Business Standard Editorial Comment

US, Iran want a deal but uncertainty persists over Israeli intentions

Early progress in US-Iran talks offers hope for a deal, but tensions involving Israel, Lebanon and the Strait of Hormuz could still derail negotiations

Terms of trade: Negotiations with US must adapt to new realities

India should secure a trade deal with the US that preserves its export competitiveness amid uncertainty over Washington's evolving tariff regime

Shifting composition: Dependence on services exports is increasing

Services exports are driving India's trade growth and resilience, but stronger manufacturing output remains essential for broad-based job creation and sustainable growth

Primary drivers: Mega IPOs could boost interest in Indian markets

Jio Platforms and NSE are set to launch record-breaking IPOs, offering investors exposure to two vastly different but dominant growth stories

A new US Fed: Central bank aims to reform functioning as Marsh takes charge

Aside from the shifts, one of the biggest takeaways from the Fed statement and Mr Warsh's first press conference as its chairman was the firm commitment to price stability and the 2% inflation target

Bridges over Evian waters: G7 meet saw more convergence than controversy

By all accounts, Mr Modi led the discussions at the working session, endorsing the G7's call for partnerships rather than aid but also underlining support for developing countries

Delay in releasing AI-171 crash report risks prolonging grief, speculation

Just before the preliminary report was posted on the official website last July, a report in The Wall Street Journal said the probe was shifting the focus to the senior pilot in the cockpit, prompting

Banning Telegram will not fix the deeper flaws in India's exam governance

By invoking Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, now to block Telegram, the government has marshalled heavy legal machinery

Soaking up capital: US stock markets may create new forms of risks

SpaceX's record IPO highlights how global capital is gravitating towards US tech giants, raising concerns over funding, innovation and market depth elsewhere

Turning the tide: India must address fundamental gaps in external account

Easing West Asia tensions may stabilise India's external accounts, but policymakers must focus on boosting FDI, exports and long-term capital inflows

Hope versus experience: Optimism over US-Iran deal should be cautious

The US will not impose new sanctions and lift existing sanctions in accordance with an agreed timetable and release $25 billion of Iran's frozen assets

Improving economic inclusion: Access should enable empowerment of women

A larger number of women are participating in economic activities, but the quality of employment remains a concern

The upskilling imperative: TCS' plan on AI agents must spur a new approach

IT majors, including TCS, recently experienced erosion in stock-market valuation mainly due to investor anxiety over AI threats as well as geopolitical factors

AI with borders: US' Anthropic curbs should compel a rethink for India

There has been talk of moving to a decentralised AI development model, where no single government has the powers to revoke access

FIFA's own goals: Revenue maximisation is tarnishing sporting values

Ticket prices for the final stand at over $7,500, more than four times the price of the 2022 final

Ethanol Gambit: E85 push must be matched by a long-term transport strategy

Every increase in ethanol content requires engineering changes, recalibrating engines, testing, certification, and modifications to components exposed to fuel

Priority sector lending must reflect India's changing economy

In 2025-26, micro and small enterprises, for the first time, overtook agriculture as the single-largest component of PSL

Smart Courts: AI can improve India's justice delivery with human oversight

Judicial officers, the registry personnel, lawyers and other court staffers, especially in the lower courts, will require extensive training to understand the capabilities and limitations of AI tools

Fixing Fertiliser: Urea subsidy cannot be allowed to continue unreformed

With fertiliser subsidies set to hit record levels, India faces growing pressure to reform urea pricing and shift support directly to farmers

Clear and present dangers: Citizens pay the price for municipal negligence

The deadly Delhi B&B fire highlights a deeper crisis of weak municipal oversight, routine safety violations and the urgent need for urban governance reforms