Improved affordability led by record-low home loan rates, government initiatives including stamp duty waivers, and discounts offered by realty developers have stimulated demand for housing, says said ratings agency ICRA. Housing sales had declined by 62 per cent year-on-year in the June quarter across the top eight Indian cities but bounced back considerably in subsequent quarters.

France will invest €500 million ($609.5 million) in boosting innovation in the space industry in an attempt to battle growing US and Asian competition, President Emmanuel Macron has said, adding that the two-year investment plan “will cover innovations related to carrier rockets, speed up our projects and allow us to go faster in global competition.

The Karnataka government has earmarked over 520 acres to set up a Japanese Industrial Township near Tumakuru. According to officials, there are over 500 Japanese companies in India, and Karnataka is home to one of the largest clusters of companies from Japan. The industrial township will encourage investments and create employment.

The state-owned National Mineral Development Corporation aims to utilize 97 per cent of its production capacity to produce 35 million tonnes of iron ore this fiscal, and has set a target of producing 100 MT by 2030 to ensure smooth supply of the mineral to steel makers.

The Centre is mulling extending the interest subvention scheme for MSMEs by another six months beyond the March 31, 2021 deadline as part of its budget proposals. It is also planning to double the ticket size of the loans for which such interest subvention is given to Rs 2 crore. The money is lent by scheduled banks to micro, small and medium enterprises

Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust, one of the 12 major ports in the country, plans to attract Rs. 4,000 crore investments from public and private players for its special economic zone (SEZ), as per a draft proposal. The project is planned to be developed in a phased manner and wholly funded by JNPT. The cost is broadly estimated to be over Rs. 500 crore.

The state energy department has announced it will spend Rs. 2,500 crore every year for infrastructure development for state-owned MSEDCL. Of this, Rs. 1500 crore will be spent on providing electricity to agricultural pumps and Rs. 1,000 crore for strengthening infrastructure in industrial and urban areas. The government is also looking at reducing power tariffs for industrial consumers.

The Confederation of All India Traders has appreciated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “positive thinking” in reposing confidence on Indian products and underlining the immense potential of small industries and trade in India. In a communication sent to the Prime Minister, CAIT said research & development was the key to success.

With Indian Railways aiming to reduce its energy bill by Rs. 13,000 crore per annum, South Central Railway (SCR) is on a mission to complete electrification of the its rail network in Telangana by 2022. Railway authorities are expediting works across various sections in Secunderabad and Hyderabad divisions.