Page 2 - Editorial Comment

Urban freight reforms key to cut emissions, boost logistics efficiency

Estimates by the National Council of Applied Economic Research show that India's logistics costs ranged from 7.8 to 8.9 per cent of gross domestic product in 2021-22

India must adapt to evolving global trade norms for meaningful FTAs

Both countries have been negotiating to arrive at a mutually beneficial agreement since 2022

Searching answers: Forced divestment of Chrome can shake up the market

Google launched its search engine in 1998 and rapidly achieved dominance in a nascent space. But almost three decades down the line, that space is ripe for change

Pull, don't push: Global capability centres need enabling environment

The government in Bengaluru should focus on the supply of suitable local candidates for GCCs rather than forcing labour demand to adapt

Agritech revolution: Startups offer opportunities for agricultural growth

Leveraging agritech startups successfully requires an increased focus on agricultural research and innovation

Suboptimal outcome: The Baku deal falls way short of requirements

India has gained traction from its negotiator's astringent rejection of the deal and advocacy for the Global South

Comeback script: Politics and economics of cash transfers must be debated

Although multiple factors influence outcomes, in both states the ruling alliances relied heavily on welfare schemes, such as cash transfers to women, which appear to have played a significant role

High costs: US charges to cause reputational damage for Adani and India

For a group that works in sectors where the ability to raise money and minimise political risk is essential, such news can hardly be easy to shrug off

Early signs of second-order effects: RBI cannot ignore price pressures

It is worth highlighting that even if the headline or food inflation rate comes down, it will only reduce the pace of price increase and consumers will continue to pay comparatively high prices

Prisoners of process: Decongestion schemes fall short of expectations

Urgently streamlining the process may be one way to turn Mr Shah's gesture into genuine relief for India's undertrials

SME platform reforms: Sebi focuses on safeguarding retail investors

The regulator had in May 2010 prescribed a revised framework for setting up a stock exchange or a trading platform (by the existing stock exchanges) with terminals across the country for SMEs

G20 Rio declaration balances compromise but lacks actionable specifics

Declaration did not capitalise on breakthrough commitment among countries at COP28 in Dubai last year to "transition away from fossil fuels" by setting phaseout targets for this transition

Hypersonic advantage: India joins exclusive global missile, aircraft club

Delivering a missile at hypersonic speed endows it with enormous military advantages. Most contemporary cruise missiles fly to their targets at subsonic speeds of 250-300 metres per second

Breathless capital: Piecemeal efforts won't solve Delhi's air quality issue

Short-term economic interests should not be allowed to override the basic right to life of common citizens.

Rethinking suspension: Futures trading is not a source of inflation

The retail-to-wholesale price difference in the post-suspension period also turned out to be much higher than in the pre-suspension period

The power to reform: Tariffs a key issue for revival of gencos, discoms

The impact of the latest, the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme, or RDSS, launched in 2022, has been less than optimum

India's PDS faces leakages, reforms needed for efficient distribution

Besides this annual cost, which will only increase with increasing MSPs and the overall carrying cost, it is well established that the programme is insufficient to fulfil citizens' nutritional needs

Dissanayake's NPP wins big in Sri Lankans' vote for stability

India has a role to play in its economic recovery

Modest means: Time to strengthen and reimagine India's local bodies

To improve MC finances, interventions will be required at various levels. Most importantly, MCs will have to work on boosting their revenues

Trump trade wars: Significant impact on global growth and trade dynamics

In some ways Mr Trump's actions are reflective of the mainstream of the US political class's opinion about trade at the moment