Episodios

  • Predictions for the Union Budget

    Predictions for the Union Budget
    Jul 17 2024
    Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Wednesday, July 17, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started:The Indian market's benchmark indices —Nifty and Sensex—inched up during Tuesday's trading. Sensex was up by 0.06 percent, while Nifty increased by 0.11 percent.Today, we're publishing a collection of pre-budget stories, ahead of the Union Budget set to be presented next week. I'd recommend you pick up a physical copy of Mint today to read this special edition.The lead story of our special pre-budget collection is penned by Montek Singh Ahluwalia, former deputy chairman of the Planning Commission. He predicts that all roads lead to the government's massive gamut of promises to be completed by 2047. First and foremost, NDA's third successive government is likely to want to boost GDP growth even further. A fiscal deficit of 5.1 percent is achievable, Ahluwalia writes. Lastly, an overhaul of the current Goods and Services tax should also take place to aid India's economic progress. Alhuwalia lists some other challenges the government would do well to achieve a superpower status in the next two decades.India's insurance companies, barring LIC, aren't exactly in the most strong positions. Three state-owned insurance companies, namely National Insurance, Oriental Insurance, and United India Insurance, need more money in case they need to settle a high amount of claims together. Subhash Narayan and Rhik Kundu report that the upcoming Union Budget might allocate anywhere between 4,000 to 5,000 crore rupees as a shot in the arm to these insurance companies. Subhash and Rhik report that the solvency numbers of these three insurers are much worse than they should be, and a one-time infusion of funds could help with either a public listing or privatisation.Notice that groceries have gotten expensive again? Official data shows that food inflation has shot up to 9.4 percent year-on-year, the highest in six months. Vegetables are dearer by 29 percent, pulses by 16 percent, and cereals by 8.8 percent. Sayantan Bera explains these numbers, and the reasons why your shopping carts have gotten more expensive yet again.Byju's has been dealing with a lot of financial struggles of late. Yesterday, the national company law tribunal, or N-C-L-T, admitted an insolvency petition. Interestingly, the petition was made by the Board of Control for Cricket in India — that's right, the management of the Indian cricket team. BCCI is suing Byju's for non-payment of dues. But the latest in this saga has dire consequences for Byju Raveendran and his team. They lose control of the startup, which will now be controlled by a resolution professional as appointed by the NCLT. Mansi Verma explains what this decision means for Byju's, its investors, and all those it has defaulted against.Financial influencers, or finfluencers, generally dole out advice to anyone willing to pay for their services. However, most of these finfluencers are unregulated — according to the Securities and Exchange Board of India, they aren't exactly qualified to advise you on your investments. But what about those who are qualified? Sashind Ningthoukhongjam writes about registered mutual fund distributors who are also doubling up as finfluencers. Sebi feels that registered entities should distance themselves from unregistered creators offering tall claims. Sashind explores this grey area by speaking to some industry experts on the matter.We'd love to hear your feedback on this podcast. Let us know by writing to us at feedback@livemint.com. You may send us feedback, tips or anything that you feel we should be covering from your vantage point in the world of business and finance. Show notes:How to pack the journey for 2047Mint Explainer: NCLT admits insolvency plea against Byju’s. Here’s what it means Fund infusion announcement for public sector general insurers likely in BudgetHidden in plain sight: New food inflation data Sebi is regulating influencers. What if they’re also MFDs?
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    5 m
  • Inside India’s stressed real estate projects

