What to make of the Pakistan-Saudi defence deal?
The recent defence deal between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan has wide ranging implications for several countries including India, the Arab world, Israel and the U.S. Much depends on whether the Saudi intention is limited to gaining capability to counter Israel or will it try to empower Pakistan as well
OPINION | Belated European recognition for Palestinian statehood is a response to popular empathy but lacks teeth
UK and France have taken the lead to diverge from the US position on Palestinian statehood. But on their own, there’s little they can do to bring about a viable Palestinian state. As for India, it’s possible to do better in balancing strategic interests with a humanitarian impulse
India must harness AI potential to boost trade
The huge potential of AI in catalysing trade and economic growth, globally and locally, was highlighted in two separate reports recently
OPINION | Refusing mediation should come at a cost
Mediation in India today is too often a box to be ticked, a hollow formality. Without a credible cost for walking away, mediation will remain symbolic. With such consequences, however, it could become the pressure valve India’s clogged courts desperately need
Chart of the Day: H1B visa sucker punch -- What’s at stake for Indian IT?
H1B employees may be only a slice of the workforce but are a very valuable one. Replacing them will be an expensive endeavour. All this, when valuations appear plump
OPINION | Why is the world ready for Ayurveda now?
Ayurveda, the world’s oldest healthcare system, is experiencing a resurgence as it aligns with modern wellness trends. Its focus on prevention, mental health, and sustainable living is gaining scientific validation and global recognition
A health check for interest rate-sensitive stocks
The upcoming MPC meeting will play a key role in determining how stocks that are sensitive to interest rate movements perform
OPINION | India faces diplomatic test amid Nepal's political upheaval
Nepal's Gen Z protests and political turmoil challenge India’s diplomacy, testing its Neighborhood First policy. India seeks to balance cautious optimism with strategic engagement as Nepal undergoes significant political changes
OPINION | Redesigning UPI infrastructure for the digital economy's next phase
As UPI grows exponentially, banks must modernize their infrastructure to ensure scalability, security, and compliance. Two strategies, sidecar switch or full replacement, offer paths to meet evolving demands and regulatory expectations
Nvidia and OpenAI are mostly performing for the algorithm
If Monday’s deal seems performative, perhaps that’s the point
GST cuts to fuel demand — But is consumption already at full throttle?
The latest GST rate reductions aim to boost consumption, but data show India is already operating near peak demand levels
Policymakers missed what Project 25 spelled out for India
The Trump administration's recent moves against India—from H-1B visa restrictions to tariff threats—weren't sudden policy shifts but predictable outcomes clearly outlined in the Heritage Foundation's Project 25 blueprint
OPINION | The Wire Across the Roof of the World: China pushes the clean electricity frontier
China is stringing an extension cord across the roof of the world. If it hums as planned, it will light coastal cities and lock the Tibetan plateau more firmly into the national core. It is a lesson in how clean energy and state power can travel together
India’s an antique land, but its antiquities law needs to be modern
The prevailing law treats every collector with suspicion. The outcomes are lost opportunities to project soft power and limited revenue for the government. The law needs to change and treat collectors as partners in preserving India’s rich heritage
Bachat Utsav: How GST 2.0 makes Navratri a festival of savings and growth
Lower taxes on essentials and aspirational products create household relief, stimulate consumption, and unlock sectoral opportunities
Rahul Gandhi’s election integrity campaign has grabbed attention, but can it deliver votes?
The real test lies not in television debates or press statements but on the ground—will Gandhi’s gambit strike a chord with voters, or will it fade into yet another episode of political shadowboxing remains to be seen
India’s Earth Observation satellite ambition hinges on private sector push
India’s ambitious plan to launch 119 Earth Observation satellites by 2040 requires major private sector involvement, strategic policy support, and clear execution to scale effectively and compete in the global EO market
How broad is the rally?
Plus the capex boom
GST rate cuts and consumption demand: What should investors be watching out for?
In the immediate aftermath of the GST rate cuts, here are the main questions facing the economy, business and investors
Chart of the Day: SEBI's REIT reclassification opens door to $20 billion commercial real estate market
India's Real Estate Investment Trust market is experiencing unprecedented momentum following SEBI's strategic reclassification, positioning the $20 billion sector for substantial growth
The new geo-economics India must prepare to compete in
India’s rising share of global GDP signals opportunity but not inevitability. Converting scale into lasting influence will demand human capital, institutional strength, innovation, and deeper but tougher reforms
NTPC should flex its execution muscles to reduce valuation gap with peers
Power generation capacity additions lagged expectations in FY25
A roller coaster ride for agrochemical companies as harsh monsoon hurts demand
Crop damage and incessant rains have hit demand for crop protection products
PM Modi may be signalling a seminal thrust towards swadeshi and atmanirbharta
The message of the speech, in the backdrop of the tariffs and visa issues, is probably to indicate that hereafter India should and will learn to go it alone, writes Latha Venkatesh
