India's economic engine is revving up, but navigating the global headwinds requires sharp strategy. The rupee's recent volatility against the dollar underscores the complexities facing Indian businesses, impacting everything from import-export trade to domestic inflation. This week alone, we've seen significant shifts in the IT sector, with major players announcing restructuring and a renewed focus on AI-driven solutions. Meanwhile, the burgeoning startup ecosystem continues to attract substantial funding, despite a cautious global investor sentiment. The government's recent policy announcements on infrastructure development and digitalization are poised to further shape the business landscape, creating both opportunities and challenges for entrepreneurs and established corporations alike. Understanding these market dynamics is crucial for success in today's rapidly evolving Indian economy. Stay informed with Abtak.com for the latest insights and analysis on key sectors including finance, manufacturing, and technology – empowering your business decisions in a dynamic market. Explore the complete business news section now to stay ahead of the curve.
New Delhi: Leading industry body Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on Sunday unveiled a proposed National Framework for Global Capability Centres (GCCs), seeking to position India as a globally preferred hub for enterprise innovation, strategy and capability development. The proposed framework, however, is expected to create 20-25 million jobs and contribute up to $600 billion in the economic impact. The framework for national GCC policy encompasses the setting up of digital economic zones, deepening industry-academia partnerships and establishing a GCC Council for inter-ministerial coordination and centre-state alignment. "The implementation of the national GCC policy framework, alongside the model state policy, can double India's GCC footprint by 2030, and make India the world's premier architect of enterprise innovation," the CII said. The industry body also suggested clear performance metrics for job creation, innovation, exports, and regional spread, with feedback loops for continuous policy improvement and adaptive strategies to respond to global market and technology shifts. "The national GCC growth needs to be integrated with initiatives such as smart cities and Gati Shakti to promote tier-II and tier-III cities as alternative hubs. This requires addressing gaps in transport, utilities, and Grade-A office infrastructure, thereby ensuring balanced and inclusive regional growth," it said. Moreover, the industry body also said that GCCs should be encouraged to act as R&D powerhouses for global companies, supported by corporate venture capital arms and innovation linkages with start-ups. "Incentives for ESG-led innovation -- ranging from green infrastructure to responsible AI adoption -- should be built in, ensuring alignment with India's net-zero commitments and sustainability goals, suggests the framework," it suggested. The framework is anchored in three pillars -- national direction, enabling ecosystem, and measurable outcomes -- supported by four critical success factors: talent, infrastructure, regional inclusion, and innovation. "Over the past three decades, India's GCC journey has evolved in four phases -- from cost-focused IT and back-office hubs in the 1990s, to multi-function delivery centres in the 2000s, to digital and innovation hubs post-2015, and now into global enterprise hubs of resilience and digital acceleration," the CII said. The CII further said that key achievements include India's commanding global share, with nearly half of the world's GCCs located here; direct employment of 2.16 million professionals supporting almost 10.4 million jobs in total; an economic contribution of $68 billion in gross value added that is projected to rise to between $154 and $199 billion by 2030; and a job creation potential of 20-25 million roles by the end of the decade, including 4-5 million direct positions.
New Delhi [India], December 2: The IVCA GreenReturns Summit 2024 commenced today in New Delhi, convening over 400 visionaries, investors, policymakers, and entrepreneurs to chart a transformative path for India's green economy. The Summit is dedicated to aligning India's climate goals with its trillion-dollar economic aspirations for a 'Viksit Bharat,' spotlighting high-impact investment opportunities, addressing funding gaps, and driving actionable solutions for net-zero and climate adaptation. Also Read | Mamata Banerjee Says West Bengal Yet To Get INR 14,000 Crore From Centre for Supply of ...Read More >
Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], December 2 (ANI): Ambuja Cements has taken a step toward achieving its Net Zero goals. The company has partnered with Finland-based technology leader Coolbrook to implement its proprietary RotoDynamic Heater (RDH) technology. According to the exchange filing, this cutting-edge, zero-carbon heating solution, powered by renewable electricity, will drastically reduce the company's dependence on fossil fuels and lower its carbon emissions, aligning with its sustainability vision. Ambuja Cements will significantly reduce its fossil fuel dependence by harnessing renewa ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 3 (VOICE) White collar hiring in India grew 6 per cent in the festive season (October and November), driven by strong growths in key non-IT sectors, a report showed on Tuesday.The sectors like Oil and Gas (+16 per cent), Pharma/Biotech (+7 per cent), FMCG (+7 per cent), and real estate (+10 per cent), alongside sustained momentum in emerging domains like AI/ML (+30 per cent) and global capability centres (+11 per cent), according to Naukri JobSpeak Index. While the IT sector has historically been a dominant force in fresher hiring, the current trend shows a significant upsurge ...Read More >
