Editorial Comment

Clouded year ahead: Economic conditions have changed since February 1

Multiple sectors will come under pressure, complicating the government's plans for the year

Fractured future: MC14 exposes the limitations of WTO amid deep divisions

The larger takeaway from MC14 is the fragmentation of global trade governance

Big business groups' diversification game amid slowing growth, rising risks

Slowing growth and volatile earnings are pushing India Inc. to diversify aggressively-even as weak R&D spending raises concerns about long-term competitiveness

Inflation dynamics: Ongoing Iran conflict will complicate policy choices

Research has shown that both the inflation rate and volatility moderated after the adoption of the flexible inflation-targeting framework

Trust deficit: Sebi's move to address conflict of interest needs more heft

Sebi moves to tighten conflict norms, but limited disclosures and voluntary code risk falling short of restoring investor trust in the regulator's independence

Restricting social harm: US verdicts expose social media's design flaws

Regulation must engage with the architecture of platforms rather than rely solely on blunt prohibitions

No end in sight: West Asia conflict escalating costs for global economy

Countries in Asia heavily dependent on West Asian fossil fuel are already struggling to contain the inflationary impact and hardships of fuel shortages

Healing the system: Public-health gaps demand stronger governance

India's public spending on health remains around 1.8 per cent of gross domestic product, which is significantly lower than the National Health Policy target of 2.5 per cent

Enabling environment: Proposed amendments to laws will facilitate business

One of the amendments proposes that the auditor or audit firms of a prescribed class of companies will not provide any non-audit services to the company or its holding or subsidiary companies

More graduates but fewer jobs: India's youth faces a harsh reality

Between 2004 and 2023, 5 million graduates were added annually, but only 2.8 million found jobs; just 7% of unemployed graduates secure permanent salaried roles within a year

Optimism for Gulf oil is premature: India must boost domestic output now

Weaponising trade chokepoints has fragmented global markets like crude oil, leading to sharp regional price variations

Fallout of West Asia war: India must prepare to minimise the damage

The war is in its fourth week and has already affected several countries, including India. The impact is being felt through different channels, though macro indicators may not capture everything

Effective oversight: Safety crucial for success of weight-loss drugs

According to the National Family Health Survey 2019-21, 24 per cent of Indian women and 23 per cent of Indian men are overweight

Protecting biodiversity: Strategy improves, but outcomes remain uncertain

A key concern is the gap between restoration and degradation: while 24.1 mn hectares are restored against a 26 mn target, nearly 30% of India's land still faces degradation

Manufacturing push: Execution will be key to success of industrial parks

Many industrial areas remain underutilised; in Karnataka, some parks have only about 25% of units operational due to poor connectivity, weak governance, regulatory delays and low demand

Things getting out of hand: US miscalculations keep West Asia on the boil

The escalating US-Israel war with Iran deepens global uncertainty, disrupts energy supply chains, and exposes geopolitical fractures from NATO to Asia

Transparency needed: Public should know about the happenings at HDFC Bank

The sudden resignation of its chairman, therefore, cannot be treated as an ordinary event

Strengthening oversight: Why audit companies must improve governance

The broader challenge lies in the growing complexity of modern corporate structures and the pressure on audit firms to balance commercial interests with professional independence

Learning curve: India needs more investment to be an education hub

India is witnessing a surge in demand for higher education with tertiary enrolment expected to rise from about 53 million today to over 70 million by 2035

Apple at 50: How a closed ecosystem built a $3.7 trillion open empire

From a garage startup to a $3.7 trillion giant, Apple's 50-year journey blends innovation, design, and a tightly integrated ecosystem that reshaped global technology