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By Hariharan U
Published on February 3, 2026
As expectations around Union Budget 2026 give way to industry analysis, voices from hospitality, food services, QSR and alco-beverage sectors are largely aligned on one message: talent development, destination-led tourism and access to long-term capital are welcome moves, but structural reforms remain a work in progress.
Pranav Rungta, Co-Founder & Director, Nksha Restaurant and Vice President, NRAI Mumbai, called the Budget a constructive step for hospitality while highlighting lingering gaps for restaurants.
"Budget 2026 is a positive step for India's hospitality sector. Announcements like the first-ever National Institute of Hospitality and structured skill development for tourist guides will strengthen service standards and prepare our workforce to meet growing domestic and international demand.At the same time, restaurants continue to face structural challenges such as GST on commercial leases, access to export incentives like SEIS and easier SME support. Addressing these challenges alongside rising tourism and dining demand is key to building a resilient, sustainable and globally competitive hospitality sector"
From the experience-led hospitality and brewing space, Teja Chekuri, Managing Partner – Ironhill, emphasised the Budget’s focus on people, destinations and capital as a meaningful combination.
"What stood out for me in today's Budget is the clear recognition that hospitality growth depends as much on people as it does on places. The focus on structured skill development programmes directly addresses one of the industry's most persistent challenges of finding and retaining trained talent across brewing, service, and operations.
Equally significant is the decision to develop the top 50 tourist destinations in a challenge mode, while bringing hotels in these locations under the harmonised master list. Easier access to long-term, lower-cost financing is a real unlock for hospitality and alcobev brands looking to expand responsibly.
For companies like ours, operating at the intersection of craft beer, dining, and experience-led hospitality, this creates the right conditions to scale with better talent on the floor, stronger destinations to grow into, and capital that supports quality, not shortcuts. If executed well, these measures can meaningfully elevate India's hospitality ecosystem and its global appeal."
Speaking from a food entrepreneurship lens, Pranavi Chekuri, FullStack Ventures & Co-Founder, Bhojanam, highlighted the Budget’s connection between agriculture, skills and hospitality retail.
"As a founder, building a hospitality retail brand rooted in traditional food and native grains, this Budget feels deeply personal. The government's focus on strengthening native crops from coconut, cashew, and cocoa to horticulture and region-specific produce, directly impacts farmers, and in turn, brands like ours that depend on resilient, local value chains. When farmers earn better and produce improves in quality and consistency, it elevates the entire food ecosystem.
Equally encouraging is the emphasis on upskilling across hospitality. Upgrading national institutions, strengthening apprenticeships, and targeted training programmes will help create a workforce that is more industry-ready and confident. For emerging brands, this is critical and not just for smoother operations, but for thoughtful expansion.
Taken together, these measures connect the soil to the storefront. They create opportunities to scale responsibly, generate jobs, and build food brands that are proudly Indian, sustainable by design, and globally relevant in ambition."
For emerging café and food brands, Meenakshi Kumarr, Chef & Founder of Anahata Cafe (Formerly Roots Cafe), pointed to inclusion, skilling and SME funding as strong signals.
"The Budget's focus on strengthening the hospitality and food & beverages ecosystem is a welcome step for emerging brands like Anahata Café. Upgrading the National Council for Hotel Management into a National Institute of Hospitality will help create a stronger talent pipeline by aligning academia with industry needs something the F&B sector has long required. The Divyangjan Kaushal Yojana is especially encouraging, as hospitality and food processing offer meaningful, task-oriented roles that can enable dignified and inclusive employment when supported by customised training. Additionally, the creation of a ₹10,000 crore SME Growth Fund, along with the Self-Reliant India Fund, will help to nurture SMEs. For women-led F&B and FMCG startups, access to equity capital and risk funding is critical to scaling operations and building resilient supply chains."
From the alco-beverage industry, Vidhatha Annamaneni, Co-Founder, Ironhill, viewed the Budget as a signal of gradual but inevitable competition.
