Mint Delhi
Why smartphone firms want to guard their source codes
As India moves to tighten mobile phone security, reports that it may seek forcible access to smartphone makers’ source code for official scrutiny have stirred unease, even as the government has denied proposing any such mandate. Mint decodifies the...
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Why copper will heat up AC prices in the summer
The price of copper, crucial for wiring, coils and cables, has surged nearly 60% over a year, pushing up costs for appliances—including air conditioners—electric vehicles and power infrastructure companies. Several industries are feeling the pinch. Why...
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Why Trump is backing a tough oil sanctions bill
The Russia sanctions bill, which authorizes the US president to impose a punitive 500% import duty on countries that buy oil from Russia, has gained fresh momentum after Donald Trump signalled his support for the legislation. Mint examines what the...
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REREADINGS What chefs want to cook with this year
Winnie the Pooh can teach adults a lesson or two in humility
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INDIA'S HOTTEST RETAIL DESTINATION
4 Level Air-conditioned Retail Vibrant High-street | Jewellery Street | Gaming Zone Food Court | Fine Dining | Mediterranean Cuisine
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Why Indian firms often challenge drug patents
Natco’s revocation patent suit against Novo Nordisk intensifies the battle between domestic generic giants and global innovators over affordability. As we look ahead at another year of high-stakes battles, Mint unpacks the legal landscape and who wins...
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Can gig workers form traditional unions in India?
Gig workers’ unions organised a strike on New Years’ Eve demanding better working conditions. Zomato’s founder Deepinder Goyal said that the strike failed because gig work was valuable. But how do Indian labour laws treat gig workers and their unions?...
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Why Elon Musk’s Grok made the IT ministry fret
Ministry of electronics and information technology (Meity) ordered Elon Musk’s X to remove sexually explicit Grok-generated AI images in 72 hours, mentioning regulatory tension on AI safety, public safety, and platform accountability. Here’s what...
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ART BEYOND SOUTH MUMBAI
Mumbai Gallery Weekend 2026, which opens on 8 January, is stepping out of South Mumbai and discovering new locations, giving audiences across the city a chance to be part of the conversation on contemporary art.
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Bitcoin blues
On the first day of 2026, Bitcoin was trading at around $87,600 in early hours, down roughly 6% over the year and more than 30% from its October peak. The irony of this slide in “digital gold” is that the real thing, gold itself, has gained about 63%...
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HOW HOPEFUL IS THE WORLD FOR 2026?
Emerging economies show greater optimism for 2026, while sentiment in developed economies remains subdued, an Ipsos survey reveals. India ranks among the top six, with 85% of respondents showing optimism. Share (%) of respondents who agreed with the...
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Will next year be a turning point for AI in India?
In 2025, a dozen government-backed startups began building foundational artificial intelligence models, with one raising more than $100 million in funding. Data centres saw a massive boom as Big Tech swooped in. Mint examines what lies ahead for AI in...
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Give peace a chance
February will mark four years of the Russia-Ukraine war, but there’s a glimmer of hope that a peace deal will prevent a fifth year of hostility. High-level talks are underway. Kyiv wants Ukraine’s sovereignty backed by the West’s military as well as a...
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Why are countries offering visas to digital nomads?
Last week, Bulgaria joined a growing list of nations offering digital nomad residence permits, underscoring how remote work is being integrated into immigration policy. The pandemic-era experiment has gone mainstream. breaks down how it works: Who is...
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A SPORTS YEAR IN A PICTURE
Rohit Brijnath goes beyond the byline to celebrate the planning that goes into sports photography. With their masterful perspective and split-second genius, photographers turn moments of athletic chaos into art.
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What airline NOCs signal for Indian aviation
Civil aviation minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu tweeted that three proposed airlines—Shankh Air, Al Hind Air and FlyExpress— have received no-objection certificates (NOCs). Mint explains what the government’s NOC actually signifies. 4Is this the end...
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Has homebuying become more affordable now?
Buying a home has become more affordable, as financing costs fall and incomes rise. As per property advisory Knight Frank India’s latest Affordability Index, Ahmedabad is the most affordable housing market, followed by Pune and Kolkata. Mint explains...
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How govt’s tariff reset could lower CNG, PNG prices
Millions of CNG and domestic PNG users could pay less for gas as the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) simplifies transportation tariffs under “One Nation, One Grid, One Tariff ”. looks at what the change means for users and city gas...
