Opinion

9 months on, GST next-gen reforms: Lower rates, larger base, higher revenue

The authors argue GST rate rationalisation has broadened the tax base, improved compliance and refunds, and boosted consumption, though its full impact will take longer to assess

Economic reforms: India needs a second wave to sustain high growth

Thirty-five years after the 1991 reforms, India needs a new reform wave focused on deregulation, stronger state capacity, judicial efficiency and faster growth

Reviving the 1991 spirit: Reform lessons from then should not be ignored

Thirty-five years after the landmark 1991 Budget, India must revive the reform spirit with fresh policy changes, stronger institutions and wider reforms beyond the economy

Offline payment push: Innovation must include stronger consumer protection

NPCI's offline NFC-based UPI can expand digital payments and financial inclusion, but robust security, fraud safeguards and strong consumer protection must underpin its rollout

Enterprise DPI can help India reclaim its advantage in the AI game

How enterprise digital public infrastructure can become the new rails on which India re-enters the AI game

Best of BS Opinion: State reforms key to improve India's investment climate

From state-level investment reforms and food safety enforcement to next-generation FTAs, corporate living wills and a Tibetan memoir, here are today's top BS Opinion pieces

India's ambition of becoming developed economy demands policy certainty

India needs predictable tax, trade and regulatory policies to attract foreign capital, boost investment and achieve its Viksit Bharat growth ambitions

Sheikh Hamad: The Emir who transformed Qatar into an energy giant

Qatar's journey from a small Gulf oil producer to the world's LNG leader was shaped by Sheikh Hamad's energy strategy and long-term global partnerships

The unbearable lightness of trade deals

India's recent flurry of FTAs is an excellent start, but it is only a start

India must strengthen food safety enforcement and regulatory capacity

FSSAI's recent actions highlight the need for stronger food safety enforcement, stricter penalties and better coordination to protect consumers and boost global trust

Improving investment climate: Reforms at the state level can drive growth

NITI Aayog's investment index highlights wide disparities among states, underscoring the need for governance reforms, stronger institutions and balanced regional growth

Corporate 'living wills' can make insolvency rescues more effective

The next frontier of insolvency reforms is preparing companies for distress before it strikes

Best of BS Opinion: India's foreign exchange strategy needs stable capital

From forex inflows and examination reform to FPI policy, rupee depreciation and behavioural science, today's Best of BS Opinion examines India's key policy choices

Ill-judged crackdown: Government must engage constructively with protestors

The Delhi student protests underscore growing anger over exam failures, demanding accountability, education reforms, and meaningful government engagement instead of police action

Forex strategy must go beyond short-term flows and import substitution

The basic idea behind the liberalised FCNR (B) scheme and other such measures is to attract foreign-currency flows, which will help RBI build foreign-exchange buffers at a time of global uncertainty

Why a weaker rupee is not necessarily a sign of economic weakness

A stable economy does not require a permanently stable exchange rate

India needs stable rules, should resist special concessions for FPIs

India needs long-term stable foreign investment. Ad hoc short-term concessions serve a limited purpose

Best of BS Opinion: Durable progress depends on distributed capacity

Top-down ambition, these pieces show, may set the direction, but durable progress depends on distributed capacity

Going beyond trickle-down: Rethinking value for 200 million consumers

The middle-income households will be spread evenly across population clusters, making up 63 per cent of households in the Big Six by 2031, 59 per cent in Boomtowns, 57 per cent in Breakout Cities and

The fine balance of good governance: How boards safeguard value, integrity

Independent directors are often concerned about their potential liabilities. On this count, Indian jurisprudence and the Securities and Exchange Board of India's (Sebi's) enforcement approach should o