CII Live

"Over the past two years, the India–EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) has not only expanded India’s global market access beyond European economies but has also fostered meaningful collaborations that highlight the strong economic complementarities between India and EFTA countries." -Shveta Arya, Chairperson, CII CEO Forum for Clean Air and Managing Director, Cummins India @CimGOI @DoC_GoI @CII4Global @ciicesd #IndiaEFTATEPA

India’s cotton sector is on a strong growth trajectory. With production projected to reach 7.2 Mn tonnes by 2030, driven by rising consumer demand and expanding textile manufacturing, the country continues to reinforce its position as the world’s largest cotton producer. #CottonProduction #TextileSector

Listen to Varsha Patil, Co-Founder, Vidyoday Muktangan Parivar Foundation, as she shares her inspiring journey of transforming rural education in Abdullat village, Maharashtra through experiential STEM learning for children of migrant workers and underserved communities. Tune in to the full conversation:shorturl.at/Jg2vg #CIIPodcasts #WomenLeadership #STEMEducation #InclusiveEducation @CIIFoundation

"On the 2nd anniversary of India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) signing, Indian industry congratulates the Government of India and remains fully committed to leveraging TEPA to drive investment, innovation, exports and employment in the years ahead." - Narayan Sethuramon, Co-Chairman, CII Trade Policy Council and CII International Council and Managing Director, Sanmar Matrix Metals Limited @CimGOI @DoC_GoI @CII4Global @ciicesd #IndiaEFTATEPA

Some glimpses from the Day 1 of the International Rail Coach Expo 2026 (IRCE 2026), being held in Chennai. Organized by the Integral Coach Factory, Ministry of Railways, GoI, in association with CII, the event brings together leading companies, technology providers, manufacturers and key stakeholders from the railway sector under one platform to showcase the latest developments and innovations in railway coach technologies. @RailMinIndia @icfindrlys @CIITradefairs #IRCE2026 #IndianRailways #RailInnovation #RailTechnology

Privileged to participate alongside General Anil Chauhan, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, Chief of Defence Staff, at a closed-door roundtable organised by CII at Bengaluru today on “Enhancing Space Capabilities in the Indian Defence Sector”. Reps of more than 40 startups and industries participated in the discussion. Dr BK Das, DG ECS, DRDO, Dr D.K. Singh, Director HSFC, ISRO and AVM Manu Midha, DG DSA shared their insights on this important topic. Strengthening our indigenous space ecosystem in terms of research and manufacturing is imperative for ushering in Atmanirbhar & ViksitBharat🇮🇳 @DRDO_India @HQ_IDS_India @SpokespersonMoD @isro

CII organised a closed-door discussion on “Enhancing Space Capabilities in the Indian Defence Sector” on 13 March in Bengaluru. General Anil Chauhan, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, CDS of India, interacted with 40 industry and startup leaders from the Indian space ecosystem. The discussion also saw participation from Dr. G. Satheesh Reddy, Member, NSAB and Adviser to the Government of Andhra Pradesh, along with representatives from ISRO and DSA. #CII4Space @SIDMIndia

"India’s recalibration of its approach to Chinese investments marks an important moment in the evolution of India-China economic ties. The revised framework under Press Note 3 (PN3) signals a pragmatic attempt to balance India’s strategic and security considerations with the economic opportunities that carefully structured investment from China could bring," writes Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, CII. Read the full article at: shorturl.at/Jmgio @CB_CII @livemint

India holds immense potential for growth and innovation in the education sector, supported by its large youth demographic, rapid digital transformation and growing focus on skill development. #DYK India’s education and training industry is projected to reach US$313 bn by FY30! #Education #SkillDevelopment

India’s stories are winning hearts across the world and our Media & Entertainment (M&E) sector is driving this global rise. Our unique mix of rich traditions, diverse languages and a young, tech-savvy population is helping Indian stories travel far beyond our borders. This is not just entertainment; it is India’s soft power in action, building global goodwill, promoting tourism and creating millions of jobs. Read the #CIIBlog to know more: shorturl.at/FNruQ #MediaAndEntertainment #CreativeEconomy

'Having the flexibility to expand the list of eligible sectors based on evolving needs is a positive approach,' says @rajivmemani, President, @FollowCII after India tweaks Press Note 3 to ease some FDI norms. He tells @AshmitTejKumar that the focus is on balancing investment inflows with strategic safeguards. #PressNote3 #FDI #Investment

Education in India is evolving faster than ever. From tech-driven classrooms to real-world skills like creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving, Education 4.0 is shaping the future. With AI, ML, and IoT leading the way, India’s EdTech sector is set to reach $30Bn by 2031, making learning smarter, more flexible, and more accessible than ever. #CII4Education #EdTech #FutureOfLearning @cii4education

