BUSINESS
UPI’s democratised cashless payments but not grievance redressal
Medium-to-low digital proficiency users experience anxiety when they have to use in-app mechanisms to deal with problems. It has got to do with designs that do not account for user proficiency and expectations. A few changes could uplift the experience for all users
BUSINESS
Karnataka positions itself as GCC hub, unveils innovative policy to boost GCC ecosystem
Karnataka's new GCC Policy 2024-29 aims to focus on talent development, local collaboration, infrastructure incentives, and regulatory easing, positioning it as a top destination for Global Capability Centers and enhancing India's role in global tech innovation
BUSINESS
Harnessing India's e-commerce potential for the next export growth surge
India aims to enhance its e-commerce exports, currently at $15.8 billion, through initiatives like dedicated export hubs and streamlined regulations. These efforts seek to bolster the market presence of domestic manufacturers, particularly MSMEs, as part of a broader export strategy
BUSINESS
Capital Comfort: Millennials breathe life into high-end real estate
JLL India reports that in the first nine months of 2024, the premium housing segment (Rs 3-5 crore) saw an impressive 107 percent year-on-year growth, while the luxury segment (priced above Rs 5 crore) grew by 96 percent.
BUSINESS
Chart of the Day | The untapped potential of India's mutual funds
While financial savings account for 46% of gross household savings, only 6% is allocated to mutual funds, underscoring the significant growth potential in the mutual fund industry
BUSINESS
Chart of the Day: The two worries that kept the RBI from cutting rates
Food and fuel are spoiling the case for rate cuts, again
BUSINESS
Human-AI Collaboration: Imperative to strike the right balance between futurising and humanising
Generative AI's growth is transforming industries, but engineers must prioritise human-centred design. By addressing biases, ensuring data security, and promoting transparency, AI can complement human creativity, ethics, and empathy, fostering collaboration thats beneficial for other sectors too
BUSINESS
Doubling down on a competitive advantage
India provides a near-perfect location to establish a global capability centre. One of its USPs is top-tier yet affordable human capital. Could this operating environment be made even more attractive through more regulatory easing?
BUSINESS
Chart of the day| What's driving logistic sector's growth
The logistics sector's size is projected to grow from an estimated Rs 9 lakh crore in FY23 to approximately Rs 13.4 lakh crore by FY28
BUSINESS
RBI should stick to wait and see approach
RBI’s monetary policy committee begins its meeting today, with the outcome scheduled to be announced on October 9. It’s prudent to retain status quo right now because a fraught situation in West Asia has a bearing on oil price even as early signs of growth fatigue are visible
WORLD
Israel-Hamas conflict a year on shows realpolitik is the only reality
Israel’s conflict with non-state actors such as Hamas and Hezbollah, and Iran encapsulates something more than the unresolved Palestine issue. It depicts the dismantling of the belief that there’s a rules-based international order. With great powers unwilling to do enough, the stark reality is evident
BUSINESS
The Reading List: October 4, 2024
Our research and opinion teams have curated a selection of articles and social media gems from the world of economy, business and finance for your weekend read
BUSINESS
Chart of the Day: RBI’s monetary easing has already started through liquidity
Global volatility makes it a challenge for the RBI to ease policy, but it has already begun the process by easing liquidity.
BUSINESS
COP29: Should we harbor great expectations amid urgent climate crisis and global uncertainty?
As COP29 approaches, public interest wanes despite escalating climate threats. Previous conferences showed diminishing outcomes, and with geopolitical tensions and insufficient funding, expectations for meaningful progress are low. Urgent actions on energy transition and financing are crucial for future climate efforts
BUSINESS
Finance Commission can create more fiscal space for states through grants
16th Finance Commission is working on a resource sharing formula in the backdrop of a squeeze in the share of unconditional transfer of resources from centre to states. This limit fiscal space of states. One way to give states more flexibility is to enhance FC grants, which comes without strings attached
BUSINESS
AI Agents: The future of task management and workforce productivity
AI assistants with agentic reasoning can work as human proxies which can help harness their potential to drive economic growth, and foster a more creative and productive society. The technology exists and now the responsibility lies with us to identify the tasks that can be delegated to these agents
INDIA
The Arbitration Retreat: A short-sighted policy move?
The Indian government's decision to limit arbitration in public contracts to disputes under Rs 10 crore raises significant concerns due to its lack of empirical support. This policy shift could undermine the dispute resolution framework and negatively impact the investment climate and economic growth
BUSINESS
Platformisation is an effective vehicle to reach the net zero goal
National oil companies have ambitious renewable energy plans to help meet India’s net zero goal. They would do well to take a leaf out of concepts such as Norway’s Northern Lights project to pool resources to create a stand-alone entity to carry out plans to generate energy from renewables or sequester carbon
INDIA
Securing coastal communities’ livelihoods through mangrove conservation
Mangroves are vital to the coastal ecosystems they protect against storms, support fisheries, and provide economic opportunities through forestry and ecotourism. Despite facing significant threats from urban development and climate change, the Indian government has undertaken initiatives to conserve mangroves while enhancing livelihoods
BUSINESS
Chart of the Day | How markets responded to the Fed's interest rate cuts
In 12 months after previous Fed rate cuts, the market gained by an average of 11% when there was no recession and even during recessions it managed an average increase of 8%
BUSINESS
The Reading List: September 27, 2024
Our research and opinion teams have curated a selection of articles and social media gems from the world of economy, business and finance for your weekend read.
INDIA
The race for critical materials and how India can get ahead
Copper and nickel are indispensable to build up our renewable energy and EV industry without being overly reliant on external sources. Getting a grip on their supply is tied to India’s long-term goals of carbon neutrality. Recycling will be integral to the strategy of building up a reliable supply
INDIA
Redomiciling to India shouldn’t leave any shareholder at a disadvantage
‘Reverse flips’ are being triggered by the desire of firms to tap into India’s deepening capital market which is in the midst of an IPO boom. The process, which involves a merger, is still at an early stage of evolution in India and shareholders need to ensure their rights are not diluted in the new structure
TRAVEL
A Tale of Two Stupas: Kesariya and Borobudur - journey from glory to obscurity
Kesariya, in Bihar, is a semi-excavated Buddhist stupa with immense potential, akin to Indonesia’s Borobudur. Despite its historical significance and the Buddha's connections, it remains underfunded and overlooked, contrasting sharply with Borobudur’s thriving tourism and UNESCO status. India's untapped potential is worth pondering on World Tourism Day
