businessline's State of the Economy Podcast

As cybersecurity continues to evolve, it is important for companies to safeguard their digital assets and maintain trust in an increasingly interconnected world, says Jeetu Patel, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Security and Collaboration at Cisco, in conversation with businessline’s Hamsini Karthik. 

The discussion begins with a focus on the increasing importance of cybersecurity in the banking sector, especially in India. Patel sheds light on the evolving threats facing the industry and the innovative solutions being implemented to address them. He goes on to highlight the significant changes in the cybersecurity landscape over the past three decades. 

Patel also mentions the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in cybersecurity, stressing the necessity of leveraging machine-scale capabilities to combat threats effectively. He outlines the emerging trends in identity protection and anomaly detection, emphasising proactive measures to mitigate risks. 

Addressing concerns about data privacy and protection, Patel highlights the importance of privacy as a fundamental human right. He discusses the need for collaboration between the public and private sectors in addressing cybersecurity challenges, highlighting the country's progress in this regard. 

Host: Hamsini Karthik, Producer: Amitha Rajkumar

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About the State of the Economy podcast 

India’s economy has been hailed as a bright spot amid the general gloom that seems to have enveloped the rest of the world. But several sectors continue to stutter even as others seem set to fire on all cylinders. To help you make sense of the bundle of contradictions that the country is, businessline brings you podcasts with experts ranging from finance and marketing to technology and start-ups 

In this episode of the State of the Economy Podcast, PT Jyothi Datta looks at the latest developments in pharmaceutical marketing practices with Varsha Rajesh, Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences lawyer from Nishith Desai Associates. The Department of Pharmaceuticals issued the recently updated Uniform Code for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP) 2024, which aims to redefine the boundaries between doctors and drug makers.

The UCPMP 2024 introduces a framework to regulate interactions between pharmaceutical companies and healthcare professionals, with a focus on preventing undue influence on prescription practices.

Varsha discusses key takeaways from the updated code, highlighting areas such as brand reminders, provision of free samples, and continuing medical education (CME) programs. She lays emphasis on the importance of compliance with tax laws and transparency requirements, reflecting a trend towards stricter regulatory oversight.

The conversation also explores the implications of the code on industry practices and the challenges of enforcement. Varsha addresses concerns regarding self-regulation within the industry and the need for impartial adjudication of complaints. Despite criticisms, the UCPMP 2024 represents a significant step towards promoting transparency and accountability in pharmaceutical marketing.

(Host: PT Jyothi Datta, Producer: Siddharth Mathew Cherian)

About the State of the Economy Podcast

India’s economy has been hailed as a bright spot amid the general gloom that seems to have enveloped the rest of the world. But several sectors continue to stutter even as others seem set to fire on all cylinders. To help you make sense of the bundle of contradictions that the country is, businessline brings you podcasts with experts ranging from finance and marketing to technology and start-ups.

From entry-level buyers to aspirational middle-class families, the demand for housing spans across various income brackets, showcasing a remarkable shift in mindset and purchasing power, says Pankaj Narang, Co-Founder & Director, Blitzkrieg Co., in conversation with businesline’s Abhishek Law.

Narang starts by shedding light on the evolving consumer preferences driven by changing landscapes and growing aspirations. He also highlights the robust demand across price points, illustrating a broad-based growth trajectory. Moreover, he emphasises the role of developers in meeting the diverse needs of consumers and adapting to market dynamics.

Transitioning to the commercial real estate sector, the discussion explores emerging opportunities in segments such as warehousing, shared office spaces, and retail. Narang highlights the significance of warehousing infrastructure amidst the rise of e-commerce and logistics, presenting a compelling case for investors seeking stable returns.

The conversation touches upon the evolving landscape of commercial office spaces and retail outlets, driven by changing consumer behaviors and preferences. From co-working spaces to experiential retail, Narang outlines the key trends shaping the future of commercial real estate in India.

