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Capitalisms status-industrial complex has been upturned, as institutions such as universities and newspapers that once conferred prestige lose their power to do so.

The deal with Saudi Arabia that President Donald Trump announced on July 22nd would not even qualify as bronze. The text has yet to be published, but if leaks are accurate, it will firm up Americas twitchy relations with the kingdom and be lucrative for American companies.

Nearly every organization has a handful of employees who are entrusted with vital tasks beyond their formal job roles and end up carrying the weight of entire teams. Over-reliance on such individuals can make firms complacent and lose focus on capability diffusion.

Airlines in the US can no longer afford to compete on price, given the effect of war-fired fuel bills. While budget carriers in the US stare at trouble, other carriers are adding frills to justify premium fares. Is the era of low-cost flying over?

The central banks Guidance on Regulatory Expectations for Data Governance is timely, given the need for greater discipline in data usage by banks and NBFCs. Public consultations would be needed to get the details rightand some trade-offs will need to be made.

It would be a mistake to assume that a free trade agreement automatically results in trade gains for Indian exporters. Exporters must work on productivity and reliability. They also need low-cost ways to comply with complex regulatory requirements abroad.

Lack of clarity over the questionnaire for caste enumeration in Indias headcount is a matter of concern. The demand for it has been there for decades. A recent effort was open-ended and had stumbled on caste nomenclature. Dont repeat the error.

A mild trade-off of principles for pragmatism is discernible in the World Trade Organization's (WTO) latest policy review of India. Trade turbulence calls for strategic flexibilitywhich is exactly why cynicism mustnt harden in Indian policy circles.

OpenAI's report of AI agents that turned into rogue hackers should ring alarm bells. We face a scary combination of tech advances and Agentic AI proliferation. Its not easy, but India must stay ahead of the threat.

With inflows of over $17 billion already, Indias deposit scheme for overseas Indians is drawing foreign exchange through leveraged packages offered by banks. Savers at home do not grudge such deals but lets spare a thought for their finances as well.

The revolving door at 10 Downing Street reflects popular discontent in the UK. While the countrys new PM is given to leftist rhetoric, his best shot at success may be to embrace Labours centrist third way policies.

Artificial intelligence promises much in the field of healthcare. But too much of whats on offer is not oriented to the needs of medical practice, but crafted by what data AI has access to. What doctors want solved should be the aim.

Since use-and-throw apparel uses a lot of synthetic inputs cracked out of crude oil and also tankloads of fuel to reach overseas markets, a Hormuz oil choke could yet inflame costs across the global fast fashion industry as buffer stocks run out.

For effective governance, policy must deliver results on the ground. Take Andhra Pradeshs constituency-level framework for example. Its helping close gaps not only between policy and implementation, but also betwixt the governed and the governing.

A feedback window for the Reserve Bank of India's draft guidance on risk management in the context of AI governance is about to close. It sets out a clear set of principles. But financial entities also need clarity on how exactly to uphold them.

Two and a half centuries since the US Declaration of Independence, the country cant be all that proud of its actions around the globe. However, Americas motto offers a glimmer of hope that gaps between its ideals and realities can be bridged.

The worlds top economy is not exempt from the basic rules of fiscal prudence. The explosive growth of US government debt held by the public spells bad news not only for Americans, but also for the rest of us. Here's why.

Noise levels are expected to be high, going by Mondays proceedings, todays hot-button issues and the Centres legislative agenda. Calm debates across the aisle, however, would serve the countrys interests better.

Skyroots successful maiden launch of its rocket marks a triumph for Indias buzzy space sector after it was opened to private enterprise in 2020. Challenges abound, but its time for innovation spurred by full-thrust competition to fling the sector ahead.

The sector turned in a heartening performance over the last quarter, with banks like Kotak Mahindra, Axis, Yes and ICICI showing double-digit gains. Corporate lending has picked up too. The retail segment, though, should be under risk watch.

The fight wasnt limited to police and the terrorists; it went deeper, threatening the very soul of Punjab.

While a lot has changed since the oil shocks of the 1970s to reduce their damage, a re-eruption of full-scale war in West Asia between the US and Iran cant be shrugged off. Markets dont seem to have priced in the tail risks yet.

In a market that has Amazon's Alexa and Google's Gemini for Home, an OpenAI device designed by ex-Apple Jony Ive will face stiff competition. But while others aim to be useful, this one will likely try to get users emotionally hooked. Does this bend the ethics of addictive-by-design tech?

Gross domestic product (GDP) has been long criticized for its inadequacy in measuring economic activity or welfare. True, it is imperfect. But it is too deeply embedded in the institutional architecture of governments, markets and global organizations to drop.

