Category Archives: Business

Expert View: PM Modi’s AI Skilling Push Can Create 1 Crore Young AI-Ready Indians

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement to provide artificial intelligence (AI) skilling training to one crore young Indians over the next year has been welcomed as a significant step towards preparing India’s workforce for an economy increasingly shaped by AI.

Pankaj Srivastava, Founder and CEO, UnoSearch, said the initiative goes beyond conventional skilling and represents an opportunity for India to strengthen its position in the global AI ecosystem.

“One crore young Indians, one year and one extraordinary opportunity,” Srivastava said, describing the initiative as a statement of where India intends to compete in the next phase of the digital economy.

According to him, AI is already transforming the way businesses operate, innovate, recruit talent and engage with customers. As a result, the objective should not be limited to creating AI users, but should extend to developing AI builders, AI strategists and AI-native businesses.

Srivastava pointed to the rapid transformation taking place in the digital search ecosystem as an example. Search is increasingly moving beyond the traditional model of displaying “10 blue links” towards AI-generated answers, recommendations and conversational discovery.

“This shift will create a competitive advantage for professionals and businesses that understand and adapt to it early,” he said.

The proposed skilling drive could therefore have implications well beyond employment. By training millions of young people in AI-related capabilities, India could create a large talent pool capable of supporting innovation across technology, services, manufacturing, education, healthcare, finance and other sectors.

Srivastava said the scale of the initiative presents both an opportunity and a responsibility. The focus, he argued, should be on ensuring that young Indians develop practical capabilities that enable them to create solutions, build businesses and contribute to India’s digital economy.

“10 million trained minds can become 10 million new catalysts for India’s digital economy,” he said.

The initiative comes at a time when AI adoption is accelerating globally and businesses are increasingly seeking professionals who can combine domain expertise with AI capabilities. For India, the challenge will be to translate the scale of training into meaningful skills, innovation and entrepreneurship.

Srivastava believes India should aim for a leadership role in the AI revolution rather than simply becoming a large consumer of AI technologies.

“India shouldn’t just consume the AI revolution. We should build it and lead it,” he said.

India’s EV Revolution Gathers Pace as Sales Cross 25 Lakh in FY26

New Delhi, August 15, 2026: India’s electric mobility market has moved from an emerging segment to an increasingly important part of the country’s automotive economy, with electric vehicle sales reaching 25 lakh units in 2025-26, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in his Independence Day address from the Red Fort.

The latest figure represents a dramatic increase from just 1.5 lakh EVs sold in 2009-10, translating into a rise of more than 16 times over the period. Modi cited the expansion of electric mobility as evidence of India’s progress in new-age industries and its growing capacity to create opportunities for young people.

EVs Move Into the Mainstream

The scale of the increase indicates that electric mobility is no longer confined to a niche market. India’s EV ecosystem now spans electric two-wheelers, three-wheelers, passenger vehicles and commercial mobility, creating demand across manufacturing, batteries, charging infrastructure, financing, software and after-sales services.

Industry data also points to the growing weight of two- and three-wheelers in India’s EV transition. Research firm JMK Research estimates that cumulative EV sales reached nearly 86.8 lakh units by the end of FY2026, with electric two-wheelers accounting for about 57.8% of annual EV sales and passenger electric three-wheelers contributing roughly 29%.

This composition is particularly important for India because two- and three-wheelers represent a large part of everyday urban and semi-urban mobility. Their relatively lower purchase prices and high utilisation make the economics of electrification more compelling than in some passenger-car segments.

A New Industrial Opportunity

The EV transition is creating a much larger industrial opportunity than vehicle assembly alone.

Battery manufacturing, power electronics, charging equipment, electric drivetrains, vehicle software, recycling and critical-mineral supply chains are emerging as strategic areas for investment. As volumes increase, manufacturers can potentially achieve economies of scale, while a larger supplier ecosystem can reduce dependence on imported components.

For India, this also creates an opportunity to combine its traditional automotive manufacturing capabilities with strengths in software, digital payments and engineering services.

The bigger economic question is therefore not simply how many EVs India sells. It is how much of the value chain India can manufacture domestically.

Policy Support Remains Critical

The rapid expansion of EV sales has taken place alongside government efforts to promote electric mobility and domestic manufacturing.

Policy support has helped reduce some of the initial cost barriers facing consumers and manufacturers. At the same time, India’s broader industrial strategy is increasingly focused on building domestic manufacturing capacity rather than relying heavily on imported finished products.

