Business
Budget 2026 Expectations: Real Estate Players Want Govt-Backed Subvention, Norms For Net-Zero Emissions
India has set a target to reduce the emissions intensity of GDP by 45% by 2030 (from 2005 levels), and in 2021, India announced a long-term goal to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2070. As far as the real estate ad building sector in India, it contributes over 35% of India’s total GHG emissions, driven by building operations and construction materials like cement and steel. Amid increasing demand for green buildings in India, ahead of the Budget 2026, real estate stakeholders have outlined the steps required for developers to reach the net-zero stage.
Dhaval Ajmera, Director, Corporate Affairs, Ajmera Group, said that the real estate sector has emerged as one of the major contributors to economic growth. “In order to keep the momentum rolling and further pick up the pace, we expect the ministry to announce policy reforms and remedial measures in the upcoming budget that will benefit the buyers and developers alike. The need of the hour is to truly accelerate India’s transition to Net Zero. In relation to this, we urge the Ministry to introduce an Interest Subvention Scheme – specifically for Green-Rated Real Estate Debt. While developers are keen to build sustainable, IGBC/LEED-certified projects, the sky-high cost of capital remains a major barrier. As a remedial measure, a government-backed subvention of 200-300 basis points on Green Bonds would directly reduce the borrowing costs, making green projects financially viable rather than just aspirational,” he said.
Pankaj Jain, Founder and CMD, SPJ Group, said that the current share of buildings at 37 percent of global GHG emissions and more than one-third of global energy consumption makes real estate a game-changer. “Real estate developers must transition from marginal upgrading to an overall lifecycle approach. They should prefer using low-carbon materials, renewable materials, conserve water and adopt a performance monitoring approach. It will enable structures to create measurable gains in operating performance. At the same time, it is vital that the government establishes norms and provides economic momentum. It must also enforce net-zero building regulations, provide time-bound targets and provide tax & FAR concessions to net-zero real estate projects. In short, a net-zero transition in India will be accelerated only if regulations, investments and momentum converge.”
Rajat Bokolia, CEO, Newstone, said that to accelerate India’s transition to Net Zero, especially in a high-growth market like Delhi-NCR, developers and the government must work in tandem. “Developers should prioritise green building certifications, adopt energy-efficient construction, renewable energy integration, and sustainable materials at scale. At the same time, the government must incentivise green developments through faster approvals, tax benefits, and viability support for clean technologies,” said Bokolia.
Experts noted that strengthening green financing, mandating ESG compliance, and promoting transit-oriented development will be critical for the goal.
California’s top prosecutor has launched an investigation into the spread of sexualised AI deepfakes generated by Elon Musk’s AI model Grok.
Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a statement announcing the probe: “The avalanche of reports detailing the non-consensual, sexually explicit material that xAI has produced and posted online in recent weeks is shocking.”
xAI, which develops Grok, has previously said “anyone using or prompting Grok to make illegal content will suffer the same consequences as if they upload illegal content”.
California’s inquiry comes as British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer warns of possible action against X.
In Wednesday’s statement, Bonta said: “This material, which depicts women and children in nude and sexually explicit situations, has been used to harass people across the internet.”
The Democratic prosecutor urged xAI to take immediate action.
California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, posted to X on Wednesday that xAI’s decision to “create and host a breeding ground for predators… is vile”.
The BBC has contacted xAI for comment.
On Wednesday, Musk posted to X that he is “not aware of any naked underage images generated by Grok. Literally zero.”
“Obviously, Grok does not spontaneously generate images,” Musk wrote. “It does so only according to user requests.”
The tech billionaire, a Republican mega-donor, has also said that critics of X were politically motivated and using the Grok controversy as an “excuse for censorship”.
In November, Wired magazine reported that tools from other AI companies like OpenAI and Google have also been used to digitally undress people.
Last week, three US Democratic senators asked Apple and Google to remove X and Grok from their app stores.
Within hours of the request, X restricted its image generation tool so that it would only be available to paying subscribers.
X and Grok remain available on Apple’s App Store and Google Play.
It comes amid a debate over whether US tech companies are shielded from responsibility for what users post on AI platforms.
Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996 provides legal immunity to online platforms for user-generated content.
But Prof James Grimmelmann of Cornell University argues this law “only protects sites from liability for third-party content from users, not content the sites themselves produce”.
Grimmelmann said xAI was trying to deflect blame for the imagery on to users, but expressed doubt this argument would hold up in court.
“This isn’t a case where users are making the images themselves and then sharing them on X,” he said.
