A new report by Bain - Company and Groww indicates that India's mutual fund AUM could exceed INR 300 lakh crore by 2035, supported by rising retail participation and strong digital adoption. Direct equity holdings are projected to reach INR 250 lakh crore, helped by a shift from speculative trading to long-term investing. The report found that mutual fund penetration across households may double to 20 per cent in the next decade. Younger investors, women and smaller cities are driving steady growth, while regulatory measures and digital platforms continue to strengthen overall market participation.Read more

Guwahati is rapidly emerging as Northeast India's commercial hub, driven by strategic location advantages, strong market fundamentals, and transformative infrastructure projects. JLL's report highlights projected office stock growth of 80 per cent by 2027, declining retail vacancies, and limited industrial availability as key investment drivers. Major projects like the Guwahati Ring Road, North Guwahati Bridge, airport expansion, and Dighalipukhuri Flyover are expected to boost connectivity and unlock development potential. The city's skilled talent pool, affordable living costs, and expanding urban facilities further strengthen its position as a regional real estate and business hotspot.Read more

India's latest battery storage bids have dropped to record-low levels, raising questions about whether these projects can be built and operated safely or profitably. Industry experts say the aggressive pricing trend may lead to low-quality technology, stalled execution, and increased safety risks, especially in high-temperature regions. While the country has tendered 83 GWh of storage capacity since 2021, only 36 GWh has been awarded so far, leaving a major gap compared to its long-term requirement. Analysts also noted that some winning bidders are attempting to sell projects for a premium rather than developing them, adding to concerns about viability.Read more

Adani Green Energy Ltd has integrated the TNFD framework into its sustainability strategy, emphasizing a shift toward nature-positive renewable energy development. The move allows the company to assess and manage biodiversity-related risks while supporting India's climate leadership. AGEL, with a 16.5 GW operating portfolio the largest in India aims for 50 GW by 2030 and is developing a 30 GW plant in Gujarat. It has pledged No Net Loss of Biodiversity by 2030, planning to plant 27.86 million trees, and maintains certifications for water positivity, zero waste-to-landfill, and being single-use plastic-free.Read more

A recent CAG report has drawn attention to Himachal Pradesh's continued dependence on central transfers, noting that only a third of the state's revenue came from its own sources during 2021-22. The findings, tabled in the Assembly by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, show limited growth in internal revenue and a modest rise of INR 500 crore in non-tax income. At the same time, expenditure on salaries, pensions, interest and subsidies continued to rise. The report also highlighted irregular spending of INR 22.61 crore from the Disaster Relief Fund despite earlier objections.Read more

An Indian defence company has opened a new manufacturing facility in Pune dedicated to producing Uncrewed Surface Vehicles (USVs), marking a major step in its collaboration with Liquid Robotics, a Boeing company. The plant will focus on locally building the Wave Glider-an energy-efficient USV powered by waves and solar energy that supports long-duration undersea surveillance and real-time data sharing. The facility will also handle ocean testing and long-term servicing. Positioned under the US-India defence partnership, the collaboration aims to expand co-production and technological capacity. Company leaders said the new unit aligns with India's 'Make in India' vision and will strengthen maritime domain awareness while reducing reliance on imported systems.Read more

The RBI has cut the repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.25%, ending a six-month pause and signalling renewed support for economic activity. The move comes amid export pressures from new US tariffs and a weaker rupee. To ease funding conditions, the RBI also announced INR 1 lakh crore of open-market bond purchases and a USD 5 billion forex swap this month. This is the fourth rate cut since February, taking the total reduction to 125 bps. With inflation down to 2.2% and GDP growth at 8% in April-September, Governor Sanjay Malhotra said the environment now favours growth. Economists welcomed the decision, citing strong transmission potential next fiscal year.Read more

The Supreme Court granted one-week interim relief to two property owners in Uttar Pradesh, temporarily halting further demolition of their properties. The court directed the petitioners to approach the Allahabad High Court for detailed examination while maintaining the status quo. It emphasized that demolitions require prior notice and adherence to due process, in line with its 2023 guidelines against arbitrary action. The protection does not limit the High Court from hearing the case on its merits, and the petitioners were instructed to file under Article 226 for urgent consideration.Read more

On the 41st anniversary of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, Pithampur residents have voiced strong opposition to the state government's plan to dispose of 900 tons of ash from incinerated Union Carbide waste at a local plant. Despite assurances from authorities about safe storage and emissions within permissible limits, locals fear environmental contamination and health risks. The Madhya Pradesh High Court has rejected the landfill proposal and asked the government to identify alternative sites. Residents and activists are urging relocation to a safer location to prevent harm.Read more

Nokia has partnered with Bharti Airtel to give third-party developers access to Airtel's network capabilities through Nokia's Network as Code platform. After successful trials, Airtel will offer its network APIs on a subscription basis, allowing developers, enterprises and system integrators to build new digital solutions using the company's nationwide network along with AI, 5G and edge computing. Airtel Business CEO Sharat Sinha said the collaboration will support automation and secure, innovative services. Nokia noted that the partnership expands its global Network as Code ecosystem-now over 60 partners-and will help operators create new revenue streams while enabling advanced use cases across multiple industries.Read more