BW Businessworld Magazine - January 25, 2025

In this issue

THE UNION BUDGET for the 2025-26 financial year will be presented at
a time when policy decisions could prove critical for an economy that has
witnessed the first signs of a slowdown in FY 2024-25 from the hectic pace
at which the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) had been growing
since the pandemic. Amidst the prevailing global uncertainties, the Union
finance minister’s announcements hold the key to India’s growth trajectory.
In this special issue, we bring together insights, wish lists and expectations
from India Inc. to present a comprehensive view of what industry hopes to
see in the Union Budget. The government’s focus on capital expenditure
(capex) has proved a game-changer, catalysing infrastructure development
and sustaining the momentum of growth. Industry leaders are now
advocating a 15 per cent increase in capex for FY 2026, to incentivise job
creation, for enhanced productivity and sustained economic growth.

"WITH ₹3.84 LAKH CRORE INVESTMENT PROPOSALS, MADHYA PRADESH IS THE NEXT INDUSTRIAL POWERHOUSE"

MP Chief Minister Mohan Yadav shares his roadmap for Madhya Pradesh's industrial transformation and global investment opportunities

6 mins

INVEST MADHYA PRADESH GLOBAL SUMMIT 2025: UNLEASHING OPPORTUNITIES, EMPOWERING GROWTH

The summit aims to showcase Madhya Pradesh as a thriving hub for industrial growth, innovation, and global collaboration

4 mins

HOW REGIONAL INDUSTRY CONCLAVES ARE TRANSFORMING MADHYA PRADESH'S ECONOMIC LANDSCAPE

Collectively, the Regional Industry Conclaves have attracted over ₹2.22 lakh crore in investment proposals and the potential to create more than 2.73 lakh jobs

3 mins

AGENTIC AI: SHAPING SOCIO-ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION

MAGINE A FUTURE where machines aren't just tools but trusted partners – an era where AI autonomously solves problems, manages businesses, and drives innovation faster than we ever thought possible.

4 mins

Manufacturing A Revival

TATA GROUP CHAIRMAN N. Chandrasekaran's New Year message to employees underlined the importance of boosting the country's manufacturing base. \"It's the new manufacturing golden age for India,\" Chandrasekaran said. \"Our group plans to create 5,00,000 manufacturing jobs over the next half-decade.\"

4 mins

INDIA'S EDUCATION CHALLENGE: Low Learning Outcomes *Underperforming Higher Education

INDIA, HOME TO 20 per cent of the world's youth population, stands at the cusp of a demographic dividend set to peak in 2041.

4 mins

MAHAKUMBH 2025

NOTWITHSTANDING the never ending debate about the beginning of the festival - year and founder - and the dates when it is to be held, there's general agreement that it was started by the 8th Century vedic scholar, philosopher, saint and teacher of Advaita Vedanta Adi Shankara Acharya and that the 12 yearly celebration dates are synchronised with every completed revolution of the planet Jupiter (Brahaspati); also that the venue is mostly in the river bank towns of Prayagraj (Allahabad) at the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical invisible Saraswati, Haridwar (Ganga), Nasik (Godavari) and Ujjain (Shipra).

6 mins

THE DARK SIDE: Why Are We Drawn to the Anti-Hero?

THE MEDIA HAS RECENTLY reported on a story involving a CEO from an Indian MNC who allegedly remarked, \"How long can you stare at your wife?\" He encouraged employees to work 90 hours a week, including Sundays.

3 mins

WORK-WEEK WOES

AJUG OF WINE, a loaf of bread - and you beside me...wilderness were Paradise enow\".

2 mins

"FICCI FLO Leads The Charge For Inclusive Growth In India"

IN an interaction with BW Businessworld, JOYSHREE DAS VERMA, National President of FICCI FLO, talks about how the organisation drives women's economic independence through skill-building, digital literacy, and global opportunities, setting benchmarks in sustainable development and business security

2 mins

Union Budget: Can It Bring Back Growth?

AS INDIA approaches the Union Budget 2025-26, the stakes have rarely been higher.

4 mins

Constitutional Musings

A LEGAL DOCUMENT, even if it sets down the constitution of a country, is at the end of the day, just that – a document.

3 mins

Legal Provisions, Implementation, Strategic Insights

NAVIGATING DPDPA COMPLIANCE:

2 mins

THE IRRELEVANT CEO: The Case for Succession Planning

CORPORATE INDIA has been jolted yet again, this time by the tone-deaf remarks of L&T Chairman S. N. Sub-rahmanyan advocating a 90-hour work week.

4 mins

Where AI Rules, Gadgets Dazzle and Cars Accelerate into the Future

CES 2025 in Las Vegas showcased a range of advancements, from cutting-edge chipsets and Al gadgets to smart home solutions and electric vehicles, offering a glimpse into the year's tech and auto trends

6 mins

"NORTH AMERICA IS OUR LARGEST MARKET

Sona Comstar fully supports the government's vision for localisation and self-reliance in manufacturing under the PLI scheme, asserts SUNJAY KAPUR, Chairman, Sona Comstar & Deputy Chairman, CII Northern Region, during a chat with ASHISH SINHA. Excerpts from the interview

5 mins

WISHING FOR MORE

eagerly awaits sector-specific announcements, despite constantly lobbying for changes throughout the year By Ashish Sinha

6 mins

A VISION FOR 'VIKSIT BHARAT'

INDIA stands at the threshold of a transformative journey toward 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047.

