Driving the future: Navigating 2025 for the Indian automobile industry
Indian manufacturers must contend with stiff competition from global automotive players, demanding continuous innovation and strategic collaborations to maintain a competitive edge
All hail Captain Vijayan, Kerala’s ‘Red Guardian’
Encouraging a personality cult is the common thread running through Indian political parties, regardless of ideology. CPI-M was a rare exception, opting for a collective framework of decision making. Now, on the verge of near electoral irrelevance, the party has joined the mainstream in its last bastion, Kerala. Pinarayi Vijayan has converted electoral success into the building of a personality cult, reminiscent of a particular era in the Soviet Union
India’s third shot at tax reform mustn’t miss the target
While the middle class hopes for urgent relief, New Delhi wants more people to pay taxes. The new code needs to do a balancing act
Quick Commerce’s need for speed poses risks to key stakeholders
Blinkit’s expansion plans signal a race to get to the top in the quick commerce market. Investors seem to be worried it may turn into a race to the bottom instead
Trump’s trade-offs
Trump likes tariffs and tariff threats. Investors, on the whole, do not. At some point the time for posturing will end and the time for policy will begin
Fali Nariman’s acute observations are a launch pad for research on Constitutional issues
An anthology of writings and speeches of the eminent jurist, who passed away last year, contain insightful observations on perennial issues such as corruption and contempt of court. They will continue to be a reference point of many a debate on legal issues
New Budget to focus on fiscal prudence and growth
With high global uncertainty and moderated domestic growth, the Government of India is expected to continue fiscal consolidation while focusing on capital expenditure to boost infrastructure. Projections suggest a modest fiscal deficit reduction, tax revenue growth, and strategic debt management
Trump 2.0: Can India-US trade ties bet on Musk momentum?
Elon Musk favours lowering trade barriers to increase two-way commerce between New Delhi and Washington
Budget needs to start correcting India’s lopsided defence spending
India confronts hostile neighbours which makes the current defence spending of 1.9 percent of GDP inadequate. It needs to rise up to 3 percent of GDP and composition of spending has to pivot from salaries and pensions eating up more than half the share to prioritising the modernisation drive by upgrading armaments
Budget Snapshot: India’s spending on healthcare rises, focus should turn to capacity build-up
With growing healthcare needs, India should ramp up healthcare infrastructure and insurance coverage
Can agents whip up profitable growth for SBI Life?
Shifting from a formidable parent support to agents for more business is commendable but filled with challenges.
Why traders should go in for ‘Dal Chaawal’ style of trading in 2025
In a procyclical phase in markets, the trading ranges are likely to be narrow. Going for the big hits in this market can bring grief to unsuspecting traders
Smriti Irani—all set to make an impact in WEF2025 at Davos
As the Founder and Chairperson of the Alliance for Global Good, Smriti is set to play a pivotal role in advancing global conversations on equity, inclusion, and sustainable development.
Trump’s MAGA agenda is clear. The question now is can it reinforce India’s own economic goal
Donald Trump is set to become president in the backdrop of three consequential challenges, Russia-Ukraine conflict, the unsettled state of West Asia and the adverse global fallout of China’s economic model. On China, the signals have been mixed, with his team comprising hawks and members such as Musk who are invested there. His decisions on China will have a bearing on India and so will the choices exercised to realise the MAGA agenda
Trump’s trade challenge
Will tariffs be his only tool? Or will he support industrial policy and US workers in more effective and durable ways?
Why MSMEs need more time to transition to the new IMS
A new Invoice Management System to strengthen GST compliance which is to be rolled out in April is a positive step. However, the lead time to enable MSMEs to adapt to a new system is inadequate. Indeed, some core features need improvement. To leverage the full potential of IMS, government needs to handhold MSMEs during the transition
Can traditional Indian knowledge secure the future of ‘economics’?
Sanghnomics: Hindu economics, rooted in ancient Indian texts like the Vedas and Arthashastra, offers unique insights into abundance, market regulation, and fair trade. With a focus on self-employment, wage fairness, and consumer protection, it presents a potential solution to modern economic crises
US’ proposed AI Diffusion Framework poses risk to India’s tech ambitions
While in the short run, the practical impact of this proposal on India will not be significant, it essentially hobbles the country’s future ability to be a major player in the technology
Budget 2025: Key proposals to boost India’s power sector
Budget 2025 should focus on expediting PPA signings, enhancing supply chain resilience, advancing technology adoption, and strengthening financial markets to accelerate renewable energy growth. Incentives for CCUS, energy storage, and R&D will drive India’s clean energy transition
RBI research reveals economic ripple effects of geopolitical shocks on India
A one standard deviation shock to the global GPRI can lead to a trade volume decline of 1.0 percentage point and a capital flow cutback of 0.3 percentage points
Trump 2.0 and the 'Madman Theory' of nuclear deterrence
Being disruptive and provocative is part of the Donald Trump playbook. Therefore, his observations on Greenland and Panama Canal should not really be a surprise. His position on nuclear equilibrium, however, should of greater concern because after August 1945, the US has maintained a certain degree of nuclear rectitude. But that doesn’t gel with Trump’s unsettling approach to security
The Eastern Window: Could Trump swing a US-China deal?
Donald Trump is showing eagerness to strike a deal with China. The US and China have as many reasons to come closer as they had to oppose each other. Does a US-China deal serve India’s interest?
Change in IMF forecasts reflects exceptional performance of US economy, dollar
The forecast for India in 2025 has remained the same over the course of the past year
Capital gains in real estate: Resolving acquisition and reinvestment ambiguities to ease litigation
The author recommends Finance Minister to consider adding a clarification to treat the date of possession as the date of acquisition for under-construction properties under Sections 54 and 54F.
Budget Snapshot: How defence stocks march to the FM’s drum
The silver lining for defence sector investors is that these stocks often demonstrate a degree of resilience. In downturns, they tend to fall less sharply than the broader market, while in upswings, they frequently outpace the benchmark indices
