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UNBELIEVABLE: Goi | History Defined

Cash no king, but don't stash it: India wants a digital economy, but cash still holds the power of choice

Despite government promotion of digital transactions like UPI and e-Rupee, cash remains prevalent, especially in rural areas and for large-value transactions. While digital payments offer convenience, they have also led to increased cyber fraud and financial exclusion, particularly for women. The article suggests the government's push for digitalization may stem…

The Economic Times

Is your data truly yours? India's sovereignty struggle with foreign cloud providers and AI

Indian enterprises now prioritize data sovereignty over cost and scale in cloud procurement. New regulations and geopolitical shifts highlight the importance of data control. Data residency does not guarantee jurisdictional independence from foreign governments. India's AI ambitions require control over compute, model weights, and training data. Procurement teams must diligently…

The Economic Times

Saptadhara is a wishlist that Indian govt needs to convert into a blueprint: Swaminathan Aiyar

Prime Minister Modi's Saptadhara initiative outlines seven development streams for India. This plan reiterates existing goals without detailing necessary reforms for faster growth. India's current growth rate is strong but insufficient for high-income status by 2047. Job creation remains a significant challenge for the educated and impatient young population. Political…

The Economic Times

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Off with offset training wheels

Defence offset obligations are largely unfulfilled, prompting a policy review. New defence acquisition procedures replace offsets with indigenous content mandates. This shift impacts private sector defence exports which previously benefited from offsets. Many global firms established joint ventures in India to meet offset requirements.

The Economic Times

Ethanol is not the whole story behind India’s sugar price surge

Sugar prices have significantly increased due to production shortfalls and rising demand. Government data shows a substantial decline in expected sugar production for the season. International market trends and domestic supply issues also contribute to the current price situation. Ethanol diversion is a factor, but not the sole cause of…

The Economic Times

Agnipath reforms: Why Agniveers need longer service, higher retention and better career prospects

The Agniveer scheme, initiated in 2022, is under scrutiny as discussions continue about its framework. As the government assesses input from various services and state authorities, concerns arise over the four-year service limit, which may hinder soldiers' skill development and team integration. Proposals suggest extending service to eight years to…

The Economic Times

The long and winding R&D: While India tracks where publicly funded research money goes, it should track what it creates

India's research funding system suffers a staggering ₹3,000 crore in losses each year due to overlapping grants. Implementing a unified tracking system is crucial for monitoring all publicly funded research outputs. By utilising persistent identifiers and a robust digital framework, we can create an accessible record of research results, thus…

The Economic Times

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Acquired new tastes & distastes: India’s health warnings are loud. Its consumption habits are louder

Despite health warnings, cigarette production surged 24%, while wine consumption rose 25% among the young. Conversely, production of fruit juices, aerated beverages, maida, and palm oil declined as consumers shifted towards healthier alternatives. This indicates a complex interplay between health consciousness, rising costs, and evolving lifestyle preferences influencing consumption patterns…

The Economic Times

Japan’s yen lesson for India: Don’t fight the currency market

India should focus on economic fundamentals and allow the rupee to be largely market-driven. The RBI has some flexibility during a financial crisis because India does not have full capital account convertibility, allowing authorities to restrict large capital outflows if required.

The Economic Times

Fiscally fit: The counterintuitive move that helped India tame inflation

India's inflation between 2010 and 2016 offers a lesson in fiscal discipline. Persistent deficits eroded confidence, leading to high inflation rates. However, banking windfall revenue from cheaper oil repaired debt backing. This fiscal consolidation re-anchored prices and restored market confidence. This commitment to fiscal discipline has since buffered India from…

The Economic Times

End dependence days: What India should and should not build

Current government procurement policies can obstruct innovation, often favouring established firms. Furthermore, major Indian corporations frequently seek excessive credentials from startups prior to engaging with their technologies. For sustainable growth, entrepreneurs should prioritise global opportunities and product excellence.

The Economic Times

Should ministers have domain expertise? Gen Z protests revive an old debate

The recent wave of protests from Gen Z has sparked significant government actions, leading to both transfers and resignations among officials. This situation has reignited conversations regarding the qualifications of ministers and their professional backgrounds. A noticeable trend is the absence of relevant expertise among ministers, which often results in…

The Economic Times

Withdrawal of zero MDR may jeopardise one of India’s most successful public policy innovations

The Payment and Settlement Systems Amendment Bill has revived debate over MDR on UPI. While charges could support banks and fintech firms, the article argues they may burden small merchants, weaken financial inclusion and undermine the affordability behind UPI’s growth.

