Indian startups raised about $122.9 million across 25 deals in the first week of October, marking a 47.4% decline from the previous week and underscoring the uneven pace of venture funding in the market. The week’s activity was led by companies including DailyObjects and StockGro, but the overall tally points to continued investor selectivity and a cautious capital environment.
India’s finance ministry has asked banks to begin preparing for a sector-wide transition to post-quantum security while also developing an artificial intelligence resilience framework, according to an official familiar with the matter. The move reflects growing concern that banks could face long-tail cyber risks, including “harvest now, decrypt later” attacks in which encrypted financial data is stored today for future quantum decryption.
Juspay reported a 30% year-on-year rise in FY26 revenue to Rs 664 crore, reflecting stronger international traction and higher daily transaction volumes across its payments infrastructure business. The Bengaluru-based fintech, however, said strategic investment in AI infrastructure widened its net loss, underscoring the cost of scaling new capabilities while pursuing global growth.
Rajat Patidar produced a defiant lone hand, but it was not enough to prevent Australia A from clinching the series in a hard-fought contest that exposed the gap between individual resistance and collective control. India’s batting showed flashes of resolve, yet Australia A’s discipline with the ball and sharper execution in key phases proved decisive.
Genpact chairman and chief executive NV 'Tiger' Tyagarajan said advances in artificial intelligence will reduce the workload in the IT services industry and gradually curb job additions. He added that employment growth rates are already dipping, and the percentage increase in India-based headcount will not match past trends as firms demand more highly skilled workers.
The GST Council has approved a significant relief for pharmaceutical companies, allowing them to claim input tax credit on free samples and on goods destroyed after expiry, with the changes set to take effect from the next fiscal year. The move is expected to ease a long-standing tax burden on drug makers and align GST treatment more closely with the practical realities of pharmaceutical distribution and inventory management.
India delivered a sharp rebuttal at the UN Fourth Committee after MP Mahima Kumari Mewar accused Pakistan of abusing the forum and peddling falsehoods. Exercising India’s Right of Reply, she said Islamabad should stop using the United Nations to preach while continuing to misrepresent facts on the ground.
Singapore’s central bank is widely expected to tighten monetary policy on October 14, as resilient growth, firmer inflation pressures and external supply risks keep policymakers on alert. Economists say the Monetary Authority of Singapore is likely to allow a modest appreciation of the Singapore dollar, aiming to curb price pressures without derailing economic momentum.
HBO’s ‘Lanterns’ arrives with the weight of expectation, aiming to channel the prestige and political texture that made ‘Watchmen’ a benchmark for comic-book television. The series does not fully clear that bar, with writing that stretches an eight-episode run and occasionally blunts its own momentum, but Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre give the production the authority and emotional precision it needs to stay compelling.
Jammu and Kashmir’s rooftop solar push is facing a credibility problem after a large share of loan applications under the scheme were rejected, raising questions about vendor quality, documentation, and execution. Of 61,566 applications submitted across the Union Territory, 17,416 were turned down, including 14,232 in areas served by the Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited, underscoring uneven uptake in a flagship clean-energy effort.
India’s logistics sector is projected to expand to $600 billion by 2031-32, while logistics costs are expected to decline to about 8% of GDP, according to a senior DPIIT official. The projection underscores the sector’s growing role in supporting manufacturing, improving supply-chain efficiency and strengthening India’s competitiveness as an industrial economy.
JPMorgan Chase & Co. plans to significantly scale up its GIFT City operations over the next few years, targeting a doubling of business in trade finance and payments as multinational interest in India’s international financial hub deepens. Since opening its branch in 2022, the bank has built a book of nearly $1 billion and now serves a few hundred clients, underscoring GIFT City’s growing role in cross-border treasury activity.
