Page 32 - Industry News

Education institutions to see 11-13% income growth in FY26-27: Crisil

Educational institutions' are likely to witness 11-13 per cent growth in total income in the current fiscal year and the next, driven by rising enrolments and fee hikes across segments as schools and colleges capitalise on steady demand and improving realisations, a report said on Monday. Operating margins will be steady at 27-28 per cent as these institutions will incur higher staff salaries and other related costs, Crisil Ratings said in a report. With rising enrolments, the institutions will also incur capital expenditure to create additional capacity and improve infrastructure, the report said, adding that credit profiles will, however, remain stable as strong cash flows will limit reliance on external debt. "Overall income is expected to log healthy double-digit (11-13 per cent) growth over the next few fiscal years, mainly supported by fee revisions, along with growth in enrolments, albeit at a modest rate. "Fee escalations are primarily driven by higher inflation, especially

Anarock diversifies into project management, adds 550 to workforce

Property consultant Anarock on Monday said it has entered into project management and engineering services (PMES) to diversify its business and has hired around 550 people to cater to its clients. Mumbai-based Anarock Group, which clocked a total income of Rs 755 crore last fiscal, is expecting a revenue of Rs 125 crore from the PMES business during the 2026-27 fiscal. "We have entered into the PMES business as part of our strategy to diversify our offerings and to become a one-stop real estate solution provider," Anarock Chairman Anuj Puri told PTI. He said the company has hired around 550 employees to service its clients. Puri said the company has already secured many contracts with an estimated consultancy fees of around Rs 80 crore. "We are expecting around Rs 125 crore revenue next fiscal from the PMES business," Puri said. According to sources, Anarock has hired around 350 employees, including many senior leaders, from a global property consulting firm. In a statement, Ana

Indian IT leaders back agentic AI, see it augmenting talent: Report

Indian IT leaders are betting big on agentic AI adoption for business growth compared to the leading western market, where focus is on enhancing traditional efficiency, a survey report by technology consultancy firm Thoughtworks said. The company has claimed to cover 3,500 C-suite and senior IT decision makers across seven countries, including 500 in India. The report said, 48 per cent of Indian leaders identify agentic AI, autonomous systems capable of acting, reasoning, and adapting independently as their primary AI priority. "India leads the world in agentic AI adoption at 48 per cent, creating a clear divergence from Western markets like the US (28 per cent) and Australia (23 per cent), which remain focused on traditional efficiency," the report said. According to the report, the focus of leadership on the adoption of agentic AI signals a decisive shift, reflecting that Indian enterprises are not just adopting AI tools; they are preparing for AI-led business models. The survey

DGCA orders probe after IndiaOne Air aircraft force-lands near Rourkela

The Odisha government responded promptly by alerting the Directorate team and initiating coordination with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) after an IndiaOne Air type of aircraft (Caravan 208) bearing Regn. VT-KSS, which was flying from Bhubaneswar to Rourkela, force-landed at a place near Jalda, when it was 8 Nautical miles short of reaching Rourkela, according to a release by the Directorate of Aviation.Speaking to ANI, Odisha Commerce & Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena said, "We have spoken to the DGCA, which has begun an investigation into the incident. Necessary steps will be taken to ensure such incidents do not recur in the future."Speaking on the flight's force landing, he stated that the accident occurred around 8-10 kilometres before reaching the destination."A regular India One flight operating from Bhubaneswar met with an accident near Rourkela, around 8-10 kilometres before reaching its destination," he said.The Minister further stated that the

India set to emerge as most dynamic REIT market globally: Report

India is well positioned to be the most dynamic REIT (real estate investment trust) market globally as developers look to monetize their rent-yielding commercial properties through this structure, according to Vestian. On Saturday, US-based real estate consultant Vestian released a report stating that the Indian REIT market has a great potential for growth because of availability of prime commercial assets (office, retail, warehousing and data centres) that can be monetized through this structure. The Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) are investment vehicles that own or operate income-generating real estate, enabling investors to earn a share of the income produced without directly purchasing the properties. At present, there are five listed REITs in India -- Sattva Group and Blackstone-backed Knowledge Realty Trust (KRT), K Raheja Group-backed Mindspace Business Parks REIT, Brookfield India Real Estate Trust, Embassy Office Parks REIT and Nexus Select Trust. "India's REIT mark

