Mint Primer

Luxury car sales were at record levels in the first half of 2023. Should the trend continue, the industry could log an all-time high for the full year. What explains this frenzy, who are the major benefactors and how long will it sustain? Sumant Banerji explains the reasons behind this rise. This episode is being hosted by Alisha Sachdev.

Mint's Alisha Sachdev discusses how car design and safety criss-cross and interact when it comes to building a new vehicle, with Tata Motors' Head of Global Design Martin Uhlarik. How does the company balance price, style, function and safety? What changes will autonomous driving bring? Tune in to this special episode for plenty of food for thought.

Smartphone sales in India have been falling, with the entry and mid-tier segment the most impacted. In the first half of 2023, overall sales dropped below the 50-million-unit mark. Why are sales declining and what do we expect for the rest of the year? Sumant Banerji finds out.

Around 135 million Indians exited ‘multidimensional poverty’, a measure of deprivation beyond money, between 2015-16 and 2019-21, the Niti Aayog says. The basis of calculation is the National Family Health Survey (NFHS). Mint's Tanay Sukumar explains. This episode is being hosted by Prasid Banerjee.

As India and the UK discuss a range of goods in talks on a free trade deal, proposals for whisky are proving hard to swallow for both sides. That’s because Indians are the world’s biggest consumers of Scotch and UK the biggest producer. Mint's Ravi Dutta Mishra takes a look at the bigger picture. This episode is being hosted by Alisha Sachdev.

If you are planning to buy an SUV (sport utility vehicle) or MUV (multi-utility vehicle) the GST Council’s decision to change the definition of UVs that attract a compensation cess of 22% may have implications. Mint's Alisha Sachdev explains the changes and their impact on buyers.

The ₹386 crore Chandrayaan-1 was successful. Its orbiter kept orbiting around the Moon for 312 days conducting experiments while its impact probe landed on the lunar surface and discovered signs of water. The ₹850 crore Chandrayaan-2’s mandate was bigger. This episode is being hosted by Prasid Banerjee.

Heavy rainfall across North India has pushed monsoon into surplus territory for the entire country. But instead of cheer, the sudden deluge served as a grim reminder of recurrent climate shocks and the resultant human and economic toll. Mint's Sayantan Bera and Puja Das explain. This episode is being hosted by Alisha Sachdev.

With unhealthy diets becoming a global public health concern, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended mandatory restrictions on marketing junk food to children, terming it a harmful practice. Mint's Sayantan Bera explains why it is critical for India to act fast. This episode is being hosted by Alisha Sachdev.

Offices are emptying out as new property supplies hit the market and users exit for cheaper and more space-efficient spaces as they adopt hybrid work models. Will this demand-supply mismatch see vacant office stocks rise further? Madhurima Nandy explores. This episode is being hosted by Alisha Sachdev.

On 4 July, Reliance subsidiary Jio Platforms launched a 4G-equipped feature phone, called Jio Bharat 4G, for under ₹1,000. Other Indian brands also plan to launch inexpensive smartphones. After having lost out to Chinese brands nearly a decade ago, can the Indian brands cut it in today’s market? Mint's Shouvik Das decodes. This episode is being hosted by Alisha Sachdev.

Today, Indian states are at the forefront when it comes to capital expenditure (capex). Aware of this, the Centre has been incentivizing them in a big way. But the outcome is far from optimal. N Madhavan explains the importance of capex and the bottlenecks. This episode is being hosted by Alisa Sachdev.

On 22 June, US semiconductor firms Micron, Applied Materials and Lam Research announced projects in India, fuelling New Delhi’s hopes of becoming a player in the global supply chain for chips. Mint's Shouvik Das decodes what these announcements could mean in the long run. This episode is being hosted by Alisha Sachdev

Over the course of just 24 hours, Russia has lurched from a military power to a politically insecure nation. Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the mercenary Wagner group, appeared to launch an armed rebellion before ordering his troops march back. Mint's Shashank Mattoo looks at a bizarre revolt. This episode is being hosted by Alisha Sachdeva.

Monsoon’s journey has been uneven so far. While nearly half of India is coping with a rainfall deficit of 60% or more, some states in the west and northeast are under a deluge. Mint's Sayantan Bera explores the possible impact on rain-fed Kharif crops in this episode. This episode is being hosted by Alisha Sachdev

India is expected to lose 6,500 high net-worth individuals (HNWIs), worth $1 million or more this year, according to Henley and Partners, an advisory firm on investment-linked visas. Is this a high number, and what drives their decision to move? Tauseef Shahidi explains. This episode is being hosted by Alisha Sachdeva.

Minister of State for Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar says the Cowin app did not face a direct data breach. But the incident could still put the sensitive personal health data of users at stake. Shouvik Das explains why such breaches could be severe and why they are so frequent. This episode is being hosted by Prasid Banerjee.

The government has announced a higher-than-usual hike in the minimum support price (MSP) for Kharif crops. Coming ahead of general elections next year, the hike seeks to strike a balance between farmer and consumer interests, amid an El Nino threat. Sayantan Bera explains This episode is being hosted by Prasid Banerjee.

Apple has entered a new hardware category with its mixed reality headset Vision Pro. Apple has the might of its brand name, which can help revive a muted augmented/virtual reality industry. But its closed ecosystem and a hefty price tag pose challenges. Mint's Shouvik Das dives in. This episode is being hosted by Alisha Sachdeva.

The government has banned the manufacture, sale and distribution of 14 fixed dose combination (FDC) drugs, citing “no therapeutic justification". Tauseef Shahidi explains the backstory and the rationale behind this move. This episode is being hosted by Prasid Banerjee.

Preliminary investigations into the horrific three-train crash in Odisha point to a signalling error and interference with the electronic interlocking system. Subhash Narayan explains how the signalling network works and when it can malfunction. This episode is being hosted by Prasid Banerjee.

The retail price of rice, the most widely consumed cereal, is on the rise. After battling over a year of surging wheat prices, rice could pose a new challenge for India, the top exporter globally. A lot depends on how the monsoon pans out. Sayantan Bera explains in his report. This episode is being hosted by Prasid Banerjee.

Tech experts led by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, whose ChatGPT broke the internet are insisting that the very technology they helped nurture should now be heavily controlled, citing pandemics and nuclear war. Is this a case of fear of the future? Leslie D'Monte explores this in the report. This episode is being hosted by Prasid Banerjee.

In 2022-23, real gross domestic product (GDP) growth—which is adjusted for inflation—was at 7.2%, against 9.1% in 2021-22. This is 20 basis points higher than the Reserve Bank of India’s forecast of 7%. What can we make of these numbers? Vivek Kaul examines in his report. This episode is being hosted by Prasid Banerjee.

The ministry of heavy industries has asked three manufacturers to return subsidies claimed for electric 2-wheelers even as it prepares to cut incentives from 1 June. How will it impact prices, sales and the cadence of EV adoption? Mint's Alisha Sachdev explains. This episode is being hosted by Prasid Banerjee.