Mint Primer

In this podcast adaptation of the renowned Mint Primer, host Rohan delivers concise, digestible Q&A sessions on headline stories. Every morning, gain valuable insights into major, intricate narratives for a comprehensive understanding. Dive deeper into Primer's breaking news, opinions, special reports, and more. This is a Mint production, brought to you by HT Smartcast.

Landslides: Why they are more frequent & lethal

The landslide in Wayanad in Kerala that has killed over 200 people is one of the biggest natural disasters to have struck the country in recent times. Mint looks at the spate of landslides in recent times, why they are on the rise and how, if at all, they can be mitigated.

08-02
04:40

Mining minerals: Could cement & steel get dearer?

In a landmark judgment last week, the Supreme Court upheld states’ right to tax land-bearing minerals. This decision will impact industry but bolster states’ ability to raise resources. Mint looks at the judgment, its significance and how it will affect consumers

07-31
04:22

The search for an engine: Should Google worry ?

Google became one of the world’s largest companies by building the world’s most popular internet search engine. But the advent of AI has spawned an army of rivals ready to upstage its monopoly. Now, with OpenAI showcasing SearchGPT, should Google be scared?

07-30
04:39

Can new govts in India, UK give FTA talks a push?

This summer saw the inauguration of new governments in New Delhi and London. With the business of national polls completed, the two countries are expected to resume talks on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA). lets looks at the prospects for a speedy conclusion to the talks.

07-29
04:35

Hints on budget proposals from the eco survey

The economic survey, the government’s most comprehensive annual analysis of the economy, is critical to shaping policy. Looking through the survey’s prism, Mint pieces together what the Union budget 2024-25 may have in store from a focus on jobs to pushing green growth.

07-23
04:36

Tech blackouts and the need for total protection

Last Friday, a global tech blackout spread like wildfire, bringing down airports, hospitals, banks, etc. This wasn’t the first blackout. But as a growing number of systems become dependent on a handful of tech service providers, can we be completely insulated from blackouts?

07-22
04:33

Byju’s bankrupt: Is the edtech crisis deepening?

Once-feted, edtech firm Byju’s is now facing legal showdowns. Earlier this week, the company was admitted to insolvency by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). What does this mean for the edtech sector, employees and investors?

07-19
04:39

Karnataka: One step too far with local-only quota

The Karnataka government has pressed the brakes on a bill aimed at quotas for “locals” in the private sector. The pause comes when the state is facing labour shortages. Besides, the bill would have deterred firms, delayed projects and impacted investments.

07-18
04:19

Hidden in plain sight: New food inflation data

Food prices rose sharply in June after a searing heat wave. The hope now rests on ample monsoon rains to soften the blow. But excess rains can play a spoilsport. Weather shocks become the new normal, and predicting food prices is a fool’s errand.

07-17
04:48

Trump’s murder attempt: What it means for us

Donald Trump, the former US President and presumptive Republican candidate for the November 2024 presidential polls, was injured in an assassination attempt over the weekend. What are the implications for US politics and the world?

07-15
04:25

To Russia With Love: Takeaways from Modi’s visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi closed a two-day visit to Russia on 9 July. Mint looks at the key outcomes from the visit that came amid the Ukraine war and a growing divide between Western countries on the one hand, and China and Russia on the other.

07-11
04:28

How the budget can accelerate EV sales in India

The EV industry in India is in need of a push, with growth beginning to taper. At least part of it is due to a cut in subsidies earlier this year. As a result, hopes are now pinned on the third instalment of FAME scheme expected to be announced in the budget on 23 July.

07-10
04:50

NEET-UG: How to avoid trouble, going ahead

On 8 July, a Supreme Court bench will hear petitions challenging alleged irregularities in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-UG). With the future of 2.4 million medical students at stake, lets takes a look at how things could be improved.

07-08
04:25

SCO Summit: What’s in it for New Delhi?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has skipped the 2024 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit meet in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. Is India’s interest in this grouping fading? Mint examines this question and more.

07-05
04:43

Home sales: Why small towns are boomtowns now

Property markets in tier-II cities, where sales and price growth have long been subdued, saw a turnaround in both home sales and prices last year. While the sales volume is much lower than in tier-I markets, the pace of growth is faster. What’s the future of small-town homes?

07-04
04:34

Will you get your internet directly from satellites?

The idea of getting internet connectivity beamed from satellites is gaining popularity. But, as the technology matures, satellite communications (satcom)-based internet service has moved away from being a user-centric technology. Is it viable for users in India?

07-03
04:39

AI can make you immortal. What’s the problem?

AI now allows us to build and communicate with digital avatars of the dead. These so-called ‘deadbots’, ‘ghostbots’, ‘postmortem avatars’ or ‘griefbots’ may provide comfort to some (including those doing legacy planning), but they raise difficult ethical questions

07-02
04:49

Phone tariff hikes: Is this the end of cheap data era?

Last week, India’s leading telecom companies Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea raised tariffs across voice and data plans. This is the third hike since 2019 and was not entirely unexpected.

07-01
04:52

Current account was in surplus in Q4. What next?

India’s current account recorded its first surplus in about four years in Q4 of FY24. The last time was in Q1 of FY21, after which GDP shrank as the pandemic set in. Now, the fundamentals are more robust. Mint looks at the significance of these numbers, and the challenges ahead

06-28
05:20

Why India needs a new method to count its poor

While India may be lifting a lot of people out of poverty, the way it goes about counting those living below the poverty line is imprecise. After calls for an overhaul last week, Mint looks at issues surrounding poverty measurement and the need for having a more modern model.

06-27
04:49

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