Business Standard Editorial Comment

Strengthening local bodies: Increasing grants will not be enough

A significant design change is the increase in untied funds. The untied component across these four grants is about 52 per cent compared with only 21 per cent under the 15th FC

Procedural clarity: Proposed changes will make IBC more effective

The proposed changes will impart greater transparency and operational clarity to the insolvency resolution process, which in turn is expected to reduce delays

India-France defence cooperation reflects strategic autonomy push

France has emerged as India's most consequential European partner, with defence manufacturing, Rafale jets and technology transfer anchoring a deepened strategic alignment

India must rethink its Chinese investment strategy beyond Press Note 3

As middle powers rethink ties with China, India must move beyond ad hoc relaxations of Press Note 3 and adopt a clearer, sector-specific strategy for economic security

Closing cancer gaps: Availability of genomic data can improve outcomes

India's disease burden is undergoing a structural shift. According to the recent data, non-communicable diseases account for more than 57 per cent of all deaths in India

Focus on consumers: RBI's draft proposals to make banking experience better

The proposed rules prohibit abusive calls, public humiliation, anonymous or excessive contact, outreach to relatives, and recovery attempts outside permitted hours

Unreasonable priorities: US wants Europe to help turn back the clock

From the perspective of their administration, it is not modern liberal political values that Europe and America share

Consumer awareness: Front-of-pack labels can reshape food choices

The Economic Survey 2025-26 has highlighted that sales of UPFs grew over 150 per cent from 2009 to 2023, which is a major contributor to obesity, diabetes, and other non-communicable diseases

Vote for stability: Time for India and Bangladesh to rebuild relations

BNP's landslide win opens a chance for political stability in Bangladesh and a reset with India, but reform delivery and minority protection will test the new mandate

India's AI moment: Summit can pave the way for accountable AI at scale

As AI adoption accelerates, India's AI Impact Summit aims to shape global rules, attract capital, and offer a Global South alternative to US- and China-led models

Cybersecurity as priority: Indian enterprises must prioritise preparedness

Cybersecurity now defines business resilience in India, as rising AI risks, insider threats and escalating attacks push firms to embed security into core strategy

An improved index: New CPI will not affect monetary policy in the near term

India's new CPI series modernises inflation measurement, reshapes RBI policy signals, and underscores the need for more market-friendly data release timings

Bharat Taxi's cooperative promise meets India's tough mobility market

Bharat Taxi's cooperative, zero-commission model challenges ride-hailing incumbents, but its long-term viability and regulatory neutrality will be key to fair competition

India's net-zero ambition is clear, but the climate finance gap looms

A NITI Aayog study flags a multi-trillion-dollar climate finance gap, urging institutional reform and new green funding mechanisms to keep India on track for net zero

Japan's Thatcher: Sanae Takaichi's win may reshape Indo-Pacific geopolitics

On the external front, Ms Takaichi has eschewed Japan's traditional equidistance between the United States (US) and China

Exports can be a powerful driver of investment and economic growth

Private investment has been constrained by several factors over the years

A paradigm shift: Threat is increasing for routine IT roles across services

The advent of useful new technology always leads to disruption as some functions are phased out. For example, horse breeders suffered an apocalypse when the automobile arrived

A START for multilateralism: Nuclear proliferation needs a global treaty

The US and Russia currently account for 90 per cent of all nuclear weapons. But there are now a total of nine nuclear-armed states, which collectively account for 12,241 warheads as of January 2025

Stable environment: Base-year revisions may not have immediate implications

The RBI's MPC held rates steady, citing improved growth and benign inflation, while announcing regulatory steps to boost credit flow and strengthen digital payment safety

After the trade deal: Exporters will benefit if New Delhi stays active

The India-US interim trade framework signals a thaw in ties, tariff relief for exporters, protected farm interests, and a renewed push for reforms to make trade gains sustainable