India’s micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs continue to remain one of the strongest drivers of entrepreneurship, employment and economic momentum. Commenting on the Union Budget’s focus on the sector, Shwetank Dixit, Chief Growth Officer at Justdial, said the creation of a ₹10,000 crore MSME Growth Fund, along with a ₹2,000 crore top-up to the Self-Reliant India Fund, marks a significant step in strengthening long-term MSME growth.
According to Dixit, the measures directly address three long-standing challenges faced by MSMEs—limited access to equity capital, inconsistent liquidity and delayed payments. He noted that structural reforms such as improved integration of platforms like the Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS) and the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) could help improve cash flows and bring greater predictability to payment cycles.
Dixit also highlighted the continued emphasis on digital infrastructure and simplified business processes as a critical enabler for MSMEs. As small businesses increasingly adopt digital platforms for discovery, market expansion and productivity gains, these initiatives provide a stronger foundation for sustainable scaling.
He added that a consistent policy focus on digital adoption and financial access will allow MSMEs to grow with greater confidence, efficiency and resilience.
In a landmark move set to significantly boost bilateral trade, Australia will eliminate tariffs on all Indian goods from January 1, 2026, fulfilling a major commitment under the India–Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) signed three years ago.
The decision comes amid strong momentum in trade relations, with Indian exports to Australia rising by 8% in FY 2024–25. Key growth sectors include gems and jewellery, textiles, pharmaceuticals, and agricultural products such as coffee, spices, and organic foods.
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal described the move as a game-changer for small businesses, farmers, and workers in labour-intensive sectors, stating that tariff-free access would enhance India’s global competitiveness while creating sustainable employment opportunities.
A notable development alongside the tariff elimination is a new mutual recognition agreement on organic products, which will substantially reduce certification costs and regulatory hurdles for Indian exporters. This is expected to particularly benefit India’s growing organic farming community and MSMEs looking to expand into international markets.
The tariff-free regime underscores the deepening strategic and economic partnership between India and Australia. Both nations have expressed interest in expanding cooperation beyond trade into education, clean energy, digital economy, critical minerals, and supply-chain resilience.
As global trade dynamics evolve, the move positions India as a preferred trade partner for Australia, while reinforcing India’s vision of becoming a global manufacturing and export hub.
The Indian rupee weakened to a fresh all-time low of 91.01 against the US dollar on Tuesday, marking its fourth consecutive session of decline and extending an unprecedented slide in 2025. The currency fell as much as 36 paise intraday to 91.14 before recovering slightly, ending the session 23 paise lower despite a weaker dollar and falling global crude oil prices.
Forex traders attributed the sustained weakness to a combination of factors including the absence of intervention by the Reserve Bank of India, delays in finalising an India-US trade deal, and continued foreign institutional investor outflows. The rupee has dropped from 90 to 91 against the dollar in just the last 10 trading sessions and has slipped nearly 1% over the past five sessions alone, with traders warning that the 92-per-dollar mark could be tested later this month.
The dollar index was marginally lower at 98.23, while Brent crude declined nearly 2% to around $59.48 per barrel. However, these supportive global cues failed to arrest the rupee’s fall. Domestic equity markets also reflected the pressure, with the Sensex closing over 500 points lower and the Nifty 50 shedding more than 160 points.
Market experts noted that India’s currency has become the worst-performing in Asia this year, declining nearly 6% against the dollar and over 8.5% from its year-to-date peak. Analysts pointed to steep US tariffs on Indian exports and the lack of a bilateral trade agreement as key structural headwinds. Persistent selling by foreign investors has added to the pressure, creating a cycle of capital outflows and currency weakness.
Despite the sharp depreciation, economists believe the falling rupee is not significantly harming the broader economy. Low inflation, a narrowing trade deficit and strong GDP growth have allowed the RBI to maintain a hands-off approach. India’s trade deficit narrowed to a five-month low in November, while inflation remains well below the central bank’s target and economic growth continues to show resilience.
The rupee’s slide, however, has begun to weigh on stock market sentiment, with global funds pulling billions of dollars from Indian equities and debt in recent months. While exporters, particularly IT companies, have benefited from the weaker currency, analysts caution that overall equity returns may remain muted amid global uncertainty and capital flow challenges.
Market participants remain cautious, noting that a meaningful recovery in the rupee is unlikely unless there is a breakthrough in India-US trade negotiations. Until then, the path of least resistance for the currency is expected to remain on the weaker side.
India is stepping into a season of celebration unlike any other. Between November 1 and December 14, 2025, the country will host a staggering 46 lakh weddings, marking the biggest wedding season in its history. The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) estimates that these festivities will generate an unprecedented ₹6.5 lakh crore in business — a figure that captures not only the grandeur of Indian weddings but also their growing role as an economic engine.
Across India, wedding planners, jewelers, designers, caterers, and decorators are preparing for a historic boom. The industry has become a reflection of both cultural pride and economic resilience. From opulent destination weddings to intimate traditional ceremonies, each event contributes to a vast ecosystem that fuels everything from gold demand to employment opportunities.
Delhi, the capital of celebrations, will lead this wave with 4.8 lakh weddings, driving ₹1.8 lakh crore in expenditure. The city’s markets, venues, and services are already buzzing with bookings months in advance — from bridal couture and bespoke jewelry to five-star catering and themed decor.
Breaking down the nationwide spending, jewellery accounts for 15%, followed by apparel and sarees at 10%, catering at 10%, event management at 5%, and other key categories like electronics, sweets, and décor making up the rest. The services sector alone — including photography, travel, music bands, floral décor, and sound & lighting — is expected to see its strongest season in years.
What makes this wedding season especially remarkable is its “Vocal for Local” transformation. Over 70% of wedding-related purchases are expected to come from Indian-made products and services, from handwoven bridal sarees and homegrown jewelry labels to local floral artisans and food vendors. This growing preference for local craftsmanship underscores a cultural shift — one where tradition meets conscious consumerism.
Beyond the shimmer and song, the economic impact runs deep. This 45-day wedding season is projected to create more than 1 crore jobs, including temporary and part-time employment across sectors like hospitality, logistics, and event management. The celebrations are also expected to generate ₹75,000 crore in tax revenue, bolstering the national and regional economies during the festive quarter.
Every wedding in India has long been a blend of family, faith, and festivity. But in 2025, it also becomes a story of enterprise and empowerment — a celebration that brings together artisans, designers, planners, and dreamers under one grand canopy. As lights adorn city streets and music fills the air, India’s wedding season stands not only as a cultural phenomenon but as a testament to the country’s economic vitality and evolving identity.
A nation made for celebration is now proving that when India marries, the world takes notice.
In a major leap toward digital financial inclusion, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced the launch of an offline feature for its Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), popularly known as the ‘Digi Rupee’.
The offline functionality allows users to transfer money without internet connectivity, a development aimed at empowering citizens in rural, remote, and low-connectivity areas across the country.
According to the RBI, this innovation will make digital payments more accessible, ensuring that even those without reliable network coverage can participate in India’s growing digital economy.
The offline Digi Rupee can be used for peer-to-peer (P2P) and person-to-merchant (P2M) transactions, just like digital wallets, but backed directly by the central bank — making it secure, instant, and cost-efficient.
Experts believe that the move could significantly boost the adoption of digital transactions and support the government’s broader Digital India mission.
The initiative also underscores RBI’s ongoing efforts to enhance financial inclusion and build a resilient payment ecosystem that reaches every citizen, regardless of connectivity.
With this step, India joins a small group of countries exploring offline digital currency technology, marking another milestone in its transformation into a digitally empowered economy.
