Opinion

India's state-wise investment gap has deeper roots than just poverty

India's uneven state investment reflects differences in public spending and governance, not just income levels, with higher public capex and project completion linked to stronger private investment

Rolling back QCOs fixes the damage, but it is not the same as reform

India's rollback of quality control orders eases supply disruptions and export costs, but highlights deeper policy incoherence and recurring inward-looking trade interventions

EVs help, but Delhi's air pollution problem needs more than adoption

It is equally important to recognise that Delhi is part of a shared air basin across the NCR. Policies for just Delhi can deliver limited gains

Securities Markets Code is a welcome step for simpler market regulation

While the Code retains most of the existing provisions, there are additions and changes that warrant mention here - the composition of Sebi and its powers, for instance

Best of BS Opinion: The long pause following every strong announcement

Here are the best of Business Standard's opinion pieces for today

The Securities Markets Code: Regulatory governance, finally codified

The Securities Markets Code embeds legitimacy, proportionality, and accountability into market regulation. The first of a three-part series

Regulatory architecture 2.0: Securities Markets Code marks a decisive shift

Part two of a three-part series on the Securities Markets Code focuses on regulatory reform as it moves from discretion to institutional design

When market infrastructure institutions start becoming the state

The concluding part of a three-part series on the Securities Markets Code turns the spotlight on MIIs, which are no longer operating on the margins of the state

India cannot fix its education brain drain without globalising at home

As Western nations tighten student visas, a NITI Aayog report flags a chance for India to emerge as a global education hub-if structural gaps in research, regulation and visas are fixed

Clinging to the H-1B lottery has finally caught up with Indian ITeS

Indian ITeS should have moved away from the H-1B lottery

India's energy jobs boom exposes the myth of AI-led job destruction

AI has been framed as a job-stealing force. The electricity sector tells a different story

How 2025 turned global trade into a test of endurance, not just rules

The US is redefining global trade policy landscape

Best of BS Opinion: NCLT courts must fix institutional gaps

From tribunal capacity and procedural certainty to tanker seizures that could hit India's economy, today's Best of BS Opinion also looks at Budget-impact laws, AI agents, and a book on sanctions

Caribbean crisis: US actions in Venezuela threaten India's economy

Mr Trump's claim that Mr Maduro is emptying his prisons and illegally flooding the US with criminal elements and that the country is a major source of drug trafficking lacks foundation

India can offer a blueprint for universal, trustworthy AI agents at scale

India should provide every citizen a free, privacy-first AI agent, built on digital public infrastructure, to ensure safe, inclusive access to information, services and decision-making tools

Swift resolution required: Capacity gaps threaten insolvency outcomes

As the government is doing a number of things to improve the ease of doing business, it must recognise that a smooth and predictable exit mechanism is as critical as facilitating entry

Three Bills and a Budget: How the winter session impacts future budgets

Three laws passed in Parliament could boost central revenues, reshape GST cess flows, shift MGNREGA costs to states and create new budget headroom ahead of the 2026-27 Union Budget

Best of BS Opinion: India must learn from China, support new entrants

Today's Best of BS Opinion looks at India's evolving trade strategy, rising tensions with Bangladesh, lessons from China's manufacturing boom, food loss challenges, and the impact of digital platforms

India's clean energy transition's biggest potential lies in agriculture

India's clean energy transition can gain scale through agriculture, using decentralised renewable energy to cut post-harvest losses, create green jobs and boost farmer incomes across rural India

China's growth shows why government support should be aimed at new starters

China's growth highlights the need for India to shift policy support towards new firms, boost manufacturing, R&D spending, and empower states and cities to drive entrepreneurship and competitiveness