ACCESS TO FINANCE FOR MSMES
India wants more factories, fabs and data centres. Where will the water come from?
India's ambition to become a developed nation by 2047 is constrained by growing water resource challenges. Industries across sectors, including thermal power and semiconductor manufacturing, face water scarcity issues that could hinder growth. Many regions are already experiencing severe water stress, impacting economic development plans drastically. Adopting recycling and reuse technologies will be crucial for managing water in industries effectively.
Defence Ministry inks Rs 53,886 crore deals for new indigenous warships
The Defence Ministry signed contracts worth ₹53,866.50 crore for constructing next-generation corvettes with public shipyards. Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited will build five corvettes while Goa Shipyard Limited will construct three. The ships are designed for multi-domain warfare, including anti-surface and anti-submarine operations. This project is expected to create significant employment opportunities in shipyards and ancillary industries over the next decade.
UP looks beyond Lucknow to boost startups, MSMEs as Aavishkaar, Intellecap partner with Invest UP
With more than 11.5 million MSMEs across the state, Uttar Pradesh is looking beyond its established startup centres to build a wider enterprise ecosystem. A new Invest UP partnership with Aavishkaar Foundation and Intellecap aims to take capital, advisory support and market connections closer to entrepreneurs across its districts.
Out of Europe? India's steel MSMEs battle data gaps, rising cost and EU's carbon wall
Smaller Indian steel exporters say they are struggling to obtain emissions data from raw-material suppliers and bear the cost of carbon accounting and verification under the EU’s carbon border rules.
Can smaller manufacturers afford to export to new markets?
Winning an international order is only half the battle for Indian MSMEs. Financing production, managing longer payment cycles and offering competitive credit terms can be equally challenging.
ET Business Growth Summit, Nagpur: Maharashtra minister Jaiswal calls for a rethink of industrial incentives to ease investor stress
ET Business Growth Summit in Nagpur highlighted land shortages, financing constraints, and rising energy costs as major challenges.
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It's time Delhi set the pace in scaling up businesses
India is working towards improving the ease of scaling businesses to boost economic growth and employment. The role of Delhi is critical in fostering a supportive business environment that enhances investment. Effective infrastructure, skilled labor, and access to finance are essential for businesses to grow confidently. Collaboration between education and industry will also expand opportunities and inclusivity in the workforce.
Domestic cos need strategic approach to tap India-Europe FTA gains: FICCI
Indian companies must adopt a strategic approach to fully leverage the European free trade agreement benefits, as tariff concessions alone may not suffice. The focus should be on product quality, market penetration, and building significant relationships with European buyers. Compliance with European standards will be crucial for export success, particularly for small enterprises.
PSBs step up AI adoption, cyber resilience under EASE₹ise 8.0 reforms
Public sector banks in India are focusing on adopting artificial intelligence and enhancing cyber security measures. They are modernizing their banking systems to ensure better customer service and financial inclusion. The efforts outlined in the EASE₹ise 8.0 Annual Report aim to strengthen the resilience of these banks. Additionally, banks are developing frameworks to assess climate-related risks and improve accessibility for various groups.
IIFL Finance plans to raise ₹2,500-5,000 crore by selling stake amid Fairfax exit rumors
IIFL Finance is intending to raise ₹2,500-5,000 crore by selling a minority stake. The company's promoters may subscribe to warrants to limit dilution. Fairfax Financial Holdings is likely to sell its stake due to regulatory norms. IIFL aims to enhance its capital position amid evolving market conditions. These measures are expected to create synergies for IIFL Capital as part of IDBI Bank.
Google expands AI push in India with $15 million MSME funding, crop research and teacher training
In a remarkable move, Google has embarked on extensive AI initiatives in India, primarily focused on boosting sectors like agriculture, education, and small enterprises. The tech giant has allocated $15 million to uplift micro, small, and medium businesses while collaborating with institutions to create AI-enhanced crops that can withstand climate changes, benefitting global researchers. Furthermore, thousands of teachers are being equipped with AI tools to enrich their lesson plans.
Nagpur’s industrial push gains momentum, but MSMEs face rising power costs and land hurdles
With major industrial investments taking shape across Vidarbha, industry stakeholders believe Nagpur has an opportunity to emerge as a diversified manufacturing and technology centre.
GST 2.0: How next phase of reforms can simplify compliance and unlock growth for MSMEs
The success of next-generation GST reforms will ultimately be measured on the basis of their ability to lower compliance costs, enhance refund timelines, and provide increased consistency in tax administration.
World Bank should focus on mobilising greater private capital and creating jobs, says FM Sitharaman
Nirmala Sitharaman emphasized the importance of private capital in creating jobs and boosting productivity during her address. She outlined six priorities for the World Bank Group to enhance its development impact, integrating private sector engagement. Sitharaman highlighted the need for affordable financing and addressing market failures to foster job creation. She advocated for a review of governance indicators to better represent developing countries.
