India-U.S.: The Ultra-Long Haul Challenge

India’s air bubble agreement with the U.S. has given a fillip to 16-hour non-stop flights, bypassing the need to halt in hubs such as Dubai, Frankfurt, and Singapore. Air India has taken a lead, but questions remain about its continuity.

Rebooting Indo-U.S. Tech Ties

With Biden as President, India’s eyes will be on the way the new administration deals with H-1B visa rules.

Business With Biden: The Big Indo-U.S. Tax Conundrum

India has much to gain if U.S. President Joe Biden focusses more on expanding bilateral free trade and investment, rather than go ahead with his tax proposals. But it won’t be easy. The economic climate in America has moved towards protectionism, something that even enjoys bipartisan support in the U.S. Congress. The pandemic has upended the U.S. economy, and Biden has a tightrope walk ahead.

The Conversation KRIS GOPALAKRISHNAN

Infosys co-founder Senapathy ‘Kris’ Gopalakrishnan is a very private person behind a public face. The 65-year-old billionaire entrepreneur, who has channelled his passion for research, innovation, and entrepreneurship by backing projects at academic institutions and funding startups, says his investments are not just for returns, but to create an innovation-led economy.

VACCINE: Ready, Set, Roll-out

With two vaccines having received emergency use authorisation, India is prepared to meet the logistical challenge. For now, the deployment has begun with the vaccination of frontline healthcare workers.

STREAM ON

IN THE FIVE YEARS THAT NETFLIX HAS BEEN IN INDIA, IT HAS GROWN EVERY YEAR, AND WON PRAISE FOR ITS LOCALLY-PRODUCED SHOWS. BUT WITH ITS PREMIUM PRICING, AND INCREASED COMPETITION, THE GLOBAL STREAMING GIANT WILL HAVE TO WORK EVEN HARDER TO STEAL THE SHOW.

Piramal Wins the DHFL Battle

The home finance company is key to his future plans in the financial sector, but the billionaire entrepreneur may have to wait longer to actually take over the troubled lender.

Nerves of Steel

The Tata group has a history of grit and is no stranger to big-ticket acquisitions. But its bid for loss-making airline Air India could be its litmus test.

DRIVE SHARE AND SUBSCRIBE

SAFETY AND AFFORDABILITY CONCERNS AMONG COMMUTERS HAVE GIVEN A FILLIP TO SHARED MOBILITY, WITH SUBSCRIPTION-BASED MODELS GAINING TRACTION. WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR THE INDUSTRY TO REALISE ITS TRUE POTENTIAL?

BUSINESS OF BIKES: AMERICAN AUTO'S INDIA ROADBLOCK

Harley-Davidson’s exit from India is the latest in a series of unsuccessful forays by American cult automobile companies in the country. India is seen by the United States as a tough market to crack, and multiple trade irritants mar the relationship between the two countries. However, under the new Joe Biden presidency there is renewed hope that these trade issues would be taken up. But concerns also exist that the U.S. might not fully dismantle the trade nationalism and protectionism that characterised the Donald Trump administration.

How May I Help You?

Rajeev Karwal-led Milagrow has seen a surge in demand during Covid-19 and aims to be among the world’s top robotics firms.

Does Banking Need A More Humane Touch?

The only silver lining from Covid-19 is the chance for all of us to reset our lives, our social structures, and our businesses.

Spoilt For Choice

India was never a market for luxury cars. Not anymore. Now affluence is fuelling the demand for these gorgeous machines.

The Fast and the Furious

German luxury automaker Mercedes-Benz has gotten attention with a new assembly line in Pune to put together its premier AMG line-up. Will it manage to rope in more buyers as well?

The Conversation RONOJOY DUTTA

United Airlines, Air Canada, US Airways, and Air Sahara were Ronojoy Dutta’s stamping grounds, before taking over as chief executive officer of InterGlobe Aviation, which owns IndiGo, in January 2019. Since then, it hasn’t been clear blue skies for the 68-year-old: the airline’s promoters fought and Covid-19 stalled air travel. But Dutta now sees tailwinds emerging.

