Business Standard Editorial Comment
An unreasonable Bill: Tariffs on Russian oil importers make no sense
A proposed US Bill targeting buyers of Russian oil could disrupt India's energy security and trade, even as West Asia tensions threaten global oil supplies
 "An unreasonable Bill: Tariffs on Russian oil importers make no sense")
New urea policy tackles imports, but ignores fertiliser subsidy distortions
India's new urea policy boosts domestic production, but leaves unresolved the subsidy imbalance driving overuse, soil degradation and rising fertiliser costs
 "New urea policy tackles imports, but ignores fertiliser subsidy distortions")
Vivo-Dixon venture signals a pragmatic shift in China investment policy
The initial move in 2020 to shut off all Chinese investment followed the clashes on the Line of Actual Control in the Himalayas
 "Vivo-Dixon venture signals a pragmatic shift in China investment policy")
Monitoring measures: New services index will help gauge activity over time
Earlier attempts to construct a services production index were constrained by the absence of reliable monthly data
 "Monitoring measures: New services index will help gauge activity over time")
The learning curve: Interventions must move beyond expanding school access
UDISE+ shows gains in enrolment and retention, but weak learning outcomes and the shift from government to private schools underline the need to prioritise education quality
 "The learning curve: Interventions must move beyond expanding school access")
Oil prices and monsoon uncertainty will shape RBI's inflation outlook
June inflation rose above the RBI's 4% target, with food, oil prices and monsoon risks clouding the outlook, making a status quo on rates the likely policy choice
 "Oil prices and monsoon uncertainty will shape RBI's inflation outlook")
Off-field divide: European football teams racially diverse but Europe isn't
White Europeans may be happy to watch foreign players from the distance of a football stadium win sporting laurels for their nations but are unlikely to welcome them elsewhere
 "Off-field divide: European football teams racially diverse but Europe isn't")
Retail rulebook: India needs a clear policy framework for growth
With ecommerce emerging as the biggest disruptor, international marquee brands entered this space and, more recently, the quick-commerce segment
 "Retail rulebook: India needs a clear policy framework for growth")
Indo-Pacific push: Modi's 3-nation visit strengthened geostrategic doctrine
The three-nation visit offered a coherent articulation of New Delhi's geostrategic aims at a time when trade and political relations with the US remain unpredictable
 "Indo-Pacific push: Modi's 3-nation visit strengthened geostrategic doctrine")
Boosting manufacturing: Lower import barriers will increase exports
While the decision on duty exemption must be welcomed, the end date underlines India's inherent reluctance in liberalising imports
 "Boosting manufacturing: Lower import barriers will increase exports")
Ankara's ambiguous outcomes: Trump overwhelms Nato's best intentions
The NATO summit reaffirmed collective defence and support for Ukraine, but Donald Trump's remarks on Spain, Greenland and Iran exposed deep alliance tensions
 "Ankara's ambiguous outcomes: Trump overwhelms Nato's best intentions")
Improving cash transfers: Time to construct a firm policy framework for DBT
An EAC-PM study finds women's cash-transfer schemes improve savings and spending, but raises questions over their long-term fiscal sustainability
 "Improving cash transfers: Time to construct a firm policy framework for DBT")
Connected vehicles demand stronger cybersecurity and common standards
The ban on three Chinese-origin EV apps has exposed cybersecurity risks in connected vehicles, underscoring the need for robust standards like AIS189 and stronger digital safeguards
 "Connected vehicles demand stronger cybersecurity and common standards")
Kerala plans for a structural shift amid India's ageing challenge
Kerala's elderly welfare reforms highlight the economic impact of population ageing and offer a roadmap for states preparing for India's shrinking demographic dividend
 "Kerala plans for a structural shift amid India's ageing challenge")
Engines of employment: Large cities create more opportunities
The first PLFS report on million-plus cities highlights stronger urban employment and wages but reveals wide disparities in female participation and manufacturing pay
 "Engines of employment: Large cities create more opportunities")
Respecting consumer choice: Ethanol blending programme needed better design
India's E20 rollout should balance energy security with consumer choice, smoother vehicle transition and a shift towards more sustainable ethanol feedstocks
 "Respecting consumer choice: Ethanol blending programme needed better design")
Looking beyond generics: Wockhardt is showing the way in antibiotics
Wockhardt's FDA-approved Zaynich marks a breakthrough in India's pharmaceutical innovation, offering a new weapon against antimicrobial resistance
 "Looking beyond generics: Wockhardt is showing the way in antibiotics")
Enhance monitoring: Social media needs stronger safeguards to protect kids
MeitY's action against Meta over CSAM ads highlights the need for stronger AI oversight, platform accountability and stricter safeguards for online child safety
 "Enhance monitoring: Social media needs stronger safeguards to protect kids")
Economics of energy: India needs transparent pricing and a fiscal strategy
India's dependence on oil imports and its climate commitments require that petroleum consumption is replaced, to the extent possible, by electricity, preferably renewable
 "Economics of energy: India needs transparent pricing and a fiscal strategy")
Spanning two oceans: The India-Japan partnership grows deeper steadily
Security and economics are not, in today's world, particularly distinct realms
 "Spanning two oceans: The India-Japan partnership grows deeper steadily")