India
Indian Staffing Industry Advocates for 5% GST to Boost Formal Employment
The Indian Staffing Federation urges the Finance Ministry to cut GST on employment services from 18% to 5%. This move, ahead of the 56th GST Council meeting, aims to boost formal job creation, enhance industry competitiveness, and formalize the economy, with minimal fiscal impact on government revenue.
Smartworks' Pre-IPO Performance: Revenue Soars 32% to ₹1,374 Crore, But Losses Widen to ₹63 Crore
Smartworks, an IPO-bound coworking major, reported a 32% revenue surge to ₹1,374 crore in FY25, but net losses widened to ₹63 crore. As it prepares for a July 10 IPO, the company aims to reduce expenses and achieve profitability. Funds will fuel expansion and debt repayment in India's growing flexible workspace market.
Smartworks Coworking Spaces to Launch IPO on July 10, Eyes Public Listing Amidst Sector Growth
Smartworks Coworking Spaces' IPO opens July 10, aiming to raise capital for expansion and debt repayment. The managed office solutions provider, focusing on large enterprises, reported ₹1,409.67 crore revenue in FY25. With 8 million sq ft leased across 13 cities, this listing signifies a major step for India's flexible workspace sector amidst growing demand.
Steady Returns in Volatile Times: RBI Floating Rate Savings Bond Offers 8.05% for Conservative Investors
India's RBI Floating Rate Savings Bond offers conservative investors 8.05% interest (July-Dec 2025), a rate tied to NSC. This government-guaranteed bond provides high safety, semi-annual payouts, and adjusts with rising rates, making it an ideal choice for stable, income-focused returns despite its taxable nature and 7-year lock-in for most.
India's New Employment-Linked Incentive Scheme: Who Gains from the ₹99,446 Crore Job Push?
India's ₹99,446 crore ELI Scheme aims for 3.5 crore jobs by July 2027. It benefits first-time formal employees with a 1-month EPF wage (up to ₹15K) and employers with ₹3K/month per additional hire for 2-4 years. Focus on manufacturing. This formalizes labor, boosts youth employment, and encourages savings.
Government Partnerships Propel 80% of India's Top Nonprofit Unicorns to Faster Growth: Report
A Change Engine report states 80% of India's top "nonprofit unicorns" achieve large-scale impact via government partnerships. These organizations, reaching 1M+ people, use government for policy, budget, & infra. The study shows partnerships are accessible, proving government collaboration is key for societal change.
Leadership Boost for Pine Labs: Payments Giant Set to Appoint Avendus' Sameer Kamath as New CFO
Pine Labs, the fintech giant preparing for an IPO, is set to appoint Sameer Kamath, Avendus Capital's Group CFO, as its new CFO. This strategic hire strengthens its leadership ahead of the anticipated ₹2,600 crore public listing, aiming for a $4.5-5 billion valuation. Kamath's vast experience is crucial for this pre-IPO phase.
Bridging the Gap: DoT Secretary Neeraj Mittal Calls for More Telecom Unicorns in India
DoT Secretary Neeraj Mittal calls for more telecom unicorns in India, backed by the new ₹1 lakh crore RDI scheme. He highlights India's vast digital user base and government support through initiatives like TTDF and "Samarth" incubation. This push aims to foster innovation, reduce import reliance, and position India as a global telecom leader.
India's Demand for Zero Tariffs on Labor-Intensive Exports: A Blend of Economic Imperative and Domestic Political Strategy, Says GTRI
India is strongly pushing for zero tariffs on labor-intensive exports like garments and footwear in its FTA talks with the US, according to GTRI. This demand is a strategic blend of economic growth (boosting MSMEs, employment) and domestic politics (making the deal "sellable"). The US is reluctant to reciprocate fully, raising concerns of an imbalanced trade agreement.
Unlocking Integrated Solutions: Odoo Community Days India 2025 Set to Redefine Business Efficiency
Odoo Community Days India 2025 (Aug 13-14, Gandhinagar) will be a key tech event, showcasing Odoo's integrated open-source platform. Businesses can explore live demos, expert sessions, Odoo 19 features, and network. It's designed to help companies streamline operations and achieve clarity with unified business systems.
UrbanVault Accelerates Growth in Gurugram with Two New Coworking Hubs, Commits ₹100 Crore for FY26 Expansion
UrbanVault launches two new coworking centers in Gurugram, adding 35,000 sq ft and 700 seats. This strategic expansion into Delhi-NCR is backed by a committed investment of ₹100 crore for FY26 to fuel pan-India growth. The move capitalizes on surging demand for flexible workspaces, particularly in Gurugram's thriving office market.
Infra.Market Fuels Pre-IPO Expansion with Fresh $50 Million Boost from Mars Growth Capital
Infra.Market, the B2B construction materials platform, has secured an additional $50 million from Mars Growth Capital, raising their total commitment to $150 million. This pre-IPO funding will accelerate Infra.Market's expansion across product categories and geographies, solidifying its market leadership. The capital infusion comes as the unicorn prepares for its anticipated ₹2,500 crore IPO.