Building Resilient Startups: A shift towards sustainable growth in India’s ecosystem
In India’s evolving startup ecosystem, investors prioritise sustainable growth by focusing on customer acquisition, retention, and monetisation. With a shift towards revenue milestones over unicorn valuations, this approach aims to build resilient businesses capable of long-term success and scalability
US-China antimony trade war reflects a weaponised industrial reliance
Antimony is at the centre of US-China trade war, ironically also of their mutual dependence
Startup Street: 2024 -- A year when Indian startups thrived amid global turmoil
Indian startups can bank on another blockbuster year in 2025
Soft raw material prices to support record profit margins of pharma companies
The falling prices can pose headwinds to API producers but can benefit final drug manufacturers
Markets too bullish for comfort, says global fund manager survey
The Bank of America survey of global fund managers says that the only times cash allocation among global fund managers was near December 2024 levels were back in January -March 2002 and in February 2011, which were huge tops in risk assets. Wednesday’s sharp fall in the markets supports the BofA view
Is the falling rupee an opportunity or a risk?
The RBI’s liquidity play entwined with its forex interventions could be a boon for bonds
Delhi can electrify its path to clean air
Delhi’s air pollution problem is not insolvable. Beijing represents a prominent success story of a city that cleaned up its act. Vehicular emissions are primary cause of Delhi’s poor air quality. Therefore, public policy which encourages adoption of electric vehicles in place of combustion engine powered vehicles is the key to changing things for the better
VFS Global needs to be scrutinised by the competition regulator
VFS Global performs what used to be a sovereign function of consular, passport and visa services. The law gives it a de-facto monopoly, making it impossible for competition to come up. Given this context, there’s a strong case for the competition regulator to investigate the company’s practices to see if the consumer is really the king here
A better way to make billions as Chinese companies look abroad
Investors can ask which companies will be disrupted — or receive unexpected windfalls — as Chinese firms rush abroad
The Federal Reserve should pause before cutting interest rates again
Interest rates might need to fall further in 2025, but it’s too soon to say
Climate politics could be about to go into reverse
It’s not just Trump — elections around the world may produce a new crop of net zero critics in 2025
NPCI, please implement your directive on UPI market share
National Payments Corporation of India’s deadline to transition to a system where no single UPI app has more than 30 percent market share is fast approaching. However, the deadline is not sacrosanct as it has been extended earlier. A policy professional argues that there should be no more extensions as a near-duopoly in market share of third party apps disincentivizes innovation
The agricultural marketing policy will help bring the fruits of development to farmers
Focusing on the food processing sector will deliver multiple goals such as fighting rural employment, rural poverty, food security and food inflation. Emerging policy needs to ensure that the APMC system promotes food processing
Bleak global outlook, a negative for Indian auto component exporters
A weak demand environment in global auto sales coupled with sluggishness on home turf could be tough posers for India’s component manufacturers
The hidden cost of convenience is adding to the rising e-waste crisis
The growing e-waste crisis is fuelled by impulsive buying and rapid technological upgrades. Consumers, businesses, and policymakers must prioritise sustainability, repair over replacement, and responsible recycling to mitigate environmental harm and ensure longer product lifespans
India's crypto conundrum: Balancing regulation with realising its market potential
While the global landscape for cryptocurrency continues to evolve, the Indian government is taking a cautious approach
A subtle shift in India’s trade trajectory is taking hold
Amid the concerns reflected in November trade statistics, services exports offer comfort and confidence
FIIs are falling out of love with Indian bonds -- Policy rates are not the only reason
Foreign investors are becoming less enthusiastic about Indian debt
Chart of the Day | A puzzling dichotomy is shaping up between housing prices and bank lending
The House Price Index and home loan growth trends in banks show a divergent trend
Putin is vulnerable, US and Europe should capitalise on it
The US and Europe should exploit Russia’s economic vulnerability to negotiate a better peace
Trump-Xi bromance has a chance in 2025
The US-China relationship will be better served by collaboration, not acrimony. The moment for better ties could come next year
What can Hindu women really inherit?
Almost seven decades after The Hindu Succession Act was enacted to end gender discrimination in inheritance, there’s ambiguity in its interpretation. To bring finality to the issue, the Supreme Court recently referred it to a larger bench. A deep dive into the law and subsequent jurisprudence traces how a progressive legislation has not always produced the desired results
Don’t count on rural recovery by looking at crop output
The strength of rural recovery and its attendant impact on consumption depends not so much on output but on prices realized by farmers. On that score, there are worrying signs as the market price of three key crops, moong, soybean and groundnut, are ruling below their respective MSPs. Low returns for farmers can act as a drag on rural demand which will have a knock-on effect on GDP growth rate
China would baulk at a sweeping Mar-a-Lago accord
Given the need for a weak renminbi to support export growth, a reprise of the 1985 Plaza Accord with Japan is unlikely
Reforming India's personal insolvency framework for economic stability and growth
India's personal insolvency framework requires reform to address financial distress, promote economic stability, and empower individuals. A robust framework can prevent systemic risks, strengthen institutions, and foster sustainable growth by adopting global best practices and addressing local socio-economic realities
