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The Indian cement industry is on track to reach 5.09 billion tonnes by 2028-29, driven by robust government investment in infrastructure. According to an IANS report originally attributed to Infomerics Ratings, this marks a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.9 per cent between 2024 and 2029. In 2022-23, the industry’s market size stood at 3.82 billion tonnes, with a total installed capacity of 622 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) in FY24 and production at 427 million tonnes. Notably, India contributes over 8 per cent to the world’s total installed cement capacity, highlighting its importance in the global market. Despite this, India’s per capita cement consumption is 260 kg—significantly below the global average of 540 kg—indicating substantial room for growth. Globally, the cement market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.3 per cent from 2024 to 2032. The sector’s expansion is fuelled by ambitious government initiatives, including an allocation of ₹11.11 lakh crore for infrastructure in FY25 and housing schemes like Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. The construction sector consumes 55 per cent of cement production, while public infrastructure projects account for the remainder. The industry also plays a critical role in employment, providing direct jobs to over one million people and creating downstream opportunities for about 20,000 individuals per million tonnes of cement produced. Private players dominate the sector, controlling 98 per cent of production capacity, while public sector units hold a mere 2 per cent. Domestic production meets almost all demand, with imports accounting for just 0.2 per cent of total production in FY23. However, exports have declined recently due to reduced global demand and rising competition. India currently has 341 cement manufacturing facilities, including 159 integrated large cement plants, 120 grinding units, and 62 mini cement plants. Cement production has seen steady growth, with a 7.1 per cent increase in September 2024 and a cumulative growth of 1.6 per cent between April and September of FY25, according to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. This growth aligns with India’s overall industrial performance, which saw a 2 per cent rise in core industries in September, led by cement, steel, coal, and fertilisers. As India invests heavily in infrastructure and housing, the cement industry is set to play a pivotal role in supporting the nation’s economic and developmental goals. (with IANS inputs)

India's cement industry expected to grow to 5.09 billion tonnes by 2028-29 amid infrastructure push: Report

<ul><li><keyword id="19955648" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Adani-Group" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Adani Group" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Adani Group">Adani Group</keyword> will acquire <keyword id="21434388" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Orient-Cement" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Orient Cement" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Orient Cement">Orient Cement</keyword> at a valuation of ₹8,100 crore.</li><li><keyword id="20057393" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ambuja-Cements" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Ambuja Cements" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Ambuja Cements">Ambuja Cements</keyword> has signed a binding agreement for the acquisition of the company.</li><li>The latest acquisition will add 16.6 MTPA capacity to Adani Cement.</li></ul>Gautam Adani-led Adani Group on Tuesday said it will acquire <keyword id="21501327" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="CK-Birla-Group" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="CK Birla Group" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="CK Birla Group">CK Birla group</keyword> firm Orient Cement at a valuation of ₹8,100 crore as part of its expansion drive. Ambuja Cements, the cement and building material company of Adani Cement and part of the diversified Adani Group, has signed a binding agreement for the acquisition of Orient Cement Ltd (OCL) at an equity value of ₹8,100 crore. As per that, its step-down unit "Ambuja will acquire 46.8 per cent shares of OCL from its current promoters and certain public shareholders", according to a joint statement. The acquisition will be fully funded through internal accruals, it added. The latest acquisition will add 16.6 MTPA (million tonnes per annum) capacity to Adani Cement, which operates through Ambuja Cements in the sector. In June this year, Adani announced the acquisition of Hyderabad-based Penna Cement at an enterprise value of ₹10,422 crore, which added 14 MTPA capacity to the country's second-largest manufacturer. "This timed acquisition marks another significant step forward in Ambuja Cements' accelerated growth journey, increasing <keyword id="21171283" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cement-capacity" source="keywords">cement capacity</keyword> by ~30 MTPA within two years of Ambuja's acquisition," said Karan Adani, Director of Ambuja Cements. By acquiring OCL, Ambuja is poised to reach 100 MTPA cement capacity in FY25, he said, adding, "The acquisition will help to expand Adani Cement's presence in core markets and improve its pan-India market share by 2 per cent." OCL has 5.6 MTPA clinker capacity and 8.5 MTPA cement capacity along with the statutory clearance to increase the clinker capacity by another 6.0 MTPA and cement capacity by another 8.1 MTPA. With inputs from PTI. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/upi-refund-scam-to-digital-arrest-scam-here-are-most-common-online-scams-in-india/articleshow/114428011.cms">UPI refund to digital arrest scam, here are some online scams you need to be aware of</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/waaree-energies-to-afcons-infrastructure-ipos-to-look-out-for-this-week/articleshow/114421377.cms">Waaree Energies to Afcons Infrastructure, IPOs to look out for this week</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/personal-finance/news/best-credit-cards-for-online-shopping-in-india/articleshow/114354358.cms">Best credit cards for online shopping this festive season</a>