The next phase will require policies that encourage private investment while ensuring that the EV market can eventually become commercially sustainable without excessive dependence on subsidies.

Charging Infrastructure Becomes the Next Test

Higher EV sales inevitably increase pressure on charging infrastructure.

For electric mobility to move deeper into mainstream passenger and commercial transport, India will need a dense, reliable and interoperable charging network. The challenge is particularly significant outside major metropolitan centres, where charging availability can influence consumer willingness to switch from internal-combustion vehicles.

Battery swapping, fast charging and charging infrastructure for commercial fleets could become increasingly important as EV penetration rises.

The Battery Question

Batteries remain one of the most strategically important components of India’s EV ambitions.

India’s long-term competitiveness will depend on its ability to develop a robust battery ecosystem covering cell manufacturing, raw-material sourcing, energy storage technology and recycling. Reducing import dependence would improve supply-chain resilience and potentially make Indian EV manufacturers more competitive in global markets.

The recycling opportunity is equally significant. As the first large wave of EV batteries eventually reaches the end of its useful automotive life, recovering lithium, nickel, cobalt and other materials could become an important industrial segment.

Beyond Cars: The Commercial EV Opportunity

The strongest near-term opportunities may continue to come from commercial and high-utilisation vehicles.

Electric three-wheelers, delivery fleets, buses and last-mile logistics vehicles can achieve attractive operating economics because they travel long distances and spend significant time on the road. Lower energy and maintenance costs can therefore compensate for higher upfront vehicle prices.

This could accelerate electrification in logistics, e-commerce delivery and urban public transport.

What the 25-Lakh Milestone Means

The 25-lakh sales milestone is more than an automotive statistic. It signals the emergence of an entirely new industrial ecosystem.

For automobile companies, the challenge will be to scale EV portfolios without compromising profitability. For component manufacturers, it represents a shift in technology and supply chains. For energy companies, it creates a new source of electricity demand. For investors, it opens opportunities across batteries, charging, electronics, software and mobility services.

The transition will not be without challenges. Battery costs, charging infrastructure, raw-material security, resale values and consumer confidence will determine how quickly EV adoption can progress from today’s momentum to mass-market penetration.

But the direction is increasingly clear. India’s electric mobility market has crossed an important threshold, and the next contest will be about who can build the most competitive EV ecosystem around it.

Modi’s Independence Day reference to the sector places EVs within a broader economic narrative: India is seeking not only to consume new technologies but also to manufacture them, build supporting industries and create jobs around them.

FIIs Extend Buying Streak as Rising Crude Prices Put Nifty Under Pressure

India’s equity market is entering a more complicated phase. Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) have turned net buyers for the third consecutive week, signalling a gradual improvement in overseas investor appetite. Yet the Nifty 50 closed the week lower as rising crude prices and renewed geopolitical uncertainty overshadowed improving corporate earnings and supportive domestic liquidity.

The immediate numbers tell only part of the story. FIIs bought equities worth around ₹1,228 crore during the week ended August 14, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) invested a much larger ₹9,286 crore. The contrast highlights an important structural change in the Indian market: foreign flows are becoming supportive again, but domestic capital remains the stronger stabilising force.

FII Buying Is a Positive Signal, Not Yet a Trend Reversal

The return of FII buying is significant because foreign investors had been a major source of pressure on Indian equities earlier in the year. July already saw a recovery in foreign participation, with overseas investors buying about $2.12 billion of Indian equities, while August began with another strong inflow of ₹12,921 crore in the first week.

However, three weeks of net buying should not yet be interpreted as a complete reversal of the foreign-investor cycle.

FIIs remain highly sensitive to the relative attractiveness of Indian valuations, US interest rates, the rupee, crude oil and global risk appetite. A sustained return of foreign capital would require these variables to remain broadly supportive.

That makes the recent buying more accurately a constructive signal rather than a definitive bullish confirmation.

Crude Oil Has Become the Market’s Immediate Risk

For India, crude oil is more than another commodity price. It has direct implications for inflation, the current account, the rupee, corporate margins and fiscal conditions.

Brent crude climbed to around $87 a barrel, up 4.6% over the week, amid renewed tensions in the Middle East and uncertainty surrounding US-Iran negotiations. The rise contributed to the Nifty’s 0.8% weekly decline to 24,366, ending its two-week winning streak.

This creates a difficult equation for investors. Stronger oil prices can increase input costs for airlines, logistics companies, paints, chemicals and several manufacturing businesses. They can also raise the country’s import bill and put pressure on the rupee.

