Business
Kyle seeks to reassure business over workers’ rights concerns
Business Secretary Peter Kyle has hinted at concessions over the Government’s workers’ rights package to ensure it makes it through Parliament and does not damage firms.
Mr Kyle said there would be extensive consultations about the measures in the Employment Rights Bill, insisting it was not a “zero sum” game where either workers or bosses lost out.
Confederation of British Industry (CBI) boss Rain Newton-Smith warned the legislation would take the country “backwards” in its current form.
The legislation is caught in a stand-off between peers and MPs over measures to ban “exploitative” zero-hours contracts and give workers protection against unfair dismissal from their first day in a job.
Asked if the Government would be prepared to accept amendments to end the stand-off, Mr Kyle said: “I’ll do what it takes to get it through, because I need to get on with the real business, which is implementing it.”
Seeking to reassure businesses who have concerns about the legislation, he told reporters at the CBI conference: “Our manifesto committed us to consult, to listen, and that’s what I’ll do.
“The primary legislation that is going through Parliament now commits me to consult in 26 different areas, the law is going to require me to.
“So it has been, yes, a frustration of mine that some of the area that will be filled in by the result of a consultation that meaningfully engages all sides and all voices, has been filled by people projecting onto what their worst fears are of it. But that is not the reality that I will be driving towards.”
Insisting “the voice of people who work in business will be heard” alongside the trade unions, he said “I’m not putting anyone over anyone else”.
The Government would “listen to both sides and all sides in this and to make sure it is not zero sum”.
“I will not pit employer against employee or employee against employer,” he said.
“In the world we’re living in now, the workplace is fundamentally different than it was 10 and 20 years ago. The law has to keep up, regulation has to keep up, and the ability of government to inspire and provide the foundations for growth within individual businesses and higher productivity is what we are set upon.
“And all of the conjecture that you’ve heard about what the Bill will and won’t deliver is based in areas for which the consultation on implementation has not even started.”
Ms Newton-Smith called on the Government to change course on the legislation, claiming businesses had not been listened to.
She said: “Lasting reform takes partnership – not a closed door.”
She told the PA news agency: “If the burden of regulation means that when businesses are trying to implement it, it’s unworkable, then it’s not a lasting solution.”
She suggested there could be a “landing zone” where a six or nine-month probation period could be put in place for workers to address concerns about the unfair dismissal changes.
“I think there’s a really workable solution to many of the areas where the Employment Rights Bill is trying to raise living standards. But how it’s drafted at the moment, it’s going to move us backwards and not create the jobs and opportunities we need to see for our young people, for everyone in the workforce.”
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch condemned the legislation in her CBI speech, saying it “destroys growth” and called for Rachel Reeves to use her Budget to kill it off.
Mrs Badenoch said of the legislation: “If 26 consultations are what you need to fix it then you have a really, really big problem.”
She added: “It is a pure political project. Killing it would be a signal to the world that Britain still understands what makes an economy grow.
“If the Chancellor had any sense, and any regard for business, she would use the Budget to say ‘we got this one wrong’ and drop it.
“It would be the cheapest pro-growth measure in the Red Book.”
She said the right to claim unfair dismissal from the first day of employment means a new hire could lodge a claim with an employment tribunal “before they’ve even worked out where the toilets are”.
The ban on exploitative zero hours contracts that gives workers a right to a contract which reflects their regular hours amounts to a “de facto ban” on seasonal and flexible work, such as over the Christmas period.
The Conservative leader told reporters that pushing ahead with the legislation could see bosses opt for artificial intelligence rather than workers.
She said: “There is no business out there that thinks 26 consultations is a serious response to a bad piece of legislation that should not be starting.
“This is not a growth measure. Businesses are closing down. We have unemployment going up every single month.
“They should just not be doing this at a time when people are worried about AI taking over jobs, people are just going to go to AI. Why would they bother with this?”
Business
Gurugram Attracts Rs 86,588 Crore In Real Estate Investments In 2025 As RERA Clears 131 Projects
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Alongside rising investments, Gurugram RERA strengthened regulatory oversight to safeguard homebuyer and investor interests
Gurgaon Real Estate (Representative Image)
Gurugram emerged as one of India’s top real estate investment destinations in 2025, with projects worth Rs 86,588 crore receiving regulatory approvals during the year, according to data from the Gurugram Real Estate Regulatory Authority (Gurugram RERA).
Market observers said the numbers reflect strong investor confidence in the NCR’s largest commercial and residential hub.
Gurugram RERA registered 131 projects in calendar year 2025, representing development potential of 35,455 units across housing and commercial segments.
A striking feature of the data was the dominance of large-ticket projects. Just 28 major developments accounted for investments worth Rs 59,360 crore, highlighting the growing influence of institutional capital and large developers in shaping Gurugram’s property market.
