Editorial Comment

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

India must rethink its trade stance as WTO struggles for relevance

WTO meet in Cameroon tests global trade unity as India pushes reform with pragmatism amid rising geopolitical tensions and shifting economic priorities

Creative opportunities: India's AVGC sector moves up the value chain

The larger opportunity lies in the rapid expansion of the AVGC ecosystem. India's media & entertainment sector was estimated at around ₹2.5 trn in 2024 and is projected to reach about ₹3 trn by 2027

Testing times for edtech sector: Deals and funding remain scarce

The latest deal is UpGrad's second offer in two months

Cost asymmetry: Shift in modern warfighting an opportunity for Indian firms

The star for the Iranian side has been the Shahed-136 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), which carries a 25-kg warhead and costs less than $30,000 to make

Sustaining stability: Fallout of Iran war must be managed sensibly

Last week, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a ₹1 trillion economic stabilisation fund to enable India navigate such global headwinds

Death and dignity: SC euthanasia judgement marks significant progress

The Supreme Court's decision allowing passive euthanasia for Harish Rana highlights India's evolving right-to-die framework-while exposing gaps in state systems to implement living wills

Plan B for tariffs: USTR investigations are aimed at restricting imports

After the courts blocked earlier tariffs, the Trump administration turns to Section 301 probes to justify new duties-putting India and other major trading partners under scrutiny