    Inside India’s stressed real estate projects
    Jul 16 2024
    Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Tuesday, July 16, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started:The Indian market's benchmark indices —Nifty and Sensex—inched up during Monday's trading session to settle at fresh closing highs. The Indian government is exploring an exciting proposal: getting public sector banks to take equity stakes in state-owned specialized infrastructure financiers. The spotlight is on the National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development. This plan is part of a broader effort to supercharge India's infrastructure development, which is already set for a massive investment boost. In fact, the 2024 interim budget has earmarked a hefty 11.1 trillion rupees for capital expenditures, a solid 11.1% jump from last year. Mint’s Mihir Mishra and Shayan Ghosh report on the plan that focuses on increasing the capital base of DFIs to 1 trillion rupees, utilizing contributions from banks with robust capital adequacy ratios.Macquarie Group, JSW Group, and Actis have thrown their hats in the ring to acquire Gurugram-based renewable energy platform O2 Power. The companies have even signed a non-disclosure agreement. Mint’s economy and policy reporter Utpal Bhaskar reports that the deal, managed by Barclays, is set to potentially value O2 Power at around 1 billion dollars in equity with an enterprise value of about 1.5 billion dollars. O2 Power, counts EQT and Temasek as major investments. The company is eyeing an ambitious expansion to reach a capacity of 5 gigawatts; it’s already close, with a current capacity of 4 gigawatts. The acquisition deal is poised to be a landmark in the renewable energy sector, reflecting growing interest in sustainable investments.Kota's coaching centres, once the epicentre for competitive exam preparation, are seeing a notable shift in their student base. With new branches opening in cities like Patna, New Delhi, and Latur, these centres are attracting local students who would have traditionally travelled to Kota. This shift is reshaping the coaching landscape, leading to reduced enrollments in Kota itself and impacting the city's once-thriving educational ecosystem. Mint’s Mansi Verma spoke to faculty members across various institutes, including Allen Career Institute. Representatives from Allen highlighted that while Kota is dealing with salary cuts due to fewer students, new centres in other cities are booming.Did you buy a flat in a stressed real estate project and are now waiting for the possession? Thousands in Delhi-NCR bought units in projects across the region around the turn of the last decade - only to find their investments stuck in limbo. While the Supreme Court intervened in 2019, asking state-owned construction corporation NBCC to take over the construction at Amrapali Group’s Noida projects, involving 38,000 units, the stressed project landscape otherwise looks very rocky. In 2023, the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) reported that about 412,000 residential units, valued at 4.08 trillion rupees, were affected by halted real estate projects across India. Over half of these, approximately 240,000 units, are located in the national capital region. Additionally, more than 100,000 units are in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, with significant numbers also reported in Pune, Bengaluru, and other major cities. In a detailed investigation of the troubled real estate market, Mint's Madhurima Nandy explores the protracted delays that have left many homebuyers waiting for years to receive possession of their homes.The government is considering a significant investment of 4.5 trillion rupees over the next five years to construct 23.5 million rural homes under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Gramin. The allocation targets 20 million new rural houses in addition to completing 3.5 million homes from the previous phase of the scheme. Mint’s Puja Das reports that the officials have outlined a phased approach, aiming to complete 4 million houses by the end of FY24, 8 million by FY26, and the remainder by FY29. The proposed funding of about 4.5 trillion rupees includes contributions from both the central and state governments, with the central government providing about 2.9 trillion rupees.We'd love to hear your feedback on this podcast. Let us know by writing to us at feedback@livemint.com. You may send us feedback, tips or anything that you feel we should be covering from your vantage point in the world of business and finance. Show notes:Govt wants its big banks to help their rival–the country’s youngest infra lenderMacquarie, JSW Group, Actis line up to buy O2 Power in $1-billion dealHow the cannibals came for Kota's coaching giantsBought a flat in a stressed real estate project? Here’s how long you've to waitUnion budget may approve ₹4.5 trillion for rural housing scheme
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    5 m
  • Implications of the attack on Trump

    Implications of the attack on Trump
    Jul 15 2024

    Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Monday, July 15, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started:


    US Presidents have had a long history of being targets of assassinations — Abraham Lincoln, John Kennedy, and Ronal Reagen, to name a few. Yesterday, former president Donald Trump joined this illustrious list after being shot at by a 20-year old. Trump survived, but the shooter did not, after the Secret Service found him. The attack could intensify political divisions and influence the upcoming US presidential election. Elizabeth Roche brings you the implications of the shot heard around the world.


    The new government is set to present its next union budget next week. If you're a little confused, the Budget presented a few months ago was a small one — meant to keep the government machinery chugging till the election results were announced. The next budget, also presented by Nirmala Sitharaman, is much-anticipated: some reports state that income tax rate cuts might be coming. This is expected to boost the economy. But with only 0.4 percent of the country paying 86 percent of the taxes, will this really stimulate any growth? Vivek Kaul answers this crucial question in a narrative format the way only he can.


    How much processed food do you consume? It's difficult to ascertain — nearly every packeted item might contain some additive. From beloved namkeen snacks to instant noodles, everything has some preservatives. Shuja Asrar and Niti Kiran take a deep dive into a government survey that outlines India's eating habits. While urban India has started to get more health conscious — think the different varieties of Maggi — rural India loves snacking on biscuits. The rise of junk food in the Indian diet has also worried experts, but that doesn't stop Indians from thronging to fast food joints.


