opinion

Sachin Pilot prepares for a second innings in Congress

Having engineered a boisterous rebellion in July 2020 that had almost pushed the Rajasthan unit of the party, and Ashok Gehlot government to the brink, Sachin Pilot made a remarkable comeback of conciliation and loyalty 

RBI must conduct periodic reviews to better ease of compliance

The Regulations Review Authority is required to seek feedback from the regulated entities to simplify “procedures and enhancement of ease of compliance”. The aim of this exercise was to streamline reporting mechanism, revoke obsolete instructions, and obviate paper-based submission of returns 

The ‘Tesla-financial complex’: How carmaker gained influence over the markets

The company’s role in the ebb and flow of the stock market is far greater than its $1.1tn valuation implies

Will Unilever’s exit see HUL reshape its beverages business?

HUL could opt for a business-as-usual approach in running its existing tea and coffee business. Or it could adopt a new strategy to grow its share of the beverages’ market

Farm laws repealed: It’s game wide open in Punjab

The tough call for the Congress will be whether to name Charanjit Singh Channi as the chief ministerial candidate and antagonise Navjot Singh Sidhu, or keep the suspense till the elections are over 

Digital push could upend the pharmaceutical supply chain

Digital platforms can improve the reach of doctors and pharmaceutical products. However, competitive pricing can pose risks to the pharma retail network

Crypto Conversations: Understanding NFTs and your guide to investing in them

Built using principles of Blockchain technology, NFTs are a novel way of investing in content 

GST rejig — Aim for a single rate in the long run

A multiple-rate indirect tax system is not in sync with the one-nation-one-tax idea, suppresses revenue and hurts compliance 

Moneycontrol Pro Panorama | Is investor allure for startups dimming already?

In today’s edition of Moneycontrol Pro Panorama:  Global debt Black Hole, the faltering farm reforms, oil flexes muscles, why Repco Home clicks and more

Five implications of repealing farm laws

Throughout the protests, interests of those farmers who are not wealthy, and do not own vast tracts of land were missing. With the U-turn, Modi has condemned them to another quarter century of economic subjugation 

RBI proposals on digital lending shine spotlight on consumer protection

The regulator has to walk the fine line between over-regulation and unfettered growth that could hurt consumers and financial stability

Ruchir Sharma writes: There is no easy escape from the global debt trap

Total debt more than tripled to 350 per cent of global GDP over the past four decades

Clearing the financial runway for airlines to take off

Airlines are roaring back to life as travel picks up, but they continue to demand relief from the government. What gives and should the govt bow to their demands? 

What will be the future of agriculture reforms?

The announcement to repeal the farm laws 2020 on the ground that the Centre could not convince a section of farmers clearly indicates that reforms are hard for any government, but no reforms will be fatal for agriculture 

Kubota's Escorts deal set to shake up India's agri-machinery market

The Japanese leader in heavy machinery is set to take a majority stake in the Indian tractor-maker, as part of its move to expand in emerging markets, which will enhance Escorts' competitive edge 

The Eastern Window | It's time India joined others in raising human rights issue in China

The US and some other democracies are considering a diplomatic boycott of the winter Olympics in Beijing on the question of human rights in Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong

The politics and economics of farm laws repeal

What the Centre had planned would, in the aggregate, raise farm incomes substantially and enable India to move up from being a low middle income country. The crucial mistake the Centre made was not to spend enough time with farmers explaining the whole new system and securing their support

The Reading List: November 19, 2021

A selection of articles and social media gems from the world of economy, business and finance, curated by our research and opinion teams

Farm laws rolled back. Whither agriculture reforms?

Farmers need access to markets that fetch them the best price in efficiently driven systems. The Prime Minister’s announcement shall take care of farmers’ fears of corporate takeover of India’s agri markets. The bigger question is: Is the status quo situation of over-dependence on middlemen better? 

How four Tamilians rescued Warsaw climate talks that led to Paris pact

The COP in Warsaw appeared doomed from the start, almost collapsed midway, and nearly broke up in acrimony towards the end. The conference was rescued from total failure by Burhan Gafoor and TS Tirumurti with no small help from a third Tamilian, Vivian Balakrishnan 

PM Narendra Modi gets timing right with a political solution to farmers’ protest

The Narendra Modi government repeals the three controversial farm laws, clearing the way for ending the year-long farmers' protest. The move is likely to improve the BJP’s prospects in the 2022 state elections 

COVID-19 and After | Large listed companies gain at the expense of smaller, unlisted peers

Large listed companies have benefited at the expense of smaller listed/unlisted rivals by capturing market share, changing their business models to suit the new COVID-era environment, and improved their share in the government's corporate tax revenue

Air Pollution | India needs lasting solutions, lockdowns are temporary succour

Wider adoption of clean energy could prove an excellent measure to curb India’s air pollution, considering that the energy sector is the largest source of three major air pollutants: nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide, and PM 2.5