BMW urges govt to retain 5% GST on EVs to boost industry growth

German luxury car maker BMW on Thursday pitched for retaining the current 5 per cent GST (Goods and Services Tax) on EVs, saying any further hike may be detrimental for the industry. Its electric car sales surged over 200 per cent in 2025, even as the overall car sales from its two brands -- BMW and MINI -- grew 14.4 per cent year-on-year to 18,001 units. The group said it also plans to launch 10 models, including six new ones and four with major changes this year. "I think the government has done a fantastic job in terms of managing the overall economy and making sure that we don't drop below the 7 per cent mark, which is very crucial for the country. "I don't think we have more expectations from them (the government). The only request, I think, would be not to touch the GST slab of EVs because it keeps coming back that the GST on these vehicles will be increased. (If it happens) I think it will be very detrimental," Hardeep Singh Brar, President and CEO at BMW Group India, told P

AAIB suggests background recording of traffic controllers at int'l airports

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has recommended installing devices to record video and background communications of controllers on duty in air traffic control towers at all international airports. The interim safety recommendation has been made by the probe agency in its preliminary report on the serious incident of an Ariana Afghan Airlines' 34-year-old aircraft A310-304 landing at a Delhi airport runway, where another flight was taking off. The incident of the flight AFG311 from Kabul landing on the unassigned runway at the Delhi airport happened on November 23. The aircraft crew had informed the ATC that they had lost ILS (Instrument Landing System) at 4 nautical miles from touchdown, and due to poor visibility, they were unable to differentiate between runways RWY29L and RWY29R, as per the five-page AAIB report. "To analyse controllers' actions, post-incident/ accident, it is recommended that ATC units be equipped with devices to record video and background ..

Mumbai airport passenger traffic rises 1.3% to 55.5 million in 2025

Passenger traffic at Mumbai International Airport saw a modest growth of 1.3 per cent to 55.5 million during 2025 against 54.8 million in 2024, private airport operator MIAL said on Thursday. Of this, the airport recorded 39.2 million domestic and over 16.3 million international passengers, Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) said. Passenger movement at CSMIA in 2025 was driven by strong seasonal demand and peak travel periods with January emerging as the busiest month, as the airport saw close to 5 million passengers (both departing and arriving) using the facility followed closely by November with about 4.9 million passengers, it said. Also, the airport recorded its top-three highest single-day passenger traffic figures during November, including its highest-ever single-day throughput of 1,75,925 passengers on November 29 last year. The October-December quarter of CY25 also marked the highest quarterly passenger traffic, with 14.36 million passengers handled in the last quart

Farmers' income has more than doubled during Modi years, shows new paper

Study by a NITI Aayog member reveals income jumped 126% between 2014-15 and 2023-24, surpassing the target set by the Modi government

Bata India board approves VRS for workers at Hosur manufacturing unit

Bata India Ltd on Thursday said its board has approved the introduction of a Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) for all eligible workers at the Bata Shatak manufacturing unit in Hosur in Tamil Nadu, as part of its ongoing operational restructuring. In a regulatory filing, the footwear major said the VRS is expected to be "mutually beneficial" for both employees and the company. The status of implementation and the financial impact of the scheme will be assessed and disclosed later in line with its materiality policy. Bata India has been consolidating its manufacturing footprint over the years amid cost pressures and changing market dynamics. The company had earlier implemented VRS at multiple units, leading to closures. Its Faridabad unit in Haryana was shut in 2016 after all workmen opted for VRS, while a unit in Karnataka was closed following a VRS implemented in the past. With the proposed VRS at Hosur, Bata India continues to rationalise its factory operations, even as it retain

Three key trends that will shape India's energy trajectory in 2026

India's energy sector in 2026 will be influenced by shifts in crude oil sourcing, the rising share of clean energy and the growing role of private capital in renewables, nuclear power and distribution

Giriraj Singh urges states to adopt investor-friendly textile policies

Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh on Thursday said the Centre was working to ensure sustained growth of the sector and urged states to attract greater investments in the segment. Speaking at the inaugural session of the two-day National Textiles Ministers' Conference at Sonapur, on the outskirts of Guwahati, Singh said, "The Union government is working in a steady and balanced manner to harmonise production, exports and sustainability in the textile sector." He said the conference aims to encourage brainstorming, innovation and idea sharing to help build a strong roadmap for strengthening the country's textile industry. Singh urged the textile ministers of states to formulate investor friendly policies, and emphasised the need to attract greater investments at the state level. He expressed hope that the two-day deliberations would help pave the way forward. Textile ministers and senior officials from states and Union Territories (UTs) across the nation will be deliberating on

