Page 8 - Business Standard Editorial Comment

Services sector needs employment-intensive structural transformation

This "growth-employment disconnect" seems to be defining India's services story. Modern services are capital-intensive and globally tradable, generating high productivity but few jobs

India must build on macroeconomic stability, use trade as growth engine

This mix of policy choices made over the years has enabled a stable macroeconomic environment

8th Pay Commission must consider liabilities stemming from wages, pensions

It will always be hard for the government to follow market mechanisms, but systems must be adjusted to reflect the broader economic reality

Fire-and-forget: Retail investors starting to see virtues of passive funds

While India's households have invested heavily in equity mutual funds over the past five years, most investors have favoured active schemes

Amazon's automation drive could reshape global logistics and workforce

The company has responded to the news report with a statement that these are projections made by only one division (its robotics division) and they are not necessarily correct

A real burden: Tax disputes worth trillions are choking India's growth

With ₹16 trillion locked in unresolved tax disputes, India must urgently reform its judicial and tax systems to clear backlogs and restore investor confidence in a rule-based economy

Overlapping crises: How global warming is deepening global poverty

Since climate change is a global phenomenon, it is equally critical that countries work on mutually reinforcing climate-action plans beyond the individual emission-reduction targets

End unpredictability: Leaders of US, China must step back from trade brink

The exact outline of what has been decided is not known - and may never be known - especially if one or both the leaders end up rejecting it

Governments must exercise caution in these times of AI overinvestment

Within the sector, however, there are signs that reflect not just a classic boom-and-bust cycle building up, but also that significant systemic risks are being ignored

SME IPO wave: High subscriptions and quick listing gains mask deeper risks

The surge in IPO listing has been fuelled by a resilient domestic economy, enabling government policies such as simplified listing norms, and the integration of digital payment systems

Labelling like it is: ORS label ban should spark rethink on other products

ORS is basically a medically formulated mixture of water, glucose, and essential electrolytes such as sodium and potassium

Foreign interest: Growth prospects draw investment into financial sector

India is not only the fastest-growing large economy in the world, it also has significant untapped potential for formal finance

Labour reform 2.0: India's digital blueprint for jobs and inclusion

To harness this shift, the Shram Shakti Niti draft outlines a series of interventions to bridge the divide between skill and opportunity

COP30 in Brazil faces world at its hottest and most divided on climate

As COP30 opens in Brazil, record CO₂ levels and faltering global leadership leave climate goals in peril, testing the world's resolve to act on its promises

Deep-sea opportunity: India must get the basics in place for growth

While the road map is ambitious, the present economic context too matters. External shocks often derail attempts to carry out internal reforms

Hot question: Stubble burning in India needs sustainable solutions

Experts have suggested direct cash transfers to farmers to buy CRM machines, which are currently being sold at inflated prices on account of the subsidy element

Leadership positions: Public sector banks should focus on grooming leaders

The government's plan to open senior roles in public-sector banks to private executives aims to boost efficiency but may clash with institutional values and pay disparities

Safeguarding competition: Digital world will need policy intervention

India must act early to define what 'gatekeeper' firms in AI are, ensure that Cloud, compute, & chip providers are not allowed to self-enforce lockins, & force transparency in pricing

Future trajectory: Policy rate cut uncertain despite cooling inflation

The decision at the December MPC meeting will depend on a range of factors, and the incoming data until then will be crucial in shaping the consensus view

The year ahead: Global uncertainties set to influence asset prices

The last 12 months have been characterised by economic uncertainties and geopolitical tensions