The conversation ends by providing valuable insights into the investment landscape within the real estate sector. With a focus on rental yields and emerging opportunities, Narang offers guidance to investors looking to navigate the dynamic market landscape.

Host: Abhishek Law, Producer: Amitha Rajkumar

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About the State of the Economy podcast 

India’s economy has been hailed as a bright spot amid the general gloom that seems to have enveloped the rest of the world. But several sectors continue to stutter even as others seem set to fire on all cylinders. To help you make sense of the bundle of contradictions that the country is, businessline brings you podcasts with experts ranging from finance and marketing to technology and start-ups 

In the latest episode of businessline's "State of Economy" podcast, Amiti Sen speaks to Ajay Srivastava, founder, Global Trade Research Initiative on India's latest milestone in international trade—the signing of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries, including Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.  

The agreement, named the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA), marks a significant step for India, being the first comprehensive FTA with European nations. 

The podcast explores the significance of this FTA for India, highlighting its role in diversifying India's trade partnerships and paving the way for future negotiations with Western nations. Srivastava shares insights into the evolution of India's trade policies and the strategic implications of engaging with the EFTA bloc. 

The specifics of the agreement, including investment commitments, market access given to EFTA countries by India, and the incorporation of new issues such as sustainability, labor standards, and intellectual property rights are highlighted by Srivastava. Srivastava offers an analysis of the enforceability of investment commitments and the potential implications for India's economic growth trajectory. 

The conversation looks at the implications of tariff eliminations on various sectors, ranging from chocolates and watches to smartphones and garments. Shrivastav evaluates the economic rationale behind these tariff concessions and their potential impact on India's export dynamics. 

The implications for services trade, including visa regulations, mutual recognition agreements (MRAs), and intellectual property rights (IPR) commitments are also discussed . Srivastava talks about the challenges and opportunities associated with negotiating Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) for various professional services 

Srivastava highlights India's gains from the India-EFTA FTA and emphasises the importance of monitoring its implementation to assess its real-world impact on India's economy and trade relations. 

Listen in. 

(Host: Amiti Sen; Producer: Siddharth Mathew Cherian)

About the State of the Economy Podcast

India’s economy has been hailed as a bright spot amid the general gloom that seems to have enveloped the rest of the world. But several sectors continue to stutter even as others seem set to fire on all cylinders. To help you make sense of the bundle of contradictions that the country is, businessline brings you podcasts with experts ranging from finance and marketing to technology and start-ups.

In this episode of the State of the Economy Podcast, businessline’s Lokeshwarri speaks with Sandeep Yadav, Head-Fixed Income at DSP Mutual Fund , on the current state and future trajectory of interest rates, with a focus on both US and Indian bond yields.  

The conversation kicks off with Lokeshwarri probing Sandeep on the eagerly anticipated US Fed rate cuts, particularly amidst the backdrop of the upcoming US elections. Sandeep offers insights into the market dynamics, emphasising the importance of aligning with the Fed's cautious approach, given their access to robust data and expert analysis.  

 With regards to India, the discussion looks at RBI's policy stance and the potential impact of domestic factors such as inflation and consumption trends. Sandeep underscores the delicate balance between inflation dynamics and financial market stability, highlighting the need for RBI to closely monitor global central bank actions.  

 "So, it's just the opposite in India. In India, it is transitory. And the volatile inflation part, which is keeping the headline inflation high, whereas something which is much more stable and much more trending, which is core inflation, and which reflects the underlying demand of the economy, well, that's been coming down.", says Sandeep Yadav  

Yadav provides a comprehensive analysis of the Indian bond market, citing factors such as demand-supply dynamics and fiscal deficit management. He predicts a downward trajectory for Indian bond yields, driven by anticipated RBI rate cuts and sustained demand from institutional investors.  

Yadav talks about the yield curve dynamics, outlining the differential impact of RBI rate cuts on short-term and long-term bond yields. He advises investors to consider active fund management strategies to navigate the complexities of the bond market effectively.  

 Yadav also shares the importance of aligning investment strategies with evolving market dynamics, urging investors to remain vigilant amidst shifting interest rates.  

