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Sunday, October 25, 2026 7:58 PM

India Inc

Snigdha Singh appointed CHRO at Tata Digital, to lead people strategy and talent transformation

Tata Digital has announced the appointment of Snigdha Singh as its new Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), effective July 1, 2026. In her new role, Singh will report directly to Sajith Sivanandan, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Tata Digital. With more than 15 years of experience in human resources, Singh will spearhead the company’s people strategy as it continues to strengthen its digital ecosystem through Tata Neu. She said her priorities include building a high-performance, customer-focused organisation, developing future-ready leadership, fostering an agile and innovation-driven culture, and aligning talent initiatives with Tata Digital’s strategic focus on digital financial services, loyalty programmes, and sustainable growth. Before taking on this role, Singh served as Vice President – HR at Tata Consumer Products, where she led organisation effectiveness, culture, corporate social responsibility (CSR), and employee relations. Over the course of her career, she has also held HR leadership positions at OYO, Cipla, Procter & Gamble, and Tata Motors. Singh earned a Master’s degree in Human Resources Management and Labour Relations from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) and a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Lady Shri Ram College for Women. Source: Economic Times

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India Inc Rolls Out WFH, Flexible Hours and Safety Measures Amid Rising Heatwave

With severe heatwave conditions sweeping across India, companies are reshaping workplace policies to protect employees and maintain productivity. Businesses across sectors are introducing work-from-home options, shorter office hours, hydration support, and safety measures for staff working indoors and outdoors. Firms such as Mercedes-Benz, NoBroker.com, and Savills India have allowed remote work where possible, while logistics and delivery companies are focusing on frontline worker welfare. Blinkit, operated by Eternal Group, is installing air coolers, fans, benches, and water dispensers at dark stores, while also distributing over 1.5 lakh glucose sachets daily to delivery partners. According to staffing firm CIEL HR, many companies are combining hybrid work models with reduced office timings. Businesses in retail, staffing, and logistics are also increasing workforce deployment and expanding dark store networks to shorten travel distances for delivery staff. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that heatwave conditions are likely to continue between April and June, with above-normal temperatures expected in many regions. Mercedes-Benz India said it is promoting remote work wherever feasible and offering cold beverages in cafeterias to help employees stay hydrated. Construction firm KEC has restricted outdoor work between 11 am and 3 pm at most sites and is supplying cold water, buttermilk, ORS, and glucose drinks, along with temperature monitoring using thermal guns. Myntra has upgraded office cooling systems with smart thermal sensors and introduced hydration options such as buttermilk, coconut water, and lime drinks. Savills India has launched employee awareness campaigns on heat-related illnesses and wellness while continuing flexible work arrangements. NoBroker.com has reduced outdoor work schedules during peak heat hours for field employees and introduced additional cooling refreshments and travel flexibility for office staff. Source: Economic Times

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India Inc Likely to Grant 9.1% Average Salary Hike in 2026; GCCs Lead with 10.4% Growth: EY Report

Corporate India is projected to offer an average salary increment of 9.1% in 2026, with Global Capability Centres (GCCs) emerging as the frontrunners in pay growth, according to the latest Future of Pay report by EY India. GCCs are expected to record the highest average increments at 10.4%, fuelled by sustained global demand for digital and advanced technology expertise. The financial services sector is likely to follow closely with projected hikes of around 10%, while e-commerce firms may offer 9.9% increases. Life sciences and pharmaceutical companies are anticipated to roll out average hikes of 9.7%. The report also signals a moderation in workforce churn. Overall attrition declined to 16.4% in 2025 from 17.5% in 2024, reflecting a relatively stabilising employment environment. However, over 80% of employee exits continue to be voluntary, indicating that job switches are largely driven by better career prospects rather than downsizing. Among sectors, financial services reported the highest attrition at 24%. Professional services and hi-tech and IT segments also experienced elevated turnover levels. In contrast, GCCs demonstrated comparatively stronger retention, with attrition standing at 14.1%. Abhishek Sen, Partner and Leader – Total Rewards, HR Technology and Learning at EY India, noted that organisations are increasingly reassessing their talent investment strategies. He emphasised that compensation strategies are shifting beyond annual increments to focus on rewarding critical skills while maintaining long-term sustainability. A notable trend highlighted in the report is the transition towards skills-based pay models. Nearly half of the surveyed organisations are moving away from conventional role-based compensation structures to frameworks that prioritise specific capabilities. Professionals skilled in artificial intelligence, generative AI, machine learning, cybersecurity, and cloud computing are commanding salary premiums ranging between 30% and 40%, reflecting the strategic importance of these competencies in driving business growth. Additionally, variable pay is becoming a more significant component of overall compensation. The average variable pay as a proportion of fixed salary rose to 16.1% in 2025, up from 14.8% the previous year. Source: IANS  

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India Inc Poised to Offer 6.2% to 11.3% Average Salary Hikes Across Sectors: TeamLease Report

