Will tax sops for middle class tip Delhi polls in favour of BJP?
Middle class is not a defined income category or a voting block. But it’s well represented in professional services & political parties. It can transmit its discontent to wider communities. Hence budget’s reachout
India will soon have the world’s 2nd largest metro network
The metro system has expanded rapidly since 2014 – from 248 km across 5 cities a decade ago to 1,000 km across 21 cities today
- Bhavika Jain
- TIMESOFINDIA.COM
How a Padma for ‘Sadhvi’ Ritambhara keeps saffron agenda alive
‘Sadhvi’ Ritambhara, the head of a girls’ school, has been awarded the Padma Bhushan ostensibly for her ‘social work’. But her real contribution lies in destroying India’s secular fabric
- Harinder Baweja
- TIMESOFINDIA.COM
The Budget followup: Announcements are good. But is money spent?
The buzz is great, but how much of the money announced for schemes is actually used?
- Chandrima Banerjee
- TIMESOFINDIA.COM
Why tax cut could turn out to be short-term gain, long-term pain
Short-term point: consumption’s economic multiplier effect lower than capex’s. Long-term point: smaller income taxpayer base means GST rates will remain high, social contract between elite and govt will weaken
Will faith ‘trump’ uncertainty? ‘Visa temples’ give hope to H1-B applicants
As US Prez policy shadow looms large on immigrants, several hopefuls make a beeline to shrines across India to keep their American Dream alive
Why raising tax exemption limit is good politics but bad economics
The government often speaks of the need to expand the tax base. But raising the tax exemption limit from ₹7 lakh to ₹12 lakh will contract the tax base substantially
- Swaminathan S Anklesaria Aiyar
- THE ECONOMIC TIMES
She had only so much to give, she gave it all to middle class. Now what?
Given the volatile environment globally, limitations in the fiscal space available to the central government can become a constraint on growth
Who gains, who loses as Sitharaman doles out ₹1 lakh cr in tax sops
The tax cuts mean an extra ₹1 lakh crore will be left in the hands of middle-class households. Here’s a look at which sectors stand to gain or lose from the Budget announcements
- Satviki SanjayRakesh Sharma
- Bloomberg
Govt puts more money in hands of middle class. Will they spend it?
As economic growth slowed, as middle classes’ spending power dimmed, unhappiness grew in the small but influential group. PM Modi would have picked up on this sense of anger, therefore, FM’s tax giveaways
- Team TOI
- TNN
Does your doctor get a cut when he refers you to a big hospital?
Despite curbs, hospitals find ways to give payouts for referrals. The patient is left footing the bill
- Rema Nagarajan
- TIMESOFINDIA.COM
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The Budget Followup: Which ministry spends the most … on itself?
The latest Budget documents show the government’s own establishment costs in 2024-25 are Rs 58,000 crore more than it had budgeted for
- Chandrima Banerjee
- TIMESOFINDIA.COM
Nirmala to India Inc: Invest more, we have done our bit
The Budget is realistic enough to highlight the challenges facing the Indian economy, but it does not offer the initiatives that an economic revival demands
The TOI+ Test: We asked DeepSeek, ChatGPT and Gemini some real questions
We got a little tired of everyone asking DeepSeek about Tiananmen Square. So, we gave it real questions real people would ask — and did the same with ChatGPT and Gemini. This is how it went
- Team TOI Plus
- TIMESOFINDIA.COM
What is DEI that Donald Trump wants to get rid of so desperately?
Since taking office on January 20, Trump has issued a series of executive orders aimed at dismantling DEI programmes, drawing criticism from civil rights activists.
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Up close and personal: Are the Gandhis unnerving the BJP?
Despite emphatic wins in Haryana and Maharashtra, the ruling party seems to have become unnerved by the entry of Priyanka Gandhi, who has made an instant impact in Parliament
- Harinder Baweja
- TIMESOFINDIA.COM
Why Indians Must Work Hard
No nation in economic transition has workers achieving work-life balance. The kerfuffles over working Sundays or 90-hour weeks are but outpourings of an elite minority
Why communal violence in India surged 84% in 2024
According to a report by the Centre for Study of Society and Secularism, Maharashtra recorded the highest number of riots, accounting for 12 out of the total 59 last year. The report highlights a disturbing rise in communal violence across India
- Team TOI Plus
- TIMESOFINDIA.COM
Did Hindenburg, Adani's bete noire, just to a 'Hindenburg on itself'?
