9 FINANCEOUTLOOKINDIAAUGUST, 2026US IMPOSES 10% TARIFF ON INDIA OVER FORCED LABOUR PRACTICES60% OF INDIAN FAMILIES SPEND NEARLY ALL INCOME ON EMIS: DEBT SURVEYINDIAN STARTUP FUNDING FALLS 40% TO $164 MILLION IN THE LATEST WEEKBORROWING COSTS MAY RISE AS INDIA'S 10-YR BOND YIELD FACES UPSIDE RISKASHNEER GROVER LAUNCHES FUND MY STAFF, EMPLOYER-BACKED EMPLOYEE LOANAXIS AMC ACQUIRES AXIS SECURITIES' PMS ARM, AUM HITS RS 15,000 CRAshneer Grover has launched Fund My Staff, a fintech platform that enables employers to facilitate loans for their employees by acting as guarantors, according to reports.Ashneer Grover announced the launch in a LinkedIn post. The platform is designed for employers who want to help their workforce access credit, as well as for employees with limited or no credit history who require financing backed by their employer's guarantee. Axis AMC has acquired Axis Securities' PMS Arm, a move that significantly bolsters its alternates platform and deepens its foothold among ultra-high-net-worth (UHNI) and high-net-worth (HNI) investors.The acquired business will now operate under the brand "Alternates by Axis AMC." With the deal, more than 2,500 investors move onto the Axis AMC platform, making it one of the largest PMS acquisitions in India by investor count. The combined PMS assets under management (AUM) will now stand at approximately Rs 15,000 crore. The United States on Thursday imposed a 10% tariff on India and more than a dozen other countries following a months-long investigation into forced labour practices, with New Delhi securing a lower rate than the 12.5% tariff originally proposed under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974.The 10% tariff places India on par with Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, along with several Latin American and Asian economies. In all, Washington imposed tariffs on 60 countries accounting for more than 99% of US imports, for failing to prohibit and effectively enforce restrictions on the import of goods made with forced labour. The new tariffs replace the temporary 10% global tariff announced in February, which expired this week. For millions of Indians, spending nearly all their income on EMIs has become more than a financial burden - it has turned into an emotional and psychological struggle. Behind every unpaid EMI lies a family grappling with job loss, medical emergencies, rising living costs, and mounting pressure from recovery agents. A new analysis by an Expert Pan-el, based on inquiries and counsel-ling sessions with distressed bor-rowers, paints a deeply concerning picture of the country's growing debt crisis. The findings reveal that nearly 60% of borrowers seeking assistance are either making only minimum payments or have com-Indian startups funding saw $164 million raise across 16 funding deals during the latest week of July 20­25, marking a 40% decline from the approximately $271 million raised by 19 startups in the previous week. There were four growth-stage deals, 12 early-stage deals, one founder leaving, two venture fund launches and one ESOP announcement among the week's fundraising efforts, as investors continued showing interest despite overall investments remaining slow. There was a slight week-on-week decline in funding volume, but certain sectors were still drawing in investors, including fintech, deeptech, AI, healthtech, and quick commerce. Indian startups funding saw $164 million raise across 16 funding deals during the latest week of July 20­25, marking a 40% decline from the approximately $271 million raised by 19 startups in the previous week. There were four growth-stage deals, 12 early-stage deals, one founder leaving, two venture fund launches and one ESOP announcement among the week's fundraising efforts, as investors continued showing interest despite overall investments remaining slow. There was a slight week-on-week decline in funding volume, but certain sectors were still drawing in investors, including fintech, deeptech, AI, healthtech, and quick commerce. pletely stopped repaying their loans, indicating severe financial distress.
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