Think. Over the week

The most important topic discussed in our Editorial section was the impact of the US mid-term elections on the India-US trade negotiations, in the backdrop of the Democratic control of both Houses. The Editorial argues that India should hold its ground on agriculture, digital access and intellectual property. India will need to craft its strategy carefully.

The impact of El Nino on pulses production, especially tur dal was another topic for analysis. The Editorial looks at the geographical skew in tur dal production, its agro-climatic specificities and points to the erratic production of tur dal in the last five years. Though the government has been coming up with measures, the Editorial argues that there are no easy fixes and the policy must balance the interests of both consumers and farmers.

The Haryana government’s U-turn on giving choice in electricity distribution segment was another topic of analysis. The Editorial was critical of the Haryana government’s decision to scrap the distribution licence give to Eleven Power Pvt Ltd and called for more competition in this segment. It argues that Mumbai’s successful experience in this field must be emulated by the other States.

In his weekly column Line&Length, TCA Srinivasa Raghavan looks at the economics of air fares in the backdrop of the rise in fares during the winter months every year. Srinivasa Raghavan argues that the market structure of airlines, which operate networks much like Railways and electricity, is responsible for this price fluctuations. Enabling more competition in this industry is the only way to bring down fares.

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Lokeshwarri SK, in her Point Blank column, takes a close look at the regulation of the crypto market. She argues that shifting of trading on cryptos to the futures and options segments opens up the dangers of using cryptos for nefarious cross-border payments. To curb such activities, she calls for the extension of 30 per cent tax on gains made on spot crypto transactions to futures and options too.

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Casparus Kromhout takes a deep dive into the life insurance market of the country and argues why the insurance agent is still vital cog in the wheel. He says that the insurance agent empowered with technology will play a key role in ensuring universal coverage of insurance.

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Here’s our cartoonist Ravikanth’s take on the world of business and finance:

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Published on November 14, 2026