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Corporate News - October 2026
ECONOMY
Finance Ministry Projects India's FY27 growth at 7.3%
India's Finance Ministry projected GDP growth of 7.3% for FY2026–27, marginally above the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) forecast of 7.1%, according to its October 2026 Economic Review released on 29 October.
The Ministry flagged inflationary pressures, rising global energy prices and geopolitical uncertainties as key risks. The review also highlighted downside risks from intensifying El Niño conditions, which could affect soil moisture and winter crop sowing. India's foreign exchange reserves stood at US$721 billion as of 16 October 2026, providing approximately 10.3 months of import cover. The Ministry maintained that India remained well-positioned to sustain its growth trajectory despite external challenges.
Government approves C10,000 crore SME Growth Fund
The Union Cabinet approved the Government of India's commitment of Rs.10,000 crore towards the establishment of the SME Growth Fund (SGF) aimed at catalysing growth-oriented capital for India's Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and enabling the emergence of champion Indian enterprises across manufacturing, services, technology, innovation-driven sectors, and strategic value chains as per Para 28 of Union Budget 2026-27.
Under the initiative, India will provide an aggregate commitment of Rs.10,000 crore to the Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) established under the SGF framework. Investments across industrial clusters, including those in Tier-II and Tier-III cities, will support balanced regional industrial development, reinforce local supply chains and generate high-quality employment opportunities.
MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
India's M&A activity records 255 transactions worth US$13.2 billion in Q3 2026
India recorded 255 mergers and acquisitions (M&A) transactions valued at US$13.2 billion during the July–September quarter of 2026, reflecting a 7% increase in deal volumes compared with the previous quarter. However, aggregate deal value declined by 53% quarter-on-quarter, from US$27.9 billion in Q2 2026 to US$13.2 billion in Q3. The contrasting trends indicate broader dealmaking activity, despite a moderation in the overall value of transactions.
The figures highlight continued corporate restructuring, strategic consolidation and acquisition activity in the Indian market, even as large-ticket transactions moderated during the quarter.
Schneider Electric announces US$23.7 billion acquisition of PTC
French energy management and automation company Schneider Electric announced plans to acquire US industrial software company PTC for approximately US$23.7 billion. The proposed acquisition aims to strengthen Schneider's industrial software, engineering and AI capabilities. The boards of both companies have unanimously approved the transaction, with PTC's board recommending that shareholders support the deal. Completion is expected by the third quarter of 2027, subject to approval from PTC shareholders and regulatory authorities.
It would be the largest acquisition in Schneider Electric's history.
TECHNOLOGY
SEBI's AI-powered PolicyTwin wins global regulatory technology recognition
On 14 October, SEBI announced that its PolicyTwin prototype had secured first place at the C:DIR Global Agentic Regulator Hackathon. The recognition highlights the growing application of AI in regulatory processes and policy development. SEBI teams also won at the IOSCO TechSprint 2026 on investor education in the age of AI.
ESG
Carbon Credit Trading Scheme moves towards Certificate Trading
India's Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) is entering its live trading phase in October 2026, shifting the Indian Carbon Market (ICM) from reporting and verification into active financial transactions.
Key Details of the CCTS Rollout
• Certificate Definition: One Carbon Credit Certificate (CCC) equals one tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) of reduced or removed greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
• Trading Platform: CCCs are scheduled to be issued and traded on designated power exchanges such as IEX and PXIL.
• Covered Entities: The compliance mechanism spans 490 obligated entities across seven energy-intensive sectors (including aluminium, cement, chlor-alkali, pulp/paper, petroleum refining, petrochemicals, and textiles).
The United Kingdom has recognized India's CCTS as an eligible carbon-pricing mechanism under its Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), and India has bilateral or cooperative frameworks with countries like Japan.
PolicyTwin is a prototype of a virtual “practice market” that lets financial market regulators test a proposed policy before it is introduced to the market. Using artificial intelligence, it creates a realistic, computer-generated version of the securities market.
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