Mint Primer

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.

India Inc is busy plotting the performance of its workforce across different metrics. The appraisal season this year also coincides with some stringent cost-cutting, particularly if you work in an export-oriented industry. Mint's Devina Sengupta explains what to expect in that letter. This episode is being hosted by Prasid Banerjee.

NITI Aayog’s governing council summit will see the Prime Minister and chief ministers discuss a plan for India to become a developed nation by 2047, the 100th year of Independence. What opportunities and challenges should this blueprint factor in? Mint's Tauseef Shahidi explains. This episode is being hosted by Prasid Banerjee.

Increased imports of cheap palm oil have helped cool consumer prices. But farmers have run into losses with home-grown mustard selling at below the minimum support price. It’s a tightrope walk for the government, as Sayantan Bera explains. This episode is being hosted by Prasid Banerjee.

Artificial sweeteners have emerged as the go-to substitute for Indians who want to indulge their sweet tooth in a ‘healthy’ way. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) last week cautioned against freely replacing sugar with non-sugar substitutes. Mint's Nandita Venkatesan explains This episode is being hosted by Prasid Banerjee.

The government has brought credit cards under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) from 1 July. Even a dollar of foreign spending will attract a 20% tax — a departure from the current 5% tax on spending of over ₹7 lakh (credit cards excluded). Mint's Neil Borate explains in this episode. This episode is being hosted by Prasid Banerjee.

With temperatures soaring, demand for electricity is set to peak in the next few weeks. Things should be under control as India has added significant capacity to its power production. But outages are common in many parts of the country. Where is the disconnect? Mint's Sumant Banerji explains in this episode. This episode is being hosted by Prasid Banerjee.

India’s goods exports fell 12.7% to $34.66 billion in April, the steepest slide in three years. This persistent decline has major implications for India’s growth story and, by extension, for job creation. Mint's Ravi Dutta Mishra and Gireesh Chandra Prasad explain how businesses could deal with this problem going ahead.

Once an innovative instant messaging service, WhatsApp today offers businesses one of the most effective ways to reach users. But, like text messages and calls, expansion has come with spam and scams. What’s happening to Whatsapp? How can we stay safe? Mint's Prasid Banerjee explains in this episode.

On 1 May, treasury secretary Janet Yellen sent a letter to the US Congress saying that on 1 June the government is likely to run out of money. With the government currently breaching its debt ceiling, the situation has become parlous. Mint explains what’s happening. This episode is being hosted by Prasid Banerjee.

With government purchase of wheat falling short of target, consumers may continue to bear the brunt of high cereal prices in the coming months. A looming El Nino can further pinch pockets if monsoon rains turn out to be lower than normal. Mint explores. This episode is being hosted by Prasid Banerjee.

PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel wants his body cryogenically frozen after death and revived in the future—one of thousands who have pledged their bodies. How advanced is our technology, and what are the implications of bringing the dead back to life? Leslie D'Monte explains This episode is being hosted by Prasid Banerjee.