Mint Primer

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) is automating its compliance system with artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) tools. But decisions such as serving notices on companies will be left to (human) officials to make.

The Chungthang dam in Sikkim, the source for a hydropower plant, collapsed last week, killing 30 people. Recently, other states have also witnessed catastrophes involving large dams leading to floods and landslides. Just how safe are these mega-projects? Mint explains.

The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI’s) monetary policy committee (MPC) is set to deliver its decision on the policy repo rate today, with the market expecting a status quo despite the surge in prices amid a hardening of bond yields. A pause, nevertheless, would be a challenge.

A malaria vaccine developed by Oxford University and Serum Institute of India (SII) has been recommended for large-scale use by the World Health Organization (WHO). The R21/Matrix-M—only the second malaria jab—has shown up to 75% efficacy.

Andhra Pradesh’s new Guaranteed Pension System (GPS) is a hybrid of the old and new pension schemes. It offers the best of both worlds—a guaranteed pension without burdening the state significantly. Mint looks at its potential to salvage India’s hard-fought pension reforms.

The European Union’s (EU’s) carbon tax—the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)—came into effect on 1 October, causing a wedge between developing and developed countries. Interestingly, it is facing resistance from even within Europe. Tune in now for the breakdown

The latest tranche of sovereign gold bonds (SGBs) saw investors subscribing to a record number of units. Mint looks at the reasons for this high interest in SGBs, gold’s clout as a hedge against inflation and the outlook for the yellow metal.

The central government on Tuesday announced that it will borrow ₹6.55 trillion during the second half of the ongoing fiscal year, keeping its borrowing plans unchanged. Mint explains the relevance of this for the Indian economy.

In todays primer we take a look in the world of Gambling firms and the stance of the DGGI levying taxes on these firms in regards to a lot of under the table tax evasion and discrepancies, The gaming industry criticizes these claims, considering them disproportionate, and questions the legal basis for such retrospective claims, which were not recommended by the finance minister in the GST Council...

in today's primer we take a look at how recent data indicates a notable reduction in delays associated with the completion of real estate projects. This positive trend can be largely attributed to the pivotal role played by the implementation of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016, commonly known as RERA. Tune in now

Taxes on oil make up a chunk of government revenue. Surging interest in electric vehicles, however, puts this under threat. Distance tax is touted as one way to offset any loss in revenue. What is it, how effective will it be, and how does it work? Sumant Banerji explains the reasons behind it. This episode is being hosted by Alisha Sachdev.

In a surprise move, the government last week reintroduced licensing and ended free imports of IT hardware. Many reasons have been cited for this step. Mint explains the possible rationale and the potential impact of the measure going forward. This episode is being hosted by Alisha Sachdev.

After five years and multiple iterations, the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Bill was tabled in Parliament on Thursday. Featuring a number of changes from the 2022 draft, the bill is a mixed bag. Shouvik Das, Gulveen Aulakh gives you the top five takeaways. This episode is being hosted by Alisha Sachdev.

India’s foreign exchange reserves, which peaked at $642 billion in October 2021, declined for most part of last year. The trend reversed this year with forex reserves touching a 15-month high of $609 billion as of 14 July. Mint explains the reasons behind this rise.

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.