Bengaluru, 4th December 2024- PURE EV, one of India's leading electric two-wheeler manufacturers, has unveiled an ambitious roadmap to strengthen its presence nationwide and expand globally while introducing innovative solutions for sustainable mobility. Over the next 30 months, the company aims to add 250 new dealerships, taking its total network to over 320 across India. The expansion will be driven by the growing demand for long-range scooters, electric motorcycles, large B2B contracts, and the company's entry into the house-hold brand space. Dr. Nishanth Dongari, Founder & MD of PURE EV, ...Read More >
WarmUp Ventures Founders L to R - Rajendra Lora ,Yogesh Chaudhary , Sharad Bansal Athera Venture Partners has roped in HDFC AMC's fund of funds as an LP for its Fund IV, while Warmup Ventures is launching its second fund. HDFC AMC invests in Athera's Fund IV Tech-focused venture capital fund Athera Venture Partners, formerly known as Inventus India, on Wednesday said that HDFC's fund of funds has invested in its Fund IV, which is scheduled to close in 2025. HDFC AMC's Select AIF FoF I Scheme will be a dominant LP in Athera's Rs 900-crore fund to be invested into fast-growing tech startups ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Recognizing the potential and challenges of AI, the Government of India constituted an advisory group, chaired by Principal Scientific Advisor Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, to undertake the development of an 'AI for India-Specific Regulatory Framework'. Under the guidance of the Advisory Group, a sub-committee on 'AI Governance and Guidelines Development' will provide actionable recommendations for AI governance in India. The sub-committee's report on AI Governance, now published for public consultation, aims to guide the development of a trustworthy and accountable AI ecosystem in India. ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 31 (IANS) The year 2024 has been historic for Indian startups as the government abolished the angel tax (a tax levied on investing in startups), which improved Indian startups' funding and enabled them to raise more than $12 billion. Along with this, food delivery company Zomato managed to make its place in the Sensex, the index of top companies in the country. Indian startup companies crossed the magical figure of getting $150 billion in funding in 2024. Between 2014 and 2024, new-age tech companies raised more than $151 billion in funding. Startups raised the highest funding ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], January 31 (ANI): Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs Randhir Jaiswal said on Friday that French President Emmanuel Macron has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit, and India has accepted the invite. While speaking at a press briefing, Jaiswal said that India is also developing its own AI program. "French President has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Artificial Intelligence Action Summit and we have accepted their invite. We will update you about further details," he said. On February ...Read More >
Infosys has announced an average 85% performance bonus for eligible employees in Q2 FY25, reflecting its strong financial performance. The bonus, paid to mid- and junior-level staff, will be credited with the November salaries, with individual payouts varying based on performance. This follows Infosys' impressive 4.7% rise in Q2 net profit and a revenue increase of 5.1%, leading to an upward revision of its FY25 revenue guidance. The bonus payout surpasses the previous quarter's 80%, with Infosys outpacing rivals like TCS. Employees are also awaiting salary hikes, with revisions expected from ...Read More >
Gurugram (Haryana) [India], December 12: Navanc, a pioneering FinTech startup building India's first AI-powered property score and stack for secured lending and insurance practices, has successfully raised USD 1 million in a seed funding round. The round was led by Prarambh Ventures, with participation from Inflection Point Ventures (IPV), Brigade REAP FirstPort Capital, and marquee angel investors Also Read | US: Joe Biden Commutes Roughly 1,500 Sentences and Pardons 39 People in Biggest Single-Day Act of Clemency. The funds will be directed toward expanding operations across India, with a ...Read More >
The Smart India Hackathon (SIH) 2024, one of India's largest platforms for fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, is set to culminate in its Grand Finale at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee from 11th to 15th December 2024. As part of its 7th edition, SIH 2024 continues to exemplify the vision of Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji to make India self-reliant and globally competitive through youth empowerment and innovation. He will interact with young innovators at the Grand Finale of Smart India Hackathon 2024 on 11th December 2024, at around 4:30 PM, via video con ...Read More >
