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Bioplastics can become Maharashtra’s next Rs 25,000 crore growth engine

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Mumbai, July 3: In a major push to tackle plastic pollution and position Maharashtra as a green manufacturing hub, the MahaYuti government has approved the Maharashtra Bioplastics Policy 2026, aimed at promoting bioplastics manufacturing through a comprehensive package of incentives and dedicated funding.

The policy, which will remain in force from 2026 to 2031, seeks to transform Maharashtra into a national hub for bioplastics manufacturing, research, innovation and exports. The government expects the initiative to attract investments worth Rs 25,000 crore, create 1.31 lakh direct and indirect jobs, and generate an estimated Rs 30,039 crore in revenue.

The policy also targets the creation of 2 lakh tonnes per annum (TPA) of PLA and biopolymer production capacity, reducing the state’s dependence on imported PLA by 50 per cent

Additionally, Maharashtra aims to replace 30 per cent of single-use plastics in selected sectors with compostable alternatives, achieve $1 billion in exports, and integrate 1 lakh farmers into the bioplastics value chain.

The state Cabinet has approved a total outlay of Rs 10,892 crore, including Rs 782 crore during the first five years and Rs 10,110 crore over the subsequent 20 years. A provision of Rs 50 crore has been made for 2026-27 under the Package Scheme of Incentives.

Government sources said rising concerns over conventional plastic waste, microplastics, marine pollution and greenhouse gas emissions have necessitated policy intervention to promote bio-based and biodegradable alternatives. While the global bioplastics market is expanding rapidly, India currently accounts for just 0.46 per cent of global output. It remains heavily dependent on imports of key biopolymers such as Polylactic Acid (PLA).

Maharashtra enjoys several competitive advantages, including its leadership in sugarcane, sugar and ethanol production, which provides abundant feedstock such as corn, bagasse and molasses. Coupled with a strong chemicals industry, premier research institutions and logistics infrastructure anchored by the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA), the state is well positioned to develop a robust bioplastics ecosystem. The urgency of the shift is underscored by the generation of nearly 3.96 lakh tonnes of plastic waste in the state during 2022-23.

The policy covers the entire value chain, from raw material processing and production of PLA, PHA, PBS and other biopolymers to compounding, end-product manufacturing, testing facilities, composting and certification services. All eligible units will be required to obtain BIS/ISO 17088 certification or equivalent standards recognised by the Central Pollution Control Board.

Key focus areas include standards and certification, cluster-based industrial parks, common facility centres, research and centres of excellence, skill development, support for MSMEs and startups, increased participation of women and rural youth, and promotion of foreign investment and exports. The government also plans to establish two Centres of Excellence to foster innovation and technology development. Only Greenfield (new) investments and dedicated Brownfield expansions for bioplastics will be eligible.

To attract large-scale investments, Maharashtra will offer a tiered incentive framework, including special benefits for the first two anchor projects involving investments of Rs 3,000 crore or more. These projects will be eligible for capital subsidies of up to 30 per cent of fixed capital investment over 10 years, 100 per cent SGST reimbursement for 12 years, full electricity duty waivers and stamp duty exemptions, among other incentives.

Additional benefits include export incentives, reimbursement of employers’ provident fund contributions, and support for adoption of green technologies. Similar incentives will be available to the first 10 eligible large, mega and MSME units. Standalone R&D facilities will receive financial assistance of up to 50 per cent, subject to a ceiling of Rs 25 lakh.

The policy also provides an additional “green incentive” for units adopting zero liquid discharge systems, renewable energy and circular economy practices, reinforcing Maharashtra’s ambition to emerge as a leading sustainable manufacturing destination.

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Swiggy’s Q2 net loss widens sequentially to Rs 922 crore

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Food delivery and quick-commerce platform Swiggy on Thursday reported a consolidated net loss of Rs 922 crore for the quarter ended September 2026 (Q2 FY27), compared with a loss of Rs 791 crore in the preceding quarter (Q1 FY27).

However, the company’s losses narrowed from Rs 1,092 crore recorded in the corresponding period last financial year (Q2 FY26), according to its stock exchange filing.

Revenue from operations increased 36.1 per cent year-on-year to Rs 7,571 crore from Rs 5,620 crore, driven by growth across food delivery, quick commerce and out-of-home consumption segments.

Despite the robust revenue growth, total expenses climbed to Rs 8,703 crore from Rs 6,711 crore a year ago, as per its regulatory filing.

Swiggy’s core food delivery business continued to strengthen profitability during the quarter. Gross order value (GOV) for the segment rose 17.7 per cent year-on-year to Rs 10,054 crore, while adjusted EBITDA improved by Rs 101 crore to Rs 341 crore.

The adjusted EBITDA margin stood at 3.4 per cent of GOV, marking the business’s highest-ever profitability and margin performance.

The company’s out-of-home consumption business also maintained momentum, with GOV growing 34.9 per cent year-on-year to Rs 1,508 crore.

The segment reported its seventh consecutive quarter of profitability, delivering an adjusted EBITDA margin of 0.5 per cent of GOV.

Meanwhile, quick-commerce arm Instamart continued its expansion push. Net order value (NOV) rose 31.4 per cent year-on-year and 13.4 per cent sequentially to Rs 6,954 crore.

