India Inc. is increasingly going rural. Is it geared up to face the talent challenges?

More for sentiment than outcome, what the new government does in the first few weeks will be critical. Business Today spoke to a few experts to find out what these initiatives should be.

While affordability is the new mantra, some developers are going even lower— houses at less than a million bucks. Apart from the small ticket sizes of the apartments, developers are resorting to several innovations to cut down on costs and, thus, keep a check on the final price tag. Tejeesh N.S. Behl & Anusha Subramanian report.

P. Chidambaram—who during his various stints as finance minister has come to be seen as the champion of economic reforms in the country—communicates reforms to his people and, in fact, implements them. He is one politician who can sell good economics as good politics. N. Madhavan visits his constituency, Sivaganga, to test the hypothesis.

Though voice still remains the money spinner, telecom operators and handset makers are betting big on services to acquire the next 400 million customers. Kushan Mitra goes into the details.Broadband betGlobal downturn?The handsets pieThe new boys of telecomIndia epicentreBroadband for 99% IndiansThe crown jewel

Despite the appalling gaps in the delivery mechanics—cold chains, warehousing, processing centres and logistics—there is enough today to make entrepreneurs tackle specific projects in the farm-to-the table value chain. Entrepreneurs and investors are making most of the business opportunities that abound in the farm-to-fork value chain. Shamni Pande reports.

In businesses, big or small, ranging from manufacturing to music, the fight for intellectual property is getting intense. Neglect it and you could be out of business.

A big dip in confidence is causing consumers to stay at home and spend less. They are severely affecting not just businesses but themselves too.

The third quarter results confirmed the worst fears that the slowdown has hit companies hard. And the next quarter is likely to be worse.

Managers are racking their brains for strategies to beat the slowdown. But hotshots remain hotshots. We present 5th listing of India's young and happening executives.

BT takes a close look at sectors across the economy, noting the big events and placing on record the expectations for 2009.

Vikram Akula has revolutionised Indian microfinance by building SKS—one of the biggest brands in rural India. His critics feel that he has ignored the very people he should be helping.

WiMAX promises to be the next big thing in driving broadband penetration in India.

The global crisis will eclipse the Indian economy, but only partially. And recession is nowhere in sight. That's because the country's economy was already in a slowdown and India is also one of the least globalised economies among the emerging markets. However, will the financial crisis prolong the slowdown and make it more painful? Answers Shalini S. Dagar.The global financial crisisSo, where is the money?Panic grips Dalal StreetIs something wrong with ICICI Bank?When bad loans are sown in good timesWhen exotic turns toxicWall street woes, India’s opportunityThe Rs 60,000-crore time bomb

Here’s some good news.

They span generations and are there in every field, from biscuits to banking, from HR to hospitals. Denied entry into a male bastion, they create another industry. They are the most powerful women in the corporate world.

As a raft of general entertainment channels hits TV, the scramble for eyeballs gets even more frantic. That’s throwing up some surprising winners and losers. Shamni Pande reports. Anil Ambani eyes big pie in the DTH spaceTinseltown in your living room

As a slowdown looms, it’s time to look at niche companies that are insulated from the downturn.

Your cover story was timely. The report highlights the tenuous balance that needs to be maintained between controlling inflation on the one hand and sustaining and promoting growth on the other.

In a move that will lead to cheaper calls, TRAI has decided to scrap the Access Deficit Charge (ADC) from April. ADC is the charge levied (0.75 per cent of revenues) on all telecom companies to support BSNL’s fixed line services in rural India.