and strong trade links with Chinahave weakened due to Trump-era uncertainty, the Ukraine war, and growing friction with China.

As India Energy Week opens in Goa, India is in a favourable energy position with ample oil supply, easing prices, and a coming LNG supply boom. Oil prices remain low despite global geopolitical tensions, creating a rare window for difficult but necessary energy reforms.

Silicon Valley and India Inc are locked in an AI talent war, but the real edge isnt elite hires. The future belongs to organisations that upskill their entire workforce to use AI fluently and become 10x professionals.

No offence, MPs, but the union budget is so supremely boring that maybe, just maybe, Trump@Davos could serve as a constructive model for how to Make Budget 2026 Bearable (MB26B)

A vacationer's initial admiration for the modern Greek mindset, contrasting it with India's focus on a glorious past, was shattered by a tour guide's historical inaccuracies. The guide's dismissal of slavery and her assertion that capitalism began at the Acropolis led the writer to reconsider their initial impressions.

For NRIs, a humble cup of tea transcends mere beverage; it blossoms into a profound connection to home. In their native land, tea serves as a token of love and camaraderie, a ritual shared among friends and family. Yet, in the Western world, individuals embrace a new independence, crafting their own brews in solitude.

Parents often avoid teaching civic responsibility to avoid conflict. This lackadaisical attitude, stemming from a sense of individual convenience over collective goals, contributes to widespread pollution, with citizens expecting the government to solve problems without personal sacrifice or behavioral change.

Britain and the US are taking decisive action against unhealthy food marketing. Britain banned unhealthy food ads on TV before 9 pm and online. The US Dietary Guidelines now urge reducing processed foods. These moves signal a global shift, recognising that commercial practices, not just individual choice, drive unhealthy eating.

Indias quick commerce (qcom) sector is booming, projected to reach $6.94bn in 2026 and $11.08bn by 2030, with grocery and staples dominating the market. 10minute delivery became a symbol of convenience and indulgence, driving rapid adoption even for non-essential items. Brands and D2C players benefit from faster buying cycles, new customers, and higher revenues, while delivery partners earn more than typical food delivery roles.

A quiet revolution is dismantling the traditional link between revenue and headcount in the global services economy. AI-native companies are decoupling growth from payroll, shifting success metrics to outcome per unit of intelligence. This transition re-architects white-collar labor, forcing enterprises to choose between labor or intelligence arbitrage.