Karnataka’s caste survey opens a Pandora’s Box for the polity
A deeply divided Cabinet, outraged mutt heads and thwarted ambitions muddy the waters. Two key questions remain unanswered. Will Siddaramaiah realise his ‘dream project’ of making the OBCs have a greater say in Karnataka politics? Can any political party remain unscathed by the fallout of the report?
Ruchir Sharma: Mapping the high tariff world
How the trade war will reorder the global economy — not burn it down
‘Anti-fragile India’ is set to emerge stronger in a chaotic world
We are living in historic times. Century-old alliances are being tested. India is “antifragile” – it will not only emerge relatively unscathed from the tariff-related turmoil, but it is also going to benefit from the displacement in the medium to long term
Chart of the Day: On a slippery road
Road construction has slowed down in the past two years. While the reasons are known, whether they will continue to hold back growth is the key question
The Eastern Window: Is China's control over rare earth weakening Trump's bargaining power?
Beijing’s biggest leverage is rare earth minerals
Closing Bell : Nifty closes at 24,125 while Sensex rises 855 points; Nifty Bank touches record high with all other sectoral indices ending in green
Domestic indices Nifty 50 and Sensex extended their gains for the fourth consecutive session on April 21, as banking stocks contributed to the sharp upswing. Broader markets gain about 2%
The Tamil Nadu Governor Case: Overstepping or stepping up?
In the initial days of the Supreme Court’s existence, the Court went by the letter – but gradually moved towards constitutionalism based on the experience of its working and in furtherance of the cherished principles. Absolutism is unknown to our constitutional structure. And the Court can surely exercise judicial review powers to bring institutions to account, without substituting the institution itself
Data Story | How Wipro fell behind Infosys, TCS in Europe
Recovery in Europe will be key to Wipro’s revival
Two biggest private banks face a slowdown, but also show resilience
Net interest margin would be a key metric to see in FY26
Indian banking’s held back by inadequacy of long-term funding
RBI has eased short-term liquidity pressures through various tools, but these are no substitute for the stable, long-term funding banks need to support credit growth. The core issue is long-term availability of stable funding—mainly through deposits or long-term bond issuance. India’s banking system is in a delicate balance—supported by liquidity interventions but hindered by long-term funding gaps
Who is the true heir of Ambedkar’s legacy?
RSSFACTS: On Ambedkar’s birth anniversary, RSS leaders praised his legacy, highlighting efforts towards social harmony and constitutional values. Through initiatives like Seva Bharati, RSS advances Ambedkar’s vision, especially among marginalised communities and Scheduled Castes
Vault Matters | An alternative to NPCI is needed, but is tough to create
A series of transaction failures which have affected the QR-based payments system in the recent times indicates that there is scope for further fine-tuning at the back end. But what exactly is the viable solution is the question
Three heritage cities that were coveted in their pomp, but are now forgotten
Former capitals, lovingly built, objects of pride, coveted and fought over – for their strategic importance, wealth or prestige. And now, forgotten! April 18th, World Heritage Day, is the occasion when people tend to look at UNESCO World Heritage sites. Today, let’s break that stereotype by plunging into some of India’s forgotten heritage locations, from across different periods of the past
The Reading List: April 18, 2025
Our research and opinion teams have curated a selection of articles and social media gems from the world of economy, business and finance for your weekend read
‘Special responsibility’ under competition law: Drawing new boundaries in the online gaming sector
It is a settled position under the Indian law that once an entity is established as a dominant enterprise in a given relevant market, there is a special responsibility casted upon it to comply with the provisions of the Competition Act, 2002. In the case pertaining to Google and WinZo the Commission has held that it is a ‘practical necessity’ for technology firms to be present on Play Store given its overarching presence in the Android ecosystem
When aliens call, look to the ‘little green swan’ trade
New markets could be opening up — even if they are 124 light years away
India’s era of secondary funds is here
The market for private capital is attracting a more diverse set of players which, in turn, attracts more funds by providing everyone with timely exit opportunities. As the early investors in India’s startups approach the end of their typical 7 to 10-year lifecycle, a growing number of secondary funds are transacting with them. The market here is set for a big change
Chart of the Day | Why the future bodes well for power equipment firms
Higher transmission capex will likely generate higher demand for power equipment like transformers, statcoms, circuit breakers and switchgears
The truth about Indian education – challenges, loopholes, and solutions
India's education system is outdated and failing its youth. A hybrid, digitally-driven model with continuous assessment, aligned curricula, and NEP 2020 execution can power a skilled, job-ready Viksit Bharat by 2047
Regulatory gaps, poor oversight delay action in Gensol scandal
The Gensol Engineering fiasco lays bare a glaring lack of coordination among regulators, rating agencies, and financial institutions. Despite early warning signs and complaints, decisive action came only after defaults and document falsification were exposed.
A normal monsoon creates conditions for higher rural growth
The government at states and the centre should leave no effort to convert the opportunity presented by a good monsoon into a bounty for the economy
RBI proposes new guard rails for gold loans, will they hurt more than help?
While gold prices may be shining bright, gold loans are seeing pockets of stress that has led to the RBI issuing proposals to curb excesses
Needed, government funding for higher education to make India a superpower
Education is one of the fundamental responsibilities of the government and the reason why we pay taxes
Who's India’s foremost national security threat?
Unlike the US, designing a national security threats pecking order is not an easy job in India. In the absence of an official policy statement, the entire debate is under-developed. Consequently, we do not have an outright answer to our national security problems as well as priorities
Trump tariffs — Should India rethink RCEP decision?
New Delhi needs to explore all opportunities to expand its trade basket and add new destinations