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Decoding asset tokenization and why it matters
Asset tokenization has come under policy spotlight after lawmaker Raghav Chadha last week called for a dedicated law to govern it. As global markets experiment with putting assets such as stocks, gold and real estate on blockchains, Mint explains how...
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Why India’s trade deal with Oman is significant
The bilateral trade between the two nations is just $10 billion. Yet, the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) that India signed with Oman last week during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the Gulf nation is important. Why is it...
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THE SPORTING HIGHS OF 2025
The year in sports has been full of ups and downs. Football and hockey have been underwhelming, but it’s been excitement all the way in archery, badminton, tennis and of course, women’s cricket.
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Why MGNREGA is being replaced by a new scheme
The Lok Sabha passed the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025 Thursday, proposing a sweeping overhaul of India’s two-decade-old rural jobs scheme. The bill is now in the Rajya Sabha for discussion and passage....
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Rupee at record lows: What could arrest the slide?
The Indian rupee continued to languish near record lows against the US dollar on Wednesday, touching an intraday low of 91.06, before recovering after a likely Reserve Bank of India (RBI) intervention that helped it to close at 90.37. It has lost over...
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How India aims to rewrite rules for higher education
The Centre is preparing a sweeping reset of India’s higher education regulatory structure through the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025, which aims to replace the current regulator-centric model. As a parliamentary panel vets the bill, Mint...
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Will water, power trip data centre growth in India?
In 2025, up to $70 billion has been pledged to develop 6 gigawatts (GW) of data centre capacity in India. While this could power India’s AI ambitions, experts warn that limited freshwater supplies and the need for uninterrupted energy may hurt the...
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Preparing students for tomorrow’s opportunities.
For 80 years, we’ve backed India’s youth. That’s why we work with and other organisations to support over 1,00,000 students in building lasting careers. Together, we’re helping create opportunities that transform lives and strengthen communities across...
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Manu S. Pillai on English’s complicated history
There’s a ‘baithak’ at your favourite designer store
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Hostility premium
A hostile bid for a company may sound ominous, but it’s usually a scare only for its management. So too in the case of US-based film studio Paramount’s offer this week to buy all of Warner Brothers Discovery (WBD) for $108 billion in cash. It was made...
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What to expect from India’s customs reforms
Businesses have flagged the need for a simpler customs duty regime. The US tariffs have amplified the need for a review. The finance minister has called it the next “clean-up” after the income tax and goods and services tax reforms. Mint explains what...
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How a decade-old case blew up into the IndiGo chaos
IndiGo’s week-long chaos over hundreds of flight cancellations have triggered regulatory heat. But the meltdown didn’t come out of the blue. It is rooted in a long legal battle over pilots’ work hours, fatigue rules and a contempt case. Mint brings the...
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Preparing students for tomorrow’s opportunities.
For 80 years, we’ve backed India’s youth. That’s why we work with and other organisations to support over 1,00,000 students in building lasting careers. Together, we’re helping create opportunities that transform lives and strengthen communities across...
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AT HOME WITH MONSTERS
From his earliest films to the new version of ‘Frankenstein’, Mexican director Guillermo del Toro’s work has featured memorable screen monsters. They are often far more humanised than del Toro’s human villains
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How did IndiGo fly into severe turbulence?
IndiGo, India’s largest carrier, faces one of its most severe disruptions, as hundreds of flights have been cancelled since Tuesday. It blamed crew shortages, new duty-time rules, technical breakdowns, and congestion. But why has IndiGo been hit the...
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Sanchar Saathi: The flip-flop over a tracking app
India’s communications ministry on Wednesday rolled back its move to make Sanchar Saathi, a lost phone tracking app, mandatory for all mobile devices. The move came after pushback over concerns of surveillance even as the government said it will curb...
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Can clawbacks, bonuses help cos retain IIT talent?
Deferred bonuses, joining incentives, and clawbacks are embedded in the high compensation offered at the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), reflecting a competitive job market and concerns over attrition. Can these measures help companies hold on...
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Are the animal spirits back in the economy?
Multiple sets of economic data have been released in the past few days and this includes gross domestic product (GDP) growth numbers, the state of fiscal deficit and more. Are the animal spirits back? Mint looks at the data to interpret the state of...
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Is Big Tech’s AGI fixation inflating the AI bubble?
Big Tech is pouring billions into artificial intelligence (AI) in the belief that some form of artificial general intelligence (AGI) or artificial superintelligence (ASI) could emerge by the end of the decade. But critics warn this may be further...