Residential assets continued to attract the bulk of investment interest. Of the total units approved, 31,455 were residential, underscoring sustained end-user demand and long-term confidence in the city’s housing fundamentals.
According to Authority data, the residential mix included 17,405 group housing units, 5,720 mixed land use units, 4,040 residential floor units, 2,122 affordable group housing units, 1,954 units under the Deen Dayal housing scheme, and 214 residential plotted colony units.
Market observers said this diversified supply pipeline indicates capital deployment across both premium and mass segments, helping reduce concentration risk and deepen market resilience.
On the commercial side, Gurugram RERA approved about 4,000 commercial units, of which 168 were dedicated to IT parks, reinforcing Gurugram’s position as a preferred hub for technology firms and Global Capability Centres.
Analysts noted that the combination of office-led employment growth and residential expansion continues to make Gurugram attractive for long-term capital deployment.
Industry experts said the scale of investments approved in 2025 highlights Gurugram’s ability to attract capital despite global uncertainty, supported by infrastructure growth, a strong corporate base and an improving regulatory environment.
“With a large pipeline of approved projects and sustained interest from developers and institutional investors, Gurugram is expected to remain a key real estate investment destination in the coming years,” a Gurugram-based real estate expert said.
Tighter regulatory checks
Alongside rising investments, Gurugram RERA strengthened regulatory oversight to enhance transparency and safeguard homebuyer and investor interests.
“These steps included stricter scrutiny of developer submissions, mandatory site inspections by domain experts, and public consultation through mandatory notices before project registration,” an Authority official said.
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January 16, 2026, 07:44 IST
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National Startup Day highlights India’s thriving startup ecosystem, celebrating innovation, entrepreneurship and job creation driven by founders, unicorns and Startup India mission
National Startup Day 2026 honours Indian startups, entrepreneurs and innovators driving economic growth and job creation.
National Startup Day 2026: India’s startup ecosystem has evolved into one of the world’s most vibrant and promising innovation hubs. To recognise the contribution of entrepreneurs, founders and startups transforming ideas into impactful solutions, National Startup Day is observed every year on January 16 across the country.
Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2022, the day celebrates visionary entrepreneurs who play a crucial role in economic growth, employment generation and technological advancement.
National Startup Day serves as a reminder that innovation, backed by determination and policy support, can reshape society and create global impact.
National Startup Day 2026 Theme
The official theme for National Startup Day 2026 is yet to be announced. However, the core focus areas are expected to revolve around:
- Innovation and emerging technologies
- Entrepreneurship and leadership
- Self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat)
- Startup India Mission
- Youth empowerment
- Job creation
How Startups Are Shaping India’s Future
India currently ranks as the third-largest startup ecosystem globally, with over 1.59 lakh startups recognised by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) as of early 2025. Backed by 100+ unicorns, the ecosystem continues to grow rapidly.
Metro cities such as Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi-NCR lead this expansion, while Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities are emerging as new innovation centres, adding diversity and scale to India’s entrepreneurial journey.
Startups across fintech, edtech, health-tech, e-commerce and deep-tech are addressing real-world challenges and gaining global recognition. Technologies like artificial intelligence, blockchain and IoT are increasingly driving innovation, according to Startup India ecosystem reports.
Industry-Wise Startup Impact
DPIIT-recognised startups have generated over 16.6 lakh direct jobs across sectors as of October 31, 2024, strengthening India’s employment landscape.
- IT Services: 2.04 lakh jobs
- Healthcare & Life Sciences: 1.47 lakh jobs
- Commercial & Professional Services: 94,000 jobs
Through the Startup India initiative, the government continues to focus on skill development, funding access, ecosystem collaboration and global outreach.
Key Initiatives Under Startup India
- Capacity building and mentorship
- Outreach and awareness programmes
- Ecosystem development events
- International exposure and global linkages
- Collaboration between startups, corporates and institutions.
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January 16, 2026, 07:00 IST
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The government on Thursday kept petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD) prices unchanged at Rs253.17 per litre and Rs257.08 per litre respectively, for the coming fortnight, starting from January 16.
This decision was notified in a press release issued by the Petroleum Division.
Earlier, it was expected that the prices of all petroleum products would go down by up to Rs4.50 per litre (over 1pc each) today in view of variation in the international market.
Petrol is primarily used in private transport, small vehicles, rickshaws, and two-wheelers, and directly impacts the budgets of the middle and lower-middle classes.
Meanwhile, most of the transport sector runs on HSD. Its price is considered inflationary, as it is mostly used in heavy transport vehicles, trains, and agricultural engines such as trucks, buses, tractors, tube wells, and threshers, and particularly adds to the prices of vegetables and other eatables.
The government is currently charging about Rs100 per litre on petrol and about Rs97 per litre on diesel.
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Gurugram Attracts Rs 86,588 Crore In Real Estate Investments In 2025 As RERA Clears 131 Projects
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