"From the alcobev industry perspective, this Budget reinforces a reality the industry understands well that structural reform in alcohol will continue to be gradual, not dramatic. Keeping alcoholic liquor outside GST maintains the status quo, but the real signal lies elsewhere. The India–EU FTA and phased tariff reductions across spirits, wine, and beer point to a more competitive, globally aligned market over the next decade.
For Indian brands, this is both an opportunity and a wake-up call. Lower duties will raise the bar on quality, consistency, and brand-building, especially as premiumisation accelerates. The proposed reduction in TCS on alcohol sellers is also a practical relief, easing working capital pressures across the value chain.
What the industry needs next is predictability with rationalised customs structures and faster resolution of legacy disputes. As India's alcobev market scales toward ₹5.3 lakh crore, the winners will be brands that think long-term, invest in craft and compliance, and compete confidently on a global stage, not a protected one."
Looking at quick-service restaurants and mass expansion, Aayush Madhusudan Agrawal, Founder and Director, Lenexis Foodworks, highlighted the importance of infrastructure and tiered growth.
“The Union Budget 2026 reflects a strong commitment to sustainable growth, infrastructure-led development, and ease of doing business. For the QSR industry, the focus on Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, logistics efficiency, and skilling creates a powerful foundation for the next phase of expansion. At Lenexis Foodworks, we see this as an opportunity to deepen our presence, strengthen our supply chains, and deliver greater value to consumers across India.”
Collectively, the responses reflect cautious optimism across hospitality and allied sectors. While skill development, tourism infrastructure and financing reforms are widely welcomed, industry leaders agree that GST rationalisation, regulatory clarity and predictable policy frameworks will be critical to sustaining long-term growth.
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By Manu Vardhan Kannan
Published on April 8, 2026
Nimbus Projects Limited, a publicly listed real estate developer, has announced its successful listing on the National Stock Exchange of India Limited, marking a significant step in its capital market journey. The company has already been listed on the BSE since 2000, highlighting its long-standing presence in India’s financial markets.
The listing on the NSE is expected to improve stock liquidity, enable better price discovery, and provide access to a wider base of institutional and retail investors. This move further strengthens the company’s position in India’s growing listed real estate space. On its listing day, the company’s stock opened at INR 199 on the NSE.
Commenting on the development, Bipin Agarwal, Chairman and Managing Director, Nimbus Projects Limited, said: “The NSE listing represents a strategic step in strengthening our capital market footprint and engaging with a wider investor ecosystem. As we continue to scale our development pipeline, our focus remains on disciplined growth, prudent capital allocation, and delivering sustainable long-term value to all stakeholders.”
Nimbus Projects has been actively expanding its presence across the NCR, focusing on residential and mixed-use developments. The company has developed around 15 million square feet across 13 projects and has served more than 10,000 customers. It currently has close to 3 million square feet under development, continuing its focus on similar asset classes.
With over three decades of experience, the company has built a strong footprint across key micro-markets in Noida and Greater Noida, driven by a consistent and delivery-focused approach.
From a financial perspective, Nimbus Projects has a market capitalisation in the range of ₹350–365 crore, with shares trading close to book value. This reflects a stable valuation aligned with its fundamentals. The company also maintains a balanced capital structure, with its assets and borrowings aligned with its ongoing and planned developments.
Over the years, the company has shown steady balance sheet growth, supported by disciplined execution and a measured approach to expansion.
The NSE listing also highlights a broader trend in India’s real estate sector, where listed developers are gaining importance due to increased transparency, stronger governance, and improved access to institutional funding.
Going ahead, Nimbus Projects plans to expand its development portfolio across high-growth corridors in NCR while continuing to focus on financial discipline and execution excellence.
Nimbus Group, established in 1993, is a diversified real estate and infrastructure development company with a strong presence in the National Capital Region. Over the years, it has delivered several residential and commercial projects across Noida and Greater Noida, contributing to urban development in these emerging areas.
Published on March 25, 2026
Shares of IndiGo saw a strong uptick, rising up to 4% to Rs 4,097 on the BSE, after the airline announced the appointment of Aloke Singh as its chief strategy officer.
