Page 62 - Opinion

GST reforms: Some correctives a new move to strengthen the framework

However, while evaluating the GST reforms, the fundamental goal must not be forgotten. It was to raise the GST tax-to-GDP ratio by widening the tax base, by improving compliance

Inflation must be RBI's priority with strict vigil, oversight assured

The RBI performs multifarious functions, some of which are, in fact, conflicting. It isn't easy to spell out the KPIs (key performance indicators) to judge its performance objectively

One for the girls: Poor sex ratio underlines Delhi's social regression

Strengthening legal deterrents in this manner may be necessary to ensure that loopholes in the law banning sex-selection tests are closed

Credit divide: Gaps exist in rural finance access despite progress

According to the Reserve Bank of India's Annual Report for 2024-25, there has been a significant increase in the number of banking outlets in rural areas over the past decade

Best of BS Opinion: GST 2.0 reforms miss underlying core principles

Today's pieces look at the available space for more rate cuts, the sorry state of tribunals, why GST reforms are not really that, and how India can harness its vast non-export MSME sector

Shipbuilding dreams: Subsidies to help but shipyards must be competitive

Almost 90% of global cargo moves through the oceans with China, South Korea and Japan dominating the ship building industry aided by considerable support from their governments

Every percentage point paid as fee matters in long-term wealth growth

The brain finds it comfortable to shut down when faced with too much complexity. To fix that, we have to simplify, even if that requires a small sacrifice in accuracy

Smart tech brings sea change in shipbuilding as revival gathers pace

Artificial intelligence (AI) is another game-changer, used to optimise ship design, predict maintenance needs, and streamline production schedules

Reforming tribunals: Rising vacancies at the top are hampering efficiency

According to legal think tank Daksh's State of Tribunals 2025 report, India's commercial tribunals face a backlog of 356,000 cases, worth ₹24.2 trillion (as of September)

MPC should wait for more clarity on inflation before deciding on rate cuts

With GST cuts fuelling festive demand and growth holding strong, the RBI's MPC is likely to stay cautious on rate cuts as it weighs inflation risks and uncertain global trade headwinds

Beyond the tariff tears: The 99 per cent opportunity in India's MSME engine

The number of exporting MSMEs, despite a commendable trebling in the last four years, was a meagre 173,350 in May last year

GST without a seamless input tax credit system fails its core principles

We are losing touch with the soul of the indirect tax

Rate cut could be a close call as RBI eyes lower CPI, steady growth view

RBI will pare CPI inflation projection again, but might not change growth estimate for now; dovish undertone likely

Best of BS Opinion: Fragile powers, bold dreams, and magic of the old

Here are the best of Business Standard's opinion pieces for today

Building the right vibes with a digitally-fluent and driven Gen Alpha

hough the oldest Alphas are just turning 15 in 2025, they're already more digitally fluent than any generation before

Nostalgia, with a side of profit: Bollywood rewinds to the classics

The re-releases have also become a conduit for families to watch films together again - one can often see grown children taking their parents to screenings of old Hindi classics

How Pakistan thinks: Munir's outreach to Trump signals return to normal

The US never dropped Pakistan from the list of Major Non-Nato allies. India never got on to it, nor would it ever be an applicant for it

Dalits look West: Education, capitalism can shape future, as can defiance

Babasaheb B R Ambedkar's central message to Dalits was: Education. Indeed, one of his most famous words of advice was "educate, agitate, organise; have faith in yourselves"

The coming made-in-US oil crunch: Energy diplomacy rests on supply illusion

For the past two years, Mr Trump and his team have pressed India and other nations to stop buying Russian oil and shift to US barrels

India must press accelerator on battery storage to power future growth

The next chapter of India's energy landscape demands policies that reflect an appetite for pushing the envelope, and proactive leadership that anticipates trends, invests in innovation