business 
‘There are many precedents for politically driven, discretionary special packages’ | Photo Credit: Getty Images Andhra Pradesh is in deep financial distress and there is a strong case for the Finance Commission to make a special dispensation for the State. When Telangana was carved out of the larger State of Andhra Pradesh in 2014, the … Read more
It has been a little over three months since President’s Rule was declared in Manipur, after a disastrous spell when the State government, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party’s N. Biren Singh, failed to de-escalate tensions in the ongoing ethnic conflict. By all accounts, there has been a significant reduction in gun violence and arson, … Read more
Manipur situation The intent by some in the National Democratic Alliance “to form a ‘popular’ government in Manipur” is strange (Page 1, May 29). That these people are unaware of the ground reality is cause for concern. The consensus of all stakeholders and a proper settlement of the ethnic conflict is what will pave the … Read more
‘The thoughtful optimisation of resources for early childhood education remains a challenge’ | Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto “Some kids win the lottery at birth; far too many don’t — and most people struggle to catch up,” said the Nobel Laureate Prof. James Heckman. This holds true for India as well where its employment problem is … Read more
On the afternoon of May 24, MSC Elsa 3, carrying more than 640 containers, started tilting off the coast of Kochi, apparently due to an operational problem. The nearly three-decade-old ship was said to be structurally safe. The crew abandoned the ship after unsuccessfully trying to right her. Now, Elsa 3 is lying at the … Read more
The United States President, Donald Trump, made headlines when he announced a U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) with its focus primarily on cost reduction. Yet it is a move that opens a broader discussion on streamlining government operations in developing economies through dedicated efforts to drive efficiency in governance. Going beyond the narrow, cost-focused … Read more
Remittances have long played a quiet but crucial role in India’s external sector balance, but in terms of policy attention, they have often been overshadowed by indicators such as foreign direct investment (FDI) and trade flows. Yet the latest data from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)’s Sixth Round of India’s Remittances Survey, released in … Read more
In both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, two high-profile female politicians are fighting hard to cement their place in the political arena. While K. Kavitha, the daughter of former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, has grabbed headlines in Telangana thanks to a “leaked” letter, Y.S. Sharmila, the daughter of former Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, has … Read more
The Trump steamroller The Trump administration appears to be on a war spree in trying to tame students (Page 1, May 28). Many foreign students secure huge loans to fund their tuition fees charged by universities in the United States and their interests normally lie in completing their studies — and, if possible, finding employment … Read more
India’s financial sector stands at an inflection point. For years, the government and regulators have attempted incremental reform in banking, financial services, and insurance (BFSI), yet systemic frictions persist. These frictions are not just inefficiencies. They are barriers that deter savers, discourage investors and delay growth. A truly professional, transparent and investor-friendly financial sector demands … Read more