opinion

How hard will JLR’s pause on US exports hit Tata Motors?

A bumpy road ahead for JLR with revenue and earnings cuts in the near-term seen given the need to rework trade terms with the US market

NHPC commissions long delayed projects, investors should note cost overruns

Addition of the under-construction hydroelectric projects will significantly boost NHPC’s regulated equity base.

Chart of the Day | Financial maturity of Indian investors

While the growing interest in equities among retail investors is all too evident, the key question is whether their behaviour has become more mature or not

Shah Bano moment for Congress in Kerala

Kerala’s Latin Christians have been the bulwark of the Congress’ support base in the state. However, a bitter dispute between Waqf bodies and Christians over land holdings in the Munambam fishing hamlet found the grand old party unable to reconcile differences. Following the passage of the amendments to the Waqf law by Parliament, which Congress opposed, Kerala’s principal opposition party is on the back foot just when its prospects seemed bright for the 2026 Assembly election 

Metamorphosis: How Uncle Sam became Uncle Scrooge

What is Trump’s strategy behind the global trade disruption?

The Reading List: April 4, 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

Ranchi’s profoundly sad link to WWII’s ‘Forgotten Army’

From 1942 through till 1945, the 14th Army fought its way into Burma, but its exploits were buried under other Allied successes. So pressing was the requirement of troops that they were brought in from across the entire Commonwealth. Only about 13% of this army was ethnic British, with Indians comprising about 65% of the troops and many of the fallen soldiers are now mere memories, save for their tombstones in the Commonwealth war cemetery

Why a new Waqf law was needed to protect India’s Scheduled Tribes

RSSFACTS: The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, addresses tribal land rights, with ABVKA highlighting misuse of the 1995 Waqf Act. The bill includes provisions to protect tribal lands from unlawful usurpation by Waqf Boards, benefiting Scheduled Tribes 

How ‘weaponised trade’ could lead to ‘weaponised capital’

The bigger investment risk from tariffs may be from the resulting decline in global portable capital

Chart of the Day | Does India have a tariff advantage over its peers?

Amid rising tensions in global trade, India’s position is becoming more complex—and potentially more strategic

Sweeping tariffs threaten ‘Factory Asia’

Trump administration’s moves put ‘China plus one’ manufacturing strategy at risk

Opening India's Stressed Asset Market: A necessary catalyst?

India's stressed asset market is attracting foreign investors due to regulatory reforms like the IBC and RBI revisions. Foreign capital and expertise enhance asset resolution, boosting economic growth, financial stability, and long-term investor confidence

Shifting trade winds: US tariffs and India's strategic response

The recent tariff revisions imposed by the US on Indian exports have had a varied impact across key sectors. The pharmaceutical sector remains unaffected due to exemptions, while the auto and telecom sectors face significant cost pressures. Agriculture sector is among the most impacted, with tariffs surging 27%, threatening export viability

India is facing a power demand surge. The response has a problem

What demand-side measures are needed to improve the availability of power during peak demand periods?

Indian startups began to walk despite the system; to fly they need support

India’s greatest strength may lie not in its cost advantage, but in its deep intellectual tradition in mathematics and science. This is a country that produced Aryabhata, Brahmagupta, and Ramanujan. That legacy continues today through its world-class engineering institutions and space program

India eyes long-term gains despite short-term US trade shock

The US administration’s latest tariff hike has sent ripples through global trade, with India among the countries significantly impacted.. As India navigates this high-stakes trade shift, ongoing negotiations with the US could be crucial in shaping the future of bilateral trade relations 

Will India’s companies benefit from being less hurt by reciprocal tariffs?

The relative nature of the reciprocal tariffs and competitiveness of Indian companies, or the lack of it, will play a key role. But the biggest unknown is the end game for tariffs

Trumping the tariff challenge

With the US shaking up global trade through sweeping tariffs, time is now the biggest factor in determining winners and losers. Nations that move swiftly in negotiations could secure favourable terms, while those that delay risk economic setbacks. How will India fare? 

POTUS goes where no man in the Oval Office has gone before

How can an economy with a per capita income of $87,000 in 2024, having achieved a significant increase of more than $5,000 over the level in 2023, hope to raise these incomes further by shutting itself out of the global trade flows which has benefitted it so enormously?

Taking Indian religious heritage to global stage: PM Modi's grand initiative

PM Modi has turned every global visit into a showcase of India’s rich traditions.

President Trump has embarked on a remarkable economic experiment

It's perhaps the most right-wing government in recent American history which is dismantling the post Second World economic order and post-cold war economic order, which was largely set up by the US, on the ground that low-income Americans have been hurt. That’s a turn of events which few could have foreseen

Top challenges and opportunities in the digital payments ecosystem in India

India's digital payments ecosystem faces challenges in pricing models, regulatory balance, and fraud prevention. However, opportunities lie in international expansion, leveraging data analytics, and supporting digital-first platforms, driving growth and innovation in the sector

India’s Green Ambitions at Risk: Need to tackle currency devaluation risk

India requires over $10 trillion for its green transition by 2070, relying on foreign capital. The rupee’s recent devaluation complicates clean energy project financing, increasing costs and risks, necessitating government support and hedging solutions