Mint Primer - podcast cover

Mint Primer

Mint - HT Smartcastmint-primer.simplecast.com
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.
Last refreshed:
Follow this podcast in the Metacast mobile app to refresh it and see new episodes.
Download Metacast podcast app
Podcasts are better in Metacast mobile app
Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more

Episodes

Why passenger car sales may sputter in FY25

Top officials of the $120 billion domestic automotive industry met in New Delhi last week to brainstorm over what could be in store next year. They expect a slowdown in the growth of passenger vehicles.

Feb 08, 20246 minEp. 302

No more targets: A new strategy for divestment

For the fifth year in a row, the government is set to miss its divestment target. It has now adopted a new strategy and has decided against fixing a divestment target. Why did the targeted approach fail and why do we need divestments?

Feb 07, 20246 minEp. 301

India’s deep tech corpus: Is ₹1 tn really enough?

The interim union budget for FY25 announced the setting-up of a ₹1 trillion-corpus to fund deep-tech ventures. This gives India’s nascent deep-tech sectors a shot in the arm. However, there will be challenges. Mint explains why the corpus is significant.

Feb 06, 20246 minEp. 300

Telepathy: Would you put a chip in your brain?

Elon Musk-owned Neuralink has implanted a brain chip in a patient who is “recovering well”. Neuralink’s brain-computer interface (BCI) can help patients use their limbs through thought. But some are wary about the lack of details provided by Musk.

Feb 05, 20245 minEp. 299

Five numbers to help you unlock the Union budget

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman presents her sixth annual budget, albeit an interim one, today, likely furnishing a report card on the government’s performance in the past five years. Here are five key numbers to watch out for and cut through the economic jargon:

Feb 01, 20246 minEp. 298

A $7 tn economy by 2030: How feasible is it?

In its review of the Indian economy released on Monday, the finance ministry said India can become a $7 trillion economy by 2030. That means it will almost double its GDP in the next six years. Is it possible? Mint weighs the possibilities.

Jan 31, 20246 minEp. 297

Can AI ring in a change for smartphones?

On 17 January, Samsung launched its new flagship smartphone under the Galaxy S24 moniker, claiming it was “the world’s first AI smartphone”. Will such phones help revive a smartphone market that isn’t growing?

Jan 30, 20246 minEp. 296

Is the coaching system failing India’s students?

Government guidelines on regulating the coaching industry will impact thousands of tutoring centres that have mushroomed across the country. What’s wrong with the system and why were these guidelines needed in the first place

Jan 25, 20246 minEp. 295

Self-regulation for fintechs: Why is it needed?

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has published a draft framework that lays down the broad functions, governance standards and eligibility criteria for setting up a self-regulatory organization (SRO) for fintech companies. Why is such a body needed

Jan 23, 20246 minEp. 294

Iran-Pakistan: Is the West Asia crisis widening?

After days of being locked in a dangerous-looking military confrontation, Pakistan and Iran appear to have settled the immediate crisis. Iran launched the first missile strike, hitting a terror base in Pakistan’s Baluchistan. Just what’s going on here?

Jan 22, 20246 minEp. 293

250 million out of poverty: How to read this headline

In a new paper, the Niti Aayog said around 248 million Indians exited ‘multidimensional poverty’ (MDP) in the nine years from 2013-14 to 2022-23. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has used the data to suggest a reduction in poverty during his tenure.

Jan 18, 20246 minEp. 292

Superbugs: What to do about pills that don’t work

Indians love to self-medicate and pop their pills like candies. A recent government report sheds light on why prevention may not always be better than cure, and how we are staring at a crisis where antibiotics might just stop working

Jan 16, 20246 minEp. 291

What to expect from the grand Davos meet

Leaders from across the world will congregate in the picturesque Swiss town for the 54th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) against a backdrop of rising geopolitical tensions, high inflation and tepid global growth.

Jan 15, 20246 minEp. 290

Pulse of a nation: Is self-sufficiency in dal possible?

Last week, the government launched a new portal to buy pulses directly from farmers at support prices, targeting to be self-sufficient by 2027. To achieve that goal farmers will also need high-yielding varieties and a favourable trade policy.

Jan 12, 20246 minEp. 289

Does Google care about your data and privacy?

