Page 14 - Business Standard Editorial Comment

A blot on democracy: Why we must not forget lessons from the Emergency

In a democracy, a free press does not only fulfil the function of educating people and offering them a range of ideological choices and opinions

New talent war: How AI is pushing the boundaries in the IT sector

The requirements for AI professionals have evolved beyond technical skills, with employers also looking for professionals with the ability to work across sectors and identify commercial opportunities

Destabilising the world: US strikes on Iran pose global security threats

Not only has the US demonstrated it intends to behave without restrictions or consultations, but its actions may also serve as the final nail in the non-proliferation coffin

A class apart: Indian universities gaining ground, shows latest QS rankings

Notably, India had eight new entrants this year to the QS rankings, the highest number of new additions by any country

Attractive listing: Sebi eases IPO, delisting norms for startups, PSUs

The clarifications regarding the issuance of employee stock ownership plans (Esops) in startups have brought relief to founders

Despite China's ambitions, renminbi in no position to topple dollar

The Donald Trump administration is pushing the United States (US) into uncharted territory in so many ways that it's difficult to gauge where and how things will eventually settle

UP's targeted intervention for MSMEs could boost industrial output, jobs

MSMEs contribute almost 60 per cent to UP's industrial output and account for 46 per cent of its exports. Such units in the state contribute around 14 per cent to India's MSME count

Agri-tech offers productivity gains, but structural challenges remain

The use of drones in agriculture is now being scaled up with speed. Agri-drones can cover 10 times the area of manual sprayers in a day

Trump's early exit halted meaningful progress at G7, but Modi made gains

Mr Trump's abrupt decision to abandon the summit and return to Washington DC on the first day due to developments related to the Iran-Israel war ensured that the summit ended in stalemate

Char Dham helicopter services must not resume without safety protocols

The state plans to resume helicopter service soon if the weather permits, which should not be done without proper safety protocol in place

Policy space and stance: Inflation outlook will guide MPC's actions

It is important to understand the rationale behind the MPC's decision to reduce the policy rate by 50 basis points, as against the market expectation of 25 basis points

A timely wake-up call: India must urgently address plastic pollution

Beverage firms, big users of PET bottles, are exploring the possibility of seeking legal recourse for extending the deadline, principally because of the challenges involved in the transition

Collateral damage: High crude oil prices will stifle economic growth

For a global economy already grappling with trade-related uncertainties, a sustained increase in oil and gas prices would further cloud the outlook

War clouds over West Asia: The risks of economic fallout are high

Since India has relations with both combatants and its economy stands to lose more than any other SCO member from this conflict, it has chosen to carve out an independent position

Fast probe required: Crash investigation should be quick and credible

It should be noted that Air India itself, while troubled on several dimensions, has not had a major fatality due to a crash (as distinct from terrorist action) since Boeing 707 crash-landed in Mumbai

Silver touch rally: Individual investors must follow the core basics

Traders use the ratio of the price of gold to silver as a thumb-rule to judge relative valuations of the two precious metals

Tangled trade ties: US-China agreement offers little hope of breakthrough

For other trading partners, the US-China deal, as it currently stands, suggests that tariffs would settle at significantly higher levels than before the announcement of the so-called reciprocal tariff

Balancing act: India needs a practical framework for gig workforce

In a labour landscape riddled with a shortage of good-quality jobs - ie those that come with benefits - gig workers are not to be envied

A fresh start: Base revision will better inform policy decisions

The expected revision will not only change the base year but also include new data sources, which should help make these indices more robust

Mission space: Isro to gain immensely from Axiom-4 with Gaganaut experience

Isro trained Group Captain Shukla for the ISS mission and this is important since it has never run a manned mission (India's first man in space, back in 1984, was trained in the Soviet cosmonaut prog)