Opinion

Collateral-free lending may widen risks for banks before helping MSMEs

Mandating such a shift may not solve the problem. Ignoring information gaps and banning collateral risks weakening the financial system and could reduce, not expand, credit supply

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

In an interconnected world, war's costs spiral far beyond just borders

Interestingly, while the ongoing conflict has serious implications for the smaller oil-importing Asean economies, China may stand to benefit for several reasons

Is fuel efficiency back on the radar as crude prices surge again?

If fuel prices once again start hitting the headlines, chances are car and two-wheeler buyers will look at fuel efficiency as a key criteria for their next purchase

Best of BS Opinion: West Asia war, trade rifts, and India's pharma moment

Here are the best of Business Standard's opinion pieces for today

An opportunity in a crisis: Oil import dependence needs urgent policy fix

The ongoing oil crisis risks becoming a lost opportunity unless the government outlines a clear plan to reform exploration policies and boost India's domestic crude oil output

Low hopes, sharp divides: WTO conference points to continuity outcome

Expectations this time are low for an institution that governs 98 per cent of global trade, worth over $35 trillion, due to a deep divide over its direction

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

Best of BS Opinion: Policy push at home, volatility rising across the world

Here are the best of Business Standard's opinion pieces for today

India's hidden credit constraints: Issue lies in pricing, regulation

Data from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), and the World Bank suggests that India is a global outlier in the relative size of our credit markets

War, emerging geopolitical faultlines: West Asia war jolts global economy

Iran's decision to shut off the Strait of Hormuz on March 1 was not merely an act of retaliation; it was a calculated demonstration of its enduring capacity to disrupt the global commons

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

WTO MC14: West Asia war, disruptions and unilateralism temper expectations

WTO's MC14 in Cameroon is set against geopolitical tensions and trade fragmentation, with limited expectations beyond preserving multilateral consensus

Best of BS Opinion: HDFC governance crisis and a widening West Asian war

Here are the best of Business Standard's opinion pieces for today

A structural reset in Indian M&A financing: RBI reforms reshape market

Amended framework empowers domestic banks, boosts flexibility in deal-making and introduces stringent credit safeguards

Trump's America a historical problem: Global impact, zero accountability

Conflicting signals from Donald Trump on the Gulf war unsettle markets, drive oil volatility, and expose deeper global economic imbalances and geopolitical risks

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