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THE DHARAMS WE LOVE
There are so many Dharmendras to love and value, both on and off screen. He had an immense aura but wore it casually, donned many roles and inhabited them all with authenticity. Our tribute to the versatile actor.
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Why Apple is fighting the fines India’s imposing
Apple has challenged a 2023 amendment to the Competition Act in Delhi High Court. This law allows the competition regulator to impose fines based on a firm’s global turnover, and may lead to a $38 billion fine for Apple. The case is a test for...
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Why computers are selling like hot cakes again
Sales of laptops, desktops and tablets had a bad time in India after a pandemic boom. But, since 2024 they are doing brisk business again. Personal computer shipments reached a record high of 4.9 million units in Q2, IDC said. What caused the...
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Retail frenzy propels NSE deliveries to all-time high
Cash delivery volumes on India’s largest stock exchange surged more than 50% to a record in the current fiscal year, driven by unprecedented retail flows. Market experts predict the trend will only accelerate as more household savings flood into Indian...
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How new labour codes impact your gratuity, PF
The new labour codes have overhauled how wages, gratuity, provident fund (PF), pension and other social security benefits are calculated. These changes impact employees and employers alike. Mint explains who benefits and what happens to take-home...
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What’s in India’s first rulebook to govern AI?
The ministry of electronics and information technology introduced India’s first comprehensive artificial intelligence governance guidelines last week. Mint decodes India’s approach to AI governance and what it means for the industry. What do the...
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What’s behind Sebi caution on ‘digital gold’?
While the yellow metal has emerged as among the top performing asset classes of the year, Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has again cautioned investors against dealing in ‘digital gold’ being offered on various platforms. Mint takes a...
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BACK TO LIFE
GRIEVING IS A PRIVATE PROCESS, BUT IT’S ALSO A BOOMING BUSINESS. WE EXPLORE HOW AI IS RESURRECTING THE DEAD TO SOOTHE THE LIVING, THE RISE OF GRIEF RETREATS, AND THE RULES OF GRIEVING ONLINE
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Do generational smoking bans really work?
The Maldives has become the first country to enforce a generational smoking ban—barring those born on or after 1 January 2007 from buying, selling, or using tobacco in any form. This applies to tourists too. Elsewhere, such bans met with little...
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Why exporters hit by US tariffs need urgent help
At a macro level merchandise exports are holding despite the stinging 50% tariff imposed by the US, India’s largest trading partner. But a look at the numbers reveal concerns which could worsen in the absence of an immediate support package for...
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What did Kerala declare on 1 Nov?
That day, which also happened to be Kerala formation day, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan declared the state free from extreme poverty. In other words, no households in the state lacked basic necessities of life. The government attributed this success...
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Clogged green power pipeline to get mega clean-up
The Union power ministry has flagged off a major clean-up of India's massive green energy pipeline, ordering state-owned power procurers to scrap awarded renewable energy contracts where critical agreements have stalled. The ministry has asked Solar...
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A $5 tn milestone that reignites the AI bubble debate
Nvidia, which defines the AI boom, has become world’s first firm with a $5 trillion market cap. Its valuation is seen at $8-10 trillion by 2030. Yet, with rising doubts over GenAI profitability and Big Tech’s cash burn, we explore if the surge marks...
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THE YEAR OF BENICIO
Benicio Del Toro has been a stellar, unpredictable actor for decades. He’s in the spotlight this year for his turns in Paul Thomas Anderson’s ‘One Battle After Another’ and Wes Anderson’s ‘The Phoenician Scheme’.
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Prime Minister SHRI NARENDRA MODI
will offer floral tributes to the Iron Man of India and address the Nation in his remembrance On this Ekta Diwas, let us participate in large numbers in the ‘Run for Unity‘ being organized in our district and strengthen the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat,...
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Why Sebi’s new plan has irked mutual funds
The market regulator has suggested capping brokerage and transaction costs that mutual funds can charge investors. Fund houses are unhappy and their shares fell as much as 8% on Wednesday. breaks down what this means for mutual funds and retail...
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Why IPOs are turning founders into promoters
IPO-bound Lenskart’s Peyush Bansal says he and other co-founders have been named promoters to ensure “skin is in the game much longer”. Urban Co., Ather and Bluestone had done so. What does the promoter tag mean, and what is driving this change? Mint...
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Steady economy
Going by recent indicators, India’s economy seems to be in good shape, with growth high and inflation low. But the global environment is volatile and should some disruptive shock arise externally, India’s growth could be affected. The finance...
