India is set to undertake its long-delayed population census, beginning in October 2026 in selected northern territories, and nationwide from March 2027. This exercise will be historic—not only because it marks the first census in 16 years—but also due to the government’s inclusion of caste data, a politically and socially significant development. For the first time, citizens will have the opportunity to self-enumerate through digital platforms.

India’s automobile sector witnessed a tepid recovery in May, with total vehicle wholesales inching up by 1.8% year-on-year, according to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM). While two-wheelers recorded a modest uptick in dispatches, passenger vehicle (PV) sales declined slightly by 0.8%, and the three-wheeler segment fell by 3.3%. The mixed performance reflects the sector’s ongoing struggle to stabilize amid evolving demand dynamics and fluctuating consumer sentiment.

Godrej Properties Ltd, one of India’s most prominent real estate developers, has acquired a 14-acre land parcel in Hoskote, East Bengaluru, to build a premium residential project. The planned development is projected to generate approximately Rs. 1,500 crore in revenue and will offer around 1.5 million square feet of saleable area. This move aligns with the company’s strategy of deepening its presence in key urban micro-markets.

Lupin Ltd, a leading global pharmaceutical company, has announced a strategic licensing and supply agreement with China's Sino Universal Pharmaceuticals (SUP) to commercialize its Tiotropium dry powder inhaler (DPI) in China. The collaboration marks Lupin’s foray into the vast Chinese respiratory therapeutics market, with SUP responsible for securing regulatory approvals, while Lupin retains manufacturing rights and marketing authorization. The 18 mcg/capsule DPI, aimed at treating Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), is a key addition to Lupin’s respiratory portfolio.

An Air India flight bound for New Delhi from Hong Kong made an unscheduled return to its point of origin on Monday following a suspected technical issue identified by the pilot-in-command. The aircraft departed at 12:16 p.m. local time and was scheduled to arrive in Delhi around 12:20 p.m. IST. As a precautionary measure, the crew opted to divert back to Hong Kong. The aircraft landed safely, all passengers disembarked without incident, and technical teams have initiated a comprehensive inspection.

India’s largest power utility, NTPC Group, is accelerating its push into renewable energy storage with an ambitious portfolio of pumped storage projects (PSPs) totaling 20 GW. Aimed at strengthening the country’s energy resilience and transition to cleaner sources, NTPC plans to commission between 3 to 5 GW of capacity by FY2031–32. The initiative is supported by NTPC subsidiaries, including THDC India, which has already brought the first unit of its 1,000 MW Tehri PSP online.

India’s wholesale price inflation (WPI) decelerated to 0.39% in May 2025, marking a significant slowdown from 0.85% in April and 2.74% during the same period last year. The drop was driven by widespread deflation in food articles—particularly vegetables—and a notable decline in fuel and power prices. While certain sectors like chemicals, electricity, and transport equipment saw marginal price increases, overall inflationary pressures remained subdued.

Waterways Leisure Tourism, India’s leading domestic cruise operator, has filed preliminary documents with SEBI to launch an Initial Public Offering (IPO) worth Rs. 727 crore. The offering will comprise solely fresh equity with no offer-for-sale component, reflecting the company’s intention to channel funds directly into operational growth. A significant portion of the proceeds—Rs. 552.53 crore—will be directed towards lease commitments for its subsidiary, Baycruise Shipping and Leasing.

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has forged a long-term strategic alliance with Denmark-based Salling Group, one of Europe’s largest retail conglomerates, to facilitate a comprehensive digital transformation and cloud migration strategy. The collaboration spans over 2,100 stores and 68,000 employees across six countries, aiming to modernize infrastructure, enhance e-commerce capabilities, and boost operational agility. Leveraging its AI-enabled platform, Cloud Exponence, TCS will support hybrid cloud operations and drive efficiency across Salling Group’s diverse retail formats.

In a decisive response to the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) latest policy rate cut, the State Bank of India (SBI), the country’s largest lender, has reduced its key lending and deposit rates across the board. Effective June 15, 2025, the bank lowered its Repo Linked Lending Rate (RLLR) by 50 basis points to 7.75%, alongside a similar cut in its External Benchmark-Based Lending Rate (EBLR) to 8.15%. Fixed deposit rates were also trimmed by 25 basis points across all maturities. The move is expected to stimulate credit growth and consumer spending amid a broader monetary easing cycle.