Mint Kolkata
Who is liable for unsafe food sold by e-comm firms?
Karnataka’s food safety regulator earlier this week ordered the suspension of the food licences of major e-commerce platforms after officials found highly toxic datura fruits and seeds being listed and sold online as food products. Mint explains the...
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CRAFT IN A NEW AGE
For Raghavendra Rathore, Indian craft does not need rescuing—it needs opportunity. He makes the case for design, partnerships and new markets that can make traditional skills relevant while keeping regional identities.
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Sugar prices are rising. Is ethanol the sole reason?
Retail sugar prices have surged unusually fast, rising from ₹49 per kg a month ago to ₹65 on 26 August. Prices are about 41% higher than a year ago. The spike comes ahead of the festive season. Is it a result of lower production or diversion of sugar...
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Will new H-1B rules reshape IT firms’ strategy?
The US has sharply raised costs and scrutiny for H-1B and L-1 visas, which will impact Indian IT and consulting firms. This will force companies to ramp up offshore delivery models and rethink global talent strategies. decodes A $103,265 fee has...
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Don’t Just Follow Culture. Understand It
Culture isn't just what's trending. It's the ideas changing how we live. The conversations shaping what we watch, read, wear, eat, create and care about. Every Saturday, HT Brunch goes beyond what's new to explore what's next—and why it matters....
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Can India crack the smartphone brand game?
India’s IT ministry, which formally notified its ₹62,500-crore Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme (MPMS) on 21 August, has proposed to offer incentives to build a homegrown smartphone brand. Is a major homegrown phone feasible in the country today?...
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Why SC is pushing for front-of-pack junk food labels
On 13 August, the Supreme Court slammed India’s food regulator for delaying front-of-pack labels on junk food and asked the Centre to take a final call in a fortnight. Mint explains why the order matters for tackling childhood obesity and rising rates...
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THE PATHOS OF PARTITION
Gurvinder Singh’s feature films have been long-form dissections of the political turmoil Punjab has been subjected to. In ‘Rehmat’, he traces its turbulent past and its enduring capacity for compassion through three stories.
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How RBI’s draft loan rules could impact fintechs
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently floated two draft rules that could change how fintech firms offer small loans. One sets a common loan-pricing framework, while the other would restrict lending of nonbanking financial companies (NBFCs) to term...
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Sebi’s settlement revamp: what is likely to change?
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has proposed a revamp of its settlement framework to make the process simpler for entities. It has suggested changes to how settlement amounts are calculated and interest on disgorgement is charged....
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Air India’s flight takes a plunge: what happened?
The Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi on 4 August suddenly lost altitude, injuring 20 passengers and four crew members. What caused the incident is unclear—pilot error or a mechanical failure, or both. looks at the issue closely based on the...
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Can India sustain its consumption revival in Q2?
Retail consumer sector had a mixed growth in April-June. While the period saw unprecedented raw material price hikes amid West Asia war, GST cuts managed to boost consumption. Mint explains how retailers fared in the quarter and what the next quarter...
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Fortune favours the informed.
Take a step back, and get a second opinion from
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How does India fare on conservation efforts?
4 There are no global benchmarks on how much a country must spend on the conservation of monuments and other heritage. Latest Unesco data show, countries in Europe and North America spend the most on protecting their cultural and natural heritage, at...
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Why the Centre is against states taxing minerals
On Monday, the Union government introduced a Bill in Parliament that seeks to bar states from taxing minerals. If passed, the law will provide a welcome relief to the mining sector. Mint explains how minerals have been historically taxed and the...
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Will price hikes reduce festive season cheer?
Global chip shortages, costlier imports due to a weaker rupee and a shift in demand towards artificial intelligence (AI) chips are making consumer electronics, including laptops and smartphones, more expensive. The situation is unlikely to improve soon...
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How will new RBI measures change loan recovery?
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 6 August announced its final loan recovery guidelines. The measures, aimed at preventing harassment in the pursuit of defaulters, will take effect from January 2027, three months later than the original deadline. Mint...
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Zee’s copyright cases raise red flags for brands
Zee Entertainment has sued Blinkit and Nykaa, alleging the brands used copyrighted content in social media campaigns without permission. The cases may force marketers to review the line between cultural references and copyrights. Mint explains why it...
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THE QUIET RADICAL
As Reba Hore enters her centennial year, her artistic vision is receiving wider recognition. Rooted in everyday life, her works reveal a deep humanity, shaped by politics, love, solitude, and a lifelong commitment to art.
