Business News

India's Quick-Commerce sector, which is witnessing rapid expansion and is expected to reach USD 5 billion, will provide jobs to more than 5-5.5 lakh people in the next year, a report said on Wednesday. Currently, the Q-Commerce sector employs 2.5-3 lakh outdoor delivery partners and 70,000-75,000 under-the-roof employees, which includes dark stores and warehouses, according to data by TeamLease Services. Quick-Commerce refers to ultra-fast deliveries, often within 10-15 minutes. "India's Q-Commerce sector is expanding at an unprecedented rate, with the market size projected to reach USD 5 billion by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 10-15 per cent. The surge in last-mile delivery, dark store operations, and warehouse management roles are mainly due to increasing categories of products, rise in number of cities and growth in volumes. Jobs under the roof and delivery partners will increase by 50 per cent each, taking the overall jobs in the Q-Commerce sector to over 5-5.5 lakh in next 1 year," TeamLease Services Senior VP and Business Head Balasubramanian A told PTI. He said as attrition rates remain high, businesses must prioritise workforce skilling, structured retention strategies, and AI-driven workforce management to build a sustainable talent pipeline and drive long-term growth. The report is based on data from 19,000 of TeamLease associates from January to December 2024. The report revealed that employment distribution data indicates that Karnataka (20 per cent), Maharashtra (19 per cent), and Telangana (13 per cent) are the primary hubs for Q-Commerce jobs, while Haryana and West Bengal, each accounting for 4 per cent of the workforce. The sector is also characterised by a high concentration of entry-level roles, with 71 per cent of employees holding 10th or 12th-grade qualifications. This reflects a focus on basic skill sets such as smartphone proficiency, digital literacy, and last-mile delivery expertise, said the report. However, the industry faces a significant challenge with high attrition rates driven by intense competition and frequent job-switching, it stated. To address this, companies are increasingly investing in workforce training, upskilling programs, and structured retention strategies to enhance efficiency and ensure long-term workforce stability, added the report.

Silver exchange traded funds (ETFs) have gained massive popularity since the introduction back in 2021 with the AUM (assets under management) crossing Rs 13,500 crore mark as of January 2025. There are about 12 Silver ETFs with more than 6 lakh investor folios, according to Zerodha fund house.An ETF is a type of investment fund that trades on stock exchanges, similar to individual stocks. It typically holds a diversified portfolio of assets such as stocks, bonds, or commodities, and aims to track the performance of a specific index, sector, or asset class. ETFs offer investors liquidity, diversification, and lower fees compared to traditional mutual funds, making them a popular choice for both passive and active investment strategies.The strong growth in demand for Silver ETFs was on the back of strong demand for the metal itself, which has reportedly outpaced its supply.According to the estimates by ‘The Silver Institute’, the overall industrial demand for Silver has increased by more than 55% driven by its applications across various industries, including automotive, technology, pharmaceuticals, and solar energy.Silver is both a valuable commodity and a crucial component in various industries, including solar energy and automotive manufacturing. Its diverse applications range from industrial uses to jewellery, digital photography and investments.The metal is also used in manufacturing and industrial fabrication since it does not corrode and has good thermal properties.Talking about the historical transaction volumes of Silver ETFs, Vaibhav Jalan, CBO of Zerodha Fund House said, “The increasing transaction volumes of silver ETFs are a clear indication of growing investor interest."These ETFs offer an alternative to physical silver ownership, addressing concerns about storage, security, and insurance while providing access to silver's price movements,” he said.As investors seek diversification and exposure to commodities, Silver ETFs provide a simple and hassle free way to take exposure to this precious metal."Silver has the potential to play a role in both investment portfolios and modern industries. Silver ETFs are a valuable tool to diversify one’s portfolios and capitalize on the metal's unique characteristics," Vishal Jain of Zerodha Fund House said.