GST cuts, festival season drive mcap gains at 17 of top 20 listed banks

IDFC First Bank recorded the sharpest increase, with its market cap jumping 43.8 per cent in the quarter, pushing the Mumbai-based lender to 13th place from 17th in the rankings

Rare earth sector may have low-to-medium indigenisation feasibility: CEA

CEA also flags low to medium feasibility for indigenising battery cells & cathode materials and solar wafers & cells

EV retail gathers pace in 2025: PVs lead, 2-wheelers cross 1.2 million mark

Electric passenger vehicle retail rose to 176,817 units in CY25, up from 99,875 units in CY24, translating into growth of 77.04 per cent, according to FADA data

Electronics industry targets 16 products to reduce import dependence

ICEA response to PM's 100-product manufacturing push

AAIB asks DGCA to inspect airlines' safety management systems

Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), in a probe report into an airprox incident involving two IndiGo planes, has recommended that aviation regulator DGCA carry out an inspection to assess the effectiveness of airlines' safety management systems. In its 35-page final investigation report into the incident that happened in the Delhi airspace on November 17, 2023, the probe agency said that non-adherence to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) by the crew of one of the flights was one of the probable reasons for the incident, while the airline's failure to take timely action despite repeated SID-related occurences prior to the particular incident was a contributing factor. Generally, airprox refers to two aircraft coming closer than the permitted distance between them, and Standard Instrument Departure Route (SID) pertains to the route that an aircraft takes from the take-off to the enroute phase. IndiGo's A321 aircraft operating flight IGO2113 from Delhi to Hyderabad and

IndiGo inducts first A321 XLR aircraft for non-stop Delhi-Athens service

Domestic carrier IndiGo on Wednesday received its first Airbus A321 XLR aircraft at the Delhi airport, and will be deployed for non-stop services to Athens from Delhi and Mumbai starting later this month. Of the total order of 40 A321 XLR aircraft, nine are expected to be delivered in the 2026 calendar year. After its first international induction to operate non-stop services to Athens, subsequent aircraft will be deployed on existing routes such as Istanbul, Turkey, and Denpasar, Bali, the airline said. The aircraft that are to be inducted into the fleet later will enable the airline to expand to new long-haul routes in Europe and East Asia, it said. IndiGo is the first Indian carrier to have inducted the long-range variant of the Airbus A321neo in its fleet, and the airline said that the move is a significant step as part of its long-term international expansion strategy. "It is an important milestone as we prepare to redefine long-haul travel for India. The advanced capabilitie

IRB Infra reports 12% jump in toll revenue to ₹7.54 billion in December

IRB Infrastructure and Developers (IRB) has posted a 12 per cent year-on-year rise in its toll revenue to Rs 754 crore in December 2025. The revenue collection stood at Rs 675 crore in the same month last year, IRB said in an exchange filing on Wednesday. The collection includes revenues from two of its InvITs, namely IRB InvIT Fund (Public InvIT) and IRB Infrastructure Trust (Private InvIT), the company added. Of its total 24 assets, IRB MP Expressway in Maharashtra contributed the major share of Rs 170.3 crore to the total revenue collection in December 2025, up from Rs 163.4 crore in December 2024. Contribution of IRB Ahmedabad Vadodara Super Express Tollway rose to Rs 84.1 crore in December 2025 from Rs 70.7 crore a year ago, the second largest in the aggregate toll collection, the filing said. With Rs 78.8 crore, IRB Golconda Expressway (Hyderabad ORR) was the third largest contributor to the revenues in December 2025, up from Rs 71.3 crore last year. Amitabh Murarka, Deputy

Proxy firms back Shriram Finance stake dilution plan in favour of MUFG

Three Proxy advisory firms have supported all three proposals, including stake dilution in favour of Japan-based MUFG Bank, for the Shriram Finance EGM to be held next week. The extraordinary general meeting has been called on January 14 to secure a nod for fund infusion of Rs 39,618 crore or USD 4.4 billion (about Rs 39,600 crore) from MUFG Bank by diluting 20 per cent stake through preferential issue shares. Last month, Japan's Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc (MUFG) announced its plan to acquire a 20 per cent minority stake in non-bank lender Shriram Finance for Rs 39,618 crore (around USD 4.4 billion), marking the largest cross-border investment in India's financial sector to date. The first two resolutions are the preferential allotment of shares of 20 per cent shareholding to MUFG Bank and the grant of special rights to MUFG Bank. These are special resolutions requiring 75 per cent of votes cast. The third resolution is the USD 200 million non-compete fee being paid by MUFG