Mint Ahmedabad
As US AI giants boom, a reality check for India
While AI leaders Anthropic and OpenAI are said to eye IPOs at $1 trillion valuation each, the scene in India has been subdued since its muchtouted February AI Impact Summit. Most local AI firms are yet to make much headway, and enterprises are still...
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Why more fuel price hikes are round the corner
Over the week, petrol and diesel prices have been hiked by nearly ₹4 per litre. With crude still at over $100 a barrel and no end in sight to the West Asia war, some analysts say fuel prices must go ₹11-14 higher to cover retailer losses. Mint breaks...
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India’s chip drive: how close are we to self-reliance?
India’s semiconductor push gathered pace this month with Tata Electronics signing a pact with Dutch major ASML and two new projects announced in Gujarat. With nearly a dozen initiatives now underway, how close is India to becoming self-reliant in...
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Why excess solar is pushing power prices to zero
Power prices on exchanges have slumped to zero in multiple trading sessions, despite an expected surge in summer electricity demand, underscoring the growing mismatch between rising solar generation without adequate storage capacity. Mint explains. Do...
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THINK Slow looking can improve your quality of life What handwritten recipes say about us
Save the bees to save yourself
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Why India ordered an abrupt ban on exports of sugar
India has banned exports of raw, white and refined sugar till 30 September, in a sharp shift from the earlier “restricted” export regime to a “prohibited” category. The immediate trigger is the worry over domestic availability and inflation. Mint...
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Why the PM wants households to use less cooking oil
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged Indians to reduce the use of imported oils, both crude and edible, to help conserve foreign exchange amid a widening current account deficit and a weakening rupee. But what does the West Asia war have to do with...
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Why ride-hailing platforms are facing GST review
Ride-hailing app firms following the subscription model—where drivers pay a fixed fee instead of the app charging a commission on each ride— do not pay GST and are pushing for the status quo to continue. The GST Council is set to review the GST law....
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Should India act on China’s supply chain regulation?
In April, the Chinese government issued Decree 834, which imposed curbs on multinational companies operating in the country. examines what this decree is all about, its motivation, its implications for India, and what the government should do to...
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Trump-Xi Beijing summit: what is on the table?
US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping will hold a two-day summit in Beijing on 14-15 May. The meeting comes at a time when the world is riven by wars and trade disruptions. looks at the possible outcomes and implications for India...
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STYLE BUSINESS LOUNGE Meet Gaurav Banerjee of Sony Pictures
Walking in Prada’s Kolhapuri-inspired chappals
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Can India really put data centres in earth’s orbit?
Four Indian startups have joined Elon Musk in claiming they can build AI data centres in space. But despite the hype, the technology remains highly complex, capital-intensive, and tough. Mint explains why orbiting satellites running AI workloads could...
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Why are music labels tuning into regional libraries?
Music labels, grappling with slow paid subscriptions and revenue, are eyeing regional music catalogues. Times Music, Warner Music and Saregama have acquired regional catalogues recently. Such moves benefit established players and regional firms. Mint...
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Fast lane cruising
Data released on Tuesday by the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations in India shows that automobile retail sales rose 13% from a year earlier to over 2.6 million units in April, the best-ever performance for this month. The growth was...
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What the ethanol push means for carmakers, buyers
The Centre has moved to formally include higher ethanol blends— E85 and E100—under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules through a draft amendment, open to public comments till 28 May. The move signals a renewed push to increase ethanol blending in the fuel...
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Why India rolled out emergency alerts on phones
On Saturday, millions of phones across India simultaneously blared a loud alert. India was testing a multilingual broadcast system developed by Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) for emergency warnings. Why is India rolling out this system?...
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‘BENNE DOSA’ RISING benne
From a small-town staple to a social media sensation, dosa is drawing the crowds— the buttery dosa with crisp edges is made for the camera. What began as a trend in Mumbai is now playing out across cities.
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Musk vs Altman: what it means for OpenAI’s future
A public feud between Elon Musk and Sam Altman is playing out in court. Musk calls OpenAI a “stolen charity”, challenging its shift from a non-profit research lab to a commercial AI firm. The case may reshape how OpenAI is funded and operates. Mint...
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Why is AI wonder Mythos making regulators edgy?
Anthropic’s Mythos, a frontier artificial intelligence (AI) model, can outperform humans in detecting vulnerabilities across banks, telcos and utilities. While it can check flaws faster and better than humans, there are concerns over its use as a...
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Industrial resilience
With West Asia embroiled in conflict, global growth is set to take a hit as supply disruptions impact economies around the world. India can’t escape, given our heavy reliance on crude oil shipped through the Strait of Hormuz that is currently under...
