Business Standard Official

Good morning! Here’s today’s Business Standard front page. Catch the stories shaping India’s business day: http://business-standard.com

📺 Macro Matters | Episode 7 What does the Indian State actually owe you? India can deliver cash, food, insurance and benefits to hundreds of millions of people. But is reaching a citizen the same as protecting one? Ankur Bhardwaj and A K Bhattacharya discuss how India’s welfare state is changing—and ask what happens when you lose a job, fall seriously ill, become disabled or reach old age. Does the State owe you a benefit—or security? Watch: https://youtu.be/0n4ZUUcrq7g

UPI: Free or Paid? The debate over removing the zero-MDR regime for UPI transactions has intensified after Parliament passed the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026. What would MDR mean for UPI, who should pay it and how much? Watch the 18th episode of BS Dialogue 👇 https://www.business-standard.com/webinars/bs-dialogue/upi-free-or-paid-27

FCNR(B) deposits dominate inflows under RBI's special forex swap facility ahead of the August 31 deadline; ECB and OFCB windows remain open until December 31. Earlier this month, the RBI announced it would advance the closure of the swap window - which was introduced on June 8 - by a month to August 31, 2026, largely on account of the “encouraging response” to the facility and the “resultant forex inflows”. The facility for ECBs and OFCBs, however, will remain available until December 31, 2026. Details: https://mybs.in/2g8XrSl

Opinion | Former foreign secretary Shyam Saran examines how the realignments in West Asia under the Makkah Pact complicate India’s counter-terrorism strategy along its vital western security flank in the Gulf. Read the full piece👇 https://mybs.in/2g8XPwk