Industry News

Foreign BFSI firms drive GCC office leasing to record 7.32 mn sq ft: Report

Demand for office space to set up global capability centres (GCCs) in India is driven by foreign banking, financial services and insurance firms, as their gross leasing touched a record 7.32 million sq ft in the January-June period, according to Knight Frank. Interestingly, leasing by foreign IT-ITeS companies to set up GCCs fell 28 per cent to 4.13 million sq ft in the first six months of this year from 5.71 million sq ft in the year-ago period. Real estate consultant Knight Frank India noted that foreign banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) firms leased 7.32 million sq ft of office space during the first half of this year to set up GCCs across eight major Indian cities, a 70 per cent rise from 4.31 million sq ft a year ago. The eight cities are -- Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru, Pune, Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmedabad and Kolkata. During January-June 2026, the BFSI sector contributed 36 per cent of the overall leasing of 20.6 million sq ft for GCCs across the leading eight

NTH should become a premier global testing, certification body: Joshi

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Saturday called for transforming the National Test House into a premier global testing and certification organisation and stressed the need to expand its capacity in line with India's growing manufacturing sector. Addressing the 115th Foundation Day celebration of the National Test House (NTH) after the inauguration of state-of-the-art NTH building here, Joshi said India was moving towards becoming a global manufacturing hub and needed reliable domestic testing facilities. He also virtually inaugurated several crucial facilities and initiatives across the broader NTH network to expand nationwide testing capabilities and improve accessibility. Joshi claimed that NTH was on the verge of being closed in 2012 but the institution had survived and was moving forward due to the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to create a manufacturing ecosystem in the country. "Quality is the foundation of a strong India," Joshi said, emphasising the importance of ..

Plant-based protein market to reach ₹9,000 cr in 5 yrs: Industry body PBFIA

India's plant-based protein ingredient market is projected to double to Rs 9,000 crore in the next five years, with consumers' preference shifting from calorie-conscious food to targeted nutrition, industry body PBFIA said on Thursday. "The country is witnessing a clear shift from calorie-consciousness to nutritional consciousness, with protein emerging as a key driver of food choices. The plant-based food sector is growing at around 18 per cent annually, significantly ahead of the 7-8 per cent global growth rate, while the plant-protein ingredients market is currently valued at approximately Rs 4,500 crore and is expected to double over the next five years," PBFIA executive director Praveer Srivastava said at 'Fi India and ProPak India 2026'. However, nearly 90 per cent of plant-protein ingredients are currently imported, he said, adding that this offers a huge opportunity for domestic manufacturers. Beyond nutrition, plant-based foods can play an important role in building more ..

PM Surya Ghar: Why govt is tightening tracking of solar generation data

The government has long required generation data from rooftop solar systems. A new MNRE order now tightens inverter-level reporting, requiring daily output data to be shared with the National Portal

Govt mulls random drug tests for all commercial pilots round the year

The civil aviation ministry is looking at the possibility of carrying out psychoactive substance tests for all commercial pilots round the year on a random basis. Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu on Tuesday said the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is holding discussions with stakeholders on further strengthening the drug-testing standards of pilots. "Right now, the rules say 10 per cent (drug tests) across the overall pilot network, but just like I said, DGCA is engaging (with stakeholders)... One of the opinions from our side is that everyone has to go through it (drug tests) the (whole) year at a random time. "So, we have to see how all the stakeholders are going to respond to this," the minister said. The issue of possible substance use by pilots has come to the spotlight after an Air India captain of Phuket-Delhi flight involved in a sudden altitude loss incident was tested positive for marijuana. Currently, drug tests for pilots are done on a random ...

Air India seeks $1.5 bn from owners Tata, Singapore Air as losses mount

The carrier and its budget unit Air India Express posted combined losses of $2.33 billion in the fiscal year ended March, more than double the prior year's losses

Celebrity food endorsements under FSSAI scrutiny: What do the rules say?