Adani Group to acquire CK Birla group firm Orient Cement at ₹8,100 crore valuation

India's <keyword id="20884491" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cement-industry" source="keywords">cement industry</keyword> is heating up faster than a kiln! If one’s tracking the sector, the war-like situation between the existing and emerging cement giants is pretty evident. For the uninitiated, Aditya Birla Group-backed <keyword id="19963567" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ultratech-Cement" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Ultratech Cement" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Ultratech Cement">Ultratech Cement</keyword> and <keyword id="19955648" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Adani-Group" source="keywords">Adani Group</keyword> have been at loggerheads for increased market share in recent years. And now, JSW Cement also seems to be gearing up to challenge the potential duopoly. As conglomerates aggressively acquire smaller players to achieve market domination, the cement industry in India right now resembles an eighteenth-century battlefield. The battle has significantly escalated this year, but this trend of acquiring regional cement companies can be traced back to 2018 when Ultratech acquired Binani Cement. Since then, both Adani Group and Birla Group have been capturing checkposts all over India, one by one. Ultratech acquired Binani Cement to strengthen its base in the western region and this week, India Cement, for the southern states. Adani has also acquired the Hyderabad-based Penna Cement this year, after acquiring majority stakes in Ambuja Cements and ACC in 2022. But why the obsession with cement? <h2>Why are the Titans clashing for…cement?</h2>India's infrastructure boom is in full swing, and whoever controls the cement supply holds the key to this construction kingdom. Adani Group has been known to follow an acquire &amp; dominate strategy for capturing market segments. <keyword id="19907441" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Aditya-Birla-Group" source="keywords">Aditya Birla Group</keyword>, however, has dominated the cement industry in India through Ultratech for a while now. The answer to the above question may simply lie in establishing the leadership moat for themselves. With even-growing public and private spending on infrastructure, both players want to capture the majority share to dominate the supplies of cement, which is essential for construction. <h2>Where is the sector heading?</h2>While both Adani and Aditya Birla groups have locked horns to acquire CK Birla’s Orient Cement for a while now, a new hurdle threatens their dominance. As per an Economic Times report, Sajjan Jindal-led JSW Cement has now started to evaluate the acquisition of the promoter stake in Orient Cement. As an emerging front, JSW Cement also aims to reach 50 MT per annum by 2030. However, two other major players, Shree Cement and Dalmia Bharat, already have 53 MTPA and 43 MTPA capacity. <div type="image" title="Birla Vs Adani" msid="112196675" hostid="261" sizebytes="284160" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Look back at major acquisitions in the cement sector&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> However, with over a dozen acquisitions over the last decade, both Ultratech and Adani Group are by far the largest players in the sector eyeing over 200 MT per annum by 2030. <h2>What about the prices?</h2>Will consumers benefit from this cutthroat competition to industry domination? In the short term at least, yes! While lower prices might sound appealing, it's essential to keep an eye on quality as consolidation in the manufacturing sector is always tricky. We don't want to end up with buildings crumbling like cookies. And let's not forget about the little guys. This consolidation of power into a few mega-corporations could squeeze out smaller players, reducing competition and potentially leading to higher prices in the long run. <h2>I think I’ve seen this film before….</h2>The current atmosphere of the cement industry feels reminiscent of what happened in the telecom industry in India in 2016 i.e. the infamous tussle of tariffs. As Reliance Industries launched Jio, it disrupted the entire segment and forced other telecom companies to compete on their terms. As a result, the tariffs fell sharply, companies shut and brands merged, but Jio still claims 40% of the market share in India in terms of subscriber count. Moreover, experts feel that the change in power dynamics in both these industries, cement and telecom, have direct ties to the current government’s industrial policy. Government policies seem to favour companies that have acquired a dominant position in distinct sectors of the economy, which in India’s case are