Last Updated:September 13, 2025, 15:48 IST

India’s office market is entering a defining decade, marked by both resilience and reinvention, according to CBRE India.

Flex space operators continue to hold a significant share of India’s office leasing, consistently accounting for over 15% of annual absorption.

Office space demand in India is set to get a major boost, with 85% of domestic firms planning to expand their portfolios over the next two years, according to real estate consultancy firm CBRE’s latest India Office Occupier Survey 2025. The intent marks a sharp rise from 73% in 2024, reflecting stronger business sentiment, digital adoption and a shift towards an office-first approach.

The report noted that companies have bounced back strongly since the pandemic years. Leasing by domestic firms during 2023-24 was nearly 86% higher compared to pre-Covid levels in 2018-19. “India’s office market is entering a defining decade, marked by both resilience and reinvention,” said Anshuman Magazine, Chairman & CEO of CBRE for India, South-East Asia, the Middle East & Africa.

Office-First Policies Gaining Ground

The survey found that 94% of firms now prefer employees to work from office at least three days a week. More than half the companies (52%) have already adopted a full return-to-office policy, compared with 36% last year.

Flexible Workspaces On The Rise

Flex space operators continue to hold a significant share of India’s office leasing, consistently accounting for over 15% of annual absorption. The trend is expected to accelerate, with more companies planning to allocate up to half of their office portfolios to flexible workspaces in the coming years. Smaller occupiers, in particular, are leading this shift, 58% of them intend to place more than 10% of their office footprint in flex spaces within two years, according to the CBRE report.

GCCs Fuelling Expansion

Global capability centres (GCCs) remain one of the strongest demand drivers, contributing 35-40% of total annual office absorption. The survey found that 65% of GCCs expect to expand in the next two years, especially in sectors such as banking and financial services, life sciences, and engineering. Average deal sizes by GCCs have also grown, rising to about 108,000 sq. ft. in the first half of 2025 from 91,000 sq. ft. in 2024, it added.

Ram Chandnani, Managing Director-Leasing, CBRE India, said, “GCCs alone account for about 35-40% of absorption, driven by their rapid evolution into high-value innovation hubs. Flexible workspaces are no longer a secondary option; they are becoming integral to occupier strategies.”

ESG and Smaller Cities Gaining Traction

Sustainability has emerged as a key focus, with nearly three-fourths of GCCs already setting ESG targets for their real estate portfolios. At the same time, more occupiers are eyeing tier-II and tier-III cities for growth, citing access to skilled talent, lower costs, and improving infrastructure, CBRE said.

CBRE expects these forces — office-first strategies, flex space adoption, GCC expansion, and sustainability — to shape India’s office market in the years ahead, reinforcing the country’s position as a global office hub.

Mohammad Haris

Haris is Deputy News Editor (Business) at news18.com. He writes on various issues related to personal finance, markets, economy and companies. Having over a decade of experience in financial journalism, Haris h…Read More

Haris is Deputy News Editor (Business) at news18.com. He writes on various issues related to personal finance, markets, economy and companies. Having over a decade of experience in financial journalism, Haris h… Read More

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New Delhi: In a major push for cheaper and faster cross-border remittances, India Post has teamed up with NPCI International Payments Ltd. (NIPL) and the Universal Postal Union (UPU) to launch a new digital initiative linking India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) with the UPU’s Interconnection Platform. The system was unveiled at the 28th Universal Postal Congress in Dubai by Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia.

The integration aims to slash remittance costs and transfer times, giving millions of overseas Indian workers, small traders and e-commerce operators a faster and more convenient way to move money. Leveraging India’s home-grown UPI network, the project extends the country’s successful digital payments model to an international stage, boosting financial inclusion worldwide.

Under the new system, funds sent from abroad can be picked up at designated post offices using a valid ID and reference number. If the recipient holds an India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) account, the money can be credited directly—removing the need to visit a branch. This makes remittances simpler and safer for users with limited access to traditional banks.

Beyond personal remittances, the initiative is expected to benefit exporters, small businesses and e-commerce firms engaged in frequent overseas transactions. By connecting with the UPU’s network of over 190 countries, the system improves accessibility and reliability, reducing friction in global trade.

India Post already offers international transfer services through partners like MoneyGram and Western Union. The new UPI-UPU link complements these options by offering a low-cost, digital-first alternative to traditional money transfers—positioning India Post as a direct competitor to established players.

This initiative reflects India’s growing leadership in digital payment innovation and aligns with global trends favouring tech-driven financial services. By undercutting fees and cutting transfer times, it could significantly disrupt a market long dominated by legacy remittance companies, opening the door to a more inclusive and efficient cross-border payments ecosystem.

Last Updated:September 13, 2025, 10:28 IST

The last date to file income tax returns (ITR) for individuals not subject to a tax audit for FY 2024-25 (AY 2025-26) is September 15, 2025

ITR 2025

The last date to file income tax returns (ITR) for individuals not subject to a tax audit for FY 2024-25 (AY 2025-26) is September 15, 2025. Taxpayers can file their returns directly on the income tax department’s e-filing portal free of cost, either on their own or with the help of a Chartered Accountant (CA).

Paid Options on Third-Party Platforms

Apart from the government portal, several private websites offer ITR filing services for a fee. While filing on the official portal is free, professional assistance through CAs or specialised tax platforms usually comes at a cost. Charges depend on the number of income sources, the complexity of the return, and the level of assistance chosen.

Types of Filing Plans

Most online platforms broadly provide three options:

• Self-filing, where taxpayers upload documents and complete the process themselves with basic backend support.
• Assisted filing, which uses automated systems designed with CA inputs to guide taxpayers.
• CA-assisted filing, where a tax expert or CA helps directly, often via call or video consultation.

Charges Across Platforms

For AY 2025-26, fees for CA-assisted filing vary across six popular portals. Plans range from entry-level packages to premium offerings, such as ClearTax’s luxe plan priced at ₹25,000, which provides end-to-end filing support, round-the-clock assistance, and live sessions.

Calls for Extension of Deadline

Meanwhile, industry associations have sought more time for taxpayers. The Karnataka State Chartered Accountants Association (KSCAA), Advocates Tax Bar Association (ATBA), and the Central Council (CIRC) of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) have written to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, citing persistent issues on the ITR portal.

Both ICAI and ATBA have urged the government to extend deadlines. ATBA has suggested October 15, 2025, as the new deadline for non-audit ITR filings, and November 30, 2025, for submission of tax audit reports.

Aparna Deb

Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of News18.com. She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious about things. Among other things, financial markets, economy, a…Read More

Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of News18.com. She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious about things. Among other things, financial markets, economy, a… Read More

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