The Economic Times

Oops! They did it again: Meta’s algorithm trips over Modi’s video, but the real glitch is bigger

Meta temporarily removed Prime Minister Modi's video, citing a technical error which the government disputed. This incident revealed ongoing concerns about platform content moderation and algorithmic biases. The company's global affairs chief issued an apology for various operational lapses and content issues. India's IT rules require platforms to exercise due…

The Economic Times

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The Economic Times

How the Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme could make India a global electronics manufacturing hub

India's new Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme prioritses scale and exports. This strategy aims to build a robust electronics manufacturing ecosystem. Domestic value addition naturally follows sustained manufacturing growth and scale. The government expects significant production and export figures by FY31. This policy shift focuses on total economic value creation within…

The Economic Times

The Nilekani panel must rethink how India tests students

The committee should use the paper leak crisis as an opportunity to rethink India's entire public examination architecture—from NTA's role and centralisation to AI-driven testing and the future of CUET.

The Economic Times

You can’t ban a whisper: GitHub removes BitChat after government order, Section 79 powers come under scrutiny

The Indian government recently instructed Microsoft’s GitHub to take down the BitChat messaging platform, a decision taken during a period of heightened protests. With the app’s perceived risk for misuse cited as justification, critics argue that this ban endangers essential privacy rights and free speech. As the courts now assess…

The Economic Times

Win polls, lose authority: The lesson of July isn’t that GoI lost a minister, but that authority has to be earned between elections

A youth-led movement, born from exam scandals, forced a minister's resignation. This dissent highlights a growing gap between electoral strength and genuine authority. The government's usual tactics failed against this leaderless, self-mocking protest. Citizens now question the fairness of public systems and electoral processes. Authority must be earned through trusted…

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The Economic Times

Gen Z gets into pest control: NEET protests cut across identity lines, and bypass mainstream media’s ‘manufactured consent’

A spontaneous protest movement dubbed the “Cockroach Janta Party” emerged from an offhand remark by CJI Surya Kant, showing how a single word can spark widespread dissent. Driven largely by Gen Z, the movement uses humour, satire and non-ideological unity to protest issues like NEET exam irregularities, education reform, unemployment…

The Economic Times

Why ISRO's loss is India's gain

India's space sector witnessed significant private and public sector developments recently. Skyroot Aerospace launched the nation's first privately built rocket, Vikram-1. Concurrently, about one hundred scientists resigned from ISRO, India's space agency. This talent shift signifies the success of the government's liberalization policy for the sector. Such movements highlight the…

The Economic Times

Don't put a toll on UPI: Why merchant discount rate isn't the answer

A proposal to introduce a merchant discount rate (MDR) on UPI transactions above ₹2,000 for businesses with annual turnover of ₹1-1.5 crore aims to address the cost of maintaining the payments ecosystem. While banks and payment providers need a sustainable revenue model, the article argues that reintroducing MDR would undermine…

The Economic Times

Jump on this bandwagon: India’s ethanol push gathers speed as it transforms energy security and rural economy

Ethanol, a renewable biofuel, has become integral to India's transport fuel strategy. India achieved ten percent blending ahead of schedule in 2022 and is expanding its use. This program has generated significant payments for farmers and reduced crude oil imports. Flex-fuel vehicles and expanded retail infrastructure are key to the…

The Economic Times

India must finish the capital account reforms begun in 1991

India's capital controls have transformed from restrictive permissions to more refined regulations. As the nation pursues its economic aspirations, a more open and predictable capital framework is essential. Recent moves by regulators were unexpected and lacked clarity for investors.

The Economic Times

Why CDSCO and BEE have not kept pace with the industries they oversee

CDSCO still faces challenges like chronic understaffing, gaps in technical skills, weak lab infra and fragmented approvals. About a decade back, the organisation was recommended a benchmark of 1 inspector for every 50 manufacturing units. Yet, in end-2023, it carried a strength of barely 200 inspectors against a sanctioned strength…

The Economic Times

Usernaam ke Vaaste? Some things to consider about the ruckus over WhatsApp introducing usernames

WhatsApp's introduction of usernames, a feature long present in rivals like Telegram and Signal, has sparked debate, particularly in India. While aiming to enhance privacy by obscuring mobile numbers, especially for vulnerable users, concerns about impersonation and scamming persist. The article argues that usernames, when linked to KYC-verified numbers, don't…

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