Selected Tag: TK Arun

TK Arun

T.K. Arun, ex-Economic Times editor, is a columnist known for incisive analysis of economic and policy matters.

Opinion

Why India Must Stay the Course on US Trade Deal

The US ruling trims presidential power, not trade risk. India’s answer lies in deeper competitiveness, not reclaiming lost protection.

TK Arun

February 21, 2026 at 8:27 AM IST

iStock.com/MAGNIFIER

Beyond the Summit: Why the Government Must Put Money Where Its Mouth Is

AI sovereignty is not about apps or agents. It rests on GPUs, high-bandwidth memory, chip fabrication, political will, and the capital to fund long-term risk.

TK Arun

February 17, 2026 at 11:39 AM IST

PIB

Opinion

Is the AI Panic Artificial?

Markets are pricing in mass job destruction, but history suggests AI will disrupt selectively, not obliterate whole sectors overnight.

TK Arun

February 13, 2026 at 9:54 AM IST

Damien VERRIER/iStock.com

Budget 2026

We Don’t Need No Data-Centre Coddling

Data-centre tax holidays represent oodles of government cash to favoured Indian businesses for little public benefit

TK Arun

February 10, 2026 at 6:28 AM IST

Istock.com

Opinion

Grandfathered, Then Burned: Why the Government Must Lead the Tiger Appeal

India promised tax certainty through grandfathering. The Supreme Court's Tiger Global verdict undermines that. It’s the government that must restore credibility.

TK Arun

February 5, 2026 at 4:54 AM IST

iStock.com/naveen0301

Accountability as Publishers, Not Bans, Is the Solution to Social Media Harm

Protecting young users and democratic discourse requires platform accountability, not age bans that are hard to enforce and easy to evade.

TK Arun

January 31, 2026 at 5:10 AM IST

iStock.com

Spotlight Back on Process Patents

Indian pharma companies, and the regulatory and judicial support system, must wake up to the challenges of personalised medicines and the changes this would necessitate in formulating and approving drug trials and patenting of drugs and production processes.

TK Arun

January 28, 2026 at 10:02 AM IST

iStock.com

Budget 2026

How Federal Drift Is Starving Strategic Priorities

As the Centre expands into state subjects, defence, R&D and strategic autonomy suffer. India’s budget problem is not size, but misplaced priorities.

TK Arun

January 21, 2026 at 8:15 AM IST

iStock.com

Opinion

Say No to Trump’s Offer of a Seat at the Board of Peace

It is a Board for Undermining the UN and the rest of the multilateral framework

TK Arun

January 19, 2026 at 10:44 AM IST

White House

Global Capability Centres: The Brain Drain Under Our Nose

It is welcome that millions of Indian graduates get decent jobs, but they toil to create intellectual property for foreign firms, rather than to strengthen India’s strategic muscle

TK Arun

January 12, 2026 at 9:54 AM IST

iStock.com

Opinion

Aravallis: Making a Molehill out of a Mountain

When mountains are measured by committees and metres, what’s under threat is not just geology but the idea of environmental protection itself.

TK Arun

January 5, 2026 at 10:38 AM IST

iStock.com

The Yen Carry Trade, a Piano and Trump’s World View

From the Plaza Accord to the yen carry trade, Japan’s monetary history shaped global finance—and helped forge Trump’s tariff-driven worldview rooted in 1980s economic anxieties.

TK Arun

December 31, 2025 at 7:32 AM IST

Via WikiCommons

Opinion

How to and How Not to Privatise Airports

When airport privatisation rewards revenue maximisation without cost discipline, passengers end up paying the price through rising fees and opaque regulatory pass-throughs.

TK Arun

December 23, 2025 at 3:24 AM IST

iStock.com

When Legacy is an Externality for a Commercial Ops, Who Should Pay to Sustain it?

As Annapurna Bhandar of Chandini Chowk faces closure, can Indian cities take a cue from Paris or San Francisco to protect legacy shops?

