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.
New Delhi: The Centre is working on green steel mandates for the local steel industry, supported by government procurement and financial incentives, as the world's second-largest maker of the alloy works to prepare the sector for the future. The upcoming National Green Steel Mission is likely to mandate steelmakers to make a fixed share of their overall output green, the people cited above said on the condition of anonymity. The government will also support green steel with a public procurement policy, as well as interest subventions and production-linked incentives (PLIs). Green steel broadly refers to steelmaking with renewable energy, using technologies and equipment that emit less. The emission intensity of steel produced in India, at 2.54 tonnes of carbon dioxide per tonne of crude steel, is significantly higher than the global average of 1.91 tonnes, pointing to the need for decarbonisation to meet India's climate goals. India's move to green steel also comes in the backdrop of several developed economies preparing levies on goods using carbon-spewing methods. The second person cited above said the green steel mission will be similar to the green hydrogen mission, with components of policy, incentives and a roadmap for the future. The mission is likely to be launched in the next couple of months. Queries emailed to the Union steel ministry remained unanswered. "Green steel has to be defined properly," said A.S. Firoz, a steel industry expert. "At this moment, it is still a loose category and can be interpreted in multiple ways. Not just India, the world has to go quite a distance to produce green steel in large commercial plants, and that too economically for long-term sustenance," Firoz said. While the government expects a procurement policy to spark demand and encourage green steel production, Firoz was sceptical. "Given the fact that government procurement is small compared to the country's overall steel consumption, a small percentage of that will not be adequately attractive for the steelmakers to go out of their investment plans to earmark a portion of their production to be put in the green route. Government action is a small step forward at this point, and is more symbolic. This is welcome, nevertheless," said Firoz, who was earlier chief economist at the steel ministry. Steelmakers have already taken steps to reduce emissions. Tata Steel, which is targeting net zero emissions by 2045, has shut its UK blast furnace and is building an electric arc furnace (EAF) with government support. It is also in talks with the Dutch government for support, a company spokesperson said. Its 0.85 mtpa EAF-based Ludhiana steel plant, to be operational by early 2026, will use a significant proportion green power., and have nearly 80% lower emissions compared to the traditional method. The company is also implementing various technologies at its blast furnace-based steel plants in east India to reduce emissions. The spokesperson also pointed out some of the limitations in greening steel. "EAF is a well-established route of steel making. While it reduces emissions significantly, the ability to produce all grades of steel especially flat products and shortage of scrap globally restricts the use of EAF. Technologies to reduce emissions in the blast furnace route are still evolving and not available at a commercially viable scale. Thus, the greening of steel production will come at higher cost till decarbonization technologies mature. These incremental costs could be as high as 20-30%," the spokesperson said. India's steel industry is responsible for about 12% of the country's carbon emissions, said Aditya Shrivastava, general manager, Jindal Steel and Power Ltd. "Shifting to green steel, which uses hydrogen and renewable energy in place of traditional coal, can significantly cut down emissions... As countries and industries push for carbon-neutral supply chains, India's ability to produce low-carbon steel will become a key competitive advantage. This green transition could help India capture a share of the growing global green steel market, estimated to be worth $60 billion by 2030," Shrivastava added. Worldwide, there is no single standard for what counts as green steel, though it is often referred to the alloy made using electric furnaces, renewable power, scrap and carbon capture processes. The International Energy Agency (IEA) defines green steel as steel produced by a plant with a higher scrap share. ArcelorMittal identifies six bands of steel based on the targetted emissions intensity and scrap share. Hybrit, a Swedish joint venture, focuses on steelmaking using green hydrogen and renewable energy. US metals firm Kloeckner Metals Corp. defines six categories of steel based on absolute carbon emissions intensity. The World Steel Association has multiple definitions of decarbonised steel, such as low-carbon, near-zero, carbon neutral, fossil-free, clean and carbon-free steel. For India's green steel mission, the first task will be to come up with a definition for green steel. A government task force report has suggested that India needs both demand and supply side initiatives to