business

Global higher education is undergoing a paradoxical shift. On the one hand, student enrolment is booming, with over 254 million currently enrolled in higher education institutions. This figure has more than doubled over the past two decades and is projected to rise. On the other hand, despite this growing demand, university closures and mergers loom … Read more

India’s next decadal population census, initially delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, is now scheduled to conclude by March 2027, after a further delay apparently fuelled by political motivations. The Census in 2021 did not take place as planned, thus impacting different aspects of governance, especially social security schemes for vulnerable populations that rely heavily on … Read more

The next Census The announcement of India’s next Census is both significant and overdue. While the shift to a digital Census marks a step forward, the more historic move is the inclusion of caste enumeration for the first time in independent India. This could provide critical data to inform policy decisions. However, the long delay … Read more

In a diplomatic move, with far-reaching consequences, United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s new agreement with the European Union (EU) signals a powerful “reset” of their relations, resuming cooperation on food standards, fishing rights, defence and border checks. While this development may appear Eurocentric, it opens a gateway to possibilities and challenges for India that … Read more

In less than 24 hours, ecstasy turned into despair. Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title, secured on Tuesday night in Ahmedabad, triggered unabated joy and raucous celebrations in Bengaluru and the rest of Karnataka. However, by Wednesday evening, a thick shroud of grief hung over the southern metropolis as a ghastly … Read more

“Give me the liberty to know, to utter, and to argue freely according to conscience, above all liberties,” said John Milton in his famous pamphlet, Areopagitica (1644), opposing the licensing system (called imprimatur). Originally introduced in response to the introduction of the printing press in England in 1538 and reinstituted by the British Parliament in … Read more

RCB fans trying to gain entry into M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Wednesday. A scene from outside one of the stadium gates. | Photo Credit: K. MURALI KUMAR On June 4, 2025, a tragedy struck Bengaluru when a stampede at the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) stadium claimed the lives of 11 Royal Challengers … Read more

The climate crisis has changed the idea of energy security. A country’s energy sources must stand firm on four planks: availability, accessibility, affordability, and environmental acceptability. Environmental acceptability focuses on the trade-offs policymakers and the public are willing to make in terms of pollution, biodiversity loss, and greenhouse gas emissions. In this context, renewables have … Read more

“If a woman-owned business has a male co-founder, her ability to access credit significantly improves. This, despite global evidence that women make better borrowers” | Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto Union Minister Piyush Goyal’s recent call for greater innovation among Indian start-ups highlights an important challenge — and opportunity — that often gets overlooked: the need … Read more

Even as one of the world’s largest manufacturing hubs, the Indian textile industry faces challenges in sustaining its global presence due to geopolitical tensions, fragmented supply chains, and product price volatility. Climate change or evolving consumer demands are not the only causes, but also the fundamental values that influence business decisions. In this evolving landscape, … Read more