led by two of the richest men in Asia — Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani. This strategy of adopting ‘<keyword id="1327299" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="national-champions" source="Orion">National Champions</keyword>’ is seemingly inspired by South Korea’s <keyword id="4933297" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chaebols" source="Orion">Chaebols</keyword> and Japan’s Zaibatsu conglomerates that came into existence decades ago. <h2>From corporate drama to k-drama: Chaebols</h2>The term Chaebol might ring a bell if you've watched K-dramas. They are family-owned business conglomerates in South Korea. This business structure originated in the 1960s and got so popular that it made its way into Korean pop culture. While chaebols have fueled the rapid growth of the Korean economy, concerns about their opaque governance and controlling shareholder interests often deter external investors. Japan’s zaibatsu were also similar financial and industrial conglomerates that were major forces in Japan during World War II. Korea’s Hyundai and Japan’s Mitsubishi are some prime examples of this structure. <h2>Growth of the Goliaths</h2>Viral Acharya, the former Deputy Governor of the RBI, highlights the decade-old trend of the central government achieving economic growth outcomes by working with large conglomerates in part, rather than with state governments. In his conference paper for the Brookings Papers on Economic Activity in March 2023, he demonstrates this pattern with examples from multiple sectors. “By way of specific examples, the share of the Top 5 groups by sales in Civil Engineering and Construction rose from 31% in 2016 to 42% in 2021, in Telecommunications from 65% to over 84%, and in the Retail trade sector from under 44% to over 65%. Similarly, the share of Top-5 groups by Assets rose sharply by 2021 to 68% in the Manufacturing of Basic Metals, 26% in the Manufacturing of Chemicals, 90% in the Manufacturing of Refined Petroleum and Coke, and 47% in the Manufacturing of Non-metallic Mineral Products (including cement and other building materials),” writes Acharya. While this strategy of ‘National Champions’ has benefitted the telecom sector, it has its caveats. The acceleration in the growth may lead to an oligopolistic economy, thereby restricting the entry of new players and stifling innovation. Additionally, a multi-dimensional concentration of power poses the threat of crony capitalism. <h2>National champions: checks and challenges</h2>There’s more to this debate. Arvind Subramanian and Josh Felman, in their paper titled ‘India’s Stalled Rise’ note that the collective impact of this strategy could be more adverse in India, more than anywhere else. They explain that the two big conglomerates — Adani Group and Ambani-led Reliance “have interests that extend throughout the economy, in defence production, ports and airports, energy, natural gas, petroleum, digital platforms, telecommunications, entertainment, media, retail, textiles, financial payments, and education.” Chaebols and Zaibatsu have/had their demerits that range from autocratic decision-making dubbed as ‘imperialistic management’ to the slow inclination of the market towards an oligopolistic structure. However, they weren’t shielded from international competition, nor was this strategy of creating ‘national champions’ shaped using government regulation. They were prevalent in sectors that faced competition internationally, like Hyundai in automobile manufacturing, keeping them in check. The lack of a similar system of checks and balances in India may lead to deeper implications of this strategy of ‘national champions.’ Viral Acharya further notes that they “grew not just at the expense of the smallest firms, but also of the next largest firms” and empirically established a causal link between market power and markups (broadly, profit). At a point when India has seen a monumental shift in infrastructure and looks to capture the market share that China could evacuate, the implications of a tilted policy could prove detrimental. While consolidation can improve performance and catalyse growth, we need to be very careful as a country of the direction we will set ourselves in at this crucial juncture. <h2>Also read:</h2> <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112159576" title="India Cement employees to lose jobs after UltraTech acquisition? Chairman Srinivasan answers" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"><payload><![CDATA[seealso]]></payload></div> <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112163130" title="Ambuja Cements Q1FY25 profit at Rs 789.63 crore; revenue at Rs 8,311.48 crore" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"><payload><![CDATA[seealso]]></payload></div>

