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Climate Action 15: 2024's top global innovators powering green solutions

As we approach the festive season, India's primary market is set to remain abuzz with action, with a slew of IPOs coming the investor's way. More than 12 companies will debut on the bourses in the next 2 months, looking to raise around Rs 60,000 crore in total. Prominent names among them include food delivery giant <keyword id="19896956" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Swiggy" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Swiggy" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Swiggy">Swiggy</keyword>, automobile giant <keyword id="19906087" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hyundai" source="keywords">Hyundai</keyword> and more. Apart from these companies, <keyword id="20599931" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="NTPC-Green-Energy" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="NTPC Green Energy" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="NTPC Green Energy">NTPC Green Energy</keyword>, Afcons Infrastructure, Waaree Energies, Niva Bupa Health Insurance, One Mobikwik Systems, and Garuda Construction will also be bringing about their IPOs in the months to come. As per reports, the Indian markets can expect around 30 <keyword id="19898327" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="IPO" source="keywords">IPO</keyword>s before the end of 2024. The biggest of the lot will be of Hyundai Motor India Ltd, the Indian subsidiary of South Korea's Hyundai Motor Company, which is expected to raise Rs 25,000 crore, making it the largest-ever IPO in India to date. This record was previously held by LIC (Life Insurance Corporation of India), which had raised about Rs 21,000 crore via its IPO in 2022. However, the automobile giant's issue will entirely be an OFS (Offer for Sale) of about 14,21,94,700 shares by Hyundai Motor Company, and will not have any fresh issue involved. Food and grocery delivery giant Swiggy is targeting to raise Rs 10,414 crore via a combination of fresh issue and OFS. The Rs 10,000-crore IPO of NTPC Green Energy is also set to come in the first week of November. Following them on heels will be the IPOs of construction firm Afcons Infrastructure, which will look to raise Rs 7,000 crore. Waaree Energies is expected to raise Rs 3,000 crores via its IPO. Additionally, Niva Bupa Health Insurance and One Mobikwik Systems are also planning to raise Rs 3,000 crore and Rs 700 crore, respectively. <h2>Positioning oneself in this IPO Euphoria </h2>So far in 2024, 62 companies have already raised Rs 64,000 crore collectively via mainboard, marking a 29% increase from Rs 49,436 crore, which were mopped up by 57 firms through the IPO route in 2023. More than 50 companies have already filed their draft papers, and are now awaiting market regulator SEBI's approval. IPO prospects for 2025 aren't looking dull either, with SEBI already approving 22 IPOs, which will collectively look to raise Rs 25,000 crore. Amidst this IPO frenzy, how can you position yourself in the best possible manner? Should you subscribe to an IPO for the long-term, or should you sell post earning listing gains? Per a recent SEBI study, which studied investor behavior over 144 IPOs listed on bourses between April 2021 and December 2023, if an IPOs listing returns exceeded 20%, investors are likely to sell around 67.6% of shares by value within just a week. On the contrary, if the returns were negative, only 23.3% of shares by value were sold off. Sarvjeet Singh Virk, Co-founder &amp; MD, Shoonya by Finvasia observes that most <keyword id="19972907" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="retail-investors" source="keywords">retail investors</keyword> are mainly attracted to the listing gains of the IPO, while ignoring the fundamentals of the companies floating the IPOs. "Mindlessly investing without evaluating the valuations and fundamentals of any business can be highly risky. Also, investing solely on the basis of gray market premiums is yet again, undesirable. Recently, NSE has capped the pre-opening price surge to 90% to discourage investors who are investing only for listing gains. However, this is applicable only for SME IPOs, and not mainboard ones", he continues. Reading the company's DRHP or RHP can be a good starting point to understand why the company wishes to raise funds in the first place. It can also help you understand its long-term objectives. Another good parameter is to check how its peers are performing in the markets, as compared to it. Also evaluate if the company have a steady track record of profitability and revenue growth. Check for the shareholding pattern of the company, pre and post IPO. Is there a fresh issue, or is the IPO entirely OFS (offer for sale), where promotors are offloading their stake in the company? While most IPOs are a mix of the two, heavy selloff of promoter stakes should be construed as a red sign.

IPO Mania on D-Street to continue in October-November; Hyundai, Swiggy look to raise Rs 60,000 crore

Research Institute (<keyword id="20370739" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cmfri" source="keywords">CMFRI</keyword>) have successfully deciphered the genome of the <keyword id="23138296" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="asian-green-mussel" source="Orion">Asian green mussel</keyword> (Perna viridis), a discovery poised to revolutionise the understanding of this vital <keyword id="662896" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="marine-species" source="Orion">marine species</keyword>. This is the first-ever <keyword id="184804" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="chromosome" source="Orion">chromosome</keyword> level genome sequencing of a marine invertebrate species from India. Earlier, CMFRI had come out with a similar genome finding for Indian oil sardine. The Asian green mussel, Kallummakkaya in local parlance, is an important aquaculture species in the family Mytilidae contributing substantially to molluscan aquaculture. CMFRI's research found that the mussel's genome contains 723.49 Mb in size and is anchored into 15 chromosomes, according to a CMFRI release here on Thursday. The research was published in the journal Scientific Data by Nature Group. "The development will be a game-changer in boosting sustainable mussel aquaculture in the country, as this research will help gain insights into its growth, reproduction and disease resistance", said Dr Grinson George, Director of CMFRI. The findings will benefit the aquaculture sector by improving genomic selection and breeding practices, leading to enhanced productivity and resilience in fisheries, he added. A team of researchers from CMFRI led by Principal Scientist Dr Sandhya Sukumaran carried out this study with funding support from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), New Delhi. The team includes Dr A Gopalakrishnan, V G Vysakh, Dr Wilson Sebastian, Dr Lalitha Hari Dharani, Dr Akhilesh Pandey, Dr Abishek Kumar and Dr J K Jena. According to scientists, this will help develop new strategies to combat diseases in the mussel. "Genomic investigations on this species are vital to understand genes, gene combinations and signaling pathways leading to the parasitic diseases, which constitute a major threat to Asian green mussel aquaculture in India causing substantial mortalities in farms," said Dr Sandhya Sukumaran. According to the scientists, the genome assembly of green mussels will emerge as a valuable tool for exploring <keyword id="6355291" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cancer" source="Orion">cancer</keyword> mechanisms and developing new therapeutic strategies. "A total of 49654 protein-coding genes were identified, including 634 genes associated with the cancer pathway and 408 genes associated with viral carcinogenesis. This indicates that this species is a novel model organism for cancer research," Sukumaran said. This advancement promises to significantly enhance our understanding of cancer pathways and facilitate the discovery of novel treatments, she added. Apart from its aquaculture prospects, Asian green mussels play a vital role as a bio-monitor as it is capable of accumulating heavy metals and other environmental pollutants in large quantities. Understanding the genome assembly will provide valuable information about the genomic pathways involved in response to pollutants. "The genetic markers to be developed from this research could be used to monitor pollutants in aquatic bodies, a significant milestone in safeguarding the aquatic environment," Sandhya said. Scientists believe that the genome decoding of this species would enhance knowledge regarding the effect of environmental pollutants on biological systems, as this bivalve is adaptable to local environmental stressors like variations in pH, temperature, salinity and air exposure.