    TCS investors might want to close their ears: the company's CEO said that hard times are just starting. Tata Consultancy Services shares are up 7 percent since they announced their Q1 results last week, but global conflicts and confusion about interest rate cuts might prove to be dampers moving forward. Demand for the IT company's services has remained muted — if you leave out a contract from state-owned BSNL, and TCS's numbers look much worse. Varun Sood got the chance to sit down with K. Krithivasan and have an in-depth and honest interview about the state of TCS, the IT sector at large, and the impact of AI on jobs in the IT sector.


    Some people like to cook when they want a break. But what happens when cooking is your job? This weekend's cover story on Mint Lounge explored just that. Avantika Bhuyan spoke to chefs from India's top kitchens about what they did when they took a break. Answers range from playing music to painting to long distance cycling. These activities help them unwind, but also gather inspiration for the next time they step into a kitchen.


    We'd love to hear your feedback on this podcast. Let us know by writing to us at feedback@livemint.com. You may send us feedback, tips or anything that you feel we should be covering from your vantage point in the world of business and finance.



    Show notes:


    Trump’s murder attempt: What it means for us


    A stormy night and a taxing conversation on the budget


    In charts and numbers: India’s junk food juggernaut rolls on


    TCS not out of the woods, sees no GenAI threat


    The secret lives of chefs
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    4 m
  • Is it time for you to leave Delhi?

    Is it time for you to leave Delhi?
    Jul 12 2024
    Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Friday, July 12, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Indian stock market benchmarks- the Sensex and the Nifty 50- closed flat on Thursday, as gains in shares of ITC, ONGC, Tata Motors and SBI were offset by losses in those of Mahindra and Mahindra, Bajaj Finance, Larsen and Toubro and HDFC Bank. Delhi's summer has been nothing short of extreme this year. With temperatures frequently soaring well beyond the usual, hitting near 50 degrees Celsius, the capital found itself grappling with intense heatwaves. The sweltering heat prompted a significant response, with public hospitals establishing special heat treatment wards and reported heat-related fatalities reaching 58 by mid-June. However, as June ended, the weather took a drastic turn. The city experienced its highest single-day rainfall in 88 years on the 28 June.This sudden deluge not only disrupted daily life but also resulted in significant infrastructure damage, including the collapse of a canopy at Delhi Airport which tragically resulted in a fatality. The first half of 2024 has indeed been challenging for the residents of Delhi and the surrounding National Capital Region, home to a combined population of over 70 million. And the outlook for the remainder of the year suggests no respite, with the meteorological department predicting an unusually wet monsoon, which could lead to further flooding. Looking ahead to the winter, the situation appears equally grim with the anticipated onset of Delhi's notorious smog, which annually contributes to a high number of respiratory-related illnesses and deaths. This persistent cycle of extreme weather conditions underlines the urgent need for comprehensive environmental and infrastructural strategies to mitigate these impacts. Delhi’s weather also begets the question - Is it time for you to leave Delhi? Mint’s Sayantan Bera examines in today’s Long Story. India’s largest software exporter Tata Consultancy Services has set a strong pace in the first quarterly earnings of FY25, outperforming its average growth rate over the past five years. TCS reported a quarterly revenue of $7.5 billion, a 1.9% increase from the previous quarter, surpassing expectations from analysts who had projected a revenue of $7.44 billion. A significant portion of this growth, however, is attributed to an unusual surge in its India operations, Mint’s IT correspondents Jas Bardia and Shouvik Das report. The push in revenue is primarily because of a $1.83-billion 4G network project from BSNL. This has raised questions about the organic nature of TCS's growth, as half of its $142 million sequential revenue increase was derived from this Indian deal, marking a deviation from its traditional revenue streams predominantly from the Americas, Europe, and UK. Despite these doubts, K Krithivasan, TCS’s CEO, asserts that the company's growth isn’t solely reliant on the BSNL project. He acknowledges the current volatile market conditions, which affect decision-making and client investments but remains cautiously optimistic about the broader growth beyond this single project.India is gearing up for an expansion of its aviation infrastructure by doubling the number of airports from the current 138 to 300 by the 100th year of independence in 2047. Mint’s aviation correspondent Anu Sharma resorts that the plan is outlined in a draft by the Airports Authority of India. This ambitious project aims to accommodate an eightfold increase in passenger traffic, potentially reaching 3-3.5 billion passengers annually by the target year. The initiative aligns with efforts to enhance connectivity to tier 2 and tier 3 cities through programs like UDAN, which aims to make air travel affordable and widespread, particularly in less served areas. Locations identified for potential new airports include Kota in Rajasthan, Parandur in Tamil Nadu, and Puri in Odisha, among others. The plan also proposes converting existing airstrips in places like Mandavi in Gujarat and Sultanpur in Uttar Pradesh into operational airports.The Agnipath scheme is under review for potential modifications to enhance its appeal. Introduced in June 2022, to recruit young individuals aged 17.5 to 21 years into the armed forces, the scheme has been pivotal in rejuvenating the youth profile of the armed forces. It also addresses the ballooning defence pension liabilities. Currently, the scheme recruits these young individuals for a four-year tenure, with a fourth of them being offered a chance to join the permanent cadre afterwards. As of now, the scheme is expected to continue with possible modifications either in the FY25 Budget or later to make it more attractive to potential recruits, Mint’s Gireesh Chandra Prasad reports. The financial implications of the scheme are significant, given that the defence pension allocation for FY25 is ...
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    7 m
  • How cricketers are minting money post-retirement

