The 180 Pulse
With thought-provoking articles covering varied domains, 180DC SRCC aims to create student leaders through a holistic learning experience.
Read to take a deep dive into looking at world issues from the eyes of a consultant.
BUSINESS AND FINANCE
Pay Later, Pay More? The Hidden Costs and Risks of ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ Services
Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) has reshaped online shopping by making purchases feel lighter through small “interest-free” instalments. This reduces the immediate pain of paying and encourages impulse spending, especially among younger consumers influenced by peers and social media.
For many with irregular incomes, BNPL offers short-term flexibility, but often at a long-term price. Hidden fees, penalties for missed deadlines, and confusing terms can quietly turn convenience into debt. With inconsistent credit reporting and limited regulation, users may unknowingly harm their credit health.
BNPL isn’t inherently bad, but it demands caution. Before clicking “Pay Later”, pause and ask yourself: Do I truly need it and can I manage the instalments that follow? Read this article by Ridhima Dugar to discover the full story.
The AI Bubble: Why $2.8 Trillion in Spending Can’t Find a Profit
The AI boom raises a natural question: why has investment exploded so far ahead of real returns? Trillions are being poured into data centres and chips, yet revenue growth remains limited and most enterprise pilots fail to scale. This creates uncertainty about whether the moment reflects true technological progress or another speculative cycle similar to the late-1990s telecom overbuild.
Financial institutions now warn that valuations look overstretched and productivity gains remain modest. The conclusion that emerges is clear: only disciplined capital allocation, careful use-case selection, strong governance, and staged execution can convert AI’s potential into sustainable value.
Find out in Aviral Kapoor’s article how disciplined strategy, not speculation, will define AI’s real winners.
What if the real cost of convenience isn’t just financial, but societal?
What if the real cost of convenience isn’t just financial, but societal?
In a world where groceries arrive in 10 minutes, our patience is shrinking, and our expectations are skyrocketing. Platforms like Blinkit, Zepto, and Instamart promise time saved, but at what cost?
This article explores the deeper implications of India’s ultrafast delivery model, ranging from environmental degradation and worker exploitation to unsustainable business practices and the gradual disappearance of local shops. Backed by hard numbers and real-world evidence, it challenges the assumption that faster is always better and asks whether our pursuit of convenience is rewiring the way we live, consume, and connect.
Find out in Kevika’s article whether it is time to slow down and rethink what “convenient” really means?
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
DevOps: A Practice to Efficiency
DevOps and cloud computing are a dream team. Cloud’s on-demand resources and automation fuel DevOps’ agile software delivery. This dynamic duo streamlines processes, boosts development speed, and optimizes resource allocation. By embracing both, businesses unlock innovation and gain a competitive advantage. The future of DevOps is bright, with a projected market size of $25.5 billion by 2028. As cyber threats evolve, DevSecOps, which integrates security into the DevOps lifecycle, is gaining traction. Check out Aadi Jain’s article as he delves into the intricacies of DevOps.
Generative AI in the Workplace
Generative AI is expected to enhance the world economy by $4.4 trillion annually, according to McKinsey. However, ascent creates duality. Over the next ten years, Goldman Sachs predicts a 1.5% increase in productivity and a 7% increase in the GDP. On the other hand, by 2030 the ILO expects 12 million employment shifts, mostly in food, office, production, and customer service roles. the pattern? adaptation via upgrading one’s skills. Resounding effects of a revolutionary workplace are Accenture, Axios, and Gartner. However, moral conundrums, data privacy, and profound weaknesses in fakes loom, necessitating strict governance systems.”
Read more to find out Shreyansh Krishna’s take on the future of Gen AI in the workplace.
Use of Data Analytics in Sports
In a world where victory is often decided by the narrowest of margins, data has emerged as the ultimate weapon in the arsenal of athletes, coaches, and teams alike.
From tracking player movements to analyzing opponent tendencies, sports analytics is transforming the way the game is played and understood.
In this comprehensive article, we delve into the fascinating realm of sports analytics, exploring its impact on everything from player performance to team strategy.
