Economy & Market

Budget 2025: Paving the way for India’s cement sector expansion

Published

2 years ago

February 10, 2025

Roshna

The Union budget 2025-2026 sets the foundation for a resilient and progressive nation, with the cement industry poised to play a pivotal role in this transformative journey, says Neetu Vinayek.

India is the second largest cement producer in the world after China. The Economic Survey for 2024-25 mentioned that the current cement industry in India has adequate capacity to meet domestic demand. The Union Budget for fiscal year 2025-2026 solidifies the foundations of India’s infrastructure and economic growth. Government’s strategic focus on infrastructure will stimulate surge in demand for cement in the fiscal year.

The Union Budget’s strategic focus on infrastructure development, with a massive capital expenditure of Rs 11.21 trillion, indicates a bolster for India’s construction sector. One of the strategic initiatives is the establishment of an Urban Challenge Fund with an allocation of Rs 1 trillion, aimed at implementing ‘Cities as Growth Hubs’. This is likely to trigger a wave of construction projects across urban India. Additionally, the government’s proposal to establish the Special Window for Affordable and Mid-Income Housing (SWAMIH) Fund 2, with a corpus of Rs 150 billion, is designed to expedite the completion of 100,000 housing units, further boosting the housing sector.

The budget outlines each infrastructure ministry to come up with a three-year pipeline for projects that can be implemented in Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode. This is complemented by the provision of Rs 1.5 trillion for 50-year interest-free loans to states, earmarked for capital expenditure. These financial injections into the infrastructure domain are poised to create a ripple effect, elevating the demand for cement as a core material in construction and development projects. The budget’s allocations are a clear signal of the government’s commitment to cementing the foundation for sustainable growth and modernisation of the nation’s infrastructure.

The government is set to introduce a national framework to guide states in the establishment of Global Capability Centres (GCCs) in emerging tier II cities. This framework will outline strategies to improve the availability of infrastructure, thereby supporting the growth and development of these cities. Additionally, the government will take active steps to enhance the infrastructure of warehousing for air cargo, ensuring that facilities are upgraded to meet the increasing demands of trade and logistics. These initiatives reflect a commitment to bolstering the nation’s infrastructure and facilitating economic growth across various regions.

Greenfield airports will be launched in Bihar to meet the future needs of the State. These will be in addition to the expansion of the capacity of the Patna airport and the brownfield airport at Bihta.

The ripple effects of these initiatives including infrastructure development systems, urban infrastructure, airport construction etc. will likely stimulate the entire supply chain associated with construction, including the production and supply of cement.

From fiscal policy perspective, the government’s initiative to table the new income-tax bill which is focused on simplification will help the sector adopt clear tax policies and reduce litigation. The budget announced rationalisation of requirements and procedures for speedy approvals for mergers. The scope for fast-track mergers will also be widened and process will be made simpler, this will aid the private sector with acquisitions and increase capacity.

MSME in the sector are also set to gain with increase in limits for qualifying as MSME which will allow better access to capital.

With focus on ease of doing business, the government has recognised that all regulations must keep up with technological innovations and global policy developments. A light-touch regulatory framework based on principles and trust will unleash productivity and employment. The government is working on updating regulations that were made under old laws. High level committees will be set-up to review all non-financial sector regulations, certifications, licenses, and permissions.

From tax perspective, removal of TCS on sale of goods is a welcome move and will reduce compliance burden and provide clarity on purchase of goods transaction. Further, rationalisation of limits for TDS will support MSME sector reduce compliance burden. The government has made serious of amendments for International and Financial Services Centre (IFSC) to promote and develop world-class financial infrastructure in India. It can help companies in the sector raise debt at competitive interest rates and provide access to global funds.

With positive signs for growth, manufacturers are also working towards reducing their carbon footprint and move towards green cement. For this, companies are exploring investments in new technologies, and R&D. The government has announced initiative for private sector driven research, development and innovation with allocation of Rs 200 billion. Manufacturers may seek such incentives and invest in R&D.

The Union budget 2025-2026 is a testament to the government’s integrated approach to fortifying India’s infrastructure. It sets the foundation for a resilient and progressive nation, with the cement industry poised to play a pivotal role in this transformative journey. The initiatives and policy measures announced in this budget are concrete steps toward realizing the dream of a Viksit Bharat@2047.

About the author:

Neetu Vinayek is Partner and Tax Leader – Infrastructure at EY LLP.

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Wonder Cement appoints Mahesh Singh as VP Corporate Brand Communication

Published

1 week ago

October 9, 2026

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Singh brings 20+ years of brand and marketing experience, and will lead integrated corporate brand communication initiatives at Wonder Cement

New Delhi

Wonder Cement, a leading cement manufacturer, has appointed Mahesh Singh as Vice President – Corporate Brand Communication. In his new role, he will oversee corporate brand strategy and communication, including digital and performance marketing, public relations, trade, events, exhibitions, sports and experiential marketing.

Singh brings over two decades of experience across marketing and communications, with roles spanning the automotive industry, agencies and entrepreneurship. He spent more than a decade with Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, working across integrated communication, media, digital, retail and consumer engagement. His stint also included helping build the company’s digital marketing capabilities.

He moved to dentsu X India as Vice President – Strategy & Planning, working across categories such as automotive, auto components, electric vehicles, FMCG, consumer electronics, BFSI, apparel and brand consulting. His responsibilities included media and marketing strategy, product launches, content, performance marketing and consumer activations.

Singh subsequently took an entrepreneurial route with Radiant Brands before joining Shriram Ltd (SPR Autotech) as Head – Marketing & Communications. There, his remit included brand and corporate strategy, communications, PR and ORM, retail identity, loyalty programmes and events.