 Listen in! 

(Host: Lokeshwarri SK; Producer: Siddharth MC)

Founders of early-stage startups need to focus on problem-solving rather than merely catering to customer requests, say Mansi Jain, CEO and Co-Founder of DigitalPaani, and Shyam Menon, Co-Founder of Bharat Innovation Fund, in conversation with businessline's Kurmanath K V.

Jain emphasises the significance of scalable solutions tackling environmental challenges, while Menon discusses red flags in startup evaluation, including a lack of deep understanding of the problem.

Menon offers practical strategies for managing cash flows and securing funding in the initial stages. He stresses the importance of setting clear milestones, prudent financial planning, and leveraging customer revenues to sustain operations. He also reflects on past experiences, illustrating the risks of being ahead of the market curve.

Jain says early-stage startups must seek customer feedback and cultivating customer champions. She points out that not focusing on problem-solving but merely catering to customer requests is a common mistake startups commit.

The guests end the podcast with highlighting the need for startups to balance innovation with market readiness.

Host: Kurmanath K V, Producer: Amitha Rajkumar and Anjana P V

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About the State of the Economy podcast 

India’s economy has been hailed as a bright spot amid the general gloom that seems to have enveloped the rest of the world. But several sectors continue to stutter even as others seem set to fire on all cylinders. To help you make sense of the bundle of contradictions that the country is, businessline brings you podcasts with experts ranging from finance and marketing to technology and start-ups 

In this State of the Economy episode, Subramani Ra Mancombu speaks to former Union Agriculture Secretary Siraj Hussain on the report of the expert committee headed by him on the promotion of warehoused-based sales with a focus on e-Negotiable Warehouse Receipts. The report was submitted last week to help improve warehouse-based sales of agricultural produce.

The committee’s focus is on promoting trade in E-negotiable warehouse receipts (NWRs) through platforms like the Electronic National Agriculture Market (Enam) and other registered online trading platforms.

Key recommendations include the proposal to declare warehouses as deemed mandis if they adhere to State APMC laws, with the broad objective of enhancing farmers’ returns.

The committee’s recommendations were formulated through consultations with stakeholders representing State governments, small farmers, and agricultural businesses.

One recommendation put forth by the committee is the designation of warehouses as sub-market yards, simplifying the process of trading agricultural commodities stored within them.

This recommendation builds upon existing practices in States like Uttar Pradesh, where cold storages have already been declared as sub-market yards, facilitating direct trading between farmers and private entities.

Another aspect addressed in the report is the registration of warehouses with the Warehouse Development Regulatory Authority (WDRA). Hussain calls for the need for increased registration of warehouses to expand the ecosystem of E-negotiable warehouse receipts.

Challenges like grading standards and pledge financing against electronic NWRs are also examined, highlighting the need for policy interventions to address these issues immediately. The discussion underscored the importance of aligning grading norms with market realities and facilitating seamless financing mechanisms for farmers.

Hussain also said for a central law was needed to govern inter-State trading in agricultural commodities, ensuring transparency and accountability across State borders.

Listen in to know more. 

Host: MR Subramani; Producer: Siddharth MC.

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About the State of the Economy podcast 

India’s economy has been hailed as a bright spot amid the general gloom that seems to have enveloped the rest of the world. But several sectors continue to stutter even as others seem set to fire on all cylinders. To help you make sense of the bundle of contradictions that the country is, businessline brings you podcasts with experts ranging from finance and marketing to technology and start-ups.

Reasons why India is the global leader in copper recycling include efficient collection systems and minimal loss during processing, according to Mayur Karmarkar, Managing Director, International Copper Association, India.  

In this State of the Economy podcast with businessline’s Subramani Ra Mancombu, Karmarkar starts by elaborating on the significance of the stock and flow model, emphasising its role in guiding data-driven decisions for industry and government. (The stock and flow model will help in projecting demand, production, secondary output and recycling. In turn, it will help all stake holders. including the government, formulate apt strategies). The discussion underscores India's remarkable recycling efficiency, with a focus on the societal and economic factors driving the high collection and remelting rates.

