Page 36 - Bs Opinion

Unsettled designs: India's regulators, tribunals need deeper reform

Supreme Court's recent judgment continues a three-decade cycle of invalidations; a regulatory reset is overdue

How consumers perceive quality in an era where branding dominates

There was a time when brands used to proudly display quality marks like 'Agmark' and 'ISI' mark in their advertising and on their packaging

December monetary policy a close call; all eyes on RBI's communication

With inflation at a record low of 0.25% and robust GDP growth, the RBI faces a close call between supporting the economy and a weakening rupee

Quality control order rollbacks should be the start of bigger cleanups

The government defers quality control orders on steel and chemicals, signaling a shift from a protectionist trade regime that hurt downstream industries

A binding national plan is urgently needed to tackle air pollution

The key message from this 10-year study is that despite policy intervention and technological improvement, India's major cities continue to suffer major air-quality challenges

Beating expectations: Recent reforms will improve the business environment

India's GDP surged 8% in the first half, defying global headwinds, but weak nominal growth and slowing tax revenues raise fresh questions ahead of the MPC's policy review

New Labour Codes: The main challenge with Indian policy is its execution

India's new labour Codes promise sweeping reform, but weak state capacity, patchy data, and political risk may once again turn ambitious legislation into uneven, middling execution

Relax, enjoy the dawn of the AI era, and disregard frightening headlines

From 1980s fears over banking computerisation to today's worries about AI, the author argues that technological change inspires anxiety before it ultimately reshapes society for the better

The strongest shield against cyber fraud lies in daily awareness

As UPI and digital payments grow, criminals use psychological tricks and AI deepfakes to target users. Collective vigilance and cyber hygiene are your best defence

Retirement income: Systematic withdrawals now win over dividends

An investor's instinct to live off 'income' and not 'touch capital' is a common bias. Understanding it can lead to better, more tax-efficient withdrawal strategies

India on track to be the fastest-growing major economy for yet another year

The GDP estimates by National Statistical Office for the second quarter have however surpassed even the most upbeat estimates on the street by miles

Time for selectors and coach to go as Indian cricket made to grovel at home

The India-South Africa series-defining fact is the catastrophic decline of Indian red ball cricket, where a visiting team can mock us with the 'grovel' word

A new documentary about aliens hangs between revelation and speculation

Even after Dan Farah's documentary, we remain where we have always been - cataloguing mysteries and arguing over possibilities about extraterrestrial life

War for superintelligence: Are the huge investments in AI unprecedented?

Are the enormous numbers being thrown into AI unprecedented?

Raspberry to Banana: How a group of women officers' jugaad changed WW-II

How a key battle was won by by jugaad - not technological superiority

As in the past, projections of low oil prices till 2030 are wrong again

Short-term weakness masks the supply crunch building later in the decade as demand stays firm and forward prices mislead again

Best of BS Opinion: Who ends the awkward silence after an argument?

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

India must continue with path-breaking Atal Bhujal Yojana to protect water

Participatory groundwater management is the lifeline of India's economy and society

Labour codes a step in right direction, but face a long road of reforms

Reforms modernise a tangled legal regime and open new opportunities, yet overtime rules, size controls and paternalistic mandates still limit true choice for workers

Income tax compliance: Gains and gaps amid high share of nil returns

TDS, compliance rules and policy shifts have reshaped filing patterns, but rising nil returns and stagnant tax-paying filings point to gaps that need closer scrutiny