Cementing dominance: Birla vs Adani, of Chaebols, conglomerates, and National Champions

<ul><li><keyword id="20674001" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Savitri-Jindal" source="keywords">Savitri Jindal</keyword>, the matriarch of the <keyword id="21185539" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jindal-Group" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Jindal Group" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Jindal Group">Jindal Group</keyword>, is India's richest woman with a net worth of $36 billion. </li><li>Following her husband Om Prakash Jindal's sudden death in 2005, she took over the <keyword id="34570" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="steel" source="Orion">steel</keyword> and <keyword id="44011" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="power" source="Orion">power</keyword> conglomerate. </li><li>She is the only Indian woman in the top 10 of <keyword id="20017067" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Forbes" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Forbes" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Forbes">Forbes</keyword>’ list of the richest women in the world in 2024. </li></ul>In the vast and dynamic landscape of Indian business, one name stands out as a symbol of resilience, leadership, and unparalleled success: Savitri Jindal. With an astonishing net worth of $36 billion, she is India's richest woman. According to the <keyword id="962341" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="bloomberg-billionaires-index" source="Orion">Bloomberg Billionaires Index</keyword>, her net worth zoomed at $9.5 billion in 2024, making her the only Indian woman in the top 10 of Forbes’ list of the richest women in the world that year. <h2> A Legacy of Leadership</h2>Savitri Jindal's journey began in 2005, following the unexpected death of her husband, Om Prakash Jindal, the visionary founder of the Jindal Group. Thrust into the helm of a vast conglomerate with interests in steel, power, <keyword id="6378916" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cement" source="Orion">cement</keyword>, and infrastructure, she faced immense challenges. Yet, her determination and astute leadership transformed these challenges into opportunities, propelling the Jindal Group to unprecedented heights. Under Savitri Jindal's guidance, the Jindal Group flourished, becoming a cornerstone of India's industrial sector. Some of the flagship companies of the Jindal group are Jindal Saw Limited, JSW Steel, Jindal Stainless Steel Limited and Jindal Steel and Power Limited. She’s currently the chairperson emerita of the O.P. Jindal Group, and also the president of Maharaja Agrasen Medical College, Agroha. <h2>Beyond the Boardroom</h2>Savitri Jindal's influence extends beyond the boardroom. She has made significant contributions to public service and philanthropy. In 2005, Jindal was elected to the Haryana Vidhan Sabha from Haryana’s Hisar constituency, which was earlier represented by her late husband Om Prakash Jindal for a long time. In 2009, she was re-elected to the constituency and was appointed the cabinet minister in the Haryana Government on 29 October 2013. She transitioned to the Bharatiya Janata Party in March this year. <h2>A Broader Trend of Empowerment</h2>Savitri Jindal's rise to prominence is not just a personal triumph but a reflection of a broader trend in India. Women are breaking barriers and redefining success in the business world. Influential figures like Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and Falguni Nayar are reshaping the narrative of corporate leadership and success, proving that the boardroom is no longer an exclusively male domain. Savitri Jindal's story is one of perseverance, strategic vision, and an unyielding commitment to excellence. Her leadership has not only fortified the Jindal Group's position as an industrial powerhouse but has also inspired a new generation of women leaders in India.

