Business
ECLGS 5.0 to benefit 1.1 crore MSME accounts with extra credit support, says SBI report – The Times of India
NEW DELHI: The newly approved Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) 5.0 could benefit nearly 1.1 crore MSME accounts by providing additional credit support to businesses affected by the ongoing West Asia conflict, according to a report by the State Bank of India (SBI).The Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved ECLGS 5.0 to offer extra working capital support to existing standard MSMEs and select non-MSME sectors, including airlines.According to the SBI report, “our preliminary estimates indicate that ~1.1 crore MSME accounts (~45% of total MSME portfolio) will be eligible to get benefit from the scheme with per account an average additional credit flow of Rs 2 to 2.3 lakh.” Under ECLGS 5.0, eligible borrowers can avail additional credit of up to 20 per cent of the peak working capital utilised during the fourth quarter of FY26, with a cap of Rs 100 crore.For airlines, the support can go up to 100 per cent of eligible credit, capped at Rs 1,500 crore per borrower.The government has targeted an overall additional credit flow of Rs 2.55 lakh crore under the scheme, including Rs 5,000 crore earmarked for the aviation sector.Highlighting the impact of the move, the report said, “The timely intervention will ensure liquidity support, protect jobs, sustain supply chains, and strengthen the resilience of the Indian economy.” SBI Research noted that previous versions of the ECLGS scheme, introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic, played a key role in stabilising MSMEs and improving their financial health.According to the report, earlier schemes helped prevent at least 13.5 lakh MSME accounts from slipping into non-performing asset (NPA) status.The report also said MSME gross NPAs declined sharply to 3.3 per cent in September 2025 from 11 per cent in March 2020, supported by measures such as ECLGS.The aviation industry is also expected to benefit significantly under ECLGS 5.0 amid rising aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices and pressure on passenger traffic due to geopolitical tensions in West Asia.SBI Research said outstanding bank credit to the aviation sector stood at Rs 526 billion as of March 2026, marking a 14 per cent year-on-year increase.The report added that if the full Rs 5,000 crore allocation for aviation is disbursed, it would account for nearly 9.5 per cent of the sector’s outstanding bank credit.SBI Research further highlighted strong MSME credit growth during FY26, estimating that MSME credit expanded by around 27 per cent. This pushed the sector’s share in total bank credit to 18.5 per cent, the report added.(With inputs from ANI)
NEW DELHI: The West Asia conflict is pushing govt to look at a faster transition towards renewable energy, including the possibility of increasing ethanol blending in petrol from 20-25%, although in a calibrated manner. This will come along with increased refining capacity within the country, so that there is a buffer in the system and greater domestic resilience, those familiar with the discussions said, pointing out that sustaining refineries at 100% capacity is not sustainable.While Barmer refinery has begun operations, expansion at Numaligarh is underway and work on integrated refineries on the west coast is also under focus. Apart from a mega refinery in Maharashtra, a new facility in Gujarat is also planned.Officials said rising use of renewables, biofuels and hydrogen in the energy mix was no longer just an environmental issue, but a strategic necessity in a situation like the present one, where the military conflict in West Asia has disrupted global energy supplies, triggering a supply crisis and a surge in oil and gas prices.According to officials, 20% ethanol blending has helped India save 4.5 crore barrels of crude annually and reduce foreign exchange outflow by around ₹1.5 lakh crore so far. Given the concerns over fuel efficiency and impact on vehicles, govt is expected to take a gradual approach that addresses the anxiety on ethanol blending. The third pillar on energy is expanding the strategic petroleum reserves.
A cup of coffee and strawberry frosted donut with sprinkles at a Dunkin’ Donuts location in Los Angeles, Sept. 6, 2017.
Patrick T. Fallon | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Dunkin’ and Buffalo Wild Wings owner Inspire Brands has confidentially filed for an initial public offering, the company announced on Friday.