In his new role, Singh will lead the airline’s long-term planning, including key initiatives such as the induction of Airbus A350 aircraft and the development of hub airports. The planned addition of these aircraft is expected to open doors for long-haul international operations, marking an important step in IndiGo’s expansion journey.
Singh will report to Rahul Bhatia, who is currently overseeing operations as interim CEO following the resignation of Pieter Elbers.
The leadership change comes after a challenging phase for the airline, including operational disruptions that saw a large number of flight cancellations due to pilot shortages and revised duty time norms.
Speaking on the appointment, Bhatia said, “Aloke brings an exceptional blend of strategic vision and operational depth. His comprehensive understanding of the aviation ecosystem will be invaluable as we build a more agile, resilient and future-ready organisation, and accelerate our next phase of growth.”
With over three decades of experience in the aviation sector, Singh has held leadership roles across strategy, operations, and commercial functions. During his tenure at Air India Express, he played a key role in its transition under the Tata Group, including its merger with AirAsia India, fleet expansion, and brand transformation.
Meanwhile, global brokerage Goldman Sachs has maintained a positive outlook on IndiGo, retaining its ‘Buy’ rating while revising its target price to Rs 5,200 per share. The revision reflects near-term pressures such as rising fuel costs and softer demand in certain international markets, though the airline continues to show strong growth potential.
Analysts also highlighted IndiGo’s financial position and market opportunities, noting that industry consolidation could work in its favour as supply constraints continue. The airline’s strong balance sheet remains a key advantage in navigating the current environment.
Recently, IndiGo also introduced a fuel surcharge across domestic and international routes, citing increased jet fuel prices linked to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
Overall, the leadership appointment and ongoing strategic initiatives signal IndiGo’s focus on strengthening its position and preparing for its next phase of growth.
Published on March 16, 2026
The quick commerce battle in India is moving fast, and Eternal is making sure Blinkit keeps pace. The Gurugram-based parent company has infused Rs 450 crore into its quick commerce arm Blinkit, according to a regulatory filing with the Registrar of Companies. This is Eternal's first capital injection into the business in 2026, following a total of Rs 2,600 crore pumped in across 2025.
To put the 2025 numbers in context, Eternal injected Rs 500 crore in January, Rs 1,500 crore in February, and another Rs 600 crore in November of last year. The latest infusion signals that the pace of investment isn't letting up as competition in the 10-minute delivery segment continues to intensify.
Blinkit has reasons to feel confident heading into this next phase. The company turned profitable in the December quarter, reporting an adjusted EBITDA profit of Rs 4 crore in Q3FY26 compared to a loss of Rs 103 crore in the same period the previous year. Revenue jumped to Rs 12,256 crore from Rs 1,399 crore a year earlier, and gross profit climbed to Rs 3,539 crore from Rs 1,300 crore. Those are significant numbers, and they reflect a business that has found its footing even as it continues to scale aggressively.
The capital will support Blinkit's ongoing dark store expansion, working capital requirements, and operating costs as it pushes towards its target of 3,000 micro-warehouses by March 2027. As of December 31st, the company had 2,027 stores operational.
The competitive landscape around Blinkit is getting busier. Swiggy raised Rs 10,000 crore through a qualified institutional placement in December 2025, just over a year after its IPO. Zepto has filed confidential draft papers with SEBI for its own IPO. And larger players including Amazon, Flipkart, and Reliance Industries are all stepping up their presence in quick commerce, making this one of the most actively contested spaces in India's consumer technology sector right now.
There's also been a notable leadership shift at Eternal. Founder Deepinder Goyal stepped down as Managing Director and CEO in February, with Blinkit founder and CEO Albinder Dhindsa taking over the top role. Dhindsa continues to lead Blinkit as well, consolidating leadership of the quick commerce business at a critical growth phase.
One more number worth noting: in terms of net order value, Blinkit has now overtaken Eternal's core food delivery business. That's a remarkable milestone for a segment that didn't exist in its current form just a few years ago.
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