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Moneylife News Bites is a weekly podcast hosted by veteran journalists and founders of Moneylife, Sucheta Dalal and Debashis Basu. Each week a new episode analyses an important news topic, based completely on unbiased and ethically researched information that is not available anywhere else. A video version of this podcast is available on our YouTube channel - @MoneylifeNewsBites
Interested listeners and readers can follow Moneylife News on our website - https://www.moneylife.in/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
238 Episodes
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In this episode of Crosshairs, Sucheta Dalal traces the arc of India’s most powerful financial institution — the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) — from the 1957 Haridas Mundhra scandal to the present-day Adani controversy.Drawing parallels between Justice M.C. Chagla’s fearless public inquiry and today’s opaque decision-making, she exposes how decades of political interference and bureaucratic secrecy have eroded LIC’s accountability.This is the story of how India’s once-transparent institutions turned into fortresses of silence — and why it matters to every policyholder. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
India’s courtrooms are no longer hidden from public view. With live-streaming, social media coverage, and viral clips, every word and gesture of judges and lawyers is now under public scrutiny. Sucheta Dalal examines how this new transparency is reshaping judicial behaviour, exposing power dynamics, and testing the credibility of India’s justice system. From the Adani–Hindenburg hearings to heated courtroom spats, this video unpacks the growing tension between openness, accountability, and the erosion of judicial sanctity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What really drives long-term economic growth? In this video, Debashis Basu talks about the idea of “useful knowledge”—a concept developed by economist Joel Mokyr—to explain why some societies continue to progress while others stagnate. He explores how countries such as China and those in the West have built strong networks connecting science, research, and industry, and why India still struggles to bridge its vast pool of talent with innovation on the ground.Debashis Basu argues that India’s path to becoming a Viksit Bharat doesn’t lie in grand policy blueprints, but in building institutions, research ecosystems, and a culture that values practical, applicable knowledge. Can India finally turn its intellectual potential into sustained prosperity? Let’s explore. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Tata Group — India’s most respected business empire — is once again in the midst of a quiet storm. A power struggle between Noel Tata, the Shapoorji Pallonji (SP) Group, and Mehli Mistry has brought internal tensions to the surface, raising serious questions about the future of governance and leadership at Tata Sons.In this episode of Crosshairs, Sucheta Dalal examines the fault lines within the group, the opaque role of Tata Trusts, the sidelining of the SP Group, and the surprising move to seek government intervention in what should have been an internal matter.Will the Tata legacy of integrity and independence survive this inflection point — or will the empire built by Jamsetji, JRD, and Ratan Tata fracture under its own weight? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
ndia is sitting on a staggering mountain of unclaimed money—bank deposits, shares, insurance, pensions, and more—yet billions of rupees remain inaccessible to their rightful owners. In this video, we explore the government’s latest campaign, “Aapki Poonji, Aapka Adhikar”, aimed at returning these funds, and examine whether it can overcome years of bureaucratic hurdles, opaque systems, and ineffective processes. From RBI incentives for banks to the ongoing Supreme Court PILs, we break down why millions of Indians are still unable to claim their own money and what reforms are truly needed to make unclaimed wealth accessible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Despite record-breaking government spending on infrastructure—over Rs54 lakh crore in 11 years—the much-hoped-for private investment boom in India remains missing. In this insightful analysis, Debashis Basu examines why repeated policy pushes like bank cleanups, tax cuts, and production-linked incentives have failed to revive private capex. The real issue, he argues, isn’t about supply or credit—it’s about weak demand, stagnant wages, and uncompetitive exports. Until policy focuses on boosting incomes and consumption, India’s elusive private capex boom will remain just that—a mirage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Corporate India is paying thousands of crores every year as ‘brand fees’ and royalties to parent or promoter entities — often without real justification.Sucheta Dalal examines the explosive Vedanta–Hindustan Zinc case, where ₹4,100 crore was siphoned as brand royalty, sparking probes, refunds, and a Supreme Court case. But Vedanta is not alone — from Tata to Mahindra, JSW, Nestlé, Sony, and Jubilant, brand royalties have become a shadow channel for moving cash away from minority shareholders.Will SEBI tighten its rules, or will it be left to the taxman to curb this opaque practice? Watch now to understand why brand royalties are one of the most controversial issues in Indian corporate governance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
SEBI has approved sweeping changes to the minimum public shareholding (MPS) norms, allowing large companies to list with significantly lower public floats. While the move is being hailed as a boost for marquee IPOs like NSE, Reliance Retail, and Jio, critics warn it could expose retail investors to higher risks of volatility, manipulation, and poor price discovery.Sucheta Dalal revisits past episodes of market excess, from the dotcom boom to the Adani controversy, to explain why robust public shareholding is critical for investor protection and market integrity. Is SEBI prioritising corporate interests over retail investors? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On September 19, President Donald Trump shook the tech world by introducing a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa petitions for foreign workers. While the move seems aimed at curbing outsourcing and protecting American jobs, its consequences for India may be unexpectedly positive. With fewer engineers moving to the US, multinationals could expand global capability centers in India, retain talent locally, and create new high-value opportunities beyond coding and entry-level roles. Could Trump’s H-1B “bomb” actually accelerate India’s rise as a global tech hub? Join Debashis Basu as he unpacks the short-term disruptions and potential long-term gains of this controversial policy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