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Why food labels are under the FSSAI scanner
Recent FSSAI bans on Dabur’s misleading claims and select United Spirits products have triggered court challenges and sent Dabur’s shares tumbling. The food safety regulator’s intensifying crackdown is increasingly pulling major FMCG brands into legal...
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Inside India’s ₹84,000-crore offshore oil bet
The Union cabinet last week approved the ₹84,000-crore Samudra Manthan scheme for five-year offshore deepwater exploration. Aimed at reviving domestic output and cutting India’s nearly 90% crude import dependency, Mint unpacks the initiative. Why is...
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Tariffs in the dock
President Donald Trump’s Section 301 tariffs face internal resistance, with 25 Democratled states challenging them in the US Court of International Trade. The coalition has argued that these re-impose the same sweeping tariffs that earlier failed...
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Why the IBC ruling is a win for homebuyers
Promoters of insolvent real estate firms can no longer use the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) to fend off homebuyers’ legal action. The Supreme Court has ruled that the IBC moratorium protects only the company, not promoters or directors. Mint...
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Can India catch up in sodium-ion battery race?
China’s battery makers are commercializing economical sodium-ion batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) and battery energy storage systems (BESS). India backs it too, but commercial progress has been limited. What does China’s leap mean for India’s EV...
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PORTRAITS OF INDIA
Emily Eden’s portraits and lithographs, on view in Delhi, offer a female perspective on 19th-century India. The exhibition examines royal courts and everyday communities, serving as a visual record shaped by her travel.
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Smarter steels for people and planet
For two decades, we’ve grown by pushing steel further – safer, smarter, more sustainable. Grounded in quality. Driven by innovation and our people. Building the infrastructure, industries and icons of modern life.
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India’s monsoon challenges are far from over
The monsoon has made up ground in July. However, intense rain has also led to massive loss of life and property. Besides, a strengthening El Niño in the Pacific Ocean, forecast to be the strongest in history, means India’s weather troubles are not over...
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Why Sebi wants to revamp online dispute redressal
The markets regulator wants to speed up investor grievance redressal by shifting the administration of conciliation and arbitration from private online dispute resolution (ODR) institutions to exchanges, depositories and other market infrastructure...
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Can technology fix India’s paper leak problem?
Even as the Centre steps up efforts to stop paper leaks—from a Nandan Nilekani-led reform panel to stricter laws and heftier fines—attention has turned to technology. Can encrypted digital delivery, biometric authentication or AI surveillance secure...
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Can drugmakers weather Trump’s generics tariff?
Trump’s proposed phased tariffs on generic drugs aim to reshore manufacturing, but the plan faces scepticism over its viability. If implemented, Indian drugmakers face huge losses. Mint unpacks the stakes, the market’s importance, and mitigation...
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MYTHS ABOUT MASCULINITY
As powerful men obsess over testosterone levels or what “real” masculinity entails, women and fandoms celebrate male beauty in all its varied forms—with joy, admiration and no desire to police anyone.
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Why the green H2 journey may be a long one
Earlier this month, India joined Japan, Germany, the US and China as it flagged off a hydrogen-powered train between Jind and Sonipat in Haryana. This comes three years after the ₹20,000-crore National Green Hydrogen Mission’s launch. Mint examines the...
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Can India mop up $50 bn via NRI deposit scheme?
Banks have raised over $17 billion since the RBI’s 5 June special drive for foreign currency non-resident (bank) [FCNR (B)] deposits, fuelling hopes of eclipsing 2013’s ‘taper tantrum’ haul. With the window open until 30 September, can India reach $50...
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Where does the rest of the industry stand?
Skyroot’s closest domestic rivals are Agnikul Cosmos, incubated at IIT-Madras, and state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. Both are developing lightweight rockets that can be made quickly and can launch small satellites, with HAL commercializing the small...
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What the new CAFE norms may mean for India
The government unveiled the latest draft of the Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) 3 norms on 16 July, setting off a debate over the stringent emission standards for auto firms. As carmakers scramble to meet the norms, Mint unpacks the details...
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Why are they entering an asset-heavy biz?
Generative AI is disrupting the asset-light software business model. As AI automates parts of coding and maintenance, IT services firms can’t just rely on headcount to drive growth. TCS, for instance, sees as many AI agents as humans in three years....
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STIRRING UP THE HOT CHOCOLATE
Unlike coffee, which is largely for grown-ups, everyone loves hot chocolate. New cacao cafés have turned bean-to-bar chocolate into a craft beverage, adding new flavours and even spices to tap into nostalgia while creating something new.