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Can West Asia tensions quicken the green shift?
Renewables overtook coal in the global power mix in 2025, a report by think tank Ember showed. In India, though, coal still accounts for over 70% of electricity. Can the clean energy transition accelerate amid the West Asia war and falling battery...
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How does India’s policy panel on AI affect startups?
The government has set up an inter-ministerial advisory body, the AI Governance and Economic Group, to act as a central node for shaping and coordinating policy on artificial intelligence. Mint breaks down how this new body will change things for...
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MAPPING LIGHT AND PLACE Luminous
Paresh Maity’s Terrains looks at diverse landscapes across regions, where light becomes a medium to express the external world and the artist’s personal understanding of place.
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How long will the momentum in steel prices last?
After steel prices hit multi-year lows in November 2025, India’s steel makers are set to post a strong March quarter, thanks to firm demand and higher prices. Will this momentum continue in the coming months? breaks down why the rally could slip from...
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What you should know about RBI’s e-mandate rules
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has tightened and consolidated rules for e-mandates—automated instructions that allow recurring payments—to improve transaction processing by payment system operators. Mint explains what has changed and why it...
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Apple CEO shift: A hardware bet in the age of AI
Apple has named John Ternus as its next CEO, succeeding Tim Cook. The timing of the transition and choice of a hardware leader comes as AI reshapes Big Tech. The move signals Apple’s bet that tightly integrated devices will remain central to its...
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How sub-normal rains may affect reservoir levels
Low rainfall may hit India’s water reservoir replenishment, raising concerns among farmers and policymakers. Water reservoir levels stand at 44.7% of total capacity as of 9 April, better than last year, but experts warn that weak rainfall could hurt...
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Why oil prices haven’t cooled despite a truce
Hostilities in West Asia may have eased, but oil prices remain above the pre-war levels. Though prices have stayed below $100 a barrel since the ceasefire, conflicting signals from the US and Iran are keeping markets volatile. Mint looks at the...
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SPACES WHERE ART IS BORN
A new book, Portrait of an Artist, takes readers into the studios of 68 artists, including Akbar Padamsee and Tyeb Mehta, and shows the messy, meditative, creative and emotional spaces in which their ideas take shape.
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China’s new year
China’s economy got off to a solid start in 2026, with its GDP growing 5% in the first quarter, according to official data released on Thursday. This exceeded the expectations of economists and struck the topend of the 4.5-5% growth aim set by Beijing...
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Weather and war: Indian farming faces twin storms
With a parched monsoon forecast and a fertilizer supply chain hit by the West Asia war, Indian agriculture is caught between two raging storms. Mint examines whether the El Niño threat and tightening urea imports will drive a spike in food prices or...
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Will Noida unrest drive automation in Indian plants?
The unrest in Uttar Pradesh’s Noida, with workers demanding higher wages, could accelerate automation. For manufacturers eyeing global markets, the challenge is to strike a balance between labour needs and automation to remain competitive. Mint...
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Climate pledges rise at India Inc, execution falters
Though more Indian firms are setting climate goals, the progress is uneven. A report by IiAS Sustainability Solutions (IiAS Sustain) shows while target-setting is increasing, many firms fall short on execution, timelines and credibility. Mint takes a...
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Why the frenzy around SpaceX’s mega IPO plan
SpaceX, among the world’s most valuable private firms, may finally be listing. Reports say the Elon Musk-led company could raise about $75 billion at a $2 trillion valuation–the largest IPO ever. It’s a mix of ambition and investor pull across hot...
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SCHIAPARELLI’S LASTING FLAIR Lounge
speaks to Sonnet Stanfill, the curator of a sweeping exhibition at London’s V&A that explores Elsa Schiaparelli’s legacy, tracing her bold designs and enduring influence on fashion through innovation.
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Can AI find bugs we can’t? Inside Anthropic’s latest
On Tuesday, Anthropic unveiled Project Glasswing, a group of top global tech firms. It will use AI to spot cybersecurity risks that human engineers find tough. Amid lack of cybersecurity skills and rising cyberattacks, this could be pivotal. Mint...
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Why does India’s nuclear reactor milestone matter?
India moved closer to nuclear fuel self-reliance as its prototype fast breeder reactor in Tamil Nadu achieved criticality on 6 April, the stage of sustained nuclear reaction. This could help India achieve its target of 100GW nuclear capacity by 2047....
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Now, a new covid strain. Should that worry us?
The covid-19 virus continues to mutate. A new strain, BA.3.2, has now surfaced in many countries. Early reports show high spike-protein mutations that could help it enter human cells. Global experts urge for caution but no panic. Should you be...
