Shri Piyush Goyal described the GST reforms as an important step towards India's self-reliance, calling for citizens to unite in making India a developed nation by 2047. At the India MedTech Expo 2025, policymakers, industry leaders, and global experts discussed initiatives to strengthen the MedTech and healthcare sectors, including regulatory easing, export expansion, and academia-industry collaboration. The three-day event highlights MSME and start-up innovations, state showcases, and government initiatives, attracting over 150 international buyers and leading industry associations, demonstrating India's growing role as a global hub for medical technology and healthcare services.Read more

The real estate sector has welcomed the GST Council's recent reforms, describing them as a landmark step that reduces construction costs, eases compliance, and supports housing affordability. Developers and industry leaders believe the reduction in tax on key construction materials such as cement, marble and granite will strengthen project economics, enable competitive pricing, and stimulate demand ahead of the festive season. With interest rates stabilising, the reforms are also expected to encourage new project launches, attract investments, and create fresh employment opportunities across housing and allied industries.Read more

The Central Advisory Council (CAC) under the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act held its fifth meeting in New Delhi to review eight years of RERA implementation. Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Shri Manohar Lal Khattar launched the Unified RERA Portal, designed to create a national database of projects, enhance transparency, and share best practices across States and Union Territories. Discussions focused on stalled projects, homebuyer complaints, developers' concerns, and ways to strengthen regulatory processes. The council also recommended measures for faster dispute resolution and next-generation reforms in the real estate sector.Read more

India's real estate sector has welcomed the GST Council's recent rate rationalisation, which aims to reduce the tax burden on essential construction materials. Experts noted that lowering GST from 28% to 18% on cement and marble, and from 12% to 5% on granite blocks, will reduce housing costs and benefit homebuyers. Industry leaders highlighted that while construction materials form a portion of total project costs, the reforms are expected to make homes more affordable, stimulate demand, and encourage developers to accelerate projects, particularly ahead of the festive season.Read more

India's office real estate market is strengthening, with demand reaching 34.5 million sq ft in H1 2025, according to the CREDAI-CRE Matrix report. Vacancy rates fell by 210 basis points year-on-year, driven by Global Capability Centres (GCCs) and steady domestic absorption. Bengaluru, MMR, Delhi-NCR, and Hyderabad led activity, with IT/ITeS (24%), BFSI (20%), and co-working (19%) dominating leasing. Hyderabad accounted for 29% of co-working demand and is on track to surpass MMR in total stock. Pune and Hyderabad together supplied over half of new additions, while Pune and Bengaluru generated 40% of demand. Strong leasing in NCR and upcoming supply in Ahmedabad signal continued resilience.Read more

The National Housing Bank's latest housing price index shows residential values rising in 45 of 50 cities, with Bengaluru recording the steepest annual gains driven by its strong IT and economic base. Chennai, Ahmedabad, Pune, Mumbai, and Kolkata also posted solid growth, while only five cities saw declines, led by Howrah. On a composite level, prices rose 5.7% year-on-year, slightly slower than last year but reflecting market stabilisation after rapid increases. Quarterly data also showed continued growth, supported by a nearly 100-basis-point cut in home-loan rates earlier this year. The report highlights resilient demand in metro markets despite uneven performance in smaller cities.Read more

A recent CBRE survey revealed that companies across Asia Pacific have been enforcing stricter return-to-office protocols, with a notable rise in consequences for non-compliance. The survey also highlighted a growing link between office attendance and performance reviews, alongside a renewed focus on workplace optimisation and employee experience. Stricter protocols are driving fresh demand for quality office spaces, particularly in central business districts, where competition for prime locations is intensifying amid limited vacancy rates and economic uncertainty.Read more

A new report by Cushman & Wakefield, "Navi Mumbai - The Next Growth Corridor," highlights Navi Mumbai's rise as a prime office hub within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). The city currently holds 23.8 million sq ft of Grade A office stock-20% of MMR's total-with an occupancy rate of 87%. Offering average rentals of INR 70 per sq ft, nearly 57% lower than prime MMR markets, Navi Mumbai is attracting Global Capability Centers and enterprises with its talent pool and infrastructure. With the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport and major road projects boosting connectivity, another 4 million sq ft of new office supply is expected by 2027-28.Read more

India's REIT market is entering a strong growth phase, with five listed REITs now managing nearly 140 million sq ft of office and retail real estate, according to Colliers India. While the four office-focused REITs cover 133 million sq ft, another 371 million sq ft of Grade A office space remains REIT-worthy, alongside 5 million sq ft of retail assets. Demand from Global Capability Centres, technology firms, and BFSI occupiers is driving momentum. Industry leaders from Mindspace REIT and Knowledge Realty Trust said REITs have matured into mainstream investment products, balancing stability and growth. With half of Grade A stock untapped, the sector offers vast expansion opportunities.Read more

BuildAhome, a turnkey home construction company founded by Abhijith R Priyan, has appointed Rahul Dravid as its brand ambassador to reinforce its commitment to quality and transparency. The firm provides end-to-end services including architecture, structural design, plumbing, electrical work, interior design, and finishing, all managed in-house. Dravid emphasized that building a home requires patience, expertise, and trust, praising the company for its transparent process. This partnership aims to strengthen buildAhome's credibility, enhance brand visibility, and appeal to homeowners seeking reliable, fully managed, and professionally guided home construction solutions.Read more