opinion

Why data centres deserve a tax break

India proposes significant tax incentives for data centres as the country positions itself to capitalize on the AI boom and compete in the global digital infrastructure race.

OPINION | India’s Digital Competition Bill: Mirage of fair play or a path to innovation?

The Digital Competition Bill aims to level the playing field for startups but risks stifling innovation. It requires tailored, phased modifications to foster growth and competition

Why investors are holding on to banks despite earnings pressure

Banking shares don’t seem to be fully reflecting the challenges of lenders this year.

The Employment Divide: Rural India's job growth outpaces urban centres as unemployment falls to 5.1%

India's unemployment rate declined to 5.1 percent in August 2025, but beneath this headline figure lies a tale of two economies—one rural and recovering, the other urban and uncertain  

Will the Fed ignore BIS’s bubble concerns as markets bet on rate cuts?

As the FOMC meets on September 16-17, 2025, the BIS’s stark warnings about fiscal risks and market exuberance cast a shadow over expectations for dovish rate cuts

Chart of the Day | How food prices silently dictate headline inflation

The food inflation trajectory has quietly reshaped India’s CPI landscape so far this year.

OPINION | Hyderabad’s Journey from Independence to Integration: The fall of the Nizam

Hyderabad's reluctant accession to India in 1948 followed intense negotiations and military action. The Nizam resisted integration until Operation Polo decisively ended their defiance, leading to Hyderabad’s inclusion in India 

OPINION | Corporate Transparency Cannot Be Optional: Why diluting disclosure harms investors

Donald Trump’s call to reduce frequency of corporate reporting echoes a flawed belief that less disclosure fosters long-term vision. Invoking China to peg his argument is unpersuasive as over 250 Chinese companies are listed in the three major US stock exchanges. In reality, transparency and rigorous governance remain the true foundations of investor trust

OPINION | Indo-Saudi ties can evolve to another level with collaboration on critical minerals

Critical minerals are a key currency for geopolitical power. It is within this context that a mineral partnership with Saudi Arabia acquires renewed salience. In the evolving Indo-West Asian corridor, such a collaboration could recalibrate supply chains and position India as a more resilient actor in the emerging mineral economy

What the Fed should do

Inflation is the biggest risk

OPINION | AI regulations need to let technology find its way forward and avoid intervention in anticipation of harm

FM Nirmala Sitharaman recently said that AI regulations need to keep pace with rapid technological advancements. A lawyer argues that the best way to achieve this goal is to adopt a principles-based approach, with enforcement triggered only when harm is visible

OPINION | GST 2.0: Modi's next-generation reform for growth and affordability

GST 2.0 introduces a simplified tax structure, reduces rates on essentials, and supports MSMEs, boosting economic growth while improving affordability for consumers and businesses alike

OPINION | Golden Visas and Residency: India’s growing influence in global diplomacy

Countries are using residency and Golden Visa programmes to attract India's wealthy and skilled professionals, reshaping India's global economic, diplomatic, and cultural influence while posing domestic challenges

Equity tag for REITs, another step towards global best practices

As an equity asset class, REITs can fuel capital flows into commercial property, though retail investors must be aware of the cons too

The Arab Summit's restraint masks a seismic shift in Middle East power dynamics

An emergency Arab-Islamic summit has condemned Israel's actions against Hamas leadership while Gulf states activate joint defence mechanisms, putting US diplomatic influence and Middle East stability at a critical crossroads

Fixation on Russia risks G7’s global relevance

Nudged by the US, the G7 finance ministers’ focus on mounting pressure on Moscow narrows the group’s agenda, risking its ability to shape the broader global order

[In]Complete Justice: Reflecting on the Supreme Court at 75 -- triumphs and trials

The book ‘[In]Complete Justice: The Supreme Court at 75, Critical Reflections’ critically examines the Supreme Court's evolution, highlighting its successes, failures, judicial activism, and key reforms. It explores the Court’s role in shaping India’s democracy, law, and social justice

Are Indian markets overestimating the effect of a US Fed rate cut?

It is too much to expect that a small cut in interest rates could spur sluggish global GDP growth when other necessary factors are not in place 

Chart of the Day: Weight loss drugs are making their presence felt in Indian pharma market

Sales of weight loss drug Mounjaro doubled in August

OPINION | India’s E-commerce Surge: A market multiplier for startups and investors

The question is no longer whether Indians will shop online, but how deeply digital commerce will reshape the nation’s economy, jobs, and competitiveness. The evidence is clear: e-commerce has moved from convenience to core, from optional to inevitable – the very backbone of India’s growth story this decade

India's M&A and demerger is still stuck in the old mould

M&A and succession planning are not technical footnotes; they are central to India’s corporate growth story. Unless the tax regime adapts to commercial reality, the promise of the new Act will remain only on paper.

OPINION | Himalayan challenge awaits Nepal’s PM Sushila Karki

The country’s economy is not in a good shape and a critical cabinet selection has met with opposition. However, Karki’s first moves showed that she has a grip on the situation. That said, there remain unknown risks confronting Nepal which will make the job of interim PM hard

OPINION | India’s Digital Revolution: A decade of transformation and the road ahead

India's digital revolution has transformed governance, finance, healthcare and commerce by empowering citizens, entrepreneurs and farmers through scalable citizen-first digital infrastructure and services

Chart of the Day: Defence sector takes off

India’s defence sector is gaining altitude, driven by GST cuts, fresh procurement orders, and an ambitious roadmap to modernise military capabilities.