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No escape from war
Effects of the global disruptions resulting from America and Israel’s war on Iran have started to show on India’s economy. On Monday, the final HSBC India services purchasing managers’ index (PMI), compiled by S&P Global, showed a fall to 57.5 in March...
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India eyes space surveillance. What could play spoiler?
Amid the raging West Asia war, Indian space firms are seeing keen interest for surveillance services in the region. This signals big potential, but the journey seems complicated, as local and global regulations may pose challenges. Mint spells out the...
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JAMES BOND GOES BROWN
The search for the next Bond is good fodder for comedy and in Bait, Riz Ahmed plays an actor auditioning for the role. Highlighting biases, the show asks if 007 is even relevant in a post-Cold War world.
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Food delivery in 10 mins: Can Swish crack the code?
Swish, a snack and fresh food delivery platform, raised $38 million recently. Food delivery majors Swiggy and Zomato both scaled back their bets on 10-minute food delivery after struggling to make the economics work. So what is Swish doing differently?...
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Why weight loss has set off a drug price war in India
Novo Nordisk slashed prices of Ozempic and Wegovy by up to 48% on Tuesday, after losing patent exclusivity in India. Local copycats are sparking a price war, making semaglutide accessible, yet raising concerns about misuse. Mint decodes the impact on...
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Can RBI’s new rules stop digital payment fraud?
From 1 April, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will require all digital payments to be authenticated using at least two independent factors. The move aims to plug gaps in systems that rely on a single layer of verification. Will this help curb digital...
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Can the West Asia war destabilize India’s internet?
The war in West Asia has raised concerns about the safety of subsea cables. A large part of India’s data travels through these cables. If hit, the networks can still function, but companies may need to reroute data to alternative routes. Mint finds...
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Iran war boosts ethanol pitch. But at what cost?
India’s ethanol makers are pushing for a hike in the fuel blending ratio and a mandate for flex-fuel vehicles following the spike in crude oil prices due to the West Asia war. For petrol, India already has a norm of 20% blending with ethanol made from...
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DATING THE LIVING PAST
Riding Mumbai Metro’s Aqua line is a trip through the city’s history, proving that heritage is made meaningful only by its links to today. Yet, policymakers routinely define heritage only by age and not by how people use spaces.
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Will US ruling on social media hit Big Tech in India?
A US court has delivered a significant ruling on Big Tech’s design playbook, finding that Meta Platforms and Google built features that foster addiction among young users. With India weighing age-based curbs, the ruling could hasten a broader reset....
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AI constitutions: where is India’s seat at the table?
AI firms like OpenAI and Anthropic’s ‘do no harm’ pledges are faltering as the West Asia war pulls tools into army use. This gap in corporate ethics and war reality sparks a query: do voluntary rules hold weight, and why is India Inc. avoiding the...
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What’s changed in Sebi’s new rules on conflict?
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) on Monday tightened conflict-of-interest rules, bringing its top leadership under a stricter disclosure and investment regime amid heightened scrutiny of governance standards. Mint explains the new...
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Why India stares at an LNG squeeze, and what it can do
India imports 50% of its liquefied natural gas needs from West Asia, mostly from Qatar. With the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on Ras Laffan industrial city, much of India’s imports are halted. Mint takes a look at the impact on the...
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Can IBM reboot its AI play with Confluent buy?
IBM’s second-largest acquisition ever, the $11 billion buyout of data streaming company Confluent, is seen boosting its AI and hybrid cloud capabilities. It now bets on faster, more reliable data pipelines. But can this help reassert the Big Blue’s AI...
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WAR THROUGH WOMEN’S EYES
Nalini Malani’s transforms a warehouse in Venice into an immersive animation chamber, layering myth, memory, and feminist critique through drawings, soundscapes and shifting projections on violence and history.
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How long can India hold off a fuel price hike?
Crude oil prices have surged well past $100 a barrel, increasing by about $45 per barrel after the US and Israel attacked Iran on 28 February. While several countries have increased prices, India has not. How long can the government avoid an increase?...
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What is making Nvidia rework its success strategy?
Nvidia, the world’s most valuable company, launched two new chips on Monday. Chief Jensen Huang said it was changing strategy: after three years of training artificial intelligence, its new chips will now be optimized to run AI. Does this make any...
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Why Instagram’s end to encryption raises concerns
Meta will discontinue end-to-end encrypted direct messages on Instagram from 8 May, less than three years after its launch. The rollback comes at a time when encrypted messaging is facing growing scrutiny from governments concerned about crime and...
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Why definition of ‘industry’ is now under SC review
The Supreme Court on 14 March set up a nine-judge Constitution Bench, led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, to revisit the 48-yearold definition of “industry”. The interpretation will determine which organisations and employees fall under labour...
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Will Indians still invest in Dubai’s realty sector?
