Business Standard Editorial Comment

SC draws firmer line on environmental compliance and approvals

The latest judgment can be seen as seeking a balancing act between a May 2025 judgment of a two-judge Bench and its recall in November

AI stock correction reflects a more rational market reassessment

AI is transformative. People expect it to not only generate gargantuan profits but also to alter the way society functions

States need faster fiscal consolidation as debt redemptions loom

A possible reason for the expansion in the debt stock is the higher Budget deficit of state governments

Agricultural research needs greater funding to sustain long-term growth

Agricultural extension, which carries innovations from laboratories to farmers' fields, yields ₹7.40 for every rupee invested

Rogue AI incident exposes urgent need for stronger autonomous safeguards

An AI agent autonomously exploiting vulnerabilities to hack systems exposes gaps in current safeguards and highlights the urgent need for stronger AI safety frameworks

India should avoid digital tariffs despite WTO moratorium lapse

India should avoid imposing tariffs on digital trade after the WTO moratorium expiry, as seamless data flows are crucial for services exports and global investment

Unnecessary division: A modern ecommerce policy is the need of the hour

The retail sector in India has faced multiplicity of rules for decades, and that issue should be addressed fast at a time when newer formats, such as quick commerce, are emerging as a driving force

Starting anew: Despite Delhi connections, Bengal govt has its task cut out

There is no doubt that West Bengal's economy performed way below potential, and Mamata Banerjee's 15 years in power compounded the damage

A fresh slate: Protests must spur urgent education, exam system reboot

Leaks of questions for examinations have been part of India's landscape for long, and the NTA was set up in 2017 to address these issues

Trump's tariff playbook: India must continue to engage with the US

Tariffs are central to Mr Trump's economic agenda and are also an instrument of choice to address other issues, including geopolitics

Reviving the 1991 spirit: Reform lessons from then should not be ignored

Thirty-five years after the landmark 1991 Budget, India must revive the reform spirit with fresh policy changes, stronger institutions and wider reforms beyond the economy

Offline payment push: Innovation must include stronger consumer protection

NPCI's offline NFC-based UPI can expand digital payments and financial inclusion, but robust security, fraud safeguards and strong consumer protection must underpin its rollout

India must strengthen food safety enforcement and regulatory capacity

FSSAI's recent actions highlight the need for stronger food safety enforcement, stricter penalties and better coordination to protect consumers and boost global trust

Improving investment climate: Reforms at the state level can drive growth

NITI Aayog's investment index highlights wide disparities among states, underscoring the need for governance reforms, stronger institutions and balanced regional growth

Ill-judged crackdown: Government must engage constructively with protestors

The Delhi student protests underscore growing anger over exam failures, demanding accountability, education reforms, and meaningful government engagement instead of police action

Forex strategy must go beyond short-term flows and import substitution

The basic idea behind the liberalised FCNR (B) scheme and other such measures is to attract foreign-currency flows, which will help RBI build foreign-exchange buffers at a time of global uncertainty

Starship troopers: Startups can further augment India's space ambitions

It is unusual for the first launch of a new rocket to be entirely successful. Skyroot will study the data and carry out at least two more test flights before going fully commercial

Strengthening panchayats: Building fiscal autonomy, institutional capacity

The problem is not merely a lack of revenue sources but also weak capacity to utilise existing powers

Electronics push: India aims for higher value addition under ISM 2.0

In this context, the government's recent approval of the Dixon-Vivo joint venture and reduction of import duty on select items highlight that building domestic technological capability does not requir

Declining relevance: US actions are restructuring global perception

Only six countries in this year's survey favour the US more - Israel, Poland, the Philippines, South Korea, India and Japan. Apart from India, caught up in border tensions with China, all the others a