History and politics of appointments to Election Commission
In Constituent Assembly debates, there was a consensus that the right to vote should be treated as a fundamental right and, therefore, integrity of electoral process is of paramount importance. As Supreme Court hears a challenge to the Parliament’s law on the composition of the selection committee for EC, also at stake is the question of separation of powers between the judiciary, legislature and executive
India’s Path to Sustainable Mobility: EV and circular economy practices
India aims to balance economic growth with environmental sustainability through electric vehicle adoption and circular economy practices. By integrating both strategies, India can reduce emissions, lower production costs, and foster long-term economic growth in the automotive sector
How SEBI plans to curb manipulation in F&O stocks
The recent changes by SEBI make operations more expensive for market players. From now on, the computation of the MWPL will only consider the OIs of options closer to the current market price. These options are more expensive than OTM options, complicating pushing a stock onto the ban list
India's efforts to empower gig & contractual workers
The Union Budget highlights the inclusion of gig workers under the PM-JAY healthcare scheme and identity formalisation through the e-Shram portal. Haryana’s HKRN model showcases successful worker welfare for contractual employees, paving the way for national-level expansion
Finally, a drop in lead prices to ease pressure on battery makers
Robust replacement market battery sales, particularly for four-wheelers, aided in pass through of higher input costs
Building a Resilient Supply Chain: The road map for India’s critical minerals
India is late in sourcing critical minerals but it has covered a lot of ground
Martin Wolf: The US is now the enemy of the West
Washington has decided to abandon both Ukraine and its postwar role in the world
‘Churnings’ in South Asia
The expansion of Indian influence in Afghanistan is as troubling for Pakistan as the latter’s wooing and courting of Bangladesh is for India. But as the two nuclear-armed military powers jockey for influence to undercut the other, the key question is: can they overcome the limitations of geography to rewrite history?
How liquidity dictates policy transmission more than rate changes
Trump leaves Europe’s future considerably weakened -- and uncertain
America’s warming up to Russia is putting Europe in disarray
RBI's credit flow easing measures signal pro-growth tilt
The central bank's move to lower risk weights on bank lending to NBFCs and excluding microfinance loans from higher risk weights applicable to consumer credit should boost lending
The Fed monetary policy framework needs work
The central bank needs to recognize the flaws in its monetary policy framework
The UK can’t approach Trump like France and Germany have
Starmer has to do better than Macron and Merz when dealing with the US president
Streamlining recovery processes for retail lending to boost financial inclusion
Retail lending needs a clear, time-bound recovery process like the Corporate Insolvency Act. Streamlining collections would improve transparency, reduce complaints, and lower borrowing costs, promoting credit access, supporting micro-enterprises, and enhancing financial inclusion in India
A framework for technological sovereignty without being insular
Technological sovereignty emphasises national control over critical technologies while balancing security, innovation, and international cooperation, avoiding corporate dominance and ensuring citizens' rights within a fair global technological framework
In a democracy, a military swears loyalty to the nation and flag, not leaders
A purge of US military brass on ideological grounds by the Trump administration foregrounds the fundamental tenet of civil-military equation in a democracy. Civilian oversight along with military loyalty to the nation. In China, military is subordinate to the communist party and not the state, a radically different approach. Trump’s moves suggest an attempt to reorient civil-military relations in the world’s oldest democracy
Money market instruments gain traction as market waits for monetary transmission to kick in
Instruments such CPs and CDs have breached records in terms of outstanding amount as financial entities are opting for short-term instruments till such time RBI’s monetary easing takes effect in the market
Fault lines over Waqf Amendment Bill
Amendments to 1995 law governing Waqf properties have led to a particularly fractious showdown between the government and opposition. A look at the points of difference reveals that the most contentious is one which makes it mandatory for Waqf Boards to appoint two non-Muslims, triggering a debate on whether laws governing other religions have a similar requirement
It’s time for the BOE to crack down on hedge fund lending
Raise the cost of borrowing securities to curb leverage in repo markets
Nestle’s price hike plan shows growing pressure from inflation on food companies
A sharp hike in prices of edible oil, cocoa and coffee is driving up costs while domestic inputs such as wheat too are showing inflationary trends
Trump’s dollar dilemma
US dollar is the principal international reserve currency. A significant proportion of the US trade deficit flows back into the country as central banks invest their USD holdings in American debt. That’s the basis of the dollar hegemony. What happens when this circular flow is undermined?
Locust invasion threat demands India-Pakistan co-operation
As the locust breeding season approaches, both India and Pakistan must depoliticise locust management and prioritise it as a humanitarian imperative. Using technology like drones, weather models, and AI predictions to track, forecast and control the movements of locusts to protect crops
Is execution slowdown a sign of potholes emerging in the road sector?
The slowdown in growth of toll traffic, government capex in roads, pace of project execution by developers all point to slowdown in orders
Ruchir Sharma: Is China investable again?
It always was — at the right price and for those with eyes wide open to the economic downside
Tech evolution a must for EVs to become mainstream
Electric vehicles are the future, but for it to become a practical option for all we need significant advancements in charging infrastructure and battery technology
