Business - The Purbottar

03 Feb

Budget 2026–27 puts education at the centre of jobs, AI and workforce growth: Edtech industry

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The Union Budget 2026–27 has positioned education as a critical driver of India’s economic and workforce transformation, with a strong focus on employability, artificial intelligence (AI) integration and industry-aligned skills, industry leaders said. The budget’s emphasis on directly linking education with jobs, entrepreneurship and services-led growth reflects a clear understanding of how careers and talent requirements are evolving. Commenting on the budget, Arjun Nair, Co-founder of Great Learning, said the push to embed AI across learning systems, expand higher education capacity around industrial corridors, and promote modular, industry-designed programmes would significantly strengthen India’s talent pipeline. He noted that repositioning education…

03 Feb

Budget FY27 positions agriculture as growth engine with innovation and climate focus: Kotak Mahindra Bank

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Reacting to the Union Budget FY27, Pinakin Simaria, Head – Agri Business Group, Kotak Mahindra Bank, said the Budget signals a decisive long-term shift in policy stance by simultaneously prioritising innovation, investment-led growth and climate resilience. Simaria said the Budget ensures continued focus on small and marginal farmers (SMFs) through the “Third–Kartavya Framework”, which emphasises productivity enhancement and entrepreneurship. He noted that agriculture is now being treated as a “credible engine of economic growth”, underpinned by a growth rate of 4.45 per cent between FY16 and FY25—the highest recorded in recent decades. Highlighting key policy measures, Simaria pointed to the…

03 Feb

Budget 2026 sets growth path with strong push for MSMEs, says Kotak Mahindra Bank’s Shekhar Bhandari

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Reacting to the Union Budget 2026, Shekhar Bhandari, President – SME, Kotak Mahindra Bank, said the Budget strikes a careful balance between growth aspirations and fiscal discipline while laying the foundation for long-term economic expansion. Bhandari noted that the fiscal deficit being contained at 4.4 per cent for the current year and projected to moderate further to 4.3 per cent next year provides much-needed macroeconomic stability as India moves towards its Vision 2047 goals. He said this fiscal clarity would help strengthen investor confidence and support sustained economic momentum. Highlighting the focus on capacity creation, Bhandari welcomed the proposed revival…

03 Feb

Budget 2026 sticks to fiscal discipline, but higher borrowing raises market concerns

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Reaction to the Union Budget 2026 from economists remained measured, with a mix of reassurance on fiscal consolidation and caution over borrowing levels. Upasna Bhardwaj, Chief Economist at Kotak Mahindra Bank, said the government has continued to prioritise fiscal discipline, broadly aligning with market expectations. According to Bhardwaj, the fiscal deficit target for FY27 has been set at 4.3 per cent, while net market borrowing also remains in line with estimates. “The government has continued to focus on fiscal consolidation. The FY27 fiscal deficit at 4.3% and net borrowing is in line with our expectations,” she said, indicating continuity in…

03 Feb

Budget 2026 signals structural shift toward resilient, investment-led growth: Aon

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Reacting to the Union Budget 2026, Rishi Mehra, Chief Executive Officer, India and Head of Strategy, Human Capital, Asia Pacific at Aon, said the Budget represents a bold move towards building structural resilience while laying the foundation for long-term economic growth. Mehra said a key highlight is the government’s focus on “crowding in” private capital through the proposed Infrastructure Risk Guarantee Fund. He noted that the initiative addresses a critical gap in the risk landscape by providing the credit stability required to support large-scale infrastructure projects and long-gestation investments. He also highlighted strategic measures such as the infrastructure and logistics…

03 Feb

Union Budget 2026 signals strong push for infrastructure, defence and industrial self-reliance

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The Union Budget 2026 underlines the government’s intent to build long-term economic resilience through higher public spending, strategic investments and measures aimed at crowding in private capital, according to Sushant Sarin, Managing Director – Strategy & Commercial Risk Solutions, India, Aon. In his response to the Budget, Sarin said the allocation of Rs. 12.2 lakh crore towards capital expenditure reflects India’s determination to invest in future-ready infrastructure, while the Rs. 7.5 lakh crore earmarked for defence reinforces the government’s focus on national security and strategic preparedness. A key announcement highlighted in the Budget is the proposed Infrastructure Risk Guarantee Fund,…

03 Feb

Tata Motors posts 29.9% jump in commercial vehicle sales in January

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Tata Motors Limited reported total commercial vehicle sales of 41,549 units across domestic and international markets in January 2026, registering a strong year-on-year growth of 29.9 per cent compared to 31,988 units sold in the same month last year. According to company data, domestic sales stood at 38,844 units during the month, up 29.1 per cent from 30,083 units in January 2025, while international business rose sharply by 42 per cent to 2,705 units. Heavy Commercial Vehicle (HCV) truck sales grew by 41.2 per cent to 12,691 units, while Intermediate and Light Commercial Vehicle (ILMCV) truck sales increased by 33.5…

03 Feb

Hardeep Singh Puri launches Jio-bp ACTIVE Technology petrol, promises up to 100 km extra drive annually

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Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri has launched Jio-bp’s petrol with revolutionary ACTIVE Technology at India Energy Week 2026 in Goa, setting a new benchmark in fuel performance for Indian motorists. The newly introduced petrol, marketed by Jio-bp, is designed to actively clean critical engine parts by removing existing deposits, thereby restoring and sustaining engine performance. According to the company, the advanced fuel can help two- and four-wheelers travel up to 100 km more per year compared to regular petrol, based on typical Indian driving patterns, at no additional cost. Developed using bp’s global fuel research…

03 Feb

GCPL welcomes MAT credit relief in new tax regime, says move to boost corporate cash flows

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Godrej Consumer Products Limited (GCPL) has welcomed the Union Budget provision allowing companies to set off up to 25 per cent of their tax liability against accumulated Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT) credits under the new tax regime, terming it a positive step for corporate India. Commenting on the announcement, Sudhir Sitapati, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Godrej Consumer Products Limited, said the move would significantly ease the transition to the new tax structure for companies carrying legacy MAT credits. “We particularly welcome the MAT credit set-off being allowed up to 25 per cent of the tax liability under…

02 Feb

Union Budget 2026–27 lays strong foundation for Vikshit Bharat: Shyam Steel Group MD Lalit Beriwala

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Welcoming the Union Budget 2026–27, Lalit Beriwala, Managing Director of Shyam Steel Group, said the Budget lays a strong foundation for a more connected, technologically empowered and inclusive India, aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Vikshit Bharat by 2047. Reacting to the Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Beriwala highlighted the continued thrust on capital expenditure, which has been raised to 9 per cent, with public capex increased to ₹12.2 trillion for 2026–27. He said focused investments in railway network expansion, express highway connectivity and construction-led growth would significantly strengthen India’s infrastructure backbone and create sustained demand…