Page 15 - Industry News

'Moving beyond 10-minute race': Zepto launches Pay Later facility

Quick commerce platform Zepto on Tuesday introduced a suite of new in-app features, including a 'Pay Later' facility and real-time images of fresh produce, as it shifts its strategic focus from delivery speed to "behaviour-led commerce." The company stated that the quick commerce sector is moving beyond the "race to the fastest 10 minutes" to focus on reducing everyday shopping friction and serving customers more intelligently. The newly rolled-out 'Pay Later' feature offers a 15-day, interest-free repayment cycle embedded directly within the app. Designed for high-frequency, low-value orders, the facility allows for a one-tap checkout without One-Time Passwords (OTPs) or third-party redirects. According to the product interface shared by the company, the service provides instant credit of up to Rs 10,000. "Meet Zepto Pay Later, a BNPL experience built completely inside the Zepto app. Shopping is now going to be smoother than ever. It's already live for a small percentage, and we p

NCLAT allows Adani JAL plan to proceed, denies relief to Vedanta

NCLAT allowed Adani Enterprises' JAL resolution plan to proceed while refusing interim relief to Vedanta, with execution subject to final outcome of the appeal

Priya Kapur removes Rani Kapur as trustee of RK Family Trust amid dispute

Notice cites breach of fiduciary duties as dispute over late Sunjay Kapur's estate escalates, with proceedings underway in the Delhi High Court

CIE scheme to be notified by mid-2026 to boost equipment manufacturing

The government will notify the CIE incentive scheme by mid-2026 to boost domestic manufacturing, raise value addition, and attract investments in construction equipment

LPG crisis: HungerBox invests ₹3.5 crore in shift to electric cooking

HungerBox has invested Rs 3.5 crore in electric cooking systems to tackle LPG shortages and support food partners, ensuring continuity amid supply disruptions

Centre forms seven official panels to tackle impact of West Asia crisis

The first panel on defence, external affairs and public order is led by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, with Home Secretary Govind Mohan and Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh as members

Centre relaxes monthly sugar sales quota for March on subdued demand

The Centre has relaxed sugar dispatch norms for March 2026, allowing mills flexibility amid weak demand without penalties for missing quota targets

Industry leaders stress trust, innovation as key for enduring institutions

Industry leaders on Tuesday emphasised that trust, innovation and empowered organisational structures are critical for building resilient and future-ready institutions, as businesses navigate rapid technological change and evolving consumer expectations. Speaking at the annual regional meeting and conference of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Eastern region, themed 'Vision with Velocity', corporate leaders said institutions must balance scale with agility while remaining anchored in strong values. ITC chairman Sanjeev Puri said long-term institutional success rests on three pillars -- vision, values and vitality. "Reshaping the narrative of a legacy institution comes down to vision, values and vitality," Puri said, adding that businesses must move beyond simple diversification to build multiple drivers of growth aligned with market opportunities and institutional strengths. He stressed that large organisations should function like "multiple startups within a larger ...

PM Internship Scheme's pilot relaxes age criteria, increases compensation

The Prime Minister Internship Scheme pilot has widened the age band, raised stipends to Rs 9,000, and reduced duration to 6-9 months to improve participation

After Zomato, Swiggy raises platform fee to ₹17.58 amid cost pressures

Swiggy has raised its platform fee to Rs 17.58, following Zomato's move, as rising costs and supply constraints in commercial LPG impact food delivery operations

India's flex office stock crosses 100 mn sq ft, triples since 2020: CBRE

Flexible office stock in India has surged past 100 million sq ft, tripling since 2020, driven by enterprise adoption, GCC expansion, and strong investor interest

Corporate Laws Amendment Bill to empower NFRA, ease compliance tabled in LS

The Corporate Laws Amendment Bill proposes decriminalisation, stronger NFRA powers, and simpler compliance norms, alongside reforms in mergers, CSR, and corporate governance

Niti Aayog retools Feb 10 transport report after Auto Inc pushback

FFVs and CBG vehicles run on flex fuel (currently ethanol blended with petrol) or bio-gas (currently CBG mixed with compressed natural gas) using internal combustion engines

