Stories from earlier this week and beyond.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman says Indian banks must proactively prepare for escalating AI-driven cyber threats. She called for closer collaboration across banks to map vulnerabilities and adopt new technologies. In a notable twist, she suggested using AI tools to counter AI-powered attacks, aiming to rapidly harden financial-sector cybersecurity defenses as regional risks are watched closely.
A tragic incident at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College has thrown fresh light on India’s healthcare safety gaps. Even though guidelines and mechanisms are meant to protect medical staff, the on-the-ground reality often falls short. With doctors already scarce and training taking years, every failure to ensure safety becomes a lasting hit to patient care and public trust.
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A viral reel claims NASA’s Voyager 1, launched in 1977, will reach one light-day from Earth by November 2026. NASA says Voyager 1 is indeed still operational in interstellar space and continues sending data back, underscoring how enormous distances in space translate into long communication delays and misinformation risk.
The latest RBI rate move is being read through an old playbook borrowed from the Fed and the BoJ. It appears dovish in tone, cautious in messaging, yet may be acting hawkish through how bond yields and liquidity react. In today’s low-inflation setting, central banks are using subtle signals to manage market expectations while avoiding renewed price pressures.
Vodafone Idea’s CEO said the firm is considering only minor adjustments to mobile tariffs and has no immediate plans for a broad structural price hike. The statement comes after Bharti Airtel raised its prepaid plans, but Vodafone Idea is prioritizing performance improvement and subscriber growth instead. The government also holds a significant stake in the company.
Shapoorji Pallonji Mistry has renewed his call for Tata Sons to be publicly listed, calling it a necessary step in the group’s evolution. He argues the move would strengthen governance, transparency and accountability and is in the public interest. Mistry also says there is no evidence it would harm Tata Trusts or their beneficiaries, while seeking RBI clarity on the way forward.
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Huawei says it will ramp up smart-driving R&D with more than $10 billion over the next five years, aiming to boost computing power for training. The move underscores the company’s push to accelerate AI model development for autonomous driving systems, betting that stronger compute capabilities will translate into faster progress and improved performance on next-generation driving technologies.
JSW Group plans to monetize unused land it acquired with Akzo Nobel India, selling properties that are not currently needed for operations. The company expects the divestment could recover as much as half of its initial investment. It’s considering land sales in locations such as Thane to free up capital for broader business needs.
LTTS reported a 7% year-on-year rise in Q4 net profit to Rs 332 crore. After divesting its Smart World and Communication (SWC) division, net profit from continuing operations increased 23.6% year-on-year and 8.9% quarter-on-quarter, signaling strength despite the reshaping of the company’s business.
India’s leading IT firms are facing a “textile-style” shake-up as AI disrupts their traditional labor-driven business. Reports point to shrinking billable hours, cooling investor confidence, and a sharp drop in the sector’s market weight on Nifty—now down to 10% over five years—raising fears of a deeper slide.
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The Railway Recruitment Board has released the RRB JE CBT 1 answer key 2026 on March 5 for exams conducted in February. Candidates can download their response sheets and the official key to estimate tentative scores. There’s an objection window until March 11, where challenges cost Rs. 50 per question. Check the download link and marking details now.
Gold demand for Akshaya Tritiya fell around 30% by volume as prices rose nearly 60% year-on-year, discouraging bigger purchases. Buyers stayed within budgets, opting for lighter jewellery, small coins and exchange-led buying. Millennials leaned toward solitaires in the ₹75,000 to ₹2.5 lakh range, signaling a clear shift to affordability over luxury.
The US issued fewer visas in early 2025 than the year before, hitting India and China the hardest. Stricter immigration rules have disrupted plans for students, workers, and family members. The US government says priority remains American citizens, with visa issuance reflecting a sharper focus on national safety rather than expanding foreign entry.
CBSE has urged Class 10 and 12 students and parents to disregard social media rumours about question paper leaks ahead of the upcoming board exams. With over 46 lakh students set to take the tests, the board cautioned that fake news is designed to mislead and can create unnecessary stress, urging everyone to rely on official updates only.
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GST collections in November grew 8.5% year on year to 1.82 lakh crore, but manufacturing-linked concerns are not fading. Revenue performance across several key states remains sluggish, fueling fresh calls to simplify the GST regime. Businesses argue that packaging and compliance frictions continue to weigh on factory activity, even as headline collections improve.
Huawei plans to invest $2.6 billion in research and development for smart driving, alongside major spending on computing power. The company says the push is designed to strengthen its position in China’s electric vehicle market as demand accelerates. Huawei’s automotive unit is now its fastest-growing business, with multiple vehicle models showcasing its technology.
The Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana has incentivised over 440,000 new employees and disbursed ₹465 crore to support sustained jobs. But the programme is moving at roughly one-tenth of the initial quarterly target. With global conflicts posing risks to formal hiring, the scheme’s goal of creating 35 million jobs by July 2027 looks under pressure.