CMFRI scientists crack genetic code of Asian green mussel

<keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="India" source="keywords">India</keyword> requires an investment support of USD 1.4 trillion — an average of USD 28 billion per year — to become a net-zero economy by 2070 and raising <keyword id="20260327" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="financial-resources" source="keywords">financial resources</keyword> for adaptation and mitigation action of this scale is an "unprecedented challenge", according to the <keyword id="20613906" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Economic-Survey" source="keywords">Economic Survey</keyword> 2023-24 tabled in Parliament on Monday. Reaching net zero means achieving a balance between greenhouse gas emissions and the amount of these gases removed from the atmosphere by either natural processes, such as photosynthesis, or by other methods of carbon capture and storage. The consolidated report on the state of the economy in the previous year said India's climate action has been largely financed through domestic resources and the flow of international finance has been "very limited". Citing the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) data, the report said bridging the "substantial funding gap" necessitates allocating 2.5 per cent of India's annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to <keyword id="20018880" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="green-finance" source="keywords">green finance</keyword>. "Preliminary estimates indicate that the aggregate investment support required by India to achieve its 2070 net-zero target will be USD 1.4 trillion at an average of USD 28 billion per year. Raising financial resources for <keyword id="19907392" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="climate-change" source="keywords">climate change</keyword> adaptation and mitigation actions of this scale is an unprecedented challenge," the document read. A 2022 report by the Climate Policy Initiative found that domestic sources accounted for the majority of green finance in India, at 87 per cent and 83 per cent in financial years 2019 and 2020 respectively. While international sources are increasing (from 13 per cent in FY 2019 to 17 per cent in FY 2020), the economic survey said they are still insufficient to meet India's net-zero target. "Mobilising substantial capital from traditional sources presents multifaceted challenges in emerging economies like India. The perceived sovereign risks associated with emerging market and developing economies (EMDEs) and the capital-intensive nature of such projects, coupled with lengthy gestation periods and evolving regulatory frameworks, can create misalignment between investor expectations and project timelines," the government said. The economic survey also noted that the flows of global capital to <keyword id="20200084" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="developing-countries" source="keywords">developing countries</keyword> have been impeded by high costs of capital. Despite securing a good rating on its green-bond framework, Indian sovereign <keyword id="20177085" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="green-bonds" source="keywords">green bonds</keyword> have hardly received any "greenium" from private investors. It is more a "wall of capital" than a "flood of capital" that is waiting to fund energy transition in EMDEs. It is just not mobile. All of these together have severely hampered the flow of finance for green-transition projects, the survey said. "Greenium" or green premium refers to the savings an issuer of a green bond realises on the associated coupon payment because the bond is green. Financial support to help middle-income and poor countries fight climate change will be at the centre of this year's UN climate conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, where the world will reach the deadline to agree on the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) -- the new amount developed nations must mobilise every year starting 2025 to support climate action in developing countries. But achieving consensus will not be easy, given the disappointing progress made on major conflict points at the mid-year UN climate talks in Bonn, Germany. At the 2009 UN climate conference in Copenhagen, rich nations pledged to provide USD 100 billion annually from 2020 to help developing countries mitigate and adapt to climate change. However, delays in achieving this goal have eroded trust between developed and developing nations and have been a continual source of contention during annual climate negotiations. In May, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) claimed that developed countries had met the long-standing USD 100 billion-a-year promise by providing nearly USD 116 billion in <keyword id="20000757" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="climate-finance" source="keywords">climate finance</keyword> to developing countries in 2022, with nearly 70 per cent of the money given in the form of loans. However, international non-profit organisation Oxfam last week said climate finance provided by rich countries in 2022 totalled no more than USD 35 billion. Developing nations argue that they cannot be expected to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions faster if developed countries -- historically responsible for climate change -- do not provide enhanced financial support. Rich countries are now expected to raise more than USD 100 billion, with developing countries, including India, demanding trillions of dollars to tackle climate change.

Raising massive financial resources for net-zero goal unprecedented challenge: Economic Survey