Sudden rains, West Asia crisis throw a curveball at consumer demand

Rising raw material costs, West Asia tensions squeeze consumer goods sales

Manufacturing push: Execution will be key to success of industrial parks

Many industrial areas remain underutilised; in Karnataka, some parks have only about 25% of units operational due to poor connectivity, weak governance, regulatory delays and low demand

Asgard Alcobev appoints Ronak Jain as Managing Director

Asgard Alcobev Ltd on Monday said it has appointed Ronak Jain as new Managing Director. With over 15 years of experience in the liquor and beer industry, Jain is set to drive the company's strategic realignment and long-term growth, a company statement said, adding that the appointment is for a period of five years. Rohit Jain is a seasoned entrepreneur with diversified experience across breweries, distilleries, cement, steel, and allied industries, the company said. The emerging alcoholic beverages manufacturer, previously known as Banganga Paper Industries Ltd, also announced two additional appointments -- Priyanka Jain as Additional Director (Non-Executive) and Binit Singhania as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) & Finance Director. These appointments underscore Asgard Alcobev's ongoing strategic realignment. Having transitioned from its legacy paper manufacturing business to the alcoholic beverages sector, the company recently acquired a majority stake in CMJ Breweries in ...

IndiGo appoints ex-Air India Express MD Aloke Singh as strategy chief

Singh previously served as managing director and chief executive officer of Air India Express, where he led operational improvements and expansion

IBA suggests blending of 20% biogas in CNG to boost clean mobility in Delhi

The Indian Biogas Association (IBA) has suggested to the Delhi government that it pursue up to 20 per cent blending of compressed biogas into compressed natural gas, as it can bring gaseous (vehicular) mobility close to carbon neutrality. In a statement, the IBA pointed out that although EV adoption is increasing, EV penetration in the overall vehicle fleet remains limited. Thus, it makes CNG the best choice as a clean fuel because of its negligible particulate emission and significantly lower levels of NOx compared to diesel, it added. The IBA has submitted its recommendations on the Draft Delhi Electric Vehicle Policy to the Delhi government, urging policymakers to adopt an integrated clean mobility approach that combines electric vehicles (EVs), CNG, and CBG to deliver immediate and scalable emissions reductions. The IBA pointed out that the existing infrastructure for the supply of CNG, including pipelines, dispensing stations, and millions of vehicles that run on this fuel, ...

Govt to deploy 10,000 AC E-buses in 116 cities by 2027; 35,000 more planned

The government on Monday informed the Rajya Sabha that 10,000 air-conditioned e-buses would be provided to 116 cities across 26 states/UTs by the end of 2027 under the PM-eBus Sewa Scheme, and a new scheme would be launched thereafter to provide another 35,000 e-buses. Replying to supplementary queries during Question Hour, Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on August 16, 2023, announced that the PM e-Bus Sewa scheme to provide mobility in smaller cities and tackle rising pollution. Since states were unable to provide adequate finance for e-buses, a target of a total of 10,000 buses was put under the PM e-Bus Sewa scheme for towns with a population between 3 lakh and 40 lakh, he said. The minister said states were told to give their demands, and a selection criterion was laid down, and buses were sanctioned on the recommendations of coordination committees. "Out of 178 cities eligible, 116 cities participated, and they were allot

FAI seeks govt relief for urea producers amid gas curbs, supply fears

Fertiliser Association of India (FAI) has urged the government to provide financial relief to urea producers hit by gas supply disruptions, warning that production shortfalls and a separate packaging materials crunch could disrupt fertiliser supplies ahead of the crucial kharif season. In a letter to the government, FAI called for energy cost reimbursements and penalty waivers for plants operating under constrained gas supplies, citing extraordinary circumstances stemming from the ongoing geopolitical crisis. Fertiliser plants are classified under Priority Sector-2 in the Natural Gas Supply Regulation Order notified on March 9, 2026, which allocates them 70 per cent of their six-month average consumption. FAI said the restriction was squeezing production at plants operating under the New Urea Policy 2025, modified NPS III and NIP 2012 frameworks. The industry body sought the government to recognise actual energy consumption or applicable energy norms - whichever is higher - during