India

India and New Zealand are advancing discussions on a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (FTA) aimed at deepening economic ties, diversifying trade, and strengthening strategic cooperation. The proposed pact seeks to reduce tariff barriers, improve market access, and encourage cross-border investment across key sectors such as agriculture, dairy, technology, education, and services. Beyond commerce, the agreement reflects a shared commitment to resilient supply chains and rules-based trade in the Indo-Pacific.

Agentic artificial intelligence is poised to transform enterprise operations by 2026, enabling organizations to function with unprecedented levels of autonomy, according to Wipro’s chief technology officer. Unlike traditional automation, agentic AI systems are designed to make decisions, adapt to changing environments and coordinate actions across complex workflows with minimal human intervention. Enterprises adopting these technologies are expected to see gains in efficiency, resilience and speed of execution.

India’s automobile sector is projected to maintain steady growth through 2026, supported by resilient domestic demand, improving supply chains and a gradual shift toward higher-value vehicles. Industry leaders and analysts expect volume expansion to be led by passenger vehicles and premium two-wheelers, even as entry-level segments face selective pressure. Policy support, infrastructure spending and rising consumer confidence are reinforcing the outlook, while electrification and technology upgrades continue to reshape product strategies.

Indian equity markets are navigating a phase shaped by three dominant forces: inflation trends, foreign institutional investor (FII) activity, and global economic cues. Moderating inflation has raised expectations of policy stability, while fluctuating foreign capital flows continue to influence market direction and volatility. At the same time, developments in major global economies—ranging from interest-rate outlooks to geopolitical risks—are feeding into investor sentiment.

State Bank of India’s digital platform, YONO, has crossed the milestone of 20 crore users within just two years, underscoring the rapid pace of digital adoption in the country’s banking ecosystem. The growth highlights strong customer preference for integrated banking and lifestyle services delivered through a single platform. Riding on this momentum, the bank is preparing for fresh investments aimed at expanding capabilities, strengthening infrastructure, and enhancing user experience.

India’s gems and jewellery sector posted a strong performance in November, with exports rising 20% compared with the same period last year. The increase reflects a pickup in overseas demand, improved order flows, and greater stability in pricing after months of uncertainty. Higher shipments of cut and polished diamonds, along with steady exports of gold jewellery and studded products, supported the growth.

New data on workforce composition across National Stock Exchange (NSE)–listed companies highlights a persistent and troubling gender imbalance. More than half of these firms employ women at levels below 10%, underscoring deep-rooted structural gaps in recruitment, leadership pipelines, and workplace inclusion. The figures point to a widening disparity at a time when Indian corporations are under increasing pressure to demonstrate diversity, improve board representation, and build equitable organizations.

The specialty-chemicals manufacturer Neochem Bio Solutions is launching its Initial Public Offering (IPO) between December 2 and December 4, 2025, aiming to raise approximately ₹44.97 crore through a fresh issue. Priced at ₹93–₹98 per share, the issue comprises 45.88 lakh equity shares and is scheduled for listing on the NSE Emerge platform on December 9. Anchor investors have already committed around ₹12.77 crore. The company intends to deploy the proceeds toward working-capital needs, debt repayment, and general corporate purposes.

The Sanjay Ghodawat Group (SGG), a diversified Indian conglomerate with interests spanning consumer products, renewable energy, aviation, and real estate, is charting an ambitious growth trajectory as it eyes Rs 15,000 crore in revenue over the coming years. Alongside this expansion plan, the group is also preparing for a potential initial public offering, signalling its intent to strengthen governance, enhance capital access, and accelerate scale across key business verticals.

The life insurance industry in India is poised for robust expansion, with rating agency ICRA projecting a 9% increase in new business premiums (NBP) for the upcoming fiscal year. This optimistic forecast reflects rising consumer awareness, innovative product offerings, and favorable demographic trends fueling insurance adoption. Analysts note that both private and public insurers are leveraging technology, digital distribution channels, and personalized policies to attract a broader customer base.