sustainable transport for greener future

Electric vehicles: Amended standards to weigh on output, sales

The amendments to AIS156 norms come at a time when electric vehicles makers are struggling to meet the surging demand. Read more »
single-use plastics

Plastic pollution: An international treaty soon to tackle the menace

A global agreement to end plastic pollution will be finalised by the end of 2024 which will put forward international standards for monitoring production to ensure that plastics are recyclable and chemically... Read more »
china, zero covid policy, chinese economy in big trouble

Zero Covid policy: Chinese rollback too little too late

The relaxation of China’s zero Covid policy is expected to boost the global economy, but may fall short in the face a sharp decline in consumer demand. Read more »
tobacco harm reduction products

Harm reduction can boost govt’s tobacco control efforts

As its tobacco control efforts have failed to help smokers quit, the best option for the government is assistance with cessation using harm reduction products. Read more »
Fertiliser, one nation one fertilizer policy. gm crops

GM crops: India must embrace future, but after allaying fears

GM crops are often seedless which could make the already-indebted farmers dependent on profiteering corporates. Read more »
India's sustainability quest

UN report seeks doubling of fund flows for climate change mitigation by 2025

Without sufficient finance, the world will fail to achieve its climate change mitigation, biodiversity and land degradation neutrality targets, says a UNEP report. Read more »
gold demand in india, gold smuggling

Govt must choose between gold smuggling and imports

The industry says rollback of import duty hike may bring down gold smuggling, but the proposal may not find takers in the finance ministry which would like to keep imports low to... Read more »
RBI hikes repo rate

RBI raises repo rate by 35 bps, may have another hike before pressing pause button

After announcing the repo rate hike, the RBI governor hints that the war on inflation is far from over with core inflation remains sticky and food inflation stays exposed to global factors. Read more »
Digital India Act

Big brother watching: Proposed Digital India Act will cut both ways on privacy matters

The proposed Digital India Act can model itself on European Union’s Digital Services Act which requires the governments’ takedown orders to be proportionate, reasoned and can be challenged. Read more »
global economy facing recession

RBI MPC meet: Market braces for a moderate interest rate hike

The RBI panel is unlikely to go in for another aggressive interest rate hike that could hurt growth at a time when the global economy is staring at a recession. Read more »