India’s next phase of economic growth will depend on steady and strong investment across public, private, and foreign channels, according to the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). CII, in a release, laid out a detailed plan for the Union Budget 2026-27, saying that the Budget needs to act as both a stabiliser and a growth driver.

CII Director General Chandrajit Banerjee said the coming Budget must focus on boosting investments to keep India’s growth steady. He explained that public spending has pushed the country’s recovery after the pandemic, and that continued support in this area will help India stay on track as one of the fastest-growing major economies.

CII has suggested raising central capital expenditure by 12 per cent and increasing support to states by 10 per cent in FY27. These funds, it said, should go mainly to areas where spending creates the highest impact, such as transport, energy, logistics, and the green transition. CII also recommended creating a Capital Expenditure Efficiency Framework to help select and track important projects and measure their outcomes more clearly. Along with this, it proposed launching a new Rs 150 lakh crore National Infrastructure Pipeline for 2026-32 to give long-term clarity to investors and states.

The release also noted that India needs a more flexible fiscal policy. CII suggested shifting from strict annual deficit rules to a debt framework that adjusts with economic cycles. This, it said, would help the government respond better during shocks without losing long-term stability.

On private investment, CII highlighted that India now needs strong momentum from businesses to support growth. “The Government of India has provided a big demand push via income tax relief in last year’s Union Budget and recently via GST 2.0. Investments, especially private sector investment, will be the next big driver for economic growth that needs to be focused on in the next fiscal to continue the growth momentum,” Banerjee said.

CII recommended tax credits or easier compliance for companies that increase investments or production, along with returning accelerated depreciation to help firms, especially MSMEs, modernise.

To attract long-term global capital, CII proposed creating an NRI Investment Promotion Fund with partial government holding. This fund would help channel NRI and foreign institutional money into areas like infrastructure and AI. It also suggested strengthening the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund through a new Sovereign Investment Strategy Council to guide investments.

CII further called for simpler external borrowing rules and a single-window system for large foreign investment proposals to reduce delays and increase certainty. It also suggested forming an India Global Economic Forum to allow structured discussions between global investors and government leaders.

“An investment-driven growth strategy, anchored in fiscal credibility and institutional reforms, will define India’s next development phase,” Banerjee said.

New Delhi: For decades, the five-day work week has been the norm for most Indian employees. However, with rising conversations around work–life balance and productivity, many are now wondering if a four-day work week could become a reality in India. Several countries such as Japan, Germany and Spain have already experimented with shorter work schedules and reported encouraging outcomes. Interestingly, recent changes and discussions around India’s labour laws indicate that a four-day work week may be possible for certain sections of the workforce.

What the Labour Ministry Has Said on 4-Day Work Week

The Ministry of Labour and Employment recently clarified on X (formerly Twitter) that a four-day work week is possible under the new Labour Codes. According to the Ministry, employees can work for 12 hours a day for four days, while the remaining three days will be paid holidays. However, the total weekly working hours will still be capped at 48 hours, and any work beyond 12 hours in a day will have to be paid at double the normal wage rate.

Flexible Work Schedule Allowed Under New Labour Codes

The Labour Ministry has said that the revised Labour Codes allow employees to work 12 hours a day for four days, while the remaining three days can be taken as paid holidays, making a four-day work week possible under the new rules.

Weekly Work Hours Cap Remains Unchanged

The Labour Ministry clarified that the total working hours in a week will still be capped at 48 hours, even under a four-day work schedule. It also noted that the 12-hour workday includes breaks and spread-out time, ensuring employees are not working continuously for the entire duration.

What’s New Under India’s Updated Labour Laws

On November 21, 2025, the government consolidated 29 existing labour laws into four new labour codes—the Code on Wages (2019), Industrial Relations Code (2020), Social Security Code (2020), and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code (2020). The move aims to simplify labour regulations while ensuring timely payment of wages, regulated working hours, better workplace safety and wider access to health and social security benefits.

A major change under the new codes is for fixed-term employees. They are now entitled to the same benefits as permanent workers, including leave, health coverage and social security. Notably, fixed-term workers can claim gratuity after just one year of continuous service, instead of the earlier five-year requirement, and must be paid wages equal to permanent employees doing similar work.

New Delhi: Lucknow is set to witness a significant boost to its startup ecosystem with the construction of the Kanpur–Lucknow Expressway, a key infrastructure project expected to reshape economic activity across the region, Uttar Pradesh government officials said on Sunday.

The expressway, being developed under the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath government’s connectivity push, is projected to emerge as a catalyst for innovation, entrepreneurship, and industrial growth. Once operational, the expressway will drastically reduce travel time between Kanpur and Lucknow, cutting the current journey of nearly two hours to a matter of minutes.

The improved connectivity is expected to make business travel more efficient, strengthen supply chains, and enhance logistics movement, making the corridor an attractive destination for startups and investors alike. According to Deepak Maini, Chairman of the Progressive Federation of Trade and Industry (PFTI), Uttar Pradesh’s rapid infrastructure expansion is creating a favourable environment for innovation-driven enterprises.

He said the Kanpur–Lucknow corridor has the potential to evolve into a vibrant economic belt, generating new opportunities in industry, education, and employment.

Industry experts believe the expressway will also encourage closer collaboration between academic institutions. With faster access, partnerships between IIT Kanpur and leading educational and management institutions in Lucknow are expected to intensify, particularly in areas such as deep technology, the Internet of Things, and advanced manufacturing.

Such collaboration could provide startups with easier access to mentorship, research facilities, funding avenues, and skilled talent.

Plans are also being discussed to develop manufacturing and logistics clusters along the expressway route.

In the coming years, the corridor is likely to see the establishment of IT parks, industrial nodes, and special economic zones, offering startups a conducive environment to scale operations. Officials say the expressway aligns with the state’s long-term vision of “Viksit Uttar Pradesh @ 2047”, aimed at accelerating economic growth and job creation.

A strategic roadmap is being prepared to position Lucknow as a major startup hub in North India, with expectations of increased private investment and the generation of a large number of high-paying jobs in the years ahead.