In the high-profile clash between Hindenburg Research and the Adani Group, the latter is arguably the winner because the combination of financial clout and political power appeared too hard for Hindenburg to overcome
- Makarand R Paranjape
- TIMESOFINDIA.COM
Chasing the American dream via C-section
How far would you go to secure your child’s future? In this week's episode of Thirukural with the Times, we explore a story unfolding in the United States, where Indian parents-to-be are rushing to maternity clinics for early C-sections to beat the February 2025 deadline set by President Trump that ends birthright citizenship. But what were Thiruvalluvar's thoughts on parenthood? Let's find out
From LA To New Delhi, For A Breath Of Fresh Air
Former US ambassador to India recalls lessons from his hometown’s fight against pollution. Clean air for India’s capital city is possible, he writes. Indo-American collaboration can be a key input
Do Worry, Be Unhappy
Complaining is the stuff of democracy. Standards of living are up everywhere but citizens gripe because expectations have gone up faster
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It Was Here He First Became Just-Out Trudeau
It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly when Canadians soured on him. But his first trip to India, where he invited a convicted terrorist to his entourage, was a big turning point
US and China have a big common enemy now. And it’s not Russia
Richard Nixon’s trip to Beijing in 1972 helped normalise US-China relations. A similar visit by Donald Trump could stop the Ukraine war, defang Iran and put an end to global disorder
- Thomas L Friedman
- New York Times
Are the good times over for Indians seeking a better life abroad?
If you are dreaming of a cosy life abroad for your ward or looking to shift overseas yourself, exercise caution. The grass may no longer be greener on the other side
- Sanket Dhanorkar
- THE ECONOMIC TIMES
7 big questions about cancer, answered by health experts
Can pollution cause it? What about inflammation? And how do tumours spread? Here’s what scientists are learning about this complex disease
- Nina Agrawal
- New York Times
‘No subsidy, no exorbitant profits’: What two interviews tell us about DeepSeek’s founder
Fake profiles, wrong images — all of it is meant to fill in the demand-supply gap in information about DeepSeek founder Liang Wenfeng. But two interviews tell us more about him and his plans than the scraps about when he was born or the subject of his master’s thesis
- Team TOI Plus
- TIMESOFINDIA.COM
The lapses that led to a plane crash in one of the most tightly controlled airspaces in the world
Clues from the moments before the collision suggest breakdowns in the system meant to help aircraft land safely at the busy Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC, just 5km south of the White House
- New York Times
As Uttarakhand rolls out UCC, why are live-in couples calling it ‘intrusive’?
With Uniform Civil Code, BJP can now claim to have delivered on another component of its ‘core’ agenda after the construction of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, scrapping of Article 370 of the Constitution and the enactment of a law criminalising triple talaq
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532 flats, all unsafe: How this colony in Gurgaon became a lesson in how not to build homes
Nine towers of a Gurgaon housing society are set to be demolished around a decade after they were built. The reason for its demolition is a cautionary tale for all construction project
Can ‘blood money’ save Indian nurse from death sentence in Yemen?
Under Sharia law, the only way to stop the execution now is securing a pardon from the victim’s family. Nimisha Priya’s family and supporters have paid ‘diyah’, or blood money, to the victim’s family and negotiations are on
- Bhavika Jain
- TIMESOFINDIA.COM
India’s dining table is ditching fresh for processed. What survey says
India’s food habits are shifting dramatically, with households now spending more on processed foods than fresh staples. This surprising trend raises concerns about health, nutrition, and the nation’s evolving consumption patterns
Why Safiya and her dad want to give up Islam
This is why — Her brother, who suffers from Down Syndrome and is in her care, will get double her share in their father’s property. Her daughter, her only child, will only get half of hers and the rest will go to Safiya’s ailing brother. And, God forbid, if something happens to Safiya’s brother, all his wealth will be transferred to his father’s male relatives. Safiya wants her inheritance to be divided under the Indian Succession Act, but will she be allowed to do so?
DeepShocking The Don
China’s dramatic entry into generative AI space can upend the global tech order. Don’t be surprised if some big American companies take big hits. And Trump’s second term will have to deal with it
When Judges Play A Drawn Game, Everyone Loses
A rash of split verdicts recently is a reminder to the judiciary that two judge benches are potentially a cause of delayed justice, more so when we have to keep waiting for answers to important/sensitive questions
Why communal violence in India surged 84% in 2024
According to a report by the Centre for Study of Society and Secularism, Maharashtra recorded the highest number of riots, accounting for 12 out of the total 59 last year. The report highlights a disturbing rise in communal violence across India
- Team TOI Plus
- TIMESOFINDIA.COM
How Trump’s right-wing wokeism will make China great again
The country that has the smartest, cheapest and most efficient ecosystem of AI, EVs, smart batteries and abundant clean electricity will dominate the 21st century. But Trump’s crazy energy policies will end up helping China at the cost of the US
- Thomas L Friedman
- New York Times
Shakti Pumps’ stock scaled new highs last year. Is it still a good bet?
While analysts believe Shakti Pumps will continue to deliver on growth because of its diversified business model, institutional investors are still maintaining their distance, with just 5% holding. Can the stock become a value buy?
- Pravin Palande
- THE ECONOMIC TIMES
All Shades Of Kumbh
Faith propels crores to take the holy dip. Faith also grants India’s ordinary people immense patience, it can also explain away any tragedy
Some Capital Ideas For The Economy
Five areas GOI should explore to push private investment, from PLI for small firms to ways to increase disposable income via tax rationalisation
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