Page 7 - Business Standard Editorial Comment

Maritime ambitions: New policy can increase capacity substantially

Straddling major global shipping lanes in the Indian Ocean, India can serve as a hub for trade, logistics, and vessel maintenance

Efficient administration: GST Appellate Tribunal needs close monitoring

The launch of the GST Appellate Tribunal marks a key reform in India's tax system, but its success will hinge on capacity, efficiency, and fair handling of disputes

Justice in India: Cost, language, and distance keep millions unheard

Justice in India remains unequal as cost, language, and distance exclude millions - but reforms in legal aid, technology, and regional languages can make the system more inclusive

Trump's UN speech exposes both America's decline and UN's paralysis

Trump's rambling UN speech, met with silence, exposed America's retreat from global leadership and highlighted the urgent need for UN reform to reflect today's power realities

Digging deep: India's geothermal policy should be pursued with care

India's geothermal endowment is significant, though its share in the energy mix remains negligible

Skilling failure: Govt must streamline delivery models for better outcomes

With the launch of the Skill India Mission, NSDC became nodal implementing agency for myriad skills under this umbrella, a function that demands a significantly different set of managerial abilities

Tel Aviv's isolation: A two-state solution remains the global consensus

This represents a major shift in attitudes in the West, and is a reflection of the increasing isolation on the international stage being endured by Tel Aviv following its continuing war on Gaza Strip

A simplified GST structure: Revenue collection must be closely tracked

A simplified GST structure will help all stakeholders. The government expects that lower GST rates, along with income-tax relief, will boost consumption

Saudi Arabia-Pakistan dynamics: India must consider collateral impact

Israel's bombing of Qatar has signalled that the Trump White House has given Binyamin Netanyahu a carte blanche in the region

A shock to IT: Indian companies should take the H-1B hit and move on

The decision also shows that Mr Trump is becoming more radical with his time in office, not less

Israeli impunity in Gaza: US support counters growing global censure

The irony of this flurry of international condemnation, including from India and the Abraham Accord signatories, is that it has not deterred Israel or its sponsor, the US

Fed in focus: Lower interest rates alone may not aid capital flows to India

This is an unusual position in modern central banking, and particularly for the Fed

India must invest in sovereign data infra, AI skilling for a new economy

NITI Aayog projects AI could add up to $1 trillion to India's GDP by 2035, but success depends on sovereign infrastructure, skilling, and responsible adoption

Basic issues in discoms must be addressed to root out persistent problems

Discom losses and distorted tariffs threaten India's power reforms; a consensus on cost-reflective pricing and transparent subsidies is crucial for sustainable growth

Paths forward for trade: Even contentious issues can be resolved

While it is vitally important that the interests of key strategic and sensitive sectors are kept in mind, it is also necessary to identify mechanisms by which some sort of compromise might be achieved

Monsoon shift: Agriculture must adjust to changing weather patterns

Rain at a wrong time, particularly during harvest, can damage standing crops, reduce quality, and spoil perishables such as fruit and vegetables

The problem with schools: Growth in pvt coaching reflects systemic decay

One major concern that deserves greater policy attention arising from the report is, however, the unchecked growth of private coaching

On the frontline: Defence Procurement Manual 2025 eases industry concerns

The 2025 version squarely addresses these issues and also seeks to promote the important goal of competitive self-reliance

US court's order on Google search data sharing can reduce entry barriers

However, the company may continue to have non-exclusive arrangements to preload or distribute applications. But it could pay Apple, Samsung, etc to preload its Chrome browser and search engine

Ethanol blending for fuel a welcome move, but transition challenges remain

From the consumer point of view, the transition needed better management