TICE Dispatch: Top developments from India’s startup, policy, business & economy landscape

As India moves deeper into its innovation-driven decade, the country is witnessing rapid shifts across policy, technology, markets and macroeconomics. From government consultations ahead of the Union Budget to strong signals emerging from the deep-tech and space sectors, today’s major stories reflect a country preparing for its next phase of growth. Here’s a round-up of the top news shaping India’s startup ecosystem and broader economic environment on 18 November 2025.

Top News of the Day

1. Government holds pre-Budget consultation with startups

The Finance Ministry convened its 5th round of pre-Budget consultations, bringing together founders, VCs and ecosystem stakeholders to collect recommendations for the upcoming Union Budget 2026-27. The meeting focused on simplifying compliance, improving capital access and enabling growth-stage incentives for startups.

2. India must double investment to achieve $30 trillion GDP target

NaBFID MD Rajkiran Rai stated that India needs to nearly double its annual investment levels to stay on track for its ambition of becoming a $30 trillion economy by 2047. He emphasised that large-scale capital formation in infrastructure and high-growth sectors will be crucial in the decades ahead.

3. Deep-tech startups call for stronger domestic market adoption

Founders from Indian deep-tech companies highlighted that subsidies or grants alone are not enough. They pointed out that domestic market demand, procurement opportunities and customer readiness are essential for scaling commercialisation, especially in sectors like robotics, space-tech and AI.

4. Deep-tech expected to form one-third of India’s VC funding soon

According to Accel’s Prashanth Prakash, deep-tech companies could account for up to one-third of all VC funding in India in the coming years. With emerging activity in AI, quantum, spacetech and advanced manufacturing, investors anticipate a major shift from consumer-tech to frontier innovation.

5. India’s space economy projected to grow to $44–45 billion in 10 years

At the India International Space Conclave 2025, industry bodies projected the country’s space-economy valuation to rise from the current ~$8 billion to nearly $45 billion within a decade. The expansion is expected to be driven by satellite manufacturing, private launch services, earth-observation startups and space-data applications.

6. India’s October trade deficit widens to a record $41.68 billion

India recorded its highest-ever monthly trade deficit in October, driven by a surge in gold imports and weak demand from key export markets. The widening gap has raised concerns about pressures on the country’s current account and external balances.

7. India finalises first major term contract to import 10% of LPG from the U.S.

State-run oil companies have signed a landmark deal under which nearly 10% of India’s LPG imports will come from the U.S. beginning in 2026. This is India’s first structured term contract of such scale and is expected to strengthen supply-chain diversification.

8. Rajasthan’s iStart portal crosses 7,100 registered startups

Rajasthan’s flagship startup initiative, iStart, has achieved a major milestone with over 7,100 startups registered, ₹1,000 crore in investments facilitated and more than 42,000 jobs created. The state government said the platform has become a key driver of innovation in the region.

9. Telangana introduces first-of-its-kind gig workers’ welfare bill

The Telangana cabinet has approved the draft of the Platform-Based Gig Workers Act, 2025, aimed at providing registration, social security, algorithmic transparency and welfare funding for gig workers. The bill positions the state as a potential national leader in gig-economy regulation.

10. Railways announces rationalised rates for bulk cement transport

The Ministry of Railways has introduced a new pricing structure for bulk cement transport, setting a uniform slab-free rate of 90 paise per tonne per km. The policy intends to boost containerised cement movement and improve logistics efficiencies for the construction industry.

11. Piyush Goyal urges Indian billionaires to fund deep-tech startups

Speaking at a major business event, Minister Piyush Goyal called on Indian billionaires to pool domestic capital to support deep-tech ventures. He stressed the need for home-grown funding to reduce dependency on foreign investors and strengthen strategic sectors.

12. Genloop recognised among Top Tech 30 startups at TechSparks 2025

Enterprise-AI startup Genloop has been named among the ‘Top Tech 30’ startups of 2025 at the TechSparks Bengaluru summit. The recognition highlights the increasing momentum being seen in AI-driven enterprise and productivity solutions.

Today’s developments signal a maturing innovation ecosystem where policy reform, high-value sectors like space and deep-tech, and macroeconomic trends are shaping the country’s growth trajectory. For Indian startups, the landscape is increasingly defined by scale, adoption and global competitiveness — making it essential for founders, investors and policymakers to align around long-term outcomes.