Stories from earlier this week and beyond.
During a scorching heatwave, a husband wife duo is betting on unconventional marketing for their Re 1 drinking water brand. Instead of chasing traditional ad spends, they focus on outreach that keeps the price affordable and builds trust with customers. The goal: turn everyday visibility into real-world access to safe drinking water.
Authorities have arrested a special forces soldier accused of using classified government information to place a wager on Polymarket, the prediction platform. Prosecutors allege the bet was tied to an operation involving Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro, and that the soldier could have profited up to $400,000 by acting on information not meant for public markets.
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Bengal elections 2026 polling is underway as BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari inspected vulnerable booths in Nandigram. He alleged he was denied entry and warned against any violence, urging calm as voters queued. In Bhabanipur, a repeat clash atmosphere is emerging, with turnout reportedly crossing 41% by 11 am, heightening scrutiny on security and access.
The government says it is redefining what qualifies as a “small company” to improve the business climate and reduce compliance load for law-abiding firms. The move is aimed at making it easier for smaller operators to comply with rules and regulations, potentially changing which businesses benefit from exemptions and simplified processes.
As tech firms move away from mass fresher hiring, recruitment is getting sharply skills-focused. A Times of India report says companies are offering far higher packages for niche roles in AI, data, cloud and cybersecurity, ranging from Rs 16 lakh to Rs 55 lakh. Even as entry-level intake slows, specialised hiring rewards targeted expertise.
A US consumer watchdog group, the Consumer Federation of America, has filed a lawsuit against Meta, alleging the company profited from scam advertisements and misled users about its fraud-safety efforts. The group cites internal documents suggesting Meta earns billions from these ads, while Meta denies the claims and says it will contest the case.
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India’s GST mop-up rose sharply in August 2022, with gross revenues of Rs 1,43,612 crore—up 28% year-on-year, according to the Finance Ministry. The result pushed monthly GST collections past Rs 1.4 lakh crore for the sixth consecutive month, underscoring sustained momentum in tax collections despite shifting economic conditions.
Blockchain billionaire Justin Sun has filed a lawsuit against World Liberty Financial, a crypto venture co-founded by Donald Trump and his sons. Sun alleges the firm illegally froze his token holdings worth about $320 million and secretly deployed tools to stop him from selling. The company denies the claims, calling them meritless.
Slice, a small finance bank, is reportedly in discussions with VC firms and other investors to raise $50–100 million, but at a lower valuation. The move comes as the fintech sector faces increased regulatory scrutiny, putting funding plans and growth timelines under sharper pressure.
US lawmakers have revised a bill meant to limit China’s access to advanced chipmaking equipment. While the measure is adjusted from an earlier draft, it still targets ASML’s deep ultraviolet lithography systems. The bill is designed to match broader international technology-control rules, after manufacturers flagged concerns about the original version. A House Foreign Affairs Committee vote is set next week.
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A study by Danube Private University in Austria suggests plastic bottle contact can increase blood pressure, potentially due to microplastics. Researchers reported that participants saw significant BP decreases when consuming fluids not packaged in plastic bottles. Published in the journal Microplastics, the findings point to avoiding plastic-packaged beverages as a simple step that may support healthier blood pressure.
Blackbuck is set to move out of Bengaluru’s Bellandur, blaming poor road infrastructure and worsening travel conditions. The area is known for monsoon flooding and frequent accidents. A report cited by ET shows Bengaluru’s average one-way commute time rising 16% in a year, from 54 minutes to 63 minutes for a roughly 19 km trip.
Mumbai Indians coach Mahela Jayawardene dismissed the idea that World Cup fatigue or player burnout is driving the team’s struggles. Instead, he urged the side to regain rhythm and consistency ahead of the remaining seven matches. Jayawardene also defended captain Hardik Pandya as part of a collective effort, while discussing how Jasprit Bumrah’s role fits into the turnaround.
The draft memorandum by NC-JCM for the 8th Pay Commission presses for a Rs 69,000 minimum basic pay and a 3.83 fitment factor, alongside an annual 6% increment. It also proposes restructuring pay levels, mandating at least five promotions during service, and restoring the Old Pension Scheme for employees and pensioners.
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A year ago, Air India’s revival looked promising even with delays—until an Ahmedabad explosion derailed momentum. Now CEO Campbell Wilson is betting on a fresh start from a new Gurugram academy, rolling out new aircraft, upgraded lounges, and a renewed service push. The real test will be whether this improved focus survives the toughest final stretch.
A CultureMonkey report finds a stark gap between diversity efforts and real workplace recognition: just 10.2% of employees say they feel truly recognized in inclusive environments. While many feel supported by DEI initiatives, persistent issues like biased promotions and unequal pay undermine fairness. The report urges companies to replace symbolic gestures with transparent, merit-based compensation and recognition systems.
Starbucks is laying off workers in its technology division as part of a broader restructuring under new leadership. Some roles currently based in Seattle are expected to move to Nashville, with the company aiming to improve operations and boost sales. More workforce changes are anticipated as the turnaround plan ramps up.
