Page 22 - Business Standard Editorial Comment

Signs of slippage: Certain segments of borrowers require attention

Unsecured lending by scheduled commercial banks (SCBs) steadily grew over the past several years and touched 25.5 per cent of the credit extended in March 2023

Fixing GST: India needs a simple, stable, and predictable tax structure

Unlike the states, the Union did not have the cushion of compensation for a revenue shortfall in the initial years

Targeted intervention: Aiming at low-productivity districts to boost growth

Backed by performance-based monitoring through 117 indicators, the scheme signals a clear intent for systemic reform

The art of meetings: Cabinet secretary offers progressive suggestions

By encouraging a structured approach to interactions with non-officials, the aim, no doubt, is to make the bureaucracy more proactive and responsive to the needs of the people

Risky options: Sebi should continue to educate retail investors carefully

A large number of retail traders dabble in futures & options (F&Os), drawn by high leverage and hopes of high returns

Optics to outcome: Corporate India needs to do more on diversity

However, despite some progress at the top, the broader picture remains uneven

A concentration problem: Policymakers should support markets, not champions

India's conscious decision to return to industrial policy and state-guided investment has had the inevitable consequence of empowering the largest conglomerates

EU's code of practice sets key benchmarks for regulating AI development

Most countries have still not been able to catch up. India, for instance, has no dedicated AI law

GCC revolution needs infra, policy stability, and skilled human capital

The deeper question, however, is whether India's human capital is prepared for a shift up the value chain

Mind their language: The State should abstain from imposing choices

The policy, being implemented in phases, stipulates that students learn at least three languages

Comfortable position: Low inflation may not lead to another rate cut

Prices of oils and fats, for example, increased by over 17 per cent and may require policy attention

Back to the future? Investment has remained a hurdle for West Bengal

Mr Chandrasekaran and Ms Banerjee reportedly discussed private-public partnerships in the context of economic growth in the state

IBC reset needed: Delays in the resolution process must be addressed

If resolution plans can be set aside years later, it undermines the credibility of the insolvency process and raises questions about the very foundations of the Code. This cannot be allowed to persist

Exclusion errors: ECI must ensure genuine voters are not left out

Ever since it was set up, and without a definitive proof of citizenship issued under the Citizenship Act, the ECI has done a commendable job in preparing inclusive electoral rolls

Low visibility: AAIB report on Air India crash needs technical clarity

The problem with the AAIB's 15-page report is that it has sparked damaging speculation about "pilot error" or, worse, pilot suicide

Gaps in data gathering understate actual levels of inequality in India

According to the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) 2022-23, inequality in consumption did decline

India must deepen ties with Asean nations, not abandon its trade agreement

Some within the government, as well as prominent voices in industry, have complained that the FTA with Asean allows for the dumping of Chinese goods in India via Southeast Asia

Nutrition transition: Focus should now be on diet quality, protein shifts

More importantly, the wide disparities in calorie consumption between the poorest and the wealthiest have narrowed significantly, signalling a welcome reduction in nutritional inequality

Letters and the spirit: Trump pushes global trade into uncharted territory

With the end of the 90-day pause on the imposition of the so-called reciprocal tariffs and the US sending letters, a few things are now clear

Making Brics count: Summit highlighted diminishing global relevance

The lengthy, nearly 16,000-word Rio de Janeiro Declaration, which followed the summit, made all the right noises about "inclusive and sustainable" governance