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Tuesday, January 6, 2026
TopicThePrint-Koan Advisory series

Topic: ThePrint-Koan Advisory series

DPDP Act will change how we interact with the internet. Get ready for the consent mails

India does not have a data protection regulator to make good on the DPDP Act’s promise and articulate clear future standards.

Banning RMGs could end up like Bihar’s prohibition. Poor will suffer most

India should build on regulatory architecture instead of driving consumers into the shadows. The real choice is not between prohibition and inaction, but between regulation and chaos.

Free UPI was a revolution. Now costs are piling up, quality is slipping

The RBI Governor would do well to reinitiate earlier attempts to create competition for UPI. It would improve quality and security.

India’s TRP ecosystem needs a reset. Time to end BARC monopoly

A ratings monopoly in India has led to lack of technological variation, resulting in sluggish systems detached from market dynamics.

Karnataka’s new misinformation bill can penalise social media users for honest mistakes

The bill criminalises speech that is factually incorrect and imposes unusually harsh penalties. Spreading fake news could get you the same prison time as that for kidnapping.

India’s myopic view on tax policy hurts FDI. Fix it before it breaks the camel’s back

It is time for more proactive thinking on tax policy, which can no longer be guided only by the limited objective of revenue maximisation or hawkish enforcement to meet steep internal targets.

Internet can’t be regulated like TV. Look at how UK, Australia are doing it

Instead of spending limited state capacity on policing obscene content, India should invest in media literacy and public-service broadcasting to build a mature society.

OTT isn’t stopping viewers from turning to TV for sports. Now, remove legacy regulations

TV channel prices remain the same whether you are watching the IPL or its highlights three months later. Broadcasters cannot monetise on ‘perceived value’.

India must rethink compensation for fraud & scam victims. Follow UK-Singapore model

In contrast to India’s short reporting timelines, consumers in the United Kingdom have up to 13 months from the date of occurrence of a fraud or scam.

Refine PoSH Act for India’s gig companies. Online businesses have limitations

The liability framework for gig businesses could be aligned with the 'actual knowledge’ standard under section 79 of the Information Technology Act 2000.

On Camera

A 2-hour op, precise extradition—what Maduro’s capture tells us about modern US military

Despite multiple agencies being involved, the US could maintain a clear chain of command. This is something India should consider too, as it defines the theatre command structures.

Trump threatens India with fresh tariffs on Russian oil, calls PM Modi a ‘good guy’

The latest comment comes as New Delhi and Washington have yet to sign a trade agreement. India’s purchase of Russian oil has reduced, but Moscow remains top source for crude.

Pakistan defence exports at all-time high, ‘contracts’ worth $10 bn inked across globe in 2025

Export arrangements entered with nations ranging from Azerbaijan to Zimbabwe, highlighting both geographic reach & growing contours of Pakistan’s defence export composition.

A year-end Mea Culpa in National Interest—The Army-Islam combo doesn’t kill democracy

Many of you might think I got something so wrong in National Interest pieces written this year. I might disagree! But some deserve a Mea Culpa. I’d deal with the most recent this week.