Best of BS Opinion: India must address trade barriers, open up for business

Hello, and welcome to the Best of BS Opinion, our wrap of the day's Opinion page. The WTO’s latest review of India’s trade policy highlights concerns from the US and EU over tariffs, sanitary and phytosanitary norms, digital trade restrictions, and the proliferation of quality control orders. While some criticism may overlook similar barriers imposed by other countries, second editorial welcomes this clarity but urges the government to expedite Cabinet and security clearances, pointing to prolonged delays that have held up commercial launches. Regulatory uncertainty over spectrum auctions, administered pricing, and licensing has compounded the problem, while security concerns have slowed approvals for operators including Eutelsat OneWeb and Starlink. Faster decisions are essential if satellite internet is to improve connectivity in underserved areas. The inability of boards to plan CEO succession stems from their reluctance to challenge powerful incumbents, creating a governance weakness that can remain concealed until a leader departs or a crisis erupts. Examples from Tata Sons and HDFC Bank illustrate how boards can defer difficult decisions, while the Royal Bank of Scotland’s collapse after its ill-fated ABN Amro acquisition shows the potentially disastrous consequences. Excessive “collegiality”, cosy relationships, and CEO influence over board appointments further weaken independence, Prasanna Tantri favoursthe Market Stabilisation Scheme, despite its fiscal cost, because it can sterilise liquidity without making banks dependent on reserves that may later prove difficult to withdraw. BRICS as A Global Alternative: Prospects and Concerns for India, a collection of essays and addresses from a seminar in Kolkata earlier this year and edited by Suranjan Das and Tridib Chakraborti, examines Brics' evolution from an economic grouping of emerging economies into a broader coalition seeking a more inclusive and multipolar global order. Its contributors highlight the opportunities and complications created by the bloc’s expansion, Telegram channel

First Published: Sep 11 2026 | 6:15 AM IST