FSSAI's warning to celebrities has put food endorsements under the lens. Here's what endorsers must check, disclose, and verify before promoting a food product

What is an oligopoly? Which Indian sectors have few dominant players

The Finance Ministry's concern over concentration in India's aviation sector has brought the term "oligopoly" into focus. Here's what it means and which other sectors have similar market structures

About 40% of India's sown area yet to be linked to Farmer IDs: Agri Min

Around 40 per cent of India's net sown area is yet to be linked to Farmer IDs, while most states have not drafted standard operating procedures for cultivator categories

FSSAI issued 150 notices to food brands over misleading ads in recent weeks

Food regulator FSSAI on Saturday informed that it has issued 150 notices to food companies, including major brands Nestle India, PepsiCo and Coca-Cola India, in recent months over misleading advertisements, false claims and non-compliance with labelling regulations. In a social media post, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) shared an update on its enforcement action taken against major brands in recent months. "Over 150 notices issued for misleading advertisements, false claims & labelling non-compliances," the FSSAI said. The regulator shared the list of a few major brands against whom action has been taken. These are Nestle India, PepsiCo, Abbott India Ltd, Red Bull India, Danone India, Monster Energy India Pvt Ltd, Hell Energy Pvt Ltd, Mondelez India, Coca-Cola India, Diageo, Pernod Ricard, Ferrero India and Kenvue Inc. In the past few months, the FSSAI said it has taken action against various food business operators (FBOs) for serious violations of its ..

Keralam seafood sector unveils plan to boost sustainable fishing, exports

Keralam's seafood sector has launched a sustainability initiative with a draft state fisheries management plan and a digital tracking framework aimed at strengthening responsible fishing practices and expanding the state's share in the global seafood market, SEAI members on Saturday said. The initiatives were unveiled at an annual stakeholder consultation hosted by the Seafood Exporters Association of India (SEAI) on Willingdon Island, attended by government officials, marine scientists, seafood exporters and sustainability organisations. A statement by SEAI said that stakeholders agreed on a roadmap to seek Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification for Keralam's key shrimp and cephalopod fisheries. The Draft Kerala State Fisheries Management Plan, prepared by scientists at the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), proposes science-based harvest control rules and gear restrictions to prevent juvenile overfishing and improve the long-term productivity of mari

India's core sector growth rises by 5.4% in July on coal, refinery products

Production growth of nine key infrastructure sectors rose to 5.4 per cent in July following an increase in output of coal, refinery products, cement, electricity and iron ore. The core sectors' growth was 3.2 per cent in July 2025 and 6 per cent in June 2026. From June, the data has been released with a new base year, 2022-23, replacing the earlier base year of 2011-12. The government has added iron ore to the index, increasing the number of core sectors to nine. According to the official data released on Thursday, production of crude oil, natural gas, and fertiliser declined during the month. During April-July 2026-27, the key sectors expanded by 4.3 per cent against 1.5 per cent in the same period last year.

HELM AG, Parijat Industries sign deal for agri-commerce, manufacturing

German chemical major HELM AG and agrochemical firm Parijat Industries (India) Ltd on Monday announced a wide-ranging strategic partnership covering digital commerce, branded crop protection products, technical manufacturing and international distribution. The collaboration will bring together HELM's global agri-input portfolio and technology platforms, including portfolio company PEAT GmbH, which runs the Plantix digital agriculture platform, with Parijat's manufacturing base, global distribution network and formulation capabilities, according to a statement. As part of the pact, Parijat will acquire a retailer-focused digital commerce platform along with its retailer database to strengthen procurement efficiency, market access and distribution reach. The company will also collaborate with the Plantix team to leverage its farmer connect and demand-generation capabilities, including exclusive direct-to-farmer marketing features. The deal further paves the way for a new brand line i

Govt clears 31 electronic component manufacturing proposals worth ₹7,877 cr

With the latest approvals, the government has cleared 106 applications covering around 30 product categories across 15 states under the ECMS

Oil palm mission meets 42% of 650,000 hectare target; no higher aid planned

The Centre's oil palm mission achieved 42% of its 650,000 hectare target by 2025-26, while the government ruled out higher financial assistance under the programme

Only 32% find restaurant hygiene good; dirty kitchens top concern: Survey

A LocalCircles survey found that 57 per cent of consumers had seen dirty dining areas, kitchens or washrooms, while 53 per cent had observed staff handling food unhygienically

Flipkart Minutes enters premium grocery segment, launches pvt label Pykd

The move comes as quick-commerce companies expand beyond everyday grocery products and seek to attract customers with higher-value purchases

FSSAI calls Diageo's 'matured in American oak casks' claim misleading

United Spirits told stock exchanges this week it anticipated no financial implications from the ban but ​it was closely monitoring the matter

EV retail sales hit record high in July as adoption gathers pace

EV retail sales rose 66 per cent year-on-year to 327,901 units in July, pushing penetration to nearly 12 per cent as adoption accelerated across vehicle segments.

Sugar mills plan early crushing as prices rise ahead of festive demand

Sugar mills have proposed starting the 2026-27 crushing season 10-15 days early to improve festive supplies