On Monday, July 22, Finance Minister <keyword id="22504403" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="nirmal-sitharaman" source="keywords">Nirmal Sitharaman</keyword> tabled the <keyword id="20613906" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="economic-survey" source="keywords">Economic Survey</keyword> 2023-24 in the parliament ahead of the much-awaited budget 2024 tomorrow. In addition to a socio-economic stock take, the comprehensive report also outlines the strides India has made on the environment and climate fronts last year. India is in a weird grey area when the climate blame-game is concerned. We continue to average some of the lowest per capita CO2 emissions in the world. But, being the most-populous country in the world, these small bits add up to make India the third-largest emitter of CO2 in the world, after China and the United States. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111923746" title="Economic Survey 2023-2024 highlights emerging job trends in AI, Cybersecurity, 3D Printing and Web Development" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>However, this is not to say that the country has been sitting the green transition out either. As highlighted in the Economic Survey, India has been making notable strides in tackling climate change and promoting <keyword id="19895783" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sustainability" source="keywords">sustainability</keyword> — efforts that will be crucial to protect billions in the coming years and decades. Let's take a look at these efforts and compare them with findings from other recent environmental reports to see the full picture. <h2><keyword id="21818512" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="emission-intensity" source="keywords">Emission intensity</keyword> reduction</h2>The economic survey proudly states that India has reduced the emission intensity of its GDP by 33% from 2005 levels by 2019. This means the country is producing less greenhouse gas for every unit of economic activity. This is a commendable achievement because India’s original climate change target — or Nationally Determined Contribution — was set to precisely 33% reduction of emission intensity by 2030, before being revised to 45% in 2022. While the jump from 33% to 45% is still a significant one with barely half a decade to go, this progress is a clear sign that India’s climate policies are having a real impact. <h2><keyword id="19895602" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="renewable-energy" source="keywords">Renewable energy</keyword> capacity</h2>According to the economic survey, 45.4% of India’s installed electricity generation capacity — which includes solar, wind, and hydropower — now comes from non-fossil sources, as of May 31, 2024. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111774972" title="Economic Survey shows India&amp;#39;s energy needs to grow 2.5x, healthy growth in formal employment" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>As per reports by the Ministry of New &amp; Renewable Energy, India added a record renewable energy capacity of 18.48 GW in 2023-2024, with solar installations amounting to 12.78 GW, followed by 2.27 GW of wind energy. However, industry experts have also noted that India Inc. cannot afford to run out of steam now, and must continue to add at least 50 GW for the next six years to meet the target of 500 GW of renewables by 2030. <h2>Indian energy needs</h2>India's energy needs are expected to grow 2 to 2.5 times by 2047, as per the latest economic survey. This necessitates a balanced approach to <keyword id="19951336" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="energy-transition" source="keywords">energy transition</keyword> that considers resource limitations and the need for resilience to climate change. India has suffered from an overdependence on coal and fossil fuels in the past, accounting for around 75% of total energy generation in 2021, as per the Energy Information Administration. However, this number has been quickly falling, even dropping below a historic 50% in Q1 2024. <h2>Sovereign <keyword id="20177085" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="green-bonds" source="keywords">green bonds</keyword></h2>To fund green projects, India issued Rs 16,000 Crore in sovereign green bonds — financial instruments that support green projects at lower capital costs — in early 2023 and another Rs 20,000 Crore later in the year, the economic survey reports. As per the government, these proceeds were utilised in many eco-friendly projects, such as New and Renewable Energy, Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Housing and Urban Affairs, Railways. To widen the investor base, the <keyword id="19899810" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="reserve-bank-of-india" source="keywords">Reserve Bank of India</keyword> (RBI) also recently permitted eligible foreign investors to invest in such bonds. <h2>Mission LiFE and Green Credit Programme</h2>The survey also talks extensively about Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment), which promotes sustainable living, and the Green Credit Programme (GCP), which incentivises eco-friendly actions by offering “green credits”. In the past few months, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana and a few other states have reportedly approved thousands of hectares of degraded forest land for greening exercises as part of the GCP. <h2>International initiatives</h2>India has spearheaded several international initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance (ISA), One World, One Sun, One Grid (OSOWOG), the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), the Infrastructure for Resilient Island States’ (IRIS) and the Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT). Hundreds of nations are signed up for these climate coalitions and our participation will help reflect India's commitment to advancing global <keyword id="20000756" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="climate-action" source="keywords">climate action</keyword> and fostering international cooperation in sustainable development. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111923191" title="Economic Survey 2024 – industries grow by 9.5%, fueling economic growth to 8.2%" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>The report even notes that India is currently the only G20 nation who is set not to cross the 2°C warming threshold. All in all, India’s economic survey and environmental reports together show a nation making impressive progress in combating climate change and advancing sustainability. These achievements will hopefully set a strong example for other countries to follow.

On the right track — Economic Survey 2023-24 outlines India’s commendable climate action

As the global urgency to combat <keyword id="19907392" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="climate-change" source="keywords">climate change</keyword> intensifies, all eyes are on India's <keyword id="19955368" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Budget-2024" source="keywords">Budget 2024</keyword>, as there’s no better way to walk the talk than allocating funds. Speculation is rife about the potential measures the government may introduce to accelerate the transition to a sustainable energy future — a move that is supremely necessary after the slew of deadly climate catastrophes that we saw last year. India’s Union Budget 2024 will be presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in a couple of days, and is expected to reflect the nation’s commitment to achieving <keyword id="21280854" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="net-zero-carbon-emissions" source="keywords">net-zero carbon emissions</keyword> by 2070. Here are some of the key initiatives from the interim budget that was presented in February earlier this year, along with their anticipated impacts! <h2>Rooftop Solarisation</h2>One of the most talked-about initiatives is the ambitious rooftop solar programme, which aims to provide free electricity up to 300 units per month to one crore households. If implemented, this move will help in not only cutting down energy bills — a godsend for the middle- and lower-income folks — but will also give households a chance to generate and even sell their surplus power. <h2>Electric Vehicle (EV) Ecosystem</h2>Charging up the electric vehicle movement, the interim budget included measures to expand EV manufacturing and infrastructure in the country. The move aimed to accelerate the adoption of <keyword id="19895203" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="electric-vehicles" source="keywords">electric vehicles</keyword>, reducing emissions from the transport sector and making your commute cleaner and greener. Additionally, the government seemed keen on encouraging the adoption of electric buses to make urban travel more eco-friendly. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111855546" title="Budget 2024: How will budget affect India’s position in the global space race?" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> <h2><keyword id="20495045" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="offshore-wind-energy" source="keywords">Offshore Wind Energy</keyword></h2>Riding the winds of change, the interim budget introduced a viability gap funding for 1 GW of offshore wind energy. As per the Finance Ministry, this initiative aims to harness the power of India’s vast coastline, pushing the envelope on <keyword id="19895602" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="renewable-energy" source="keywords">renewable energy</keyword> and reducing our fossil fuel dependency. <h2><keyword id="22499996" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="national-green-hydrogen" source="keywords">National Green Hydrogen</keyword> Mission</h2>The interim budget also supercharged the National Green Hydrogen Mission with a massive boost to Rs 600 crore from last year’s Rs 297 crore. The government has continually insisted that Green Hydrogen is set to become the fuel of the future, and this announcement supports its development and adoption, paving the way for cleaner industrial processes. <h2>Coal Gasification and Liquefaction</h2>Switching up the coal game, the interim budget plans to set up coal gasification and liquefaction projects that will be able to process 100 metric tonnes by 2030. These projects aim to make the most out of coal in a cleaner way, especially by reducing our reliance on imported natural gas and slashing emissions. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111827903" title="Union Budget 2024 for Railways: Expectations focused on improving passenger safety, experience, infrastructure" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> <h2>Bioenergy and Biomass Aggregation</h2>Turning waste into wealth, the interim budget has also promised additional financial assistance for biomass aggregation. This, they explain, will help in creating a sustainable model for managing agricultural waste, promoting bioenergy production and giving farmers a new revenue stream. <h2>Research and Development (R&amp;D)</h2>In a nod to innovation, the interim budget allocated a whopping Rs 1 lakh crore for interest-free financing in “sunrise” R&amp;D for emerging <keyword id="19931192" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="green-technologies" source="keywords">green technologies</keyword>. If the government follows through on this promise, the funding could catapult a wave of innovation, supporting the transition to a sustainable energy future. By focusing on renewable energy, reducing carbon emissions, and supporting green technologies, India’s initial budget allocations seem to be taking significant strides towards its net-zero goal. Whether this will ultimately pan out to become a greener and more resilient future for its citizens remains to be seen.