Meet Savitri Jindal: The richest woman in India, with a net worth of $36 billion!

Prime Minister <keyword id="19895781" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="narendra-modi" source="keywords">Narendra Modi</keyword> urged CEOs of US majors to take advantage of India's growth story as the country is making all efforts to become the third largest economy of the world in his third term. India is currently the fifth largest economy of the world after the US, China, Germany and Japan with a GDP of around USD 3.9 trillion. India has been the fastest growing large economies of the world with GDP growth rate of over 7 per cent for the last three consecutive years. Addressing CEOs of the large US tech firms on Sunday, Modi said India will make every effort to become the third largest economy in the world in his third term (2024-29). Companies should take advantage of India's growth story for collaboration and innovation by co-developing, co-designing, and co-producing in India for the world, harnessing the opportunities from the country's economic and technological growth, he said. Assuring the business leaders of India's deep commitment to the protection of intellectual property and to fostering tech innovation, Modi highlighted the economic transformation happening in the country, particularly in electronics and information technology manufacturing and semiconductors. Modi asserted that his government was committed to making India a "global hub of <keyword id="20073013" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="semiconductor-manufacturing" source="keywords">semiconductor manufacturing</keyword>". The meeting took place at the Lotte <keyword id="19904497" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="New-York" source="keywords">New York</keyword> Palace Hotel on Sunday during the second leg of Modi's three-day US visit. It saw the participation of CEOs of 15 major US-based firms working on cutting-edge technologies such as AI, quantum computing and semiconductors. "Had a fruitful roundtable with tech CEOs in New York, discussing aspects relating to technology, innovation and more. Also highlighted the strides made by India in this field. I am glad to see immense optimism towards India," Modi said in a post on X. During the conference, Modi said technology collaboration and efforts such as the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (ICET) lie at the core of the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, according to a Ministry of External Affairs press release. Organised by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) School of Engineering, the CEOs of top US tech firms, including Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayena, Accenture CEO Julie Sweet and NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang attended the meeting. Others who participated in the roundtable included AMD CEO Lisa Su, HP Inc. CEO Enrique Lores, IBM CEO Arvind Krishna, Dr Noubar Afeyan, Chairman of Moderna, and Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg. Modi also talked about India's BIO E3 (biotechnology for environment, economy and employment) policy to develop the country into a biotech powerhouse and on the topic of AI, noted that India's policy is to promote AI for all, underpinned by its ethical and responsible use. The CEOs appreciated India's growing prominence as a global technology hub, driven by its innovation-friendly policies and flourishing market opportunities. They also expressed strong interest in investing and collaborating with India, agreeing that investing in startups would be a synergistic opportunity to innovate and develop newer technologies in the country. Others who attended the conference included Biogen Inc CEO Chris Viehbacher, CEO of Bristol Myers Squibb, Chris Boerner, Eli Lilly and Company CEO David A. Ricks, LAM Research CEO Tim Archer, GlobalFoundries CEO Thomas Caulfield, and the CEO of Kyndryl, Martin Schroeter. "Further cementing technology and business connect. PM @narendramodi interacted with the top tech leaders and CEOs of USA, in a Roundtable hosted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology School of Engineering, in New York today. PM emphasised India's growth prospects and discussed initiatives to foster collaborations and innovation across diverse sectors," the official account of the MEA said in a post on X. The prime minister had a separate meeting with Krishna P Singh, CEO of Holtec International, which is into nuclear and solar power generation. They discussed Holtec's plan for expanding manufacturing in India and advancing energy cooperation, PMO India said in a post on X. Earlier on Sunday, Modi addressed the <keyword id="20115166" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-diaspora" source="keywords">Indian diaspora</keyword> at the packed Nassau Veterans Coliseum on Long Island in New York. He also held bilateral meetings with world leaders at the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session here. Modi reached New York on Saturday after attending the Quad Leaders' Summit hosted by President Joe Biden in Wilmington, Delaware. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="113516805" title="Why is Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting the US this weekend?" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>