    How cricketers are minting money post-retirement
    Jul 11 2024
    Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Thursday, July 11, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Indian stock market indices ended the day around half a percent down each on Wednesday dragged by profit booking at higher levels.Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently wrapped up a two-day visit to Russia, a trip that stood out for the diplomatic delicacy amid ongoing global tensions due to the Ukraine conflict. Addressing President Vladimir Putin as a “friend,” Modi highlighted the longstanding ties between India and Russia. Yet, he didn't shy away from addressing tougher issues, including a recent Russian missile strike in Kyiv. The economic talks were particularly fruitful, with both leaders aiming to balance the currently skewed trade relationship, heavily dominated by India's purchase of Russian oil. They set an ambitious target to boost bilateral trade to $100 billion by 2030, up from a previous goal of $30 billion, which has already been surpassed. So what did the visit to Russia achieve for India diplomatically? Jindal Global University’s associate professor Elizabeth Roche explains in today’s Primer. Allen Career Institute, a major player in India's competitive exam coaching industry, has implemented significant salary cuts for its over 4,000 faculty and administrative staff. This decision follows a sharp 35-40% decline in student enrollments, signalling tough times for the coaching hub in Rajasthan’s Kota. Two years after a high-stakes battle to attract top faculty, the coaching giant is now facing severe financial strain, cutting salaries by 20-40 per cent. In a recent meeting led by CEO Nitin Kukreja, it was revealed that student admissions had plummeted from 131,000 last year to just 81,000 this year. The revised salary structure will now include a variable pay component. This move has sparked unrest among the staff, with around 600 teachers already voicing their discontent through a formal letter. Mint’s Devina Sengupta and Mansi Verma spoke to industry insiders who suggest this could be the start of a challenging period for Kota’s educational institutions.Several retired cricketers are discovering that their earning potential doesn't have to drop after hanging up their professional boots. Mint’s Varuni Khosla reports that thanks to leagues like Legends League Cricket, or LLC, these seasoned players are not only staying in the game but also scoring paychecks that often surpass what they made in their last IPL seasons. Take Gautam Gambhir, for instance. His last IPL paycheck was Rs 2.8 crore, but the LLC offered him a cool Rs 3.75 crore. Irfan Pathan saw a similar bump, going from Rs 50 lakh in the IPL to Rs 1.65 crore in the LLC. It’s not just them—players like Hashim Amla and Aaron Finch are also enjoying hefty salary boosts in these senior circuits. The LLC has become quite the attraction, now housing around 100 retired stars and still pulling in new faces. India is gearing up to introduce a new law aimed at ensuring fair transactions between Big Tech companies like Google and Meta and news publishers, drawing inspiration from similar initiatives in Australia and other countries. This move is part of a broader effort to make sure that tech giants pay for the news content they use on their platforms. The proposed legislation will complement the Digital Competition Bill, which is currently in its final stages of public consultation, sources familiar with the matter told Mint’s Gireesh Chandra Prasad. While the Digital Competition Bill focuses on establishing clear rules for Big Tech to promote fair competition, the new law under consideration will specifically address the dynamics between news aggregators and publishers. In less than five years, Quant Mutual Fund has rocketed up to the 18th position in India's mutual fund rankings under the leadership of Sandeep Tandon. The fund's assets under management (AUM) surged from just 166 crore rupees in December 2019 to an impressive 84,000 crore rupees by May 2024. However, the shine began to dim last month, reportedly, as SEBI officials raided Quant’s Mumbai and Hyderabad offices on suspicions of frontrunning. Frontrunning is an illegal practice similar to insider trading but in the mutual fund context. Quant Mutual Fund quickly confirmed receiving queries from SEBI, though specifics of the probe remained undisclosed. Tandon, maintaining a business-as-usual front, downplayed the disruptions. The story, however, isn’t just about the mutual fund. It also touches on Quant Capital, a separate entity set up a decade earlier, unrelated to the AMC but also linked to Tandon, who faced different challenges there. Mint’s Varun Sood takes a deep dive into rollercoaster ride of Sandeep Tandon as the head of the mutual fund, in today’s Long Story. We'd love to hear your feedback on this podcast. Let us know by writing to us at ...
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    6 m
  • Why Sony’s new head has a tough job ahead

