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RBI faces uphill task as bond yields stay stubborn amid weak demand

Since yields on government bonds directly affect the cost of money in the financial system, it can be argued that the transmission of policy rate cuts has been weak

Pearls of wisdom: Buffett's annual letter to shareholders will be missed

Apart from being two very sharp thinkers, they had a wonderful sense of humour and an enviable ability to explain complicated concepts in simple language

Value for money: Toll rates should be linked to road quality, performance

The goal should not merely be to raise more revenue but to design a system that ensures value for every rupee paid - one that is transparent, predictable, and performance-based

In the AI game: Maya1 shows developing useful tools need not cost a bomb

It supports over 20 controllable speaking styles, including natural patterns like hesitation, excitement, and warmth

Don't bet on the court: Tough US trade policy shifts are here to stay

Trump has used the decades-old emergency authorisation to effectively overturn America's longstanding trade policy

The obstacle course at Belem: COP30 agenda faces multiple headwinds

This much was evident when it became clear that only a third of countries, ahead of the summit, submitted updates detailing how they would cut the emission of greenhouse gases

The QCO regime: India must align regulations with manufacturing ambition

Reform must also focus on how standards are adhered to. India still lacks an adequate accredited testing and certification infrastructure

The learning curve: QS rankings reflect gaps in education governance

India's slipping university ranks signal deep cracks in higher education quality - reforms must focus on academic freedom, research excellence, and teaching standards to stay globally competitive

Prioritise safety: Weaknesses in railways must be addressed quickly

The Bilaspur collision is a stark reminder that India's railway expansion must be matched by a stronger, technology-driven safety culture focused on prevention, not reaction

Zohran Mamdani's NYC win signals a turn towards the Left in US politics

Progressive Zohran Mamdani's stunning NYC win and key Democratic victories in Virginia, New Jersey, and California signal headwinds for Trump ahead of next year's US mid-term polls

Thin ice: States are drowning in debt and politics keeps adding weight

Cash transfers to women need a wider debate

Government should reconsider its outdated restrictions on FDI in ecommerce

To be sure, the concerns of small traders should not be dismissed. But protecting them need not mean stifling progress permanently

New maritime policy can revive India's shipbuilding, boost employment

The creation of a Maritime Development Fund can provide the much-needed long-term, low-cost capital, which shipyards and shipping companies require

On top of the world: Institutional support has empowered women's cricket

The euphoria over a famous victory should not detract from the fact that the women's cricket has a long distance to travel to catch up with the men's game

Policy transparency: Report on missing inflation target must be released

The framework has been designed to make the monetary policy transparent. For instance, the law mandates even the publication of the MPC meeting calendar well in advance

After the Chabahar exemption, India must push for a trade deal with the US

The pause of the export restrictions on rare earths and magnets will be a particular relief to many places, including the European Union and India, which had been caught in the crossfire

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