Opinion
The provisional expenditure and revenue numbers for 2025-26 underline the need for reviewing tax rebates
 "A K Bhattacharya")
 "tax, taxation")
 "Gaura Sengupta")
 "Rajeev Kher")
 "Om Stutee")
 "Laveesh Bhandari")
 "TNC Rajagopalan")
 "Tamal Bandyopadhyay")
 "Business Standard Editorial Comment")
More on Opinion
Tax rebates: FY26 provisional expenditure, revenue show need for a rethink
The provisional expenditure and revenue numbers for 2025-26 underline the need for reviewing tax rebates
 "Tax rebates: FY26 provisional expenditure, revenue show need for a rethink")
India's emission intensity targets face challenge of uneven abatement costs
India's Greenhouse Gas Emission Intensity targets are a welcome step forward, but variations in abatement costs could complicate implementation
 "India's emission intensity targets face challenge of uneven abatement costs")
Owners' pride: IPL's soaring valuations reflect a thriving business model
RCB's title win underscores the IPL's growing financial power, with franchise valuations soaring as the league emerges as one of the world's most profitable sports properties
 "Owners' pride: IPL's soaring valuations reflect a thriving business model")
Policy complexity: RBI MPC will have to reckon with several moving parts
With oil prices elevated and monsoon risks looming, the RBI is expected to hold rates steady while reassessing inflation and growth forecasts
 "Policy complexity: RBI MPC will have to reckon with several moving parts")
RBI monetary policy: The critical need to attract foreign savings
Rising fuel prices and tighter global conditions are reshaping India's funding landscape, increasing reliance on bank credit as foreign and domestic savings slow
 "RBI monetary policy: The critical need to attract foreign savings")
Best of BS Opinion: Why India must leave retrospective taxes behind
From retrospective taxation and quality reforms to polymer notes, exam glitches and middle-class stress, today's opinion pages examine key policy challenges
 "Best of BS Opinion: Why India must leave retrospective taxes behind")
Why India needs a new authority on quality: Beyond setting standards
India has built the ecosystem for ensuring quality, but credibility requires more than just setting standards
 "Why India needs a new authority on quality: Beyond setting standards")
Let the past be past in tax policy: The cost of retrospective taxes
The current decision on online gaming-gambling is a case in point. This is not an activity that creates large employment, not does it serve genuine needs of people
Plastic currency: Switching to polymer bank notes can help manage costs
Polymer notes are made of a thin plastic substrate that is more resistant to moisture, dirt and tearing
 "Plastic currency: Switching to polymer bank notes can help manage costs")
Stress tests: Centralised examination systems are failing aspirants
Over the past decade, attempts to centralise the public-examination system have consistently led to sub-optimal outcomes
 "Stress tests: Centralised examination systems are failing aspirants")
A slippery slope: Why India must prioritise growth over rupee fears
High oil prices, a weakening rupee and global capital shifts demand bold policymaking to protect growth and build resilience against external shocks
 "A slippery slope: Why India must prioritise growth over rupee fears")
Why India's new industrial index matters more than ever to growth
With a 2022-23 base year, the revamped IIP captures emerging industries, renewable energy and changing production patterns more accurately
 "Why India's new industrial index matters more than ever to growth")
Best of BS Opinion: HDFC Bank must emphatically address all concerns
Hello and welcome to BS Opinion, a wrap of editorials and columns on today's Opinion page
 "Best of BS Opinion: HDFC Bank must emphatically address all concerns")
Talk tariffs, but understand ocean freight and its impact on trade costs
Tariff cuts alone cannot boost exports; India needs larger, predictable cargo volumes to reduce freight costs and attract direct shipping services
 "Talk tariffs, but understand ocean freight and its impact on trade costs")
RBI MPC meet: Amid inflation, growth concerns, rate hike can wait for now
Inflation will rise in the second half of the year. Growth, too, will falter. It's time to explore other options
 "RBI MPC meet: Amid inflation, growth concerns, rate hike can wait for now")
Improving health outcomes: Survey suggests the need for a holistic approach
NFHS-6 shows gains in child nutrition and healthcare access, but rising obesity and diabetes underscore the need for a more comprehensive public health strategy
 "Improving health outcomes: Survey suggests the need for a holistic approach")
Insurer must prove pre-existing ailment before denying insurance claim
The complainant pointed out that the insurer had produced no medical record to substantiate the claim that diabetes was pre-existing
 "Insurer must prove pre-existing ailment before denying insurance claim")
Governance questions: HDFC Bank must emphatically address all concerns
HDFC Bank must address governance concerns transparently after reports of irregular payments linked to bulk deposits, while the RBI should clarify its oversight role
 "Governance questions: HDFC Bank must emphatically address all concerns")
Mini crisis, self-inflicted: Policy missteps leave the rupee under pressure
India's forex stress reflects delayed reforms, weak capital inflows and a widening current-account deficit, underscoring the need to attract long-term investment
 "Mini crisis, self-inflicted: Policy missteps leave the rupee under pressure")
Reimagining microfinance: Current model works, but at a modest growth rate
India's microfinance model has reached its limits; sustainable growth now requires a shift towards meso-finance, stronger savings buffers, and less reliance on group lending.