During the quarter, Instamart added 69 dark stores, taking its total network to 1,240 stores nationwide. However, the aggressive expansion continued to weigh on profitability. Instamart reported a loss of Rs 895 crore for the quarter.

Its contribution margin improved by 157 basis points year-on-year to minus 1 per cent of GOV, though it declined by 82 basis points on a sequential basis.

The segment’s adjusted EBITDA margin improved marginally to minus 9.7 per cent from minus 9.8 per cent in the previous quarter.

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Adani Energy Solutions profit more than doubles to Rs 1,364 crore in Q2, revenue rises 51 pc

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Adani Energy Solutions Ltd (AESL) on Thursday reported a 145 per cent year-on-year rise in consolidated net profit to Rs 1,364 crore for the quarter ended September 30, 2026, delivering record performance.

According to the company’s exchange filing, total income rose 51 per cent to Rs 10,239 crore in Q2 FY27 from Rs 6,767 crore in Q2 FY26.

Meanwhile, operational revenue grew 51 per cent to Rs 7,167 crore driven by healthy contribution from the transmission and energy solutions platform.

In Q2FY27, EBITDA stood at Rs 3,548 crore, an increase of 67 per cent year-on-year, while operating EBITDA rose 68 per cent to Rs 3,070 crore. This is an all-time high quarterly EBITDA for the company.

In addition, consolidated PAT jumped 137 per cent to Rs 2,600 crore for H1 FY27, while total income rose 46 per cent to Rs 20,092 crore.

Commenting on the earnings, Adani Energy Solutions CEO Kandarp Patel said, “AESL closed the first half of the fiscal year with strong financial and operational momentum, laying a robust foundation for future growth. We significantly expanded our growth pipeline by winning the strategic Vizag and Satara transmission assets, elevating our active order book to around Rs 87,000 crore.”

He said operationally, the Mumbai distribution business grew by about 11 per cent in units sold, while the smart metering platform scaled its installation base to approximately 15 million meters.

“A significant 2.5 GW RTC power supply contract with MSEDCL reinforced AESL’s core competencies in multi-source energy aggregation and power supply optimisation for customers,” Patel said.

“Backed by robust quarter-on-quarter performance across all business segments and strict financial prudence, we are well-positioned to convert this massive project pipeline into long-term stakeholder value,” he added.

Segment-wise, the company’s transmission operating revenue rose 17 per cent year-on-year to Rs 1,521 crore in Q2, while distribution (AEML and MUL) revenue grew 2 per cent to Rs 3,181 crore.

Smart metering operating revenue (Ind AS) surged 129 per cent to Rs 267 crore and energy solutions revenue stood at Rs 2,197 crore.

Shares of Adani Energy Solutions ended at Rs 1,293 on the BSE. The Adani Group stock has recorded a 52-week high of Rs 1,789 and a 52-week low of Rs 804.70, according to the exchange data.

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Sensex, Nifty open lower as Asian markets tumble, crude oil climbs

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Indian equity benchmarks opened lower on Thursday tracking weak Asian markets and concerns over elevated crude oil prices and high US bond yields.

Sensex opened 366.36 points or 0.50 per cent lower at 73,343.33, while Nifty began the trading session at 22,687.75, declining 123.60 points or 0.54 per cent.

Sector-wise, most indices traded in the red with auto, metal and healthcare shares leading losses in early trade.

Nifty Auto, Nifty Metal and Nifty Healthcare declined up to 0.98 per cent. Meanwhile, Nifty Pharma also slipped 0.78 per cent.

Broader weakness was also visible across FMCG, realty, cement and financial stocks.

Analysts said the recent trend of large-cap stocks outperforming mid and small caps appears to be gathering momentum as valuation concerns emerge in the broader market.

“The broader market resilience in recent months has been more a function of liquidity than earnings. This has created a paradox of overvalued mid and small caps coexisting with attractively valued large-caps. This trend is now getting corrected and is likely to sustain,” they said.

The eperts also pointed to external headwinds, including rising crude prices and elevated US Treasury yields which are encouraging traders to build short positions despite continued institutional buying.

“Sectoral churn towards fairly valued large caps is the ideal investment strategy now. It may take time, but this strategy will certainly be rewarded,” they added.

Technical analysts said the recent sharp decline and the breach of the 22,700 level on the Nifty raised the risk of a deeper correction.

“Recovery hopes rest on the ability of 22,590 to hold, but a move back above 22,840 will be needed to confirm renewed upside strength,” according to them.

On Wednesday, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) turned net buyers and purchased equities worth about Rs 1,022 crore. Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) also remained buyers with net purchases of around Rs 1,614 crore.

In Asian markets, major indices remained under pressure. Japan’s Nikkei, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng and South Korea’s Kospi dropped up to 2 per cent in early trading.

Overnight, Wall Street ended higher led by technology shares. The Nasdaq advanced around 1 per cent after strong corporate earnings boosted sentiment around artificial intelligence-related stocks, while the S&P 500 gained 0.58 per cent.

Meanwhile, Brent crude futures rose more than 1 per cent to trade around $110 per barrel, adding to inflation concerns and weighing on investor sentiment.

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