The National Council for Cement and Building Materials (NCB) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Delhi Technological University (DTU) to strengthen research collaboration and skill development in the domestic cement and construction sector, an official statement from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said. The agreement, announced in New Delhi on March thirty first, seeks closer industry–academia ties to address technical and workforce gaps. It will focus on applied research and training. The partnership will promote joint research and innovation in cement and concrete technologies and provide training opportunities for students, professionals and stakeholders. It aims to enhance skill development and capacity building across the sector. NCB and DTU will coordinate applied projects and internships to translate research into practice. The arrangement will enable knowledge exchange between academia and industry and allow dissemination of best practices and technical expertise. The move is expected to advance sustainable and resilient infrastructure in the country. It is intended to strengthen the construction ecosystem through improved technical capabilities and institutional collaboration. A recent report noted that a sixfold surge in public spending has catalysed private investment and stimulated demand for core industries such as steel and cement. The analysis suggested that capital intensive sectors such as cement and metals should benefit from the government's infrastructure spending. Total cement demand is expected to rise by about six to seven per cent while steel demand may increase by roughly eight per cent. The report projected that cement manufacturers' profitability will rise by about two point five per cent to three point five per cent this fiscal year due to improved realisations from higher volumes. Cement volumes are expected to grow about six point five to seven point five per cent year on year after five per cent growth last fiscal, with manufacturers recording a five per cent increase in realisations in the first half and a modest zero to two per cent rise forecast for the second half.