Nov 1: India’s REIT Boom, Next Hiring Wave,

Ok, so this is clearly becoming a trend that we just did not see coming. After yesterday's news about how French tech-dude-person had put ads on his wedding tuxedo to pay for the event, it seems wedding outfits are fast turning into cash cows. In most recent news, an Indian bride’s father stuck a PayTM QR code on his shirt pocket to get ‘digital shaguns’. Uncle, GST?

Now, let’s get into the Dispatch! 🚀

Today’s reading time is 6 mins.

The Indian stock market fell for a second straight day on Friday, driven by profit booking, mixed corporate earnings, and cautious global sentiment. Despite the decline, the Sensex and Nifty still recorded their best monthly gains in seven months.

The Big Number: India’s Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) market is set to explode from around ₹10.4 lakh crore in 2025 to a whopping ₹19.7 lakh crore by 2030, according to Knight Frank India. The surge marks a near-doubling in value within just five years, driven by strong office demand, policy tailwinds, and investors’ growing appetite for income-yielding real-estate assets.

What’s A REIT Bro? A REIT is a company that pools in capital from many investors to purchase a large portfolio of residential / commercial properties. In turn investors receive a portion of the income generated by the properties, usually through dividends. 

What’s Driving The Boom: A decade ago, REITs were barely a blip on India’s investment radar. Today, they’re mainstream. Institutional and private-equity participation has soared, bringing transparency and liquidity to commercial real estate. Urbanisation, the rise of tech-driven companies, and evolving work habits have created a steady demand for Grade A office spaces, retail centres, and logistics hubs.

The Current Landscape: India now has five listed REITs, collectively managing about 177 million sq ft of space worth over ₹2.3 lakh crore, with nearly 3 lakh retail investors holding units. These trusts deliver stable annual dividend yields of around 5.5 %, making them an attractive alternative to volatile equities and low-yield fixed deposits. India’s office stock already exceeds one billion sq ft, the fourth largest in the world and growing.

The Road Ahead: By 2030, India’s REIT market is expected to diversify beyond offices and malls into data centres, industrial parks, hospitality, and warehousing. For investors, that means a broader, more accessible real-estate play without the hassle of physical ownership. For developers, it unlocks cheaper, long-term capital and global exposure.

From Degrees To Deliverables: The Indian job market is quietly but decisively shifting. A new report highlights how employers are now placing greater weight on demonstrable job-readiness rather than academic qualifications. It’s not about what college you went to, but whether you can hit the ground running on Day 1. With technology redefining every industry, from finance to logistics, recruiters are looking for candidates who bring real-world skills not just theoretical knowledge. And while degrees still matter for credibility, they’re no longer the deciding factor.

What Employers Want: The traits topping every hiring manager’s wish list today are communication, critical thinking, creativity, and leadership. Problem-solvers and quick learners are the new gold standard. Companies are partnering directly with institutions to bridge this readiness gap. Think IIT Delhi’s INAE-Infosys Foundation Centre for Engineering Education, or IIT Hyderabad’s tie-up with Renesas Electronics for semiconductor training. Apprenticeships, bootcamps, and finishing-school programs are turning into credible gateways to full-time employment.

Job-Readiness Becomes A Metric: From internships to data-driven assessments, recruiters are increasingly relying on proof of work to evaluate potential hires. Platforms that track skill validation through project portfolios or coding challenges are shaping a new merit system. Government-backed schemes like the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) have also given this model institutional backing, helping employers identify candidates with hands-on experience rather than mere paper degrees.

The Larger Picture: This shift has deep implications. For job-seekers, the comfort of a degree as a safety net is fading what counts now is demonstrable capability. For employers, it’s a win: shorter training periods, better alignment, and reduced churn. For academia though, it’s a wake-up call to sync syllabi with what the market actually demands.

IPO Alert: India’s IPO market is gearing up for a blockbuster November with more than ₹76,000 crore worth of issues lined up across tech, renewables, healthcare and consumer sectors. Retail investors and domestic liquidity are driving the momentum, while companies are racing the calendar to list before year-end.

Russian Crude Pause: Top Indian refiners, historically major buyers of Russian crude, have paused new purchases amid tighter US/EU sanctions on Russian producers. The shift means higher cost crude from non-Russian sources looms, potentially pressuring margins and fuel prices.

India’s Deficit Hits ₹5.73 Lakh Crore: The fiscal deficit for April–September has ballooned to ₹5.73 lakh crore - about 36.5 % of the full-year target - up sharply from the same period last year. On the surface, it’s just numbers; beneath it, it signals that higher spending is outpacing revenue growth. The budget discipline alarm bells are ringing louder.

India’s Reserves Drop Nearly $7 Billion: India’s foreign exchange reserves fell by $6.92 billion to $695.36 billion for the week ending Oct 24, according to the Reserve Bank of India. The dip signals possible intervention to stabilise the rupee or rising external outflows. While still high in absolute terms, the slide raises questions about how long India can lean on this buffer before pressures start biting.

Tuticorin Port Nails ₹1.27 Lakh Crore Of MoUs: V. O. Chidambaranar Port Authority (Tuticorin Port) inked 28 agreements, totalling more than ₹1.27 lakh crore, focussed on green ammonia, hydrogen and energy storage. The push shows Tamil Nadu’s ambition to become a clean-energy and logistics hub.

China Clears Rare Earth Imports For 4 Indian Firms: After a six-month export freeze, China has granted licences to four Indian companies to import heavy rare earth magnets, a key input for EVs and renewables. The deal comes with strings “no re-exports to the U.S., no military use”. For India’s manufacturing ambitions, this is relief but with a hefty caveat about dependence and conditions.

Air India Hits Up Owners For $1.14 Billion Lifeline: After a tragic June crash and mounting operational woes, Air India is reportedly seeking ₹10,000 crore (≈$1.14 billion) in support from its owners Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines. The funds are earmarked for upgrading systems, engineering/maintenance capabilities and restoring credibility. With Tata holding 74.9% and SIA the rest, the ask remains whether this will be equity, an interest-free loan or both.

Ford Bets ₹3,250 Crore On Tamil Nadu Plant: Ford is plunging about ₹3,250 crore (≈$370 million) into its Maraimalai Nagar site in Tamil Nadu to build high-end engines for export even as the US pushes firms to keep manufacturing domestic. The plant is set to churn out over 200,000 units annually and signals renewed faith in India as a global manufacturing hub. Notably, the engines are not destined for the US market.