Tata’s power struggle, five-day banking and who checks the EC | Macro Matters

Who actually controls Tata? Can bank employees have a five-day working week without reducing customers’ access to branches? And who checks an independent Election Commission? In Episode 9 of Macro Matters, Business Standard’s fortnightly podcast, Ankur Bhardwaj is joined by A K Bhattacharya, Archis Mohan and Nivedita Mookerji. The discussion examines the demand for a five-day banking workweek, the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, and the relationship between independence, accountability and public trust. The episode’s central discussion turns to Tata: the authority of the Trusts and the Tata Sons board, lessons from the Cyrus Mistry battle, and whether listing Tata Sons would change how power is exercised. Nivedita brings her experience of reporting on the group’s internal battles since the Mistry years. The final question for all three panellists: What is Tata today? Recorded on 1 October 2026. Subscribe to Business Standard for more episodes of Macro Matters.