Budget 2024: Key sustainability and energy initiatives that Indian government plans to implement this year

State-owned <keyword id="20039950" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bharat-Petroleum-Corporation" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Bharat Petroleum Corporation" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="Bharat Petroleum Corporation">Bharat Petroleum Corporation</keyword> plans to invest Rs 1.7 lakh crore over the next five years to grow its core oil refining and fuel marketing business as well as in 'future big bets' of <keyword id="20115883" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="petrochemicals" source="keywords">petrochemicals</keyword> and <keyword id="19895435" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="green-energy" source="keywords">green energy</keyword>, its chairman G Krishnakumar has said. At present, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (<keyword id="19908646" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="BPCL" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="BPCL" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="BPCL">BPCL</keyword>) owns about 14 per cent of India's oil <keyword id="20064251" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="refining-capacity" source="keywords">refining capacity</keyword> and about a quarter of the fuel retailing network. It plans to grow these businesses while foraying into newer areas. The firm is now implementing the first phase of a multi-decade aspirational journey in the form of '<keyword id="22826627" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="project-Aspire" source="keywords">Project Aspire</keyword>' - its five-year strategic framework that is based on two fundamental pillars - 'Nurturing the Core' and 'Investing in Future Big Bets', he said in the company's latest annual report. "Our mid-term strategy is on a continuum. While we remain committed to growing our core businesses, which include refining and marketing <keyword id="20037698" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="petroleum-products" source="keywords">petroleum products</keyword> and upstream, we are equally focused on our big bets comprising petrochemicals, gas, green energy, non-fuel retail, and digital. "Project Aspire, with a planned capex outlay of around Rs 1.70 lakh crore over five years, will enable us to create long-term value for our stakeholders while preserving our planet for future generations," he said. "A cornerstone of our long-term strategy, Project Aspire, with a Rs 1.70 trillion investment, marks the initial phase of our multi-decade odyssey to shape the energy of tomorrow. This, coupled with our robust balance sheet, fuels our ambition to lead the <keyword id="19951336" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="energy-transition" source="keywords">energy transition</keyword>." The company is targeting net zero carbon emissions from its operations by 2040. "BPCL has drawn a net-zero roadmap, which encompasses renewable power, green hydrogen, compressed biogas, carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS), efficiency improvement and the offsets procurements. This would require a phased capital outlay of approximately Rs 1 lakh crore till 2040, and the company is geared for the same," he said. The firm's bet on continuing investing in core businesses is based on the premise that India's booming economy will drive a 4-5 per cent annual increase in energy demand and petroleum product consumption. Also, the demand for major petrochemical products is expected to rise by 7-8 per cent annually. "This presents a strategic opportunity to expand refining capacity alongside the development of integrated petrochemical complexes," he said. BPCL is implementing new petrochemical projects at two of its three oil refineries. A Rs 49,000 crore ethylene cracker project is being implemented at the Bina refinery in Madhya Pradesh, alongside raising oil refining capacity from the current 7.8 million tonnes to 11 million tonnes annually by 2029. A polypropylene project is being set up at Kochi refinery in Kerala by 2027. "To meet the anticipated demand beyond our planned expansions in Bina and Kochi, we are actively evaluating options for setting up additional integrated refining and petrochemical capacities within the next 5-7 years," Krishnakumar said without disclosing either the investments or the location of such a project. Andhra Pradesh is being speculated as the likely site after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP and regional party TDP stormed to power in the state in recently concluded assembly elections. TDP has been demanding the implementation of a refinery-cum-petrochemical complex that was promised as part of the package when the state was split more than a decade back. "Our investment in the petrochemical project is consistent with our aspiration of becoming a dominant player in India's petrochemical growth story," Krishnakumar said. On energy transition, he said BPCL is targeting to build 2 gigawatts (GW) of <keyword id="19895602" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="renewable-energy" source="keywords">renewable energy</keyword> capacity by 2025 and 10 GW by 2035. "We are investing nearly Rs 1,000 crore to establish two 50 MW captive wind power plants in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, which will support our refineries in Mumbai and Bina." The firm is also investing around Rs 300 crore in 72 MWp of solar project in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. "Concomitantly, we are executing green hydrogen projects aligned with the National Green Hydrogen Mission. These projects include a 5 MW electrolyser plant at Bina refinery and a green hydrogen refuelling station with an indigenously developed electrolyser at Kochi," he noted. BPCL, he said, is committed to supporting the transition to electric mobility through a robust and accessible charging infrastructure. The company has installed over 3,000 charging stations, including fast chargers for cars and two-wheelers. 900 fast chargers are installed across 120 highway corridors, which helps address the range, discovery and time anxiety of electric vehicle (EV) owners. "Over the next five years, we aim to install 4-wheeler fast chargers at approximately 6,000 retail outlets across 400 highway corridors, prioritising high-traffic corridors like the Golden Quadrilateral and N-S/E-W highways," he said. On biofuels, he said BPCL sells petrol with 20 per cent ethanol blend at 4,279 out of its over 22,000 petrol pumps. It is also building compressed biogas plants using municipal solid waste to make gas that can be used as CNG in automobiles. The firm is also exploring partnerships in the arena. "These combined efforts, along with the upcoming commissioning of a bio-ethanol refinery, positions BPCL as a key player in India's transition to a greener fuel mix, creating a robust ecosystem for the adoption of cleaner fuels across the country," he added. BPCL is establishing a corporate venture capital fund to invest directly in promising startups. "In order to thrive in this complex and challenging business landscape, we will leverage our agility and focus on operational excellence to ensure continued success. Safety and reliability will remain our top priorities, guiding all our actions. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of corporate governance," he added. He said the energy sector of India stands at an inflection point. "The nation has an ambitious vision of becoming a USD 30 trillion developed economy by 2047. 'Viksit Bharat @2047' will necessitate an almost fourfold increase in primary energy demand." India's exponential growth trajectory will propel it to a pivotal role in the global energy market, accounting for roughly 12 per cent of world energy consumption by 2047. "The key strategic objectives for India in the energy sector will entail significant expansion in refining capacities, raising the share of gas in the energy basket from about 6 per cent to 15 per cent, establishing leadership in petrochemical exports, and sharply reducing energy imports from current levels of 47 per cent to below 25 per cent by 2030 and to zero by 2047," he said. India is targeting 500 GW of non-fossil fuel energy capacity, sourcing half of its energy needs from renewables, reducing carbon emissions by 1 billion tonnes and lowering carbon intensity by 45 per cent by 2030 with the ultimate goal of net-zero emissions by 2070. "Building on its strong Indian energy presence, BPCL aspires to meet 7-10 per cent of the nation's primary energy demand by 2047," he said.