The Andhra Pradesh government inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Google. The tech giant will launch its operations from Visakhapatnam in the State. Making the announcement at the district collectors' conference on Wednesday, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said HRD Minister Nara Lokesh's efforts have paved the way for this. The MoU was a significant development and would be a game changer. Visakhapatnam is poised for transformative growth, Mr. Naidu said. The chief minister, in ...Read More >
News 2 min read Indian IT industry to see 30-35 pc high demand for niche tech roles in 2025 The Indian IT industry is projected to see 30-35 per cent increased demand for highly-specialised tech roles in 2025, along with increased spending on upskilling in the coming years, according to a new report. New Delhi, The Indian IT industry is projected to see 30-35 per cent increased demand for highly-specialised tech roles in 2025, along with increased spending on upskilling in the coming years, acco ...Read More >
As businesses increasingly adopt AI, customizing large language models (LLMs) like GPT and Claude is key to meeting industry-specific needs. Techniques like Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) and in-context learning are gaining popularity. RAG enables real-time data retrieval, ideal for tasks requiring up-to-date information, while in-context learning provides guidance within the task prompt. Recent advancements in LLMs, such as larger context windows, offer new possibilities but also present challenges, including cost and efficiency. A hybrid approach combining RAG and long-context models m ...Read More >
News 1 min read Hero MotoCorp launches programme to support startups in automotive industry Under the programme, selected startups will get exclusive access to Hero MotoCorp's research and development facilities in Germany and India, besides the company's extensive network of dealers, suppliers and partners, along with mentorship. Two-wheeler maker Hero MotoCorp on Wednesday said it has initiated a programme to support startups in the automotive industry. The Hero For Startups (HFS) programme aims to identify and fund promising startups across the country that demonstrate the potential to tra ...Read More >
STL Digital, an IT Services and Consulting Company (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sterlite Technologies), announced the successful deployment of RISE with SAP S/4HANA Cloud for eight Vedanta companies (Hindustan Zinc, Sterlite Copper, Cairn Oil & Gas, Sesa Goa Iron Ore, Vedanta Aluminium, Vedanta Zinc International, ESL Steel, Vedanta Corporate), globally. Vedanta, a globally diversified natural resources, energy, and technology conglomerate, prioritizes operational excellence, timely execution o ...Read More >
NewsVoir Gurugram (Haryana) [India], December 12: Navanc, a pioneering FinTech startup building India's first AI-powered property score and stack for secured lending and insurance practices, has successfully raised USD 1 million in a seed funding round. The round was led by Prarambh Ventures, with participation from Inflection Point Ventures (IPV), Brigade REAP FirstPort Capital, and marquee angel investors The funds will be directed toward expanding operations across India, with a focus on strengthening Navanc's presence in urban and semi-urban areas. Additionally, the startup will bolster ...Read More >
Bengaluru, India (OTE) - Leveraging Infosys Topaz and Google Cloud technology, the center of excellence will foster co-innovation to deliver transformative AI-powered solutions Infosys (NSE: INFY), (BSE: INFY), (NYSE: INFY), a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, today announced the launch of a Google Cloud center of excellence, powered by Infosys Topaz, to foster enterprise AI innovation. The center will serve as a catalyst for co-creation and help businesses harness the power of generative AI to achieve transformative growth. Infosys and Google Cloud share a s ...Read More >
Palo Alto Networks, released its 2025 cybersecurity predictions for the Asia Pacific region, outlining five key trends that cyber practitioners can expect to unfold in the coming twelve months and position their organisations for a more secure future. Organisations across the APAC region have emphasised embedding AI into business processes in 2024. This includes cybersecurity processes, where organisations and their adversaries are engaged in an AI arms race. But alarmingly, according to a recent PwC report, more than 40% of leaders say they do not understand the cyber risks posed by emerging ...Read More >
Indian sustainability startups are currently at the forefront in terms of handling critical environmental challenges. They are emerging with innovating solutions frequently for a greener future. Key Communications recently conducted a survey and it reports that the startups are in need of urgent support to make their journey less struggling. The survey reveals that more than 60% of sustainability startups in the country believe that they need stronger government backing with respect to growth and funding. Currently there are about 6,600 cleantech startups in India and such ventures are import ...Read More >
PNN Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], December 6: We are thrilled to announce that ABSYZ Software Consulting, a Youngsoft company, and a trusted Salesforce partner since 2014, has been elevated to Salesforce Summit Partner status, the highest recognition within the Salesforce consulting ecosystem. This milestone highlights ABSYZ's unwavering commitment to excellence, innovation focused on customer needs, and delivering transformative results for clients through its global Salesforce implementations. As one of the elite 5% of Salesforce consulting partners worldwide, this achievement reflects ou ...Read More >