Veteran Indian actor Nana Patekar has died at the age of 75 after he was found unconscious at his apartment in Dona Paula, near Panaji in Goa, and rushed to a private hospital, according to initial reports. The development has sent shockwaves through India’s film fraternity, where Patekar was widely regarded as one of the most formidable performers of his generation.
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said all 22 Indian seafarers aboard an oil tanker attacked at Sharjah anchorage are safe, easing immediate fears over the welfare of the crew. In a post on X, he said he was relieved to confirm that the Indian nationals on board were reported to be completely unharmed.
McLaren driver Lando Norris has said India’s appetite for Formula 1 is unmistakable and that Indian fans would welcome the sport’s return if the country can clear the commercial and regulatory hurdles that ended its Grand Prix after just three editions. His remarks come as the Indian government has formed a task force to explore reviving the marquee race, which was dropped after 2013 amid taxation and financial disputes.
Filmmaker Bharatbala has won the National Award for Best Documentary for his short film on the Ramnami community, the Chhattisgarh sect known for tattooing the name of Ram across their bodies and homes. A week after the honour, he reflected on a 1,000-film journey across India and on reuniting with composer A.R. Rahman after their landmark collaboration on Vande Maataram.
India is likely to finalise a policy on stockpiling critical minerals within a month, in a move aimed at insulating strategic industries from supply shocks. The plan is expected to support sectors such as defence, advanced electronics and aerospace, where secure access to key inputs has become a growing policy priority.
Arrowhead is positioning voice AI as a practical fix for one of enterprise technology’s oldest inefficiencies: the heavy reliance on large human teams to handle sales follow-ups, customer support and recovery of abandoned transactions. The startup’s pitch reflects a broader shift in India’s venture market, where investors are increasingly backing applied AI products that promise measurable cost savings and faster conversion outcomes.
D2C fashion brand Bewakoof reported a sharp deterioration in profitability in FY26, with net loss widening nearly 20% year-on-year to ₹87.4 crore even as revenue crossed the ₹200 crore mark. The reversal follows an improved bottom line in FY25, underscoring the persistent margin pressure facing consumer internet brands that are still scaling aggressively.
The latest numbers suggest that top-line growth has not yet translated into operating leverage for the company, likely reflecting elevated spending on customer acquisition, fulfilment, and brand building in a highly competitive online fashion market.
Kochi Corporation’s reported move to restrict what it sees as serial or abusive Right to Information filings has triggered criticism from transparency advocates and legal experts. Supreme Court lawyer Kaleeswaram Raj said the proposal runs against the spirit of the RTI Act, which does not impose any cap on the number of applications a citizen may file.
US equities opened firmer on Friday as a pullback in oil prices eased immediate concerns over Middle East supply disruptions and supported risk appetite across Wall Street. The move was tempered by weakness in telecom stocks after SpaceX’s spectrum purchase reignited fears of intensified competition in wireless markets.
Bitcoin hovered near $82,000 on Wednesday as geopolitical tensions, firmer oil prices and renewed doubts over OpenAI’s revenue outlook pressured risk assets across global markets. The selloff cascaded through crypto, wiping out nearly $1 billion in leveraged positions and dragging Ethereum and major altcoins lower as traders watched the $80,000 level for support.
SEPC shares climbed nearly 11% on Friday after the engineering company won an Rs 854.57-crore contract from Steel Authority of India Ltd. for the expansion of the IISCO Steel Plant in Burnpur. The award has pushed SEPC’s consolidated order book above Rs 10,000 crore, giving the small-cap firm unusually strong revenue visibility relative to its Rs 1,024-crore market capitalisation.
A former director of the Indian Institute of Science has argued that fresh scientific work should be anchored in existing research rather than pursued in isolation, warning that fragmented inquiry weakens outcomes and slows innovation. The remarks come amid renewed debate over how India can improve the quality, relevance, and efficiency of its research ecosystem.
