AI-driven job disruption, rising debt, shrinking savings and a changing global economy are reshaping India's middle class. Saurabh Mukherjea discusses jobs, entrepreneurship, investing and the future of India's economic growth on THE REDIFF PODCAST.
A recent study by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, has identified self-fertilisation, or uniparental reproduction, as a critical trait enabling plants to become invasive. Researchers examined 28 species from the daisy family, finding that all 11 invasive species studied could reproduce uniparentally, unlike most native and non-invasive alien species. This ability allows a single plant to establish new populations, displacing local flora and altering ecosystems, highlighting the importance of reproductive strategy in weed-risk assessment.
'Storytelling will never change.' 'As long as storytelling can be unpredictable... AI cannot tell you an unpredictable story.'
The H-1B visa once symbolised the American Dream for Indians, but today's students are increasingly asking whether they need America at all. In 1995, the question was: How do I get to America? In 2026, it may be: Do I need to?
Agilisium has invested Rs 50 crore to help pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical technology companies operationalise artificial intelligence, introducing a new professional standard called Forward Deployment Experts (FDX).
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has reduced India's growth forecast for FY27 to 6.4 per cent, citing the potential impact of higher energy prices offsetting the country's economic resilience. Despite this, India remains among the fastest-growing major economies.
Jio Platforms Ltd, the digital and telecommunications arm of Reliance Industries, has received board approval to file draft papers for an initial public offering (IPO) involving a fresh issue of up to 27 crore equity shares. The draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) is expected to be filed with SEBI today, marking a significant value-creation event for Reliance shareholders.
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.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has provisionally lifted the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee, easing restrictions on Russian athletes. This move, welcomed by the Kremlin, allows Olympic sports bodies to consider reintegrating Russian athletes as neutrals, though some sports like track and field are not following suit.
Concerns have emerged about the impact of AI adoption on young workers, particularly those seeking their first job in high-skilled occupations.
Cognizant's research reveals that companies seeking AI adoption favour IT services firms offering custom, full-stack AI solutions, prioritising flexibility and expertise over cost and speed.
Despite current headwinds, India remains the world's fastest-growing major economy and should not allow near-term challenges to obscure its long-term growth potential, said Jane Fraser, Citi Chair and Chief Executive Officer.
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has extended 25,000 offers to freshers for the current fiscal year (FY27), with future hiring decisions contingent on the demand scenario, according to CEO K Krithivasan.
Avoid builders with very large commitments.
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw names niece Claire Mazumdar as successor at Biocon. Explore the leadership transition, strategy, and future plans.
Meghalaya has shown significant progress in digital transactions and financial inclusion, recording 32.76 crore digital transactions and nearly 10 lakh Jan Dhan accounts by 2025-26. Efforts like the JAM Trinity and financial literacy programmes have expanded banking access, with a high percentage of bank account holders adopting digital modes. The next phase focuses on enhancing financial literacy and cyber resilience, especially in rural areas.
Shares of Reliance Industries climbed nearly 3 per cent after its digital unit, Jio Platforms, filed draft papers for what could become India's largest-ever initial public offering, with the offering potentially raising around Rs 37,700 crore (USD 4 billion).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated 11 years of the Digital India initiative, highlighting its role in redefining governance, empowering citizens, and accelerating all-round development. He emphasised its impact on digital payments, direct benefit transfers, and expanding digital public infrastructure, making technology a powerful instrument for 'Ease of Living' across India, including tier-2 and tier-3 cities.
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya felicitated the Indian men's volleyball team for winning the country's first-ever medal at the AVC Men's Volleyball Cup. India secured a bronze medal by defeating Bahrain, marking a historic achievement and reflecting the sport's growth in the nation. This success is expected to inspire young athletes and boost volleyball's development.
Indian startup funding plummeted by 43 per cent year-on-year to $7.81 billion between March 1 and June 15, 2026, largely due to the West Asia conflict, which has amplified global risk perceptions, tightened liquidity, and led to rupee depreciation, making global investors cautious.
The 2026 World Cup has been marred by widespread controversy surrounding the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system, with coaches, players, and fans criticising its application, consistency, and impact on match outcomes, leading to a significant increase in interventions and red cards.