TK Arun

December 17, 2025 at 1:33 PM IST

Via WikiCommons

Why Intel’s Chip Deal May Undercut India’s Push for Self-Reliance

China, facing US chip bans, doubled down on indigenous chipmaking—with success. If India leans on Intel instead of investing in homegrown R&D, it could miss its chance to replicate that model.

TK Arun

December 12, 2025 at 11:14 AM IST

iStock.com

SIM-Binding Necessary Evil, But Govt Must First Win Trust

SIM-binding and mandatory apps signal a push for stronger security—but without transparency and oversight, they could widen the trust deficit.

TK Arun

December 3, 2025 at 3:25 AM IST

iStock.com

Opinion

Don’t Censor Content, Make Social Media Platforms Accountable

Bringing social media platforms under the same responsibility standards as traditional media can curb harm without curbing speech.

TK Arun

November 28, 2025 at 9:56 AM IST

iStock.com

The Dangerous Shortcut in India’s Renewable Journey

A rushed battery-led transition stabilises the grid today but imports vulnerabilities tomorrow. India’s missing storage policy is becoming a strategic liability.

TK Arun

November 20, 2025 at 7:51 AM IST

Via WikiCommons

Why the Swiss Court’s AT1 Ruling Shouldn’t Influence YES Bank Case

AT1 bonds carry the risk of abatement. In order to compensate for this risk, the bonds offer rates of interest higher than regular bonds.

TK Arun

November 13, 2025 at 4:08 AM IST

iStock.com

Yes, Open Up Ecommerce Inventory to FDI — Just for Export

A wedge has a thin edge for a reason. The export crisis sparked by Trump-era trade shocks is a chance for India to reform e-commerce—starting with allowing inventory for exports.

TK Arun

November 9, 2025 at 5:23 AM IST

iStock.com/MAGNIFIER

Is a TV Ad by Ontario Costing India a US Trade Deal?

Does a Canadian apology embolden Trump to demand more from India in trade talks?

TK Arun

November 4, 2025 at 4:17 AM IST

Kremlin

Why This Outrage over LIC Investing in Adani?

Probe the allegations of government-Adani nexus in airport privatisation bids, but why oppose the company getting support from the country’s financial institutions when it was vital.

TK Arun

October 27, 2025 at 4:27 AM IST

iStock.com

Firecrackers as Class Aggression

The rich make competitive noise, pollute the air, switch on their air purifiers and air conditioners, and leave the less well-off to choke, wheeze and sicken

TK Arun

October 22, 2025 at 3:31 AM IST

iStock.com

To Fuel the Cloud, India May Have to Dig Deeper into the Ground

India’s data-centre and AI ambitions could strain its clean-energy goals. As power demand surges, coal may quietly keep the digital lights on.

TK Arun

October 17, 2025 at 12:43 PM IST

iStock.com

Death Syrup: Why Licences Cannot Be Wished Away in All Sectors

The government should mandate traceability of every ingredient used in the pharma industry by deploying tokenisation facilities of the blockchain.

TK Arun

October 8, 2025 at 6:04 AM IST

iStock.com

Monetary Policy

Unguarded Lending Won’t Fix Investment Demand

RBI holds rates but eases bank lending curbs—IPO, M&A, securities finance. Yet without investment demand or PPP reforms, such a leeway won’t fix growth.

TK Arun

October 2, 2025 at 11:53 AM IST

Not Just Make in India, Chips Need to be Made by India

Without owning semiconductor IP, India risks dependence. Building and backing its own chips is the real test.

TK Arun

September 24, 2025 at 6:46 AM IST

iStock.com

Little Impact on IT, But Trump’s H-1B Visa Fee Could Reverse Indian Brain Drain

The new $100,000 H-1B visa fee may cause short-term headaches for Indian IT firms, but it could strongly deter students from pursuing US admissions without a clear job path.

TK Arun

September 20, 2025 at 11:11 AM IST

White House

GST Exemptions, Nil Rates and Other Smoke and Mirrors

GST relief looks big on paper, but gaps in input credit and energy taxes mean consumers will see less benefit than portrayed.

