Shashi Tharoor: Suitors aplenty but no great options
The animosity between the MP from Thiruvananthapuram and sections of Congress High Command is barely concealed. It a steep fall from the time Tharoor seemed to be a potential Kerala CM on a Congress platform. Is his defence of the BJP-led Centre a signal of his impending destination, or a harking for a more bipartisan era? Or, is Tharoor just a hard-nosed politician extracting something out of the leadership of a party under pressure?
Investors flock to equity funds that exclude US after Donald Trump’s return to power
World ex-US funds have long been out of favour but have attracted $2.1bn in assets over past three months
India's Artificial Intelligence vision shines in Shanghai
India with its strategic advantage, is not just participating in the AI revolution but shaping it, creating an AI for all that uplifts humanity.
Direct tax buoyancy is a standout feature of India’s growth story
India’s higher tax buoyancy—exceeding GDP growth continuously for more than four years—suggests improved compliance, greater use of technology, stronger corporate profitability, and rising taxpayer incomes. Going forward, it is imperative for the finance ministry to maintain this momentum by enhancing compliance, simplifying tax regulations, and putting an end to tax disputes and tax terrorism
How revised rules for AIF affect lenders
The RBI has revised its strict investment norms for Alternative Investment Funds, softening the December 2023 blow that rattled the financial sector. With clearer definitions and relaxed provisioning, regulated entities now see a more balanced compliance path ahead
From Margin to Mainstream: Rewriting the rules of consumption in Bharat
Bharat’s Tier 2/3 consumers are driving India's next wave of growth with rising digital adoption, localised preferences, and brand loyalty. Success demands value innovation, cultural relevance, and trust-based engagement beyond traditional metro-centric strategies
Criminalising minor offences is how legislature contributes to judicial backlog and unease of living
The State of the System report by Vidhi Centre exposes India's overcriminalisation of minor regulatory offences. Of central laws, 42 % contain criminal provisions. It leads to an overreliance on imprisonment and jails filled with undertrials. Finally, there are signs that the government is taking steps to undo the damage
What’s at stake in India’s Gulf gamble?
Stronger ties with GCC nations will help India not only to reap economic benefits but also bolster its geopolitical clout
Data Story: India's core industrial output stalls in April: What the numbers reveal
India’s core industrial sector has stumbled out of the gate in FY26. A sharp drop in growth in April raises fresh questions about the strength of the recovery — and one heavyweight sector may be to blame
Chart of the Day | FD rates are falling fast; SBI the latest in the rate cut club
A look at the bank rate actions on deposit rates so far.
Only growth won’t get LIC Housing Finance investor love in FY26
The outlook on net interest margins is not a sanguine one for LIC Housing Finance
How a small Southern bank is outshining peers in profitability
The management’s guidance on margins for FY26 is modest
Getting to the core of GDP
In a volatile global economic environment, headline GDP can be overly influenced by exogenous shocks like the ‘Trump tariff'. A way to segregate the influence of temporary shocks and gauge the long-term trend is to calculate the core that makes up GDP, private consumption and fixed investment. In India’s case, over the last two decades, core GDP’s growth has outpaced the overall economic growth
Will steel makers get a reprieve from dumping of Chinese steel in 2025?
A slippage in China’s steel output in April raises the possibility of more cuts ahead, but it also raises a key risk. The answer lies in the balance
Deepfake equity analysts hint at the future of finance
More financial groups will inevitably follow UBS in wearing their AI on the outside
REITs and InvITs: From niche instruments to core institutional allocations
Mutual funds in India are shifting from tactical to strategic investments in REITs and InvITs, driven by strong yields, regulatory support, and growing market maturity, redefining long-term income generation
Chart of the Day: BHEL’s record order book faces a moment of reckoning
The company saw record order inflows for second consecutive year in FY25
Will Japanese alarm bells ring on Dalal Street?
In an intricately linked global economy, the movement of capital in response to interest rate shifts can send ripples across continents — with profound implications for financial markets
Criminal Chips? Trump escalates US-China tech war with global warning on Huawei AI
The fragile truce between the US and China after the Geneva trade talks is already under pressure, with President Trump’s administration targeting Huawei’s AI chip ecosystem. The move marks a renewed escalation in the ongoing tech war between the two global powers
Why Indian women are the country’s most underrated asset allocators
Indian women have expertly managed household finances and assets. With growing digital access and financial literacy, they’re poised to become powerful, informed asset allocators across India
US-China rivalry heats up in Gulf tech, defence deals
President Donald Trump’s recent trip to Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar marked a dramatic shift in US foreign policy—from values-driven diplomacy to pure transactionalism. Massive tech, defence, and mining deals highlight an intensifying US-China rivalry playing out in the Middle East
India’s water crisis isn’t just about scarcity – it’s also about storage and delivery
India’s water crisis goes beyond scarcity, it’s a challenge of storage, delivery, and access to safe water. Holistic infrastructure, innovation, and awareness are essential for long-term water security and resilience
Joseph Nye embodied ‘soft power’ with his charm and personality
A giant in the discipline of modern international relations, Nye teased out the many dimensions of power. His concept of soft power and its subsequent iterations were widely studied and followed. A strategic affairs analyst pays tribute to Nye who passed away last week
Chart of the Day: Why India's young workforce could make you rich
India’s equity market is witnessing a transformative shift, powered by rising domestic participation and a youthful, growing workforce.
Family arrangements in India: Legal backbone of legacy realignments
Family arrangements offer a sophisticated legal mechanism to engineer inter-generational realignment without disruption. They enable families to navigate the complexities of succession, governance, and business separation in a way that is collaborative, forward-looking, and shielded from public acrimony.
