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New Indian Express
6 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Delhi: Approval for green industry reduced to 20 days from 120
NEW DELHI: The Delhi government has announced a historic Ease of Doing Business reform that ends DPCC approval delays for Green Category industries. From August 2025, all applications for Consent to Operate (CTO) by eligible Green Category industries will be automatically deemed approved if no decision is made within 20 days — a sharp reduction from the earlier 120-day timeframe. This reform will directly benefit over 65 types of industries classified under the Green Category — typically non-polluting and low-risk sectors — which were earlier subjected to lengthy and complex approval procedures. These include industries such as apparel manufacturing (without dyeing or bleaching), aluminium and PVC product units, ayurvedic medicine manufacturing (without boilers), cold storage facilities, wooden and steel furniture making, confectionery units (with electric ovens), optical goods, toys assembly, soap and detergent units, battery container units, cardboard and packaging manufacturers, and many more. Under the new system, if an application for CTO is not processed within the prescribed timeline, it will be automatically approved, eliminating the need for further follow-ups or documentation. This landmark reform is expected to fast-track industrial activity in Delhi's MSME sector while maintaining environmental safeguards. The move is part of Single Window Clearance initiative, aimed at removing redundant approvals and integrating services across departments to enable faster, paperless, and transparent processes for industries and entrepreneurs. Environment and Industries Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said, 'This was a long-pending demand from the business community of Delhi.
Hindustan Times
11-07-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Luxury housing sales surge 85% in H1 2025, Delhi-NCR leads: CBRE-ASSOCHAM report
India's luxury housing segment witnessed an 85% year-on-year (YoY) growth in the first half of 2025, with nearly 7,000 high-end residential units sold across the top seven cities, according to a joint report by CBRE South Asia Pvt. Ltd. and ASSOCHAM. India's luxury housing segment witnessed an 85% year-on-year (YoY) growth in the first half of 2025, with nearly 7,000 high-end residential units sold across the top seven cities. (Representational photo)(Pixabay) Titled 'The New Paradigm in Indian Housing', the report was launched at the CBRE-ASSOCHAM Real Estate Conference 2025, held under the theme Ease of Doing Business: Unlocking Sustainable Growth. The top seven cities are Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Chennai. Also Read: Luxury housing sales, priced at ₹4 crore and above, increase by 53% in 2024 across the top seven cities Delhi-NCR dominates with over half of all luxury sales Leading the luxury surge, Delhi-NCR clocked sales of approximately 4,000 luxury units during January–June 2025, contributing 57% share to the total luxury segment. The region also recorded a threefold increase in sales compared to the same period last year, the report said. Mumbai followed with 1,240 units sold, an 18% share, marking a 29% YoY growth. "Traditionally mid-segment dominated markets like Pune and Chennai made their presence felt, jointly contributing around 5% of the luxury housing sales in H1 2025," the report said. Between January and June, 7,300 luxury units launched The report said that in H1 2025, over 7,300 luxury units were launched, reflecting a 30% YoY increase. Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, and Hyderabad accounted for over 90% of these new launches, underscoring their continued dominance in the high-end housing market. "The housing boom, coupled with policy evolution, highlights the need for reforms that ease approvals, redefine affordable housing in urban India, and incentivise sustainable development. Housing is no longer just shelter, it's an engine for inclusive growth," Manish Singhal, secretary general of ASSOCHAM, said. Also Read: Bengaluru techies on home buying: Purchase a flat to live, not show; think Android, not Rolex What's leading the luxury home sale surge? The report said that the surge in luxury housing is being driven by high-net-worth individuals (HNIs), ultra-HNWIs, and non-resident Indians (NRIs). These groups are increasingly turning to premium real estate in India as a stable asset class amidst global uncertainties and a strong U.S. Dollar. Buyers are prioritising homes with exclusive amenities, long-term value, and superior construction quality. 'The remarkable rise in luxury housing, both in demand and supply, reflects a structural shift in homebuyer preferences,' said Gaurav Kumar, managing director of Capital Markets and Land, CBRE India. 'India's residential market has entered a phase of strategic resilience, supported by strong macro fundamentals and a growing focus on lifestyle, transparency, and quality.' According to the report, around 132,000 units were sold and 138,000 new units were launched across the top seven cities in H1 2025.
