Mr. Ketan Kulkarni, Deputy Managing Director, Gati Express and Supply Chain Pvt. Ltd. (GESCPL)
“Enhancing connectivity, achieving cost efficiency and building resilience and agility through technology adoption and capacity building have been key drivers as the logistics industry continues to enable India’s vision for Viksit Bharat 2047. Progress in rail and waterway freight movement, alongside extensive highway construction, has heralded a new era of multi-modal connectivity, setting the logistics sector on a robust growth trajectory. This progress strengthens India’s position as a rising global economic powerhouse.At Allcargo Gati, this environment has enabled us to fortify our networks, expand capacities and cater more effectively to high-growth sectors such as e-commerce and MSMEs, which are at the forefront of the nation’s next wave of economic expansion.
Sustainability and technology have also emerged as defining themes this year. The logistics sector is advancing towards carbon neutrality through the adoption of electric vehicles, solar-powered warehouses, and cutting-edge technologies such as AI and IoT. These innovations not only enhance efficiency but also ensure alignment with global sustainability goals, creating long-term value for businesses, communities and the environment.
As we look toward 2025, our focus will sharpen on fostering seamless connectivity, improving operational efficiencies and deepening our commitment to sustainable practices. Building on the progress of 2024, we at Allcargo Gati remain steadfast in our mission to empower businesses, strengthen supply chains, and drive India’s economic growth, contributing to the realization of a self-reliant, prosperous India.”
Mr. Tarun Chugh, MD & CEO, Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance
“2024 has been a pivotal year for the Indian life insurance industry, marked by significant reforms and policy changes. Initiatives by both IRDAI and the Indian Government have focused on enhancing customer experience, expanding insurance access across all segments, and adding greater value to the products customers purchase. The industry demonstrated remarkable agility in adapting to these reforms, and I believe this adaptability will remain a key strength, ensuring the delivery of long-term benefits to customers. The year also saw the industry adapt new age tech and invest in AI to remain future ready.
2025 will be a key year as we will see further movement in industry and government efforts towards the Insurance for all by 2047 vision.At Bajaj Allianz Life we are geared to strengthen our leadership position in the new year as well. We will continue to stay focused on our vision of Life Goals enablers of India, introduce value-packed products and continuously enhance the experience of all our stakeholders as they engage with us. Thereby ensuring sustainable and profitable growth through the year 2025.”
Mr. Amit Jain, Chairman and Managing Director, Arkade Developers Limited on the real estate Sector outlook for Year-End 2024.
“2024 has been a positive year for residential real estate with significant sales milestones, especially for Mumbai where the home sales touched 1 lakh homes in the first 9 months. 2024 witnessed a substantial spike in luxury home buying due to a preferential change in home buying where exclusivity, lifestyle value upgrades, and high-end living spaces took centre stage. Despite global economic worries, demand for luxury real estate has remained high, indicating long-term confidence. Also, stable interest rates helped influence the home-buying decision.
Cities like Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, and Bengaluru have emerged as leaders in this category. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) maintained its supremacy, with a constant average ticket size of ₹1.47 crore and a 2% increase in sales value to ₹114,529 crores as per a recent report by CREDAI MCHI. For instance, At Arkade, we reported sales booking of INR 215CR for Q2 FY25 alone with an average ticket size of INR1.5CR. Other cities, such as Hyderabad, Chennai, and Pune, have also reported large increases in average ticket sizes, indicating a national trend. Historically, Mumbai has managed to 1.2 lakh homes mark for the last 4 years with a 2% to 4% increase Y-o-Y, for 2024, we anticipate the numbers to reach 1.4 to 1.45 lakh homes. The future of real estate promises to be both dynamic and forward-thinking, driven by a vision that balances environmental responsibility, technological advancement, and enhanced living experiences for all“
Rajesh Ghanshani – Director of Partnerships, STAAH
“India’s hospitality landscape is undergoing a seismic shift, fuelled by surging travel demand, evolving consumer preferences, and robust digital infrastructure. Increasingly, hoteliers across the country are not just recognizing technology as a strategic asset but they are embracing it as the cornerstone of future success. In fact, many no longer ask ‘if’ they should invest in technology; instead, the focus has shifted to ‘when’ and ‘how’ to deploy advanced solutions that boost operational efficiency, revenue, and guest satisfaction.