Former PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi asserts that India and the United States are natural partners, crucial in the geopolitical competition with China. She highlights India's pivotal role as the world's largest democracy with a young, English-speaking population, despite its "chaotic" nature. Nooyi also discusses the need for leaders to understand each other's perspectives to maintain strong bilateral ties.
At the D Y Patil International University's Foundation Day, experts advised students to embrace AI wisely, highlighting its potential and the importance of critical thinking in the digital age.
Jammu and Kashmir LG Manoj Sinha addressed the 'IMMUNOCON-2026' conference, stressing the importance of translating scientific immunological knowledge into public health action. He urged scientists to focus on precision medicine, immuno-AI fusion, climate immunity, and accelerating translational research to combat infectious diseases and enhance healthcare delivery.
The White House has released a framework for artificial intelligence, focusing on empowering parents to manage their children's digital environment and advocating for federal leadership to promote innovation and address policy challenges.
With more granular reporting and enhanced data matching, mismatches are likely to be identified more quickly.
Senior Congress leader Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan expressed confidence in V D Satheesan's ability to lead Kerala as Chief Minister, emphasising the need for a strong team to meet public expectations. He highlighted the importance of unity within the party and the focus on public welfare.
Researchers at CSIR-CIMFR have developed India's first mobile Smart Algal Liquid Tree (SALT), an innovative air-purification system using microalgae to absorb CO2 and release oxygen. Designed for polluted urban areas, this compact unit offers a sustainable solution where conventional tree planting is challenging, also providing public utility features.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai highlighted the transformative potential of AI at the India AI Impact Summit, emphasizing its role in scientific discovery, economic development, and workforce evolution.
The Environment Ministry has designated the Natural History Museum (NHM) in Mizoram as India's 21st designated repository, significantly enhancing the country's biodiversity conservation and scientific infrastructure, particularly within the Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot.
'The day that the market realises that they've overspent (on AI) and there's a sudden collapse in the capex, then India can start outperforming again.'
The US Department of Transportation has proposed new rules to reverse a five-decade ban on overland supersonic flights, driven by advancements in quiet supersonic technology like NASA's X-59 aircraft. This move aims to enable a new era of faster air travel while addressing noise concerns, with final rules expected by mid-2027.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has introduced a new "Strategic Dialogue" phase in its host selection process for the 2036 Olympic Games, aiming for greater transparency and cost control. This new phase will impact India's bid, with the final host decision expected in mid-2029.
A new study by AI firm Anthropic reveals that while AI hasn't caused widespread unemployment, it has slowed hiring for younger workers in AI-exposed roles. The study also highlights the gap between AI's theoretical capabilities and actual deployment, and the ongoing conflict between Anthropic and the US government over AI weaponisation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the importance of democratizing artificial intelligence to ensure its benefits reach the Global South, speaking at the India AI Impact Summit.
India's junior women's hockey team is set to embark on a tour of the United Kingdom from July 5 to 14, playing seven matches against various international U-21 teams and Scotland's senior side. This tour, led by new coach Tim White, is crucial for the team's preparation for future competitions and aims to provide valuable international exposure.
Jammu and Kashmir LG Manoj Sinha emphasised the critical need to translate scientific immunological knowledge into public health action. Speaking at the IMMUNOCON-2026 conference, he highlighted immunology's evolving role in healthcare, stressing continuous innovation and collaboration in areas like immuno-AI fusion, climate immunity, and translational medicine to combat infectious diseases and prepare for future global health threats.
A key industry leader acknowledged the India IT services sector faces a "painful" transition due to AI, but emphasized the industry's resilience and ability to adapt through reinvention and focusing on complex enterprise technology.
A key industry leader acknowledged the India IT services sector faces a "painful" transition due to AI, but emphasized the industry's resilience and ability to adapt through reinvention and focusing on complex enterprise technology.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has publicly endorsed Marvell Technology as a potential 'trillion-dollar company,' citing its crucial role in developing advanced connectivity solutions for next-generation artificial intelligence infrastructure. This endorsement, made at Computex 2026, follows a significant Nvidia investment in Marvell and highlights the industry's shift towards optical interconnects to meet the demands of large-scale AI systems.
