BUSINESS
Next GST Council meeting may eliminate 12% tax slab and shift items to other slabs
The 56th GST Council meeting is due soon. Its agenda is expected to include items such as GST slab rate rationalisation and a decision on consumer requests for an exemption of GST on health insurance premium
BUSINESS
Chart of the Day: Creator of middle class, PSU banks are biggest lenders to small entrepreneurs
Micro firms have a higher incidence of delinquencies, but stress has reduced.
INDIA
India's Clinical Trials: From emerging player to global leader in drug development
India's clinical trial industry has surged into the top three globally, driven by regulatory reforms, affordability, vast patient pools, and growing international confidence, positioning India as a key player in global drug development
BUSINESS
How the Iran-Israel war has altered the market
After a strong rebound from April lows, Indian markets are treading cautiously again—sector churn and fading participation hint at a rally on shaky legs
BUSINESS
Lowering tariffs and trade barriers could unlock Viksit Bharat 2047
India's aspiration to become a developed country by 2047 hinges on its ability to unlock unprecedented growth, innovation, and capital
BUSINESS
Taxes are not exported; GST on intermediaries’ foreign earnings should go
India has positioned itself as a global services powerhouse over the past few decades. However, a critical segment, intermediaries, continues to face the GST hurdle, potentially costing the country billions in lost opportunities. India needs to amend the existing GST law and grant export status to them to boost opportunities in the services sector
BUSINESS
India’s diplomacy and FTA negotiations – A turbulent path
India’s approach to trade talks are undergirded by two critical premises. One, concessions are linked to geopolitical context. Two, policy space is a strategic asset and not a bargaining chip. In the case of the US as the administration is prone to flip-flops, India’s insisting on review clauses that lets both sides revisit flash points
BUSINESS
India's CCPA targets dark patterns in e-commerce for fair design
The CCPA advisory urges e-commerce platforms to eliminate dark patterns in design, enhancing user autonomy and aligning with global standards. Platforms must self-audit and ensure transparent, informed consent practices
BUSINESS
FTAs are welcome but don’t let them undermine pharma industry and drug access
In last two decades, the country’s IP model continues to serve as a global benchmark for balancing innovation with public health. India’s philosophy remains rooted in a simple principle: innovation and access are not competing goals; they are complementary imperatives. Good health policy isn’t about choosing between science and society; it’s about designing systems where both can thrive, and India’s IP framework proves it’s possible
BUSINESS
India’s Income Rise: Powered by PM Modi, led by the people
At a time when many nations are choosing uncertainty, India has chosen continuity over chaos, stability over slogans, and growth over gridlock. The world sees it. The markets reflect it. And most importantly, the people have reaffirmed it
BUSINESS
Chart of the Day | Why India’s trade surplus with the US is likely to get trimmed
The level of tariffs and the basket of merchandise goods traded are to blame for it
BUSINESS
Future-Proofing India’s Workforce: How CSR can mitigate AI-driven job displacement
As AI reshapes the workforce, India must leverage CSR and government programmes to upskill workers, minimise displacement, and build inclusive growth through ethical policies, corporate responsibility, and strategic reskilling initiatives
BUSINESS
Reforming SEBI rules for India’s new-age tech IPOs
India’s tech IPO boom demands regulatory reforms. Current SEBI rules, built for traditional models, must evolve to support NATCs’ asset-light strategies and intangible investments, aligning with global, principles-based disclosure practices
BUSINESS
Chart of the Day | Strait of Hormuz at risk, what a blockade means for oil prices, the world economy
Iran’s move to potentially block the Strait of Hormuz—through which 20 percent of the world’s oil flows—has triggered global alarm. As tensions soar following US airstrikes, the stakes for global energy security and economic stability have never been higher
POLITICS
Opposition-mukt Maharashtra?
It’s not the performance of the Fadnavis government which has rendered the political opposition barely visible. It’s the lack of fight and the inability to come up with a reworked strategy that has conveyed the impression that Maharashtra’s politics carries on without an opposition. It’s advantage BJP ahead of the civic polls
TRENDS
What science says about yoga, meditation, and the human brain
Yoga and meditation offer science-backed tools to reduce stress, sharpen focus, and foster emotional balance. The essential skills for thriving in today’s fast-paced, distraction-filled world
TRENDS
On International Yoga Day, the world needs to tap into one of India’s greatest contributions
Human life span is increasing on the heels of great advances in medical technology. However, it doesn’t ensure that quality of life is satisfactory. Yoga is now a pillar on which enterprises are ensuring that ageing is not accompanied by undue loss of self-reliance
BUSINESS
The Reading List: June 20, 2025
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 | Will cement prices stay strong, after hitting multi-year lows in FY2025?
The big support for cement demand comes from government capex, which is likely to be robust this fiscal (FY2026)
BUSINESS
Chart of the Day: India’s goods export growth is a casualty of trade uncertainties
Core export growth has not recovered from the trough seen post pandemic
BUSINESS
The missing middle in India’s startup ecosystem
India's startup ecosystem is evolving, with capital-efficient, early-exit businesses forming a sustainable ‘missing middle’ beyond unicorn-focused narratives. This article talks about how early exits can be a gamechanger for micro-VCs
INDIA
Copper: A strategic material for modern warfare
Copper is crucial to India’s defence manufacturing, enabling advanced systems in vehicles like the CCIV, supporting communication, radar, and weapon technologies for modern combat effectiveness
WORLD
G7 faces a test of relevance at Kananaskis
A traditional advantage of the summit of some of the world’s most influential countries is that shared values have aided forging a consensus and a plan of action, something global multilateral bodies are unable to do. This time, with the US veering towards isolationism the credibility of G7 is at stake. For India, however, a silver lining is that it is necessarily central to any response the G7 wants to craft to counter China
BUSINESS
Chart of the Day: Why gold is fast becoming the asset of choice for central bankers
Gold has officially dethroned the Euro as the world's second-largest reserve asset, reaching 20 percent of global foreign reserves compared to the Euro's 16 percent, according to the European Central Bank's latest assessment. This historic shift, driven by unprecedented central bank, signals a fundamental restructuring of the global monetary system amid rising geopolitical tensions.