Our own experience with Indian hoteliers highlights this transformation. With STAAH solutions—such as the Channel Manager, Booking Engine, and ReviewMinder, hoteliers have reported significant revenue gains and enhanced guest journeys, from pre-arrival research to post-stay feedback. The momentum is tangible: we now partner with over 5,000 hotels across India, and forecasts suggest an even more substantial expansion in 2025. This adoption is not limited to high-end chains or luxury resorts; even boutique and budget properties are adopting innovative distribution platforms to deliver seamless, personalized experiences. As Indian travellers become increasingly digitally savvy, their expectations continue to rise, and technology providers are poised to respond with more adaptive, predictive, and intuitive solutions that define the future of Indian hospitality.”
Vivek Banka, Co-Founder, GoalTeller
The recently announced changes in RIA regulations have been a step in the right direction by SEBI to ease rules for genuine advisors coupled with limitations on influencers association with SEBI registered entities have surely added a ray of hope to the entire advisor community and also will go a long way in protecting the right of investors. I hope 2025 SEBI will act further to curb the unbridled run some of the influencers have had without any questioning which will level the playing field and most importantly ensure that euphoric messaging in social media about stocks and other exotic investments are curbed. This will greatly help in avoiding investment bubbles.
Prashasta Seth – CEO, Prudent Investment Managers LLP
The Indian capital market has seen significant growth over the past five years. Demat accounts grew 4.4x (179 million), NSE active accounts rose 4.9x (49 million), unique mutual fund investors increased 2.4x (50 million), and monthly SIPs expanded 3.2x (INR 253 billion) from FY20 to October 2024.
During this period, the Indian alternative investment industry has outpaced the broader market, with a current size of USD 400 billion, consisting of SEBI-registered AIFs (USD 130 billion) and other funds (USD 270 billion). The industry is expected to grow over five-fold, reaching USD 2 trillion in the next decade.
A key shift in the Indian market has been the decoupling from global trends, with local investors—including pension funds, mutual funds, alternative investment managers, and retail & HNI investors—taking a more dominant role. This trend is expected to strengthen, driven by a demographic dividend, with over 100 million people joining the workforce and 100 million households entering the middle class in the coming years.
In recent years, the growth of the Indian alternative investment industry has been fueled by deeper market sophistication. This includes individual fund managers launching their own firms, global players introducing strategies tailored for India, and SEBI accommodating new investment structures. As investors become more knowledgeable and financially capable, they are willing to take on greater risks, further propelling industry growth. With Indian markets still lagging behind global counterparts, this gap is expected to close in the coming years, supporting continued growth.
Ms. Ayesha Katgara, Head of Corporate Strategy at Jeena & Company
“The year 2024 has been nothing but transformative for the logistics sector. It has been defined by evolving customer expectations, rise of e-commerce, enhanced digitalisation and growing focus on sustainability.
While the global logistics have faced unprecedented challenges, India has taken initial steps towards creating a conducive environment for the sector to thrive in the long-term. Key policies like the National Cold Chain Infrastructure Project (NCCIP) and the PM Gati Shakti initiative have been instrumental in optimising costs and streamlining operations, exemplified by the laying down of 8,891 km of roads and 27,000 km of railway lines. They have empowered industry players to optimise efficiency, provide unparalleled value to our patronage, and nurture continuous transformation.As we step in to 2025, we foresee a deeper integration of AI, machine learning, and robotic process automation, driving a profound transformation in sector-wide efficiency. We believe that adopting green logistics solutions, will enhance our sector’s sustainability.At Jeena and Company, we are dedicated to harnessing these advancements to meet the growing demands of e-commerce and global trade. Our goal is to set new benchmarks in service excellence while encouraging a more resilient and environmentally sustainable logistics landscape.”
