India's economic engine is revving up, but navigating the global headwinds requires sharp strategy. The rupee's recent volatility against the dollar underscores the complexities facing Indian businesses, impacting everything from import-export trade to domestic inflation. This week alone, we've seen significant shifts in the IT sector, with major players announcing restructuring and a renewed focus on AI-driven solutions. Meanwhile, the burgeoning startup ecosystem continues to attract substantial funding, despite a cautious global investor sentiment. The government's recent policy announcements on infrastructure development and digitalization are poised to further shape the business landscape, creating both opportunities and challenges for entrepreneurs and established corporations alike. Understanding these market dynamics is crucial for success in today's rapidly evolving Indian economy. Stay informed with Abtak.com for the latest insights and analysis on key sectors including finance, manufacturing, and technology – empowering your business decisions in a dynamic market. Explore the complete business news section now to stay ahead of the curve.
India's Race For Rare Earth Independence: Breaking Free From China's Grip Sunday, June 08, 2025 by Indian Defence News India is accelerating efforts to reduce its dependence on China for rare earth magnets, a critical component in electric vehicles (EVs), renewable energy systems, and defence technologies. This urgency follows China's recent imposition of export restrictions on rare earth magnets -- a sector where it holds a near-monopoly, controlling about 70% of global rare earth element (REE) mining and 90% of worldwide processing and production. These restrictions have sent shockwaves through global supply chains, particularly impacting India's automotive industry, which currently has only about a month's worth of rare earth magnet inventory for EV manufacturing. Government Initiatives And Industry Response In response, the Indian government has launched a multi-pronged strategy to secure its rare earth supply chain. The Department of Science has provided funding to Hyderabad-based Midwest Advanced Materials Private Ltd (MAM) to advance the commercial manufacturing of neodymium materials and rare earth permanent magnets. MAM is expected to commence commercial production within six months, initially targeting an output of 500 tons annually, with plans to scale up to 5,000 tonnes per year by 2030. The initiative is supported by India Rare Earth Ltd (IREL), which will supply the necessary raw materials, making the venture financially viable. Additionally, the government is exploring the commercialisation of magnet-making technologies developed by public sector entities and formalising alternative supply arrangements with countries such as Vietnam and the United States. India is also considering sending a delegation of auto industry leaders to China to expedite export clearances as a short-term contingency. Policy And Incentives To stimulate domestic production, the Ministry of Heavy Industries is drafting a plan to offer production-linked fiscal incentives and subsidies. These measures are designed to bridge the price gap between Indian-made magnets and cheaper Chinese imports, making local manufacturing more competitive and attractive to private investors. The National Critical Mineral Mission, launched in April 2025, further underscores the government's commitment to achieving self-reliance in strategic minerals like neodymium. Challenges And Long-Term Vision Despite possessing the world's third-largest reserves of rare earth elements (approximately 6.9 million tonnes), India's domestic production capacity remains insufficient due to limited private investment in mining and processing infrastructure. Most of the rare earth materials extracted by IREL have historically been allocated to the atomic energy and defense sectors, leaving other industries reliant on imports from China. To address this, India is ramping up exploration activities, with the Geological Survey of India identifying new rare earth resources in Rajasthan and launching 16 exploration projects in FY25. However, most of these projects are still in the early reconnaissance (G4) stage. International Partnerships And Diversification Recognising the need to diversify supply sources, India is also seeking partnerships with countries rich in rare earth resources, such as Vietnam, the United States, and Kazakhstan. These international collaborations aim to secure alternative raw material supplies and reduce vulnerability to geopolitical disruptions. Conclusion India's race to break free from China's grip on rare earth magnets is marked by a sense of urgency and a clear strategic vision. By combining immediate contingency measures, policy incentives, domestic capacity building, and international partnerships, India aims to establish a resilient and self-sufficient rare earth supply chain. However, building this ecosystem will require sustained investment, technological advancement, and close cooperation between government and industry, with the ultimate goal of safeguarding the nation's critical industries against future supply shocks. Based On Business Line Report Comments
New Delhi [India], December 2: The IVCA GreenReturns Summit 2024 commenced today in New Delhi, convening over 400 visionaries, investors, policymakers, and entrepreneurs to chart a transformative path for India's green economy. The Summit is dedicated to aligning India's climate goals with its trillion-dollar economic aspirations for a 'Viksit Bharat,' spotlighting high-impact investment opportunities, addressing funding gaps, and driving actionable solutions for net-zero and climate adaptation. Also Read | Mamata Banerjee Says West Bengal Yet To Get INR 14,000 Crore From Centre for Supply of ...Read More >