On the other hand, oil producers and some energy companies can benefit from higher prices. This explains why market leadership can become increasingly selective when crude remains volatile.

Domestic Liquidity Is Providing a Cushion

One of the strongest features of the current market is the depth of domestic institutional participation.

DIIs invested more than ₹9,000 crore during the latest week, substantially exceeding FII purchases. This domestic liquidity is helping prevent foreign selling or risk reduction from translating into a sharper market correction.

The mutual-fund ecosystem is also providing structural support. Although equity mutual-fund inflows declined in July, they remained positive for the 65th consecutive month, while SIP contributions stayed close to record levels. Small-cap and mid-cap funds continued to attract significant investor interest.

This is an important evolution in India’s capital markets. Domestic savings are increasingly capable of absorbing a meaningful portion of foreign-flow volatility.

Earnings Are Emerging as the Next Market Driver

Corporate earnings are becoming increasingly important as investors look beyond short-term geopolitical headlines.

Despite the weak weekly performance of the benchmark indices, India’s earnings environment has remained relatively resilient. Analysts at Carnelian Asset Management expect Nifty 500 earnings growth of around 14–15% annually through 2027 and 2028, suggesting that fundamentals could provide a stronger market foundation if macroeconomic risks moderate.

The market, therefore, may increasingly differentiate between companies rather than moving uniformly with the index.

Businesses with pricing power, strong balance sheets, lower dependence on imported inputs and sustainable domestic demand could prove more resilient if crude remains elevated.

What Investors Should Watch

The next phase of the market is likely to be driven by the interaction of four variables: crude oil, FII flows, domestic liquidity and earnings growth.

If crude prices stabilise and geopolitical tensions ease, the recent return of foreign capital could gain momentum. That combination could provide the Nifty with a stronger foundation for recovery.

Conversely, a prolonged crude spike could complicate India’s inflation outlook and pressure margins and the rupee. It could also encourage investors to rotate towards sectors and companies less exposed to imported energy costs.

The US interest-rate outlook will remain another important variable. Expectations of easier US monetary policy can improve global liquidity and make emerging-market equities more attractive, while a stronger dollar or higher US yields could once again pull capital away from markets such as India.

The Bigger Picture

The current market environment should not be viewed simply as a battle between FIIs and DIIs. It reflects a broader transition in India’s equity market.

Foreign investors appear to be reassessing Indian equities after a period of heavy selling, while domestic investors continue to provide a substantial liquidity base. At the same time, corporate earnings are offering fundamental support, even as crude oil and geopolitical developments create periodic shocks.

For investors, this points towards a stock-selection market rather than a broad-based momentum market.

The key question for the coming months is not merely whether FIIs continue buying. It is whether foreign inflows, domestic liquidity and earnings growth can collectively overcome the drag from expensive crude and global uncertainty.

If that balance improves, the recent FII buying streak could become the beginning of a broader market recovery. If oil remains elevated for an extended period, however, Indian equities may continue to experience sharp sector rotation and bouts of volatility even in the presence of strong domestic investment.

Investment disclaimer: This analysis is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice, a recommendation to buy or sell securities, or a guarantee of future market performance.

NITI Aayog Report Highlights Scope to Strengthen India’s Professional Services Sector

New Delhi, August 15, 2026: NITI Aayog has released a new report examining India’s regulatory framework for professional services, highlighting opportunities to improve the sector’s competitiveness, exports and contribution to high-skilled employment.

The report, titled “India’s Services Sector: Insights on Regulatory Regime in Professional Services,” was launched by NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Ashok Kumar Lahiri on August 10 at a meeting of the High-Powered Education to Employment and Enterprise Standing Committee. Senior government officials, industry representatives, state government officials and experts attended the launch.

The assessment compares India’s regulatory framework for professional services with selected international jurisdictions and draws on consultations with industry stakeholders. It identifies regulatory challenges and suggests areas where policy improvements could help the sector expand.

Professional services have become an important component of India’s services economy, accounting for nearly one-fourth of the country’s total services exports. The sector includes high-value, knowledge-intensive activities that support other industries, create skilled employment and contribute to foreign exchange earnings and remittances.

The report proposes a four-pronged approach to strengthen the sector. This includes using emerging trends and technologies to transform professional services, increasing their role within the broader services value chain, adopting international best practices and encouraging continuous professional development.

NITI Aayog noted that professional services could become an increasingly important source of high-skilled jobs, entrepreneurship and innovation as India moves towards its demographic peak. A more efficient regulatory environment could also support services exports, cross-border movement of professionals and ease of doing business.

