Long Story

Our daily Long Story is a deep dive into a specific contemporary issue, brought to you from the front lines with original reportage by our best journalists. Each story is carefully written, edited, fact checked and published only when we are satisfied that your time will be well spent reading it.

Companies

Demagnetized giants: Why India’s corporate titans are resisting the pull of a ₹7,280-crore magnet race

India sits on massive rare-earth deposits, yet remains 90% dependent on China for the vital magnets powering EVs and defence systems. As a PLI deadline looms, why are India’s corporate giants demagnetized?

13 min read25 Jun 2026
Global

How a $45 million donation brought Larry Ellison deeper into Trump’s circle

The billionaire’s private friendship with the president has helped Oracle’s business and his son’s media conglomerate.

8 min read24 Jun 2026
From:
AI

The Existence Project: Inside a tribal district’s race to teach AI a language with no script

To put their language on the AI map, the people of one tribal district are finding that saving Bhili means saving the culture it holds. As India races to reach millions by voice, Nandurbar’s struggle is the test case everyone else will learn from.

11 min read23 Jun 2026
Economy

From village adulteration to organized food crime: The evolution of India’s fake milk industry

Evidence is emerging that in some northern states and Gujarat people are being sold fake milk that looks and tastes like the real thing. This deep dive looks at the growing sophistry in adulterating milk and how consumers can protect themselves.

12 min read22 Jun 2026
AI

Anthropic’s astonishing commercial success makes it a target

Anthropic's rapid rise has sparked a power struggle with the Trump administration over AI regulation, national security and control of advanced models. The clash threatens its IPO, highlights gaps in AI governance, and raises a bigger question: who should control transformative AI technology?

13 min read22 Jun 2026
From:
Companies

CS Setty says SBI deserves a better valuation. The market is starting to agree.

State Bank of India is now better positioned from a regulatory and growth-capital perspective, Chairman C.S. Setty says.

12 min read22 Jun 2026
Companies

Beat the peers, drop the stock: The brutal reality facing Cognizant CEO Ravi Kumar

Cognizant is outgrowing its biggest rivals, yet its stock just hit a six-year low. As OpenAI and Anthropic trigger existential panic, can CEO Ravi Kumar S’s radical pivot to a flatter, AI-first workforce save the IT giant?

9 min read17 Jun 2026
Companies

Natural intelligence on the ropes: Why India’s middle managers are becoming obsolete

For decades, the corporate ladder had a clearly defined path: start low, reach middle management, and rise to the top. AI is taking out the middle rungs in that ladder, ending careers midstream. If you’re a manager or a junior, this is a must-read.

10 min read15 Jun 2026
Companies

Nykaa Fashion’s turnaround is taking shape, but the hard part lies ahead

For years, Nykaa Fashion has been the unanswered question in the company’s growth story. A profitable quarter offers fresh hope, but turning a promising strategy into a lasting business remains elusive.

11 min read14 Jun 2026
Economy

The El Niño isn’t ‘Super’ yet. But will ‘The Little Boy’ cast a long shadow over India?

The India Meteorological Department has forecast a worrisome 10% shortfall, as compared with the 50-year average, for the ongoing monsoon season. The good news is that experts say India is better prepared to handle a deficit monsoon today.

11 min read11 Jun 2026