Mint Primer

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman presents her sixth annual budget, albeit an interim one, today, likely furnishing a report card on the government’s performance in the past five years. Here are five key numbers to watch out for and cut through the economic jargon:

In its review of the Indian economy released on Monday, the finance ministry said India can become a $7 trillion economy by 2030. That means it will almost double its GDP in the next six years. Is it possible? Mint weighs the possibilities.

On 17 January, Samsung launched its new flagship smartphone under the Galaxy S24 moniker, claiming it was “the world’s first AI smartphone”. Will such phones help revive a smartphone market that isn’t growing?

Government guidelines on regulating the coaching industry will impact thousands of tutoring centres that have mushroomed across the country. What’s wrong with the system and why were these guidelines needed in the first place

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has published a draft framework that lays down the broad functions, governance standards and eligibility criteria for setting up a self-regulatory organization (SRO) for fintech companies. Why is such a body needed

After days of being locked in a dangerous-looking military confrontation, Pakistan and Iran appear to have settled the immediate crisis. Iran launched the first missile strike, hitting a terror base in Pakistan’s Baluchistan. Just what’s going on here?

In a new paper, the Niti Aayog said around 248 million Indians exited ‘multidimensional poverty’ (MDP) in the nine years from 2013-14 to 2022-23. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has used the data to suggest a reduction in poverty during his tenure.

Indians love to self-medicate and pop their pills like candies. A recent government report sheds light on why prevention may not always be better than cure, and how we are staring at a crisis where antibiotics might just stop working

Leaders from across the world will congregate in the picturesque Swiss town for the 54th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) against a backdrop of rising geopolitical tensions, high inflation and tepid global growth.

Last week, the government launched a new portal to buy pulses directly from farmers at support prices, targeting to be self-sufficient by 2027. To achieve that goal farmers will also need high-yielding varieties and a favourable trade policy.

Google has started testing of its Privacy Sandbox initiative for Chrome. By ending cookies, Google wants people to believe that it’ll boost user privacy. Mint analyses what the move means for advertisers, users, and Google’s $250 billion ad-revenue empire.

India plans to set up its own protection and indemnity (P&l) entity— the India Club—for providing insurance to ships operating in Indian coasts and waterways. Currently, the shipping industry relies on global firms for insurance. Mint explains the significance

The HSBC India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), compiled by S&P Global, surprisingly fell to an 18-month low in December. This came at a time when the economic growth has crossed expectations. Mint reviews its possible effect on the economy.

The second half of 2023 saw an uptick in office demand and leasing, propelled by global capability centres (GCCs), flex operators, and domestic corporates. Is this the beginning of a sustained recovery curve for the commercial office sector?

Truckers are protesting against proposed stringent punishment for hit-and-run accidents. It has led to fuel shortages in many cities and put the spotlight on the importance of this sector. Mint looks at the economics of truckers and their impact on the economy.

Recent weeks have seen the Indian IT services industry raking up no-poach clauses when it came to senior employee exits. Legal claims have been made. What explains this sort of reaction? Are these clauses even legally enforceable?

The government on Sunday named former vice chairman of Niti Aayog and Columbia University professor Arvind Panagariya as the chairman of the Sixteenth Finance Commission (SFC), a constitutional body. Mint takes a look at what to expect from the SFC.

Retail is a major contributor to GDP and employment, and India is expected to be the third largest consumer market by 2030, after China and the US. Yet, the trade is undermined by difficulty of doing business. The Centre’s retail policy could change things

A charter plane with 276 Indian passengers, grounded in France for four days due to suspected human smuggling, returned to Mumbai on Tuesday. The incident underlines the risks of illegal migration, also highlighted in the film Dunki.

A new and more scientific way of calculation has put India’s logistics cost much lower than before. How sharp is this drop? Mint explains the reduction, where India stands globally when it comes to the cost of logistics, and what more needs to be done

A new strain of covid-19 has emerged, raising concerns. The first recorded instance of this virus, known as JN.1, was found in Kerala on 8 December in a 78-year-old woman. More cases have been detected since. How serious is the strain?

Two-wheeler sales are speeding again. At least that’s what production data and retail sales in the festive months of September, October and November show. Does it mean the segment, hurt by income disruptions during covid, is back on its feet?

A hydropower policy is in the works. This comes at a time when India has set ambitious energy transition goals with plans for 500 GW of installed non-fossil power capacity by 2030. Hydro projects are also strategically important. Mint explains the policy imperatives.

Affordability to buy homes dipped in 2022 and 2023 after interest rates went up and property prices shot up in some cities. However, market watchers believe that affordability may improve next year. Why is this so?

The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has notified guidelines on dark patterns to stop online firms from force-selling, pushing unsolicited subscriptions and showing misleading ads. Mint explains how these guidelines may change online shopping.