Page 15 - Business Standard Editorial Comment

Progress on poverty tracking: India needs fresh official estimates

The number of people living in extreme poverty, under the $3 a day line, is now only 5.3 per cent of the population, compared to 27.1 per cent in 2011-12

Saving the Aravallis: Political and bureaucratic buy-in is critical

It is worth noting that the bulk of the degradation of the Aravallis is the result of plain illegal activities, costing state governments crores of rupees in revenue

Search for stability: RBI has done nearly all it can to steady economy

It is expected to enhance the transmission of the policy-rate reduction and reduce the cost of funds for the banking system

The hub of the matter: Airport competitiveness to shape air treaties

The subtext here is that the Indian airline industry is looking to expand international connectivity substantially

Census beyond numbers: Managing political fallout needs careful handling

The importance of the decennial Census cannot be overemphasised in a rapidly developing country like India

Art of giving: Bill Gates has reset billionaire philanthropy standards

The chosen year, 2045, is noteworthy. That is year his foundation plans to end operations. It is also year that Mr Gates will turn 90 and his personal wealth is expected to touch $200 bn

India-US trade deal hopes rise but the reliability part remains in doubt

While it is essential that the government do its best to avoid being hit with high tariffs, it should also keep in mind that any deal with the US is subject to the vagaries of its leadership

Digital payments jump, but robust fraud management key to users' safety

A safe payment system will help further the goal of financial inclusion and achieve higher, sustainable economic growth

Integrating renewable energy: An enabling technology framework is essential

RE is intermittent in nature, peaking during daylight hours, creating oversupply, whereas peak demand typically occurs in the evening

Mid-sized firms need focused policy support to overcome key biz challenges

Many businesses do not have the incentive to scale up or formalise and like to stay within the comfort zone of policy incentives, forgoing innovation and productivity

Asymmetric strike: Ukraine's attack on Russian air assets holds lessons

Asymmetric warfare has been demonstrated to have become much easier. Many non-state groups will be able to afford 100-150 drones

Local institutions need empowerment to fully harness Bharat Forecast system

With enhanced predictions of floods, heatwaves, and cyclones, state governments and emergency services will be in a position to act swiftly to mitigate damage

India's domestic growth looks steady, but external risks are a key concern

Nonetheless, higher agricultural output and lower food inflation will allow the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to ease policy

Profit growth suggests biz cycle picking up, but weak links remain

Taking a broad view, the Q-o-Q acceleration could mean the business cycle is shifting into higher gear

Direct impact: Foreign investment dynamics must be studied carefully

In the normal course, repatriation by foreign multinationals and overseas investment by Indian corporations should not be cause for concern for a large and open economy like India

Early monsoon woes show why Indian cities must plan for climate change

Mumbai is the centre of India's banking and financial services, and is headquarters to most of India's largest corporate groups

Private sector in plane production welcome, but mindset change needed, too

The end of HAL's automatic monopoly is a good thing, and it is welcome news that the ministry has moved so quickly on the recommendations of a report submitted in March

Safe deposits: Time to substantially increase insurance cover limit

Since policymakers are still in the process of increasing the limit, they would do well to take into account factors such as the rapid adoption of technology among customers

CBSE's school initiative on sugar promising, but needs holistic backup

These boards are primarily meant to act as educational tools. Schools are expected to create information and creative displays that highlight the recommended daily sugar intake for children

Stabilising food prices: Focus must be on resilient crop varieties

Notably, temperature shocks affect crops during critical growth stages. This year's Economic Survey also highlighted how extreme weather conditions disproportionately affected perishable food items