Janakiram Marella’s Telugu film 'Comrade Kalyan' is a knowingly absurd, brain-rot comedy that leans into its own silliness rather than pretending to be anything else. Powered by Sree Vishnu’s comic timing, sharp one-liners, and a capable ensemble, the film delivers a handful of genuine laughs even when its chaos outpaces its discipline.
Bengaluru FC head coach Gerard Zaragoza Munoz has welcomed signs that the Indian Super League is returning to the competitive rhythm and intensity that once defined it. His remarks reflect a broader sense within the league that standards, tempo and tactical clarity are improving after a period of unevenness.
The United States has barred Microsoft and several Indian IT firms from a green card programme, a move that could complicate long-term talent retention for technology employers with deep cross-border workforces. The policy shift lands as Tata Consultancy Services reported a 15% rise in quarterly net profit and 11.2% revenue growth, underscoring the resilience of India’s largest IT exporter even amid rising regulatory pressure abroad.
Earth and Mother's Gift have emerged as the latest names to draw attention in India’s cricket conversation, reflecting how quickly promising performers can enter the national spotlight. Their rise comes at a time when selectors, coaches and fans are closely watching the next wave of talent across domestic and age-group cricket.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar underscored the importance of shared aspirations and self-reliance in India’s engagement with Africa as he arrived in Ethiopia on October 8, concluding a three-nation tour that also took him to Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire. The visit reflects New Delhi’s effort to deepen political, economic and developmental ties with African partners at a time of heightened global competition for influence on the continent.
India’s farm-electrification strategy is entering a second phase, with policymakers and industry increasingly focused on whether the benefits can extend beyond tractors to power tillers and weeders. The shift matters because lower input costs, higher labour efficiency and reduced wastage depend not only on large machines, but also on the smaller equipment farmers actually use across fragmented holdings.
Indian banks reported a second quarter in which loan growth continued to run ahead of deposit accretion, underscoring a persistent mismatch in the sector’s funding profile. Canara Bank and Indian Bank were among the lenders showing notably stronger credit expansion than deposit growth, while South Indian Bank stood out as an exception to the broader trend.
KICL has received a Type Certificate from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation for its KOAIR-10L drone, the company told the BSE, with the approval issued on October 9 under the Drone Rules, 2021. The certification marks an important regulatory step for the company as India’s drone sector moves from pilot-stage experimentation toward commercially deployable, standards-based operations.
India is witnessing two sharply contrasting realities: its women athletes are delivering landmark performances on the global stage, even as young women across the country continue to mobilise for the basic right to safety, dignity and self-determination. The juxtaposition underscores how national pride in sporting excellence is running parallel to unresolved anxieties over gendered violence and public space.
Veteran actor Nana Patekar has spent nearly five decades shaping Indian cinema with performances marked by intensity, precision and unforgettable dialogue delivery. From hard-edged social drama to broad commercial entertainment, his most quoted lines have outlived the films themselves and become part of popular culture.
Inner Sky Labs, the company behind the Miko children’s companion robots, has unveiled a new suite of foundation models aimed at physical AI applications. The launch signals a push beyond consumer robotics into a broader platform strategy centered on embodied intelligence, where software is designed to perceive, reason and act in the physical world.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday sharpened his attack on the Centre and the Election Commission, saying the “repair of democracy” would begin only after Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Modi government were gone. His remarks come a day after he told INDIA bloc MPs that the government would fall if the Opposition sustained its pressure campaign.
As Raaj Kumar’s centenary is marked, Hindi cinema is being invited to reassess an actor whose authority on screen was matched by an idiosyncratic style that made him instantly recognisable. From Waqt and Pakeezah to Heer Raanjha, his legacy endures as a study in charisma, command and contradiction.
The 57th meeting of the Goods and Services Tax Council has been rescheduled to October 8 and will now begin at 11 am at the Summit Room, Bharat Mandapam, in New Delhi. An Office Memorandum attributed the change to unavoidable circumstances, without offering further detail, and Council members have been informed of the revised plan.