India’s Ministry of Home Affairs has received DRDO’s AI enabled satellite imaging system Prajna to strengthen internal security and counter terrorism operations. The move adds real time imaging capability for surveillance and faster threat assessment. Separately, the Indian Navy tested the Air Droppable Container ADC 150, designed to speed delivery of essential supplies to ships at sea.
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A World Bank report says Indian cities must invest about $2.4 trillion by 2050 to build resilient, low-carbon infrastructure as climate threats intensify. Rising floods and heatwaves could sharply increase economic losses without upgrades. Delhi, Chennai, Surat and Lucknow are flagged as especially exposed. The report calls for fiscal reforms and greater private capital to close the infrastructure gap.
Manav Robotics, founded by former senior Ola executives Suvonil Chatterjee and Slokarth Dash, is in talks with early-stage investor Blume Ventures and US-based Qualcomm Ventures to raise its maiden round of about $15–20 million. The deal could also bring in additional participation from other Indian founders, signaling growing investor interest in the robotics space.
Tech companies are projected to cut more than 73,000 jobs in 2026, led by Meta, Snap, Oracle and Atlassian. AI and automation are being cited as the main reasons, with roles shrinking in areas where software can do tasks faster and cheaper. The shakeup is forcing workers to pivot to new skills as hiring patterns change across the industry.
Gold and silver opened lower on MCX as crude oil prices pushed toward $110 per barrel, reviving inflation concerns and uncertainty over rate expectations. Tensions around the Strait of Hormuz further boosted volatility in bullion markets. Analysts say the near-term outlook is likely range-bound, with traders watching key support and resistance levels.
Greece plans to raise the gross monthly minimum wage by 4.5% to 920 euros starting April 1, the sixth increase in just four years. The government says the move is meant to rebuild living standards hurt by the financial crisis and soften the impact of rising energy costs as geopolitical pressures, including Iran war-related strain, weigh on the economy. A target of 950 euros by 2027 is set.
JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon says losses in the $1.8 trillion private credit market may be “higher than expected.” But the warning isn’t new: the Fed, IMF, Financial Stability Board, and other regulators have been assembling evidence for over a year. The report connects the risk from loan origination through private credit vehicles to where a wider shock could emerge.
Australia is tightening English language testing for visa applicants starting August 7, 2025. From that date, only in-person tests conducted at secure testing centres will be accepted, while online and remote-proctored options will be excluded. The government says the move will improve the integrity and consistency of the migration system and better confirm applicants’ communication skills for integration.
AP Dhillon delivered a sold-out Mumbai concert, but the biggest online buzz came from a surprise appearance by Sanjay Dutt. Videos of the moment went viral across social media, with fans praising it as a rare, “collaboration of the year.” Talwiinder, Tara Sutaria, and Veer Pahariya were also spotted at the show, adding to the star-studded hype.
Nabha, an 8-year-old Namibian cheetah at Kuno National Park, died after suffering severe injuries during a hunting attempt inside her enclosure. Veterinarians treated her for a week, but fractures to her left ulna and fibula were fatal. Kuno’s cheetah population now stands at 26, with officials saying the remaining cheetahs are healthy and adapting well.
India’s steelmakers are scaling up and shifting toward greener production, but a quieter bottleneck is emerging. Steel scrap—the key input for many mills—is getting harder to source and increasingly expensive. As demand rises with capacity targets, securing reliable scrap supply could slow projects, squeeze margins, and complicate the transition to low-carbon steel.
Tata Steel and Google Cloud say they’ve scaled agentic AI across the company in just nine months, deploying 300+ specialised AI agents. The rollout spans employee-facing tools, back-office automation, and manufacturing safety—using platforms like Zen AI, a Digital Assistant, and shop-floor “Safety EyeQ” for real-time alerts—cutting routine ticket resolution and customer response times.
The Bombay High Court dismissed a writ petition against WeWork India’s IPO after the petitioner, Rishab Agarwal, withdrew the case. Agarwal’s challenge had claimed the company failed to fully disclose regulatory complaints. With this withdrawal, the latest legal attempt targeting WeWork India’s IPO disclosure statements has effectively ended, following earlier rejections of similar pleas.
Jyoti Structures’ insolvency resolution has been stuck for years because lenders did not act on bank guarantees worth over INR 1,350 crore. Now, an NCLT contempt order against the banks could compel compliance and allow the firm’s resolution plan to be implemented more fully, potentially restarting a stalled revival timeline that has dragged close to a decade.
Alwar police are investigating a rape charge against a 19-year-old man already arrested in Delhi’s Kailash Hills for rape and murder of an IRS officer’s daughter. Investigators say the suspect is a serial offender and that, hours before the Delhi crime, he played online Ludo with the husband of another woman he allegedly raped in Alwar. Rajasthan Police have formed a special team to probe the case.
A new report finds nine in ten women would consider transitioning into AI-focused roles if their organizations supported the move. While India produces a strong pipeline of STEM graduates, women remain underrepresented in senior tech positions. The report argues AI-driven transformations could become a lever for inclusion if companies intentionally build pathways for women into AI projects and leadership.
