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The arrogance of Pawar, the baron-politician...

Ajit Pawar is only emblematic of a class of unaccountable political czars who, with their business friends, control capital accumulation with an arrogance and ruthlessness that has convinced them that they are above the law.

Bitcoin bubble may have burst, but virtual money will rule

As faith in fiat currency diminishes, the Internet is sure to offer greater access to a growing number of currencies in one form or another that are beyond national control.

How Indo-US 'energy trade' can strengthen strategic ties

The US is set to overtake Saudi Arabia as the world's largest oil producer by 2020. And energy-hungry India is turning to America to secure its needs. It has all the makings of a win-win relationship.

It's too soon to celebrate a 'turnaround' in the economy

While it is true that a cyclical recovery is on the horizon, it is folly to read too much into it - and avoid the painful but necessary structural reforms that have been put off for too long.

What have we done, Maggie what have we done?

In her death even Margaret Thatcher became a part of the market triumphalism that she helped unleash.

Thatcher to Modi: Steering the economic discourse to the right

Our national discourse on economics, which has always been weighted in favour of the far left, needs a corrective balancing force. Modi's address at the ThinkIndia forum on Monday was the first step in that journey.

Rahul Gandhi and the seductive appeal of 'feel-good economics'

The economic philosophy that Rahul Gandhi outlined represents an unwillingness or incapacity to learn from the fact that these are ideas that have consistently failed in the past.

CII speech: What India wants to hear from Rahul Gandhi today

When he addresses the CII today, Rahul Gandhi should find his voice, outline his economic vision for India - and convince us that he is every bit worthy of the Big Stage that he has been offered.

Not guns, but butter: What India needs to stand tall

Only when stomachs are full can the mind turn to thoughts of shaping a "strategic culture".

How Robert Vadra made a killing in the Rajasthan sun

The PM's solar mission and Rajasthan's benign land policy allowed Robert Vadra to make a killing on hundreds of acres of land near power sub-stations

All about survival: Fare war implies Kingfisher will never fly again

Why has Jet Airways launched a fare war after working diligently to push up yields by cutting capacity and even sacrificing market share over the last one year?

From Bofors to Agusta: How can defence deals be kept clean?

Down the years, despite one corruption scandal after another, we've learnt nothing about making the arms procurement process transparent and corruption-free.

2G tape expose: A brazen case of the fence eating the crop

The shocking revelation about the 2G scam prosecutor working to sabotage the case is the perverse result of a mechanism built into the system to allow interference into the prosecutorial process - either by politicians or others.

With Food Security Bill, UPA signals it is election-ready

The food security provision has enormous redemptive power for a government that is tottering on the brink of collapse and has a pretty dismal record of governance and corruption to defend as it gears up for early elections.

Nitish Kumar's 'special status' roar reflects poverty of ideas

Nitish Kumar's approach is based not on promotion of the legitimate demand for States' rights and fiscal autonomy, but is premised on perpetuating the 'benevolent' Centre model of top-down financial flow as the reward for offering political patronage.

Wall Street sees record-high close, spurred by 'Uncle Ben'

Part of the rebound from the March 2009 lows is based on market fundamentals, but a big chunk is courtesy of the Federal Reserve and its chief Ben Bernanke.

Budget 2013: How Chidambaram 'wasted' the crisis

Chidambaram had a chance to burnish his credentials as a reformist-minded Finance Minister. He has instead opted uncharacteristically to tiptoe around the edges, and rely on questionable arithmetic to claim that he is advancing fiscal consolidation.

Budget 2013: Why investors aren't buying FM's 'balancing act'

Foreign investors are disappointed by the lack of dynamism in Budget 2013, and are worried that the assumptions underlying key macroeconomic projections may not be realised.

Union budget 2013: Chidu woos Nitish and boos Modi

Displaying sharp political acumen, the finance minister wooed Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar eloquently.

Budget Analysis: Chidu has just used the bikini formula on you

The finance minister P Chidambaram, has managed to use the bikini formula on the fiscal deficit number of the budget. Fiscal deficit is the difference between what a government earns and what it spends.

Why Union Budget 2013 could be Chidambaram's easiest

There is a time for dour defence, and there is a time to go over the top. A place in history awaits Chidambaram.

Economic Survey: Raghuram Rajan reads the riot act to UPA

The pre-budget Economic Survey is refreshingly straightforward in asking the government to fix the problems within to revive growth

Bansal has bamboozled us with 'reform' talk in Rail Budget

Bansal has been given a free pass on his gravy train, with commentators buying too readily into his 'reforms' rhetoric even though he hasn't quite walked the talk.

Analysis: Bansal's Railway budget falls between 2 stools

Rail Budget 2013 is clearly not populist, but it is not good enough to put the railways back on the track to sustainable growth

Mining, pension, banking reform is prerequisite for market to move up

Domestic reforms will not only determine the pace of foreign glows but are also crucial for markets to move higher next year.

Brand Gujarat now gets a life beyond Brand Modi

The ongoing Vibrant Gujarat summit is not like previous one - excess hype about investments. It tells a different, and more enduring story.

Rail fare hike: Grin and bear it; do not call Mamatadi

The steps the government has taken now and those in the offing should make the Reserve Bank of India happy, which will result in a rate cut this month or at least in March.