Mr. Pradeep Aggarwal, Founder & Chairman, Signature Global (India) Ltd.
“The significant increase in newly launched projects across Delhi NCR, particularly in Gurugram and its key micro-markets like Dwarka Expressway, Southern Peripheral Road (SPR), and South of Gurgaon, reflects a transformative shift in homebuyer aspirations. Today’s buyers are not just seeking luxurious and modern homes but spaces that offer advanced amenities, sustainable features, and exceptional quality.
Gurugram, with its world-class infrastructure, seamless connectivity, and emerging hubs, has become a magnet for discerning buyers. Micro-markets like Dwarka Expressway and SPR are driving this momentum, offering unmatched potential for growth and investment. As the region’s landscape evolves, developers are stepping up to deliver properties that prioritize innovation, sustainability, and future-ready lifestyles. These homes cater to a generation that values quality, modern living, and long-term value, making Gurgaon and its micro-markets the epicenter of a new wave in real estate.”
Gaurav Srivastava, Regional Director – APAC, Middle East & Africa at Graduate Management Admission Council® (GMAC®).
“The landscape of graduate management education continues to evolve, reflecting the changing aspirations of candidates and the shifting demands of the global workforce. We are witnessing a strong resurgence in applications to traditional, full-time MBA and management programs, driven by candidates’ trust in the value of immersive, in-person learning experiences. At the same time, there is growing interest in hybrid and STEM-certified programs, as students look to combine management education with cutting-edge technological skills, particularly in AI and data analytics.
Employers in India and worldwide continue to emphasize the importance of core business skills—strategic thinking, problem-solving, and communication—while increasingly valuing graduates with the ability to leverage technology like AI to drive innovation and decision-making. This blend of technical and human skills is seen as essential for navigating the complexities of today’s workplace.
Another notable trend is the growing emphasis on sustainability, equity, and inclusion, with prospective students increasingly prioritizing business schools that integrate these principles into both their curricula and operations. Candidates are seeking programs that align with their personal and professional values, underscoring the need for institutions to innovate and adapt to meet these expectations.
As demand for management education grows, Indian business schools are positioned to lead by offering globally relevant, future-ready programs. This year has been a testament to the sector’s resilience and adaptability, with a promising outlook for 2025 and beyond.”
Mr Ankit Kumar, CEO, Skye Air
2024 has been transformative for India’s drone industry, showcasing Bharat’s immense potential as a land of opportunities. With remarkable advancements in policy, innovation, and sector-wide adoption, the industry has grown exponentially, impacting logistics, agriculture, healthcare, and infrastructure. In a groundbreaking development, Gurugram became the first metropolitan in the world to adopt drone-based delivery in daily life, enabling residents to receive anything and everything within minutes. Milestones like drone-based mail delivery in Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and AIIMS medical supply chains further highlight the sector’s ability to enhance accessibility and efficiency.
As we move into 2025, the momentum will only grow stronger, with drones becoming increasingly integrated into mainstream operations. The focus on scaling networks, boosting payload capacities, and driving cost efficiencies will unlock new opportunities in quick-commerce, urban air mobility, and sustainability. Initiatives like the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan and continued investments in R&D and skill development will further solidify India’s ambition to become a global drone hub by 2030. The future holds incredible promise as drones address real-world challenges, from reducing urban congestion to minimizing carbon footprints, propelling Bharat toward a technology-driven, sustainable tomorrow.
Mr Saurabh Rai, CEO, Arahas
Reflecting on 2024, the geospatial sector has witnessed transformative advancements, driven by innovations that integrate GIS, AI, and IoT into critical domains. The development of the Ayodhya Sustainability Index as a milestone in leveraging geospatial intelligence for sustainable urban planning, environmental conservation, and heritage preservation. This initiative has set a global benchmark, showcasing how technology can balance growth with cultural preservation. The year also saw India embracing national initiatives like Naksha, Bhuvan, and SVAMITVA, which propelled sustainable development, urban planning, and disaster management using geospatial solutions. These programs reflect the sector’s growing influence in addressing complex challenges.
