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COP-out at Baku: Agreement on new climate-funding mechanism inconclusive

Baku climate talks failed to reach a consensus on funding, revealing deep divides between developed and developing nations. The outcome casts doubt on the progress expected at COP29

Maintaining continuity: Govt should be able to push economic reforms

History shows that coalition govts in India can implement economic reforms. But what the govt may find difficult to push are political ideas like "One Nation, One Election" and the Uniform Civil Code

'Mission Mausam' promises: Cloud chambers, AI, better weather forecasting

Mission Mausam aims to enhance India's weather forecasting through advanced technology, cloud chambers, and AI, promising improved predictions and better climate change mitigation

Balancing act in agriculture: Markets must be allowed to function

Recent policy changes like adjusting agri export prices and import duties will benefit producers. But consistent, well-thought interventions remain crucial for market development and price stability

Underutilised data: GST transactions are a rich mine for policymakers

The GSTN's concerns about privacy and security are important and must be respected, but they are not insurmountable

Affordable health care: Greater policy focus required to strengthen infra

Although public spending on health has increased in recent years, it continues to remain low compared to other countries

PM E-DRIVE, eBus Sewa: How the schemes may help accelerate EV adoption

The two schemes, with over Rs 14,000 crore allocated to boost EV adoption, focusing on electric two-wheelers, buses, and charging stations, aim to support India's emissions-reduction goals

A safe place for women: Military needs greater gender sensitisation

The military's growing number of women officers highlights the need for gender sensitisation. Recent harassment cases show systemic flaws that must be addressed for true gender equality

Race for White House: Confident Kamala puts Trump on the back foot

Kamala Harris' direct stare, confident body language and frankly incredulous expression at his statements put paid to intimidation of the kind Donald Trump inflicted on Hillary Clinton in 2016

India's food consumption expenditure trends reveal a reassuring shift

The HCES data not only points to a secular decline in the share of food items in the spending basket, but also reveals a shift in the composition of food expenditure itself

Key decisions ahead for GST Council: Rate cuts, slabs, compensation cess

The challenge will be to rationalise rates and adjust the part which is now collected as cess in a manner that makes the GST system more efficient and helps improve overall tax collection

Overcapacity effects: Steel sector leads demand for protection from China

Steel producers have petitioned the government that their capacity expansion will be under threat unless prices, and therefore margins, are supported through tariffs

Road ahead for RRBs: Why consolidation is key to improving rural banking

All stakeholders in RRBs must aim to improve their efficiency and competitiveness. Smaller, loss-making banks should be allowed to be subsumed by sponsor banks or any other commercial bank

Bridging the gap: How upskilling initiatives can boost tourism job creation

The tourism industry has immense potential to drive economic growth and generate millions of jobs

Despite Paralympic success, the differently-abled remain excluded in India

As we proudly bask in the success of our para-athletes at Paris, political and corporate leaders may want to apply serious thought to making India a kinder, gentler place for differently-abled people

Himachal's fiscal condition is a lesson for states in what not to do

Rising competitive populism among states could seriously undermine India's long-term potential

Safety first: Ensuring women's security is as critical as stringent laws

The bigger danger implicit in the extremist approach in the Aparajita Bill, as with similar Bills passed by other states, is a fundamental misunderstanding of the nature of the crime of sexual assault

Inflation debate must consider downsides of alternative frameworks

To be fair, the RBI or the MPC on its own cannot change the target or stop taking into account one part of the consumer basket without appropriate amendment to the RBI Act

Agri growth: New schemes a timely intervention, should improve outcomes

With no significant advancement since the Green Revolution, there is a pressing need for renewed innovation and investment in the agricultural sector to address current challenges

Rediscovering integration: World Bank argument on trade is worth hearing

Besides the argument that India must re-evaluate its approach to trade pacts, including the RCEP, other in-progress deals like those with the EU and the UK, must be the targets for political attention