Page 42 - Industry News

Active small business loans rise; total credit exposure hits ₹46 trillion

Aggregate small business credit exposure has reached Rs 46 lakh crore, an increase of 16 per cent as of September 30, a report said. "Active loan accounts have grown by 11.8 per cent to 7.3 crore. Policy support and multiple government credit schemes for MSMEs have helped sustain this momentum," CRIF High Mark-SIDBI Report said. Portfolio quality has improved across segments, it said, adding that loans overdue by 91 to 180 days declined to around 1.4 per cent as of September 2025, from 1.7 per cent in September 2023, it said. Enterprises continue to show lower risk profiles. Sole proprietors have also seen steady improvement and the share of very low and low-risk borrowers increased between September 2023 and September 2025, supported by better underwriting practices and wider use of digital data. "Sole proprietors continue to dominate the credit ecosystem. They account for around 80 per cent of total credit and nearly 90 per cent of borrowers. The fastest-growing segment is sole .

Retailers ramp up women hiring as sector reshapes frontline teams

The gender gap is widest in FMCG feet-on-street sales, where demanding travel, tough targets, low pay and poor facilities keep women below 5 per cent

New ship recycling rules kick in as India aligns with Hong Kong Convention

According to sector watchers, ship recycling and dismantling is getting increasingly concentrated in South Asia, with countries such as India and Bangladesh taking the lead

Centrally funded infra projects see 21% cost jump in Oct as overruns mount

Among large infrastructure ministries (as per project count), the Ministry of Railways recorded a 17.8 per cent increase over original costs

China starts issuing licenses to import rare earth magnets into India

China has begun clearing export licences for rare earth magnets to India, easing supply disruptions for automakers and EV makers after months of delays caused by trade curbs

Public-sector banks okay ₹28k cr in MSME loans via new digital model

The overall rejection rate across banks stood at about 20 per cent, with variation across institutions depending on credit profiles and digital data availability

India on track to be among largest regional networks: WTCA's Wang

India is set to emerge as one of WTCA's largest regional networks, with World Trade Centers expanding to around 50 cities as demand for premium offices, logistics and new-age sectors rises

Chhattisgarh to develop Bhoramdeo on lines of Kashi Vishwanath Corridor

Nestled in the mountain ranges of Kabirdham district, Bhoramdeo has an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, about 125 km from Chhattisgarh capital Raipur

Industrial-logistics space demand hits record 76.5 mn sq ft this year

Demand for industrial and logistics spaces hit an all-time high this year, with leasing volumes rising nearly 19 per cent to 76.5 million square feet across 24 major cities in India, according to Savills. Real estate consultant Savills India data showed that the manufacturing sector took on lease 29 per cent of spaces, followed by third-party logistics firms (28 per cent) and e-commerce players (12 per cent). "India's Industrial and Logistics sector continued its strong post-pandemic growth trajectory in 2025, recording its highest-ever annual absorption of 76.5 million sq ft," Savills India said. In the 2024 calendar year, leasing of industrial and logistics spaces stood at 64.5 million square feet. Out of the total leasing this year, the consultant said that eight tier-I cities -- Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, and Pune -- saw 20 per cent growth in leasing to 59.5 million square feet this year from 49.7 million square feet in 2024. Delhi-N

Centre proposes allowing captive miners to sell surplus mineral output

Draft mineral concession rules propose letting captive mine owners sell surplus output after meeting end-use needs, alongside steps to ease operations and promote deep-seated exploration

Govt seeks industry partners via EoIs to upgrade ITIs, NSTIs under PM-SETU

MSDE has invited EoIs to onboard anchor industry partners for the Rs 60,000 crore PM-SETU scheme, under which the Centre plans to upgrade 1,000 ITIs and five NSTIs

New dark patterns every day; govt working daily to address: Pralhad Joshi

Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi says firms are innovating on dark patterns, prompting daily complaints; he cites NCH refunds and CCPA actions in 2025

India reclaims third place in global wind market in 2025: BNEF report data

BloombergNEF says India is set to add 6.2 GW of wind projects in 2025, helping it reclaim third place globally and narrowing the gap with the US in second place

Five first-time bidders enter 14th round of commercial coal auctions

Five companies bid for coal blocks for the first time as the 14th round of commercial coal auctions drew 49 bids for 24 blocks, signalling continued private interest in mining

Quick commerce margins fall as FMCG brands spend more on platform ads

FMCG firms are reportedly being forced to spend more on advertising to stay visible on quick commerce platforms, where shoppers make impulse purchases within seconds

SC admits Fada plea on GST compensation cess; issues notice to Centre

The Supreme Court has admitted Fada's writ petition challenging the non-transition of accumulated GST compensation cess credits under GST 2.0, and issued notice to the Union government

Datanomics: Staff behaviour is a small but steady irritant in air travel

SpiceJet recorded the highest complaint rate per 10,000 passengers, rising sharply from 3.9 in November 2024 to 13.8 in October 2025

MSME body pitches unified regulator; seeks banking oversight shift

According to Fisme, the Indian banking system operates under conditions of monopolistic competition, with high switching costs giving banks significant market power over borrowers, particularly MSMEs

SHANTI Bill has fully solved third-party liability issue: Holtec CEO

India's SHANTI nuclear law aligns liability with global norms, easing investor concerns and opening India's nuclear sector to greater private and foreign investment, says Holtec CEO Kris Singh

Regional dishes still rule Indian breakfast tables despite protein trend

Id Fresh Foods started selling rice batter for dosa and idli in 2005, identifying a white space in the packaged food market