New Delhi, November 27, 2024: The Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development (CESD), SIST, Jamia Hamdard, organized a thought-provoking lecture on "Climate Change and Green Transition: Global Impact on Natural Disasters and their Management" on 25 November 2024. The event was part of CESD's ongoing initiatives to promote awareness and action on critical environmental issues. Professor (Dr.) M. Z. Abdin, Director of CESD, delivered the welcome address and introductory remarks, setting the stage for the session. He emphasized the urgency of transitioning to green energy and sustainable ...Read More >
Indian respondents believe that IT investments are critical for the following factors: not only for environment responsibility but also to gain long-term business resilience by 61 percent and to build brand reputation by 64 percent, as reflected in IBM's 'State of Sustainability Readiness Report'. "As sustainability becomes central to business growth strategies, AI is proving to be a game-changer in driving responsible growth", said Sandip Patel, Managing Director of IBM India/South Asia. Also Read - TechM, AWS Partner To Work On GenAI In Telecom Networks "India stands out as a leader in AI-dr ...Read More >
Elon Musk has announced plans to revolutionize the gaming industry by launching an AI-driven game studio under xAI. In a series of posts on X, Musk, a passionate gamer, criticized the current state of game development, highlighting the influence of large corporations and ideological biases. He pledged to "make games great again" through innovative applications of artificial intelligence. While many gamers have welcomed this move, excited by the idea of independent game development, critics question Musk's lack of experience in managing a game studio. The announcement has sparked widespread deb ...Read More >
Why Is Indian Railways Called Indian Railways, Not Indian Railway? UPSC-Level Question Solved Puneet Agrawal's remarkable journey from Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, to becoming a global leader in technology exemplifies the transformative power of perseverance, vision, and innovation. Growing up in a family that valued discipline and hard work, Puneet was deeply inspired by his father, an employee at Indian Oil Corporation, and his mother, a homemaker, who instilled in him the importance of balance and support. His early years were marked by academic excellence and a passion for sports like badminto ...Read More >
Cloud-based testing platform LambdaTest has secured $38 million in a funding round led by Avataar Ventures, with Qualcomm Ventures also participating. The fresh funding comes after a gap of more than 30 months for the Noida and San Francisco-based startup. This latest round brings the company's total funding to $108 million, including a $45 million round in March 2022. Its early backers include Premji Invest, Peak XV, Telstra Ventures, Blume Ventures, and Leo Capital. LambdaTest was part of the ...Read More >
Union Secretary for Electronics and Information Technology (IT) S. Krishnan said on Monday (December 9, 2024) that as India's Internet grows further, investments in reliability would be required. "Yesterday, I was walking through Old Delhi, and if you look up and see the kind of cables carried along the sides of the roads, along the streetlights and lampposts, you wonder, is this what we are relying on?" he said, adding, "It's worse than a spaghetti bowl of cables." Mr. Krishnan said the Interne ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], November 27 (ANI): Indian Railways is advancing the electrification of Broad Gauge railway lines at a mission-driven pace, achieving approximately 97 per cent electrification of its total Broad Gauge network, Union Minister of Railways, Information and Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw stated in a written reply in the Lok Sabha. Vaishnaw noted that around 45,200 route kilometres of the Broad Gauge network have been electrified since 2014-15. He highlighted a significant increase in the pace of electrification, from approximately 1.42 k ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], December 12 (ANI): Union Minister for Steel and Heavy Industries, HD Kumaraswamy, launched India's Green Steel Taxonomy at Vigyan Bhavan on Thursday. This landmark framework aims to revolutionize the steel industry by decarbonizing production processes and promoting environmentally responsible practices. The initiative signifies a major step toward aligning one of India's most vital industries with global sustainability goals. The event witnessed the presence of prominent dignitaries, including Minister of State for Steel and Heavy Industries, Bhupathi Raju Srinivasa Varma ...Read More >
New Delhi: India and the UK have the potential to further collaborate in the fields like artificial intelligence (AI), tele-medicine, climate modelling and agri-tech to improve the lives of millions of people in both the countries, Union Commerce and Industry Minister, Piyush Goyal, said on Wednesday. Addressing an event by the UK India Business Council (UKIBC) in the national capital, the minister highlighted range of areas where the bilateral partnership can drive not just economic growth and prosperity but also improve the lives of people in the UK, India and across the world. "AI and vir ...Read More >