eznews.inThe Indian government has launched the Employee Enrolment Scheme 2025, allowing employers to voluntarily register eligible employees who missed out on Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) coverage from July 1, 2017, to October 31, 2025. This initiative, announced by Union Labour and Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya during the EPFO’s 73rd Foundation Day in New Delhi, aims to enhance workforce formalisation and ease compliance for businesses. The scheme will be open from November 1, 2025, to April 30, 2026, and includes provisions for waiving employees' contributions for the declared period. Mandaviya emphasized the importance of EPFO in safeguarding workers' social security and urged the organization to improve service delivery. Labour Secretary Vandana Gurnani highlighted EPFO's role in the Prime Minister’s Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana, which aims to create 3.5 crore new jobs, while EPFO officials pledged to enhance efficiency through technological advancements. 
Published: Nov 01 2025, 5 pmeznews.inG Satheesh Reddy, a member of India's National Security Advisory Board, highlighted a significant shift in the country's defence sector during a session at the Hyderabad Entrepreneurship Summit. He noted that domestic production of defence components has surged, with India transitioning from a heavy reliance on imports—where 90% of capital expenditure was spent on foreign goods—to a more self-sufficient model. The current Defence Budget is ₹6.81 lakh crore, with ₹1.75 lakh crore earmarked for capital expenditure, of which ₹1.50 lakh crore was spent domestically last year. Reddy announced ambitious targets, aiming for ₹3 lakh crore in domestic capital expenditure by 2029 and increasing defence exports from ₹23,622 crore to ₹50,000 crore over the next two years. He emphasized the growing role of private industries and start-ups in the defence supply chain, with over 20,000 companies now engaged in indigenous manufacturing.
Published: Nov 01 2025, 8 pmeznews.inImproved consumer sentiment following the rollout of GST 2.0, alongside festive discounts, OEM incentives, and accessible financing, significantly boosted auto sales in India during October 2025. Maruti Suzuki led the charge with a 10% increase in domestic wholesales, reaching 176,318 units, while Mahindra & Mahindra reported a remarkable 31% rise to 71,624 units, aided by the launch of its all-electric SUV, the XEV 9S. Tata Motors also saw a 27% growth, selling 61,134 units, driven by a 73% surge in electric vehicle sales. Kia India recorded a 30% increase, with sales of 29,556 units. Overall, the passenger vehicle sector is projected to grow by 12% this month. However, Hyundai Motor India experienced a slight decline of 3%. In the two-wheeler market, TVS Motor Company reported an 8% increase, while Suzuki Motorcycle India faced a 1% drop in sales.
Published: Nov 01 2025, 8 pmeznews.inBrazil's ambitious $7.3 billion Araguaia-Tocantins riverway project aims to transform the Tocantins River into a year-round shipping route for soy and corn, potentially rivaling the Mississippi River and significantly reducing freight costs. However, federal prosecutors are challenging the initiative, citing concerns over its impact on local riverside communities and biodiversity. Fisherman Welton de Franca, who has lived by the river for decades, expressed fears that increased boat traffic would disrupt their livelihoods, stating, "We can't go anywhere without our boats. We live from the fish." Environmentalists warn that blasting the river's natural formations could lead to irreversible biodiversity loss, affecting endangered species. While proponents argue that the project could enhance economic development and reduce emissions from trucking, critics highlight the risk of further deforestation and displacement of local communities, raising questions about the balance between economic growth and environmental preservation.
Published: Nov 01 2025, 6 pmeznews.inShadowfax Technologies, a technology-driven third-party logistics firm, has submitted its updated draft red herring prospectus (UDRHP) to the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) for a ₹2,000 crore initial public offering (IPO). The IPO includes a fresh issue of equity shares worth ₹1,000 crore and an equal amount from an offer for sale. The funds will be allocated to enhance network infrastructure, lease payments for new operational centres, branding, and potential acquisitions. With a service network covering 14,758 Indian pin codes, Shadowfax's business is primarily driven by e-commerce, which constitutes 70% of its operations and has seen a 55% year-on-year growth. The company processed 436.36 million orders in FY25, reflecting a robust CAGR of 29.77%. The IPO is being managed by ICICI Securities, Morgan Stanley, and JM Financial, with pre-IPO rounds planned ahead of the listing.
