In this week’s wrapup, we talk about the economics of space exploration, why private credit has run into trouble, the Draft IT Rules, why India’s airline CEOs are stepping down, and a loophole in India’s waste recycling system.

Also, in this week’s Markets edition, we discuss what market volatility really tests and why waiting to buy at the bottom is often a not-so-wise idea. You can read the full story here.

With that out of the way, let’s look back at what we wrote this week.

The economics of space exploration

Just a few days ago, NASA launched the Artemis II. This has kick-started the race to the moon once again after more than 50 years, despite being brutally expensive. So then, why go back?

You see, for NASA, the Moon is a testing ground. It helps us figure out how to survive in deep space, build infrastructure, and prepare for missions to Mars. And that seems to be an economic incentive. Because the moon is not just a barren rock. Recent missions, including our own Chandrayaan, have confirmed that there is water ice near the moon’s poles. This could be turned into rocket fuel. Which means the Moon could become a refuelling station, drastically cutting the cost of future missions.

There’s also talk of mining rare materials like Helium-3, which could power future energy systems. Sounds promising, right?

But, is space exploration an investment in the future or just a very costly ambition?

Read our full story to find out more.

The private credit boom has a problem

Recently, Blue Owl Capital, a giant fund manager, told investors that they can’t withdraw all their money. And it’s not the only one. Across the fast-growing private credit market, big firms like BlackRock, Ares Management, Apollo, and KKR are quietly capping withdrawals as more investors rush to pull out.

So what’s going on?

Well, the private credit industry exploded after the 2008 Global Financial Crisis, promising steady 8–12% returns by lending to mid-sized companies. But now, rising risks are making investors nervous, and many want to exit at once. The problem though, is that this money isn’t easy to pull out, prompting some analysts to wonder if a 2008-like crisis could be brewing again.

But is it really? Find out in Tuesday’s newsletter here.

The Draft IT Rules explained

For many Indians today, news doesn’t come from TV or newspapers anymore. It comes from creators. A YouTuber breaking down a policy, an Instagram reel explaining a budget, or a thread on X summarising events.

And over time, this became the norm. Creators built massive audiences, often rivaling traditional media, but operated in a grey zone. They weren’t officially publishers, so they didn’t have to follow the same rules.

But then, something changed.

The government proposed draft IT Rules to bring this ecosystem under regulation, including content generated or modified using AI. The idea was simple: if something looks like news, should it be regulated like news?

In Wednesday’s story, we explained how India’s internet is moving from a grey zone to a more tightly regulated space.

Why are India’s airline CEOs stepping down?

India’s aviation sector is booming, with record passenger traffic, massive aircraft orders, and ambitions to become a global hub. So leadership exits at IndiGo and Air India feel counterintuitive at first glance. 

For years, airlines focused on expansion by adding routes, scaling fleets, and capturing market share. Now, the challenge has moved to execution. IndiGo is trying to evolve into a global carrier, while Air India is undergoing a complex multi-airline integration and brand rebuild. 

These transformations require a very different skill set, one centred on operational reliability, cost control, and the management of complexity at scale. 

But what will these transformations look like, especially since India’s aviation space is very different from countries like Singapore and Dubai that have built global hubs? Find out in Thursday’s story.

The Green Compliance loophole

India tried to fix its growing waste problem with a clever idea. Instead of chasing every plastic wrapper or discarded appliance, it built a system where companies could simply prove that their waste was being recycled.

On paper, it made perfect sense. Companies could meet their obligations by buying EPR certificates, and recyclers could build a business around processing waste.

But over time, something changed. The system started rewarding proof, not performance. Companies focused on buying the cheapest certificates, while some recyclers issued more credits than their actual capacity allowed.

But now, the rules are evolving. In yesterday’s story, we broke down how a system designed to scale recycling ended up creating a market for compliance instead. You can read it here.

Finshots Weekly Quiz v2.0 🧠

Hey folks! As you probably already know, the Finshots Weekly Quiz has a new avatar. If you missed out on it in the last few months, don’t worry. Click here to check out the rules and set a reminder to participate consistently starting next month!

Next, let’s move on to the top scorers from our previous weekly quiz. There were a whole bunch of you who participated, and many of you ended up with the same scores. So we’re calling you Bulls, Bears, Unicorns, Blue Chips, and Rising Stars. Here’s how the leaderboard looks right now:

If your name has been featured on the leaderboard, then congratulations! If not, don’t lose hope. If you attempted last week’s quiz, keep at it and answer all the weekly quizzes this month. You never know when the turntables! Click on this link to take this week’s quiz, which is open till 12 noon, Friday, 17th of April, 2026. The more answers you get right, the better your chances of appearing on the Finshots Weekly Quiz leaderboard. We’ll publish it every Saturday in the Weekly Wrapup. And the winner will be announced in the first week of May.

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