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The Economic Survey 2026 has reaffirmed the importance of Quality Control Orders (QCOs) in managing reputational risks associated with product quality, while advocating for a strategic overhaul to prevent undue burdens on micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The proposed framework emphasizes pre-notification assessments, tailored transition periods, and enhanced national testing capabilities, alongside exemptions for specialized inputs when domestic production is insufficient. The survey cautioned that stringent transition timelines could disrupt production and inflate costs for MSMEs. It also referenced a recent Niti Aayog panel's recommendations to scrap or suspend several QCOs affecting key industrial inputs, highlighting the government's commitment to a balanced regulatory approach. The survey noted the success of QCOs in the toy sector, which has seen improved compliance and reduced substandard products, while underscoring the necessity of mandatory standards for consumer safety across various sectors. Enhanced surveillance and digitized certification processes are also recommended to support this regulatory framework. 
Published: Jan 29 2026, 2 pmeznews.inThe Economic Survey for FY26 highlights a notable shift in household savings towards market-linked instruments, particularly equities, driven by structural changes in the financial system and evolving risk preferences. Retail participation in capital markets surged, with over 2.35 crore new demat accounts added in the first nine months of the fiscal year, bringing the total to over 21.6 crore. The report attributes this growth to stable macroeconomic fundamentals, promising corporate earnings, and technological advancements that simplify investor onboarding. While net additions to the investor base have moderated, domestic investors have shown resilience, with cumulative inflows into equity markets significantly surpassing those from foreign investors over the past five years. The share of individual investors in equities rose to 18.8% by September 2025, reflecting a tenfold increase in individual equity holdings since FY14. However, retail engagement in corporate bonds remains limited, indicating a potential area for future growth in India's financial landscape.
Published: Jan 29 2026, 3 pmeznews.inThe Economic Survey for FY26 highlights significant challenges in the integration of renewable energy sources, particularly solar and wind, due to their material and capital-intensive energy storage requirements. Kerala is taking proactive steps to address these issues by mandating battery storage for new solar installations, with specific requirements based on system size, aimed at mitigating the intermittency of solar power. The Centre is also promoting battery energy storage systems (BESS) through policy interventions, including a gross metering mechanism that offers higher tariffs for customers with storage capabilities. Recognising the critical role of energy storage, the Central Electricity Authority estimates that India will need approximately 336 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of storage capacity by FY30. To facilitate this, the government has introduced funding schemes and incentives, including a ₹18,100 crore Production-Linked Incentive scheme to boost domestic manufacturing of advanced energy storage technologies.
Published: Jan 29 2026, 3 pmeznews.inPassenger traffic at Indian airports is set to surge from 412 million in the financial year 2024-25 to 665 million by 2030-31, according to the Economic Survey FY26 presented in Parliament. Despite this growth, India currently operates only 0.11 airports per million people, lagging behind major aviation markets like the US and China. The number of operational airports has risen from 74 in 2014 to 164 in 2025, bolstered by public and private investments. Key to this expansion is the Greenfield Airports Policy, which has approved 24 new airports, with 13 already operational. Modernisation efforts since 2019-20 have increased passenger-handling capacity to 575 million annually. Additionally, air cargo volumes have grown significantly, and regional connectivity initiatives have operationalised 657 routes. Future plans include adding 120 new destinations and enhancing technology adoption in the aviation sector.
Published: Jan 29 2026, 3 pmeznews.inIndia aims to enhance the role of inland waterways in freight transport, increasing its share from 2% to 5% by 2030, as outlined in the Economic Survey 2025-26 presented in Parliament. The government targets over 200 million tonnes of cargo movement via inland waterways as part of its logistics strategy, positioning this mode alongside road and rail transport for bulk cargo. The Survey highlights ongoing policy interventions and infrastructure investments to improve navigability and cargo-handling capacity on key waterways, including targeted dredging and the deployment of navigation aids. The number of operational national waterways has risen to 26, reflecting increased cargo volumes. Additionally, the Centre is enhancing multimodal integration by connecting inland terminals with road and rail networks and implementing digital systems for operational efficiency. Initiatives under the Maritime Amrit Kaal vision also aim to boost private sector participation and promote sustainable practices in the sector.