As the rupee weakens, Indian firms are changing how they pay for imports and where they source goods. Many are shifting Chinese purchase payments to yuan to secure better terms, while simultaneously increasing local sourcing to cut import dependence. The dual move helps manage costs and currency pressure in a tougher trade environment.
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Indian companies are forecast to hire 10–12 million employees in 2026, about 2 million more than in 2025. Firms plan to boost campus hiring and also make workforce diversity a priority. The uptick suggests employers are preparing for stronger talent absorption next year, with recruitment likely starting earlier and broadening across candidate pools.
Volkswagen Group says it wants a 5 percent market share in India by 2030, betting on alternative fuel technology and a mix of new actions for internal combustion and electric vehicles. The German automaker plans heavier product development investments, expects its new Taigun SUV to lift sales, and says it will roll out product interventions every quarter to accelerate growth.
Merisis has appointed Ruchir Kapoor to strengthen its fintech practice and drive a new wealth management foray. The hire brings over 20 years of experience spanning wealth management, fintech, NBFCs, and trade and SME banking, along with leadership experience across multiple geographies. The move signals Merisis’ intent to deepen financial services capabilities.
Indian Oil has been a steady earner for India Inc, contributing about 3% of profits, yet its market cap has barely moved for seven years. The gap between rising profitability and stagnant valuation raises questions about market confidence, pricing dynamics, and how investors view future cash flows for a state-linked energy giant.
The RBI kept the repo rate unchanged at 5.5% on October 1, 2025 for the second straight meeting, after cuts earlier this year. With inflation slightly higher and small savings rates steady, banks may struggle to push floating home loan rates down further. Loans linked to EBLR may still reset faster, but the overall window for immediate relief looks narrower.
Y Combinator’s managing partner Jared Friedman says AI-era startup success hinges on speed: founders are pivoting more often, adapting quickly to new opportunities. He adds that India’s deep pool of strong engineering talent gives companies an edge, helping them build and iterate faster than competitors as AI changes the rules of the game.
Vercel says it has evidence that some customer data and accounts were compromised before its recent, widely reported incident. After expanding an investigation tied to an early-April breach, the company identified a second wave of unauthorized access affecting customer accounts. Vercel’s findings raise new questions about when the intrusion began and how much data may have been exposed.
In a major political shake-up, seven MPs have resigned from Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party. The reported defectors include Raghav Chadha, Ashok Mittal, Sandeep Pathak, Harbhajan Singh, Vikram Sahney, and Swati Maliwal among others. The move is expected to intensify pressure on AAP ahead of upcoming political battles.
Two separate mid-air medical emergencies disrupted flights operated by Lufthansa and EasyJet. A Lufthansa passenger died during a Munich to Beijing journey, prompting an emergency diversion to Almaty Airport. Separately, an EasyJet flight from Malaga to London Gatwick was delayed for around 12 hours after a passenger died onboard. Investigations and passenger support are reportedly underway.
Health insurance complaints have doubled over the past six years, and they now make up 80% of all grievances, according to the insurance ombudsman. The ombudsman says post-Covid awareness still lags even as penetration rises, and urges a stronger healthcare industry regulator while pushing insurers to simplify confusing policy terms.
Jaiprakash Gaur says the Adani Group will carry Jaiprakash Associates Limited forward after being selected the successful resolution applicant. Gaur expressed respect for the Committee of Creditors decision and called the insolvency process fair and transparent. He added that efforts were made to secure a credible resolution for all stakeholders following the company’s financial stress and entry into insolvency proceedings.
Seven years after the 2018 police firing that killed 13 protesters against Sterlite’s polluting plant, Thoothukudi is again debating reopening. A feasibility study recommends switching to recycled copper, shutting some polluting sections, and creating an INR 100 crore CSR corpus. Yet local opposition and the city’s unresolved trauma continue to block any easy green light.
Conservative commentator Tucker Carlson questioned OpenAI chief Sam Altman about the death of former OpenAI whistleblower Suchir Balaji. Balaji worked at OpenAI for over four years and helped develop ChatGPT, but grew concerned after its release. He resigned in August 2023 and later went public with his warnings, prompting renewed scrutiny of internal practices.
CEO and managing director departures are rising across India Inc in 2025, with notable increases across Nifty-50, Nifty-100 and Nifty-200 companies. The higher churn is attributed to a mix of retirements and resignations, alongside more frequent succession planning. The result is faster leadership turnover at large firms, reshaping boardroom expectations for the year.
US software stocks were down in premarket trading as IBM and ServiceNow reported quarterly results that intensified worries about AI-driven disruption. Investors appear concerned that new AI capabilities could reshape workflows, pricing, and competitive dynamics across the sector, driving renewed caution even among companies seen as major beneficiaries of automation and machine learning.
Australia’s Firmus has raised $505 million to scale its AI infrastructure platform across the Asia-Pacific region. The funding will also back Project Southgate, a plan to create a network of AI factories in Australia. Developed with Nvidia and CDC Data Centres, the initiative is projected to grow to as much as 1.6 gigawatts of capacity over the next three years.