help the steel sector go green. It said that steel ministry is keen to create demand for green steel by developing the framework for a green public procurement policy, which could then be taken up by the finance ministry for development and action. The report also suggested setting up an agency along the lines of Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL) for bulk procurements. The steel ministry may also prioritize developing an ecosystem for green steel production and consumption by creating a robust MRV (measurement, reporting, and verification) system for emissions accounting, a registry of green steel production and consumption, and tracking of green steel certification, the report said, adding the ministry should coordinate with the Bureau of Energy Efficiency to develop a protocol for measuring emissions from all the sector steel plants. The report has also called for government support to pilot projects using green hydrogen. It also said that the steel ministry may coordinate with other ministries to extend benefits provided to green hydrogen projects in the refinery and fertiliser sector to the steel industry as well. The report builds upon the work of 14 task forces on decarbonization, which covered crucial areas such as energy efficiency, renewable energy, green hydrogen, biochar and carbon capture on technology side, while delving with policy levers of green steel taxonomy, CO2 monitoring, and green steel demand generation. India is the world's second-largest crude steel producer, with a capacity to produce 179.5 mt (143.6 mt produced in FY24). Its finished steel production stood at 138.5 mt and exports at 7.5 mt during FY24. However, per capita steel consumption in India was only 97.7 kg in FY24, compared with the global average per capita consumption of 219 kg in calendar year 2023. The National Steel Policy 2017 aims to increase the per capita consumption to 160 kg by 2030. Therefore, given India's lower per capita steel consumption, it is expected that India's steel sector will continue to grow rapidly even beyond 2030, by when production is expected to reach 300 mt.
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 >
Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], December 2 (ANI): Ambuja Cements has taken a step toward achieving its Net Zero goals. The company has partnered with Finland-based technology leader Coolbrook to implement its proprietary RotoDynamic Heater (RDH) technology. According to the exchange filing, this cutting-edge, zero-carbon heating solution, powered by renewable electricity, will drastically reduce the company's dependence on fossil fuels and lower its carbon emissions, aligning with its sustainability vision. Ambuja Cements will significantly reduce its fossil fuel dependence by harnessing renewa ...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 >
Mumbai: Maharashtra will connect the Nagpur-Mumbai Samruddhi expressway corridor to the upcoming greenfield Vadhvan port, slated to be the country's biggest such facility, via the Nashik highway, the upcoming Delhi-Mumbai greenfield expressway corridor, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway, the under-construction bullet train corridor, and the coastal road that is planned to be extended up to the port."The Prosperity corridor will have up to 500 MW to 1,000 MW capacity solar plant along it with 200 MW starting soon, besides a huge gas pipeline that will supply PNG not only to cities but also to power ...Read More >
Mumbai: The birth of three penguin chicks at Mumbai's Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan and Zoo has sparked an unexpected row not over their care, but their names. BJP functionary Nitin Bankar from the Byculla Assembly constituency has objected to the chicks being given English names, insisting they be named in Marathi instead. The BMC is expected to respond by June 10, after which Bankar will decide his next move. Speaking to The Free Press Journal, Bankar said, "When penguins were brought from abroad, we accepted that their names would be in English. But these chicks were born on the soil of M ...Read More >
BHUBANESWAR: Amid the push for Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make-in-India in view of the changing geopolitical scenario, the state government has amended Odisha General Financial Rules (OGFR), 2023 enabling restrictions on procurement from certain countries. The amendments, notified by the Finance department on Thursday, authorised the state to bar procurement from bidders, who are either based in or have commercial arrangements with entities from countries or classes of countries that may pose a risk to the defence of the country or matters related to national security. The newly substituted rule ...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 >
