Besides emphasis on electricity distribution reforms and measures for gig workers, the Budget 2025 puts the spotlight on national manufacturing mission to support clean tech, improve value addition in solar PV modules, electric vehicle batteries, high voltage transmission equipment, wind turbines and grid scale batteries. 
With China controlling much of the clean tech supply chain, the mission will combine with the PLI schemes for solar PV modules and batteries, aiding those in the field of backward integration and operations that are scaling up. 
Further scaling up the reach of ‘Make-in-India’ initiative, the Budget 2025 once again has brought into focus the MSME sector. It has been the worst hit by GST with thousands of units in any given industrial areas in cities like Pimpri-Chinchwad going belly up. Considered to provide employment to up to 70 percent in the manufacturing MSMEs have not only been unable to sustain financially, they have not been able to innovate or invest in advanced machinery/equipment and upskilling the way they should have been. 
They also seem to have lost out on their ability to export or sustain the margin pressures that come with supplying goods to suppliers up the ladder. This has led to many Tier 1  or Tier 2 suppliers and OEMs – particularly in the auto sector which contributes most to GST collection and the manufacturing GDP of the country – to look at sourcing from China by installing either permanently or temporarily their sourcing personnel or agents there. 
Perhaps taking such practices into account, the Budget 2025 has focused on MSME sector in terms of their upliftment as it would in-turn help them to drive employment led innovation, energy supplies and exports. 
The custom duty on Lithium-ion batteries has been reduced and tax has been exempted for cobalt powder. 
On the Income Tax front, the Finance Minister announced in her speech that a New Income Tax Bill will be tabled in the Parliament soon. This bill is expected to exempt tax on income till INR 12,00,000. There will be TDS relief offered to senior citizens. 
Until the New Income Tax Bill in tabled in the Parliament and passed, the old Income Tax regime will continue to be valid. 
 

Image for representative purpose only.

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Maruti Suzuki India, a subsidiary of Suzuki Motor Corporation and the country’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, has announced that it is set to acquire land from the Government of Gujarat for the construction of a new production facility.

The decision follows a basic agreement reached with the state government in January 2024 to establish a second manufacturing base in the region.

The site in Sanand covers approximately 1,750 acres valued at INR 49.6 billion. Once operational, the facility is expected to have an annual production capacity of 1 million units.

The company cited Gujarat’s supply chain, infrastructure and proximity to ports as factors for the selection. The location provides access to highway and railway networks, supporting its function as both a domestic production base and an export hub for vehicles.

Current and Planned Production Capacity

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Ashok Leyland, one of the leading commercial vehicle manufacturers in the country, has opened a new integrated manufacturing facility in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.

The greenfield facility, located near Lucknow Airport in Sarojini Nagar, was inaugurated by Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, alongside Union Ministers Rajnath Singh and H D Kumaraswamy.

The 70-acre site is designed to produce 5,000 vehicles annually, with a primary focus on electric buses and other green mobility solutions. The facility employs a workforce predominantly from Uttar Pradesh, including a high percentage of women. To support its sustainability goals, the plant features rooftop solar panels, energy-efficient lighting and zero-discharge water systems.

Dheeraj Hinduja, Chairman, Ashok Leyland, said, "The inauguration of this new plant marks the beginning of an important new chapter for Ashok Leyland in the vibrant state of Uttar Pradesh. Our Group remains deeply committed to unlocking further opportunities that drive economic growth, create meaningful employment, and foster long-term prosperity in the region. This manufacturing plant reaffirms our resolve to help shape the future of India’s commercial vehicle industry, and we are confident that it will make a strong contribution towards employment generation while advancing sustainable mobility. With this new plant, we are preparing ourselves for the future and take one step further to achieve our Net Zero emission goals."

Shenu Agarwal, MD & CEO, Ashok Leyland, said, "As one of India’s largest and most progressive states, Uttar Pradesh has demonstrated a strong and consistent commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainable development, making it a natural partner in our green mobility journey. This coupled with Ashok Leyland’s ambition to achieve Net Zero by 2048 has been a key catalyst for establishing this state-of-the-art facility in Uttar Pradesh. Equipped with most modern technology and high levels of automation, the plant reflects our focus on world-class quality and innovation. With a strong emphasis on electric buses, this facility marks a significant step towards building a cleaner, future-ready mobility ecosystem for India.”

