Mint Primer

In a surprising move, Google said it is going to change some of its policies specifically for India in order to abide by the directives issued by the Competition Commission of India (CCI). Mint's Prasid Banerjee examines the changes.

Among large projects in India that are jinxed, the Sethusamudram shipping canal project, which would connect Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar, takes the cake. Experts are divided on the pros and cons of the project. N Madhavan explains its economic implications. This episode is being hosted by Prasid Banerjee.

According to World Bank, remittances to India by non-resident Indians (NRIs) are expected to touch $100 billion in 2022. Increased remittances is a boon and may help in stabilizing the rupee. Jagadish Shettigar and Pooja Misra explain the trend and how tapping NRI resources can help the economy. This episode is being hosted by Praisd Banerjee.

The Bombay High Court has set aside a March 2020 decision by the banking regulator and the Yes Bank administrator to write off ₹8,415 crore worth of the bank’s additional tier-1 bonds as part of a bailout of the private lender. Mint's Gopika Gopakumar explains the likely impact of the decision. This episode is being hosted by Prasid Banerjee.

The north-eastern states have been the biggest beneficiaries of the five-year-old goods and services tax (GST) regime, according to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) report on State Finances released earlier this week. Dilasha Seth explains how some states gained but others didn’t. This episode is being hosted by Prasid Banerjee.

A task force to examine production and promotion of bio-fertilizer and organic fertilizers has already been set up under the Niti Aayog. As the government is expected to come out with a new fertilizer policy, Mint's Jagdish Shettigar & Pooja Misra examines its implications. This episode is hosted by Prasid Banerjee.

The National Payments Corp. of India (NPCI) has allowed Indians abroad to use the fast payments network UPI, if their domestic bank accounts are linked to their foreign mobile numbers. Shayan Ghosh takes a look at what this means for non-resident Indians (NRIs) and for UPI. This episode is being hosted by Alisha Sachdev.

A series of changes by China signal that Beijing is abandoning a diplomatic strategy that has earned it an unpleasant reputation. Shashank Mattoo breaks down China’s so-called ‘wolf warrior’ diplomacy, how it developed, and why Beijing may be looking to give it up. This episode is being hosted by Prasid Banerjee.

Android maker Google has claimed that the Competition Commission of India’s (CCI) October order directing the company to modify how Android works in India, will stall the smartphone operating system’s growth in India. Mint's Prasid Banerjee examines the claim.

In a recent ad, a top actor asks hassled mothers to give kids a pack of biscuits which, he asserts, has the power of milk and atta. The ad has hit a raw nerve, with experts seeking a stop to celebrities endorsing such food. Mint explores the regulatory landscape around junk food. Report by Sayantan Bera & Hosted by Prasid Banerjee.

Gross bad loans at banks have been declining and hit a seven-year low of 5% in September, shows the RBI’s Financial Stability Report (FSR). Its stress tests showed that banks are capable of absorbing shocks even under adverse situations. Mint analyses the report. This article is being written by Jagadish Shettigar and Pooja Misra. Episde hosted by Prasid Banerjee.

Improving the logistics of moving coal is critical for India, which is trying to reduce its energy dependence. The coal ministry has announced several first-mile connectivity (FMC) projects, in line with the  government’s coal logistics policy. Rituraj Baruah explains how this will help. This episode is being hosted by Mint's Prasid Banerjee.

Microsoft is reportedly planning to integrate a version of its Bing search engine with the AI-powered ChatGPT to answer search queries instead of just displaying a list of links, according to The Information. If true, will this move make search engines redundant or radically transform them? This report is being written by Leslie D'Monte and hosted by Prasid Banerjee.

Global headwinds, tightening monetary policy and the lingering effects of the pandemic have combined to create a gloomy global outlook. However, supported by domestic growth, India is projected to be one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. Jagadish Shettigar and Pooja Misra analyses in this episode. This episode is being hosted by Prasid Banerjee.

After a turbulent 2022, the world is heading into another year of multiple disruptions, apart from an economic slowdown. Shashank Mattoo breaks down five crises, some old and others new, to watch out for in the months ahead. This episode is being hosted by Prasid Banerjee.

Hiring freezes and fewer counter-offers have brought the recruitment frenzy in India’s information technology (IT) companies to a halt. Still, attrition in the sector for the October-December period will hover around 20%. Mint's Devina Sengupta explains why. This episode is being hosted by Prasid Banerjee.

India’s smartphone market is set to contract by 5% in 2022 to 160 million units—the second time since 2020 when the pandemic and lockdowns impacted sales. Why has the market contracted this year and what’s in store in 2023? Mint's Gulveen Aulakh explains. This episode is hosted by Prasid Banerjee.

The government is proposing to make changes to India’s six-year-old Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC). Mint examines the relevance of the game-changing reform to the economy, and why the changes are necessary now. This episode is being hosted by Prasid Banerjee.

PVR Cinemas has opened its ‘ICE’ theatre in Delhi, a new format that claims to offer an experience that’s impossible to replicate at home. Many immersive movie technologies in India’s theatres have not been particularly successful. Can ICE theatres change this? Mint's Shouvik Das explains in this episode. This episode is being hosted by Prasid Banerjee.

The border dispute between Maharashtra and Karnataka has simmered ever since the two states were created. With no acceptable political solution, the matter is now before the Supreme Court. N Madhavan explains the recent flare-up. This episode is being hosted by Prasid Banerjee.

Covid-19 cases are rising in several countries including China, as the BF.7 variant of the omicron virus spreads rapidly. India is strengthening surveillance, even though the country has reported a decline in cases and deaths. Mint's Priyanka Sharma  explains the spurt in China and if we should be worried. This episode is being hosted by Prasid Banerjee.

The Parliamentary standing committee on finance, led by the BJP’s Jayant Sinha, has recommended modifying a Bill currently before the Parliament to make the Competition Act more up-to-date. Gireesh Chandra Prasad examines what’s in store for businesses. This episode is being hosted by Prasid Banerjee.

Since the Russian invasion began in February, Ukraine has seen its cities reduced to rubble and critical civilian infrastructure bombed into ruin. The astronomical cost of rebuilding Ukraine is on the minds of major Western leaders. Mint's Shashank Mattoo explains. This episode is being hosted by Prasid Banerjee.

Oil prices that shot up after Russia invaded Ukraine in March plunged as low as $76.1 early December, bringing cheer for the economy. However, retail customers may have to wait longer for relief. Jagadish Shettigar & Pooja Mishra analyse the implications of cheaper oil for the Indian economy. This episode is being hosted by Prasid Banerjee.

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), in its December meeting, hiked the repo rate by 35 basis points, as against 40-50 basis point increases made since May. Jagadish Shettigar and Pooja Misra explore the central bank’s softening approach, and what it could do next. This episode is being hosted by Prasid Banerjee.