    Why Sony’s new head has a tough job ahead
    Jul 10 2024
    Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Wednesday, July 10, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: India’s stock market benchmarks- the Nifty 50 and the Sensex - hit fresh highs on Tuesday despite mixed global cues. Both indices saw a rise of just under half a percentage point from their previous day’s close. India's journey towards electric mobility has hit a bit of a speed bump. After a promising start, sales of electric vehicles, or EVs, are beginning to stagnate, largely because subsidies were slashed earlier this year. This has shifted a lot of expectations onto the upcoming third phase of the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid and) Electric Vehicles—or FAME—scheme, which everyone is eyeing ahead of the budget announcement on July 23. The FAME scheme first rolled out in 2015 and has been a cornerstone of India’s push to get more electric and hybrid vehicles on the road. It saw a significant boost in 2019 with FAME II, which pumped in ₹10,000 crore to support the adoption of EVs across various segments, from buses to two-wheelers. The impact of these initiatives? Pretty impressive initially. From selling just under 2,400 units in FY2015, EV sales soared, breaking the 100,000 mark in FY19 and reaching a whopping 1.68 million units by FY24. So, what’s the buzz around FAME III? Mint’s Sumant Banerji explains in today’s Mint Primer. The industry is hoping it will not only bring back better subsidies for individual car buyers and two-wheelers but also expand support to include trucks. India's recent net surplus in its current account, at $5.7 billion for the first quarter of 2024, is quite the headline. But it's not just about more money coming in than going out; it's a story that calls for a deeper look. Typically, India runs a current account deficit because our massive investment needs outpace the collective savings of our households, businesses, and the government. In fact, barring the first pandemic year, this year's deficit, projected at $23 billion, or 0.7% of GDP, is on track to be the second-lowest in two decades. Now, you might think this sounds like great news, but here’s where it gets complex. The Reserve Bank of India pointed out an uptick in investments, particularly driven by higher government spending and a surge in the housing sector. With investments pegged at 33.7% of GDP, that's a big deal because it means we're saving at a rate of 33% to maintain a current account deficit of just 0.7%. When the savings rate climbs, it opens the door for more substantial investments without widening the current account deficit. Picture this: with a modest 2% deficit and a savings rate of 33%, we're looking at an investment rate of 35%. That translates to a whopping ₹6 trillion directed towards nation-building efforts. So, a deficit isn't necessarily a bad thing when it stems from strong savings and solid investment. Deepa Vasudevan from Mint’s data team explores why having a current account deficit is good for the economy. The national rural job guarantee scheme, a crucial lifeline for millions in rural India, isn't expected to receive increased funding in this year's Union budget, according to two officials. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) will likely see its budget allocations hold steady as per earlier estimates. The scheme provides a financial safety net to rural households. These funds could be adjusted later based on job demands and requirements in rural areas. The budget originally earmarked ₹60,000 crore for FY24 and projected ₹86,000 crore for FY25. However, actual spending for FY24 exceeded the estimates significantly, reaching more than one trillion rupees, underscoring a strong demand for rural employment. This increase reflects the ongoing challenges in rural consumption and stagnant growth in the FMCG sector, with many economists pointing out the disparities affecting rural markets compared to urban centres.For anyone who grew up in the 90s and mid 2000s, Aahat remains to be one of the most iconic shows from their childhood. The horror show, which used to air on Sony, was one of the pre-saas-bahu era gems of Indian TV. Sony - the home to to such popular shows is now facing a challenge. Sony runs a vast media empire in India, including 26 TV channels, the SonyLIV streaming platform, a movie distribution and production business, a music label, and a talent management vertical. Despite these extensive operations, Sony’s revenue growth has been sluggish, increasing just 2% to ₹6,909.2 crore in the fiscal year 2022-23. In an effort to invigorate the brand, Sony has brought on Gaurav Banerjee as the new chief steward, hoping his fresh approach can turn things around. Will Banerjee’s advent at Sony turn things around for the Indian operations of the Japanese media giant? Lata Jha takes a deep dive to ...
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    8 m
  • RBI says yes to Yes Bank's sale

