Mint Primer

The monsoon session of Parliament began on Monday amid opposition protests on issues like inflation. The session has a hectic legislative agenda, but many controversial issues are expected to remain in the spotlight. Mint's Gireesh Chandra Prasad reports what to expect. This episode is being hosted by Mint's Prasid Banerjee.

The Reserve Bank of India last week relaxed norms for companies raising external commercial borrowings (ECBs), as part of a set of measures to stem the slide in the rupee. This Mint Primer is written by Jagadish Shettigar, Pooja Misra, and hosted by Prasid Banerjee, explaining the logic and implications of the move.

The recent ‘Uber Files’ reveal that the company had deployed kill switches, purportedly to destroy sensitive data that could have been legitimately accessed by police and officials. But kill switches are also helpful tools. We explain how. This episode is being hosted by Mint's Prasid Banerjee and is being reported by Leslie D'Monte.

On Tuesday, the James Webb Space Telescope, the biggest telescope in space, sent back its first set of images. The JWST surpassed the iconic Hubble’s abilities, using cutting-edge technologies to give us the farthest, deepest and clearest views of the universe till date. This episode is being hosted by Mint's Prasid Banerjee and is being reported by Shouvik Das.

State governments are confronting various fiscal risks, particularly heavy debt, says the Reserve Bank of India’s latest bulletin. The Centre too recently red-flagged states’ high off-budget borrowings and escalating power dues. Written by Jagadish Shettigar and Pooja Misraand and hosted by Prasid Banerjee, this Mint Primer analyses the implications.

The Reserve Bank of India on Monday introduced a rupee settlement system for international trade, which could help India promote its exports and facilitate trade with countries under sanction. This Mint Primer is written by Dilasha Seth and hosted by Prasid Banerjee, explaining the significance of the central bank's move.

The Sebi has proposed to include trading in mutual fund units under insider trading rules. The proposal, though well-intentioned, has worried many in the industry. In today's primer, Mint's Prasid Banerjee explains exactly why this is happening.

Amid high inflation and market volatility, many investors are turning to gold. Despite the spectacular rise and then fall of cryptocurrency, for a majority, it was gold that was always the answer to inflation. However, in the short term, gold can lag behind. Host Prasid Banerjee explains in this episode. Today's Primer is written by Mint's Neil Borate.

On 30 June, the European Parliament agreed upon a new law to regulate cryptocurrencies. The Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) law is the first comprehensive regulation for cryptos, and some expect it to become a trendsetter for crypto regulation globally. Mint's Prasid Banerjee explains:

On 1 July, the government imposed special additional excise duty of ₹23,250 per tonne on the sale of locally produced crude oil, sending stocks of oil producers tumbling. Here is what prompted the windfall tax, and its likely implications.

The government plans to table the Development of Enterprise and Service Hubs (DESH) Bill in the monsoon session of the Parliament, which will overhaul the special economic zones (SEZ) legislation. Mint's Prasid Banerjee explains its significance. Today's Primer is written by Mint's Dilasha Seth.

The government maintains buffer stocks for commodities such as wheat and rice to supply its welfare schemes, ensure price stability, and guard against exigencies. However, these stocks have been depleting of late. Mint's Prasid Banerjee examines the implications.

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council meets for two days from Tuesday as the landmark indirect tax reform completes five years. The meeting is crucial, coming at a time central and state governments are facing stiff fiscal challenges. Mint's Prasid Banerjee examines what the Council is up to:

The data for the country’s current account balance for the fourth quarter of FY 2021-22 shows a decrease in the deficit to 1.5% of gross domestic product (GDP) from 2.6% of GDP in Q3 FY 2021-22. Mint's Prasid Banerjee analyses the situation in this episode.

On Monday, the RBI said prepaid payment instruments (PPIs) must not be loaded through credit lines from non-bank lenders, sending the wallet and buy-now-pay-later industry into confusion. Mint explains the RBI circular and the impact on fintechs.

Multiple forces have been pulling the Indian rupee down, including the exit of foreign portfolio investors, the rising cost of international crude oil prices, and a strong dollar. Mint's Prasid Banerjee explains the implications of the decline in the Indian currency.

With WTO countries making progress on the patent waiver for covid vaccines  last  week, Mint examines how  crucial  it is to amend the WTO’s IPR (Intellectual Property Rights) norms in the post-pandemic world, keeping in mind the need for vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics.

Several states are witnessing a shortage of fuel, leading to long queues at fuel stations and anxiety among consumers. Even though crude oil prices have crossed $120 per barrel, retail prices have not kept pace, affecting the financials of oil marketing companies. Tune in now as Mint's Alisha Sachdev examines!

The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team’s (CERT-In’s) directive to virtual private network (VPN) providers to store user data on Indian servers has prompted many of them to shut their local servers. But what does this mean for users? Find out about it in this episode with Mint's Prasid Banerjee.

When Google engineer Blake Lemoine said its AI model LaMDA had turned sentient or was self-aware, Google said it had found the claim hollow and baseless, sending him on ‘paid administrative leave. Mint's Prasid Banerjee explores the fear of AI and why tech companies react defensively.

Over 160 countries are taking part in the 12th ministerial meeting of the WTO at Geneva. And divergences between developed and developing countries may make it challenging for them to agree on issues plaguing the global economy. Mint's Prasid Banerjee explains in this episode.

The RBI has proposed linking credit cards to the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), beginning with the National Payments Corporation of India’s (NPCI’s) RuPay credit cards. Is this a precursor to bringing Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) services under regulatory fold? Find out with Mint's Alisha Sachdev!

A trial on 18 colorectal cancer patients in the US found that cancer could be treated without chemotherapy or surgery. The world is sitting up and taking note of Dostarlimab, which has been called a wonder drug. Mint's Prasid Banerjee explains.

Proposed changes to rules governing social media platforms in India have created a flutter. Mint explains how the amendments create new grievance redressal measures for social media users while increasing the compliance burden on the platforms.

The engines of growth are humming again; the rise in credit disbursement by banks in 2011-22, as well as in April 2022, reflects this. But what is fuelling this credit growth, and what could change the trend? Tune into this episode of Mint Primer, as Mint's Prasid Banerjee explores.