Published: Jan 29 2026, 3 pmeznews.inCochin Shipyard Ltd's CMD, Madhu S. Nair, inaugurated Comarsem 2026 in Kochi, marking a significant event for India's maritime sector. The Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, addressed the seminar virtually, emphasizing the government's ambition to position India as the fifth-largest shipping nation by 2047. He highlighted the shipbuilding industry's potential for job creation and economic growth, while stressing the need for sustainable practices to protect the marine environment. Sonowal outlined recent initiatives, including the Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Policy and the Maritime Development Fund, aimed at fostering a robust maritime ecosystem. Themed “Maritime India — Innovations and Collaborations,” Comarsem 2026 convenes industry leaders, policymakers, and maritime professionals to discuss critical issues and opportunities in the sector, reinforcing the call for collective action to achieve India's maritime aspirations.
Published: Jan 29 2026, 3 pmeznews.inIndia has enacted the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India Act (SHANTI), which updates the country's nuclear legal framework, including the Atomic Energy Act of 1962 and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act of 2010. This landmark legislation allows private sector and state government participation in nuclear activities, such as plant operations and power generation, which were previously restricted. The SHANTI Act introduces a graded liability framework under the CLNDA while ensuring victim compensation remains intact. Currently, India has a nuclear capacity of 8,780 megawatts, with projections indicating a rise to 100 gigawatts by 2047. The government has allocated ₹20,000 crore in the FY26 budget to develop at least five indigenously designed small modular reactors by 2033, positioning nuclear energy as a reliable and clean alternative to other renewable sources, particularly for heavy industries and hydrogen production.
Published: Jan 29 2026, 2 pmeznews.inThe Economic Survey 2025-26 reveals a notable transformation in the composition of household financial savings in India over the past decade, with a marked decline in the share of deposits from over 58% in FY12 to approximately 35% in FY25. This shift indicates a diversification of portfolios, as households increasingly allocate resources to equities rather than completely abandoning traditional savings instruments. The share of equity and mutual funds in annual household savings surged from 2% in FY12 to over 15.2% in FY25, driven by a significant rise in systematic investment plans (SIPs). Individual equity holdings expanded dramatically, reaching around ₹84 lakh crore by September 2025. Despite this growth, participation in debt instruments remains limited, reflecting the underdeveloped state of India's corporate bond market, which constitutes only 16-17% of GDP compared to over 130% for equities. The Survey underscores the importance of domestic savings in stabilizing equity markets amid fluctuating external capital flows.
Published: Jan 29 2026, 2 pmeznews.inThe Economic Survey for 2025-26, presented in Parliament, forecasts that India's new labour codes could boost GDP by 1.25% by 2029-30, enhancing worker welfare and business agility. The reforms aim to address income volatility and benefit gaps, while also increasing the Female Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) and formal employment. The four codes—on wages, industrial relations, social security, and occupational safety—were pre-published for stakeholder feedback in December 2025. Notably, the codes recognize unorganised sector workers, with over 31 crore registered on the e-Shram portal, 54% of whom are women. The reforms promote gender equality through equal pay, maternity benefits, and safety measures for night shifts. A study by SBI suggests that these changes could formalise the economy from 60.4% to 75.5%, with medium-term employment gains of 1.0-2.2% in the organised sector, while also potentially reducing unemployment by 0.3-1.3%.
Published: Jan 29 2026, 2 pmeznews.inIndia's automobile exports are surging, reflecting a growing global acceptance of locally manufactured vehicles, according to the Economic Survey 2025-26. The industry exported over 5.3 million vehicles across various segments in FY25, achieving double-digit growth in the first half of 2025-26. This growth is attributed to a robust post-pandemic demand recovery, with production increasing nearly 33% over the past decade. The sector, which employs over 30 million people and contributes around 15% to the country's GST collections, is pivotal to India's economy, positioning the nation as the largest market for two- and three-wheelers and the third-largest for passenger and commercial vehicles. Government initiatives, including the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes and the Scheme to Promote Manufacturing of Electric Passenger Cars, have further bolstered the electric vehicle market. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the survey in the Lok Sabha, highlighting the sector's significant economic impact.
Published: Jan 29 2026, 1 pm
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