If Inspire goes public, it will be one of the biggest-ever restaurant offerings. Private equity firm Roark Capital, which backs Inspire, is reportedly seeking a valuation of roughly $20 billion.
Inspire was founded in 2018 through a merger between Arby’s and Buffalo Wild Wings. Acquisitions followed: Sonic Drive-In later in 2018 and Jimmy John’s in 2019. And in 2020, Inspire took Dunkin’ and its sister chain Baskin Robbins private in an $11 billion deal.
Across those six chains, Inspire has more than 33,300 restaurants worldwide and $33.4 billion in annual sales, according to the company’s website.
Inspire isn’t the only restaurant company pursuing an IPO. Last month, Jersey Mike’s also announced that it had confidentially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The market for initial public offerings has been tepid, although that could change later this year. Market volatility, economic uncertainty and recent poor performance among IPO stocks has led to a backlog of listings.
However, several blockbuster IPOs, such as the SpaceX offering that could value the company at more than $1 trillion, are anticipated in the coming months.
Millions of car finance payouts are in jeopardy after the UK’s financial watchdog indicated its compensation scheme faces significant delays, changes, or even collapse.
This uncertainty stems from four legal challenges against the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
The FCA has advised motor finance firms to prepare for the possibility that its redress scheme, which could see an average payout of £829, may not proceed.
The regulator stated that while a hearing date is unclear, these cases are unlikely to be heard before October.
In the meantime, it is in discussions about the “possibility of suspending some elements” of its compensation scheme, while still urging lenders to prepare for payouts.
But the regulator said it was also considering its options should parts of the scheme be quashed by the courts, including proceeding with a revised version or asking lenders to plan for a scenario where “there would be no scheme”.
This could mean lenders need to be ready to respond to complaints from car finance customers individually, rather than under the rules of an industry-wide programme set by the FCA.
“Many people will be frustrated that the legal action will delay payouts due to begin this year,” the FCA said.
“We remain committed to ensuring consumers receive any compensation owed as promptly as possible.”
The FCA set out the final details of its compensation scheme in March, which it estimated could cost the industry about £9.1 billion in total.
It had been expecting millions of claims to be paid out this year and the vast majority settled by the end of 2027.
The financial services arms of carmakers Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz and the car finance arm of French bank Credit Agricole, as well as Consumer Voice, a group representing consumers, are asking the courts to quash the scheme, arguing the rules are unlawful.
“Between the four separate legal challenges, it is claimed in effect that the FCA’s approach to establishing the schemes has been both unduly favourable to consumers and unduly favourable to lenders,” the watchdog said.
At least one claim alleges that the FCA has breached the rights of lenders under the 1998 Human Rights Act, according to the watchdog.
Despite the uncertainty of the legal cases, the watchdog is still advising consumers to complain directly to their lender if they think they might be owed compensation, which they can do for free using a template letter on its website.
[CinePlex360] Please moderate: “Texas orders im
Timberwolves’ coach Finch blasts Tony Brothers for ‘unprofessional’ conduct
Top Sri Lankan Buddhist monk arrested over alleged sex abuse
-
Politics6 days agoIran weighs US reply delivered via Pakistan as Trump signals opposition to deal terms
-
Tech1 week agoAlmost half of UK businesses hit by cyber attacks | Computer Weekly
-
Tech1 week agoThis Indigenous Language Survived Russian Occupation. Can It Survive YouTube?
-
Fashion1 week agoCanada’s Lululemon appoints Esi Eggleston Bracey to board of directors
-
Fashion1 week agoUS’ J.Jill, Inc. appoints Kimberly Wallengren as CMO
-
Entertainment1 week agoDavid Allan Coe, country singer who wrote “Take This Job and Shove It,” dies at age 86
-
Business1 week agoGovernment hikes jet fuel prices by 5% for international airlines – The Times of India
-
Fashion1 week agoUS’ Gap partners with Victoria Beckham on timeless wardrobe essentials