MUMBAI- India’s economic ambitions took centre stage at the ETNOW.in Business Conclave & Awards 2025, where industry stalwarts and policymakers mapped out the nation’s journey toward a $5 trillion economy by 2030. Aligned with ET NOW’s ‘Rise with India’ ethos, the event served as a strategic forum for discussions on AI, digital policy, space technology, and national security key pillars of the Viksit Bharat vision.
Union minister Jitendra Singh highlighted India’s rapid strides in the space sector, revealing that the industry attracted Rs 1,000 crore in private investments within months of opening to commercial players. He projected a fivefold expansion of India’s space economy, reaching $44 billion in the next decade, citing missions like Gaganyaan as milestones of self-reliance.
Former union minister and tech investor Rajeev Chandrasekhar made a compelling case for revamping India’s outdated IT laws, stressing that the 25-year-old IT Act fails to account for the Internet and AI—two transformative forces driving the digital economy. “A modern, entrepreneur-first legal framework is needed, free from unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles,” he asserted.
Governor of Arunachal Pradesh, Lt. Gen. K.T. Parnaik (Retd.), underscored the role of strong border security and infrastructure in economic growth, detailing Arunachal Pradesh’s potential as a hydropower hub with a capacity of 58,000 MW.
The ETNOW.in Business Conclave & Awards 2025 honoured excellence across 82 categories, recognising industry leaders driving innovation and impact. Naveen Kukreja (Paisabazaar.com) and Ashish Kashyap (IND Money) were named ETNOW Industry Icons, while Central Park Flower Valley secured the Leading Township of the Year award.
ACT21 Software Pvt. Ltd. was celebrated for Excellence in Fintech with its HyPerform solution, and VAXIFLU-4 (Zydus) received the Service Excellence Award in Vaccines & Prevention. In the branding space, U.S. Polo was recognised for its Excellence in Marketing Campaign (2024-2025), while Exhale Label emerged as the Emerging Fashion Brand, reinforcing its growing influence in the fashion industry.
