Business Standard Webinars

The enabling provision to remove the zero-MDR regime on UPI transactions has sparked a hotly contested debate in the country. The questions are many after the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, was passed in Parliament recently: What the merchant discount rate (MDR) implies, why it is being explored, who should pay it and how much and whether it would impact the unified payments interface (UPI) stream. And, is this the right way forward?

 

To find answers to all these questions, we have lined up a strong panel with sharp views. This 18th episode of Business Standard Dialogue will be a must-watch for those who are tracking this development and also those who are new to the club.

Soon after a month-long students' agitation at New Delhi's Jantar Mantar against paper leaks in various exams, a Bill was passed in Parliament to address issues in the examination system, mainly for entry into medical and engineering courses. The government also set up a high-level committee headed by Nandan Nilekani, co-founder and non-executive chairman of Infosys, to reform the exam system.  

 

The 17th episode of the Business Standard Dialogue will discuss whether the government steps are enough to reform the education system in India, or if there's a need for a total reset. What is the solution? What will create employment?

This will be a special webinar, looking back at the historic economic reforms of 1991. To mark 35 years of reforms, which ushered in liberalisation through measures like abolition of the licence raj and doing away with public sector monopolies in industries such as telecom, civil aviation and power, the webinar will have a top bureaucrat of the time Montek Singh Ahluwalia share his memories when history was being made by the Narasimha Rao-led government. Ahluwalia, who was commerce secretary and then economic affairs secretary in 1991, has often been described as a core architect of the reforms alongside then Finance Minister Manmohan Singh. Industrialist Naushad Forbes, who closely watched business sentiments change dramatically after the announcement of the 1991 reforms, will be another panelist. His commentary on policy and business has referred to the animal spirits of the industry post-1991. On the show, we will also have senior business journalist A K Bhattacharya, who reported on the unshackling of the economy as things unfolded.       
                               

The webinar, which will coincide with a series of special reports on the subject in Business Standard, will discuss how the reforms played out across diverse areas, and what needs to be done now.   

From private members’ clubs and invitation-only travel to concierge-led ecosystems, we’re witnessing a shift where the ultimate luxury is not about products but about access to the most coveted spaces and experiences. Let’s explore what’s driving this evolution; how brands are maintaining exclusivity; how invite-only models create value beyond traditional luxury offerings; and what will define the next decade of luxury for the new HNIs.

 

The West Asia crisis has been a reality check for India’s oil exploration scene. With its heavy dependence on imported crude oil and natural gas, the country has been at the receiving end of the global supply shocks during the war. As geopolitics turns increasingly volatile, the need to intensify exploration of domestic oil reserves is a priority for India, more than ever before.

 

What is India’s goal on oil exploration? What needs to be fixed? What are the challenges on the way? To discuss these issues and more, we have a powerful panel of experts.

It’s that time of the year when Monsoon rains are among the most talked-about topics in India. And Goa and its popular beaches invariably figure prominently in any such discussion. Goa's weather over the next fortnight or so is expected to be dominated by the monsoon with consistent rainfall.

 

The webinar on July 9 will take you to the scene of action, Goa, to capture the transformation that this global destination is witnessing. During the Monsoon and beyond. Panellists will discuss how Goa is reinventing itself as an all-season tourism hub, and that the beaches are just the starting point.

We are approaching the first anniversary of the Prime Minister announcing the launch of Mission Sudarshan Chakra in his Independence Day address. The initiative aims to establish an expansive missile and air defence shield by 2035.

 

What are the technological challenges involved, and can India overcome them with homegrown solutions? How has Operation Sindoor informed the mission? More than a year after the operation, how is India placed in defending its airspace?

 

This webinar examines these questions and attempts to take stock of where we stand, and how far we still have to go, in pursuit of this mission.

Global tech majors are increasingly looking at Indian cities to set up their data centres. Already, India figures in the top 10 international list, coinciding with the exponential rise in demand for processing artificial intelligence (AI) datasets. With ambitious growth projections and tax sops by the government, India could well become the data centre capital of the world in the coming years.

 

Is India going to be a data centre destination because of its real estate prowess? How will we meet the  huge demand for power and water at these data centres? Will India have a tech and R&D advantage in all this? What is India’s gain, and what are the challenges it might face in a journey that has just begun? Experts will share their views on this very pertinent subject at the Business Standard webinar this week.

From monitoring food companies on hygiene, contamination and labelling, to directing restaurants on use of proper kitchen tools, the regulator has been in the headlines recently. The tenth episode of the webinar—Business Standard Dialogue—will discuss the growing significance of food regulation and the role of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) at a time when speed is of the essence.     

 

Years after net neutrality occupied centre stage, as against the ‘walled garden’ or closed digital ecosystem, the debate has made a comeback. A telecom company recently launched a value-added service for its post-paid customers through slicing of spectrum, triggering an outcry that the principle of net neutrality had been breached. 

 

During this webinar, experts will discuss the various aspects of net neutrality, which implies that all internet traffic must be treated equally without any discrimination by network providers.

A decade of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) can perhaps be described as a worthwhile start in transforming the corporate resolution process. However, bottlenecks and litigation delays have often come in the way of executing the rescue system in a seamless manner.

 

This episode of ‘Business Standard Dialogue’ will discuss how IBC should move from here to streamline the process and plug the gaps. The webinar will offer a mix of the IBC history and the promise it holds for the future,  making it a compelling watch.

Drones have been used extensively in the Russia-Ukraine war and the conflict in West Asia. Many of the drones used in combat today are low-cost, commercial tools that have adapted to warfare. The session will explore to what extent have drones changed combat.

 

Nuclear power, which was a no-go area for the private sector for decades, now offers significant opportunities to the industry. With the passage of the SHANTI Bill recently, civil nuclear power is officially open to private companies for setting up plants and generating nuclear power. How keen is the private sector? What will make the new era in the power sector work? How will the citizens benefit? What are the implications for the stakeholders, including the incumbents? The panelists will attempt to address all these issues and more.

 

Weight-loss drugs have been a talking point across dining tables, doctors’ clinics and gyms ever since patents on ingredients such as semaglutide expired recently and Indian manufacturers could launch the generic versions.

 

What does the market look like in India? What are the regulatory guardrails? What is the medical advice? How expensive are these drugs? These are among the questions that our panelists will answer during the webinar.

In a world shaped by conflict and caution, Dubai’s luxury appeal faces a moment of scrutiny. As geopolitical tensions reshape global travel, investment and lifestyle choices, we examine whether Dubai’s appeal as a safe haven for high-net-worth Indians endures, and what might challenge it. Is Dubai resilient and insulated, or could the war signal a shift in its allure? Join experts for a nuanced conversation on the risks, opportunities and the future of luxury in one of the world’s most sought-after destinations.