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Optimize subsidies
Will India’s attempt to regulate AI really curb creators? Creators say India’s attempt to curb AI-manipulated content does not offer enough nuance. The draft asks any platform creating and distributing AI content to mandatorily use watermarks and...
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COMEDY’S GREAT TYRANT Sholay
Asrani, who made cinematic tyranny hilarious as the jailor, defined a comic era. His relatable everyman characters in a variety of films, helmed by a galaxy of directors, set the standard for Bollywood comedy.
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A $50-bn puzzle: How to sell more smartphones
Eight retailers’ estimates show a 15% rise in India’s smartphone sales this festive season, the month before Diwali that sees over a third of yearly sales. Yet, analysts say 2025 volumes will remain below the 2021 peak in India, once world’s...
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What triggered the latest spat?
The response depends on whom you ask. The US blames China’s new export controls on rare earth minerals, imposed on 9 October. US President Donald Trump has called the move an “extremely hostile” action and threatened to impose an additional duty of...
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How AWS-style cloud crashes can hamper AI march
The global outage of Amazon Web Services (AWS) that knocked thousands of websites and apps is a warning for firms rapidly scaling for the artificial intelligence (AI) era, and have moved huge workloads to the cloud. Mint explains why they can’t afford...
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Do green crackers really cause less air pollution?
Diwali firecrackers spark a debate every year due to rising air pollution, especially in the Delhi-National Capital Region. The Supreme Court has this year conditionally allowed ‘green crackers’. But are these a genuine solution or mere ‘greenwashing’?...
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SLASHER FILMS, ITALIAN STYLE
Giallo, a strain of slasher films that emerged in 1960s Italy, have a cult following, loved for their hyper-stylised visuals and almost fetishised violence. If you’re just getting into giallo, we suggest films to keep you hooked
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When AI turns adult: Ethics of erotic chatbots
Elon Musk’s Grok introduced a goth anime adult bot called Ani in July. Sam Altman now plans to allow erotic content for verified adult ChatGPT users in a bid to “treat adults like adults.” Is monetization of AI intimacy a sensible plan? Why is OpenAI...
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Why are Big Tech’s AI data centres crucial for India?
After Microsoft and Amazon, Google has now announced plans to invest $15 billion in setting up its artificial intelligence (AI) data centre infrastructure in Andhra Pradesh’s port city of Visakhapatnam. explains what this means for India’s broader...
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Why were sugar exports not so sweet this year?
In January, the central government allowed sugar exports totalling 1 million tonnes for the 2024-25 season (October-September). However, their shipments fell short of the allotted quota. What went wrong? Mint explains. Why did the mills fail to use up...
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Why tariffs have not crippled the global economy
In April, after US President Donald Trump unveiled the ‘liberation day’ tariffs, global trade was expected to collapse, pushing the world economy into a recession. Six months on, these fears have proved to be unfounded. Mint explains why Trump’s...
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What the govt’s capex growth does not reveal
The government’s capital expenditure has surged sharply in the first five months (April-August) of FY26. It has already spent nearly 39% of the annual outlay of ₹11.2 trillion, a 43% year-on-year jump. But a closer look at the numbers tells a more...
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MAPPING THE PAST, AND HISTORY
Deepti Anand and Sanghamitra Chatterjee’s large-format new book, India Through Iconic Maps, rekindles the magic of the days of yore by reproducing rare and priceless cartographic documents, sourced from public archives and private collections
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Will Navi Mumbai’s real estate market finally take off?
Navi Mumbai’s real estate market never matched Mumbai’s stature. The Navi Mumbai International Airport may change that. Developers are buying land for residential projects. Office market may take longer to grow, but the area is emerging as a data...
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Why India is nudging farmers to grow pulses
The government launched a ₹11,440 crore pulses mission earlier this month to achieve self-sufficiency. Imports soared to a record $5.5 billion in FY25. India is the world’s largest producer and consumer of pulses. But how did farmers lose interest in...
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How CCI plans to watch AI use by companies
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) on Monday proposed a self-audit for companies to keep track of how they use artificial intelligence (AI) and the data they train AI models on. Implementing such a practice comes with multiple caveats. Mint...
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Binge in Japan
Japan’s Nikkei-225 index leapt to a record high on Monday in cheerful reception of Sanae Takaichi’s election as its ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s leader. She will be Japan’s first woman prime minister and investors seem quite thrilled that she’s...
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