Discover how data is being used to gain a competitive edge, and learn about the cutting-edge technologies that are shaping the future of sports.
ECONOMIC AND PUBLIC POLICY
The Shadow Economy: Unmasking the Global Mechanics of Money Laundering
Money laundering is often seen as a distant, sophisticated crime, but it silently shapes global finance, fuels terrorism, and distorts economies. From shell companies and crypto wallets to false invoicing and deepfake identities, the methods have become smarter, faster, and harder to trace.
Despite strong laws and global frameworks, only a tiny fraction of illicit flows are ever detected. Regulatory gaps, weak data systems, and cross-border loopholes keep the shadow economy alive.
Money laundering isn’t just a financial crime; it’s a threat to governance, stability, and everyday economic fairness. Explore the full analysis in Madhav’s article.
Why are “Chips” the New Oil?
Semiconductors have quietly become the strategic backbone of the 21st century, powering everything from artificial intelligence and electric vehicles to defence, communication, and critical infrastructure. Their significance became undeniable when the global chip shortage revealed how dependent the world is on a fragile supply chain concentrated in only a few places.
With Taiwan manufacturing most of the world’s advanced chips, the U.S.-China technology rivalry has escalated, pushing countries to prioritise security, self-reliance, and strategic investment in chip ecosystems.
As Moore’s Law slows, breakthroughs are shifting toward advanced packaging, heterogeneous integration, and specialised chip design, making talent, innovation, and geopolitical stability more vital than ever. Discover the full story in Rushil’s article.
The Price of Protectionism
The article provides an in-depth analysis of the 2025 US-China trade war, where both nations have reignited tariff battles targeting critical sectors like semiconductors, EV batteries, agriculture, and luxury goods. It explains how this renewed conflict is disrupting global supply chains, pushing major companies to shift manufacturing to countries like India, Vietnam, Mexico, and Thailand. The article also highlights China’s growing trade alliances with Africa and Latin America, the expansion of regional trade blocs like RCEP and IPEF, and the increasing push towards de-dollarization through yuan-based trade settlements and BRICS-led payment systems.
Check out this article by Divyanshu Jha as he emphasizes that sustainable global growth now depends on renewed multilateral cooperation, transparent trade practices, and a strategic shift from zero-sum competition to mutual interdependence.
Philosophy and Psychology
The Paradox of Choice: Does More Freedom Make Us Less Happy?
The Paradox of Choice: Is Too Much Freedom Making Us Unhappy?
We live in a world overflowing with options: internships, career paths, products, even identities. While this abundance promises freedom, it often leads to decision fatigue, anxiety, and second-guessing.
Psychologist Barry Schwartz calls this the Paradox of Choice: when having too many options makes us less happy, not more.
But what if the answer lies in thinking like a consultant? By using structured tools, frameworks and constraints, we can cut through the noise, make better choices and feel more confident.
Check out Aditya Duggal’s article as he delves deep into the Paradox of Choice and explores how applying consulting principles to everyday life can help navigate complexity and bring clarity.
Psycho-Strategists: Navigating Corporate Success through Consulting Psychology
Combining psychology and strategic thinking, a new breed of consultants is emerging: the psycho-strategists. These experts help organizations address challenges by understanding the psychological dynamics at play. They design interventions to improve employee well-being, manage talent effectively, and navigate change with greater ease. By leveraging psychological insights, psycho-strategists are shaping the future of organizational consulting.
Check out Sara Maheshwari’s article as she delves into the intricacies of Consulting Psychology.
The Art of Negotiation: Applying Psychological Principles for Success
This piece offers specific advice for negotiation success by delving into psychological concepts. It stresses the importance of empathy and active listening for establishing genuine connections and gaining insights. Cognitive biases like the anchoring effect are explored, along with strategies for maximizing the impact of recommendations. The pre-negotiation stage, including refining BATNA and conducting thorough research, is thoroughly covered. Trust-building, emotion regulation, and creative problem-solving techniques are discussed for managing high-stakes transactions or personal disputes, enhancing negotiation skills, and redefining success on personal terms, fostering confidence and composure in negotiations.