Opinion

The new environmentalism: Why sustainability must begin with inclusion

World Environment Day 2026 calls for a new environmentalism that links sustainable growth with inclusion, climate resilience and stronger governance

EMs in the oil shock: Policymakers are going into an examination hall

The 2026 oil shock is testing emerging economies, with fuel pricing, exchange-rate flexibility and inflation control set to determine growth outcomes

EGRs can unlock household gold while keeping costs lower for taxpayers

Electronic Gold Receipts could unlock idle household gold, offering income opportunities while reducing import dependence without burdening taxpayers

India's flailing, failing cities are the biggest threat to Brand India

A deeper analysis will tell you that most of these disasters took place in what might be described variously as unauthorised, illegal or irregular buildings and areas

Best of BS Opinion: Can India's AI gap be a blessing in disguise?

Today's Opinion page examines AI-driven market exuberance, Dharmendra Pradhan's political prospects, the growing importance of E-E-A-T, and India's deepening urban governance challenge

Monetary policy: Reserve Bank of India opens window for dollar inflow

RBI has unveiled a five-pronged plan to attract foreign capital, boost dollar inflows, ease banking liquidity pressures and support the rupee

Why human credibility and authenticity, not AI scale, will define winners

Mastering E-E-A-T is not a quick fix; it is a long-term commitment to quality and transparency

Dharmendra Pradhan's political skills outshine his ministerial record

Mr Pradhan is not an especially charismatic leader or a brilliant orator. But his understanding of realpolitik and organisational dynamics makes him the ultimate party man

India's AI lag could shield it from a painful market reckoning

The AI boom, especially in terms of market valuations, is essentially no different from Tulip Mania, the South Sea Bubble, the dotcom boom, the subprime lending euphoria of the noughties, or other spe

Far from sealed: Archaeology, nationalism and an ancient mystery

A tiny seal from Mohenjo-daro has reignited a century-old debate over whether the Indus civilisation shares a direct cultural link with later Hindu traditions

A monetary policy beyond rates: Why RBI's latest moves matter more

Most importantly, the slew of reforms announced in today's meeting to support the rupee augurs well for the economy and markets while keeping the growth momentum sacrosanct

The new cybersecurity imperative

Safety must match digital scale in banking to maintain trust

Best of BS Opinion: Credit, AI risks in BFSI, and Bengal's transition

From challenges in retail credit access and the fallout of Donald Trump's tariff policies to banking cybersecurity, regional connectivity and Indonesia's cultural landscape, today's opinions offer wid

Bengal's political shift creates an opening for eastern integration

Even during periods of geopolitical strain, trade through the land frontier has remained resilient

Beyond credit scores: Next inclusion phase must reach first-time borrowers

As seen in the 11th round of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development's Rural Economic Conditions and Sentiments Survey, around 22 per cent of the surveyed rural households still depend

A year of tariffs: Donald Trump's trade policy impoverishes US workers

New evidence from economists at Morgan Stanley sheds light on how US firms that are exposed to tariffs are changing their behaviour

Best of BS Opinion: USTR tariff threats deepen trade uncertainty

From fresh US tariff threats and fiscal policy constraints to the future of television broadcasting and the legacy of Shastri Bhawan, here are today's top Opinion insights

India needs fiscal space, not just subsidies, to weather crises

If India had created more fiscal space in the three good years following the end of the Covid crisis in 2022-23, it would have more options to deal with the current one

Shastri Bhawan embodied a more open, accessible era of governance

The seven-storeyed building, often described as a run-down office and not quite smelling like power corridors are expected to, was rather unique

Advertising curbs risk weakening broadcasters in a changed market

As of December 2025, the number of homes with cable & satellite TV was down to 100 million, according to estimates