Google has started testing of its Privacy Sandbox initiative for Chrome. By ending cookies, Google wants people to believe that it’ll boost user privacy. Mint analyses what the move means for advertisers, users, and Google’s $250 billion ad-revenue empire.

Jan 11, 20246 minEp. 288

India Club: what it means for our shipping firms

India plans to set up its own protection and indemnity (P&l) entity— the India Club—for providing insurance to ships operating in Indian coasts and waterways. Currently, the shipping industry relies on global firms for insurance. Mint explains the significance

Jan 10, 20246 minEp. 287

What the surprise manufacturing slowdown means

The HSBC India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), compiled by S&P Global, surprisingly fell to an 18-month low in December. This came at a time when the economic growth has crossed expectations. Mint reviews its possible effect on the economy.

Jan 08, 20246 minEp. 286

Will office real estate bounce back this year?

The second half of 2023 saw an uptick in office demand and leasing, propelled by global capability centres (GCCs), flex operators, and domestic corporates. Is this the beginning of a sustained recovery curve for the commercial office sector?

Jan 05, 20246 minEp. 285

Hit-and-runs: truckers and the Indian economy

Truckers are protesting against proposed stringent punishment for hit-and-run accidents. It has led to fuel shortages in many cities and put the spotlight on the importance of this sector. Mint looks at the economics of truckers and their impact on the economy.

Jan 04, 20246 minEp. 284

Will no-poach agreements hold in India?

Recent weeks have seen the Indian IT services industry raking up no-poach clauses when it came to senior employee exits. Legal claims have been made. What explains this sort of reaction? Are these clauses even legally enforceable?

Jan 03, 20246 minEp. 283

What to expect from the 16th finance panel

The government on Sunday named former vice chairman of Niti Aayog and Columbia University professor Arvind Panagariya as the chairman of the Sixteenth Finance Commission (SFC), a constitutional body. Mint takes a look at what to expect from the SFC.

Jan 02, 20245 minEp. 282

Will retail trade policy boost ease of doing business

Retail is a major contributor to GDP and employment, and India is expected to be the third largest consumer market by 2030, after China and the US. Yet, the trade is undermined by difficulty of doing business. The Centre’s retail policy could change things

Dec 29, 20236 minEp. 281

Are real-life Dunki stories on the rise?

A charter plane with 276 Indian passengers, grounded in France for four days due to suspected human smuggling, returned to Mumbai on Tuesday. The incident underlines the risks of illegal migration, also highlighted in the film Dunki.

Dec 28, 20237 minEp. 280

The fall and fall of the country’s logistics costs

A new and more scientific way of calculation has put India’s logistics cost much lower than before. How sharp is this drop? Mint explains the reduction, where India stands globally when it comes to the cost of logistics, and what more needs to be done

Dec 22, 20236 minEp. 279

Covid is spiking again. Just how serious is it now?

A new strain of covid-19 has emerged, raising concerns. The first recorded instance of this virus, known as JN.1, was found in Kerala on 8 December in a 78-year-old woman. More cases have been detected since. How serious is the strain?

Dec 21, 20236 minEp. 278

Two-wheelers are picking up, but will it last?

Two-wheeler sales are speeding again. At least that’s what production data and retail sales in the festive months of September, October and November show. Does it mean the segment, hurt by income disruptions during covid, is back on its feet?

Dec 20, 20236 minEp. 277

Why India needs a new policy for hydropower

A hydropower policy is in the works. This comes at a time when India has set ambitious energy transition goals with plans for 500 GW of installed non-fossil power capacity by 2030. Hydro projects are also strategically important. Mint explains the policy imperatives.

Dec 14, 20236 minEp. 276

Can’t afford a new home? Next year could get better

Affordability to buy homes dipped in 2022 and 2023 after interest rates went up and property prices shot up in some cities. However, market watchers believe that affordability may improve next year. Why is this so?

Dec 13, 20236 minEp. 275

Dark pattern whip: Will it alter online shopping?

The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has notified guidelines on dark patterns to stop online firms from force-selling, pushing unsolicited subscriptions and showing misleading ads. Mint explains how these guidelines may change online shopping.

Dec 11, 20235 minEp. 274

IIT placements: What they say on campus hiring

Placements at the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) are a barometer for how the hiring market shapes up in any given year. The battlegrounds of IITs t,his year are calm, indicating weak appetite among companies across sectors. Listen full episode here

Dec 08, 20237 minEp. 273
For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android