Page 10 - Editorial Comment

Welcoming the dragon: India can gain from easing restraints on Chinese FDI

The NITI Aayog's proposal for Chinese companies to acquire stakes of up to 24 per cent would also balance investor interests with misgivings in Indian policy

Signs of slippage: Certain segments of borrowers require attention

Unsecured lending by scheduled commercial banks (SCBs) steadily grew over the past several years and touched 25.5 per cent of the credit extended in March 2023

Optics to outcome: Corporate India needs to do more on diversity

However, despite some progress at the top, the broader picture remains uneven

A concentration problem: Policymakers should support markets, not champions

India's conscious decision to return to industrial policy and state-guided investment has had the inevitable consequence of empowering the largest conglomerates

EU's code of practice sets key benchmarks for regulating AI development

Most countries have still not been able to catch up. India, for instance, has no dedicated AI law

GCC revolution needs infra, policy stability, and skilled human capital

The deeper question, however, is whether India's human capital is prepared for a shift up the value chain

Mind their language: The State should abstain from imposing choices

The policy, being implemented in phases, stipulates that students learn at least three languages

Comfortable position: Low inflation may not lead to another rate cut

Prices of oils and fats, for example, increased by over 17 per cent and may require policy attention

Exclusion errors: ECI must ensure genuine voters are not left out

Ever since it was set up, and without a definitive proof of citizenship issued under the Citizenship Act, the ECI has done a commendable job in preparing inclusive electoral rolls

Low visibility: AAIB report on Air India crash needs technical clarity

The problem with the AAIB's 15-page report is that it has sparked damaging speculation about "pilot error" or, worse, pilot suicide

Build to last: Maintaining structures is as critical as building them

But the tragedy is not an exception. Last year, the government admitted that 42 major and minor bridges collapsed in the past five years

Managing excess liquidity: Financial markets need more clarity now

Excess liquidity could also incentivise the banking system to extend loans at lower rates

Gaps in data gathering understate actual levels of inequality in India

According to the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) 2022-23, inequality in consumption did decline

India must deepen ties with Asean nations, not abandon its trade agreement

Some within the government, as well as prominent voices in industry, have complained that the FTA with Asean allows for the dumping of Chinese goods in India via Southeast Asia

Nutrition transition: Focus should now be on diet quality, protein shifts

More importantly, the wide disparities in calorie consumption between the poorest and the wealthiest have narrowed significantly, signalling a welcome reduction in nutritional inequality

Letters and the spirit: Trump pushes global trade into uncharted territory

With the end of the 90-day pause on the imposition of the so-called reciprocal tariffs and the US sending letters, a few things are now clear

Fast probe required: Crash investigation should be quick and credible

It should be noted that Air India itself, while troubled on several dimensions, has not had a major fatality due to a crash (as distinct from terrorist action) since Boeing 707 crash-landed in Mumbai

Direct impact: Foreign investment dynamics must be studied carefully

In the normal course, repatriation by foreign multinationals and overseas investment by Indian corporations should not be cause for concern for a large and open economy like India

Dredging problems: West Bengal and the Northeast need a deepwater port

This situation cannot be allowed to continue indefinitely, particularly given that the geopolitical situation has turned adverse

Currency gains: Why increasing the risk buffer is a prudent move

The RBI has been generating higher surpluses on account of, among other things, higher interest income and foreign-exchange gains