India's Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has announced an ongoing investigation into three electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers for allegedly availing government subsidies fraudulently. The total sum in question amounts to approximately Rs2.97bn (about $35m). The firms under scrutiny, Hero Electric Vehicles, Benling India Energy and Technology, and Okinawa Autotech; they are accused of violating guidelines tied to FAME II. FAME II was launched in 2019 by India's Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI), that aimed to promote local EV manufacturing and drive electrification in India. It is mainl ...Read More >
Bengaluru, 4th December 2024- PURE EV, one of India's leading electric two-wheeler manufacturers, has unveiled an ambitious roadmap to strengthen its presence nationwide and expand globally while introducing innovative solutions for sustainable mobility. Over the next 30 months, the company aims to add 250 new dealerships, taking its total network to over 320 across India. The expansion will be driven by the growing demand for long-range scooters, electric motorcycles, large B2B contracts, and the company's entry into the house-hold brand space. Dr. Nishanth Dongari, Founder & MD of PURE EV, ...Read More >
Gurugram, 11 December 2024: Around USD 40 billion of investments are envisaged over the next 5-6 years for the development of Electric Vehicles (EV) & ancillary industries in India. However, the deployment of these funds will rely upon successful implementation of government policies, charging infrastructure ramp-up and domestic manufacturing capacity scale-up. As per Colliers' latest report "EVs in India: Renewed Vigour in Electric Mobility", about two-thirds of the planned investments, can potentially materialize in the lithium-ion battery segment alone. Interestingly, despite slower than an ...Read More >
Jamshedpur, Dec 17 (PTI) Tata Steel has operationalised an all-women shift at its Noamundi iron mine in Jharkhand's West Singhbhum district, an initiative introduced in the country for the first time, a company statement said. Women employees were engaged in all the mining activities of the shift, including heavy earth moving machinery, shovel, loader, drill [...] Jamshedpur, Dec 17 (PTI) Tata Steel has operationalised an all-women shift at its Noamundi iron mine in Jharkhand's West Singhbhum district, an initiative introduced in the country for the first time, a company statement said. Wome ...Read More >
Mumbai, May 21: The 8th Pay Commission has been officially announced by the Indian government, with no doubt a significant activity for some 1 crore central government employees and pensioners for the consideration of the revisions of salaries and pensions. The primary role of this commission will be to identify the fitment factor, the multiplier used to increase basic pay, and review minimum wages and keep them relevant to the current economic situation. A prominent recommendation from the Staff Side indicates a desire to combine lower pay levels for a fairer wage structure and to facilitate ...Read More >
Hit by economic slowdown and poor infrastructure, industrialists from Jharkhand's key industrial districts -- East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum, and Seraikela-Kharsawan -- are looking to the newly formed state government for revival and support. The industrial zones of Adityapur, Gamharia, Kandra, and Chandil have been grappling with inadequate infrastructure, including poorly maintained roads, lack of bridges, erratic water supply, and unreliable power. Entrepreneurs in these regions hope the new administration will address these issues and work toward improving the state's industrial ecosystem ...Read More >
CHENNAI: Hyundai Motor Group has partnered with three Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) to establish a collaborative research system in the fields of batteries and electrification. The three institutes are IIT Madras, IIT Delhi and IIT Bombay. The Hyundai Centre of Excellence (CoE), which will be set up on IIT Delhi campus, will operate through sponsorships from Hyundai Motor Group. The primary objective of the Hyundai CoE is to take the lead in driving advancements in batteries and electrification, specifically designed to meet the unique requirements of the Indian market. Hyundai Mo ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: Opposition BJD and Congress MLAs Tuesday staged a walkout from the Odisha assembly, accusing the ruling BJP of failing to control prices of essential commodities and resolve the potato crisis in the state. The issues were debated in the House over the admissibility of an adjournment motion moved by the Opposition on price rise of vegetables, pulses, edible oil and fuel. The opposition members took exception to comments made by Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister K C Patra that adverse climate conditions, rates in international and domestic markets, and less production by ...Read More >
The Indian government has awarded fiscal incentives totaling Rs 4,150 crore to four companies, including the BCGCL joint venture, for developing coal gasification projects aimed at producing ammonium nitrate, synthetic natural gas, and ethanol. This initiative is part of India's Rs 8,500 crore Coal Gasification Incentive Scheme. In a strategic move, the Indian government on Thursday granted fiscal incentives amounting to Rs 4,150 crore to four companies to bolster coal gasification projects. Amo ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], December 15 (ANI): Godrej Agrovet informed stock exchanges that the Gujarat government has allotted area to it in three districts for the expansion of oil palm cultivation under the palm oil mission. Those three districts are Vadodara, Surat, and Tapi, the company informed stock exchanges in a filing late on Saturday. The filing didn't elaborate further details about the allotment of land. India is the world's second-largest consumer and number one vegetable oil importer, and it meets 60 per cent of its need through imports. A large part of it is palm oil and its derivativ ...Read More >
