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An explosive investigation by Sucheta Dalal uncovers how over Rs1.5 lakh crore belonging to government schemes, welfare programmes, charities, and even military funds has quietly landed in the Reserve Bank of India’s Depositor Education and Awareness Fund (DEAF) — forgotten, unclaimed, and unaccounted for.

From ESIC and EPFO accounts to Gram Panchayat Yojanas, Chief Minister’s Relief Funds, and charitable trusts, Moneylife’s research reveals a massive systemic failure — where money meant for public welfare now sits locked away.

This audio exposes how RBI’s UDGAM portal, meant to help recover unclaimed deposits, is riddled with flaws, making discovery nearly impossible. The question remains: Who is accountable for this vanished public wealth?

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In this episode of Crosshairs, Sucheta Dalal traces the arc of India’s most powerful financial institution — the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) — from the 1957 Haridas Mundhra scandal to the present-day Adani controversy.

Drawing parallels between Justice M.C. Chagla’s fearless public inquiry and today’s opaque decision-making, she exposes how decades of political interference and bureaucratic secrecy have eroded LIC’s accountability.

This is the story of how India’s once-transparent institutions turned into fortresses of silence — and why it matters to every policyholder.

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What really drives long-term economic growth? In this video, Debashis Basu talks about the idea of “useful knowledge”—a concept developed by economist Joel Mokyr—to explain why some societies continue to progress while others stagnate. He explores how countries such as China and those in the West have built strong networks connecting science, research, and industry, and why India still struggles to bridge its vast pool of talent with innovation on the ground.

Debashis Basu argues that India’s path to becoming a Viksit Bharat doesn’t lie in grand policy blueprints, but in building institutions, research ecosystems, and a culture that values practical, applicable knowledge. Can India finally turn its intellectual potential into sustained prosperity? Let’s explore.

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The Tata Group — India’s most respected business empire — is once again in the midst of a quiet storm. A power struggle between Noel Tata, the Shapoorji Pallonji (SP) Group, and Mehli Mistry has brought internal tensions to the surface, raising serious questions about the future of governance and leadership at Tata Sons.

In this episode of Crosshairs, Sucheta Dalal examines the fault lines within the group, the opaque role of Tata Trusts, the sidelining of the SP Group, and the surprising move to seek government intervention in what should have been an internal matter.

Will the Tata legacy of integrity and independence survive this inflection point — or will the empire built by Jamsetji, JRD, and Ratan Tata fracture under its own weight?

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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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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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President Trump’s 50% tariff threat on Indian exports has shaken India’s leadership. Can India turn this crisis into an opportunity for reform? Sucheta Dalal argues that to make the dream of Viksit Bharat a reality, India must go beyond rhetoric and fix four fundamental issues: compliance overload, enforcement overreach, rampant corruption, and judicial gridlock.

From MSMEs crushed under 1,450 compliance obligations, to tax terrorism and corruption draining resources, to judicial delays crippling contract enforcement — the challenges are deep and systemic. Unless India tackles these bottlenecks head-on, lofty promises and task forces won’t bridge the gap between vision and reality.

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After years of silence, Anil Ambani's debt-ridden companies are finally under serious scrutiny. From telecom giant Reliance Communications to finance arms like RCFL and RHFL, the ED is probing a massive ₹17,000 crore bank fraud. This exposé dives deep into how one of India’s most high-profile business empires unravelled in plain sight — and why regulators, bankers, auditors, and trustees looked the other way for so long.

Sucheta Dalal traces the collapse of the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG), once valued at ₹1.7 lakh crore, and lays bare the systemic failures that let it fester. With top executives under the scanner and SEBI already imposing steep penalties, will this finally lead to accountability — or is it another show of action without consequences?

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