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How Semicon 2.0 helps fulfil India’s chip ambitions
With a ₹1.27 trillion outlay for Semicon 2.0, the Centre is shifting focus from attracting chip factories to building a complete semiconductor ecosystem—from design and research to equipment, materials and gases central to the chip industry. Will that...
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Why we need an index to measure services output
On Tuesday, India filled a long-standing gap in its economic data with the trial launch of the Index of Services Production (ISP), a highfrequency indicator that will track activity in the country’s services sector, which accounts for more than half of...
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How Aera wants to change airport passenger fees
Airports recover the costs of building new infrastructure from flyers and airlines even before the project is complete. India’s airport tariff regulator, the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (Aera), wants to change this practice. breaks...
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Why the generic weight-loss drug surge is fading
After an initial surge, sales of semaglutide generics have begun to plateau, showed monthly sales data. Experts expect growth to moderate through the rest of the year, tempering several drugmakers’ expansion plans. Mint explains what’s behind the...
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Why is the ethanol fuel push sparking consumer fury?
The Centre has defended its ethanol blending programme just as discussions gain momentum to push the blend beyond 20%. The defence comes as consumers express renewed anxieties over potential damages and costs of higher ethanol mixing. Mint examines the...
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HOW INDIA FAILS FOOTBALL
Sunil Chhetri’s extraordinary career mirrors the paradox of Indian football: a nation overflowing with passion for the game, yet held back by weak grassroots sports, poor governance, and decades of administrative neglect.
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Why the fuss over India’s high power Wi-Fi plan
Behind our Wi-Fi are invisible radio waves carrying internet signals. India has opened the 6GHz spectrum for licence-free Wi-Fi. Should it now allow high-power Wi-Fi in the band? Telcos see a broadband boost from it in the remote areas. So, what’s at...
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Why delivering fashion instantly hasn’t worked
While the promise of delivering trendy fashion in under an hour has attracted investors, turning that into a sustainable business has proved to be far more difficult. Is quick fashion facing structural challenges, or is the category simply too early in...
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Why India is doubling down on regional air
Jodhpur’s new Rajputana-style airport terminal went viral after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated it on Saturday. But the event also saw the formal launch of UDAN’s next phase—the ₹28,840-crore Viksit UDAN. Why expand a scheme with a mixed...
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Tractor dumping puts India-China trade ties to test
The Indian government has launched an investigation into the alleged dumping of electric tractors from China. Mint explains why the probe matters—and why it could become a broader test of India-China business ties, with implications beyond electric...
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How no-egg meal shortchanges India’s children
What’s happening in West Bengal? The new BJP-led state government announced on 22 June that Iskcon, a Hindu religious organization, will provide “nutritious” meals to children attending government schools in Kolkata. Iskcon does not serve...
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FASHION IS A FEELING
From actor and musician to luxury creative director, Jaden Smith discusses his evolving career, his vision for Christian Louboutin menswear, embracing criticism, and designing shoes that inspire confidence.
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Why Indian IT is betting big on European assets
Recent acquisitions by Indian IT services companies signal a shift from their earlier reluctance to buy European assets to viewing the region as a key growth market. Several factors are driving this growing appetite for Europe. Mint takes a look. Why...
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Why are hybrid vehicles losing policy support?
The Delhi government’s decision to exclude hybrid vehicles from tax benefits in its electric vehicle (EV) policy is part of a growing national trend. This policy shift follows an industry debate over whether hybrid technology deserves government...
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Why Zerodha wants to be a merchant banker
Broking platform Zerodha wants to add another business to its growing financial services portfolio: investment banking. Can a discount broker carve out a niche in a business dominated by established investment banks? Mint explains. Are merchant...
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Why is India’s satellite internet policy in limbo?
India’s commercial satellite broadband service rollout remains stuck nearly four years after Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb got the first licence in 2022 and then Jio-SES and Starlink got theirs. The regulator’s spectrum norms also came a year ago. So,...
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Why is quantum computing the new global race?
Quantum computing was long seen as a technology stuck in the future with unstable qubits and high error rates. Leaps by Google, Microsoft, IBM, etc. now challenge the view and governments see it as a strategic capability with economic and security...
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SUGARCANE TIGERS
THINK WORD OF MOUTH What food cults say about us FOCUS Is the next wave of men’s tennis here already? BOOKS ‘Khabar Lahariya’ tells its own story
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Data centres and water: Is there a way out for India?
India is racing to become a global AI data centre hub, offering tax breaks to attract vast investments. However, these facilities consume vast amounts of water for cooling, raising concerns in water-stressed states. Can India strike a balance? Mint...
