Opinion

India's textiles horse finally has both legs free to chase global gains

After years of policy hurdles, the sector finally has a clear path to scale and compete

Four US economic policy shifts of 2025 and their impact on global markets

Astonishingly, these shakeups have failed to unsettle the US or global economy - but 2026 will tell whether that continues

IndiGo crisis: A reminder that Railways must carefully reassess duty hours

The problem is being compounded by staff shortages. As of March 1, 2024, nearly 15 per cent of train-driver posts were vacant across the network

US policy differences will require monitoring as Fed rate cuts spark debate

Fed Chairman Jerome Powell, in his remarks, said the policy interest rate was now in neutral territory, which means it is neither expansionary nor contractionary

Best of BS Opinion: Sparks of growth but mounting shadows of strain

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

How consistent is IMF's exchange rate regime classification, data adequacy?

When seen historically, India's exchange rate arrangement, both de-facto and de-jure, was floating from 1999 to 2022 (independent, managed, and floating)

India's states are starving education to feed freebies. It will hurt

Far from empowering the poor, the proliferation of freebies could have the opposite effect, harming social and economic outcomes

Higher spending but fewer visitors: India must fix its tourism strategy

India ranks 39th on the World Economic Forum's 2024 Travel and Tourism Development Index, performing strongly on natural and cultural resources

IPO mania is the new normal but the real test remains value creation

This is part and parcel of a market where many startups seek listing, which in itself is not an unhealthy trend

Why build more hotels when Uttarakhand could become India's skills engine

Why building educational institutions is a better path to promoting Uttarakhand than relying on unplanned tourism that is degrading its environment

Best of BS Opinion: When the tents collapse and the beasts run free

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

Solar transition: Reforms needed to improve long-term performance

Grid-level constraints compound the problem. Solar generation is geographically concentrated, while transmission capacity and energy storage remain severely inadequate

Warner Bros Discovery bidding war mirrors Hollywood's battle to survive

Almost every analyst and commentator is questioning not the logic but the price at which this deal is being discussed

It's the regulator, stupid! DGCA must be empowered to enforce rules

With the DGCA's statutory status remaining only on paper, the civil aviation ministry is making a bigger noise about what action should be taken against IndiGo

A worrying shift: New security strategy in US reflects changing worldview

Control of the Western Hemisphere is necessary to achieve ends that are important in domestic politics

Best of BS Opinion: When oversight blinks, small cracks turn dangerous

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

Budget should reemphasise infrastructure, push private participation

Revive PPPs, enable group taxation for infra SPVs, fund high-speed rail separately, and prioritise urban projects to reignite growth, argues infra expert

India in 2026: Market setup better than 2025 if domestic flows hold

After being shunned by foreign investors and missing the AI boom, a cheaper market, earnings revival, and macro stability offer a contrarian opportunity

Declining dependence: Declining MGNREGA demand is a positive sign

This improvement is attributed to multiple factors, including stronger real wages in both agricultural and non-agricultural work, increased tractor and fertiliser sales, healthy growth in farm credit

Flighty governance: IndiGo fiasco reflects collective systemic failures

This deficiency, in turn, raises questions about the role of the board, staffed by luminaries from business and industry