Top 5 Stories You Missed This Week
This week in business saw key developments across sectors—from IPO buzz and regulatory shakeups to a surprising turn in the startup space. If you’ve been heads-down or offline, here’s your sharp and concise rundown of the top five stories that shaped India’s economic conversation.
1. RBI Tightens Rules on Fintech Lending
In a move that sent ripples across the fintech sector, the Reserve Bank of India introduced stricter capital adequacy norms and digital KYC timelines for loan disbursement apps. The policy aims to curb rising defaults and improve consumer protection, especially in unregulated BNPL (Buy Now, Pay Later) services.
2. India’s Largest EV IPO Off to a Strong Start
Lume Motors, a battery-swapping and EV infra player, debuted on the BSE with a 31% premium over its issue price. The ₹6,500 crore IPO was oversubscribed 20x and marks the biggest public listing for a cleantech startup to date, signaling investor appetite for the next phase of green mobility.
3. Infosys and Microsoft Announce Strategic AI Alliance
In one of the biggest cross-border tech collaborations of the year, Infosys partnered with Microsoft Azure to develop AI-powered enterprise solutions for global clients. The deal is expected to generate over $1 billion in revenue over the next three years, focusing on automation, analytics, and cloud-native apps.
4. Startups Face New ESOP Tax Headwinds
The Finance Ministry is reportedly considering a change in how Employee Stock Options are taxed, shifting from point-of-sale to point-of-vesting. Founders and employee groups are pushing back, arguing it could hurt talent retention and dilute startup equity cultures just as growth capital becomes scarcer.
5. India’s Q1 GDP Growth Beats Expectations
India’s economy grew 7.2% in the first quarter of FY25, driven by strong performance in manufacturing and public capex. Analysts had forecast sub-7% growth, making this a surprise upside. The rupee strengthened slightly against the dollar, and the markets responded with cautious optimism.
That’s your snapshot of the week. Whether you're tracking tech, policy, or markets, bataSutra will keep bringing you the signal behind the noise—every week, without the clutter.