    RBI says yes to Yes Bank's sale
    Jul 9 2024
    Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Tuesday, July 9, 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started: Sensex and Nifty remained largely flat on Monday. Both fell by less than 0.05 percent during trading hours yesterday. Yes Bank has had a phenomenal turnaround. After collapsing in 2020, a new set of people resurrected the struggling lender to a respectable position. Now that Yes Bank is in decent shape, it's attracting interest from outside. But any potential buyer wants at least a controlling 51 percent stake in Yes Bank. Anirudh Laskar reports that the Reserve Bank of India has given a go-ahead for Yes Bank to find a buyer with a controlling stake. Such approvals are quite rare, as RBI usually has an upper limit of 26 percent for any promoter. Anirudh also reports that the sale will be made at a valuation of 10 billion dollars for Yes Bank. As the income tax filing deadline approaches, many people will hand over their IDs, passwords, and OTPs to their chartered accountants to file returns on their behalf. No matter how much you trust your CA, that isn't a wise decision. Shipra Singh tells you a couple of alternatives for your CA to file your returns — without having access to your personal information. However, Shipra writes that Indian taxpayers aren't very apprehensive about this. Only one in ten clients express any hesitation about sharing their personal information, one executive from an accounting firm told Shipra. That isn't the best habit, but it seems that Indians don't care about sharing information as long as their work gets done. If you're not one of them, this article is for you. There are some media reports that the upcoming Union Budget will feature some income tax cuts. Theoretically, this move will stimulate the economy as people will have more money in hand to spend. But as Nandita Venkatesan outlines, this doesn't really work out. 92 million people in India pay taxes; a third of them reported a gross annual income of less than 5 lakh rupees. Another 24 million people earn less than 10 lakh rupees. So the most dominant tax-paying base already pays zero to minimal taxes. Nandita also spoke to economists to show why this presumption may not be correct after all, and has presented her story with some charts to drive the point home. If mobile phone companies had their way, we'd all be using foldable phones today. They occupy half the space, turn into much larger screens when opened, and have a good battery life. Foldables came back into the mainstream five years ago, and the Indian market has plenty of options. Despite that, foldables still aren't used widely. Shouvik Das writes that sky high prices and lack of innovative use cases are hampering the sales of foldable phones in India. App support is also poor; the split screen setup doesn't accommodate all the apps that you and I may use. Essentially, what foldable phones boast about doing — normal smartphones do much better. In 2009, Bajaj Auto took a landmark decision: to stop making scooters altogether. Rajiv Bajaj, the company's CEO, said that his company would focus solely on motorcycles. As scooter sales have outshone bike sales, that decision seems to have been a poor one for the makers of the iconic Chetak. Last week, Bajaj Auto took yet another decision that would have a wide-ranging impact on India's two-wheeler segment: it launched a CNG-powered bike, the first of its kind anywhere in the world. Bajaj is the number 2 in the 125 cc bike segment — with this CNG bike named the Freedom, it hopes to trounce Hero Motocorp to the first place. Sumant Banerji writes that Bajaj Auto has always prioritised margins over volumes. Will the 95,000 rupee Freedom too follow that model? We'd love to hear your feedback on this podcast. Let us know by writing to us at feedback@livemint.com. You may send us feedback, tips or anything that you feel we should be covering from your vantage point in the world of business and finance. Show notes: In a rare move, RBI okays 51% stake sale proposal for Yes BankAre you sharing too much? The risks of giving your ITR credentials to CAs Income tax cuts in Budget: A half-hearted recipe to fix India’s consumption woesFoldable phones: Why haven’t they taken off? Riding on CNG, can Bajaj Auto raid Hero MotoCorp’s fortress?
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    5 m
  • India’s digital bigwigs brace for stricter regulation