Tata Steel launched an all-women mining shift at its Noamundi iron mine in Jharkhand, a first in India. This initiative builds on their "Women@Mines" program and aims to empower women in mining. The company trained local women to operate heavy machinery through the "Tejaswini" initiatives, leading to this milestone. Tata Steel also achieved 20% diversity in its India workforce.In order to bring in more diversity, Tata Steel has rolled out an all-women shift at its Noamundi iron mine in Jharkhand. ...Read More >
Shares of NMDC, steel stocks faced selling pressure on December 18 as the Siddaramaiah-led Karnataka government tabled a bill to tax mines and mining land. NMDC, JSW Steel, Tata Steel, SAIL stocks were trading in red, with NMDC stock bearing the brunt of the fall by falling 5% as CNBC-TV18 reported that the Karnataka government might hike duty on iron ore. At 12:30 pm on December 18, NMDC shares were trading 6% lower at Rs 213.49 apiece, the biggest fall in 18 weeks. Karnataka is an important s ...Read More >
New Delhi: India's coal sector has registered a 5.88 per cent increase in production to 830.66 million tonnes (MT) during April 2024 to January 2025 of the current financial year, from 784.51 MT recorded during the same period of 2023-24, according to a Coal Ministry statement issued on Monday. The total coal production during January 2025 has reached 104.43 MT, reflecting a 4.38 per cent increase over 100.05 MT recorded during the corresponding period of the previous year. The contribution from captive, commercial, and other entities for January 2025 has also been particularly strong, with ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 12 (PTI) The government on Thursday came out with the definition of green steel and asked the industry to take measures to bring down carbon emissions below the level of 2.2 tonnes on per tonne of finished products. Union Steel Minister H D Kumaraswamy also released a 'taxonomy on green steel' with parameters for giving star ratings on products based on the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted during the production process. The steel industry has been the backbone of India's industrial growth and it is imperative that this vital sector undergoes a transformative shift towards ...Read More >
The books for class 9-12 will be available from 2026-27. New Delhi: The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has reduced the prices of books for classes 9 to 12 by 20 per cent. The decision was announced by NCERT Director Dinesh Prasad Saklani during an event held in the national capital on Monday. The reduction in the prices of books will be effective from the upcoming academic year. News agency PTI quoted the minister as saying that while the textbooks for classes 9- ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jan 17 (PTI) IT service provider Tech Mahindra on Friday announced the opening of an advanced Manufacturing Experience Centre at its Chennai campus. The centre was inaugurated by Mahindra Group chairman Anand Mahindra and Tech Mahindra CEO Mohit Joshi, according to a company statement. The centre will help manufacturers to quickly prototype and scale AI-based innovations to tackle industry issues like high operational expenses, inefficiencies in processes, supply chain disruptions, and complex operational challenges. Additionally, it will function as a hub where customers can vis ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], December 3 (ANI): Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Amendment Bill, 2024 to expand the definition of mineral oils and include petroleum and natural gas passed in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. The bill was introduced by Union petroleum and natural gas minister Hardeep Singh Puri for consideration and passing. The Bill will regulate the exploration and extraction of natural gas and petroleum. The amended bill expands the definition of mineral oils to include petroleum and natural gas in it. Also Read | Pune: Doctors Perform Rare Laser Surgery on Woman Pregnant With Monoam ...Read More >
Mumbai, Dec 11 (PTI) Murugappa Group-run TCI Clean Mobility subsidiary TIVOLT Electric Vehicles on Wednesday said it has signed a pact with EV charging solutions provider Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited (TPREL) to build a charging ecosystem for its electric commercial vehicles. Under the collaboration, Tata Power Renewable Energy will bring its extensive experience in setting up and managing an expansive EV charging infrastructure at strategic locations across the country to TIVOLT dealerships, customer locations, and high-traffic public spaces, the company said in a statement. "This str ...Read More >
India's Indigenous Light Tank: A Key Weapon System For High-Altitude Combat Friday, December 13, 2024 by Indian Defence News India's indigenous light tank, Zorawar, represents a significant advancement in the country's defence capabilities, particularly for operations in high-altitude regions. Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in collaboration with Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and supported by various Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), the Zorawar is designed to meet the operational demands highlighted during the 2020 standoff with China in Eastern Lada ...Read More >