Corporate India is set to witness salary hikes ranging between 6.2% and 11.3% in the current financial year, as companies realign their workforce strategies with a sharper focus on skill certifications and performance-linked incentives, according to the TeamLease Services’ Jobs and Salaries Primer 2025–26 report released on Tuesday. Drawing insights from over 1,300 organisations across 23 industries and 20 cities, the report highlights that some job roles may see hikes of up to 13.8%. The evolving demand for professionals who can blend technical expertise with business impact is driving this shift in compensation trends, said Kartik Narayan, CEO – Staffing at TeamLease Services. Among the sectors expected to offer the highest salary increases are Electric Vehicles (EV) and EV infrastructure (11.3%), consumer durables (10.7%), retail (10.7%), and non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) (10.4%). Top-paying roles in these sectors include: Electrical Design Engineer in the EV domain (12.4% hike), In-Store Demonstrator in consumer durables (12.2%), Relationship Executive in NBFCs (11.6%), and Fashion Assistant in retail (11.2%). The report also points to a robust revival in the blue-collar segment, thanks to rising infrastructure investments, a growing EV ecosystem, and renewed activity in real estate and manufacturing. Key roles like mechanic (10.4%), material handler (10%), machine operator (9.9%), and electrician (9.3%) are witnessing healthy pay increases. “This strong wage momentum in traditional blue-collar roles signals a need for companies to recalibrate hiring strategies in line with emerging growth sectors. For workers, upskilling will be key to remaining relevant and resilient,” Narayan added. In terms of cities and individual roles, standout salary hikes include: Quality Control Inspector in Pune (13.8%), MIS Executive in Hyderabad (13.4%), Data Engineer in Bengaluru (12.9%), Electrical Design Engineer in Mumbai (12.6%), and Sales Executive in Gurgaon (12.4%). Functionally, the most significant hikes are projected in sales and marketing roles (9.9%), followed by engineering (9.5%). Other domains such as finance, customer service, back-office operations, HR, and administration are expected to receive moderate increases between 8.2% and 8.6%, indicating balanced growth across business functions. Overall, the report underscores a broader recalibration of compensation structures in India Inc, with skill-based hiring, retention incentives, and future-ready talent emerging as strategic priorities. Source: PTI

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India Inc Registers 501 Deals Valued at $21.4 Billion in Q2 2024: Report

India Inc has recorded a total of 501 deals valued at USD 21.4 billion in Q2 2024, according to Grant Thornton Bharat Dealtracker. As per the consultancy firm, Q2 2024 witnessed the highest quarterly volumes in two years, while values declined due to the absence of big-ticket M&A transactions. The merger and acquisition (M&A) and private equity (PE) deals taken together stood at 467, valued at USD 14.9 billion, reflecting a 9 percent increase in volumes but a 28 percent decrease in value, primarily due to the previous quarter’s USD 8.5 billion Reliance-Disney mega-merger, Grant Thornton said. The just-ended quarter featured a one-billion-dollar deal and 30 high-value deals (over USD 100 million), which translates to a 58 percent increase in high-value deals compared to the previous quarter. “Indian corporates are increasingly investing domestically, reflecting strong confidence in the local investment climate,” Grant Thornton said in a release. Despite declining cross-border deals due to geopolitical instability, traditional sectors grew in volumes over the previous quarter. “With recent election results and anticipated policy clarity from the upcoming budget, political stability is expected to boost investor confidence and drive deal activity in the next six months,” it said. Shanthi Vijetha, Partner, Growth at Grant Thornton Bharat, noted that the quarter witnessed robust private equity activity and large domestic deals. “Despite a decline in cross-border deals due to geopolitical uncertainties, domestic investment remained strong. Traditional sectors like pharma and manufacturing also saw strong deal flows, collectively contributing nearly half of the deal values,” Vijetha said. According to Vijetha, the industry anticipates policy continuity, which should positively drive the deal activity.

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India Inc’s Board Sizes Decrease Amid Heightened Governance Scrutiny

Amid increasing scrutiny on governance issues, corporate boards in India are witnessing a reduction in size, according to a report by Excellence Enablers, backed by former SEBI Chairman M Damodaran. In fiscal years FY’18 and FY’19, the range of board members varied from 4 to 22. However, the maximum board size has contracted to 16 by FY23. The report underscores the importance of ensuring adequate board membership to effectively constitute mandatory board committees. With five required board committees, sufficient members are needed to prevent overlap among committee memberships. Highlighting the essence of good corporate governance, the report emphasizes the significance of voluntary adherence to governance best practices. Entities that proactively adopt governance measures often influence regulatory standards for the broader business community. Under the Companies Act, 2013, public companies must have a minimum of three directors, while private companies require at least two directors. The maximum limit for board size is fifteen directors. SEBI mandates that listed public companies appoint one-third of their board as independent directors, except for Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs). Additionally, if the chairperson is a non-executive director, one-third of the board must comprise independent directors. In cases where there’s no regular non-executive chairperson, at least half of the board should consist of independent directors. As of March-end 2023, six companies were found to be non-compliant with independent director norms. The report stresses the importance of maintaining a balanced mix of executive and non-executive directors on boards to leverage diverse perspectives and experience. It cautions against combining the roles of Chairman and MD/CEO, highlighting the potential conflict of interest and the adverse impact on corporate governance. Moreover, the report recommends making the appointment of a lead independent director mandatory for boards chaired by executives to ensure effective governance oversight.

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