TK Arun

September 9, 2025 at 8:13 AM IST

iStock.com

Why India Should Continue to Buy Oil from Russia

India’s Russian oil imports aren’t about cheap barrels—they’re about strategic autonomy. Stopping now could weaken India’s leverage between the US, China, and Russia.

TK Arun

August 30, 2025 at 9:20 AM IST

iStock.com

Why India’s Health Crisis Isn’t Just Personal Choice

India’s wellness boom hides a paradox: health isn’t just about diet and exercise. Air, water, urban design, stress, and social systems shape well-being far more than individual choices.

TK Arun

August 28, 2025 at 5:59 AM IST

iStock.com

The Many Winners of the Alaska Summit

At the Alaska Summit, Trump backed away from harsher Russia sanctions, aligning with Putin on lasting peace over ceasefire. This can shield India from bigger trade blows.

TK Arun

August 18, 2025 at 4:50 AM IST

Kremlin

Chuck the Ethanol Blending Programme, E27 Petrol Will Be a Disaster

Ethanol blended petrol is eating into foreign exchange reserves, besides the exchequer and the area under oil seeds

TK Arun

August 4, 2025 at 6:18 AM IST

iStock.com

Time to Launch Strategic AI Limitation Talks?

For India to have a serious voice in the debate, it will have to produce cutting edge AI models of its own

TK Arun

July 28, 2025 at 8:29 AM IST

Dragon Claws/iStock.com

Opinion

Niti Aayog’s China Proposal Like Letting the Fox Guard the Henhouse

Chinese investment should be eased not on the basis of the size of the foreign stake but by the strategic significance of the sector in question

TK Arun

July 21, 2025 at 2:24 AM IST

The Right Time for Some Aid Diplomacy, Specifically AIDS Diplomacy

As the US retreats from global health aid, India has a chance to fill the void, especially in AIDS relief across Africa, strengthening both its soft power and historic ties with the continent.

TK Arun

July 15, 2025 at 2:18 AM IST

iStock.com

R&D Scheme

Innovation Needs Risk Capital, Not Moneylenders

India's ₹1-trillion R&D push sounds bold, but if it's built on loans, not risk capital, it may smother innovation before it starts. Research needs backing, not bankers.

TK Arun

July 5, 2025 at 4:07 AM IST

iStock.com

The Message From Migrating Millionaires

Millionaires are on the move, seeking better taxes, freedom, and living standards. What does this mass migration mean for countries like India, and how can they stop the wealth drain?

TK Arun

June 30, 2025 at 6:17 AM IST

iStock.com

Promise The Moon, Then Blame The Stars

Cash-strapped states are hitting pause on promises. As expenses soar and income lags, India’s welfare politics faces a fiscal reckoning.

TK Arun

June 16, 2025 at 10:49 AM IST

AI Generated

When Guns Get The Budget And Bread Gets Crumbs

Rising global conflicts are driving up defence spending, forcing nations to divert resources from welfare to weapons. The guns-over-butter tradeoff is reshaping economies worldwide.

TK Arun

June 3, 2025 at 3:23 AM IST

The China Challenge And How To Meet It

China’s tech and strategic dominance is rising as India remains mired in structural gaps. India must invest deeply in education, R&D, and systemic reform to stay relevant.

TK Arun

May 22, 2025 at 3:17 AM IST

Of Ukraine’s Allies And Fair-Weather Friends

The West sees Putin's war as imperial; Moscow calls it NATO deterrence. But peace remains hostage to territory, aid and politics with global economies caught in the crossfire.

TK Arun

May 18, 2025 at 5:34 AM IST

iStock.com

Uncertainty, Not Inventory, Is Hurting The American Economy

There is more than just excessive imports behind the American economy's contraction in January–March. And it may be a portent.