India's NTPC (previously the National Thermal Power Corporation) has launched its first 160 megawatt hours (MWh) CO₂ battery energy storage project, to be developed by Triveni Turbine and its energy partner Energy Dome. The project will be executed on a turnkey basis at NTPC's Kudgi plant in Karnataka, India. The initiative aligns with NTPC's strategy to diversify its energy portfolio and increase renewable power generation. The adoption of CO₂ battery technology also supports India's "Make in India" and "Atmanirbhar" (self-sufficiency) policies, offering opportunities for the domestic indu ...Read More >
Part of the deal involves assistance to boost mining supply chains. Peru is one of the world's top copper producers, while Japan is a major consumer of the key industrial metal. In the aftermath of the APEC summit, Peru also inked a defense cooperation deal with South Korea, including a submarine agreement with Hyundai Heavy Industries and another deal with Korea Aerospace Industries to manufacture parts for fighter aircraft, according to Boluarte's foreign minister. Last week, Peru formally inaugurated the Chinese-built Pacific coast megaport of Chancay, promising faster and more efficient ...Read More >
The Indian government has announced a 375km rail network expansion, aimed at enhancing economic growth and connectivity in North Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. With a total cost of approximately Rs79.27bn ($1.05bn), these projects are aimed to be completed within four years. Union Minister of Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw, detailed the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs' approval of three railway infrastructure projects. The projects include the Jalgaon-Manmad fourth line (160 km), Bhusawal-Khandwa third and fourth lines (131km), and the Prayagraj (Iradatganj)-Manikpur thir ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 18 (PTI) Renewable energy player BCL Industries on Wednesday said it is setting up a bio-energy plant in West Bengal with an investment of Rs 150 crore. The company has also received an environment clearance for its 75 KLPD (kilo litres per day) plant coming up in Kharagpur, it said. Additionally, the work on a similar project with 75 KLPD capacity in Bathinda, Punjab is in full swing. Both the projects are expected to be completed within a time period of 18-24 months, it said. In India, ethanol production is a key part of promoting bio-energy and biofuels, contributing to t ...Read More >
A crucial round of negotiations on a global plastic pollution treaty has begun in Busan, South Korea. Led by Norway and Rwanda, 66 countries and the EU are pushing for a legally binding agreement to control plastic production, consumption, and waste management. However, key points of contention include limits on plastic production and the ban of single-use plastics. With plastic production set to rise 70% by 2040, negotiators aim to protect human health and the environment while promoting recycling, reducing harmful chemicals, and supporting sustainable plastic practices. Industry leaders and ...Read More >
he Australian government claimed on Thursday that the country is on track to meet its 2030 emissions reduction target, with new figures showing improved projections. In an annual climate change statement delivered to parliament, Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen announced that Australia is projected to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 42.6 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030 -- up from the 37-per cent cut projected in 2023.The government has committed to cutting Australia's emissions by 43 percent from 2005 levels by 2030, Xinhua news agency reported. "Our robust reforms an ...Read More >
Aryan Meena, who lived in the Dausa district of Rajasthan state, was trapped in the narrow well for three days after falling into it while playing on Monday afternoon. The boy, wearing pants and a t-shirt, had to endure plummeting winter temperatures inside the well as well as hunger and thirst. Children and even adult people dying from falling into open borewells is not uncommon in rural India where they are dug to pump water for irrigation and drinking and left abandoned after they run dry. ...Read More >
Tata Steel is bolstering its iron ore supply for its planned 40 MTPA steel production by 2030. With four mine leases expiring in 2030, the company is operationalizing two new mines and negotiating with NMDC and OMC for additional ore. These strategies aim to secure the over 60 MT of iron ore required for the expanded steel capacity.Tata Steel has initiated discussions with state-run miners NMDC and Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) to secure future iron ore supplies as the company ramps up its dome ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jan 14 (PTI) The National Turmeric Board will help develop new markets internationally to promote exports and double production to about 20 lakh tonnes in the next five years, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Tuesday. Inaugurating the Board, he also said that it would promote research and development into new products and develop on the country's traditional knowledge for value-added turmeric products. "Turmeric is also called as golden spice. India accounts for 70 per cent of global turmeric production... We are looking to double the production to 20 lakh tonne ...Read More >
Trump's pledge to impose 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada would lead to 400,000 job losses in the US, Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard said Wednesday during a press conference alongside President Claudia Sheinbaum. A veteran of confrontational North American trade talks during Trump's first administration, Ebrard gave a presentation on how a new round of levies would affect the Mexico-US relationship. Also Read : France, Germany, Sweden urge EU to avoid China reliance on EV batteries Ebrard said the new tariffs would mainly hit US automotive companies active in Mexico, including General Moto ...Read More >