3 mins

CATALYSING INDIA'S DIGITAL-FIRST ECONOMY: THE SMART WEARABLES PERSPECTIVE

INDIA'S electronics industry is set to play a key role in the nation's economic growth with domestic production expected to reach $300 billion by 2026.

2 mins

BUDGETING IN UNCERTAIN TIMES

AFTER last year's parliamentary elections, the Budget for FY2026 was presented in July 2024, which provided a glimpse of the government's priorities. In a few weeks, the government of India (GoI) will table the Union Budget for FY2026, which is expected to expand on these plans, and provide the new medium-term fiscal path as well.

2 mins

FOCUS ON LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS

THE FIRST quarter data points to a notable increase in private consumption and a modest improvement in investment activity. We expect these two to be the fundamental growth pillars as global uncertainties weigh on net exports. With the conclusion of the Indian elections, we anticipate that government spending will pick up, supporting growth in the coming quarters of FY 2025.

2 mins

Accelerating Green Momentum

India's renewable energy sector, buoyed by record growth, awaits Budget 2025, with industry executives calling for continued robust policy support

3 mins

FORTIFYING INDIA'S CLIMATE RESOLVE

THE ADOPTION of clean energy in India has been rapidly gaining momentum over the past decade.

3 mins

BUILDING INDIA'S GREEN POWER GRID

INDIA IS on the cusp of a green energy revolution, aiming to double its electricity generation capacity by 2032 to meet its ambitious target of 500 GW by 2030 and 600 GW of renewable energy by 2032. But can it overcome the towering financial and logistical challenges to achieve this?

3 mins

POWERING INDIA'S GROWTH THROUGH ALTERNATE CAPITAL

INDIA'S economic journey has been marked by remarkable transformation in recent years.

2 mins

SHAPING INDIA'S ENTREPRENEURIAL LANDSCAPE: KEY INITIATIVES AND CHALLENGES AHEAD

THE Hon'ble Finance Minister made history in July 2024 by presenting her seventh budget, surpassing the record previously held by Morarji Desai. Beyond this historic milestone, the budget stood out for its trans-formative measures aimed at fostering India's entrepreneurial ecosystem.

3 mins

BUDGETING FOR BETTER FUTURE

AFFORDABILITY challenges persist for homebuyers; tweaking tax relief on home loans and capital gains in the Union Budget could significantly improve housing accessibility.

2 mins

LOGISTICS: KEY ENABLER IN GROWTH STORY

ALIGNED with the nations ambitious vision of becoming a $7-trillion economy by 2030, we expect Budget 2025 to further prioritise rapid infrastructure development to enable the logistics and transportation sector to realise its full potential as a catalyst for economic progress and sustainable growth.

2 mins

Disruptive Move Or Business As Usual?

Microsoft is investing $3 billion in data centres and undertaking Al upskilling initiatives. While these moves signal India's strategic importance to the tech major, questions remain about their impact on inclusive growth and skill development in an Al-driven future By Rohit Chintapali

3 mins

Modern Finance Leaders Redefining the Future of Business

BW Finance 40 under 40 spotlights leaders in financial roles for their groundbreaking contributions and resilience across sectors. These individuals are driving growth and sustainability in a constantly evolving business landscape

10+ mins

MANAGING INCREASINGLY COMPLEX REGULATORY AND ENGINEERING ENVIRONMENTS

BW Businessworld recently organised a roundtable on the theme “Managing Increasingly Complex Regulatory and Engineering Environments.” The event saw industry leaders from reputed organisations share their insights on the pivotal role of Engineering Lifecycle Management in manufacturing and much more

6 mins

"THE DELHI MODEL OFFERS THE SUREST ROAD MAP TO BUILDING A DEVELOPED INDIA"

JASMINE SHAH, then vice-chairman of the Delhi government think-tank, the Dialogue and Development Commission, conceived the idea of writing a book about the Delhi Model of governance while Aam Admi Party (AAP) convenor and Delhi's former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and his former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia were both at Tihar Jail for the alleged liquor scam in the state. By the time The Delhi Model – A Bold Road Map to Building a Developed India was released, campaigning for the Delhi legislative assembly elections were in full swing. The AAP leader though, stole some time out to discuss the book with BW Businessworld 's Madhumita Chakraborty. Excerpts:

4 mins

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BW Businessworld Magazine Description:

BW Businessworld is a fortnightly magazine that has been published since 1975. It is one of the most popular business magazines in India, and it is known for its in-depth reporting and analysis of the Indian business world. It also features interviews with leading business leaders and entrepreneurs. It's a guide to the ever-changing business landscape.

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