New Indian Express
04-07-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
NMA makes online application mandatory for construction near protected monuments from July 1
NEW DELHI: The National Monument Authority (NMA) will accept only online applications seeking permission to carry out construction or repair of structures located in regulated or prohibited areas of monuments. As per the new directives, all such applications must be forwarded to the National Monument Authority (NMA), by the competent authorities with their recommendations, within 15 days of submission. The NMA is expected to make a decision on the application within 30 days. Exceptions have been made to protect sites, where the colour coded zonal maps (CCZMs) have not been approved by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) yet. The authorities will continue to accept applications for grant of permission for those sites in offline mode. CCZMs are crucial for defining regulated and prohibited areas around centrally protected monuments and sites, guiding construction and development activities to ensure preservation. As per the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment and Validation) Act 2010; 300 m area around the heritage sites is divided into two sections; prohibited area, which is upto 100m and remaining 200 is regulated area. 'For grant of permission for carrying out construction, re-construction, repair or renovation within the prohibited or regulated areas of Protected Monuments and sites, shall be mandatorily submitted through the NMA online application procession system (NOAPS) portal w.e.f July 1, 2025, to further streamline the processing of applications, in line with the Central Government's 'Ease of Doing Business' initiative,' read an official note.
The Hindu
13-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Andhra Pradesh Cabinet amends labour laws; approves 10-hour workday for labourers
The State Cabinet, in its recent meeting, approved proposals to amend several provisions in the Factories Act of 1948 — Sections 54, 55, 56, 59, 64, 65, and 66 — related to labour, factories, boilers, and insurance medical services. It also approved amendments to Sections 9, 10, 16, 17, and 73 of the Andhra Pradesh Shops and Establishments Act (1988). Information and Public Relations (I&PR) Minister Kolusu Parathasarathy said these amendments were being made to be more favourable to investors as part of the Ease of Doing Business reforms. He also said the decision to allow women to work in night shifts was part of removing gender discrimination in the industrial sector and promoting empowerment. The working hours for labourers were increased, he said. While the practical workday had already shifted from eight hours to nine, the Cabinet decision increased it further to 10 hours. Currently, workers are entitled to a 30-minute break after every five hours of work. Under the new rule, they will have to work six hours to earn a break. Previously, workers were allowed to work 50 to 75 hours of overtime per quarter. Now that limit has been extended to 144 hours. In reality, overtime is supposed to be voluntary extra work. But in practice, it has long become a compulsory burden dictated by employers. With the new decision, the pressure of overtime on workers will only increase. The State government has also made night shifts mandatory for women. The Cabinet recommended that corporations provide facilities such as CCTV cameras, lighting, and security to enable women to work at night. However, no mention was made regarding arrangements for women with children. The Cabinet also failed to clarify whether night work would be compulsory or voluntary for women.
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
AI is a generational shift, with impact far greater than internet: Sunil Mittal
Artificial intelligence is a generational shift, with its impact far greater than the internet, that touches almost every aspect of our lives, said Sunil Bharti Mittal , chairman, Bharti Enterprises . Speaking at the CII Annual Business Summit 2025 , the former CII president said a significant impact of AI in India is its effect on employment, particularly given India's large, young workforce. Mittal said AI will create difficulties in areas like software engineering, noting that now even a layman can speak to a machine to write code. 'India has the largest workforce, the youngest developing in the world. There are 20 million children in the age group six to sixteen. In ten year's time, they will be sixteen to twenty-six, each wanting a job. AI will create difficulties in that area. Some parts are clearly visible today,' Mittal said. However, Mittal said AI will also create new opportunities and more jobs. 'Using AI will become absolutely important for everyone, especially in emerging countries like India,' the executive said. Mittal said that while Indian industry is committed to national progress, an enabling environment from the government is essential to remove bottlenecks and accelerate India's development journey. He presented an industry wish list to the government, including key asks on Ease of Doing Business, GST reforms, and corporate taxation. Mittal highlighted the demographic advantage India holds as other developed nations ages and immigration barriers rise. 'Industry and academia must go beyond surface-level collaboration and jointly build a globally competitive, job-ready workforce. Emerging fields such as AI, green energy, space communication, and next-gen telecom demand urgent attention,' he said. Mittal also expressed concern over India spending less than 1% of its GDP on research and development, asking the industry to step up and invest aggressively in deep tech and innovation. 'Our large domestic market gives us scale, but we need intellectual leadership too. Only then can the government scale its R&D efforts with confidence,' Mittal said. The executive also called for a trade reset, advocating for a fundamental shift in India's approach to trade and exports. 'We must diversify our export basket and focus on products and services that are needed globally. No raw material should leave our shores without value addition,' Mittal said.
