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Wednesday, February 4, 2026
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Opinion

Increase in STT is small but it signals a shift in how India views risk

For long-term investors and for institutional entities with substantial balance sheets, the effect is marginal. The primary burden is borne by high-frequency retail traders.

47% rise in Budget outlay won’t revive co-operatives without internal stock-taking, reform

The enhanced budget helps, but internal stock-taking and preliminary steps have to be taken before the tagline Sahkar Se Samriddhi—from co-operation to prosperity—becomes a reality.

From bulldozer baba to economic reformer—how Yogi is working on his new avatar for 2027 poll

The corridors of power in Lucknow may surprise you today. CM Yogi Adityanath has a dashboard to track every department’s work.

Budget 2026 didn’t address a critical issue—promoting MSME exports & keeping input costs high

Administrative efficiency and targeted schemes can ease frictions, but they cannot offset the competitiveness loss from expensive imported intermediates.

Xi’s military shake-up — stripping power from China’s central military command

The latest purging campaign blurs the line between anti-graft drive and political consolidation under Xi’s rule.

China’s Motuo dam is coming. Assam has no buffer and no real-time data

China, which harbours ambitions to control the Yarlung Tsangpo, as the Brahmaputra is known in Tibet, is moving ahead with its mega hydropower project at Motuo.

India needs derivatives for high economic growth. STT hike is a bad move

A sound tax system is one based on the ability to pay or economic surplus. But the STT taxes the circulation of capital and not its returns, making it deeply distortionary.

India-EU FTA gives template for shared governance. It will rewire a market worth €27 trillion

The most obvious impact will be trade liberalisation, but the architecture of the agreement goes far beyond tariffs.

Budget 2026 signals a business-as-usual approach to farm financing

The Budget does not speak of agriculture as a standalone sector. Instead, it embeds agriculture across seven priorities.

India spooks investors instead of calming them

Union Budget brings home to markets the unpleasant reality of fiscal dominance where RBI ends up prioritising deficit financing over its primary function of inflation control.

On Camera

Why Rahul Gandhi wasn’t allowed to read an excerpt from General Naravane’s memoir

General MM Naravane’s memoir—Four Stars of Destiny—reveals that he was left hanging by political leadership for more than two hours as Chinese tanks drove towards Indian positions.

Trade deal with US likely to lift Rupee & stocks, say investors

New Delhi: India’s agreement with the US to buy $500 billion-worth of goods over five years includes an existing pipeline of projects, as well...

Adani Defence teams up with Italy’s Leonardo to tap India’s mega helicopter market

The partnership will focus on targeting the Indian Armed Forces' requirements, particularly for Leonardo's AW169M and AW109 TrekkerM helicopters.

Swiss report should now close Op Sindoor debate. Knowing when to stop the fight is key too

The key to fighting a war successfully, or even launching it, is a clear objective. That’s an entirely political call. It isn’t emotional or purely military.