Business Standard Editorial Comment

Regulating social media: Banning it for children is no silver bullet

A private member's Bill has even proposed disabling the accounts of all under-16 users

On the right track: Asset monetisation will boost efficiency and growth

Given fiscal constraints and the need to lower the debt-to-GDP ratio, the Union finance ministry sees reviving asset monetisation as key to sustaining growth momentum

Regulatory reset: Strengthen Rera to protect homebuyers' interests

The Eco Survey 2025-26 notes quarterly average housing sales stood at 101,300 units up to Q2, compared to 81,600 in FY22-FY24, reflecting healthy demand and renewed confidence in the housing market

The data centre rush: India must ensure that investment is sustainable

There are reasonable questions that must be asked alongside this understandable enthusiasm. The availability of water and electricity, for example, looms large in any discussion on data centres

A battle of attrition: Peace remains elusive in Ukraine as war drags on

Ukraine has lost a quarter of its pre-war population of 42 million, with five million living under Russian occupation and another six million having fled to Europe

Strategic alignment: India joining Pax Silica could secure supply chains

Participation in Pax Silica opens up the possibility of diversified sourcing, processing partnerships, and coordinated stockpiling

AI for all: Global Summit in India offers a path to take the world forward

The India AI Impact Summit 2026 positions New Delhi as a global AI convenor, blending ethics, inclusion and $250 billion in investments to shape the future of artificial intelligence

Tariffs run into legal troubles but will remain at core of Trump's agenda

The US Supreme Court's tariff ruling dents Donald Trump's leverage, reshaping global trade talks and placing India in a relatively stronger negotiating position

Strengthening local bodies: Increasing grants will not be enough

A significant design change is the increase in untied funds. The untied component across these four grants is about 52 per cent compared with only 21 per cent under the 15th FC

Procedural clarity: Proposed changes will make IBC more effective

The proposed changes will impart greater transparency and operational clarity to the insolvency resolution process, which in turn is expected to reduce delays

India-France defence cooperation reflects strategic autonomy push

France has emerged as India's most consequential European partner, with defence manufacturing, Rafale jets and technology transfer anchoring a deepened strategic alignment

India must rethink its Chinese investment strategy beyond Press Note 3

As middle powers rethink ties with China, India must move beyond ad hoc relaxations of Press Note 3 and adopt a clearer, sector-specific strategy for economic security

Closing cancer gaps: Availability of genomic data can improve outcomes

India's disease burden is undergoing a structural shift. According to the recent data, non-communicable diseases account for more than 57 per cent of all deaths in India

Focus on consumers: RBI's draft proposals to make banking experience better

The proposed rules prohibit abusive calls, public humiliation, anonymous or excessive contact, outreach to relatives, and recovery attempts outside permitted hours

Unreasonable priorities: US wants Europe to help turn back the clock

From the perspective of their administration, it is not modern liberal political values that Europe and America share

Consumer awareness: Front-of-pack labels can reshape food choices

The Economic Survey 2025-26 has highlighted that sales of UPFs grew over 150 per cent from 2009 to 2023, which is a major contributor to obesity, diabetes, and other non-communicable diseases

Vote for stability: Time for India and Bangladesh to rebuild relations

BNP's landslide win opens a chance for political stability in Bangladesh and a reset with India, but reform delivery and minority protection will test the new mandate

India's AI moment: Summit can pave the way for accountable AI at scale

As AI adoption accelerates, India's AI Impact Summit aims to shape global rules, attract capital, and offer a Global South alternative to US- and China-led models

Cybersecurity as priority: Indian enterprises must prioritise preparedness

Cybersecurity now defines business resilience in India, as rising AI risks, insider threats and escalating attacks push firms to embed security into core strategy

An improved index: New CPI will not affect monetary policy in the near term

India's new CPI series modernises inflation measurement, reshapes RBI policy signals, and underscores the need for more market-friendly data release timings