opinion

Bihar’s pre-election focal point is the Election Commission, which makes for a strange campaign

The decision by EC to conduct Special Intensive Revision of the nearly eight crore registered voters stirred the hornet’s nest. The body in the past has faced questions, but its impartiality was not questioned as it is being done now

Trump tariffs — Be firm, but focus on farm

Modi’s pledge to safeguard farmers’ interests offers scope to leverage a trade deal with the US to gradually modernise Indian agriculture

AU Small Finance Bank’s leap to universal banking: A game-changer indeed, but what’s next?

Jaipur-based lender’s transition marks a historic shift, but challenges loom large

The Reading List: August 8, 2025

For your weekend read, our research and opinion teams have curated a selection of articles and social media gems from the world of economy, business and finance

Quad’s future after the Trump tariff shock

For now, it would be desirable for Delhi to remain committed to the bilateral track with Washington as regards security and technology cooperation and strengthen the structural and institutional elements of what could still be the most consequential relationship of this century, even as negotiators try to hammer out a modus vivendi

Justice in Despair: How India’s judiciary mishandles sexual harassment allegations within its ranks

Supreme Court addressed and remedied the legal vacuum in sexual harassment through an innovative approach.  It then took the Parliament more than a decade to address the issue through legislation. The judiciary’s pioneering effort, however, has been undone by the tardy and unsympathetic approach to complaints from within the institution

Start-up Street | The enduring lure of consumer-oriented start-ups in India

Deep-tech funding in India is wanting and the country risks being left behind in innovation

Old problems continue to dog India’s new energy revolution

India’s already delayed clean‐energy rollout has hit a roadblock. While capacity is getting added on paper, it is not being used fully

Can municipal bonds unlock new possibilities for India’s urban future?

India faces a massive urban infrastructure funding gap. Strengthening municipal bonds, fiscal decentralisation, and transparency can empower cities to raise capital, improve governance, and build a financially resilient urban future

UBS may find an opportunity in the Swiss tariff crisis

Bern’s plea for a level playing field may resonate with the boss of its biggest bank

Why struggling companies are loading up on bitcoin

Biotechs, miners and hoteliers are snapping up crypto to boost their share prices, but experts warn of a crisis if markets crash

Tata Motors is betting its future on the Iveco acquisition

In an era of retreating globalization and rising tariff barriers, local presence in key markets like Europe is a significant advantage

Trump hits India with a 50% tariff, time for investors to panic or hang on?

The investing climate has turned uncertain as tariffs have clouded the outlook. Whether you are a short-term or a long-term investor will determine the approach you take

Cenexi turnaround brings Gland Pharma close to growth revival

Gland Pharma’s full year earnings are estimated to rise in FY26 after three consecutive years of declines

Chart of the Day: Disadvantaged by tariffs, will India lose against peers in trade?

Negotiating down tariffs with the US is a must as the door to haggle is still open.

'Indigenous Peoples Day’ reflects colonial guilt, not India’s reality

RSSFACTS: India rejects Western definitions of indigeneity, asserting all Indians as original inhabitants. Unlike colonial genocides abroad, India’s civilisational ethos promotes inclusivity, challenging global narratives on Indigenous Peoples’ Day

Can Trump’s tariff derail India’s China Plus One ambition?

Trump’s punitive tariff could cloud India’s ambition of becoming a viable alternative to China unless trade negotiations succeed. However, it could well turn out to be India’s 1991 moment, forcing the country to take long-pending economic reforms to leap into the next level

Can Trump’s tariff derail India’s China Plus One ambition?

China has built a moat around its manufacturing that is hard to replicate, and a favourable tariff differential was a way to eat into that pie.

Trump is a short-term irritant; overlapping Indo-US interests are a long-term reality

Cold War politics and commercial interests in the backdrop of a menacing China will help both countries get over this phase. Don’t expect an immediate rapprochement but never underestimate the binding power of mutual self-interest 

Donald Trump’s new tariff regime deepens global trade war

US president’s latest ‘reciprocal’ levies hit many countries that had struck deals with Washington

The way to protect Indian companies from secondary sanctions

A robust blocking statute must bar Indian persons and companies from complying with any extraterritorial sanctions that conflict with national law or policy unless they obtain an explicit waiver from a designated Indian authority

Chart of the Day | Will the sharp rise in cement prices continue to ensure profit growth?

All eyes are on demand expansion and input costs mainly petcoke prices

Crafting Voice AI for India: Innovations and challenges in multilingual voicebots

India’s linguistic diversity demands culturally aware multilingual voicebots. Advances in NLP, government initiatives, and market demand are driving inclusive voice AI solutions across healthcare, retail, education, and financial services