Looking ahead to 2025, the integration of geospatial technologies with AI, IoT, and big data is poised to transform industries such as agriculture, logistics, and renewable energy. The focus will be on leveraging these technologies to tackle global issues like climate change, rapid urbanization, and resource management. With data-driven tools at the core, the industry aims to drive impactful and sustainable change, fostering innovation and supporting national priorities. As geospatial intelligence continues to evolve, it promises to play a critical role in shaping a more sustainable, resilient, and technologically empowered future.
Manju Sharma, Managing Director, Jaypee Hotels & Resorts
“As we stand on the brink of 2025, it is with immense pride and gratitude that we reflect on a transformative year for the travel and hospitality industry. The year 2024 showcased the resilience and ingenuity of our sector, with Jaypee Hotels & Resorts at the forefront of this evolution. From crafting bespoke wellness retreats to hosting grand destination weddings & MICE events, we have consistently redefined excellence, offering our guests experiences that are both meaningful and unforgettable.
India’s hospitality sector is undergoing a remarkable evolution, the Indian traveler is finding new reasons to explore with trends like sleep tourism, medical tourism, and spiritual tourism. From rediscovering serenity in wellness resorts to embarking on purposeful journeys for healing, mindfulness, or adventure, Indian travelers are embracing diverse motivations to travel. This shift reflects the country’s growing appetite for curated, meaningful, and rejuvenating experiences, redefining the way we explore the world.
As we enter 2025, we foresee an even greater convergence of personalization, technology, and sustainability in travel. The future of hospitality lies in creating moments that inspire, connect, and endure. At Jaypee Hotels & Resorts, we are ready to shape this future with bold vision, relentless innovation, and a steadfast dedication to delivering experiences that are timeless, meaningful, and extraordinary.”
Ashish Bagadia, Corporate Finance and Investment Banking Partner at BDO India
2024 saw the mass-market adoption of EVs gaining momentum. It also witnessed traditional ICE players like Mahindra, among others, making their EV ambitions more prominent. Segments like Vehicle-as-a-Service (VaaS) and Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) made significant progress with newer players entering the market and the emergence of innovative revenue models. The year also saw significant initiatives from state governments aimed at driving the growth of the EV industry. Reduction in raw material prices further improved the total cost of ownership of EVs, making them more affordable.
Sameer Kanodia, Managing Director & CEO at Lumina Datamatics
“As we look ahead to 2025, strategic acquisitions will remain a cornerstone of our growth strategy, enabling us to tap into emerging markets, deliver tailored solutions, and reinforce our leadership across digital content, publishing, and ecommerce. This integration underscores Lumina Datamatics’ unwavering commitment to driving operational excellence, enhancing service delivery, and providing cutting-edge solutions that empower our partners to succeed in an ever-changing landscape.Our recent acquisition of TNQTech marks a pivotal milestone in strengthening our leadership within the global journals market and expanding our capabilities across the publishing value chain. By seamlessly integrating advanced solutions—from editorial development and peer review management to production and digital content delivery—we are uniquely positioned to address the evolving needs of our clients.In parallel with our acquisition strategy, we are equally committed to organic growth through innovation and expanding our service offerings. By focusing on enhancing our capabilities in publishing and ecommerce, we are continuously evolving our solutions to better meet the dynamic needs of both industries. Our organic growth efforts aim to leverage new technologies, foster deeper customer relationships, and scale our solutions across digital platforms, ensuring that we remain at the forefront of these sectors.”
Looking ahead to 2025, we expect these adoption trends to continue. Emerging segments such as the resale market for EVs and battery recycling are expected to gain prominence. From a funding perspective, the investing landscape is becoming more broad-based, with traditional and homegrown growth private equity investors showing increased interest. These investors are likely to focus on proven business models and write larger cheques. 2025 may also mark a pivotal year for segment creators, as entry barriers are expected to rise significantly.