Expansions, layoffs, funding, leadership moves, and policy shifts — with our take on what it means for hiring in India, today and over the next five years.
The Reserve Bank of India has held its benchmark repo rate unchanged for the fourth consecutive policy meeting, keeping home loan interest rates stable. Industry bodies representing real estate developers have welcomed the move, saying it gives both builders and buyers greater confidence to proceed with projects and purchases. The central bank also nudged its GDP growth forecast slightly higher while trimming its inflation outlook.
India's Directorate General of Foreign Trade has formally notified rules allowing ecommerce companies — including those with foreign investment — to hold inventory specifically for export through online platforms. To participate, these firms must register as an 'exporter-on-record' with the government. The move creates a structured, regulation-backed framework for cross-border ecommerce exports that previously lacked clear operational guidelines.
A Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and IT has escalated regulatory pressure on Meta in India, demanding accountability from its top leadership over content moderation and platform governance concerns. The scrutiny signals that India's lawmakers are taking a harder line on how global social media giants operate within the country. This follows a broader pattern of tightening oversight of Big Tech platforms in India.
Akasa Air's CEO has publicly backed a proposal that would allow airport operators to hold stakes in or own airline companies, arguing that India's fast-growing aviation sector needs more competition. The idea has drawn pushback from IndiGo's co-founder, who warns of potential conflicts of interest. The Indian government is yet to make a final call, but the debate signals a possible structural shift in how the aviation industry is organised.
The Indian government is considering amendments to the Payment and Settlement Systems Act that could allow a Merchant Discount Rate on UPI transactions above Rs 2,000, particularly targeting large merchants. The move is framed as a way to fund payment infrastructure development and strengthen cybersecurity. Everyday small-value transactions are largely expected to stay free under the proposed framework.
India's Income Tax Appellate Tribunal has ruled that gains earned when a company buys back unexercised but vested stock options should be treated as long-term capital gains rather than salary income. The case centred on a Flipkart employee who received ₹2.33 crore through such a transaction. This distinction significantly changes the tax liability for employees holding ESOPs in similar situations.
The Reserve Bank of India has held its benchmark repo rate at 6.5%, maintaining a neutral policy stance as it watches inflation, monsoon patterns, and global trade risks. Industry voices say the decision preserves affordability for homebuyers heading into the festive quarter. Stable borrowing costs are expected to keep housing demand on an even keel through the remainder of 2024.
The Reserve Bank of India has announced plans to resume issuing licences for urban cooperative banks, a process that had been stalled for years. Alongside this, the central bank is planning a thorough overhaul of credit monitoring norms for rural cooperative banks and intends to standardise lending rate frameworks across all entities it regulates, with the stated goals of improving transparency and protecting consumers.
The Reserve Bank of India has announced plans to resume issuing licences for urban cooperative banks, ending a halt that has lasted more than twenty years. The RBI has released draft guidelines to govern the restart of this process, responding to stakeholder feedback on an earlier discussion paper. The move signals a significant shift in the regulatory landscape for the cooperative banking sector.
Diageo India's United Spirits has filed a petition in the Bombay High Court challenging a regulatory directive from FSSAI targeting flavouring and labelling practices in the Indian Made Foreign Liquor segment. The move signals a widening enforcement push by the food safety regulator that is now drawing legal pushback from major players. The dispute puts the entire IMFL industry on notice as compliance requirements potentially tighten.
OpenAI has agreed to pay $3.2 million to settle a US government investigation into alleged violations related to hiring foreign workers. The probe examined whether the company followed proper legal procedures when bringing international employees on board. This settlement highlights the intensifying scrutiny American authorities are placing on how tech firms recruit and retain non-US talent.
India's government is set to make vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication technology compulsory for new vehicles, with a phased rollout beginning October 2028. The system will enable cars to exchange real-time data on speed and braking to reduce road accidents. This mandate will also work alongside Advanced Driver Assistance Systems already entering the Indian market.