U.S. Supreme Court ruling on tariffs, former Prince Andrew’s arrest, Iran fortifying military sites and more: The week in 5 charts

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(1) U.S. Supreme Court rules against President Trump’s tariffs The U.S. Supreme Court ruled President Donald Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs illegal on Friday last week (February 20, 2026), calling them an overreach of Presidential authority using a law meant for national emergencies. The verdict came in a 6-3 ruling.  Following the verdict, the President imposed … Read more

India’s taxpayer base more than doubled in the last decade

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India’s direct tax system has undergone a significant expansion over the last decade, marked by a sharp rise in the number of taxpayers as well as sustained improvements in administrative efficiency. Time-series data released by the Income-Tax Department indicate that this expansion has been broad-based and persistent, reflecting deeper formal participation rather than a short-lived … Read more

Can India overtake Bangladesh in textile exports to the European Union?

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India’s textile sector has been steadily losing ground in global export markets. In contrast, Bangladesh has woven together a remarkable export success. Given the recently signed India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA), and with Bangladesh poised to lose its Least Developed Country (LDC) status, this is an opportune moment for India’s textile industry. Within the textile … Read more

BNP sweeps Bangladesh elections, Andhra Pradesh Budget 2026, and more: The week in 5 charts

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(1) BNP sweeps Bangladesh elections The Bangladesh Nationalist Party, led by chairman Tarique Rahman, is set to return to power in Dhaka after two decades, following a landslide victory in the February 12 Parliamentary election, winning over 210 seats out of the 299 seats that were contested. The 11-party alliance led by the Jamaat-e-Islami has won 77 seats. This was the … Read more

‘Online education is one of the biggest finds of the last decade’

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Kadhambari S. Viswanathan, assistant vice-president, Vellore Institute of Technology, in conversation with L.V. Navaneeth, Chief Executive Officer, The Hindu Group, at The Hindu Tech Summit 2026 on Friday (February 13, 2026). | Photo Credit: B. VELANKANNI RAJ Online education is one of the biggest finds of the last decade, Kadhambari S. Viswanathan, assistant vice-president, Vellore Institute … Read more

Tale of two consumers: Rural aspiration vs. urban caution

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While rural Indians began the year feeling relatively confident, their urban counterparts remained cautious, according to a reading of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)’s consumer confidence survey. While the rural population is driving consumption beyond essentials, urban consumers remain financially conservative, despite enjoying slightly better income stability, the survey results suggest. The conclusions are … Read more