The plant's logistics are managed using battery-operated vehicles to maintain its status as a green facility. This expansion aligns with Ashok Leyland's target to reach Net Zero emissions by 2048 and supports the state of Uttar Pradesh's transition toward electric transportation.

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Bharat Forge and Germany-based Agile Robots have agreed to explore a collaboration to develop AI-driven robotics and industrial automation. The partnership combines Bharat Forge's domain expertise with Agile Robots' automation solutions to deploy technology for the automotive, healthcare, and consumer electronics industries.

The agreement focuses on civilian industry and manufacturing. Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the companies will co-develop and offer solutions in manufacturing, industrial CPG and logistics for markets in India and Southeast Asia. The partnership also aims to develop vision and AI-based robotic systems to enable autonomous ‘dark’ factories.

Amit Kalyani, Vice-Chairman and Joint Managing Director, Bharat Forge, said, “This strategic collaboration with Agile Robots is a reinforcement of Bharat Forge’s ambition to provide state-of-the-art intelligent robotic and automation solutions across multiple industries while driving manufacturing efficiencies at home. Manufacturing in India is on a steep growth path, and I am very excited that with Agile Robots we are going to deploy bespoke, modular and intelligent automation solutions across the sectors.”

Rory Sexton, Executive Director, Agile Robots, said, “By partnering with Bharat Forge, Agile Robots is strengthening its position in India's rapidly growing manufacturing sector. Combining Agile Robots’ proven leadership in AI driven robotic automation with Bharat Forge’s sectoral expertise will allow us to improve the efficiency and precision of entire production systems.”

The collaboration intends to set up capabilities for bespoke solutions while utilizing existing Agile Robots technology. By integrating AI into production systems, the companies aim to improve precision and efficiency across manufacturing sectors in the region.

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Hindustan Zinc and Silox India have expanded their long-term collaboration to focus on industrial decarbonisation and the development of sustainable supply chains. As part of the agreement, Silox India has adopted EcoZen, a low-carbon zinc brand produced by Hindustan Zinc, for use across its manufacturing operations. This integration is intended to reduce the carbon footprint of zinc-based chemical products while maintaining existing quality standards.

EcoZen is manufactured using renewable energy and has a verified carbon footprint of less than one tonne of CO2 per tonne of zinc. According to the company, this is approximately 75 percent lower than the global industry average. The material offers full traceability, allowing downstream users to account for the environmental impact of their inputs. When used in galvanising, EcoZen can prevent approximately 400 kilograms of CO2 emissions per tonne of steel compared to conventional zinc.

Hindustan Zinc, a Vedanta Group company, supplies materials to various sectors including infrastructure, automotive and renewables. The company is a member of the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) and has prioritised the reduction of Scope 3 emissions for its clients. Silox India, which specialises in inorganic chemistry and non-ferrous metal derivatives, will use EcoZen to support its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) targets.

Arun Misra, Chief Executive Officer & Whole-time Director, Hindustan Zinc, said, “Decarbonisation at Hindustan Zinc is not limited to our own operations; it extends to how our products are used across industries. EcoZen represents a step change in how zinc can support cleaner manufacturing. By partnering with customers like Silox India, we are enabling the wider adoption of low-carbon solutions at scale.”

Prakash Raman, Managing Director, Silox India, said, “Integrating EcoZen into our manufacturing processes allows us to lower embedded emissions across our product portfolio while continuing to deliver high-performance solutions to our customers. This partnership demonstrates how upstream innovation can accelerate sustainability outcomes downstream.”

The partnership aligns with the increasing demand for low-carbon materials in the automotive and infrastructure sectors. EcoZen is supported by life-cycle assessments and globally recognised ISO and REACH certifications to ensure transparency and compliance with environmental regulations.

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