Page 6 - Business Standard Editorial Comment

Quarterly or bi-annual: Will reducing financial reporting frequency help?

Moving to a biannual reporting cycle will inevitably increase information asymmetry between management and shareholders, potentially leading to greater volatility in financial markets

Rising and shining: Global uncertainty is pushing precious metal prices

One factor driving prices is currency-market volatility. A weaker USD, in particular, is often the trigger for bull runs - international prices of both metals are USD-denominated

To beat slow growth, India needs to create better-paying jobs at scale

The combination of slower productivity and a shrinking formal sector has substantially restrained wage growth, undermining both worker income and domestic demand

DGCA's ranking reveals serious quality problems in India's pilot training

A granular look at the ranking criteria the DGCA has applied is concerning.

Practical pause: Regulatory interventions will help ease of doing business

On balance, the proposed regulatory intervention will improve the ease of doing business for banks without losing sight of banking and financial stability

RSS at 100: The next phase of its evolution should make it more open

Over the past hundred years, despite bans and a political climate that was not conducive to its survival, the RSS has continued to expand

Trading carbon: An efficient market can enable India's green transition

Other than meeting India's climate objectives, the domestic carbon market has profound implications for the country's export competitiveness

Govt must do more on FTAs to help exporters benefit from trade deals

Tariffs on many imports from the Efta nations will be eliminated, and the duties on Indian exports to those countries were not very high anyway

One for the girls: Poor sex ratio underlines Delhi's social regression

Strengthening legal deterrents in this manner may be necessary to ensure that loopholes in the law banning sex-selection tests are closed

Credit divide: Gaps exist in rural finance access despite progress

According to the Reserve Bank of India's Annual Report for 2024-25, there has been a significant increase in the number of banking outlets in rural areas over the past decade

Reforming tribunals: Rising vacancies at the top are hampering efficiency

According to legal think tank Daksh's State of Tribunals 2025 report, India's commercial tribunals face a backlog of 356,000 cases, worth ₹24.2 trillion (as of September)

MPC should wait for more clarity on inflation before deciding on rate cuts

With GST cuts fuelling festive demand and growth holding strong, the RBI's MPC is likely to stay cautious on rate cuts as it weighs inflation risks and uncertain global trade headwinds

Maritime ambitions: New policy can increase capacity substantially

Straddling major global shipping lanes in the Indian Ocean, India can serve as a hub for trade, logistics, and vessel maintenance

Efficient administration: GST Appellate Tribunal needs close monitoring

The launch of the GST Appellate Tribunal marks a key reform in India's tax system, but its success will hinge on capacity, efficiency, and fair handling of disputes

Justice in India: Cost, language, and distance keep millions unheard

Justice in India remains unequal as cost, language, and distance exclude millions - but reforms in legal aid, technology, and regional languages can make the system more inclusive

Trump's UN speech exposes both America's decline and UN's paralysis

Trump's rambling UN speech, met with silence, exposed America's retreat from global leadership and highlighted the urgent need for UN reform to reflect today's power realities

Digging deep: India's geothermal policy should be pursued with care

India's geothermal endowment is significant, though its share in the energy mix remains negligible

Skilling failure: Govt must streamline delivery models for better outcomes

With the launch of the Skill India Mission, NSDC became nodal implementing agency for myriad skills under this umbrella, a function that demands a significantly different set of managerial abilities

Tel Aviv's isolation: A two-state solution remains the global consensus

This represents a major shift in attitudes in the West, and is a reflection of the increasing isolation on the international stage being endured by Tel Aviv following its continuing war on Gaza Strip

A simplified GST structure: Revenue collection must be closely tracked

A simplified GST structure will help all stakeholders. The government expects that lower GST rates, along with income-tax relief, will boost consumption