Tracking India's shifts with Bajaj Finserv Flexi Cap Fund and Megatrends
For investors, such trends may offer a way to align portfolios with sectors and companies that could maintain long-term relevance. The Bajaj Finserv Flexi Cap Fund aims to do so by employing a Megatrends strategy to identify businesses adapting to broader shifts in the economy, society, and technology.
The fund focuses on six broad themes that may be a part of India's growth journey over the next decade: technological transformation, regulatory shifts, economic realignment, nature-led sustainability, demographic changes, and evolving social preferences. This article explores these megatrends and their potential investment implications.
Technological Transformation
Artificial intelligence, automation, robotics, and next-gen connectivity are increasingly becoming integrated into business operations.
In India, rising digitisation—from government-backed infrastructure to private innovation in areas like fintech, health tech, and edtech—has created new opportunities for technology-led businesses. Companies that can adapt to technological change or contribute to the digital ecosystem may be positioned to participate in this evolving trend. This includes not only traditional IT players but also new-age firms in areas like digital commerce, analytics, and cloud services.
Regulatory Revival
India's manufacturing sector has seen some expansion, supported by policy incentives and increasing interest in domestic production. Government initiatives such as 'Make in India' and the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes aim to boost domestic production and reduce import dependency. These regulatory moves come at a time when developed countries may be looking to diversify their supply chains.
With government support, infrastructure investment, and a skilled workforce, Indian manufacturing could see participation across sectors such as pharmaceuticals, electronics, defence, and renewable energy. Companies aligned with such policy shifts may benefit from structural demand over time.
Economic Realignment
India's economy is becoming more structured in how people save, borrow, and invest. With increasing incomes and improved access to formal financial products, more individuals and businesses are participating in organised financial systems. This growing preference for formal banking, insurance, and digital transactions is influencing how money moves through the economy.
Nature and Sustainability
Sustainability is becoming integral to how businesses are evaluated. Environmental awareness is beginning to shape consumer behaviour, capital allocation, and regulatory focus. In India, this shift is visible through rising interest in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, cleaner mobility, and eco-friendly materials.
As climate risks become more prominent, companies responsive to these concerns may find greater resonance with policy frameworks and investor expectations. ESG-aligned investing has started to gain ground, and may grow in relevance as sustainability becomes a business imperative.
Demographic Dividend
India's youthful population, with a median age of around 28 to 29 years, remains a key differentiator. As disposable incomes rise and urbanisation accelerates, the demand for healthcare, consumer goods, infrastructure, and services is also expected to grow.
Urban migration is also reshaping demand patterns—driving the need for housing, mobility solutions, and public utilities. Businesses catering to these needs may find opportunities to scale. From affordable housing to organised retail, the demographic story is creating structural shifts in how and where consumption takes place.
Social Evolution: Health, Wellness, and Connected lifestyles
Changing societal preferences are influencing consumption and lifestyle choices. Health awareness, digital connectivity, and demand for convenience are increasingly shaping spending behaviour across income segments.
This shift is especially noticeable in sectors like wellness, fitness, telemedicine, and e-commerce. The expansion of digital infrastructure into smaller towns and rural areas has also enabled broader access to services once primarily limited to urban centres. As a result, companies that offer digitally enabled, consumer-centric solutions are becoming more relevant across categories.
Considering the Bajaj Finserv Flexi Cap Fund
While market volatility is a short term reality, megatrends tend to unfold over longer timeframes, often extending beyond typical market cycles.
The Bajaj Finserv Flexi Cap Fund aims to offer the potential for enduring growth. Its megatrend-based stock selection process seeks to identify businesses that are not only relevant today but may continue to grow in alignment with long-term themes.
For investors, aligning portfolios with megatrends rather than reacting to short-term fluctuations may bring more discipline to their investment journey.
