India

Unified Payments Interface (UPI) now processes approximately 85% of all digital transactions in India, solidifying its position as the backbone of the nation's digital payment ecosystem. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Sanjay Malhotra highlighted this achievement, emphasizing the role of Digital Public Platforms (DPPs) in fostering inclusive, secure, and scalable financial systems. This milestone underscores India's leadership in digital financial inclusion and showcases the effectiveness of its homegrown payment infrastructure.

India and Brazil are set to enhance their economic partnership by expanding the existing Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) under the Mercosur framework. This initiative aims to increase bilateral trade from $12 billion in 2024 to $20 billion by 2030. The expansion will cover additional tariff lines and address both tariff and non-tariff barriers, with a focus on sectors such as pharmaceuticals, textiles, and banking.

India's unemployment rate for individuals aged 15 and above increased marginally to 5.2% in September 2025, up from 5.1% in August, as per the latest data from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. This uptick follows two consecutive months of decline and reflects a complex interplay of factors influencing the labor market. Notably, the rise in unemployment is attributed to higher joblessness in both rural and urban areas, with women experiencing a disproportionate impact.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) has announced plans to expand its pre-owned car business, Toyota U-Trust, by establishing 37 new outlets across India by 2028. This expansion aims to enhance customer experience, promote transparency, and offer high-quality certified pre-owned Toyota vehicles. The move aligns with the growing demand in India's used car market, projected to reach nearly six million units in total sales by fiscal year 2026.

German automotive technology company ZF Group has marked its entry into the Indian railway sector by securing its first gearbox manufacturing order. The company will locally assemble a new single-stage spur gear drive at its Coimbatore facility, tailored for the Vande Bharat Express trains. This move aligns with India's "Make in India" initiative and underscores ZF's commitment to supporting the nation's growing rail infrastructure.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Sanjay Malhotra has indicated that there is policy space for potential interest rate reductions, contingent on economic conditions. While the repo rate remains steady at 5.50%, falling retail inflation—recording 1.54% in September 2025—and a downward revision of the FY26 inflation forecast to 2.6% provide scope for future easing. Governor Malhotra emphasized a cautious, data-driven approach, noting that while conditions are favorable, immediate rate cuts are not yet warranted.

Indian equity markets experienced a notable rebound on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, driven by strong performances in the information technology (IT) sector and renewed optimism surrounding India-U.S. trade relations. The BSE Sensex surged by 200 points, while the NSE Nifty surpassed the 25,250 mark. This uptick follows a period of market volatility, including a significant crash earlier in the year, and reflects positive investor sentiment fueled by easing inflation and a favorable global economic outlook.

In a move that could redefine India’s digital infrastructure landscape, Bharti Airtel has entered into a strategic partnership with IBM to advance cloud computing and artificial intelligence capabilities across regulated industries. The collaboration aims to build a sovereign, AI-ready cloud ecosystem through Airtel’s expanded data centre network and IBM’s hybrid cloud technologies, including Power11 servers, Red Hat OpenShift AI, and watsonx.

India’s smartphone exports to the United States surged by 39% in the latest fiscal period, according to a report by the India Cellular & Electronics Association (ICEA). The growth underscores India’s emergence as a global manufacturing hub, driven by government incentives, competitive labor costs, and robust production capabilities. The report highlights the increasing footprint of Indian smartphone makers in international markets, reflecting a shift in global supply chains and rising demand for cost-effective devices.

Tata Capital’s shares made their market debut to a muted response, opening flat before gradually rising over 1%, reflecting measured investor sentiment amid volatile market conditions. Analysts attribute the cautious reception to prevailing macroeconomic uncertainty, coupled with tempered expectations following the company’s high-profile listing. Market participants are closely monitoring institutional subscription trends and early trading volumes to gauge long-term momentum.