As India’s business and startup ecosystem enters a new fiscal phase, the landscape is brimming with both promise and peril. From bold government moves to sharp financial turnarounds, here’s a snapshot of six stories shaping the country’s economic narrative.
Zerodha Capital Doubles Down on Profits
Zerodha Capital, the NBFC arm of Zerodha, India’s largest retail stockbroker, has quietly carved out a strong niche in the fintech lending space. For FY25, the company posted a net profit of ₹12.5 crore—up from ₹7.2 crore last year—while revenue more than doubled to ₹36 crore. Its success lies in digital-first operations, a lean cost structure, and conservative lending policies. Backed by its parent’s reputation and tech muscle, Zerodha Capital is proving that steady, sustainable lending can beat flashy growth. In an industry plagued with high NPAs and burn rates, this performance positions it as a standout fintech lender.
Credits: The Economic Times
Ola Electric Hits a Financial Speed Bump
Once the poster child of India’s EV revolution, Ola Electric is now navigating a turbulent stretch. In Q4 FY25, the company posted a net loss of ₹870 crore—more than double the ₹416 crore loss in the same quarter last year. Even more concerning, its revenue from operations plummeted by 62% to ₹611 crore. The numbers paint a grim picture as the company struggles with high operating costs, supply chain constraints, and growing skepticism about EV adoption rates. Once riding high on ambition and investor faith, Ola Electric now faces a critical turning point in its business journey.
Credits: The Economic Times
India’s Next Big Leap: Digital ID for Every Address
After reshaping digital India with Aadhaar and UPI, the government is now laying the groundwork for a unified digital identity system for every physical address in the country. This visionary initiative could revolutionize how services are delivered, how governance is executed, and how logistics and e-commerce operate in both urban and rural areas. It’s a bold push to bridge physical and digital infrastructure. If executed well, it could eliminate address duplication, simplify last-mile delivery, and ensure more accurate government service provisioning—an Aadhaar for places, not just people.
Credits: India Today
Instamart Sheds ‘Swiggy’ to Forge Its Own Path
Instamart, Swiggy’s quick commerce venture, is now flying solo—at least in branding. The platform has officially dropped “Swiggy” from its name, signaling its ambition to emerge as a standalone brand. While it will continue to rely on Swiggy’s logistics network and customer trust, the rebrand is a strategic move to diversify its identity beyond food delivery. Instamart wants to be seen as a primary destination for instant grocery needs. In a fiercely competitive space dominated by Zepto and Blinkit, this identity pivot could help the company sharpen its marketing, expand its reach, and build consumer recall.
Credits: The Economic Times
JSW Paints Eyes AkzoNobel India in ₹9,000 Crore Deal
In a potentially game-changing acquisition, JSW Paints is preparing to buy out AkzoNobel India from its Dutch parent for around ₹9,000 crore ($1.1 billion). If the deal goes through, it would value the Indian arm at ₹12,000–12,200 crore—about 25% less than its current market cap. Sajjan Jindal’s JSW Group is aggressively eyeing leadership in the paints segment, currently dominated by giants like Asian Paints. This acquisition could catapult JSW Paints into the big league, intensifying competition and reshaping India’s decorative and industrial paints market.
Credits: Startuptalky
Nestlé Backs Drools—India’s First Pet Care Unicorn
India’s pet food sector just got a global vote of confidence. Nestlé S.A. has acquired a minority stake in Drools Pet Food Pvt. Ltd., making it the first Indian pet care company to achieve unicorn status. The move reflects growing investor interest in pet-related businesses, driven by rising pet ownership and evolving consumer preferences. Drools, already a known name in India’s pet food space, will now gain strategic support and global reach through Nestlé’s ecosystem. The deal is a major milestone for India’s burgeoning pet economy, signaling the sector’s arrival on the main stage of consumer growth.
Credits: Ascendants