As always, investors are advised to consider their own financial goals, investment horizon, and risk appetite before making any investment decisions. To find out more about the Bajaj Finserv Flexi Cap Fund or to invest in SIP or lumpsum, visit www.bajajamc.com.
Mutual Fund investments are subject to market risks, read all scheme related documents carefully.
Note to the Reader: This article is part of Hindustan Times' promotional consumer connect initiative and is independently created by the brand. Hindustan Times assumes no editorial responsibility for the content.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Standard
5 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Westlife Foodworld Celebrates 30 Years of Local Partnership and Progress this Independence Day
NewsVoir Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], August 14: As India marks its 79th Independence Day, Westlife Foodworld, operator of McDonald's India (West & South), proudly celebrates three decades of deep-rooted service to the nation. Over the years, it has sourced locally, empowered Indian farmers, built robust supply chains from scratch, innovated menus that reflects India's diverse tastes, and created thousands of livelihood opportunities for Indians. Since opening the first McDonald's restaurant in Mumbai in 1996, Westlife Foodworld has built a robust farm-to-table supply chain spanning the country. From buns baked in Maharashtra and Karnataka to the crisp lettuce grown in Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, and from potatoes harvested in Gujarat and Punjab to cheese produced in Maharashtra, every McDonald's India meal showcases India's agricultural diversity. Spices from Kerala and coffee beans from Karnataka complete the authentic Indian experience at McDonald's restaurants, all coming together to serve millions of customers every year across West and South India. From day one, Westlife Foodworld embraced local values and traditions, including the practice of maintaining separate vegetarian and non-vegetarian kitchens at McDonald's. This truly Indian and unique commitment to the cultural and dietary preferences of Indian customers has been a core offering from the inception. The McDonald's India menu also reflects the true spirit of India that is diverse, innovative, and rooted in local tastes and traditions. The iconic McAloo Tikki burger, created specifically for Indian customers, stands as a testament to this commitment. The company continues to blend distinctly Indian flavours and local ingredients to serve over two lakh Indian customers, annually. Westlife also introduced innovations rooted in India's food heritage and nutritional needs. The Multi Millet Bun, made with indigenous millets, and the recently launched Protein Plus Slice, both developed with CSIR-CFTRI, the country's premier government-backed food research institute, reflect the brand's commitment to bringing wholesome, homegrown legacy ingredients to its menu. In addition to delighting taste buds, the organisation continues to invest in inclusive growth. McDonald's India's first all-women-run restaurant in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat, employs over 30 women from local tribes and communities, managing every aspect of operations, setting a benchmark in the industry. Westlife Foodworld is listed on Indian stock exchanges, both BSE and NSE. The company employs over 11,000 Indians and works with thousands of farmers and several local suppliers, ensuring that every meal served is the product of Indian hands and ingenuity. The company currently runs 444 McDonald's restaurants and is set to reach 580 to 630 restaurants in the next two years, making it an integral part of India's economic fabric and growth story.
