OCTOBER, 20269India's food regulator is tightening food safety rules for quick-commerce platforms such as Blinkit, Swiggy Instamart, and Amazon Now. The move comes as the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) expands its crackdown on unsafe practices across the country.FSSAI CEO Rajit Punhani said e-commerce is the regulator's next major focus. The authority plans to make online platforms more accountable for the food products they list and sell. The proposed measures could affect India's USD 80 billion online retail industry, where groceries account for up to 51 percent of sales, according to Redseer Strategy Consultants. India's steel demand in 2026 is expected to grow by 7­9 percent, reinforcing the country's position as a key growth market for the global steel industry. However, rising imports are creating a parallel challenge for domestic manufacturers, as overseas supplies compete with locally produced steel despite sustained consumption growth.The World Steel Association's forecast highlights India's relatively strong demand outlook, supported by infrastructure development, construction and industrial activity. Meanwhile, data from the Ministry of Steel indicate that finished steel imports increased 29.5 percent year on year during April­August 2026.The World Steel Association has identified India as the fastest-growing major steel market, projecting demand growth of 7­9 percent in 2026. The outlook reflects the country's continued infrastructure investment and expanding industrial requirements. India's BESS capacity is projected to grow rapidly as the country expands renewable energy and strengthens grid reliability. A recent Nuvama report forecasts a 91 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) between FY26 and FY32E. Cumulative battery energy storage system (BESS) capacity could rise from 6.3 GWh to 302 GWh during this period.Annual additions are expected to increase from 5.7 GWh in FY26 to 56 GWh by FY32E. The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) estimates that India will require 236 GWh of BESS capacity by FY32 and 1,840 GWh by 2047. However, the sector's expansion will depend on domestic manufacturing, falling battery costs, and policy support. Nuvama noted that imports currently meet 89 percent of requirements, creating an opportunity for local manufacturers to expand production. Malaysia Airlines is seeing a sharp rise in corporate travel demand from India, with bookings increasing by 40 percent year-on-year. The airline is open to new partnerships to tap this growing market. However, bilateral traffic rights continue to limit its plans to expand flights between India and Malaysia.The Southeast Asian carrier also reported a 24 percent increase in visiting friends and relatives (VFR) traffic. Leisure travel is growing, too, highlighting India's importance to the airline's network. Malaysia Airlines Group President and CEO Nasaruddin A Bakar said partnerships could help the carrier expand its reach, provided they benefit both parties. INDIA'S STEEL DEMAND IN 2026: IMPORTS RISE BY 29.5 PERCENTINDIA'S BESS CAPACITY COULD HIT 302 GWH BY FY32: WHAT'S NEXT?FSSAI TIGHTENS FOOD SAFETY RULES: QUICK COMMERCE FACES MORE SCRUTINYMALAYSIA AIRLINES SEES 40 PERCENT CORPORATE TRAVEL GROWTH IN INDIA
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