In this case “xAI itself is making the images. That’s outside of what Section 230 applies to”, he added.
Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon has argued that Section 230, which he co-authored, does not apply to AI-generated images. He said companies should be held fully responsible for such content.
“I’m glad to see states like California step up to investigate Elon Musk’s horrific child sexual abuse material generator,” Wyden told the BBC on Wednesday.
Wyden is one of the three Democratic senators who asked Apple and Google to remove X and Grok from their app stores.
The announcement of the probe in California comes as the UK is preparing legislation that would make it illegal to create non-consensual intimate images.
The UK watchdog Ofcom has also launched an investigation into Grok.
If it determines the platform has broken the law, it can issue fines of up to 10% of its worldwide revenue or £18m, whichever is greater.
On Monday, Sir Keir Starmer told Labour MPs that Musk’s social media platform X could lose the “right to self regulate” adding that “if X cannot control Grok, we will.”
Netflix is likely to amend its offer for Warner Bros. Discovery’s assets, making an all-cash bid, CNBC’s David Faber reported on Wednesday.
In December, Netflix reached a deal to purchase WBD’s streaming platform HBO Max and the Warner Bros. film studio in a transaction comprised of cash and stock. The deal is currently valued at $27.75 per WBD share. This would put the deal’s equity value at $72 billion, with a total enterprise value of approximately $82.7 billion.
Bloomberg first reported this week that Netflix was considering adjusting its offer to be all-cash.
An amended offer would allow WBD shareholders to vote to approve the offer on a faster timeline, Faber reported, citing sources familiar with the matter.
Under the current deal, shareholders are expected to vote on the deal in the spring or early summer, Faber reported. Deals comprised of stock typically mean more financials and accounting need to be issued as part of seeking approval, which requires more time and expense, Faber added.
If Netflix were to make its offer all-cash the shareholder vote could move up to as early as late February or early March, Faber reported.
The change would come as Paramount Skydance has turned up the heat on its hostile push to acquire all of Warner Bros. Discovery’s business.
Earlier this week Paramount sued Warner Bros. Discovery and CEO David Zaslav seeking more information about why the company’s board continues to reject its $30-per-share offer in favor of Netflix.
Paramount has repeatedly argued its deal is superior in value, given the estimated value of Warner Bros. Discovery’s TV networks. It has also amended its bid to solidify the backing of Oracle co-founder and billionaire Larry Ellison, the father of Paramount CEO David Ellison.
Starting a budget can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re new to managing your finances. The good news is, with a few simple hacks, anyone can take control of their money and build healthy financial habits. Budgeting doesn’t have to be restrictive—it’s about making smarter choices, reducing stress, and planning for the future.
Track Every Expense: Start by recording every penny you spend for at least a month. This helps you understand where your money goes and highlights areas for improvement. Use apps or spreadsheets to keep it simple and accurate. Awareness is the first step toward control. (Image: AI-generated)
Set Clear Financial Goals: Define what you’re budgeting for—emergency fund, debt repayment, or vacation. Clear goals give purpose to your budgeting and make it easier to stay motivated. Break large goals into smaller milestones to celebrate progress along the way. (Image: AI-generated)
Follow 50-30-20 Rule: Divide income into 50% needs, 30% wants, and 20% savings or debt repayment. This simple guideline helps beginners balance spending and saving. Adjust percentages slightly based on personal circumstances to maintain a realistic and flexible budget. (Image: AI-generated)
Automate Savings: Set up automatic transfers to a savings account each month. Automation ensures you save consistently without thinking about it. Even small amounts add up over time, making it easier to build an emergency fund or reach financial goals. (Image: AI-generated)
Cut Unnecessary Subscription: Review recurring subscriptions like streaming, apps, or memberships. Cancel services you rarely use. These small monthly savings can accumulate quickly, freeing up money for essentials or savings without feeling a significant lifestyle change. (Image: AI-generated)
Track Bills: Set reminders for bills and subscriptions to avoid late fees. Timely payments keep your budget accurate and reduce unnecessary penalties. Using calendar alerts or automatic payments ensures you stay on top of financial obligations consistently. (Image: AI-generated)
Shop With A List: Whether grocery shopping or buying essentials, create a list and stick to it. Impulse purchases often disrupt budgets. Prioritizing needs over wants helps you save money while still getting what’s necessary each month. (Image: AI-generated)
Review Monthly: Budgeting isn’t static; review your spending every month. Track what worked and what didn’t, adjusting categories as needed. Regular evaluation ensures your budget remains realistic, helping you stay on track toward financial stability and growth. (Image: AI-generated)
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