DELHI ENTREPRENEUR
Valuation of top diaspora-led firms jumps 53 pc to USD 15 trillion on AI boom: Report
The valuation of top global companies led by the Indian diaspora has surged to USD 15 trillion. The sharp increase is largely attributed to the recent artificial intelligence boom in the market. Sundar Pichai, Satya Nadella, and Sanjay Mehrotra lead the ranking of these companies. A significant number of firms on the list are AI-driven or AI-integrated.
Amid layoff season, this Bengaluru company is paying employees to quit and start their own business and return back if things don't work out
Amid layoffs and voluntary buyout offers at global tech companies, Bengaluru-based iD Fresh Food is encouraging employees to quit and start their own businesses. CEO Musthafa PC's entrepreneurship policy offers a partially paid sabbatical, mentorship, access to the company's business network and an option to return if their ventures fail.
Credit guarantee fund for small units extended by five years
The Union Cabinet has approved a five-year extension for the Credit Guarantee Fund for Micro Units and the Stand-Up India scheme. An allocation of ₹5,000 crore will support micro units, while ₹4,111 crore funds will assist Stand-Up India initiatives. The Cabinet also approved an 8.5 km extension of the Noida-Greater Noida Metro corridor to improve connectivity. Eligible borrowers can access loans for new enterprises to promote economic growth and entrepreneurship.
Cabinet approves Yuge Yugeen Bharat museum in Delhi for Rs 3,230 crore
On Wednesday, the Union Cabinet, led by PM Narendra Modi, approved the creation of a massive museum. This museum, named 'Yuge Yugeen Bharat', will be built in the North and South Block complex in Delhi. It aims to depict the civilizational journey of Akhand Bharat, highlighting its historical and cultural evolution. The project is estimated to cost ₹3,230 crore and preserve the heritage of the historic buildings.
Indian diaspora a "living bridge between India and world": EAM Jaishankar at 19th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas website launch
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar highlighted the role of the Indian diaspora at the launch of the 19th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2027. The event will take place in Kolkata from January 7 to 9, 2027, in cooperation with the West Bengal government. This year’s theme focuses on reconnecting the diaspora with their roots and heritage.
Cabinet extends Stand-Up India Scheme till 2031, approves Rs 4,111 crore corpus to support 2.5 lakh more entrepreneurs
The Union Cabinet has extended the Stand-Up India Scheme to support women and marginalized entrepreneurs. This extension will last for five years, ultimately reaching till March 31, 2031. The scheme aims to provide financial assistance to an additional 2.5 lakh entrepreneurs during this period. Eligible entrepreneurs can avail loans between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 1 crore with significant loan coverage.
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The much awaited Noida-Greater Noida West metro link, a mega museum and more: Inside the Cabinet's Rs 77,101 crore package
On Wednesday, the Union Cabinet approved significant proposals for infrastructure and business support across India. The government will allocate ₹3,230 crores for the Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum in New Delhi. A metro rail project linking Noida and Greater Noida will receive ₹2,390 crores for development. Additionally, ₹62,370 crores will be set aside for NBS rates on fertilizers for the Rabi 2026-27 season.

ET F&B Conclave North India 2026: Celebrating the leaders, innovators and iconic brands shaping India's hospitality industry
ET Food and Beverage Conclave North India 2026 was recently held in New Delhi to honor industry achievers. Prominent restaurateurs, hospitality leaders, and entrepreneurs attended to discuss evolving trends in the F&B sector. Various panel discussions focused on dining preferences and the global potential of Indian restaurant brands. Awards were presented to women leaders, F&B business leaders, and notable restaurant brands.

IITians get shocked when they learn a paani puri seller has Rs 4.5 lakh per month in profit: ‘He works for six hours…’
A group of IITians was astonished to learn that someone earning more than Rs 1.2 lakh a month lacked a degree from IIT or any other university. He was a modest paani puri vendor, and this income originated from merely one stall.

Daksham Growth Ventures raises Rs 125 cr in first close of maiden consumer fund
Daksham Growth Ventures has completed the first close of its consumer-focused fund, raising approximately Rs 125 crore. The fund is registered as a Category II Alternative Investment Fund and targets a total corpus of Rs 150 crore. It aims to invest between Rs 5-20 crore in early-growth businesses including direct-to-consumer and B2B2C companies. The fund will support companies with governance, brand positioning, and distribution expansion.

GST decriminalisation decisions set benchmark for trust-based governance: CII
The Confederation of Indian Industry praised the GST Council's recent decisions aimed at decriminalising certain offences. The Council recommended raising the prosecution threshold from Rs 1 crore to Rs 5 crore, promoting trust in businesses.

CII calls for GST-like reforms in land, labour & local approvals
CII has called for extending the GST Council's approach to decriminalise offences in various sectors. This move aims to enhance ease of doing business and attract investments in land, labour, and construction. The organisation emphasizes the importance of simplifying regulatory processes across different government tiers.

Indian Bank targets Rs 100 cr lending under EV charging scheme in FY27: MD
Indian Bank has set a lending target of Rs 100 crore for electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The bank launched IND Green Charge for public, captive, and fleet charging stations under various models. It plans to promote entrepreneurship and support India's transition to sustainable mobility with this initiative. The scheme will provide loans up to Rs 10 crore for a maximum tenure of eight years.

Bali's petrol queues offer a reality check for India's holidaymakers
Bali is currently facing a fuel supply crisis that is causing significant disruption for travelers. Traffic jams and fuel shortages have led to longer wait times for airport transfers and local commutes. Authorities have implemented measures to improve fuel distribution and manage demand effectively. Despite challenges, tourist arrivals remain steady, contributing to the local economy. Travelers are advised to check fuel availability before visiting popular attractions in Bali.

