Page 3 - Editorial Comment

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Spanning two oceans: The India-Japan partnership grows deeper steadily

Security and economics are not, in today's world, particularly distinct realms

Improving incentives: Delhi's new EV policy needed more efficiency

Delhi's EV Policy 2.0 aims to accelerate electric mobility, but its success hinges on charging infrastructure, clean power and coordinated action across the NCR

Fallen on hard times: AI pressure is mounting on the Indian IT industry

AI-led disruption, weak client spending and the rise of GCCs are reshaping India's IT sector, weighing on earnings, hiring and stock valuations

Mercury rising: Fossil-fuel dependence is powering heatwaves in Europe

Europe's deadly heatwaves expose the dangers of fossil-fuel dependence, underscoring the urgent need to accelerate the transition to renewable energy worldwide

Emerging challenges: India needs to do more to attract stable capital flows

Falling oil prices offer India short-term relief, but the RBI warns that geopolitical tensions and shifting global capital flows continue to pose financial stability risks