THE FIRST LADY OF WALL STREET

HOW DID JANE FRASER, POISED TO TAKE OVER AS CEO OF CITI IN FEBRUARY, BREAK BANKING’S HIGHEST, HARDEST GLASS CEILING?

FACE - OFF

Paytm is rallying Indian developers for its mini app store in a bid to challenge Google’s dominance in the market. It also fits squarely into its plans of being a super app or a one-stop-shop for consumers. Will it succeed?

EAR TO THE GROUND

Beginning its life as a microfinance company, Bandhan has made its name as a commercial bank to watch out for. It now wants to leapfrog into the future. Will it be able to work its magic again?

DABUR'S NEW NORMAL

The pandemic has seen the 136-year-old company reboot by fast-tracking product launches, embracing automation, upping the emphasis on e-commerce, and focussing on its health portfolio.

Biden-Harris: The Reset And India

The real message of a Biden presidency will be more political than either strategic or economic.

The Pain Before Covid-19

Total profits of the Fortune India 500 companies declined nearly 22% over the previous year, while cumulative revenues fell by 1.4%.

The Gold Rush

There was heightened activity around investments and consolidation within the Indian retail industry this year. Seated at the high table are Reliance Industries, Walmart-owned Flipkart, JeffBezos’ Amazon, and the Tata group. Game on, then.

WHAT LIES BENEATH

Page Industries got the underwear out of the closet and, in the process, achieved a decadal success story like no other. A slowing economy has dented its sheen, but the company believes it is still in a sweet spot.

WHEELS IN MOTION

Tata Motors is recovering its mojo, one category at a time. Passenger vehicles are on track, powered by new design sensibilities. Now the auto major is looking to bring the shine back to its crown jewel, JLR.

The Conversation ADITYA PURI

When a rival bank tweets 1 good wishes to the retiring CEO of another bank, you know that person is no ordinary banker. Aditya Puri, 70, who helmed the country’s most valued banking institution, HDFC Bank, for 26 years, retired in end-October and, within days, joined The Carlyle Group. Presenting the Aditya Puri masterclass on leadership, institution-building, and change management.

ON HOPE AND A PRAYER

AS THE WORLD AWAITS A PANACEA FOR COVID-19, PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES HAVE THEIR FEET FIRMLY ON THE ACCELERATOR TO GET PEOPLE A SAFE VACCINE TO STEM THE SPIRAL OF DEATH AND ILLNESS LOOMING OVER HUMANITY.

It's Time To Hire A Chief Health Officer

Employee safety is taking centre stage, no matter what industry you’re in.

The 50 Most Powerful Women In Business

SINCE 2011, it has been an annual exercise at Fortune India to put out a list of the 50 Most Powerful Women (MPW) in Business. Every year, Fortune India’s journalists make sure that the list reflects the achievements of women leaders in their chosen fields of business. The list is always an indicative one, as we pick the top 50. Like always, this year’s MPW list was compiled based on a broad set of parameters which includes the impact of the business on the Indian economy, the financial health of the business, longevity of the person’s career, and, importantly, her social and cultural influence. For the 2020 list, the period under review was between July 2019 and June 2020. In the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic, though, we extended the review period to September 2020. And those who made the cut did so because they were at the forefront in the fight against the pandemic, navigated their businesses successfully through a tough period, and in some cases even struck multibillion dollar corporate deals.

The Conversation BILL GATES

The Microsoft co-founder and co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is spending much of his prodigious fortune 1 trying to change the world—by tackling the diseases that hurt the poorest of the poor. But this year, a generation’s worth of progress is being threatened by a once-in-a-century pandemic. Can an all-in bet on science and innovation set us back on course?

It Isn't a Fine Autumn Sky

Indian aviation is flying through heavy turbulence despite the government’s pro-industry directives. And the surge in Covid-19 cases across India is making matters worse.