Opinion

Exim matters: US reform proposals challenge WTO's basic principles

US proposals to reform the WTO question core principles like MFN and special treatment for developing nations, deepening divisions and raising doubts over the future of rules-based trade

Insurance companies can't reject claim by delaying cheque presentation

The Bombay High Court ruled that an insurer cannot reject a claim by delaying the deposit of a valid premium cheque, holding the insurance company liable for deficiency in service

Image editing spurs an industry as digital identities turn more fluid

The surge in user-generated content, especially on social media platforms, has accelerated innovation in photo-editing tools

How India's shrimp exports beat back the challenge from US tariffs

India's shrimp exporters are countering US tariffs by boosting shipments to new markets, backed by strong aquaculture growth, technology upgrades and government support

Only a new price system can solve the complexity of modern electricity

A market-based price system is key to managing renewable energy, AI-driven demand and grid stability, replacing outdated central planning in modern electricity systems

Western approaches: PM Modi's three-nation tour has created useful momentum

The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (Cepa) is the second FTA signed between India and a West Asian nation - the first being with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2022

Ease of investing: Sebi's interventions will bring greater transparency

Sebi has also lowered the limits on the (BER) across categories, which will reduce costs slightly for investors

Best of BS Opinion: Dhurandhar marks India's newfound soft power ambitions

Today's Best of BS Opinion examines Labour's growth dilemma, the rise of Nitin Nabin, Dhurandhar's political messaging, and how AI-driven content excess is reshaping culture and power

Dhurandhar marks the arrival in Bollywood of a new-generation soft power

If Pathaan gave both conservatives and liberals room to hide, Dhurandhar extends no such courtesy. Aditya Dhar ripped open that tent of hypocrisy and turned the knife

Dhurandhar's quiet power lies in reframing Indian spycraft as statecraft

More than nationalism or spectacle, Dhurandhar signals India's turn to institutional storytelling - where intelligence, bureaucracy and soft power shape cinema's politics

Hard work, humility are hallmarks of new BJP working president Nitin Nabin

The RSS is looking at the BJP leadership over the next 15 years, beyond Narendra Modi. And both Mr Modi and Amit Shah like Nitin Nabin

Why Keir Starmer should adopt peace as an strategic economic mission

Growth alone is not a moral mission. For Keir Starmer's government, making peace - not GDP - the organising principle could align values, stability and prosperity

Slop: The four-letter word that is a war cry against low-quality content

This four-letter word is a compelling verdict on the sprawling glut of low-quality content now clogging screens and social media feeds everywhere

Best of BS Opinion: Regulatory, factor-market reforms key to India's growth

Today's Best of BS Opinion looks at insurance FDI liberalisation, the railways' subsidy model, regulatory bottlenecks hurting investment, shifting FDI flows, and new ideas shaping US politics.

Passengers must pay: Rail freight revenue can increase, but so must fares

A parliamentary panel has urged Indian Railways to diversify freight beyond coal, revisit tariffs and confront passenger fare subsidies to keep the system financially viable

FDI for growth: Foreign participation in insurance should raise competition

Even as the sector opens up to greater competition and foreign investment, long-standing challenges continue to constrain its reach and credibility

India's FDI story: Recent factor-market reforms can draw foreign investors

Recent factor-market reforms are a step in the right direction and will increase India's attractiveness to foreign investors

Weak regulation hurt public policy in 2025; fixing it is 2026's big task

From aviation to finance, regulatory failures marked India's economy in 2025, exposing weak state capacity and the urgent need to redesign how regulators function

Best of BS Opinion: Trade data should not distract from US trade deal

Today's pieces look at why a US trade deal is critical, issues in the higher education reform, the need for more services exports besides PMC, why India must develop design skills, and Malala's memoir

Trade possibilities: Latest numbers should not distract policymakers

Strong November export growth offers relief, but trade uncertainty persists as India races to seal a deal with the US amid tariffs, capital outflows and rupee pressure