BPCL planning Rs 1.7 lakh crore spend to expand core business, new energy foray over next five years

Markets regulator <keyword id="19901201" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sebi" source="keywords">SEBI</keyword> has proposed expanding the <keyword id="22367248" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sustainable-finance-framework" source="keywords">sustainable finance framework</keyword> in the <keyword id="20922662" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="securities-market" source="keywords">securities market</keyword> by introducing a new category of financial instruments. This category will include <keyword id="20518791" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Social-Bonds" source="keywords">social bonds</keyword>, <keyword id="22623575" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sustainable-Bonds" source="keywords">sustainable bonds</keyword>, and <keyword id="22623576" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sustainability-linked-Bonds" source="keywords">sustainability-linked bonds</keyword>, in addition to the current <keyword id="22819966" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="green-debt-securities" source="keywords">green debt securities</keyword>. It aims to provide issuers with flexibility in raising funds for projects that align with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) objectives. In a consultation paper released on Friday, SEBI proposed that issuers, in addition to existing green debt securities, should be allowed to raise funds through issuance of social bonds, sustainable bonds, and sustainability-linked bonds. These bonds will collectively be known as ESG Debt Securities. This will enable issuers to raise money for more sustainable projects, assisting in closing the funding gap for the Sustainable Development Goals. SEBI said it received representations from market participants including the Confederation of Indian Industry to expand the scope of the regulatory framework pertaining to sustainable finance to include social bonds, in addition to existing green debt securities as a mode of raising sustainable finance, in line with global practices. As per the consultation paper, SEBI said, it "proposed to introduce the concept of sustainable securitised debt instruments for the purpose of providing originators of the underlying credit facilities which are within such international or domestic frameworks for sustainable finance, and thereby provide investors as well an opportunity to participate in the sustainable securitised debt instruments". The consultation paper also addressed the initial and continuous disclosures for sustainable securitised debt instruments that would be based on international frameworks. Initial disclosures could be made in the offer document for the securities, while continuous disclosures might be included in annual reports or other mandated formats. The markets watchdog also suggested that issuers of ESG debt securities and sustainable securitised debt instruments appoint an independent external reviewer or certifier, to facilitate transparency and credibility. The review could take various forms including, second-party opinions, verification, certification, or scoring/ rating. The <keyword id="19901204" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Securities-and-Exchange-Board-of-India" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Securities and Exchange Board of India" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Securities and Exchange Board of India">Securities and Exchange Board of India</keyword> (SEBI) has invited comments and suggestions from the public on the consultation paper by September 6.

