Corporate India is paying thousands of crores every year as ‘brand fees’ and royalties to parent or promoter entities — often without real justification.

Sucheta Dalal examines the explosive Vedanta–Hindustan Zinc case, where ₹4,100 crore was siphoned as brand royalty, sparking probes, refunds, and a Supreme Court case. But Vedanta is not alone — from Tata to Mahindra, JSW, Nestlé, Sony, and Jubilant, brand royalties have become a shadow channel for moving cash away from minority shareholders.

Will SEBI tighten its rules, or will it be left to the taxman to curb this opaque practice? Watch now to understand why brand royalties are one of the most controversial issues in Indian corporate governance.

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SEBI has approved sweeping changes to the minimum public shareholding (MPS) norms, allowing large companies to list with significantly lower public floats. While the move is being hailed as a boost for marquee IPOs like NSE, Reliance Retail, and Jio, critics warn it could expose retail investors to higher risks of volatility, manipulation, and poor price discovery.

Sucheta Dalal revisits past episodes of market excess, from the dotcom boom to the Adani controversy, to explain why robust public shareholding is critical for investor protection and market integrity. Is SEBI prioritising corporate interests over retail investors?

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

India’s government rushed through a ban on online gaming, citing addiction, suicides, and financial losses of ₹15,000 crore a year. But what about lotteries, stock market speculation, or predatory digital lending—each causing far bigger losses and distress?

In this audio, Sucheta Dalal examines the uneven crackdown on risky behaviour:

- Online gaming banned overnight

- Lotteries continue under state patronage

- Derivatives trading thrives despite ₹1 lakh+ crore losses a year

- Easy digital loans push people into debt traps

Why are some forms of “gambling” banned while others are protected or ignored? And what does this say about India’s approach to financial distress?

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Prime minister Narendra Modi has promised GST 2.0 as a “Diwali gift” to India. But will rationalised tax slabs and simplified compliance really light up the festive season—or will delays throw businesses and consumers into chaos?

In this audio, Sucheta Dalal breaks down why timing is everything. With companies already planning inventory, pricing, and campaigns, even a short delay in announcing GST reforms could disrupt India’s biggest sales season. From bizarre tax classifications (paratha vs roti, popcorn vs cream bun) to concerns of state revenues, GST 2.0 could be a make-or-break moment for India’s economy.

Watch now to understand what’s at stake and why the government must act fast.

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Chief Justice BR Gavai recently shredded Justice Sureshwar Thakur’s incomprehensible rulings, saying every one of his decisions overturned by the Supreme Court. But this is more than just one judge’s problem—it’s a damning reflection of India’s judicial system.

In this Acast, Sucheta Dalal explains how unclear, verbose judgements cost litigants decades, drain their finances, and erode faith in justice. Why does India have no accountability mechanism for judges? Why do opaque appointments and the collegium system let incompetence thrive unchecked? And what reforms are urgently needed to protect citizens from miscarriages of justice?

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.