At Wonder Cement, Singh will be responsible for bringing together the company’s corporate brand communication initiatives across digital, performance marketing, PR, trade, sports and experiential platforms. The role will focus on creating an integrated approach to communication across consumers, trade partners and other key stakeholders.

The appointment brings to Wonder Cement a marketer whose career has spanned the brand, agency and entrepreneurial sides of the communications ecosystem.

Wonder Cement, part of the RK Group, is a cement manufacturer with roots in Rajasthan and a focus on quality, trust and transparency. The company has grown to six manufacturing plants, and a cement capacity of 21.5 MTPA. With more than 2,000 employees and a network of over 5,000 dealers, its operations span manufacturing, distribution and customer engagement, with a focus on consistent product quality and efficient execution.

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JSW Cement commissions additional 1 MTPA grinding unit at Nagaur

Published

2 weeks ago

October 8, 2026

admin

With this commissioning, JSW Cement’s total cement grinding capacity has increased to 25.10 MTPA,
Mumbai

JSW Cement, one of India’s leading green cement producers and part of the diversified JSW Group, today announced the successful commissioning of an additional 1.00 MTPA cement grinding unit at Nagaur, Rajasthan. The commissioning marks another significant milestone in the Company’s growth strategy.

With this commissioning, JSW Cement’s total cement grinding capacity has increased to 25.10 MTPA, while its total clinker manufacturing capacity, including clinker capacity at its joint venture, JSW Cement FZC, stands at 9.74 MTPA.

JSW Cement had commenced operations in North India in March 2026 with the Nagaur Integrated Plant, comprising a 3.30 MTPA clinkerisation unit and 2.50 MTPA cement grinding unit. With the commissioning of the additional 1.00 MTPA cement grinding unit, the plant’s total cement grinding capacity has increased to 3.50 MTPA, enhancing the company’s ability to cater to the growing cement demand across Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and the National Capital Region (NCR). The expansion has been funded through a strategic mix of equity and long-term debt.

During the quarter ended 30th September 2026, JSW Cement has also commissioned the Alternate Fuel Handling System and the Waste Heat Recovery system (WHRS) at the Nagaur Integrated Plant.

Nilesh Narwekar, CEO, JSW Cement, said: “The commissioning of additional 1.00 MTPA grinding capacity at Nagaur is a key strategic priority for us and will accelerate JSW Cement’s expansion into North India. We look forward to servicing the growing needs of the region and contributing to the economic growth of Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and the NCR area. I am delighted to share that the company has commissioned this grinding unit within the expected timeline, showcasing our project execution capabilities. Further, the Alternate Fuel Handling System and the Waste Heat Recovery system (WHRS) are expected to substantially reduce our production costs going forward.”

Concrete

UltraTech becomes first Indian cement firm to cross 2 GW green energy

Published

2 weeks ago

October 7, 2026

admin

UltraTech Cement has crossed 2 GW of captive green energy capacity, with renewables and waste heat recovery meeting 48 per cent of its power needs.

Mumbai

UltraTech Cement Limited has surpassed 2 GW of installed green energy capacity for captive use, becoming the first cement company in India to achieve the milestone. The Aditya Birla Group company commissioned 116.55 MW of wind capacity at its Inter-State Transmission System-connected wind-solar hybrid project in Barmer, Rajasthan, along with 10 MW of Waste Heat Recovery System capacity at Sarlanagar Cement Works in Karnataka.

With these additions, UltraTech’s cumulative installed green energy capacity has reached 2,024 MW. This includes 1,580 MW of renewable energy capacity and 444 MW of waste heat recovery capacity, together meeting around 48 per cent of the company’s current power requirements.

The company said the milestone reflects the progress of its long-term energy transition strategy. In FY27 so far, nearly one-third of UltraTech’s 76 manufacturing units in India have maintained green energy utilisation above 50 per cent of their electricity requirements, while five units have crossed 95 per cent.

K C Jhanwar, Managing Director, UltraTech Cement Limited, said, “Crossing the 2 GW green energy milestone is the result of a strategy we have pursued consistently over the past decade. Cement is an energy-intensive, hard-to-abate sector, and showing that reliability and growth can go hand in hand with a rapid shift to green energy sets a benchmark for the industry. With nearly half of our power needs now met through green energy, we are significantly less exposed to fossil fuel supply constraints and power price volatility. As we scale up renewables, waste heat recovery and battery storage across our operations, we are building an energy foundation for stable, long-term growth.”

UltraTech commissioned 430 MW of green energy capacity in FY26 and continues to expand its renewable energy and waste heat recovery portfolio.

The company is also progressively integrating Battery Energy Storage Systems across its operations to improve renewable energy utilisation and supply reliability.

In 2025, UltraTech operationalised what it described as India’s first on-site hybrid round-the-clock renewable energy project at Sewagram Cement Works in Gujarat. The project combines solar, wind and battery storage.

As part of its decarbonisation strategy, UltraTech said it has not invested in new captive thermal power capacity for either greenfield projects or brownfield expansions at its integrated units for more than a decade.

The company said its expanding green energy portfolio is helping reduce dependence on conventional grid electricity and fossil fuel-based power, while lowering exposure to fluctuations in coal and electricity prices.

UltraTech aims to increase green energy’s share in its total power mix to 85 per cent by 2030. As a member of RE100, it has also committed to meeting 100 per cent of its electricity requirement through renewable sources by 2050.

UltraTech Cement, the cement flagship of the Aditya Birla Group, has a total grey cement capacity of 210.1 MTPA and white cement and putty capacity of 3.5 MTPA. The company is also a signatory to the GCCA Climate Ambition 2050 and has committed to the GCCA Net Zero Concrete roadmap.