Business Today

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No Easy Exit

Business Today

REMITTANCES UNDER THREAT • India is a net importer of goods and services. In FY25 the country’s current account deficit touched $23 billion as the large gap in trade of goods outweighed a $189 billion surplus in services. At the same time, India’s secondary income, which largely includes remittances and deposits of NRIs, hit a record $124 billion. However, the US administration’s recent policy decisions could hurt future inflows

THE BUZZ

‘‘There isn’t another market like India” • Steven Hawkins, President, Syngenta Crop Protection, on the opportunity for expanding agricultural exports and more

THE LISTING QUESTION • THE TATA–MISTRY RELATIONSHIP HITS FRESH TURBULENCE AS THE SP GROUP’S PUSH TO LIST TATA SONS COLLIDES WITH THE TRUSTS’ RESOLVE TO STAY PRIVATE.

THE TATA-MISTRY SAGA • THE SP GROUP HAS STOOD BY THE TATA GROUP THROUGH THICK AND THIN. NOW, IT SAYS A LISTING OF TATA SONS WILL PAVE THE WAY FOR A“ROBUST AND EQUITABLE DIVIDEND POLICY”

THE KEY PLAYERS • The honchos who control India's biggest and most storied conglomerate with interests in areas ranging from salt and steel to IT and aerospace

FAMILY TIES • Apart from a near-100-year association, the Tata and Shapoorji Pallonji families are also linked through marital ties

EXTENSION SIXER • N Chandrasekaran likely to stay on as Tata Sons Chairperson till 2032

SAVE BIG WITH OUR ANNUAL OFFER

BUSINESS OF CANCER • INDIA’S CANCER CARE SECTOR, VALUED AT ₹1.25 LAKH CRORE AND GROWING 10–12% ANNUALLY, IS ATTRACTING SIGNIFICANT PRIVATE INVESTMENT. THE REASON: RISING CANCER INCIDENCE. CAN PHARMACEUTICAL FIRMS, HOSPITAL CHAINS, AND DIAGNOSTIC PLAYERS SCALE UP PROFITABLY WHILE IMPROVING ACCESS?

Akasa AIR’S ASCENT • IN JUST THREE YEARS, AKASA AIR HAS RISEN TO BECOME INDIA’S THIRD-LARGEST AIRLINE WITH A 5.5% MARKET SHARE. WITH A FRESH $125 MILLION INFUSION AND DISCIPLINED EXECUTION, THE COMPETITION IS TAKING NOTE

THE SKILLING CHALLENGE • THE FLAGSHIP SKILL INDIA MISSION HAS TRAINED OVER 60 MILLION INDIANS SINCE 2014. BUT WITH CONCERNS OVER POOR PLACEMENTS, LOW SALARIES AND RISE OF AI, IS IT TIME FOR A RESET?

STORAGE CHALLENGES • INDIA IS SEEING A BUILD-UP OF MASSIVE POWER STORAGE FACILITIES TO MEET PEAK DEMAND. DESPITE A SHARP DECLINE IN STORAGE COSTS, POLICY UNCERTAINTY AND DELAYS IN FINALISING POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENTS CONTINUE TO POSE SIGNIFICANT OBSTACLES

OPENING THE FLOOD GATES • By easing a host of regulations, the Reserve Bank of India is looking to revive credit flow to India Inc. But this may add fresh risks

NEW GST, OLD WOES • THE RECENT GST REFORMS HAVE BEEN A MIXED BAG FOR INDIA’S MSMEs, EASING SOME COMPLIANCES BUT ALSO ADDING TO THEIR BURDEN BY CREATING AN INVERTED DUTY STRUCTURE IN SOME SEGMENTS

BIAL’S RUNWAY TO TOMORROW • BENGALURU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IS ENTERING A MAJOR EXPANSION PHASE. WITH PASSENGER TRAFFIC EXPECTED TO CROSS 48 MILLION THIS YEAR, CAN IT OVERTAKE MUMBAI AND DELHI?

THE EMPATHETIC CEO • IS THE AGE OF THE EXTROVERTED, LARGER-THAN-LIFE CEO COMING TO AN END AS QUIETER, MORE BALANCED LEADERS—WHO BLEND EMPATHY, DECISIVENESS AND PRESENCE—SHAPE THE FUTURE OF WORK?

Battle OF Bids • Vintage watches, historic gemstones, and artworks that are up for grabs at upcoming auctions

SLIM DESIGN, Endless Possibilities • Check out two phones that have hit the shelves recently—iPhone Air and Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge. The iPhone Air is a statement piece that blends radical design with familiar power, but not without a few compromises. The Samsung, however, is a bold experiment in design, blending...