State Bank of India says some customers are experiencing temporary disruptions to OTP and SMS services on the YONO app, affecting transactions that require authentication. The bank expects services to be fully restored by 5:45 PM on April 17, 2026, and advises users to switch to other digital banking channels in the meantime. Similar issues were reported on April 16.
Nithin Kamath said Rainmatter has invested over Rs 1,500 crore across 160+ startups. He added that Zerodha puts 10% of its earnings into startups and another 10% into social development via Rainmatter. Kamath emphasized the firm isn’t chasing quick exits, signaling a long-term approach to building companies and impact.
ASSocham has pitched the government to extend the “Vivad Se Vishwas” settlement scheme beyond current coverage into highly regulated sectors such as telecom, power, and mining. It also wants a dedicated dispute resolution mechanism for customs-related cases, arguing that tax and procedural stability would reduce litigation burdens and improve business certainty.
Amazon India plans to invest Rs 2,800 crore to strengthen its infrastructure and operations, with the goal of improving delivery speeds across the country. The move will expand and effectively double the footprint of its quick commerce vertical, Amazon Now, while also widening its pan-India ecommerce network through additional warehouses and delivery stations.
The Enforcement Directorate carried out searches on 12 premises across Chandigarh, Panchkula, Zirakpur, Dera Bassi and Rajpura in a money laundering probe linked to a municipal fraud case. The action follows an FIR by the ACB, Panchkula, alleging a conspiracy to embezzle about ₹145 crore from civic body accounts, with ED examining related financial trails.
India’s new labour codes are reshaping workplaces fast, with roughly 4 in 5 firms reportedly revising pay structures amid rising compliance and employment costs. Wage growth is cooling as companies recalibrate workforce models. Yet hiring sentiment is improving, especially in tech and emerging sectors, where firms increasingly target urban capability and digital skills.
VFS Global has expanded Singapore visa services in India by opening new Visa Application Centres in Chandigarh and Chennai. The centres will process applications from Punjab and Tamil Nadu for tourist, family visit and business visas. The initiative is designed to make access easier and streamline submissions, while all visa decisions continue to be made by Singapore authorities.
Andhra Pradesh’s HR Minister Nara Lokesh has unveiled a job calendar covering more than 10,000 government vacancies. The recruitment drive will roll out through timed notifications starting May 15, followed by examinations conducted according to the announced schedule. The plan is aimed at giving job-seekers clarity on when applications and tests will happen across multiple posts.
India is considering a major shift in AI governance, moving away from its earlier “light-touch” approach as risks mount around cybersecurity, deepfakes, and threats to critical sectors. A Mint report says a six-member TPEC and a 10-member inter-ministerial AIGEG are preparing fresh guidelines, potentially reshaping policy direction. The push comes amid Grok controversies, tighter intermediary rules, and court action over deepfakes.
Bengaluru startup IPF, a peer to peer marketplace for preloved kids’ products, has raised Rs 3.2 crore in seed funding led by Titan Capital. Founded by IIT Roorkee alumni, the company says it will use the round to strengthen technology, enhance trust and safety, and broaden access for more parents across India.
Nestle India logged its best quarterly performance in a decade, driven by broad-based volume growth and strong momentum in e-commerce and beverages. The company leaned on a faster path to consumers through quick-commerce and pushed its Nescafe coffee offerings, supported by higher advertising spends. Despite the marketing push, Nestle protected margins through efficient operations and targeted investments.
Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma is calling for regulatory and technology reforms to streamline India’s IPO process. His push centers on using CBDC, the central bank backed digital rupee, for IPO settlements—potentially shortening transaction timelines and enabling real-time fund transfers instead of relying on slower settlement cycles.
Indian government bonds slipped as oil prices stayed elevated, keeping inflation and fiscal risks in focus. Investors said the US move to extend an indefinite ceasefire with Iran may not bring near-term relief because the US Navy continues to obstruct Iranian maritime trade. The result is pressure on India’s bond yields and a more uncertain outlook for government finances.
The Reserve Bank of India is in talks with global regulators and local banks to assess cybersecurity risks linked to Anthropic’s new AI model, Mythos. RBI officials are exploring safeguards and could seek direct access to the system to test for vulnerabilities, while also pushing for data localization to protect Indian customers’ information.
Even as geopolitics and fast-moving AI roil global markets, Indian companies are still pursuing leadership hires. Executive search agencies report steady interest in senior candidates, with demand clustering around technology, industrial firms, and newer high-growth sectors. For now, the scramble for top talent continues—hinting that corporate strategy is adapting rather than pausing.
An ITAT Ahmedabad ruling favoured a man from Bharuch, Gujarat, who sold two agricultural plots for Rs 8.75 crore and claimed capital gains. Though he paid no income tax and did not file an ITR, the Income Tax Department issued a notice. The tribunal set aside the action based on the notice and process rather than the gains alone.
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