State Bank of India (SBI) is extensively using artificial intelligence to underwrite nearly Rs 1 lakh crore in MSME loans and automate the processing of cheques up to Rs 10,000. This AI adoption aims to enhance efficiency, free up employee bandwidth, and improve customer service across various banking functions.
A top SBI official has highlighted the challenges bankers face in lending to MSMEs using only GST data, advocating for the integration of alternative data sources like power consumption and telecom records through credit bureaus to improve credit assessment.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has prematurely closed its swap facility for foreign currency non-resident (bank) deposits, FCNR(B), one month ahead of schedule, after banks mobilised $52.3 billion under the scheme by August 13, indicating sufficient foreign currency reserves.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'dimagi Naxal' (intellectual Naxal) remark, made during his Independence Day address, has ignited a significant political debate, with Union Minister Kiren Rijiju clarifying that the comment targets those who support Maoists and separatists, not opposition leaders, while opposition figures like P Chidambaram have embraced the label in defiance.
Bank fraud is no longer just an external cyber threat -- insiders with legitimate access can exploit banking systems, trusted credentials and institutional blind spots to quietly siphon money.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has directed Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan to implement drone-based surveillance to monitor and prevent stubble burning. This initiative aims to counter late-evening burning incidents that evade satellite detection, leveraging drone technology for real-time monitoring, accurate detection, and evidence collection to ensure effective enforcement against agricultural residue burning.
A Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce has urged the Indian government to swiftly conclude the proposed India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), while ensuring India's interests are protected, recommending complete exemption for key export products like generic medicines and smartphones from future US tariff increases.
The Confederation of Indian Industry-Indian Women Network (CII-IWN) organised a hands-on Artificial Intelligence (AI) workshop in Chandigarh for women entrepreneurs and professionals. The session focused on practical applications of AI, including generative AI and LLMs, to address business challenges and enhance productivity across various functions like marketing, content creation, and data analysis.
Indian badminton stars Lakshya Sen, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty, and Ayush Shetty are preparing for the BWF World Championships in New Delhi. Sen, a former bronze medallist, aims for a deep run despite an inconsistent year, while the doubles pair focuses on adapting to court conditions. Rising star Ayush Shetty faces a tough opening challenge against world No. 1 Shi Yuqi, with all players expressing excitement about playing in front of a home crowd and noting improved venue conditions.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is developing digital public infrastructure and payments intelligence platforms using artificial intelligence and application programming interfaces to improve customer experience and strengthen the payments ecosystem.
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary has called upon ministers and legislators to extensively use digital technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for balanced development and improved public outreach. He highlighted the state government's existing use of AI in welfare programmes and project cost reduction, stressing its importance for Bihar's progress in the digital era.
India Inc's first-quarter earnings season was significantly impacted by the West Asia conflict, leading to rising costs, calibrated price increases, and margin pressures across various sectors including FMCG, automotive, steel, and cement. Companies are implementing price hikes to protect profitability, with many anticipating further escalations if input costs remain elevated.
Mahindra Racing has reaffirmed its long-term commitment to Formula E, extending its participation until at least the Gen4 era in 2030, despite other major manufacturers exiting the championship. CEO Frederic Bertrand highlights this as a continuation of Mahindra's strategy to use electric racing as a technology laboratory, focusing on software, hardware, and human capital development that feeds into its wider automotive business and showcases Indian manufacturing prowess on a global stage.
Mahindra Racing has reaffirmed its long-term commitment to Formula E, extending its participation until at least the Gen4 era in 2030, despite other major manufacturers exiting the championship. CEO Frederic Bertrand highlights this as a continuation of Mahindra's strategy to use electric racing as a technology laboratory, focusing on software, hardware, and human capital development that feeds into its wider automotive business and showcases Indian manufacturing prowess on a global stage.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has introduced a 'Sapta Dhara' (seven-stream) reform framework, aiming to propel India into a developed nation by 2047. This comprehensive plan focuses on key sectors including manufacturing, agro-food processing, technology, logistics, defence, green and blue economy, and soft power, leveraging the nation's youth potential.
Mobile payments pioneer Paytm reported significant growth in its UPI payments business for Q1 FY27, driven by app simplification, AI investments, and a focus on attracting Gen Z customers. The company saw a 45% year-on-year increase in Consumer UPI Gross Transaction Value and a rise of 60 lakh in Monthly Transacting Users, outpacing the industry. Paytm's strategy prioritises customer retention and product innovation, leading to a profitable quarter with strong revenue and EBITDA growth, further supported by AI-led operational efficiencies and an India-focused language model.
Five young Indian women's hockey players - Ishika, Lalthantluangi, Sakshi Rana, Shilpi Dabas, and Sunelita Toppo - are set to make their World Cup debut, having overcome various challenges and long waits to reach this significant milestone.
Lodha Developers plans to generate approximately 10,000 crore in sales over the next three to four years by monetising about 150 acres of land at its data centre park in Palava, part of the Mumbai metropolitan region (MMR). This strategy is a planned recurring pillar of their business, funding the build-out of 1 gigawatt of powered shell capacity and aiming for over 2,000 crore in annual rental income by FY32.
HCLTech, India's third-largest IT services company, announced plans to establish a global technology centre and an AI-optimised data centre in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, with a total investment of approximately Rs 15,000 crore, marking its entry into the AI infrastructure business.
Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh has voiced strong support for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to feature in the 2027 ODI World Cup, emphasising that performance, not age, should be the primary criterion for selection.
Brand USA, the destination marketing organisation for the United States, has launched a new social-first series called 'More to Love'. This campaign aims to leverage the success of the FIFA World Cup 2026, which was hosted across the US, Canada, and Mexico, to encourage international fans to return and explore more of the country's diverse attractions, including its national parks and various states. The campaign is being amplified globally, including in India.
Merlinhawk Aerospace has partnered with Boeing India Defence to provide in-country maintenance, repair, and lifecycle support for advanced Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) systems on Indian military platforms. This collaboration aims to strengthen local support, reduce turnaround times, and enhance mission readiness for the Indian Navy, aligning with India's self-reliance goals in defence.
Merlinhawk Aerospace has partnered with Boeing India Defence to provide in-country maintenance, repair, and lifecycle support for advanced Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) systems on Indian military platforms. This collaboration aims to strengthen local support, reduce turnaround times, and enhance mission readiness for the Indian Navy, aligning with India's self-reliance goals in defence.
Indian golfers Shubhankar Sharma and Anirban Lahiri are set to lead the home challenge at the DP World India Championship, scheduled for October 15-18 at the Delhi Golf Club. The tournament will feature a star-studded international field including Major winner Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood, Ryan Fox, Shane Lowry, Justin Rose, Luke Donald, and Viktor Hovland. Both Sharma and Lahiri expressed excitement about competing on home soil, highlighting the event's significance for Indian golf.
Indian archer Sahil Jadhav, preparing for the Asian Games, has found valuable insights into managing pressure and staying focused from former Australian cricketer Shane Watson's self-help book, 'The Winner's Mindset'.
A new digital political phenomenon, the 'E20 Janta Party', is gaining traction on Instagram, mobilising Gen Z against the government's mandatory 20% ethanol-blended petrol (E20) and demanding Union Minister Nitin Gadkari's resignation.
Young Indian shuttler Ayush Shetty is actively working to transform his 'natural laid-back approach' into a more aggressive playing style as he prepares for his World Championship debut, where he faces current world No. 1 Shi Yuqi of China in his opening match.
IT Secretary S Krishnan advocates for India to pursue "strategic autonomy" in the AI ecosystem by building domestic capabilities and diversifying global supply chains. He emphasized avoiding overdependence on single sources while integrating into trusted global networks, and also highlighted the need to consider an AI law and regulatory framework.
ICICI Bank has successfully raised $1 billion through a five-year senior unsecured US dollar bond, marking its first public dollar bond issuance since 2017 and the largest single-tranche US dollar bond issuance by an Indian issuer so far this year.
Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Seema Kaliramna is leveraging her doctoral research on imagery and positive self-talk to gain a competitive advantage in discus throwing. Her academic pursuits at Chaudhary Bansi Lal University are directly applied to her training and mental preparation, helping her achieve success like her recent Glasgow CWG medal and focus on the upcoming Asian Games.
Understanding the most common mistakes during market downturns can help you protect your investments and stay focused on your long-term financial goals, says Ramalingam Kalirajan
Ayush Shetty's coach, Sagar Chopda, believes that the Indian shuttler's challenging World Championships opener against world No. 1 Shi Yu Qi could work in his favour, citing Shi Yu Qi's recent form and the home crowd advantage.
IIT Madras's Centre of Excellence for Road Safety has organised its first international hackathon, focusing on AI in road safety. The event brought together participants from India and other BIMSTEC nations to develop data-driven, technology-enabled solutions for the region, which faces a high number of road fatalities annually. The hackathon aims to foster collaboration among governments, academic institutions, and regional bodies to address this critical issue.
Before Awarapan 2 tests his comeback, we revisit the 10 films that made Emraan Hashmi the ultimate frontbencher favourite.
Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi has outlined Ahmedabad's vision for the 2030 Commonwealth Games, emphasising unparalleled accessibility for para athletes and a strong commitment to sustainability through green energy and electric transport.
Food and grocery delivery giant Swiggy has reported a significant narrowing of its net loss in the first quarter, down 34 per cent year-on-year to approximately 791 crore, while revenue from operations surged by 37 per cent to 6,812 crore. The company also achieved contribution margin break-even in its quick commerce segment, Instamart.
GMR Aero Technic has signed a license agreement with Honeywell Aerospace to provide maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services for LEAP engine line replaceable units (LRUs). This partnership will enhance MRO capabilities for Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in India, leveraging Honeywell's technology and GMR's infrastructure to offer efficient and cost-effective solutions for regional airlines.
Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has reshuffled Iran's political and national-security establishment, appointing former SNSC Secretary Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr as his political adviser and veteran IRGC commander Mohsen Rezaei as his representative on the Supreme National Security Council, consolidating power amid the West Asia crisis and Strait of Hormuz tensions.
Jamshedpur FC's withdrawal from the Indian Super League was a pre-planned strategic decision to refocus on grassroots football development, independent of the league's commercial uncertainties, according to Tata Steel Vice President D B Sundara Raman.
Tata Consumer Products reported healthy revenue growth in Q1 FY27, driven by its India branded business and accelerating momentum in newer segments, which are now expected to sustain double-digit sales growth and improve profitability.