TK Arun

May 6, 2025 at 7:40 AM IST

Becker1999/ Via Wiki Commons

Clearing The Air: How Carbon Removal Can Rewrite Our Future

The world has just scratched the surface of what is possible by turning captured carbon dioxide into usable products. Possibilities are limitless, at least in theory.

TK Arun

April 28, 2025 at 4:28 AM IST

iStock.com

India’s Bond Market Needs A Big Bang Reform Now

Trump’s tariff chaos has unsettled US bonds. India must seize this moment to reform its debt market and revive private infrastructure play.

TK Arun

April 19, 2025 at 6:18 AM IST

Opinion

Trump Tariffs Make Americans ‘Yippy’, And China Goes ‘Yippee’

The trade war helps China come out as the more stable, respectable and respectful superpower

TK Arun

April 11, 2025 at 2:05 PM IST

iStock.com/Rawf8

What Drives Trump's Madness

One has to identify the specific bee in Trump’s bonnet that is driving his tariff offensive to fashion an effective policy response.

TK Arun

April 4, 2025 at 1:48 PM IST

Gage Skidmore

Opinion

Verdicts Diluting Sexual Assault Charges Hurt Not Just Gender Justice But Economy Too

The safety of women outside the home is a major determinant of women’s willingness to be part of the workforce.

TK Arun

March 28, 2025 at 2:11 PM IST

iStock.com/naveen0301

South’s Progress In Social Development Fuels Delimitation Debate

Southern states' population stability stems from social progress, not control measures. Should they be penalised in Parliament seat

TK Arun

March 18, 2025 at 9:27 AM IST

Trump’s NATO Taunt May Become Europe’s Economic Salvation

Europe is under immense pressure to increase its defence spending and weapons present themselves as a new economic opportunity.

TK Arun

March 9, 2025 at 5:31 PM IST

Myths And Legends From The Trumpian Fantasy On Trade And Tariffs

Trump’s trade myths—from tariffs paid by exporters to blaming India’s GST—reveal economic delusions with global consequences.

TK Arun

March 4, 2025 at 4:09 AM IST

Gage Skidmore

STATES

Some State Investment Summits Do Hold Significantly More Promise

Kerala’s Communists had blocked capitalist growth after freeing the people from pre-capitalist shackles that impeded growth, and now they seem to have realised their error.

TK Arun

February 24, 2025 at 3:57 AM IST

Income Tax Bill 2025

Are Electoral Bonds Making A Comeback?

New income tax bill exempts contributions received in the form of electoral bonds from taxable income

TK Arun

February 15, 2025 at 2:13 PM IST

Finance Commission

Why BJP-Ruled States Have Joined The Chorus On Devolution

Right now, the divisible pool stands at 41% for states, but in practice, the Centre shares only 32-33% of the taxes it collects, labelling quite a bit of revenue as assorted cesses.

TK Arun

February 8, 2025 at 5:38 AM IST

To Counter Slowdown, India Needs Bold Approach, Must Build Entire New Cities Not Just Roads

India’s economic slowdown calls for a bold strategy beyond infrastructure—building new cities to drive investment, job creation, and urban-led growth. By leveraging public-private partnerships, planned urbanisation can unlock economic potential, enhance productivity, and ensure sustainable expansion.

TK Arun

January 30, 2025 at 12:12 AM IST

The Bureau

Bears Dominate Dalal Street, Equities Log Decline Led by Financials

Pakistan Bombs Afghan Cities, Minister Says it is ‘Open War’: Reports

Risk Appetite Wavers After Nvidia Slide and Iran Talks Stall

SEBI Overhauls Mutual Fund Categories, Ends Solution-Oriented Plans

Stablecoins Are Raising New Risks for Emerging Markets

FTA Revival and Uranium Deal Could Define Carney’s Visit: GTRI

US Slaps 126% Duty on Indian Solar Exports, Subsidised Parts From China Under Lens

Duvvuri Subbarao on India’s Growth, Inflation Targeting and Centre–State Faultlines

Learning to Shoot: I Tried to Fly Before I Could Walk