Economic Times
5 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Trump is aiming for Pakistan-style compliance from India, but his plan is not working
Synopsis Amidst rising tensions, the US-India trade relationship faces turbulence as Trump's administration imposes tariffs, allegedly to pressure India on geopolitical issues like Russian oil imports. India views these actions as an infringement on its sovereignty, resisting demands to compromise on agriculture, patent laws and military sourcing. India's refusal to play a compliant role, unlike Pakistan, frustrates Trump. "Trump wants a vessel like Pakistan. India refuses to behave like one." That blunt assessment from Ajay Srivastava, founder of the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), captures the essence of the US-India trade saga: it's less about economics than geopolitics. While headlines focus on tariffs and trade deficits, the underlying story is about power, leverage and sovereignty. Speaking to Economic Times, Srivastava explains, "Washington expects compliance, and India is not yielding." Trump, who is set to meet Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Friday at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska, has long framed tariffs as a tool to 'fix trade deficits,' but India's case suggests a different motive. On August 7, the US announced it would raise tariffs on Indian goods from 25% to 50%, citing Delhi's purchase of Russian oil. India called the move 'unfair' and 'unjustified,' with the new rate set to take effect on August 27. The White House framed the tariffs as a way to cut Russia's energy revenues and pressure Vladimir Putin toward a ceasefire. With this increase, India becomes the most heavily taxed US trading partner in Asia, joining Brazil which faces similar steep tariffs amid tense bilateral relations. The economic stakes for India are high. In 2024, India exported $87 billion worth of goods to the US. According to US Census Bureau data for May 2025, imports from India stood at $9.43 billion, while US exports to India were $3.82 billion, resulting in a US goods trade deficit, or an Indian surplus, of roughly $5.6 billion. If the 50% tariffs remain in place, nearly all of India's annual exports to the US could become commercially unviable. Meanwhile, the US continues to run a $45.7 billion goods trade deficit with India, yet these tariffs disproportionately affect Indian exports compared with goods from other Srivastava, the message is clear: 'Trade deficit is just for the namesake. It's about forcing countries to fall in line with a geopolitical agenda.' India imports roughly 20% of its GDP in goods, spanning petroleum, machinery and electronics, yet Washington appears less concerned with trade imbalances than with pressuring India to compromise on and dairy have emerged as key sticking points in India-US trade talks, which collapsed earlier this month. On August 7, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared, 'India will never compromise on the well-being of its farmers, dairy producers and fishermen.' New Delhi has consistently resisted US pressure to open these sectors, arguing that doing so would threaten millions of small farmers. Historically, India has kept agriculture largely off the table in trade agreements to safeguard domestic to Srivastava, US demands extend far beyond tariffs: opening government procurement, diluting patent laws that could make medicines costlier, limiting future digital taxes, and shifting military sourcing to the US. 'Even if we open agri and dairy, no trade deal will happen with this. Not a trade issue. They want you to open your government procurement, dilute patent laws, commit to never charge digital tax in future, buy military from the US, the list is endless,' he adds, 'Trump imposed 50% tariffs on Brazil partly over politics and partly because Brazil asked Twitter to remove anti-Brazil content. Records show India generates even more such requests, so he could use that as an excuse too. He can conjure unlimited reasons to impose tariffs if he's unhappy. My sense is he doesn't want a partner in India, he wants a vassal. India refuses to play that role; it insists on an equal partnership. That's the basic problem.'The US approach to Russian oil imports is uneven. China, Russia's largest crude buyer, faces no comparable tariff threats, while India is under heavy pressure. 'Even if the US demanded zero imports from Russia, India's imports would fall anyway due to economic circumstances,' notes Srivastava. European and US bans on petroleum products derived from Russian crude are already reducing India's imports, independent of Washington's selective approach reflects a broader pattern in US trade policy. Brazil, for example, faced a 50% tariff despite running a surplus with the US, largely over political disagreements including its stance on Venezuela and former President Bolsonaro. Venezuela itself is under secondary sanctions for buyers of its oil, though some firms, like Chevron, have received exemptions. These cases suggest that political alignment often outweighs economic between Russia and the US has dropped roughly 90% since the Kremlin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, though last year the US still imported $3 billion worth of Russian goods, according to the US Bureau of Economic Analysis and Census Bureau. Meanwhile, the European Union, a partner in sanctions against Russia, imported $41.9 billion (36 billion euros) of Russian goods in 2024, Eurostat data the US pressures India to cut Russian oil imports, market forces and global regulations are already reshaping trade flows. Europe and US bans on petroleum products ensure India's imports will decline regardless of Washington's actions. Srivastava cautions, however, that the US may find new reasons for tariffs, keeping India under continuous has built a buffer against such pressures. Exports constitute roughly 20% of GDP, compared with 90% for Vietnam, a country far more vulnerable to US-imposed shocks. 