Karmarkar goes on to mention the measures for improving product quality, including the implementation of quality control orders and incentivising investments in refining technologies.

Karmarkar stresses the importance of prioritising quality when purchasing copper products and responsibly recycling them at the end of their lifecycle. He highlights the role of consumers in supporting a transparent and compliant recycling ecosystem.

Host: Subramani Ra Mancombu; Producer: Amitha Rajkumar.

About the State of the Economy Podcast

India’s economy has been hailed as a bright spot amid the general gloom that seems to have enveloped the rest of the world. But several sectors continue to stutter even as others seem set to fire on all cylinders. To help you make sense of the bundle of contradictions that the country is, businessline brings you podcasts with experts ranging from finance and marketing to technology and start-ups.

In a conversation with businessline, BYD India’s Sanjay Gopalakrishnan projected a 30 to 40 per cent increase in overall EV sales in 2024. The company said it aimed to capitalise on this momentum by introducing a ‘diverse range of EVs tailored’ to Indian consumers’ preferences.

The BYD SEAL, launched recently, boasts of a 650-kilometre range. It has had more than 200 bookings received within days of its launch.

Gopalakrishnan pointed out that the government’s projections for penetration of EV four-wheelers are 30% by 2030, which he said was an optimistic outlook that the government was looking at. “This means you will have 30% of the six million PV sales annually - that is about 18 lakh EVs in 2030. But that is a very optimistic projection by the government. Yes, they are striving hard. All the OEMs are also in that play, striving hard. Even if 15-20% penetration occurs, still we will have almost 12-15 lakh EV sales annually for the sector.”

BYD sold more than 5.26 lakh units globally in the last quarter of 2023. It said that despite homologation issues in India, it had managed sales of approximately 22,000 units last year, introducing models such as the e6 MPV and the Atto 3 SUV.

Gopalakrishnan also said the company was open to exploring opportunities in the small car segment. Asked about the company’s aspirations in India, he said India is ‘long market’ because “the market situation is different. The economy is different. The consumer profiles are different, car density per thousand is also different compared to even some of the developing countries. So I think it’s a long term. We will definitely wait and we hope to be among the top leading players in India in the near future”.

Listen in!

Host & Producer: S Ronendra Singh

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About the State of the Economy podcast 

India’s economy has been hailed as a bright spot amid the general gloom that seems to have enveloped the rest of the world. But several sectors continue to stutter even as others seem set to fire on all cylinders. To help you make sense of the bundle of contradictions that the country is, businessline brings you podcasts with experts ranging from finance and marketing to technology and start-ups 

Come March and women are celebrated, felicitated and pampered by brands. Marketers put out campaigns galore paying tributes to women consumers, offering discounts and incentives. How effective are these International Women’s Day marketing campaigns? Meanwhile, while women’s day gets a lot of noise and visibility, marketers have also taken to celebrating other days in a big way too – be it Father’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Doctor’s day, Earth Day and so on. Is “Day Marketing” a lazy approach? Does it really convert into sales? Does it align with a brand’s purpose? Can brands actually take ownership of a day and build a narrative around it? 

Shiv Shivakumar, Operating Partner, Advent International and Jermina Menon, Founder of Knowetic and a seasoned retail marketing professional share their takes on these and more in conversation with Chitra Narayanan, Editorial Consultant, Businessline. They also share some fascinating brand trivia – tune in for some history on women’s day marketing and learn which was one of the first brands in India to adopt the day.

Host: Chitra Narayanan, Producer: Amitha Rajkumar

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About the State of the Economy podcast 

India’s economy has been hailed as a bright spot amid the general gloom that seems to have enveloped the rest of the world. But several sectors continue to stutter even as others seem set to fire on all cylinders. To help you make sense of the bundle of contradictions that the country is, businessline brings you podcasts with experts ranging from finance and marketing to technology and start-ups