The report is intended to serve as a basis for further policy discussions on the regulatory foundations of professional services. Strengthening this segment, according to the report, will be important for building a more competitive and future-ready services economy as India works towards its Viksit Bharat @2047 vision.

Handloom Haat Opens at Janpath, Bringing India’s Textile Heritage Under One Roof

New Delhi, August 15, 2026: Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh inaugurated Handloom Haat – The Handloom Experience Centre at Janpath, New Delhi, creating a new platform that brings together India’s traditional weaving heritage, contemporary design, artisans, brands and retail.

The Minister also unveiled the Handloom Haat logo in the presence of Textiles Secretary Neelam Shami Rao and Development Commissioner (Handlooms) Dr. M. Beena.

The inaugural showcase featured 24 award-winning weavers through an exhibition organised by the National Handloom Development Corporation, along with more than 30 curated brands participating in the fifth edition of Weave The Future. The event highlighted sustainable and craft-led approaches to textile production, including the use of indigenous fibres, regenerative materials and innovative design.

During his visit, Singh toured the retail spaces and interacted with weavers, artisans and designers. He explored a wide range of handloom traditions and contemporary products, emphasising the skill, creativity and entrepreneurial potential of India’s weaving communities.

“Handloom Haat will create greater visibility and market opportunities for weavers and handloom enterprises,” the Minister said.

Three Floors, Three Dimensions of Handloom Heritage

The centre offers visitors a multi-layered experience across its three floors. The ground floor hosts the temporary exhibition “Reimagining Odisha Weaves, Cloth, Craft, Creativity, Community” by Vriksh Designs. The exhibition explores the revival of regional traditions through collaborations between designers and master weavers, featuring lesser-known Odisha traditions such as Ganjam Bomkai and Dhalapathar Tapestry, alongside contemporary interpretations of Ikat, Jaala and Phoda weaving.

The first floor houses the Visvakarma Gallery, featuring rare textiles from the Visvakarma exhibition series held between 1981 and 1991. Developed through Weavers’ Service Centres in collaboration with weaving communities, the collection reflects the evolution of Indian handloom design and technical expertise in post-Independence India. The gallery also honours Sant Kabir and Padma Shri awardees who have contributed significantly to the handloom sector.

The second floor features a Design Conclave and an immersive presentation inspired by India’s forests and the animal, bird, floral and natural motifs that have long influenced the country’s textile traditions.

By combining handloom excellence, experience and enterprise, the new centre aims to take Indian handlooms beyond traditional retail and present them as a contemporary, sustainable and commercially relevant part of India’s textile economy. It is also expected to provide weavers and handloom businesses with greater exposure to consumers, designers and new markets.

Steel Ministry to Hold Open House on Steel Import Issues on August 21

New Delhi, August 15, 2026: The Ministry of Steel will organise an Open House on August 21, 2026, to hear and discuss issues faced by companies and industry associations in importing steel.

The session will focus on matters relating to SIMS, SARAL SIMS and Quality Control Order (QCO) exemptions. Companies and industry bodies will have an opportunity to present specific concerns and seek clarification from the Ministry.

The Open House will be held from 11 am to 5 pm at the Steel Room, 3rd Floor, GPOA-3, Netaji Nagar, New Delhi. Participation will be strictly through confirmed time slots, and walk-ins will not be permitted. To ensure wider participation, only one representative from each organisation will be allowed.

Interested companies and associations have been asked to submit their requests by August 18, 2026, at 2 pm to the designated Ministry email address for allocation of a time slot.

Applications should include the organisation’s name, industry and product category, details of the SIMS/SARAL SIMS/QCO exemption issue, application reference number where applicable, a brief description of the problem, and the name and contact details of the participating representative.

The Ministry said third-party representation will not be permitted, with organisations required to nominate their own representatives for the discussions.

The initiative is expected to provide industry with a direct platform to flag operational difficulties related to steel imports and help the Ministry better understand issues affecting manufacturers across sectors such as automobiles, aerospace, telecom and defence.

MMDR Amendment Bill Aims to Bring Long-Term Stability to Major Minerals Sector

New Delhi, August 15, 2026: The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 has been passed by both Houses of Parliament, marking a significant policy step aimed at creating greater stability and predictability in India’s major minerals sector.

Passed on August 13, the legislation amends the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. The government has said the changes are intended to provide a more certain fiscal environment for mining companies and encourage fresh investment in the sector.

