BUSINESS
Data Protection: Overregulation could kill the entrepreneurial spirit of Digital India
The JPC report on the data protection law is out. It could affect everyone from businesses dealing in data such as managed services, social media and it gives the government a central role on virtually all things digital
POLITICS
Election freebies do poor no good, only harm the system
The incredible range of freebie promises before the upcoming state elections threatens state finances and raises serious governance issues
BUSINESS
Relief for co-op bank depositors comes late
Most depositors in cooperative banks are working class or middle class people who never venture out into the securities markets and whose understanding of financial rules of the game is virtually zero
BUSINESS
US’s democracy jamboree all set to backfire
The US democracy summit is a thinly disguised attempt to forge a broader coalition against China and Russia
BUSINESS
Vaccinate more to fight omicron, protect economic recovery
If fear of a lethal new variant wreaks havoc on business sentiment and adversely affects private investment, then the current nascent recovery will receive a setback
BUSINESS
Digital fintech needs physical wheels to move forward
The fintech market is projected to grow at a compound annual rate of 22 per cent to reach a value of $ 84 billion by 2025. Last year, mobile payments exceeded ATM cash withdrawals
BUSINESS
A comprehensive MSP is impractical, so what’s the solution then?
Experience so far shows guaranteeing an MSP causes havoc on the ground. The solution to making farming viable lies elsewhere
BUSINESS
Allowing corporate ownership in banks would be a political hot potato
The RBI has laid down clear guidelines on bank ownership
BUSINESS
Writing artificial intelligence code for the world -- out of India
India's prowess in writing software AI applications has come to the fore, with global IT majors and domestic software biggies joining hands
BUSINESS
In data protection bill, national security wins over right to privacy
The dissenters on the Joint Parliamentary Committee point out that Section 12 of the proposed legislation lays down grounds for processing personal data without the consent of the person concerned. Further, Section 35 allows the government to exempt selected agencies from the overall safeguards outlined in the bill for personal data in the interest of the integrity and sovereignty of India, the security of the state, friendly relations with foreign states and public order
BUSINESS
The politics and economics of farm laws repeal
What the Centre had planned would, in the aggregate, raise farm incomes substantially and enable India to move up from being a low middle income country. The crucial mistake the Centre made was not to spend enough time with farmers explaining the whole new system and securing their support
BUSINESS
Indian agriculture will have to become climate resistant in reducing greenhouse gases
Much work has been done in agricultural research, but it needs to be ensured that farmers adopt these best practices
BUSINESS
Bringing G-Secs to the lay investor
Opening up the G-Sec market for retail investment will meet a felt individual investor need for a truly balanced portfolio
BUSINESS
RBI can fight climate change by learning from its peers
The RBI must find ways of making funds available at a concessional rate for investments in renewable energy and green technology
BUSINESS
What lies behind the record festive season sales
The fall in fuel prices should extend consumption demand beyond the festive season
BUSINESS
What the demand for the rural jobs programme tells us about rural distress
It is ironic that payments are delayed to the rural jobs programme at a time when central government finances have improved substantially
BUSINESS
Last chance for humanity to save itself from climate catastrophe
The task before COP26 is to ensure that carbon emissions are cut by at least 40 per cent by 2030 to ensure that global warming is restricted to 1.5 degrees Centigrade
BUSINESS
Don't burden PSU banks with social agenda
The government is right in seeking to ensure social security for the poor. But should it do so through the public sector banks?
BUSINESS
Vaccination: A billion steps forward, but more to go
The fact is that while China has fully vaccinated 71.8 percent of its population, India has fully vaccinated just 21.8 percent
INDIA
Fighting hunger may be an expensive endeavour but the social and economic benefits will be worth it
Why there should be a focus on eliminating hunger and what India's government -- at the Centre and states -- can do about it
BUSINESS
GatiShakti seeks to power infrastructure, but success depends on co-operation by all actors
The government's master plan to push ahead Rs 100 lakh crore of investment depends on whether different arms of the bureaucracy and state governments work in sync
BUSINESS
India’s urban growth engine may stutter if power shortage worsens
The service economy could take a big hit if power supply to cities gets affected
BUSINESS
The coal crisis can be a blessing in disguise
India should use this opportunity to scale up its renewable capacity, slashing its dependence on coal
BUSINESS
Merck’s COVID-19 drug can be a game-changer
Merck already has arrangements with eight Indian pharma companies to manufacture the drug and undoubtedly, all efforts will be made to make it more affordable than currently indicated