Indians and people of Indian origin have been significant contributors to the Dubai real estate market in the last two years. The escalating tension and conflict in West Asia have impacted Dubai too. Will the emirate’s real estate market still draw...
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ROCKING THE BALLOT
Whether it’s Nepal’s rapper Balen, punk provocateur Jello Biafra or activist Bobi Wine, musicians have long flirted with politics—seriously or satirically—turning celebrity and dissent into electoral experiments.
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How significant is the easing of Press Note 3?
Six years after putting restrictions on investment by firms domiciled in countries that share a land border with India, the government relaxed the norms on Tuesday. Mint looks at the significance of this move. Will it lead to a surge in foreign direct...
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Is govt’s order to divert gas open to legal challenge?
The West Asia war has sparked a crunch in gas supply. The Centre has set out gas use priorities in an order, which also discourages firms receiving pooled gas from legally challenging its decision. Mint explains the order, and whether courts can still...
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Why eateries are raising the alarm over LPG supply
The restaurant industry has raised concerns after a government order prioritizing cooking gas for household use triggered confusion over the availability of commercial cylinders used by eateries. Mint explains what the order says and how the industry...
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Claude@war: Is AI reshaping the face of conflict?
Anthropic’s Claude has reportedly sharpened strikes by the US military in the West Asia war, raising conversations around AI turning into killing machines and going against pledges by Big Tech. Is this an inflection point for AI policy worldwide? Mint...
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War: Odds and ends
Global prediction markets have evoked much interest after the Iran war broke out. On Polymarket, a platform for stablecoin bets on various outcomes, “Will the Iranian regime fall by June 30?” was offering users a ‘Yes’ token for 34 US cents and a ‘No’...
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GORILLAZ’S INDIAN ODYSSEY
Born from personal loss and an immersive journey across India, The Mountain is Gorillaz’s new album. Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett discuss blending electro-hop with Indian sounds to explore memory and rebirth.
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What the Iran war means for Street and your stocks
With the Strait of Hormuz blockade threatening energy supplies and squeezing margins for oil and chemical firms, investors are caught between gold’s safe-haven appeal and rising macroeconomic headwinds. Mint explains what the war in West Asia and the...
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Can Iran sustain a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz?
Iran has ‘closed’ the Strait of Hormuz, causing oil and gas prices to spike. But how long can Iran realistically block this critical passageway, which connects the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea and carries a fifth of global oil, gas and fertilizer...
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The undesirable climate cost of your AI queries
India has positioned itself as a global hub for artificial intelligence (AI) and digital infrastructure. As the country accelerates the expansion of AI-focussed data centres, policymakers and utilities face a key question: Will this strain electricity...
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A fresh start: New trade deals, new opportunities amid global turbulence, changing capital flows and private capex
New trade agreements, changing global capital flows, and strong public capex commitments could mark a decisive moment for India’s next growth phase. This roundtable will examine whether policy momentum and improved market access are translating...
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A DECADE OF RELAXED LUXURY
Celebrating a decade of casual elegance, Nicobar founders Simran Lal and Raul Rai discuss their ₹200crore journey, the shift toward comfortable silhouettes, and their bold new venture into minimalist wedding wear.
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WhatsApp case: Indian users win control over data
On 23 February, WhatsApp told the Supreme Court it would give users greater control over their data, ending a years-long battle with India’s competition watchdog over its controversial 2021 privacy policy update. Here’s why Meta Platforms backed down,...
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The AI onslaught is on. Are India’s IT giants ready?
On Tuesday, Nasscom projected flat growth for India’s IT sector, a day after Jefferies cut target prices for the country’s Big Four IT firms, reflecting concerns over how the sector is preparing to navigate the onslaught of artificial intelligence. Is...
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Fill in the details
Given India’s extended fight against terrorism, why a policy document on countering it took so long is hard to fathom. With Prahaar, though—an acronym that lays out India’s approach on the menace—we now have a clearly laid out policy. It advocates...
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Record reserves
Typically, India’s foreign exchange reserves fall as capital inflows and the rupee weaken, with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) expending dollars in support of the Indian currency. So, it was something of a surprise when they hit a record high of more...
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Behind consumer durable makers‘ quarter to forget
Makers of air-conditioners, fans and refrigerators had expected a major boost from the GST cuts, but policy and external factors played spoilsport in the December quarter. Bluestar MD B. Thiagarajan termed it a quarter to forget. Mint explains what...
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STITCHING TALES OF PROTEST
Disobedient Objects at Delhi’s STIR Art Gallery reimagines fashion as sociopolitical art, spotlighting invisibilised labour, upcycling, and material protest through evocative, research-led textile installations and sculptural garments.
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