Editorial Comment

Nobel sparks debate as AI pioneers honoured for neural nets, not physics

Honoured for neural nets, Hopfield and Hinton's Nobel raises questions on awarding contributions outside traditional physics

Unambiguous commitment: MPC wants the disinflation process to be completed

Monetary policy committee's shift offers flexibility but no signal of rate cuts; RBI Governor highlights inflation and stability as key priorities

Maldives' strategic shift: Domestic priorities induce a thaw with India

As debt looms and foreign reserves dwindle, Muizzu's invitation to PM Narendra Modi and the push for increased Indian tourism highlight a pragmatic approach to foreign relations

Clear election verdict: Haryana for continuity; J&K needs change

The outcomes signal a pivotal moment for both regions as they face distinct challenges ahead

Wait and watch: Geopolitical threats to inflation outcomes have increased

Crises in West Asia and consequent volatility in prices of petrochemicals have historically led to inflation spikes and broader economic instability in India

Female entrepreneurship: Govt must focus on mkt linkages, access to finance

Specific schemes tailored to the needs of women entrepreneurs, including flexible loans, collateral-free options, integration with global markets, and mentorship networks can help

Moon rock: Chandrayaan-4 a test for Isro's ambitious manned moon mission

Isro's ambitions have grown along with its successes. Alongside Chandrayaan-4, the Cabinet also cleared a Venus orbital mission, which will be even more challenging

Productivity boost: India's increasing R&D spending may not be enough

While it is essential to have large corporations leverage economies of scale, the government must ensure that firms do not use their dominant positions to stifle competition

Follow Centre's lead: Time for states to call a war on open defecation

The gains from the Swachh Bharat programme are too significant and hard-won to be dissipated for lack of funds or organisational momentum

SC is right: Onus on politicians to refrain from weaponising religion

Over the years, the judiciary and the ECI have tried, but largely failed, to check dog-whistle politics

Mixed outlook: Manufacturing needs diversification and jobs focus

Economic growth at the expense of labour-income share will not be sustainable in the long term in a labour-abundant country

War on spam: Govt, telecom industry need to adopt a zero-tolerance approach

Without wasting any more time, the DPDP Act needs to be acted upon with the goal of protecting users' data and thereby minimising fraud

Big, but not enough: China's stimulus package may not be effective

Raising wages, opening up the domestic consumer market to foreign goods, and enhancing the social welfare net are the usual recommendations of economists

Flexibility to markets: Sebi's new measures help both investors and issuers

The regulator has been under pressure with accusations of a toxic work culture and allegations of conflict of interest against the chairperson

A war without end: Escalation in West Asia serves no country's interests

The notable lack of response from the Arab nations, traditional allies of the Palestinians, to Israel's destruction of Palestinian territory is concerning

Above average rain: A better monsoon bodes well for Indian economy

A good monsoon also remains crucial for replenishing reservoirs, drinking water, and power generation

Mine over matter: Critical mineral policy must address industry needs

Creating a responsive enabling environment for the critical mineral mining industry is the key to ensuring that this vital business does not go the way of previous governments' oil exploration policy

Time to move on: Telcos should build business plans sans govt relief

The industry must focus on further rationalisation of tariffs, which will possibly result in a much better ARPU - a metric that captures the health of the telecom sector and its stakeholders

E-waste conundrum: Draft guidelines point to impractical over-regulation

India is one of the world's largest producers of e-waste in South Asia, generating 1.6 million tonnes of discarded material, almost 67 per cent of this is unprocessed

Policy evolution: Despite challenges, central banks must keep adapting

Most large central banks have been grappling with high inflation rates over the past couple of years after having misjudged the early warning signs