'Bullet train will cut Delhi-Varanasi journey to 3.5 hrs': Ashwini Vaishnaw reveals mega plan to slash travel times to Lucknow, Kanpur, Agra and Patna
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has shared proposed travel times for the Northern Corridor of India's bullet train network, including a journey between Delhi and Varanasi in 3 hours 33 minutes. He also highlighted the role of Vande Bharat Sleeper trains in improving overnight connectivity and outlined plans to develop Kashi railway station into a major transport hub.

First-time investors turn to India's hospitality sector for diversified income and long-term growth
India is witnessing a rise in first-time hotel owners, with entrepreneurs, real estate developers, industrial families and landowners entering the hospitality sector. Nearly seven in 10 branded hotel keys signed this year are outside Tier 1 cities, according to Noesis Hotel Advisors. Industry executives say growing domestic travel, better connectivity and demand from leisure, business, weddings and pilgrimage are creating opportunities for new investors.

These large-, mid- and small-cap stocks can give more than 20% return in 1 year, according to analysts
Here’s one thing that is worth clarifying, because it is in the headlines. Large global technology companies have been announcing heavy spending on AI, and there has been some correction in those stocks because of it. It is natural to worry that this will spill over into the Indian market. It most likely will not.

Building the ‘Nike for Doctors’: How Knya built a Rs 250 crore business
A Mumbai-based husband-wife duo is bringing innovation, comfort, and a sense of identity to medical wear, a largely overlooked segment of the healthcare industry.

Rahul Gandhi politicising commercial and legal matters: Nirmala Sitharaman
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman responded to Rahul Gandhi's comments on the Tata group, accusing him of politicisation. She emphasised the government's support for Indian industry as key to economic growth and job creation. Sitharaman challenged Gandhi's remarks regarding legal matters connected to Tata Trusts and Tata Sons. In turn, Gandhi questioned the appropriateness of the political involvement in corporate conflicts.

Manjhi releases 1,000 crore under PM job scheme to support 11,333 micro enterprises
Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises minister Jitan Ram Manjhi announced the release of ₹1,000 crore in subsidy. This funding aims to support 11,333 new micro enterprises while facilitating bank credit of ₹3,260 crore. The initiative is anticipated to create over 1.02 lakh sustainable employment opportunities, primarily in rural areas. The subsidy is part of the Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme, designed to boost grassroots entrepreneurship.

COTRAV BLACK enters India's luxury live-entertainment market
COTRAV BLACK will debut as an exclusive platform for high-profile live events in India. The first notable event is A.R. Rahman's concert scheduled for November 1, 2026. This initiative aims to address concerns of privacy and crowd management faced by elite attendees. COTRAV BLACK will provide personalized hospitality in a private setting. It seeks to become a sought-after privilege for India's influential professionals.

Government working to utilise procurement process for promoting startups: DPIIT Secretary
The Indian government aims to use procurement processes to promote startups within the nation effectively. Over 2.5 lakh startups exist in the country, with many in smaller towns. National Startup Awards 6.0 will award winning startups a cash prize of Rs 25 lakh across various categories. The initiative seeks to enhance support through mentorship, investor connections, and market access.

Practo founder’s Cent raises $15 million from Blume Ventures, South Park Commons
The round, comprising equity and debt, comes nearly eight months after the Bengaluru-based company raised an undisclosed amount from South Park Commons and OneFlow Holdings, Shashank’s family office. Cent did not disclose its valuation or the equity-debt split.

Why Walmart would rather keep Flipkart private, for now
Over the past few weeks, much has been written about former employees of the online commerce company writing to Walmart's board, asking for liquidity on the stock options they were granted 10 to 15 years ago. On October 1, at least eight former senior executives, among them former Myntra CEO Mukesh Bansal and former chief business officer Ankit Nagori, wrote to Walmart chairman Gregory Penner, other board members and Flipkart Group CEO Kalyan Krishnamurthy, seeking a complete exit for all former employees holding vested options.

Govt proposes questions on women entrepreneurs, electricity use in ASUSE 2027-28 as survey moves to financial year
The government is proposing new questions for the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises beginning in 2027. These questions will focus on women entrepreneurs, electricity sources, and fixed-asset investments. The survey will shift to a financial year format to align with other surveys. Gender-specific constraints faced by female entrepreneurs will also be captured for the first time. This initiative aims to improve data on India's unincorporated economy for policy discussions.

MoSPI to start annual unincorporated sector enterprises survey from April 2027
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation will conduct the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises from April 2027. New questions will address gender-specific constraints faced by female entrepreneurs for the first time. Additionally, the survey will capture the investment in fixed assets over an extended period. The survey period has shifted to align with the financial year for better data utility.

From field to market: The farmer without a title
UN has proclaimed 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer, shining a light on the importance of recognising female farmers. In India, women make up over 45% of the agricultural labour force, yet they encounter hurdles relating to land rights and income disparities. Maharashtra's recent laws aim to empower women in agriculture, but a nationwide application is critical.

Swavlamban 2026 to strengthen Indian Navy's self-reliance: Navy chief
Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan highlighted the significance of a technology-driven Indian Navy on Sunday. He emphasized the Swavlamban initiative which connects the Navy's requirements to India's innovators and entrepreneurs. The event aims to strengthen naval capabilities and promote self-reliance as part of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. Swavlamban 2026 is scheduled for October 26 and 27 in New Delhi.

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.
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