Speaking at IIT Bombay's Techfest 2024, Mr Adani, the 27-year old younger son of infrastructure magnate Gautam Adani, said the future of technology is both scary and exciting. India cannot stay out of global technological race, said Jeet Adani. Mumbai: India cannot stay out of global technological race and should build capabilities that will keep it at the top while remaining vigilant against its misuse, said Jeet Adani, Director, Adani Airport Holdings Ltd. Speaking at IIT Bombay's Techfest ...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, Jun 6 (PTI) Infrastructure major Larsen & Toubro (L&T) on Friday said it will raise Rs 500 crore through ESG bonds. An ESG bond is a debt security that funds an environmental, social, or governance goal. "Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has announced a Rs 500 crore ESG bond issuance deal, becoming the first Indian corporate to do so under the Securities and Exchange Board of India's (Sebi's) newly introduced ESG and sustainability-linked bond framework," the company said in a statement. HSBC is acting as the sole lead arranger in the transaction, it said. As part of the ESG bond deal, the ...Read More >
Durg: It was a proud moment for Chhattisgarh to witness Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurate the world's highest railway bridge over Chenab river on Friday as steel used for building this architectural marvel was supplied by Bhilai Steel Plant, located in Durg district. This is India's first cable-stayed rail bridge. Located in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district, this bridge connects the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link project. This arch bridge spanning 1,315 metres is at a height of 359 metres from Chenab river, which means it is 29 metres higher than the Eiffel Tower of Paris, w ...Read More >
New Delhi, June 7 (SocialNews.XYZ) Sustainability is at the heart of our maritime policy, and we are committed to achieving net zero emissions at major ports by 2047, said Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal on Saturday. During an interaction with students of the Blue MBA Executive Programme at Copenhagen Business School (CBS), Sonowal outlined India's strategy to transform its maritime infrastructure through flagship initiatives like the Sagarmala Programme and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047. "These efforts aim to build modern, multimodal logistics systems w ...Read More >
Mumbai : ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India) has proudly reinforced its role in India's infrastructure transformation by supplying critical steel for two of the country's most iconic railway bridges 70% of flat steel for Chenab Bridge, the world's highest railway bridge, and 100% of steel for the Anji Khad Bridge, India's first cable-stayed railway bridge. The dedication of the iconic Anji and Chenab bridges by Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi marks a significant step in realizing the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047. These engineering marvels truly showcase India's will an ...Read More >
New Delhi: Three Indian citizens vanished mysteriously in Tehran. Darkness closed in as hope seemed lost. A ruthless Pakistani gang with potential links to ISI snatched them away, casting a shadow of fear. But relentless Indian diplomats refused to back down. Against all odds, a daring rescue mission ignited. Now, the captives are free, and a chilling game of espionage comes to light. The Punjab-based trio - Amritpal Singh from Hoshiarpur, Jaspal Singh from SBS Nagar and Hushnapreet Singh from Sangrur - had landed in Iran on May 1. Promised a clandestine route to Australia via Dubai and Tehra ...Read More >
Srinagar: Before towering cranes and cutting-edge engineering transformed the Himalayan landscape, the monumental dream of connecting "Kashmir to Kanyakumari" by rail began with the plodding footsteps of humble mules. This extraordinary backstory underpins the official realization of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 6, 2025, a project crowned by the awe-inspiring Chenab Bridge. According to Afcons Infrastructure Limited, the company behind the Chenab Bridge, the earliest and most formidable hurdle wasn't just the design of ...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 >
Chennai: The capacity utilisation of the domestic steel industry is set to drop to 78 per cent for the first time in four years. In order to check unprecedented imports, the government is considering imposing a 25 per cent duty on steel imports. Cheaper imports from China and countries under Free Trade Agreement along with ongoing capacity addition can lead to capacity utilisation of domestic steel mills dropping from 85 per cent in FY2024 to an estimated 78 per cent in the current fiscal, the lowest we have seen in the last four years. The domestic steel industry witnessed an all-time high ...Read More >
VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday held a review meeting at his Undavalli camp office to address procurement and pricing concerns for cocoa, mango, and tobacco crops, reaffirming his government's commitment to supporting farmers. Naidu stressed a farmer-centric approach, directing officials to conduct field visits, anticipate challenges, and ensure global standards in agricultural production. He announced a dedicated cocoa policy to promote high-quality output and enhance farmer awareness. Support for Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and MSMEs to strengthen agro-pr ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Former head of Air India and chairman of the Railway Board Ashwani Lohani is the new Prime Ministers Museum and Library (PMML) director. The official order for his appointment was issued on Wednesday. A 1980-batch officer of the Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineering (IRSME), Lohani is known for turning around various organisations during his illustrious career. Following his retirement from IRSME service, he joined the GMR Group as the CEO. According to the order dated June 4, his appointment to the post of director, Prime Ministers Museum and Library in the rank and pa ...Read More >
Srinagar, Jun 7 (PTI) Authorities on Saturday barred Eid prayers from taking place at the Eidgah ground and the Jama Masjid in the old city here, while Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq claimed that he was put under house arrest. "Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid Srinagar deeply regrets to inform that the authorities have once again disallowed Eid-ul-Adha prayers at the Eidgah as well as at the historic Jama Masjid in Srinagar by closing the gates of the mosque and deploying police personnel outside," the management of the historic mosque said in a statement. ...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 >
Still, the ongoing U.N. climate talks have thrown a spotlight on their efforts to tackle global warming. While the COP29 summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, is tasked with agreeing a goal to mobilize hundreds of billions of dollars for climate, leaders of the Group of 20 major economies half a world away in Rio are holding the purse strings. G20 countries account for 85% of the world's economy and are the largest contributors to multilateral development banks helping to steer climate finance. "The spotlight is naturally on the G20. They account for 80 percent of global emissions," U.N. Secretary Ge ...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 >
New Delhi [India], June 5 (ANI): On the occasion of World Environment Day, a website, "Discover Green Hydrogen," was launched by L&T GreenTech. The website focuses on the global clean energy revolution, providing insights, expert analysis, and real-time updates on the rapidly evolving Green Hydrogen industry. Powered by L&T GreenTech, a key division of L&T Energy's Green & Clean Energy Business, the newly launched website reflects L&T's unwavering commitment to sustainability. Also Read | Delhi: High-Level US Team Arrives for Talks on Bilateral Trade Pact With India. This website is designe ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 4 (ANI): To meet the country's ambitious 500 GW target, India's renewable sector will need to double its annual capacity addition to 50 gigawatts (GW) over 2025-2030, S&P Global Ratings said in a report. This will mean almost doubling last year's capacity addition of 29GW. The global rating agency said capacity addition will require USD 175 billion and up to USD 150 billion for the expansion and strengthening of the transmission and distribution network. The next five years will be crucial as the country strives to meet its target of 500GW renewable capacity by 2030. ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 7 (ANI): As the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government completes 11 years of governance, India's agricultural sector has undergone a profound transformation over the years which is rooted in the philosophy of Beej Se Bazaar Tak (seed to market), while also championing inclusivity, supporting small farmers, women-led groups, and allied sectors, while making India a global agricultural leader, said a statement from the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoAFW). PM Modi also highlighted today about ensuring prosperity of farmers and also focussing on issues ...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 >
PNN New Delhi [India], December 12: In the 21st century, the world is going green in phases, and therefore using renewable sources of energy isn't going to harm the environment, but it's going to benefit your pocket. On average, the IEA has anticipated an increase of renewable energy sources' capacity by 75% from 2022 to 2027, spearheaded by solar and wind energy. Renewable energy investment is already at more than $50 billion annually in the United States. It is projected to climb even higher as federal incentives such as the Inflation Reduction Act push this sector forward. To the industr ...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 >
West Bengal [India], February 5 (ANI): At the 8th edition of the Bengal Global Business Summit 2025, Bhutanese Minister Younten Phuntsho emphasised the importance of the summit as a platform for strengthening the collaboration between India and Bhutan. Addressing the audience, he said, "For Bhutan, this summit is an opportunity to further deepen our (India-Bhutan) collaboration and identify strategic areas where our shared aspirations align. There are several key areas where we can forge even stronger partnership - first is tourism, we invite investors to explore opportunities in wellness tou ...Read More >