Importantly, the amendment does not take away the rights of states over land and minerals or their existing powers to collect taxes and statutory payments from mining. According to the government, around 90 per cent of total taxes and statutory payments from mining currently accrue to states, and this arrangement will continue under the amended framework.

The legislation also does not affect states’ powers relating to the regulation and taxation of minor minerals.

The government has linked the reform to India’s growing dependence on mineral imports. During FY 2025-26, India imported minerals worth ₹10.12 lakh crore, highlighting the need to strengthen domestic production and make Indian mineral resources more competitive.

At present, mining operations attract several state-level charges, including royalty, auction premium, dead rent, District Mineral Foundation (DMF) contributions, GST and transit fees. Between FY2015-16 and FY2025-26, major mining states collectively received more than ₹5 lakh crore, compared with around ₹82,000 crore accruing to the Centre.

The auction regime introduced in 2015 has also emerged as an important source of state revenue. Major mining states collected more than ₹96,000 crore in auction premiums between FY2020-21 and FY2025-26, in addition to royalty, DMF contributions and other revenues.

The government argues that greater uniformity and predictability in the fiscal regime will help prevent domestic minerals from becoming excessively expensive because of multiple and uneven levies. Such cost pressures, it says, could make imported minerals more attractive even when adequate resources are available within the country.

With minerals playing a crucial role in infrastructure, manufacturing, energy security and the clean-energy transition, the amendment is being positioned as part of a broader strategy to strengthen domestic mineral production, support Atmanirbhar Bharat and contribute to the long-term goal of Viksit Bharat 2047.

PM Modi’s Vision Strengthens Confidence Across Indian Industry: Assocham

New Delhi, August 15, 2026: The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) has welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day message, saying his vision for India’s development has given the business community greater confidence about the country’s economic future.

Assocham said the Prime Minister’s emphasis on self-reliance, manufacturing, technology, infrastructure and innovation provides a clear direction for Indian industry as the country works towards its long-term development goals.

The industry body highlighted the importance of creating a stronger domestic manufacturing base while improving India’s competitiveness in global markets. It said continued policy support and investment in emerging sectors could help businesses expand capacity, create jobs and contribute more significantly to economic growth.

The Prime Minister’s focus on entrepreneurship and technology was also seen as important for India’s young workforce and the country’s rapidly evolving business ecosystem.

According to Assocham, the confidence generated by the government’s development vision can encourage businesses to take a longer-term view of investment, innovation and expansion.

The industry body said a combination of policy stability, infrastructure development, technological progress and private-sector participation will be critical for turning India’s growth ambitions into sustained economic opportunities.

India’s Wholesale Inflation Climbs to 9.78% in July

New Delhi, August 15, 2026: India’s wholesale price inflation rose to 9.78 per cent in July, reflecting a sharp increase in wholesale prices during the month and adding to concerns over cost pressures across the economy.

The latest Wholesale Price Index (WPI) data point to higher price pressures at the wholesale level, with movements in key commodity groups influencing the overall inflation reading.

The increase could have implications for manufacturers, traders and businesses as higher input costs can affect production expenses and profit margins. Industries that rely heavily on commodities and raw materials may face greater pressure if elevated wholesale prices persist.

For policymakers, the July reading will be closely watched alongside retail inflation and other economic indicators to assess whether the rise represents a temporary spike or the beginning of a broader price trend.

Businesses and markets are likely to monitor commodity prices, input costs and demand conditions in the coming months as they assess the impact of wholesale inflation on the wider economy.

Chandigarh Pioneers Digital Rupee-Based Food Subsidy Transfers

Chandigarh, August 15, 2026: The government has taken a new step towards digitising welfare delivery with the launch of a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)-based Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system for food subsidies under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) in Chandigarh.

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the initiative on Friday. Under the new system, eligible beneficiaries will receive their food subsidy directly in Digital Rupee (e₹) wallets, replacing the conventional bank-account-based transfer mechanism.

The digital subsidy is designed to be purpose-bound, meaning beneficiaries can use it to purchase foodgrains from authorised or empanelled merchants. The system is expected to make subsidy transactions more transparent, traceable and secure while reducing the scope for leakages and misuse.

The rollout also covers Dadra & Nagar Haveli, making the two Union Territories the first to adopt the CBDC-based model for PMGKAY food subsidy transfers. The Chandigarh launch is being viewed as a pilot for potentially expanding digital-currency-based welfare payments to other parts of the country.

The initiative marks a significant intersection of digital finance and social welfare, with the government seeking to use the Digital Rupee to make public-benefit transfers more targeted, accountable and efficient.