Opinion

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

Regulating higher education: Focus should be on improving outcomes

The UGC oversees non-technical universities, the AICTE is concerned with technical education, while the NCTE is the regulatory body for teachers' education

Growth in services exports essential to reduce concentration risk

India must broaden its services export base beyond IT and consulting to reduce concentration risks, boost competitiveness, create jobs and sustain growth amid global protectionism, say economists

India must treat design as a civic skill to build more liveable cities

The scale of the challenge becomes clearer when one examines who is expected to design India's urban future

Best of BS Opinion: New rural jobs law will bring significant changes

Today's wrap looks at the new rural jobs law, the push to open civil nuclear power to private investors, a US strategic reset, RBI's views on bank ownership, and a book on American power

India needs Indian banks: Why domestic lenders matter most for growth

RBI's bank ownership policy has shifted towards regulated institutional investors, but over-reliance on foreign capital risks limiting India's credit growth and domestic banking depth

Harnessing nuclear energy: Bill seeks to address key investor concerns

Changes in the provision on operator liabilities can be expected to encourage investment

US steps back as global leader, sees continuity for India in Indo-Pacific

The new US national security strategy signals a retreat from global dominance while reaffirming continuity in India's role in Indo-Pacific security and Quad cooperation

Revamping rural employment: New law will bring significant changes

The Bill proposes to increase the number of guaranteed days of employment to 125 per household

Best of BS Opinion: China must find political will to rebalance economy

Today's opinion pieces offer a sharp mix of macro and culture: China's demand shortfall, Prada's Kolhapuri move, the rupee's policy trilemma, why RBI needs better data, and a candid chess memoir.