'Vietnam will suffer more. We will suffer, but we will absorb it properly. Country will bounce back. All we need to do is not to surrender,' Srivastava US consumers will also feel the impact of tariffs. About 90% of prescriptions in the US rely on generics imported from India. While the total trade value may be under $10 billion, disruption affects the majority of prescriptions, potentially raising prices significantly. Companies may eventually source alternatives over three to four months, but the immediate effect is inflationary.'Indian exports will suffer, but we need to consider whether it's better to endure this and use it to push delayed reforms, like diversifying exports, rather than falling into a bad deal. This isn't really about trade; it's about surrendering sovereignty,' Srivastava Srivastava, Trump's broader strategy is political theatre. 'Basically, he wanted to hit China. He couldn't, so he has to show his domestic voters that he is a big man, that a bully can show strength by hitting someone. He couldn't hit China, so let's hit India, that's the only thing.'With China, Trump launched a trade war over the large trade deficit, but Beijing hit back by restricting supplies of critical materials, he noted. 'India hasn't used those levers, which is why Washington expected Delhi to yield immediately.'India's refusal to play a compliant role, unlike Pakistan, frustrates Trump. At the same time, India maintains strategic autonomy, engaging with Russia on defence, limiting deep Chinese investment to marketing and distribution, and managing relations with the US on equal footing. 'We are a big country, big economy, and so we have to have workable, good relations with everyone, without being in anybody's camp,' Srivastava pre-Galwan, Chinese investment has been superficial. 'China doesn't invest in deep manufacturing. They will not supply any technology. They will invest in marketing of cars, garments, two, $5 billion here and there, but we don't want that. So we have to evaluate very carefully,' he says.'We can have targeted strategic relationships, like with Russia for defence, but moving closer to China is complicated. There's the border dispute and a $100 billion trade deficit,' he export-oriented economy, diversified supply chains and robust domestic market allow it to absorb short-term shocks while resisting long-term concessions. 'All we need to do is not enter into any relationship that costs us the medium or long term,' Srivastava takeaway is clear: Trump's tariffs are less about trade and more about leverage. Every tweet, every tariff threat, every demand is a political signal designed to demonstrate strength to domestic voters. 'Every day he abuses us on Twitter. That shows India has entered his mind,' Srivastava response emphasises sovereignty, resilience and strategic foresight. "Trade deal is not a trade deal. It's about bargaining for your sovereignty. And India is not bargaining."
Economic Times
5 minutes ago
- Economic Times
India requests UK to fast-track process to operationalise trade pact: Commerce Secretary
Synopsis India has urged the UK to expedite the approval of the free trade agreement, aiming for its swift implementation. Signed on July 24, the agreement awaits UK Parliament's approval. Once operational, it will grant zero-duty access to Indian exports, offsetting potential disadvantages faced in the US market due to tariff differences. iStock Representative image. New Delhi: India has requested the UK to fast-track the approval process of the free trade agreement so that it can be implemented as early as possible, Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal said on Thursday. The India-UK comprehensive economic and trade agreement (CETA) was signed on July 24. It needs approval from UK Parliament for implementation. He said if in the next six months, the India-UK trade agreement gets operationalised, it will immediately provide zero duty access to Indian exports in Britain, so any disadvantage from tariff differential that the Indian exports may face in the US would get covered in the UK. "We have also requested the Uk to fast-track so that it comes into force as early as possible," Barthwal told reporters here. On July 24, India and the UK signed a landmark free trade agreement, which, starting next year, will see 99 per cent of Indian exports enter the UK duty-free, while reducing tariffs on British products such as cars and whisky in the Indian market. While India has opened its market to various consumer goods, including chocolates, biscuits, and cosmetics, it will gain greater access to export products such as textiles, footwear, gems and jewellery, sports goods, and toys. Also, Indian companies, such as TCS and Infosys, operating in the UK won't have to make social security contributions for up to three years for employees who move from India.