India’s government rushed through a ban on online gaming, citing addiction, suicides, and financial losses of ₹15,000 crore a year. But what about lotteries, stock market speculation, or predatory digital lending—each causing far bigger losses and distress?In this audio, Sucheta Dalal examines the uneven crackdown on risky behaviour:- Online gaming banned overnight- Lotteries continue under state patronage- Derivatives trading thrives despite ₹1 lakh+ crore losses a year- Easy digital loans push people into debt trapsWhy are some forms of “gambling” banned while others are protected or ignored? And what does this say about India’s approach to financial distress? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The GST Council’s latest overhaul—simplifying tax slabs into 5% and 18%—was billed as a game-changer. But will GST 2.0 really boost India’s growth? Debashis Basu argues that the tweaks are unlikely to spark a demand boom or offset export challenges. The real long-term solution lies in building India’s export strength, just as East Asian economies did to achieve prosperity. Watch this analysis to understand why India needs a national mission for exports, not just tax tweaks, to secure sustainable growth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Prime minister Narendra Modi has promised GST 2.0 as a “Diwali gift” to India. But will rationalised tax slabs and simplified compliance really light up the festive season—or will delays throw businesses and consumers into chaos?In this audio, Sucheta Dalal breaks down why timing is everything. With companies already planning inventory, pricing, and campaigns, even a short delay in announcing GST reforms could disrupt India’s biggest sales season. From bizarre tax classifications (paratha vs roti, popcorn vs cream bun) to concerns of state revenues, GST 2.0 could be a make-or-break moment for India’s economy.Watch now to understand what’s at stake and why the government must act fast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Chief Justice BR Gavai recently shredded Justice Sureshwar Thakur’s incomprehensible rulings, saying every one of his decisions overturned by the Supreme Court. But this is more than just one judge’s problem—it’s a damning reflection of India’s judicial system.In this Acast, Sucheta Dalal explains how unclear, verbose judgements cost litigants decades, drain their finances, and erode faith in justice. Why does India have no accountability mechanism for judges? Why do opaque appointments and the collegium system let incompetence thrive unchecked? And what reforms are urgently needed to protect citizens from miscarriages of justice? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced GST 2.0—a bold simplification of India’s Goods and Services Tax, cutting four tax slabs down to two. The government hopes this will boost consumption and cushion India against the looming shock of US tariffs on Indian exports. But will GST 2.0 spark a genuine growth boom—or is it just another short-term fix, like the corporate tax cut of 2019? Debashis Basu explores the promise, the risks, and what it really means for India’s economy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
President Trump’s 50% tariff threat on Indian exports has shaken India’s leadership. Can India turn this crisis into an opportunity for reform? Sucheta Dalal argues that to make the dream of Viksit Bharat a reality, India must go beyond rhetoric and fix four fundamental issues: compliance overload, enforcement overreach, rampant corruption, and judicial gridlock.From MSMEs crushed under 1,450 compliance obligations, to tax terrorism and corruption draining resources, to judicial delays crippling contract enforcement — the challenges are deep and systemic. Unless India tackles these bottlenecks head-on, lofty promises and task forces won’t bridge the gap between vision and reality. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Reserve Bank of India under Governor Sanjay Malhotra has sent mixed signals to depositors. On one hand, it proposed landmark reforms to protect heirs of deceased depositors, mandating asset transfer within 15 days and imposing strict penalties for delays. On the other, it distanced itself from ICICI Bank’s move to raise minimum balances to exclusionary levels — a decision that could harm financial inclusion. Sucheta Dalal breaks down RBI’s contradictory actions, the real impact on ordinary depositors, and why systemic reform is long overdue. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
US President Donald Trump’s steep new tariffs on Indian exports have sparked hopes among business leaders for bold economic reforms—much like the 1991 crisis did. But as Debashis Basu explains, this belief is misplaced. From chronic governance failures to the government’s own priorities of revenue collection over competitiveness, the odds of a transformative policy shake-up are slim. This audio dissects why the current tariff shock won’t be India’s ‘Agneepath moment’—and why structural inefficiencies are here to stay. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
After years of silence, Anil Ambani's debt-ridden companies are finally under serious scrutiny. From telecom giant Reliance Communications to finance arms like RCFL and RHFL, the ED is probing a massive ₹17,000 crore bank fraud. This exposé dives deep into how one of India’s most high-profile business empires unravelled in plain sight — and why regulators, bankers, auditors, and trustees looked the other way for so long.Sucheta Dalal traces the collapse of the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG), once valued at ₹1.7 lakh crore, and lays bare the systemic failures that let it fester. With top executives under the scanner and SEBI already imposing steep penalties, will this finally lead to accountability — or is it another show of action without consequences? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In 2018, a wave of corporate defaults — IL&FS, DHFL, Yes Bank — exposed deep cracks in India’s credit rating system. Ratings dropped from AAA to junk after defaults. Investors lost trust, regulators scrambled, and rating agencies came under fire.Now, in 2025, a Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) order has delivered a stinging rebuke to SEBI’s probe into CARE Ratings’ former MD, calling it a “colossal waste of judicial time.” What happened to SEBI’s regulatory crusade? Why have no senior executives been held liable? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
India’s booming derivatives market isn’t the success story it appears to be. In this video, Debashis Basu breaks down why the Jane Street episode exposes far more than one rogue trader — it reveals deep flaws in how India’s F&O markets are structured, regulated, and used. From skewed indices like Bank Nifty to the illusion of liquidity and hedging, this is a sobering look at the hidden risks behind record-breaking derivatives volumes.🔍 Who benefits from these speculative instruments?📉 Are we mistaking frothy volume for market efficiency?📊 Why has SEBI looked the other way for years?Watch to understand why India’s derivatives boom might actually be a bubble. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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