Technology Innovation: Sword or Plough looks at key moments in recent history, noting how key technological changes at pivotal moments had unimaginable consequences, both positive and negative. It makes for enjoyable and insightful reading.
India has emerged as the largest global market for Nestle's iconic KitKat chocolate-coated wafer bar, surpassing other nations due to strong consumer penetration, product innovation, and aggressive marketing investments.
A new report by ADP reveals that one in two Indian companies plan to adopt AI-powered payroll systems within the next 12 months, driven by the need for automation in workforce management, compliance, and compensation decisions. However, firms are increasingly cautious about data protection risks, especially with the implementation of the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023.
India and the United States have reviewed progress on a proposed interim bilateral trade agreement, discussing market access, digital trade, and non-tariff barriers, as they race to finalise a deal before a temporary 10 per cent US tariff regime expires on July 24.
State Bank of India Chairman C S Setty has expressed support for a 'pause' in policy rates by the Reserve Bank of India's monetary policy committee, believing it will help stabilise conditions and support economic growth. He also urged investors to look beyond short-term equity market movements and focus on India's structural transformation, driven by reforms and digital infrastructure.
TEXMiN Foundation, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad has signed an agreement with the University of Pretoria, South Africa, for research collaboration in critical minerals, rare earth element processing, recycling, extraction technologies and advanced mining innovation.
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.
Hindustan Zinc Ltd (HZL) plans to generate 2,000 crore in value by implementing artificial intelligence-driven solutions across its mining and manufacturing operations. This initiative is part of a broader industry trend to adopt digital technologies for cost reduction, margin improvement, and enhanced environmental and social governance.
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries reported strong consolidated numbers for Q4 FY26, with net profit rising 26 per cent year-on-year to 2,714 crore, despite continued weakness in its US generics business. Growth in innovative medicines and increased R&D investments are helping to offset these pressures.
TCS has secured a multi-year deal with Swedish bearings manufacturer SKF to modernise its IT infrastructure and leverage AI for industrial manufacturing.
Kumar Mangalam Birla urged young people to 'build in India, build for India and build for the world'.
AI is no longer a tool only for software engineers and technology teams.
Union Health Minister J P Nadda has emphasised the need for sound regulation, ethical oversight, and equity in the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to healthcare, speaking at the World Health Assembly in Geneva.
Indian pharmaceutical companies are strategically increasing investments in the US market, focusing on specialty drugs, complex generics, respiratory products, and local manufacturing, despite a nearly 10 per cent fall in exports to the US in FY26 due to pricing pressure and competition in traditional generics.
Credit card adoption is rapidly expanding beyond India's major metropolitan areas into Tier-II and Tier-III cities, driven by increasing incomes, digital awareness, and the integration of RuPay credit cards with UPI, according to a new report by SBI Card.
PepsiCo India plans a significant investment of Rs 5,700 crore by 2030 to enhance its production capabilities, focusing on its concentrate plant in Madhya Pradesh, a unit in Assam, and land acquisition in Tamil Nadu to expand its snack business footprint in South India.
The Uttar Pradesh government announced it has paid a record Rs 3,21,963 crore to sugarcane growers since 2017, emphasising on-time payments and direct transfers to farmers' accounts. The government highlighted initiatives like farm loan waivers and the 'Smart Ganna Kisan' system for online sugarcane management.
ServiceNow Vice Chairman Nick Tzitzon highlights India's potential to develop an AI-native government model, emphasising enhanced public services, data privacy, and economic growth.
As AI enters astrology apps and predictions, technology is becoming a new interface for humanity's oldest questions about uncertainty and the future.
Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) has expressed caution regarding 'extreme volatility' risks stemming from the West Asian conflict, which could impact global oil demand and the company's margins, while also noting that near-term retail consumption demand may remain sensitive to macro conditions. Chairman Mukesh Ambani, in the annual report, remained silent on the timeline for Jio Platforms' anticipated public listing, stating the group will 'continue to evaluate strategic pathways'.
Dr Dinesh Amalnerkar, president of the Maharashtra Academy of Sciences, has emphasised the need for Maharashtra to strengthen its semiconductor research and manufacturing ecosystem to compete with states like Gujarat and Telangana.
The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) is set to explore the use of AI, predictive analytics, and robotic inspection technologies to detect water theft, reduce leakages, and improve operational efficiency across Bengaluru's water distribution network.
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has partnered with Airtel Payments Bank to launch co-branded RuPay National Common Mobility Cards (NCMC), enabling seamless payments across various transit networks nationwide.
'India is often skipping legacy cycles and moving directly to advanced AI-driven operations.'
The Sports Authority of India (SAI) has launched three nationwide engagement initiatives, including a reel-making contest, to build momentum for Ahmedabad's bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is promoting India as a global hub for digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence, highlighting the government's incentives for data center investments and inviting the world's data to reside in India.
Hindustan Unilever (HUL) exceeded consensus estimates in Q4FY26, driven by lower overheads and 6 per cent consolidated volume growth. However, the company anticipates further price hikes to counter an expected 8-10 per cent material cost inflation, while maintaining a mid-term margin guidance of 22.5-23.5 per cent.
IT services major LTM is set to introduce a new pricing framework, 'Blueverse Credit', in the first quarter of FY27, aiming to align monetisation with the growing adoption of agentic artificial intelligence.
As temperatures soar, booking queries have surged by double digits -- going up to 125 per cent -- for destinations like Kashmir, Shillong, Gangtok, Munnar, Leh, Rishikesh, Guwahati, Imphal, Kodaikanal and the Andamans.
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal announced that a US team is expected to visit India next month for trade talks, following an earlier Indian delegation's visit to Washington, DC, in April to finalise an interim pact and advance negotiations for a broader bilateral trade agreement.
Earlier, most investors counted on traditional options like fixed deposits, gold, or property. But in 2026, you will have access to a much wider range of opportunities across different markets and sectors.
Budget 2026 is an intentional and ambitious one - From manufacturing growth to services supremacy, from technology consumption to AI-powered transformation. This is the blueprint for a $7 trillion economy built on intelligence, not just scale.
Is Bhutan merely experimenting with digital finance -- or is the Himalayan kingdom punching far above its weight, quietly playing one of the most sophisticated strategic games in Asia today? asks Varun Arya.
Moving beyond digital payments, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), the operator of Unified Payments Interface, is planning to add more muscle to the country's digital infrastructure by setting up a fourth subsidiary, NPCI Tech Solutions Ltd (NTSL).
IIT Delhi, in collaboration with the University of Exeter, is developing cutting-edge sports technology, including wearable ultrasound sensors for injury prevention and helmets that can detect concussions in real-time, potentially revolutionising athlete safety and performance.
'Unfortunately, today most ministers are busy with either election duty or praising duty. They are not interested in serving duty.' 'Ministers have become relaxed like retired people still holding onto jobs.' 'Look at how the NEET paper leaked. But there is no accountability.' 'After 12 years, they have become saturated. They are short of ideas.'
"Our strategy has always been to focus on volume-led penetration growth," said Manish Tiwary, chairman and managing director, Nestle India.
'Solutions developed in India are being commercialised and offered globally because we're executing at scale, creating new markets and revenue streams.'
Hyderabad Police have apprehended 66 individuals linked to a nationwide 'ghost' SIM card network, connected to 76 cybercrime cases involving over Rs 101 crore.
The National Health Authority (NHA) is promoting the National Health Claims Exchange (NHCX) to standardise and simplify health insurance claims processing in India, aiming for a seamless and reliable digital infrastructure similar to UPI.