Reserve Bank of India Governor Sanjay Malhotra has cautioned that financial vulnerabilities can build quietly and then surface abruptly, warning against complacency as geopolitical tensions and inflation risks intensify. Speaking at the Kautilya Economic Conclave, he said the central bank must remain vigilant through regulation and supervision to preserve financial resilience.
The Indian rupee strengthened to an intra-day high on Friday before easing to 96.73 against the US dollar, as persistent corporate demand for dollars offset central bank support. The Reserve Bank of India intervened through state-owned banks, while Governor Sanjay Malhotra said the currency remains undervalued and needs stabilization.
Indian equities ended a bruising eight-week slide on Friday, with the Nifty 50 and Sensex staging a broad rebound that briefly restored risk appetite on Dalal Street. Yet the recovery remains fragile, with crude prices, foreign fund flows, inflation data, bond yields and the September-quarter earnings season likely to determine whether the rally extends or fades.
Orkut founder and Google executive-turned-entrepreneur Orkut Büyükkökten is weighing a revival of the once-dominant social network after a petition campaign drew more than 270,000 signatures by October 9, with Brazil accounting for the bulk of support. The response underscores the enduring emotional pull of early social media brands in markets where Orkut was not just a platform, but a cultural habit.
Private sector banks continued to pull ahead of state-run lenders in deposit mobilisation in the September quarter, underscoring their stronger franchise traction and sharper liability management. The gap was mirrored on the lending side as well, with private banks posting faster advances growth than public sector peers, even as the broader banking system remained in a healthy expansion phase.
HDFC Bank Group General Counsel Sudhir Kumar Jha has retired effective September 30, 2026, ending a 22-year tenure that helped shape the lender’s legal and compliance architecture. The bank said Jha will no longer be part of senior management, while Jigar Shah is scheduled to take over as General Counsel from October 1, 2026.
Air India Group and Akasa Air have announced revised fuel surcharges effective October 9, joining IndiGo, which raised levies earlier this week, as airlines move to offset higher aviation turbine fuel costs. The coordinated increases are likely to lift ticket prices during the peak festive travel season, adding pressure on consumers already facing elevated travel demand and limited fare flexibility.
Indian information technology shares rose sharply on Friday, adding about Rs 70,000 crore in market value even as the United States suspended a labour certification programme used in parts of the hiring process. Investors instead focused on stronger-than-expected quarterly numbers from Tata Consultancy Services, softer oil prices, easing bond yields and improving risk appetite around artificial intelligence-linked developments. The move underscored how domestic earnings momentum and global macro relief outweighed the immediate policy headline from Washington.
The Revenue Department under India’s Ministry of Finance and its subordinate offices observed Special Campaign 6.0 from October 2 to 31, 2026, as part of a broader government effort to improve administrative efficiency, reduce pendency, and strengthen workplace cleanliness and record management. The exercise reflects the Centre’s continued emphasis on measurable governance reform through time-bound institutional drives rather than one-off symbolic compliance.
Nomura said the Reserve Bank of India’s latest policy meeting marked a meaningful shift in the central bank’s framework after it unexpectedly cut the repo rate by 25 basis points to 6.25 percent on Tuesday. The brokerage argued the decision diluted the RBI’s earlier policy stance and signalled a more growth-supportive approach than markets had anticipated.
Crunchyroll has expanded its manga offering to India, giving local fans access to more than 250 titles from leading publishers through a single destination that combines reading and anime streaming. The move strengthens the company’s effort to build a unified anime ecosystem in one of the world’s fastest-growing entertainment markets.
India’s finance ministry has asked banks to prepare for a sector-wide transition to quantum-safe security while also building an artificial intelligence resilience framework, according to an official familiar with the matter. The move reflects growing concern over “harvest now, decrypt later” attacks, in which cyber adversaries store encrypted financial data today in anticipation of future quantum decryption capabilities.