SEBI proposes expansion of sustainable financial framework in securities market

<ul class="summary-list"><li>This post originally appeared in the Insider Today newsletter.</li></ul>Hello! Vice President Kamala Harris has secured the support of enough Democratic delegates to become the party's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/kamala-harris-secured-enough-delegates-to-win-democratic-presidential-nomination-2024-7">nominee for president</a>. Harris said she was looking forward to formally accepting the nomination at the Democratic Party Convention next month.But for now, we're examining how <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/death-hedge-fund-superstars-wall-street-stock-market-titans-gone-2024-7">the hedge fund superstar has gone extinct</a>.What's on deck:<ul><li>Markets: What Wall Street is expecting <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/tesla-q2-earnings-report-preview-expectations-tsla-stock-price-robotaxi-2024-7">ahead of Tesla's earnings</a>.</li><li>Tech: Google u-turns on its plans to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google-ditches-plan-to-kill-third-party-cookies-after-pushback-2024-7">kill the third-party cookie</a>.</li><li>Business: Duolingo's trick for teaching you a language? <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/duolingo-meanest-app-nagging-notifications-melting-icon-gen-z-marketing-2024-7">Being mean</a>.</li></ul>But first, the stars aren't shining as bright anymore.If this was forwarded to you, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/subscription/newsletter/insider-today">sign up here.</a><h3 id="7f7b11e5-16f3-49fc-92f8-20a90c248b07">The big story</h3><h2 id="a974392f-73c2-4c4e-b1ec-1a6bea702ebf">So long, superstar</h2><div type="image" title="The Wall Street Bull crying over a funeral casket surrounded by white carnations" height="900" width="1200" msid="111965401" hostid="261" sizebytes="100002"></div>Where have all the hedge fund superstars gone?An industry built on big names drawing even bigger money has faced a marked shift. The days of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/death-hedge-fund-superstars-wall-street-stock-market-titans-gone-2024-7">investors trusting a star hedge-fund manager with their cash</a> are in the rearview mirror, writes Business Insider's Linette Lopez.In years past, even rubbing shoulders with a legendary hedge fund manager was enough for aspiring fund managers to raise capital. The late Julian Robertson and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/billionaire-julian-robertsons-tiger-network-spans-hundreds-of-funds-2019-11">his empire of so-called "Tiger Cubs"</a> prove that.But, unlike years ago, hedge funds are no longer the only game in town for institutions or the ultra-wealthy looking to park their cash somewhere. Venture capital, private credit, and private equity have grown considerably over the past decade.Meanwhile, the hedge fund industry has also evolved. The number of quantitative funds, where the stars are the models rather than an individual's mind, has grown.And the big names that remain in the industry are starting to resemble Wall Street banks in their size and complexity. Ken Griffin's Citadel and Izzy Englander's Millennium Management have filled their ranks with Goldman Sachs alumni <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/goldman-sachs-alumni-being-hired-by-top-hedge-funds-2023-3">to help oversee their ever-growing operations</a>.<div type="image" title="Bobby Jain" height="1500" width="2000" msid="111965403" hostid="261" sizebytes="260932"></div>Megafunds like Citadel and Millennium <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hedge-fund-allocators-due-diligence-multi-strategy-firms-2024-2">sucking up all the oxygen</a> are also making it harder for new funds to raise money.Bobby Jain had two decades of experience at Credit Suisse and was the co-chief investment officer of Millennium when he decided to set up his own shop.His fund, Jain Global, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/who-bobby-jain-has-hired-jain-capital-hedge-fund-launch-2023-12">went live this month</a> with a reported $5.3 billion in assets. As eye-popping as that number is, it's well short of his initial target of $8 billion to $10 billion.Jain's high hopes were motivated by being the largest hedge fund launch in history, a title held by ExodusPoint, which launched with more than $8 billion in capital. But ExodusPoint, which also counts two Millennium alums as its cofounders, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/exoduspoint-2022-performance-vs-millennium-as-assets-headcount-decline-2023-1">has had its own struggles</a> in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/exoduspoint-closes-paris-office-following-expansion-effort-2024-2">recent years</a>.But as the old saying goes, it's always darkest before dawn. All Wall Street needs is a couple of breakout stars to flip the script, and the potential is out there.Aaron Weiner, a 31-year-old from Coatue, got a multibillion-dollar check from Millennium <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/coatue-star-gets-multibillion-dollar-commitment-from-millennium-2024-6">for his to-be-launched hedge fund</a>. And Jonathan Xiong's Arrowpoint Investment Partners <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/asia-based-arrowpoint-investment-partners-launches-with-1-billion-2024-6">launched with $1 billion</a> thanks to backing from Blackstone and Canada's largest pension fund.<h2 id="58db3aa0-c214-454b-a45c-e67393aaa840">3 things in markets</h2><div type="image" title="Collage featuring Elon Musk, Tesla Motors dealership facade with logo, and a downward trending arrow" height="600" width="1200" msid="111965407" hostid="261" sizebytes="100990"></div><ol><li>Tesla's time to shine. The EV maker reports earnings after the bell today. Wall Street is bullish on Elon Musk's company after a rough start to the year, and is excited for updates on <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/tesla-q2-earnings-report-preview-expectations-tsla-stock-price-robotaxi-2024-7">Tesla's plans for Robotaxi and full self-driving</a>.</li><li>Are mega-cap tech stocks' best days behind them? Smaller stocks have been on an incredible run this month. But Big Tech has a chance to remind investors why it's been the market's top pick for years <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/stock-market-outlook-mega-cap-tech-rally-hinges-q2-earnings-2024-7">with a slew of earnings reports</a>.</li><li>Small-cap stocks may not stay high forever, though. Wall Street is split on whether small-cap stocks will continue their recent winning streak. Bank of America identified <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/small-caps-tech-stock-rotation-russell-sp500-treasury-yields-pmi-2024-7">two key metrics to watch</a> to determine if the wins will continue.</li></ol><h2 id="146bcf05-3865-452c-9d9a-a30b4e904a14">3 things in tech</h2><div type="image" title="An hourglass timer connected to a rocket" height="1500" width="2000" msid="111965404" hostid="261" sizebytes="58762"></div><ol><li>Founders claim a startup incubator left a trail of broken promises. AI Forge promised participants in Miami and London cash up front and help with launching their startups. But several founders told BI they <a target="_blank" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/ai-forge-startup-incubator-founders-funding-2024-7">had trouble getting paid and were underwhelmed</a> with what they got. AI Forge's cofounder said participants expected too much.</li><li>Apple aims to slim streaming service. AppleTV+ has a reputation for spending a lot on its movies and shows. The problem is that not a lot of people watch them. Now, Apple wants to cut back, but it's not clear how it plans to do that — or <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-tv-plus-streaming-cutbacks-eddy-cue-2024-7/">why it's running a streaming service in the first place</a>.</li><li>Google is scrapping its plan to kill off third-party cookies. After spending years preparing for their demise, Google announced <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google-ditches-plan-to-kill-third-party-cookies-after-pushback-2024-7">it won't be killing cookies in Chrome</a>. Instead, it will let users opt into having the trackers in their browser.</li></ol><h2 id="e2544a9f-17ed-428e-801f-0b3a167fa796">3 things in business</h2><div type="image" title="Store clerk handing over a luxury golden shopping bag to a shopper" height="1500" width="2000" msid="111965400" hostid="261" sizebytes="286294"></div><ol><li>E-commerce eats everything, except luxury goods. Though e-commerce has revolutionized retail, we still like to buy the nicest, most expensive items IRL. That's because part of buying luxury is the experience of being pampered, and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/luxury-retail-ecommerce-online-sales-stores-wealth-the-realreal-2024-7">we like to feel fancy when we buy fancy</a>.</li><li>Meanness and meme-ness are Duolingo's bread and butter. The bratty green Duolingo owl is something of a social media influencer, with a sassy personality that users can't get enough of. Its online presence and relentless nagging have <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/duolingo-meanest-app-nagging-notifications-melting-icon-gen-z-marketing-2024-7">driven the company to record profits and growth</a>.</li><li>The results of Sam Altman's basic-income study are in. For three years, low-income participants received $1,000 a month, no strings attached. They put the bulk of their extra money towards basic needs like rent and food, but researchers found it didn't directly improve their mental or physical health. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sam-altman-basic-income-study-results-2024-7">Here's everything the study found</a>.</li></ol><h2 id="acda8db7-985b-464a-9752-f9d16b6dd6e3">In other news</h2><ul><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/joe-biden-boosts-elon-musk-x-digital-town-square-2024-7">Joe Biden's bombshell revives Elon Musk's ambitions to make X the world's digital town square</a>.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/secret-service-director-admits-trump-shooting-worst-failure-decades-2024-7">Secret Service director admits Trump shooting was agency's 'most significant failure' in decades</a>.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/quit-jobs-to-become-social-media-influencer-survey-income-brands-2024-7">The appeal of being an influencer is so strong that half of US adults would quit their jobs if they could make a living from social media</a>.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-chatbots-bad-customer-service-botshit-inaccurate-information-airlines-accountability-2024-7">'Botshit' is an example of how AI is making customer service worse</a>.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/andy-beshear-kamala-harris-vice-president-jd-vance-audition-2024-7">The race is already on to be Kamala Harris' VP</a>.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mark-zuckerberg-glasses-photo-2024-7">Mark Zuckerberg posted this pic in February. Someone just spotted an interesting object in the background</a>.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/moviepass-cofounder-hamet-watt-share-ventures-studio-longevity-2024-7">The cofounder of MoviePass is raising $20 million from Amazon and Alphabet for a longevity-focused venture studio</a>.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/startup-job-listing-catches-ai-applications-with-prompt-injection-2024-7">I'm a tech startup founder. We weed out job applications written with ChatGPT by hiding a prompt just for AI in our listings</a>.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/kamala-harris-coconut-pilled-brat-memes-charli-xcx-cringe-2024-7">The one thing Kamala Harris must not do is embrace the memes</a>.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/joe-biden-twitter-ezra-klein-elon-musk-2024-7/">Twitter's not back. But it's not going anywhere, either. Ask Ezra Klein</a>.</li></ul><h2 id="b648cd67-11f4-4e57-9f3f-4ab9ae6dd53b">What's happening today</h2><ul><li>Tesla, Alphabet, Capital One, Visa, Coca-Cola, General Motors, and <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/earnings-calendar">other companies</a> are reporting.</li></ul>The Insider Today team: Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York. Jordan Parker Erb, editor, in New York. Hallam Bullock, senior editor, in London. Annie Smith, associate producer, in London. Amanda Yen, fellow, in New York.