No love for the middle: CPHI Milan exposes India’s pharma scaling challenge
Indian pharma and chemical companies at CPHI Milan say the China+1 opportunity is real, but a “missing middle” in the MSME ecosystem, marked by financing gaps, limited scale and technology constraints, is holding back export growth.
World Bank helps mobilise $36 billion in private capital to support job creation in India since FY22
Private capital mobilisation by the World Bank Group has grown nearly five-fold in four years, rising from approximately USD 3 billion in FY22 to USD 14.5 billion in FY26 and unlocking a cumulative USD 36 billion for development across sectors, Manuel Reyes-Retana, Division Director, South Asia, IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, said.
MSMEs need to focus on quality, cost to gain from new FTAs: Secy
India's expanding network of free trade agreements is creating new opportunities for MSMEs to grow. The MSME ministry emphasizes the need for improved quality and cost competitiveness to access these opportunities. Moreover, government support for first-time exporters through practical assistance is crucial for success. It is essential to enhance certification participation and upgrade testing infrastructure to meet international standards.
From credit access to capital intelligence: The next evolution of MSME finance
The task ahead for lenders, fintechs, and financial institutions serving this segment is not simply to close the credit gap; it is to close it with the right instrument at the right moment.
GST 2.0: Easier multi-state expansion for MSMEs, e-commerce sellers
India's GST Council has initiated reforms to modernize the GST framework for improved compliance and business operations. Simplified registrations and automated processes are expected to reduce administrative burdens for e-commerce sellers. The new framework will allow online sellers to manage registrations across multiple states more effectively. Faster refunds aim to improve cash flow for digital sellers working on thin margins.
RBI still assessing revolving credit norms: Sanjay Malhotra
Reserve Bank of India governor Sanjay Malhotra has indicated that regulations on revolving credit by non-banking finance companies are under review. The RBI issued draft norms limiting NBFCs to term loans without revolving credit options. Malhotra said that systemic risks linked to these changes will be thoroughly evaluated before reaching a decision.
Cabinet approves Rs 10,000 crore SME Growth Fund for small and medium enterprises
The Union Cabinet approved a Rs 10,000 crore SME Growth Fund to support micro, small, and medium enterprises. This fund is part of the government's initiative to create champion MSMEs in India. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman outlined various measures to enhance liquidity support and accessibility to risk capital. Additionally, the government allocated Rs 24,566.27 crore to the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.
UPI MDR: 0.4% charge raises questions over MSME margins, cash flows and digital credit
Industry representatives say merchant size, margins, and the nature of goods should determine the merchant discount rate (MDR), while fintechs flag risks to working capital and digital credit trails.
GVC integration, supply chain resilience, FTAs key to boost exports, high-end manufacturing: Deloitte India
India needs deeper integration into global value chains, lower logistics costs and better use of free trade agreements to boost exports and move into higher-value manufacturing, according to Deloitte India. It also called for stronger supply-chain resilience, tariff rationalisation and greater support for MSMEs facing trade-finance, compliance and currency risks.
CBAM can help India build a greener, competitive export sector
The EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism is set to reshape global trade dynamics by prioritizing carbon intensity. Indian exporters must strategize for compliance that extends beyond the current focus on iron and steel. The Indian government is actively supporting small and medium enterprises in achieving these new sustainability benchmarks. To navigate this transition successfully, enhanced funding for carbon accounting and technological advancements is essential.
The missing middle in Asia’s finance puzzle: AVPN CEO on MSMEs, capital and capability
From MSME finance and AI skilling to blended capital and climate investment, AVPN CEO Naina Subberwal Batra explains why coordination is becoming critical to Asia’s development agenda.
New indicator for New India: 25 stocks whose numbers can reveal what is in store for the economy and the stock market
For decades, there was a familiar way to understand the Indian consumer. Economists waited for GDP, industrial production, inflation, credit growth and other official numbers, and then used them to work out whether households were spending more or pulling back. Those indicators still matter. But the Indian consumer has changed faster than the dashboard used to track consumption and spending patterns. Check out Stock Reports Plus, powered by Refinitiv, for price targets of over 4,000 listed stocks along with detailed company analysis focusing on five key components – earnings, fundamentals, relative valuation, risk, and price momentum – to generate standardised scores. SR+ Reports is a complimentary offering to ETPrime members.
AI, semiconductors, quantum to drive India's next infrastructure push: FM Sitharaman
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman highlighted the need for investment in AI, semiconductor chips, and quantum technology. She stated that strengthening digital infrastructure will support AI adoption across various sectors. Additionally, Sitharaman underscored the importance of providing AI solutions to micro, small, and medium enterprises. She believes that achieving over 10 percent economic growth is possible with greater effort in all sectors.
National Traders’ Welfare Board pushes centralised loan portal, faster MSME credit
The Board called for stronger coordination between the Centre and states to address issues faced by traders and improve the implementation of welfare and business-related measures.
MSME lending opportunity seen at Rs 2.4–2.6 lakh crore in H2 2026: FlexiLoans Report
NBFCs to account for Rs 36,000 crore as India’s MSME credit outstanding projected to cross Rs 50 lakh crore by December 2026
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