    India’s digital bigwigs brace for stricter regulation
    Jul 8 2024
    On July 8, the Supreme Court will review nearly twenty petitions regarding NEET-UG. The outcome could affect around 2.4 million students. Allegations of paper leaks, exam delays, and unusually high scores have sparked demands for a reexamination. The petitions also sought CBI and ED investigations, besides the formation of an independent committee to probe these irregularities. Responding to the uproar, the government has withdrawn grace marks for some students and formed a committee to review the exam administration process and enhance security. Mint's legal correspondent Krishna Yadav and education reporter Devina Sengupta discuss the implications of this entire fiasco in today's Mint Primer.Moving on to our next topic of the day: Following India's thrilling victory over South Africa in the T20 World Cup Finals, India's cricketing dominance is at an all-time high. However, amid this glory, a critical pillar of support is faltering—a unique cricketing asset, the Kashmir Willow. Skilled artisans, famed for crafting cricket bats from Salix alba caerulea willow, are rallying for a renewed emphasis on local production, calling upon Indian cricketers to champion domestic industries, and highlighting the challenges they face. The craftsmen like Mohammad Yousuf are contemplating closure due to severe shortages of willow clefts, and rising costs. Irfan Amin Malik, a Kashmiri journalist, delves into the stories of families linked to Kashmir's bat-making tradition, capturing their resilience and hardships in today's extensive Long Story.Now let’s switching gears to enter the world of entertainment: In the dynamic OTT landscape, the rise of advertising video-on-demand (AVoD) within traditionally subscription-driven platforms is causing waves in the streaming world. Leading this charge are platforms like Amazon's miniTV and Disney+ Hotstar, which are now offering popular shows and major sports events for free on mobile devices. This shift isn't just about cost efficiency—AVoD content is notably cheaper to produce than SVoD. It's also levelling the playing field for new talent and smaller production houses to make their mark. Mint’s entertainment and media correspondent, Lata Jha, spoke with industry insiders who emphasised the challenge of maintaining robust ad rates and crafting compelling content that turns casual viewers into devoted subscribers. India's burgeoning digital marketplace could soon face a new regulatory hurdle. Companies like Zomato, Myntra, and Nykaa, alongside international giants such as Alphabet and Meta, are in the spotlight, and might soon find themselves classified as 'systemically significant digital enterprises' or SSDEs under the proposed Digital Competition Bill. It will henceforth be mandatory for them to stick to a strict set of rules and report compliance to the Competition Commission of India every year. But here’s the kicker—any slip-ups could see these firms facing fines of up to 10% of their global turnover. Mint’s senior editor Gireesh Chandra Prasad reports on the proposed move, inspired by Europe's Digital Markets Act, but \tailored to better fit the contours of India’s dynamic economy.With each budget announcement, citizens hold their breath for potential tax breaks, yet an emerging concern is the rising trend of retail investors plunging into high-risk ventures. According to an NSE report, 40% of its 95 million investors are Gen Zs, up significantly from 22% just five years ago. Additionally, the volume of high-risk index options has skyrocketed by over five times in the last three years. Consequently, there's a push for strategic tax incentives to guide investors toward safer, and regulated options. RBI's retail direct scheme for government bonds, for instance, offers secure investment avenues, but has seen limited uptake due to higher taxes and complex interface. Finsafe India’s Mirin Agarwal writes for Mint Money, explaining how three policy changes could put more money in the pockets of the aam aadmi, while safeguarding them from risks.We'd love to hear your feedback on this podcast. Let us know by writing to us at feedback@livemint.com. You may send us feedback, tips or anything that you feel we should be covering from your vantage point in the world of business and finance.That’s all for today. Thank you for listening.We're eagerly looking forward to our next Top of the Morning episode, which will be packed with fresh business news. Until then, have a great day ahead!Show notes:Mint Primer | NEET-UG fiasco: How to avoid trouble, going aheadDeath overs: After a century, Kashmir’s batmakers could be run outAd-driven slates are a strong focus for OTT platforms as initial efforts pay offDigital Competition Bill: Gatekeeper tag likely for top digital startupsThree ways Budget 2024 can put more money in aam aadmi's pocket
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