opinion

India’s first climate change report offers a stern warning

Though its findings echo similar climate change assessment reports, the ‘Assessment of Climate Change over the Indian Region’ is the first-ever indigenous attempt to document and assess climate change in different parts of India

Kudos to SEBI for relaxing capital infusion norms

These relaxations would not only help promoters in raising money but also protect them from hostile takeovers.

Will mandatory CEO rotation for banks achieve better governance?

Adding a layer of tenure-based caps will not incrementally strengthen governance standards for Indian banks. Instead, RBI already has powers for approving CEO reappointments. It must use these.

Agriculture | Decentralised cold storages are a key to a self-reliant rural India

Decentralised cold storage has the potential to create more jobs and livelihoods opportunities. It is still at a nascent stage in India and has tremendous growth potential

Universal basic income — The conflict and the compulsion

Government needs to explore ways to finance an income transfer scheme that offers a safety net to all and helps to spur demand.

India-China border tension | Beijing's power projection comes at a wrong time for China

China is staring at a multi-front crisis emanating from a global anti-Beijing regrouping, a resurgent India and its own unstable domestic affairs with a slowing economy and soaring unemployment

India Gas Exchange can help revolutionise gas infrastructure in the country

IGX would help establish a market-driven pricing mechanism for gas in the country

Chart of the day: A ‘fragile, neurotic and nowhere near dangerously bullish’ rally

Allocation to Emerging Market equities surged from a net 1 percent underweight in May to 12 percent overweight.

The thorny issue of bank ownership

Bearing down on boards and separating ownership and management is fine, but RBI has to strengthen its own supervision capabilities.

Politics | It’s BS Yediyurappa vs BJP’s central leadership in Karnataka

Instead of trying to shove him aside rudely, the best option for the BJP central leadership will be to co-opt Yediyurappa in the search for his successor, and give him a chance to exit honourably

Medical Diplomacy | India underlines its credentials as a responsible global leader

India’s response to other countries’ needs during the COVID-19 pandemic becomes noteworthy when compared to ‘wolf warrior diplomacy’ exhibited by China

Gold loans are shining in the current crisis

People are pledging their household gold to raise cash

What lies beneath the wholesale price deflation in May 2020

Worries about deflation for the manufacturing sector may be misplaced

India must join hands with Central Asia for peace in Afghanistan

India will find more common ground with the CARs regarding Afghanistan than with any other country/group. This will also reduce Pakistan’s influence

Politics | The decadence of Kerala Chief Minister’s eulogy of a murder convict

By glorifying a murder convict, Pinarayi Vijayan's pretensions of being a social democrat stand exposed and reminds everyone of the ‘Kannur Model’ of politics

Monsoon watch: Early signs look positive

Rainfall and crop area under cultivation show positive early trends

Boycotts and joining global supply chains don’t go together

India’s business leaders, enthused by the government’s decision to open up sectors stretching from coal mining to space to atomic energy, should simply go forward and invest.

Chart of the day: India's industrial activity flattening, shows satellite data

However, global industrial activity is showing an uptick due to China improving and a sharp recovery in the USA.

How COVID-19 gave online gaming a shot in the arm

India was in line for emerging as a strong market for gaming, the COVID-19-induced lockdown just catalysed it

Manufacturing | Companies need a new set of priorities for success in the long term

Companies need to develop a list of time-bound and well-defined activities that need to be carried out while re-starting factory operations.

Are online classes widening the digital divide in education?

Online classes are an option very few can afford. Educational ecosystems need to be inclusive in their approach and respond from a space of empathy