PM Modi invites US CEOs to take a 'byte' out of India's growing technology sector

In the realm of <keyword id="6378916" type="General" weightage="90" keywordseo="cement" source="Orion">cement</keyword> production, China and India are navigating diverging market currents, shaped by distinct economic landscapes. <keyword id="125045" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="fitch-ratings" source="Orion">Fitch Ratings</keyword>' insights reveal a challenging outlook for <keyword id="19792359" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="chinese-cement" source="Orion">Chinese cement</keyword> demand in 2024, driven by ongoing distress in the property sector. Meanwhile, India's <keyword id="34556" type="General" weightage="60" keywordseo="cement-industry" source="Orion">cement industry</keyword> charts a more optimistic course, with steady demand growth projected over the medium term. The Chinese property sector's persistent challenges and a projected slowdown in infrastructure investment contribute to weakened cement demand in 2024. Strained financing conditions for local governments, coupled with a decline in land sales, hamper their capacity to bolster spending on crucial infrastructure projects. Despite these hurdles, Fitch notes a potential stabilization of producers' margins in the face of adversity. The gross profit of China's top five cement producers witnessed a 3% decline in 3Q23, marking a notable slowdown from the sharper contractions observed in previous quarters. Anticipating a reduction in capacity, Fitch foresees smaller, less profitable producers exiting the market in 2024. Government policies on capacity control and sector decarbonisation are expected to contribute to a medium-term reduction in overall capacity. Contrasting China, India's <keyword id="82914" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cement-sector" source="Orion">cement sector</keyword> foresees a robust trajectory driven by the nation's steady GDP expansion. Fitch predicts an annual growth rate of 6 per cent-8 per cent in cement demand over the coming years. Infrastructure and affordable housing projects, fuelled by government spending, are expected to spearhead this growth, with additional impetus from the ongoing recovery in urban housing throughout 2024. While India anticipates a doubling of annual cement capacity additions in the next five years, the industry's robust demand growth will help maintain healthy capacity utilization. Fitch notes that the top five Indian producers will spearhead new capacities, with further mergers and acquisitions on the horizon. Despite this positive outlook, the industry's focus on market share retention amid capacity expansions is likely to temper the potential widening of profit margins, even with energy prices normalizing post-2022.

China's cement sector faces headwinds, while India sees steady growth: Fitch Ratings

As Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman unveiled the Union <keyword id="19955368" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="budget-2024" source="keywords">Budget 2024</keyword>, all eyes were on the <keyword id="20024321" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="housing-sector" source="keywords">housing sector</keyword>, which has been a focal point for both developers and <keyword id="19907145" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="homebuyers" source="keywords">homebuyers</keyword>. Expectations were high for increased deduction limits on home loan interest repayments, higher principal repayment deductions, and more robust incentives for first-time homebuyers. Last year's budget focused on increasing <keyword id="20254620" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="affordable-housing" source="keywords">affordable housing</keyword> through the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (<keyword id="19945794" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="PMAY" source="keywords">PMAY</keyword>), with a significant allocation to achieve the goal of "Housing for All." The <keyword id="20152263" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="real-estate-sector" source="keywords">real estate sector</keyword> had previously seen incentives for developers building affordable housing, such as tax holidays under Section 80IBA and increased allocation through the SWAMIH fund to improve liquidity for stressed projects. <h2>Major announcements in Budget 2024</h2>As per FM Sitharaman's 2024 Budget announcements, PMAY is set to add an additional 3 crore affordable housing — houses priced under Rs 40 lakh — in rural and urban sections of India. This will be accomplished with Rs 10 lakh crores, which includes assistance of Rs 2.2 lakh crores over the next five years. A provision of <keyword id="21240797" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="interest-subsidy" source="keywords">interest subsidy</keyword> to facilitate loans at affordable rates is also envisaged, the FM noted in her speech. “This is certainly pertinent – the affordable homes category has been seeing a decline in overall sales since the pandemic, to approximately 19% in H1 2024 from over 38% in the period before the pandemic in 2019,” notes Anuj Puri, Chairman of ANAROCK Group. “Consequently, this segment’s percentage share of the total housing supply in the top 7 cities also fell to 18% in H1 2024 from nearly 40% in 2019. Any boost to this vital segment is therefore welcome.” As per December 2023 reports, 65% of houses under PMAY-Urban had been completed and delivered to beneficiaries since the scheme was introduced in 2015. This amounts to over 78 lakh pucca houses out of the 1.18 crore sanctioned. The new addition to PMAY will thus attempt to more than triple the quadruple the number. <h2>Tax reliefs and transparent rental policies</h2>This year, the sector expected further <keyword id="20345361" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tax-relief" source="keywords">tax relief</keyword> measures for homebuyers and developers. Key demands are aplenty, including increasing the deduction limit for home loan interest repayment from the current Rs 2 lakhs to Rs 3-4 lakhs for self-occupied properties, reintroducing tax exemptions for first-time homebuyers, standardising the definition of "Affordable Housing", and reducing GST on construction materials like cement and steel. However, there has been only disappointments on this front based on the announcements so far. However, in terms of the tax changes, the Budget has proposed a massive reduction in rental matters for the individual. While the current tax deducted at source (TDS) for Payment of rent by individuals or HUF under Section 194-IB stands at 5%, the new budget is set to bring this down to 2%, effective from October 1, 2024. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111946291" title="Union Budget 2024-25 key highlights: Angel tax to be scraped" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>Further, the government has promised to enable and implement policies and regulations for efficient and transparent <keyword id="20071228" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rental-housing" source="keywords">rental housing</keyword> markets with enhanced availability. <h2>Additional initiatives</h2>Further, dormitory-style accommodations have also been announced for industrial workers in public-private partnership mode with Viability Gap Funding (VGF) support and commitment from anchor industries. VGF is a scheme that helps support important infrastructure projects that may not be financially viable, through grants that total up to 20% of the total project cost. The FM also announced that policies and regulations for efficient and transparent rental housing markets with enhanced availability will be put in place, to ease the rental and home-owning process. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111953230" title="Union Budget 2024-25: Mobile Phones to get cheaper, as FM Nirmala Sitharaman reduces basic customs duty to 15%" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>Markets are optimistic in the aftermath of these announcements, with many housing finance companies recording healthy gains since the speech. Puri notes that the renewed focus on rural and urban job creation, if effective, may provide some boost to affordable housing in even tier 2 and 3 cities. “The Finance Minister's allocation of ₹10 lakh crore to help 1 crore poor middle-class families buy houses will boost the demand for residential properties,” remarks Divyam Mour, Research Analyst at Samco Securities. ”This funding, along with interest subsidies, will greatly benefit real estate developers like DLF, Macrotech Developers, NBCC, and Sunteck Realty, as well as housing finance companies focused on the lower and middle classes, such as Aadhar Housing Finance, Aptus Value Housing Finance, and Aavas Financiers.”

You Searched For "cement sector india" and got 7 results

India's cement industry expected to grow to 5.09 billion tonnes by 2028-29 amid infrastructure push: Report

BI India Bureau

Adani Group to acquire CK Birla group firm Orient Cement at ₹8,100 crore valuation

BI India Bureau

Cementing dominance: Birla vs Adani, of Chaebols, conglomerates, and National Champions

Prerna

Deekshith

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