Data Story: Kiranas are getting squeezed by quick commerce, modern trade channels
In All-India metro markets in 2025, quick commerce and modern trade channels grabbed 3.1 percentage points of share away from kiranawalas
Opinion | The civilisational salience of Bengal elections 2026
The stakes in Bengal’s 2026 state elections are far larger than a routine change of government.
Why Hormuz will haunt us long after this war ends
Iran has shown that control of the strait gives it a stranglehold over the world economy
OPINION | India’s child data protection needs infrastructure, not platform bans
Why India’s privacy law has sparked a deeper debate between banning risks and building infrastructure for digital safety
The curious case of copper and gas shortages
The supercycle hypothesis in natural gas and copper due to AI is a dodgy one at best
OPINION | Faith tourism and smaller city travellers drive India’s holiday boom
Travel patterns are shifting even as tourism industry grows from strength to strength. Monsoon getaways, winter pilgrimages and rising travel from smaller cities are reshaping travel patterns across a sector now worth over $200 billion
Iran conflict — A test for India’s BRICS diplomacy?
With Tehran seeking support and solidarity, New Delhi needs to balance competing geopolitical interests within an expanding BRICS
RBI’s dividend reset puts weak banks on notice
By tying payouts more tightly to capital buffers and bad loans, the central bank is quietly forcing banks to clean up their balance sheets before rewarding shareholders
Chart of the Day: IT sector’s premium to Nifty 50 crumbles on AI concerns
The NSE IT index is trading at a similar valuation to Nifty 50 index compared to a 38 percent premium in FY25
OPINION | Supreme Court’s 9-judge constitutional bench will demarcate the boundary for labour rights
On March 17, a constitutional bench will begin hearing a reference related to the scope and correctness of a 1978 judgement. At its core is this question: what is the statutory meaning of “industry”? The answer will influence labour relations
OPINION | 'The intention underlying withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatment is only to ease suffering and protect dignity': Dr Dhvani Mehta
Harish Rana was moved to palliative care on March 16, following a far-reaching Supreme Court verdict. His lawyer explains why it’s inappropriate to label it passive euthanasia
Water availability in rural India to get a leg-up from Jal Jeevan Mission 2
The government is proposing to spend Rs 4 lakh crore in the second phase of the Jal Jeevan Mission to focus more on service delivery than just on infrastructure creation
OPINION | Political stakes rise as five regions prepare for polls
Assembly elections in four states and Puducherry trigger intense political contests, with regional issues, opposition strategies and leadership battles shaping campaigns as parties vie for voter support
OPINION | Supply chain disruptions and the consumerism crisis
Sanghnomics: Supply chain panic highlights the fragility of consumption-driven economies. Indian philosophical traditions and Integral Humanism propose restrained consumption and sustainable development as alternatives
Chart of the Day: Market mayhem — Which sectors took a direct hit?
Indian benchmark indices have shed over 8 percent since American and Israeli forces struck Iran, but the damage has not been spread evenly. Certain sectors have taken a far heavier blow
India, China can play a key role to resolve Iran crisis
Scores of countries are watching helplessly as the Middle-East conflict is causing them economic losses and endangering world peace. In this situation, India and China, two biggest oil buyers, are best placed to create a climate that would result in peace negotiations to bring about de-escalation and save the oil fields from drones and missiles
OPINION | In week 3 of US-Israel-Iran war, there’s a risk of water infrastructure being targeted
US bombing Kharg Island is potentially an inflection point. If both sides don’t exercise a modicum of restraint, parts of the region can become unhabitable for a while
Are markets being too complacent about the Iran war?
Sometimes crises do not blow over as investors might hope
February growth bounce signals strong end to FY26 for life insurers
Life insurers are on a decent growth path this year but it is margins that would set them apart in the market
Power companies brace for demand surge as El Nino indicates extended summer
The optimism is reflecting in shares of electricity producers and of Coal India
Prolonged Iran conflict to keep commodity markets on edge ahead of FOMC, China data
Looking ahead, markets will focus on the upcoming policy decision from the Federal Reserve, where rates are widely expected to remain unchanged but updated economic projections will be closely watched.
The oil bounty India cannot count on anymore
Volatility in energy is at its peak due to geopolitical tensions in Middle East which continue to disrupt supply chains, and the discounts that once drove India’s crude arbitrage has vanished.
Geopolitical tensions rise, but why aren’t gold prices?
A combination of stronger dollar and higher inflationary environment in turn leading to probable rise in interest rates by the US Federal Reserve are hindrances for gold prices moving higher, despite the geo-political risk arising out of the war.
OPINION | War and uncertainty will undermine global economic growth drivers and lower oil price
One major limitation of an inflation target is that it precludes preemptive easing in response to a sudden weakening of the economy, a danger at present. Even as shipments of crude remain low due to Iran’s blockade and steep insurance rates, a sharp drop in global demand, as took place due to Covid, may put an offsetting downward pressure on crude oil prices
The Reading List: March 13, 2026
A selection of articles and social media gems from the world of economy, business and finance, curated by our research and opinion teams
