Page 98 - Bs Opinion

Road to decentralisation: Rural local bodies need to be strengthened

Overall, devolution to rural local bodies increased from 39.9 per cent in 2013-14 to 43.9 per cent in 2021-22, said the govt report

Unprecedented visit: A whole-of-govt approach needed for India-EU ties

Resetting relations between two large, complex, and heavily regulated economies needs to be read from a much broader perspective

Michael Sheridan's book explores the Xi enigma and China's power dynamics

It is hard to shake the feeling that the book fails at multiple levels, principally because of the author's biases

Making every Budget rupee count for cities: Fresh ideas needed for impact

The share for urban housing has declined, with new schemes being slow to take off and the focus remaining on completing houses under earlier schemes

Best of BS Opinion: Tesla's India dream, Germany's shift, and AI bubble

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

Opportunity trumps tariffs: Navigating the web of Trump's trade policies

In a world where Trump 2.0 is negative for most countries, the mixed impact of Mr Trump's tariff web could still make India a relative winner

Market realities, bubbles: Is Peak America leading to lower returns ahead?

It is far better for the US to gradually underperform global markets, as we have seen from the beginning of 2025

Germany's options: A tough leadership test awaits the new chancellor

Much of Mr Merz's leadership of Europe, however, depends on how fast he can revive Germany's economy

The Tesla factor: Its India entry as a disruptor may have limited impact

The possible game changer could lie in the fact that Tesla reportedly sources components from India worth $1 billion a year

Best of BS Opinion: A world oscillating between stability and chaos

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

All or Nothing: Wolff's book offers a rapid-fire take on Trump's return

The book is undeniably gripping - a veritable harvest of slime, sycophancy and sleaze that tells the story of Trump 2.0, an aggrieved pugilist waging a "life or death" campaign

Long live the mad bull market: A strong comeback seems unlikely soon

Since 2021, smallcap and midcap stocks have skyrocketed and form the core of the market today as retail investors and many mutual funds piled in

Bad news for the earth: Climate action scepticism rises among policymaker

Germany less committed to climate action would swing Europe in a very different direction from the one it has been going for some time

Business in financial services just got easier with Budget 2025-26 reforms

Budget reforms will redefine the financial system by fostering inclusion, competition, and efficiency. Financial institutions will benefit from enhanced market depth and improved liquidity

Fixing India's soil crisis: Farmer awareness, tech can arrest degradation

Excessive nitrogen application at the cost of micronutrients and manure not only reduces soil productivity over time but also contributes to nutrient runoffs and groundwater contamination

EPF is in urgent need of an overhaul for flexibility and portability

Employees must be allowed to pause or reduce ontributions, and the promised portability between EPF and NPS should be enabled

Safe haven: With economic weaknesses, gold prices are likely to go up

The global economy is weak and supply-chain issues that started with the pandemic have been exacerbated by the Ukraine war and turmoil in West Asia. As a result, there's been inflation

Tough time ahead for banking sector as low-cost funds shrink, margins drop

Given the sharp correction in equities and a drop in the flow of money to mutual funds, some banks have started seeing a return of depositors

Making nukes great again: How Trump buried non-proliferation forever

Nukes are today a fairly low-tech option and inexpensive deterrent. If the Pakistanis could build them in the 1980s, anybody could do so now

Best of BS Opinion: India's EV path, quantum leaps, and nuclear reality

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