India’s government is pushing alternatives to chemical fertilisers after a 24.6% drop in output and supply disruptions tied to the Strait of Hormuz crisis. The Centre is planning targeted action in high-use districts and aims to reduce chemical fertiliser usage by 25% by 2030, timed ahead of the kharif season and the food production cycle.
The CBDT has introduced new 2026 rules requiring a Document Identification Number (DIN) on virtually all official income tax correspondence to taxpayers, including notices and orders. Issued via a March 31, 2026 circular, it replaces earlier 2019 guidelines and aims to help taxpayers verify authenticity. Limited exceptions are allowed but require post-facto approval within 15 days.
Larsen & Toubro’s push toward its 2021 Lakshya 3.0 target is being squeezed by a double setback: crude prices crashing to multi-year lows, cutting revenue linked to the Middle East, and the pandemic stalling the broader economy. The result is a tougher path for the engineering giant and fresh uncertainty over whether it can stay on track.
A federal judge has temporarily blocked a Trump administration directive requiring universities to submit admissions data next week to show they are not using race. Seventeen Democratic state attorneys filed a lawsuit, prompting the halt. The court also extended the submission deadline to March 25, giving time to review the legal challenge.
The ITAT Surat rejected a Surat businessman’s explanation for depositing Rs 80 lakh in cash during demonetisation. He claimed the money came from an earlier withdrawal for a property purchase, but the tribunal found the story unsupported by evidence and inconsistent with normal business conduct. His appeal was dismissed, upholding the tax department’s decision to treat it as unexplained income.
Meta has recruited Joshua Gross, a founding member of Mira Murati’s AI startup Thinking Machines Lab, to join its engineering leadership team. The move comes after four other founding members reportedly left the company recently, following a wave of departures involving major AI players like OpenAI and even Meta. The latest hire highlights how quickly talent is being rerouted across top labs.
Indian employers expect stronger hiring in the coming quarter, with the outlook cited as the best globally. Resilient domestic demand and business confidence are driving plans to add more roles, alongside a projected corporate earnings recovery. Despite uncertainty from global headwinds, India’s job-market sentiment remains notably positive, pointing to continued growth opportunities.
Education New Zealand has discontinued the New Zealand Excellence Awards for Indian students, bringing an end to a scholarship that funded study at globally ranked universities. The program focused on practical skills and employability for Indian citizens, but it will not run in the current or even the next financial year—leaving prospective applicants scrambling for alternatives.
Excessive smoking and alcohol use can ripple through India’s health insurance—changing how insurers judge risk, set premiums, and assess claim eligibility. Beyond lifestyle impact, insurers may factor these habits into underwriting decisions, waiting periods, or higher costs. The result: healthier behavior can mean better pricing, while persistent use can lead to tougher claim outcomes and scrutiny.
Indian consumer sector investment fell in FY26, but the number of deals rose sharply. Investors appear to be moving away from large, single-shot bets toward smaller, diversified investments with tighter operational discipline. Mega deals are largely missing, yet early-stage funding is holding up as companies prioritize filling capability and market gaps instead of chasing only rapid scale.
Lionsgate Play is reshaping its India rollout by putting theaters before streaming. Starting September 2026, the platform plans to release 10–12 premium Hollywood films each year exclusively in cinemas first, then move them to its own streaming debut. The “theatrical-first” push is designed to boost visibility and engagement, creating a seamless path from cinema audiences to its platform.
Amazon has agreed to pay $30 million for carbon credits produced by Indian rice farmers through the Good Rice Alliance. The programme is backed by Bayer, Temasek’s GenZero, and Shell. The deal is touted as one of the biggest agricultural carbon credit transactions worldwide and the first large-scale one of its kind in India.
Fuel sales across India have surged by about 13% as motorists stock up on petrol and diesel, fearing prices may rise after state polls conclude. Indian Oil Corporation reported a sharp jump in sales, while the government denied any intention to hike fuel rates. Even with assurances, panic buying continues in some areas, raising concerns about supply and pricing stability.
Tata Electronics has confirmed the resignation of its head of construction, shortly after ET reported KC Ang’s departure as president and head of Tata Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM). Sources also indicate the company has hired a new executive for the construction role, adding to a string of leadership changes across its semiconductor manufacturing setup.
Starting April 1, the Uttar Pradesh government will require expiry dates stamped on all eggs, including individual eggs and cartons. Any egg lacking the date will be destroyed or treated as unfit for consumption. The move is designed to improve food safety and accountability while tackling issues around proper egg storage across the state.
Turkey’s competition authority has opened an investigation into Spotify, focusing on whether the music-streaming platform favors specific rights holders through its algorithms. Regulators will also examine whether Spotify’s subscription pricing in Turkey may unfairly restrict competitors and rights holders, potentially raising antitrust concerns.
Ahead of the IPL 2026 clash between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings, Ruturaj Gaikwad has all but confirmed that MS Dhoni will not play. The CSK batter disclosed Dhoni’s status on the eve of the match during a promotional event in Mumbai, pointing to an injury issue. The result could reshape CSK’s batting and finishers role for the marquee showdown.
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