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Will cyberattacks hurt Tata Group’s global ambitions?
After a 2025 ransomware attack on Jaguar Land Rover that cost an estimated £260 million, Tata Electronics, another Tata Group company, has faced a cyberattack. Mint explains the latest attack, and what such developments could mean for Tata’s global...
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What US waiver on Iran oil sales means for India
The US has waived sanctions on Iran’s petroleum sales for 60 days as talks continue on a final peace deal, a move seen boosting global energy supplies. Given Iran’s proximity to India and its importance to major buyers such as China, Mint assesses what...
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Monsoon is tardy. So, how bad is it going to get?
The south-west monsoon has seen an unusually sluggish start. Its India journey started with a three-day lag in Kerala, only to further drag. In this El Niño year, over 450 districts have seen deficient rains. Why this delay, how unusual is it and what...
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What Telegram ruling means for digital platforms
The Delhi High Court’s ruling upholding the Centre’s temporary ban on Telegram has put India’s digital platform regulation framework under the spotlight. Experts say the ruling raises concerns about the scope of executive powers. Mint explains: 4Why...
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THE CREATOR TAKEOVER
The breakout success of horror films like Backrooms and Obsession at the box office signals a shift in Hollywood, as a new generation of YouTube creators brings digitalnative storytelling instincts to the big screen.
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Why is SpaceX valued so highly?
Founded in March 2002 by Elon Musk, SpaceX is one of a kind in terms of the technology that it indigenously developed and owns and operates today. The tech in question is that of a reusable rocket. The technology has reduced the cost of launching...
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Big Tech seeks to sell cheaper AI. Can India benefit?
Big Tech is spending billions of dollars to lower the cost of training and running AI models. For these giants, controlling all parts of the AI ecosystem gives them a significant cost advantage. Can this help them sell AI at scale globally? Where does...
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India’s big WPI reset
A shortfall in rainfall so far this monsoon threatens to push up already-hot prices in India. Inflation based on the wholesale price index (WPI) rose to 9.7% in May. This reading is from an updated index that replaces 2011-12 with 2022-23 as its base...
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What a strong El Niño may have in store for India?
Forecasters have confirmed the arrival of El Niño, the warming of the equatorial Pacific that is known to disrupt weather patterns worldwide. This year’s El Niño is expected to be among the strongest in decades and could persist into early 2027. Mint...
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What US curbs on Anthropic’s AI mean for India
On Friday, the US asked Anthropic to deny access to foreign nationals to its powerful new AI models. Stakeholders in India are alarmed. Some believe India is missing the bus on foundational models, with others underlining the criticality of sovereign...
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SATRAPI’S SWAY OVER INDIA
From chronicling revolution through a child’s eyes to reimagining the grammar of comics, Marjane Satrapi, who died last week, influenced a generation of comics creators and graphic novelists in India and the world.
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Why are central banks starting to raise rates again?
On Thursday, the European Central Bank (ECB) raised benchmark interest rates, joining a number of central banks tightening their monetary policies. Mint explains how this shift will impact India’s economy, markets, and borrowing costs. How have global...
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Flex-fuel vehicles hit the road, but it’s a long journey
The launch of a flex-fuel Maruti Suzuki car and a Hero MotoCorp motorcycle has sparked intense debate over these vehicles’ near-term prospects. Alongside the inauguration of first E85 fuel pump in New Delhi, it marks India’s most aggressive flex-fuel...
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India’s big local solar cell push: what it means
India’s push for a solar manufacturing ecosystem entered a new phase this month. Large, government projects must now use locally-made solar cells. While the move is seen boosting manufacturing, it may also influence costs, project timelines and power...
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MEET THE NO-SHOPPERS
As no-buy challenges and mindful shopping catch on, a section of people is slowly but steadily reassessing not just what they purchase but why they buy in the first place. Their purchases are shaped less by trends and more by intentionality.
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Art of the tariff spin
The United States Trade Representative (USTR) has proposed a 12.5% tariff on 54 countries, including India, for allegedly lacking mechanisms to stop the import of goods made with forced labour. Though it has invited public comments, that sounds like a...
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Why is obesity on the rise in India?
Public health experts cite rapidly changing lifestyles and urbanization as key reasons—less physical activity and more of ultraprocessed food, sugar, refined carbohydrates and fat. An ICMR survey linked rapid dietary changes with an alarming rise in...
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How companies are using workers to train robots
Companies are now recording workers going about their tasks to train humanoid robots that might later replace them. The row over Pronto filming workers at customer homes flags concern over surveillance, consent and whether India’s laws are prepared....
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