A K Bhattacharya
 "A K Bhattacharya")
A K Bhattacharya
A K Bhattacharya is a senior economic journalist with over four decades of experience. He is Business Standard's editorial director and a writer of a long-running column - Raisina Hill. He had set the bar for business reporting as the chief of bureau at the Economic Times in the early 1990s, when economic reforms raged. He had a ringside view to many other disruptions, creative and otherwise, during his four decades in journalism, a journey that started when he switched careers after a year of teaching.
A K Bhattacharya is a senior economic journalist with over four decades of experience. He is Business Standard's editorial director and a writer of a long-running column - Raisina Hill. He had set the bar for business reporting as the chief of bureau at the Economic Times in the early 1990s, when economic reforms raged. He had a ringside view to many other disruptions, creative and otherwise, during his four decades in journalism, a journey that started when he switched careers after a year of teaching.
A K Bhattacharya
We framed this Budget on a larger plank, not based on any one incident: FM
The India-US trade deal, had it come a little earlier, would not have made the Union Budget any different, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said
 "We framed this Budget on a larger plank, not based on any one incident: FM")
Headwinds may be turning into tailwinds for foreign inflows: FM Sitharaman
FM Nirmala Sitharaman says another round of Customs clean-up soon
 "Headwinds may be turning into tailwinds for foreign inflows: FM Sitharaman")
Budget 2026-27: Inside the fiscal consolidation numbers and open questions
The Budget has largely eschewed political populism, even as several states are to go for Assembly elections in the coming months
 "Budget 2026-27: Inside the fiscal consolidation numbers and open questions")
This Budget will see many firsts, but future Budgets need a different mould
Budget 2026-27 breaks new ground, but delayed GDP rebasing and continued fiscal secrecy risk undermining its numbers within weeks
 "This Budget will see many firsts, but future Budgets need a different mould")
Union Budgets reflect shift in focus from tax changes to expenditure revamp
Of course, there are a few changes in the taxation regime in most Budgets, but these have become fewer over the years
 "Union Budgets reflect shift in focus from tax changes to expenditure revamp")
Three Bills and a Budget: How the winter session impacts future budgets
Three laws passed in Parliament could boost central revenues, reshape GST cess flows, shift MGNREGA costs to states and create new budget headroom ahead of the 2026-27 Union Budget
 "Three Bills and a Budget: How the winter session impacts future budgets")
It's the regulator, stupid! DGCA must be empowered to enforce rules
With the DGCA's statutory status remaining only on paper, the civil aviation ministry is making a bigger noise about what action should be taken against IndiGo
 "It's the regulator, stupid! DGCA must be empowered to enforce rules")
A new phase of policymaking emerges with committee-led governance
The government has also succeeded in conveying a message that it is sharply focused on reforms that improve the ease of doing business
 "A new phase of policymaking emerges with committee-led governance")
A History of Santiniketan: A university against national chauvinism
Uma Das Gupta's history of Santiniketan traces Tagore's educational vision, the making of Vishva-Bharati, and the challenges that shaped his alternative to nationalist orthodoxy
 "A History of Santiniketan: A university against national chauvinism")
FM Sitharaman's 8th Budget can't afford to abandon fiscal consolidation
The dilemma over the date of presentation aside, there is yet another reason why Ms Sitharaman's forthcoming Budget will be treated as a major event of historical significance
 "FM Sitharaman's 8th Budget can't afford to abandon fiscal consolidation")
The GST model for power: A viable way to implement electricity reform
Is there any hope now that the Modi government will be able to overcome any political resistance to those proposals in the form of a new amendment Bill for the power distribution sector?
 "The GST model for power: A viable way to implement electricity reform")
The small picture: Tracing the subtle trends behind India's capex growth
Remember that the government had for the first time in the last five years projected a single-digit growth in capex in 2025-26 to just 6.5 per cent
 "The small picture: Tracing the subtle trends behind India's capex growth")
In a clear change of strategy, govt turns to tax benefits to boost demand
The 'Festival of Savings' appears to be the new policy instrument to revive and sustain growth
 "In a clear change of strategy, govt turns to tax benefits to boost demand")
DRDO revamp on cards for faster tech delivery, says Defence Secretary
India's defence sector has made significant strides in indigenisation, but the journey is ongoing, said Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh
 "DRDO revamp on cards for faster tech delivery, says Defence Secretary")
Song of India: New book clarifies why Tagore composed the national anthem
Several songs competed to become India's anthem after Independence. Dr Mukherjee's book debunks myths about why Tagore composed his song and how it came to be chosen
 "Song of India: New book clarifies why Tagore composed the national anthem")
After cutting slabs and rates, GST Council must pursue deeper reforms
Barring a dozen-odd items, almost all goods and services are being clubbed under two slabs - 5 per cent and 18 per cent
 "After cutting slabs and rates, GST Council must pursue deeper reforms")
GST revamp to set off demand, investment, job cycle: FM Nirmala Sitharaman
Sitharaman says the govt will shift focus to speed up disinvestment
 "GST revamp to set off demand, investment, job cycle: FM Nirmala Sitharaman")
GST reforms: Taxation can't be an emotional decision, says FM Sitharaman
Days after the big-bang GST reform announcement, FM Nirmala Sitharaman, at her North Block office on Saturday, spoke at length on a range of issues in an hourlong interaction with Business Standard
 "GST reforms: Taxation can't be an emotional decision, says FM Sitharaman")
A relook at providing free foodgrain: Reforming PMGKAY for the future
The proportion of ineligible beneficiaries under PMGKAY is slightly lower at the national level. India has at present 192 million ration cards issued to households
 "A relook at providing free foodgrain: Reforming PMGKAY for the future")
Tariffs as revenue: Change in India's import duties lifted states' income
The last decade or so provides a nice base for studying the trends in government revenue from import tariffs of all types
 "Tariffs as revenue: Change in India's import duties lifted states' income")