GST 2.0 rings in positive changes, but businesses have to work fast to be ready for the new structure
The overarching aim is to boost consumption with a reduction in rates across a slew of products. Industries such as FMCG may have to grapple with an inverted duty structure but measures to speed up refunds will help
Political calculations underpinning GST 2.0
It ticks all the right boxes by protecting the base which contributes the bulk of GST revenue while moving most items of mass consumption to a lower slab. That’s the template all political parties agree on
K Kavitha’s exit from BRS shows that even in political families, it’s a man’s world
Her accusations against two cousins and frustration with her sibling has come after a steady erosion of power within the party. Kavitha’s isolation and the likelihood that the fallout of her exit will be negligible is a clear sign of the pecking order in not just in BRS but also other family-dominated political parties
If AI lifts off, will living standards follow?
Champions of artificial intelligence claim it could fuel genuine economic growth
Long bonds’ synchronised decline
Plus more on jobs and growth
Aatmanirbhar Bharat and the rise of India’s manufacturing power
India’s shift towards self-reliance is evident in its growing role in global value chains, with innovations in manufacturing, defense, and transportation. Aatmanirbhar Bharat emphasizes assertive growth, quality standards, and policy support
Insurers' business growth gets a GST booster, but benefits are limited
Higher growth augurs well for life insurers’ future profits and therefore investors are likely to rejoice this move.
Chart of the Day | Industrial credit offtake remains challenging for banks
Good cash flows in most front-rung companies and a vibrant equity market resulted in decline in industrial credit offtake
Sweeping GST cuts in auto sector to rev up sales, will earnings bump up too?
GST cuts, in line with expectations, should spark festive season sales and bump up volume-driven revenue for auto companies across the board
Are Indian stocks near fair value after global underperformance?
Despite a challenging year that saw Indian markets emerge as global laggards with zero dollar returns, valuation metrics suggest the market may be approaching but hasn't yet reached its fundamental bottom
Economic Bullying: Why tariffs and sanctions hurt but don’t work
Tariffs and sanctions cause economic pain but rarely achieve political goals. They increase costs for consumers, strengthen adversaries' resolve, and often serve commercial, not strategic, interests
The real reason AI giants are targeting Indian students with free subscriptions
OpenAI, Google, and Perplexity are giving away premium AI tools to Indian students — but the real prize may be their data
Inflation risks loom as PMI data show strongest growth in 17 years
Robust demand and pricing power point to a heating economy and core inflation pressures, even as policymakers approve additional stimulus through GST rate cuts
GST rate cuts to boost urban consumption, give formal sector a leg-up
The overall verdict is that it is certainly positive for urban consumption, particularly in the mass consumption categories, where stress has been most visible
Will the GST cut on cement save the faltering affordable housing segment?
Government incentives and sops have run their course with no big outcome but now cut in cement GST rates could give a boost
GST 2.0 — The common man cue can hardly be missed
The GST Council has launched a revamped indirect tax system that aims to make everyday items cheaper
China’s WWII victory parade has an Indian foundation
WWII remembrance is a highly politicised contemporary global event. India doesn’t really figure in these narratives. That’s a pity because it’s Indian blood and treasure that played a consequential role in the outcome. Something Indians, unfortunately, are not well acquainted with
India’s growth engine roars at 7.8% — just as US slams the brakes
India’s growth model is powered by domestic consumption and investment, not exports. This is precisely why the tariff shock, while significant, may not derail the momentum - at least not immediately
Does the liberal ethanol feedstock policy really boost sugar mills’ earnings prospects?
Comforted by healthy forecasts for sugarcane output, the government has been liberal on feedstock use for ethanol. Will it move the needle for sugar mills?
Why memory chips are the new frontier of the AI revolution
Innovation has helped push SK Hynix ahead of Samsung — and put chipmakers in the middle of growing US-China tensions
Russia, India, China: Beyond the bonhomie
India's euphoria over Modi's visit to China masks deeper complexities. While terror concerns were addressed, subtle diplomatic wins were overshadowed by China's strategic vision. India navigates a tricky global landscape
To boost consumption, rather than GST cuts this tax measure has more potential
The churn in GST rates may lead to companies not cutting prices, leading to disappointment on the consumption front. Cutting taxes on this commodity could change the equation, however
Should the Centre have more skin in the chip-making game?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi says the world is ready to build the semiconductor future with India
Indian markets stay afloat on DII strength amid FII outflows
Despite record FII sell-offs in 2025, strong DII inflows, driven by SIPs, have stabilised Indian markets, though future resilience depends on earnings and macroeconomic stability
