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AI in 2026: What it can do and where it will realistically deliver value

The question is no longer what AI can do, but where will it realistically deliver value

Mutual funds' net equity purchases surged 13% in 2025, shows data

Mutual funds pumped a record ₹4.9 trillion into equities in 2025, driven by strong SIP inflows and retail participation despite volatile markets

Ideology to identity: West Bengal's religious outreach turns political

Mamata Banerjee's push for temples has led to speculation that TMC is adopting soft Hindutva, even as a former party leader doubles down on building a 'Babri Masjid'

Technology can aid unprecedented geopolitical risk mapping in 2026

Even though the AI bubble could be a challenge, emerging technologies are being used for risk modelling that can help manage unplanned changes

Street Signs: 26,150-26,100 key Nifty support level, tepid week for IPOs

Nifty eyes 26,500 amid consolidation, with 26,150-26,100 seen as key support, while IPO activity stays muted and retail MF holdings hit a new high

Venezuela attack may put pressure on FPI flows, impact on equities limited

The US strike on Venezuela may cause short-term jitters in Indian markets, but trade deal uncertainty, FPI flows and geopolitics remain the bigger overhang

Governance deficit: Indore tragedy highlights systemic flaws

The Indore water tragedy exposes deep flaws in urban governance, revealing how capacity gaps and inequality persist despite funds, schemes, and "clean city" rankings

Why 2026 matters

The push for reform will shape the next phase of India's military modernisation

Level-playing field: Support to Vodafone Idea should not be exclusive

The five-year AGR moratorium gives Vodafone Idea crucial breathing space, but raises questions on fair competition and a level playing field in India's telecom sector

Statsguru: How AI integration is reshaping jobs and wages across sectors

Technology companies, which are at the forefront of AI deployment, are already adjusting workforce strategies - offering early signals of a broader labour market realignment

Localising economy, well-being of majority key to resilient communities

Tariffs have been weaponised. They are now tools for reconfiguring global trade and foreign policy

Gains from decontrol: Removing constraints offers substantial gains

While factories faced headwinds, Indian finance gained ground in the eyes of global strategic capital

Stopping SIPs in downturns weakens long-term compounding, rupee-cost gains

Chasing past performance ignores the principle that returns of all assets are mean-reverting

Consumer protection: Promises made by builder in brochure must be honoured

The National Commission rejected the builder's defence that promises made in the brochure were unenforceable as they had not been incorporated in the agreement of sale

Chhattisgarh proposes ₹1.25 trn govt investment in former Naxal areas

Sai said the government will undertake mapping of previously unmapped regions such as Abujhmad, which had remained outside regular surveys for decades

Rupee, bond likely to open weak on Monday amid geopolitical concerns

The rupee may open weaker amid strong dollar demand and geopolitical uncertainty, while heavy state bond supply is set to keep government bond yields under upward pressure

In emerging markets, we focus on necessities, must-have items: Tak Lee

Venture capital firm Hashed Emergent's CEO Tak Lee on why India's Web3 startups are building necessities, not luxuries

SUV demand holds steady in used market despite GST-led price cuts

Despite GST relief making small cars cheaper, India's used-car market continues to favour SUVs, which are seeing faster inventory turnover and stronger residual values, industry executives say

Three challenges in 2026: Bond yield, currency, and deposit mobilisation

If these are the three challenges, there are also three key developments that everyone will watch out for

CPSEs' research expenditure increases 25.6% to ₹9,691 crore in FY25

Defence production led R&D expenditure by central public sector enterprises in FY25, followed by petroleum and heavy engineering, as overall spending rose sharply year-on-year