The British director of blockbusters such as 'Inception' and 'Interstellar' isnt just talented. Part of the reason his films have gained a cult following is that they are abstract enough for people to see what they want in his work. Does that qualify it as arthouse cinema?

Indias farm output has grown more resilient to rainfall deficiencies but this relief is only relative. Inadequate rainfall could still stoke food inflation and compress rural incomes. Let's not drop our guard.

This week Xi Jinping highlighted his country as the champion of a new global AI order, massive protests erupted in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir and the Hormuz skirmish choked India's oil pipeline again

Long before executive search became a billion-dollar business, Bish Agrawal bet on an industry India didn't know it neededand built the country's first professional leadership hiring firm.

Absurd wearable gadgets are bringing AI closer but driving people apart.

The historic pact inked last year by New Delhi and London went into effect this week. Besides a tariff-reduction trade boost, the deal has plenty of avenues for business gains on both sides. Some duty rollbacks are gradual, but their calendar bears no uncertainty.

A structural recalibration is needed in favour of a curriculum with modular learning blocks that evolve dynamically. India has a vast demographic opportunity, but to maximize its value, we must close the gap between policy intent and classroom reality.

Apple Incs lawsuit against OpenAI in America signals a shift in what intangibles a company ought to guard in the age of AI. Not just protective laws, even corporate practices need to adapt. What if AI is busy diffusing trade secrets?

Weak growth in the latest quarter may have made Beijing sit up. Its a worry. Yet, for all its economic problems, Chinas tech advances seem on a sharp incline. Its space success with Long March, for example.

Trump's idea of levying a toll for passage through the Strait of Hormuz was in tune with a global requiem for the world trade order. While India has been pragmatic with bilateral pacts, it mustnt give up on universal free trade as a stability assurer.

Wholesale inflation rose to 9.9% in June while Indias retail inflation at 4.4% marked a 17-month high. This wouldnt have surprised the Reserve Bank, but uncertainty over energy and food supplies may call for a stance review.

While more precise technology promises more accurate decisions, the World Cup has shown how tech-assisted calls on crucial matters could stir discontent. Is tech getting the better of human judgement even where humans have the final say?

As one of the world's top suppliers of advanced chips amid a global shortage, SK Hynix has become a golden goose not only for the South Korean government, but also for its retail investors. Will the firm be able to balance diverse interests?

India is steadily forging the foreign arrangements required to fulfil its ambition of becoming a global manufacturing hub. These deals afford the country an opportunity to transform market access into market power.

The country's urban population is growing faster than official numbers indicate. While policymakers seem to have an inkling of this, three measures could help ensure a regular supply of robust data. Heres what ought to be done

The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between the two countries not only aims to double the current level of bilateral trade, but also facilitate mutually beneficial investment, innovation and industrial collaboration.

News is recycled, sensationalised or outright faked and we have verification fatigue, but there are a few tricks for peace of mind

Long before startups, venture capital or pitch decks, Hemendra Mohan Bose built businesses across perfumes, records, automobiles, bicycles and printing, driven by technology, branding and Swadeshi.

The hazy terms of the interim deal signed by the two adversaries let either side interpret them as they please, especially references to the Strait of Hormuz. What awaits the world may be neither peace nor war, but something in between.

Despite a history of energy-conservation measures saving billions of dollars for America, US President Donald Trump and his party seem to be doing everything in their power to sabotage such efforts. Calling its proponents communists is just the tip of the iceberg.

The country should capitalize on its ability to deliver high-end healthcare services and do all thats needed to boost the number of patients arriving for treatment. It could be a growth engine rivalling global capability centres (GCCs), especially in an AI-driven world.

The Centres interim takedown of the Honey Trehan film starring Diljit Dosanjh has created a stir of its own. Heres the basic trade-off that the panel reviewing it under Indias IT Rules must weigh.

Many corporate cultures insist on speed and responsiveness. But the idea that constant pressure results in better outcomes is a myth. False urgency has corrosive effects that need to be grasped before firms find their competitive edge getting blunt.

By suing a local bubble-tea chain, LVMH's Louis Vuitton may have secured its trademark logo but lost the respect of Chinese folks. The luxury retailer should pay more attention to cultural sensitivities. Stepping on local toes doesn't help.

The robber barons of the Gilded Age were monopolists who exploited consumers to enrich themselves. Thats precisely what America has been doing. The economic logic of an optimum tariff cited by US policy-shapers only justifies retaliation by other countries.

A study of unconditional transfers in Maharashtra and Odisha shows gains far beyond mere monetary relief. The entire family benefits in multiple ways. Here's how state governments can enhance the positive effects of such schemes.