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) facilitated a joint interaction between healthcare providers and insurance companies with Shri Ajay Seth, Chairman, Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), on 17 March 2026 in New Delhi, to deliberate on critical payor–provider challenges. The session was held in the presence of Dr Naresh Trehan, Chairman, CII Steering Group on Health and Healthcare Council, and Chairman and Managing Director, Medanta – The Medicity; Mr Tapan Kumar Singhel, Chairman, CII National Committee on Insurance & Pensions and Managing Director & CEO, Bajaj General Insurance; Mr Deepak Sood, Member (Non-Life), IRDAI; and Mr Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, CII. The discussion focused on strengthening trust, improving transparency, and enabling a more structured and collaborative framework for engagement between healthcare providers and insurance companies. A key outcome was the emphasis on a phased reform approach, with 10 Working Groups constituted. The 5 priority areas identified in Phase I include the development of a Joint Code of Conduct, Categorisation of Healthcare Providers, Adoption and Scale-up of the National Health Claims Exchange (NHCX), Focused Studies on Claim Trends, Cashless versus Reimbursement and Medical inflation, and Development of a Basic Insurance Product with Wellness Components. @CB_CII @medanta @bajajgeneral

Obesity is not just about weight, it is a serious health problem. More people are suffering from high blood pressure developing diabetes, and what is even more alarming is that it leads to certain types of cancer. The cause could be unhealthy eating habits, less physical activity, increased screen time, etc. We should encourage more physical activity, conduct events in schools and communities that focus more on prevention so that we have a healthy environment and healthy people around. - GT Dhungel, Minister of Health & Family Welfare and Culture, Government of Sikkim at 2nd National Obesity Summit @CII4Health #CII4Health #2ndNationalObesitySummit #CIINationalObesitySummit

In our country, we are sitting at an intersection - we have malnutrition on one side and obesity on the other. We should ask the question how did we come to this tsunami of cardiovascular issues? How did we come to this point of mushrooming and relentless race of cancers across the world? - Dr Shubnum Singh, Principal Advisor, Healthcare CII at 2nd National Obesity Summit @CII4Health #CII4Health #2ndNationalObesitySummit #CIINationalObesitySummit

We need to be clear that millions are already living with obesity as a disease, as a chronic disease, and they need care today. We have to strengthen prevention at scale. We need this in schools, cities, food systems, and in policies. We have to shift the incentives. As long as unhealthy options are cheaper, more available, and more visible, we will not succeed. This requires policy, labelling, marketing restrictions, taxation, reformulation with the industry, the private sector, but within clear rules. -Dr Catherina Boehme, Officer-in-charge, WHO SEARO at 2nd National Obesity Summit @CII4Health #2ndNationalObesitySummit #CIINationalObesitySummit #CII4Health

Obesity isn’t just about calories, it’s about metabolism. Hyperinsulinemia and liver dysfunction lie at the root of modern obesity, emphasizing the need to restore metabolic health by healing the liver. From junk food and chronic stress to poor sleep and disrupted circadian rhythms, our lifestyles are quietly driving this imbalance. The solution is not quick fixes, but sustainable lifestyle shifts that address the root cause. - Dr (Prof.) Shalini Singh, Director, ICMR - National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research, Department of Health Research (DHR) at 2nd National Obesity Summit @CII4Health #2ndNationalObesitySummit #CIINationalObesitySummit #CII4Health

A coordinated, multi-sectoral approach is essential to tackle NCDs, combining community screenings, ASHA-led outreach and lifestyle interventions, while also addressing the key challenge of low risk perception around obesity. -Dr L Swasticharan, Additional Deputy Director General & Director, Emergency Medical Relief, Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) at 2nd National Obesity Summit. @CII4Health #2ndNationalObesitySummit #CIINationalObesitySummit #CII4Health

Growing demand for higher education and specialized programs continues to reshape the academic landscape of India. From US$ 68.06 Bn in 2024 to an estimated US$ 134.84 Bn by 2033, India’s higher education industry reflects a remarkable growth trajectory, driven by rapid technological advancements, evolving industry needs & a strong emphasis on skill-based learning. #EducationIndustry #LearningEconomy #IndiaGrowthStory

Odisha, ushers in a new landmark in the mining and construction sector. The CII ODISHA Mining & Construction Expo — East India’s largest mining exhibition—opened today, showcasing innovation, collaboration and industry excellence. 📅19 - 21 March 2026 📍Biju Patnaik Ground, Baramunda, Bhubaneswar, Odisha #OdishaMiningExpo #MiningIndustry #ConstructionEquipment #Infrastructure #MiningTechnology #CII #IndustrialGrowth @FollowCII | @CIIEvents | @CIITradefairs