How the hedge fund superstar went extinct

A unit of <keyword id="6437412" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Qatar-Investment-Authority" source="Orion">Qatar Investment Authority</keyword>, <keyword id="119583" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="SBI-Mutual-Fund" source="Orion">SBI Mutual Fund</keyword>, and foreign investment funds <keyword id="6354527" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nomura" source="Orion">Nomura</keyword> and <keyword id="44473" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Citigroup" source="Orion">Citigroup</keyword> were the biggest buyers of shares in <keyword id="19955648" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Adani-Group" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Adani Group" meta.hostid="267" meta.entityid="Adani Group">Adani group</keyword>'s <keyword id="22661797" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="power-transmission-unit" source="Orion">power transmission unit</keyword>'s USD <keyword id="22661798" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="1-billion-QIP" source="Orion">1 billion QIP</keyword>, according to a stock exchange filing by the company. The Rs 8,373.10 crore (USD 1 billion) qualified institutional placement (QIP) of <keyword id="19964750" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Adani-Energy-Solutions" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Adani Energy Solutions" meta.hostid="267" meta.entityid="Adani Energy Solutions">Adani Energy Solutions</keyword> Ltd (AESL), which closed last week, saw over 120 investors seek shares in the firm that is into power transmission, distribution and smart metering business. Billionaire <keyword id="22623487" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Stanley-Druckenmiller" source="keywords">Stanley Druckenmiller</keyword>'s family office-led investment firms were among the companies that sought shares of AESL in the QIP. AESL in the filing said its board has approved allocation of over 8.57 crore shares to eligible qualified institutional buyers at the issue price of Rs 976 per share, reflecting a discount of Rs 51.11 (4.98 per cent) to the floor price of Rs 1,027. Giving details of allottees who got more than 5 per cent of shares, it said INQ Holdings LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of QIA, cornered 15 per cent of the shares sold. Two Mauritius funds of Citigroup bought 8.88 per cent of the shares sold while four SBI funds - SBI Infrastructure Fund, SBI Large &amp; Midcap Fund, SBI Long term Advantage Fund Series IV and SBI Magnum Children's Benefit Fund - together took home 7.93 per cent of the shares. Nomura Singapore Ltd ODI cornered 7.5 per cent of the shares, the filing showed. INQ had in August last year acquired nearly 2.7 per cent in Adani Green Energy Ltd - the renewable energy firm of the conglomerate run by billionaire Gautam Adani. In 2020, it had acquired a stake in Adani Electricity Mumbai Ltd, a subsidiary of AESL. The AESL QIP last week was oversubscribed six times and fetched demand of over Rs 50,000 crore against an issue size of USD 1 billion. <keyword id="22636516" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Duquesne-Family-Office" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Duquesne Family Office" meta.hostid="267" meta.entityid="Duquesne Family Office">Duquesne Family Office</keyword> and two other US-based long-only funds - Driehaus Capital Management and Jennison Associates - bought shares but AESL did not disclose the exact number of shares they bought since these were less than 5 per cent of the issue size, sources said. The QIP issue marked the debut of highly prestigious long-only investors Duquesne Family Office, Driehaus Capital Management and Jennison Associates which are known for their strong performance. These investors are known for investing only in companies with high governance and are known for staying invested for decades. The QIP was the first public equity raise by the conglomerate since a damning Hindenburg report last year wiped away billions in shareholder value. The demand generated made the AESL QIP the largest in the energy space. Duquesne was founded by billionaire Stanley Druckenmiller, who along with George Soros in 1992 broke the Bank of England by shorting the British pound, leading to its crash and earnings over a billion dollars. Adani Group has a history of introducing several long-only investors in the market. In the past years, it has brought large investors including GQG Partners and International Holding Company (IHC) besides QIA. Other major global names that participated in the QIP include Blackrock, Jupiter Asset Management, and Eastspring. Domestic mutual funds that have participated included HDFC Mutual Fund, Axis Mutual Fund, Bandhan Mutual Fund, LIC, WhiteOak, 360One among others. Insurance companies including SBI Insurance, SBI Pension and ASK Asset Management have also participated, according to sources. QIP is an instrument used by listed companies to raise funds from large institutions. The fundraise is the first after Adani group's flagship firm scrapped a Rs 20,000 crore issue in February last year, following the Hindenburg report alleging accounting fraud and stock manipulation. Though the group vehemently and repeatedly denied all allegations, listed companies of the conglomerate at one point saw over USD 150 billion of their market value being wiped out. While the group has largely recovered, a successful QIP is being seen as a powerful vote of investor confidence in the tycoon. Separately, Adani Enterprises Ltd, the flagship firm of the group, is looking to revive its first-ever public sale of bonds. It plans to raise as much as Rs 600 crore. The company has hired Trust Investment Advisors, AK Capital Services and Nuvama Wealth Management as lead managers for the issuances. The group had tapped the dollar bond market in March this year - the first time since the Hindenburg report - when its solar energy unit Adani Green Energy Ltd and associated firms got bids of about USD 2.9 billion.

