Chart of the Day | Chinese car makers topple global dominance in domestic markets
New-age electric vehicles in China have already achieved what much of the world is still struggling with—being cheaper than traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) cars, thanks to scale, vertical integration, and relentless price wars
How deep is the slowdown in bank credit?
MSME credit is the silver lining in bank loan growth, growing at 14.6 percent in May
For Tata Chemicals, steady India demand can bring limited relief
Soda ash, a key product of Tata Chemicals, is seeing excess supplies and soft demand in global markets
Start-up Street | When start-ups compete with their investors, and vice-versa…
Here’s what the outcome could be- a complex mix of business, ethical, and legal issues between investee companies and the investor
GDP growth set to dip in Q1 FY2026
High frequency indicators show that economic momentum in the April-June quarter may have decelerated. The combined negative impact of tariff-related issues and early onset of monsoon could lead to GDP growth for the quarter slowing down to a level below 6.5%
Market squalls threaten to throw container shipping off course
How does an industry that built and benefited from globalisation survive when its main cheerleader turns on it
Asim Munir’s lunch with Trump showed Pakistanis who’s ‘The Real Boss’
Samuel Huntington theorized decades ago on civilian supremacy in democracies. He clearly didn’t account for Pakistan where the civilian administration seems to be a prop for the military’s conception of democracy. It’s led to black humour such as Pakistan army has a country for itself while other countries have armies. A look at how this sui generis model plays out
Why ICAI’s audit limit is misguided and outdated
ICAI’s proposed 60-audit cap lacks legal clarity and empirical support. Amid digital tax reform, mandatory audits feel outdated—raising concerns over regulatory overreach, procedural fairness, and modern compliance efficiency
Are retail investors warming up to direct investments in government bonds?
While the RBI platform has made G-secs more accessible, retail investors are still far from fully adopting them
Luxury housing crisis hits Mumbai as affordability reaches breaking point
Mumbai's luxury property market is experiencing a significant slowdown with a sharp drop in new launches and plummeting sales, as skyrocketing prices have made high-end real estate increasingly unattainable
India needs a nationwide strategy, not patchwork SEZs
India must move beyond outdated SEZs and embrace a unified, future-ready industrial strategy focused on nationwide competitiveness, regulatory clarity, and long-term, inclusive growth across all states
What’s at stake for India in a trade deal with the US?
The FOMO factor is prompting America’s trade partners to rush for agreements as Trump’s policy pivot remains unpredictable
Chart of the Day | Microfinance in India: Is the worst over?
India's microfinance sector teeters between recovery and ruin as NPAs soar to over Rs 55,000 crore, testing the resilience of microlenders
RBI report reveals India’s consumption boom powered by affluent borrowers
The Reserve Bank of India's latest Financial Stability Report exposes a troubling truth: India's consumption-driven growth is increasingly powered by wealthy households who can access cheap credit
India’s $2 trillion export ambition hinges on fixing compliance
Despite rising global demand and digital adoption, India’s $2 trillion export dream depends on fixing compliance by streamlining outdated and fragmented processes that hinder MSMEs and first-time exporters from scaling globally
Delayed justice plagues India. The 16th Finance Commission has the power to improve matters
The clocks of justice in India can tick faster with the right reforms. With thoughtful interventions from public institutions like the Finance Commission, it is possible to align public funding with the judiciary's operational needs. By addressing issues of disparity in budgetary allocations and the need for improvement of the quality of public funding to the judiciary, the 16th Finance Commission can strengthen the rule of law
In defence of the second-mover advantage
In AI, the message ‘act now or miss out’ has more in common with high-pressure sales than business strategy
The US can beat China on critical minerals but not by copying it
America must rebuild the infrastructure that underpins markets and thus supply chains
GST at 8: A tax reform that empowered every Indian
Eight years on, GST has gained strong approval. GST has lowered tax rates on essentials, unified India’s market, reduced logistics costs and boosted inter-state trade, benefiting both consumers and businesses through simplification and digitisation
AI’s diagnostic power in Radiology is not limited to screening
AI in radiology is no longer just a screening tool. It now collaborates in diagnosis, reduces errors, speeds up workflows, and supports clinical judgement - redefining its role from passive observer to active partner
Karnataka Bank’s top brass exit: Personal reasons or boardroom friction?
Karnataka Bank’s CEO and Executive Director step down citing personal reasons, but governance-related concerns and board-level differences are also in focus.
New discovery of rare earth deposits in Kazakhstan provides India opportunities
The discovery by geologists potentially puts the country among the top three nations in terms of deposits. India has a long-standing trade relationship with Kazakhstan which is a critical supplier of uranium for its nuclear plants. Moreover, a lasting legacy from the Soviet era is popular goodwill for India on account of its soft power. All the ingredients for a mutually beneficial relationship are in place
2W demand to hit the skids on ABS regulation
With demand moderating, 2W makers may find it challenging to pass on cost increases from ABS regulations to customers
GST at 8: A look back and suggestions for the way ahead
Eight years of GST mark not just the survival but the steady maturation of India’s boldest tax reform. While the journey has not been without hiccups, the direction remains firmly forward-looking. With GST reasonably stabilised now, what is needed as a next step is a set of GST reforms guided by principles of ease of compliances, transparency, and reduced complexity
