Business & Economy
Provisional government data show gross GST receipts jumped 22.9 percent in October to ₹2.31 lakh crore, driven by a 42 percent rise in import-related taxes and stronger domestic sales ahead of Diwali. The windfall helps fiscal math now, but officials and analysts caution the boost may not be durable.
New rules that take effect on November 1, 2026 change how post sale discounts are treated and speed provisional refunds for sectors with inverted duty structures, measures aimed at easing working capital pressures for exporters and manufacturers.
India benchmark indices ended October with a rebound, led by heavy buying in banking, consumer and select IT names after global rate signals and easing crude oil pressure lifted sentiment. Domestic flows and festive demand underpinned the rally.
Shipments of diesel from Indian refineries jumped in October, driven by tight global supplies and elevated international margins. The surge helps offset a rising crude import bill, but strong domestic demand and export levies will shape how much India can sell overseas.
Indian equity benchmarks slipped on October 29, 2026, as investors booked profits after a recent rally and assessed monetary policy risks and global market volatility. Financial stocks led declines while domestic data and corporate earnings kept trading cautious.
Tata Motors subsidiary reached a controlling shareholding in Italy’s Iveco after a voluntary tender offer closed with acceptances that push its holding to about 89.4 percent, making the deal unconditional and opening the path to delisting and integration.
A battery-swap station for heavy electric trucks opened in Bhiwandi on October 27, 2026, in a joint initiative by Blue Energy Motors and Hindustan Petroleum. The facility aims to cut downtime to under five minutes, strengthen the Mumbai Pune electric freight corridor, and scale electrification of last mile logistics and regional haulage, while highlighting infrastructure, grid and standardisation challenges ahead.
Indian benchmark indices recovered on October 26, 2026, after a four day slide, with metal, pharma and ports stocks leading gains. Traders said a pullback in Brent crude and a string of corporate results underpinned the rally, but elevated volatility indicators and geopolitical risks leave the rally fragile.
KEC International has secured Rs 2,872 crore of turnkey orders from Power Grid Corporation of India to build 765 kV transmission lines tied to an 8.5 GW renewable evacuation programme in Gujarat. The deal widens KEC’s domestic order book and highlights accelerating investment in grid infrastructure as India scales wind and solar capacity.
Foreign portfolio investors have withdrawn a net Rs 48,056 crore from Indian equities so far in October, taking 2026 cumulative outflows past Rs 3.08 lakh crore. Analysts point to high crude prices, Middle East tensions, weak corporate earnings and global rate pressures as the main drivers.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 25 inaugurated the Reserve Bank of India’s greenfield data campus and a cybersecurity training institute near Bhubaneswar, a move regulators say will strengthen payment-system resilience and create opportunities for local technology and services firms.
Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Donald Tusk agreed to deepen economic cooperation and aim to double two way trade from about USD 6.3 billion by 2030, while signing measures to expand defence industry collaboration, energy and high technology links.
Jio Platforms closed its three day initial public offering with record demand on October 23, 2026, attracting bids worth more than Rs 7.4 lakh crore and setting new benchmarks for India equity market appetite and liquidity dynamics.
Vikram Solar said its 9 GW N type TOPCon solar cell facility at Gangaikondan, Tamil Nadu, will begin producing cells in December 2026. The move brings India closer to an integrated domestic solar supply chain and could ease reliance on imported cells for large scale projects.
The Wadhwani Innovation Network at IIT Bombay, in partnership with the Manipal Government of Karnataka Bioincubator, launched a competitive non dilutive grant program on October 23, 2026 offering up to Rs 1 crore to de risk technology translation for Indian health and bio startups. The move aims to accelerate commercialization of lab stage innovations and strengthen India’s bioeconomy pipeline.