Qatar Investment Authority unit, SBI funds, Citigroup biggest buyers in Adani Energy's USD 1 billion QIP

<ul><li>There is a suggestion to grant tax-free status to annuity income from the <keyword id="20240872" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="national-pension-scheme" source="keywords">National Pension Scheme</keyword> (<keyword id="19919089" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="nps" source="keywords">NPS</keyword>). </li><li>There is a proposal to simplify the capital gains <keyword id="6383566" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="taxation" source="Orion">taxation</keyword> structure by introducing a uniform holding period across domestic equities and <keyword id="6357979" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mutual-funds" source="Orion">mutual funds</keyword>. </li><li>Providing relief from double taxation on dividends is anticipated to receive positive feedback from the <keyword id="31671" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="markets" source="Orion">markets</keyword>. </li></ul>The FY 2025 budget is around the corner and it is expected that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will fulfil some of the wishes of both the industry and the common people. A report by <keyword id="19908266" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="icra" source="keywords">ICRA</keyword> analytics lists down some changes they foresee when it comes to taxation and other investment products. Taxation The persistent call for the removal of the security transaction tax (<keyword id="20204742" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="stt" source="keywords">STT</keyword>) in financial markets has gained momentum in recent years, and as GST collections have risen, this demand has once again become a focal point. The potential elimination of STT is seen as a measure to attract more investors to participate in domestic equity markets. Another significant concern in the taxation landscape is the issue of double taxation on dividends. Under the current system, companies pay taxes on their profits, and simultaneously, the government levies additional taxes on dividends in the hands of shareholders. This results in double taxation on dividends. Addressing this issue by providing relief from double taxation on dividends is anticipated to receive positive feedback from the markets. <keyword id="6354432" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="pension" source="Orion">Pension</keyword> and <keyword id="35450" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="insurance" source="Orion">Insurance</keyword> In the domain of pension and insurance, there is a proposal to raise the minimum pension floor for unorganised sector workers under the Atal Pension Yojana (APY). The rationale behind this proposal is that the current pension amount may not attract enough potential subscribers to enrol in the scheme. Additionally, there is a suggestion to grant tax-free status to annuity income from the National Pension Scheme (NPS). This move is particularly crucial as senior citizens heavily rely on annuity income during their retirement years. Considering the rise in medical expenses and the financial well-being of senior citizens, providing tax-free status to annuity income is seen as a step towards supporting this demographic. Further, proposing a distinct tax deduction for life insurance premiums, separate from Section 80C, could boost the adoption of insurance products, encouraging people to secure their family's financial future through life insurance investments. Furthermore, there is a recommendation for the government to review the 18% Goods and Services Tax (GST) imposed on health insurance policies. Markets In the financial markets, one of the pressing issues is the need for a comprehensive policy on cryptocurrency regulation. With the rising popularity and usage of cryptocurrencies, a regulatory framework is considered essential to ensure orderly and secure participation in the crypto market. Another area of interest is the potential reintroduction of sovereign green bonds in the budget. Sovereign green bonds play a crucial role in addressing the funding requirements for sectors like wind, power, and hydropower, promoting sustainable investments. Additionally, there is speculation about the allocation of a significant capital outlay for an Energy Transition Fund. The focus of this fund would be on new-age fuels such as green hydrogen, ethanol, and other biofuels, aligning with the government's emphasis on energy transition and net-zero objectives. Mutual Funds Within the mutual funds sector, there are several proposals to address taxation-related disparities and encourage a more investor-friendly environment. There is a call for parity in taxation between equity mutual funds and Unit Linked Insurance Plans (ULIPs). Achieving parity between equity Fund of Fund and equity-oriented mutual funds for taxation is also under consideration. Furthermore, there is a proposal to simplify the capital gains taxation structure by introducing a uniform holding period across domestic equities and mutual funds. This move is expected to enhance compliance and streamline the tax treatment for investors. Lastly, there is a suggestion to revisit the tax changes introduced for debt funds last year. The amendment, while creating a level playing field between bank deposits and debt mutual funds, inadvertently affected certain categories of funds. However, a depositor in fixed deposits secures guaranteed returns regardless of fluctuations in interest rates, whereas an investor in debt funds is susceptible to both interest rate fluctuations and credit risk in the event of issuer defaults. Moreover, the elimination of the previous indexation benefit adversely impacted the tax-friendliness of global equity funds, equity fund of funds, gold funds, and hybrid funds with less than 35% equity exposure. Consequently, there is a possibility of revisiting the tax changes to address these issues. This revision aims to address unintended consequences and restore a tax-friendly environment for investors.

Budget 2024 expectations: From removal of security transaction tax to sovereign green bonds

Up to 3.72 lakh <keyword id="19895203" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="electric-vehicles" source="keywords">electric vehicles</keyword> will be supported under the four-month <keyword id="20961992" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Electric-Mobility-Promotion-Scheme" source="keywords">Electric Mobility Promotion Scheme</keyword> (<keyword id="20951149" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="EMPS" source="keywords">EMPS</keyword>) being implemented between April and July with an outlay of Rs 493.55 crore, the government said on Tuesday. Electric Mobility Promotion Scheme (EMPS) - 2024 will provide further impetus to the <keyword id="20156633" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="green-mobility" source="keywords">green mobility</keyword> and development of electric vehicle (EV) <keyword id="20071405" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="manufacturing-ecosystem" source="keywords">manufacturing ecosystem</keyword> in the country. The maximum number of electric vehicles to be supported under the scheme stands at 3,72,215, including 3,33,387 electric <keyword id="20201345" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="two-wheelers" source="keywords">two-wheelers</keyword>, 13,590 e-rickshaws or e-carts and 25,238 electric three-wheelers in the L5 category, according to figures shared by the <keyword id="20021346" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ministry-of-Heavy-Industries" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Ministry of Heavy Industries" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Ministry of Heavy Industries">Ministry of Heavy Industries</keyword>. "EMPS 2024 is fund limited, with restricted number of vehicles and a term-limited Scheme, i.e., the <keyword id="19977665" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="subsidies" source="keywords">subsidies</keyword> for <keyword id="22519910" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="demand-incentive" source="keywords">demand incentive</keyword> are eligible for e-2w and e-3w sold and registered until the funds are available or the number of vehicles supported reaches the maximum number defined category-wise (shown in para above) or until July 31, 2024, whichever comes first," the ministry stated.

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