Page 32 - Business Standard Editorial Comment

Why Trump's tariff threat over Brics currency may be false alarm

While there is a strong case for tariff reduction, India must be prepared to engage with the US establishment more actively to present its position

A comprehensive review: GST Council needs to address all aspects

The idea should be to simplify the structure. This will increase compliance and reduce disputes

Strengthening cooperatives: Building capacity to increase opportunities

At this juncture, it is critical to extend support to cooperatives for their long-term survival and sustainability

Age restrictions: Australia's social-media law set to be a case study

The platforms are upset. The ban impacts a large chunk of their user base, and young people are among the most engaged users

Reversing family planning: Mohan Bhagwat's three-child idea is regressive

Unchecked population growth will undo the societal gains India has made since independence

Sharp slowdown: Solutions will need to go beyond interest rate cuts

Some economists believe that a pickup in government capital expenditure will help accelerate growth

Unintended consequence: The poor face the brunt of pollution control

Construction bans are becoming the norm each winter, it is incumbent on state authorities to design a mechanism to compensate temporarily unemployed workers

UPI frauds: Rising cases can affect users' confidence in digital payments

The volume of digital-payment transactions increased from 20.71 billion in 2017-18 to 187.37 billion in 2023-24 - at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 44 per cent

Doubling down on Maga: Trump-II Cabinet choices are less moderate

As far as the economy and trade are concerned, Mr Trump has signalled his protectionist intentions

Urban freight reforms key to cut emissions, boost logistics efficiency

Estimates by the National Council of Applied Economic Research show that India's logistics costs ranged from 7.8 to 8.9 per cent of gross domestic product in 2021-22

India must adapt to evolving global trade norms for meaningful FTAs

Both countries have been negotiating to arrive at a mutually beneficial agreement since 2022

Searching answers: Forced divestment of Chrome can shake up the market

Google launched its search engine in 1998 and rapidly achieved dominance in a nascent space. But almost three decades down the line, that space is ripe for change

Pull, don't push: Global capability centres need enabling environment

The government in Bengaluru should focus on the supply of suitable local candidates for GCCs rather than forcing labour demand to adapt

Agritech revolution: Startups offer opportunities for agricultural growth

Leveraging agritech startups successfully requires an increased focus on agricultural research and innovation

Suboptimal outcome: The Baku deal falls way short of requirements

India has gained traction from its negotiator's astringent rejection of the deal and advocacy for the Global South

Comeback script: Politics and economics of cash transfers must be debated

Although multiple factors influence outcomes, in both states the ruling alliances relied heavily on welfare schemes, such as cash transfers to women, which appear to have played a significant role

High costs: US charges to cause reputational damage for Adani and India

For a group that works in sectors where the ability to raise money and minimise political risk is essential, such news can hardly be easy to shrug off

Early signs of second-order effects: RBI cannot ignore price pressures

It is worth highlighting that even if the headline or food inflation rate comes down, it will only reduce the pace of price increase and consumers will continue to pay comparatively high prices

Prisoners of process: Decongestion schemes fall short of expectations

Urgently streamlining the process may be one way to turn Mr Shah's gesture into genuine relief for India's undertrials

SME platform reforms: Sebi focuses on safeguarding retail investors

The regulator had in May 2010 prescribed a revised framework for setting up a stock exchange or a trading platform (by the existing stock exchanges) with terminals across the country for SMEs