Published: Nov 01 2025, 6 pmeznews.inIndia's gross Goods and Services Tax (GST) collection rose by 4.6% year-on-year to ₹1.96 lakh crore in October 2025, according to the Finance Ministry. However, net collections remained nearly flat, reflecting the impact of a GST rate cut effective from September 22 and a consumer wait-and-watch approach following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement of the rate reduction on August 15. Domestic GST collection grew by just 2%, while imports showed stronger performance. Experts suggest that the muted growth is temporary, with expectations of a rebound in the coming months as pent-up consumer demand is unleashed. Analysts highlight the importance of the government's commitment to resolving working capital issues for exporters and addressing the inverted duty structure, which could further boost confidence in the tax regime. With new norms ensuring quicker processing of refunds, significant increases in domestic refunds are anticipated in November and December 2025.
Published: Nov 01 2025, 4 pmeznews.inThe Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL) reported a remarkable 48% increase in freight train operations for the fiscal year 2024-25, transporting 1 tonne of goods over nearly 11.5 million km. Speaking at DFCCIL's 20th Foundation Day in New Delhi, Railway Board CEO Satish Kumar highlighted the corporation's operational efficiency, averaging over 381 freight trains daily. DFCCIL's efforts have significantly reduced India's logistics costs from 14% of GDP to approximately 8-9%, with a total of 1,39,302 trains operated during the review period. The Gross Tonne Kilometre (GTKM) reached 20,02,271 million, reflecting enhanced productivity. Notably, DFCCIL achieved a historic milestone with the operation of "Rudrashtra," India's longest freight train at 4.5 km. The corporation continues to expand connectivity through Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals and initiatives like "Truck-on-Train," aiming to improve supply chain efficiency and further lower logistics costs.
Published: Nov 01 2025, 4 pmeznews.inIndia's gross Goods and Services Tax (GST) collection reached ₹1.96 lakh crore in October 2025, marking a 4.6% increase from the previous year, driven by festive spending despite a recent reduction in GST rates on 375 items. The rate cuts, effective from September 22, coincided with the auspicious Navratri festival, encouraging consumers to make purchases they had previously postponed. While the October figures reflect a rebound in consumer activity, they represent a slowdown compared to the average growth of around 9% seen in prior months. Domestic sales rose by 2% to ₹1.45 lakh crore, while tax revenue from imports surged by 13% to ₹50,884 crore. However, GST refunds also increased significantly, up 39.6% year-on-year to ₹26,934 crore, resulting in a net GST revenue of ₹1.69 lakh crore, a modest 0.2% growth compared to the same month last year.
Published: Nov 01 2025, 3 pmeznews.inIndia's automotive industry experienced significant growth in October 2025, driven by festive season demand and positive consumer sentiment. Major players such as Hyundai, Mahindra & Mahindra, TVS Motor, Toyota Kirloskar, and Kia India reported impressive year-on-year gains. Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) sold 69,894 units, including 53,792 domestically, marking an 11% increase in exports, with its SUVs, Creta and Venue, achieving strong sales. Maruti Suzuki recorded its highest-ever monthly sales of 220,894 units, while TVS Motor surpassed expectations with 5.43 lakh units sold, reflecting an 11% y-o-y increase. Mahindra's sales rose 26% to 1.2 lakh units, driven by a 31% increase in domestic passenger vehicle sales. Toyota Kirloskar and Kia India also reported steady growth, with Kia achieving record sales of 29,556 units. Overall, October highlighted a robust recovery in the automotive sector, particularly in SUVs and electric vehicles.
Published: Nov 01 2025, 3 pmeznews.inIndia's power consumption saw a notable decline of 6% year-on-year in October 2025, dropping to 132 billion units from 140.47 billion units in the same month last year. This decrease is largely attributed to reduced reliance on cooling appliances, influenced by unseasonal rainfall across various regions and the onset of winter, which kept temperatures lower. The peak power demand during October was recorded at 210.71 gigawatts (GW), down from 219.22 GW in October 2024, and significantly lower than the all-time high of approximately 250 GW reached in May 2024. Experts predict that power demand and consumption may remain subdued in November due to continued moderate temperatures, further diminishing the need for cooling appliances. The data reflects a shift in energy usage patterns as seasonal weather conditions impact consumption trends.
Published: Nov 01 2025, 3 pm
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