India Denies Smartphone Source Code Rule as Industry Flags Security Concerns
India has denied plans to mandate smartphone source code disclosure, saying no formal proposal exists as MeitY continues consultations on mobile security standards.
Edgistify raises $1.4M to expand into Tier-2/3 markets and enhance its AI-driven EdgeOS platform
Edgistify secures $1.4M pre-Series A to expand AI-led EdgeOS logistics platform, deepen fulfilment in Tier-2 and Tier-3 Indian cities.
Mobility Startup PumPumPum raises INR 18Cr in pre-Series A Funding
PumPumPum secures Rs 18 crore pre-Series A funding to expand its asset-light fintech platform and corporate EV leasing network.
Good Farmer Food Concepts raises $1.5M in pre-Series A to Fuel National Expansion
Good Farmer Food Concepts raises $1.5M pre-Series A to expand Maverick & Farmer cafés, boost R&D, and grow retail nationwide.
JioBlackRock Investment Advisers Announces Launch of Official Website and Early Access Campaign
JioBlackRock Investment Advisers, the JFSL and BlackRock joint venture, launches its official website, early access campaign, and leadership team led by CEO Marc Pilgrem, moving closer to a full commercial rollout of its digital-first investment advisory service for retail investors across India.
Anthropic Unveils Claude for Healthcare, Escalating AI Race with OpenAI
Anthropic launches Claude for Healthcare, challenging OpenAI’s ChatGPT Health with HIPAA-ready tools, health record integrations, and major partners like AstraZeneca, Sanofi, and Banner Health, while experts warn of privacy and regulatory gaps around consumer-facing AI assistants in medicine.
Hyderabad-Based startup Bluecopa Raises $7.5M in Series A for Global Expansion
Bluecopa secures $7.5M Series A led by Analog Partners to scale its AI-native finance automation platform and expand across global markets.
Tamil Nadu Secures ₹9,820 Crore Investments, Launches India’s First Deep-Tech Policy at UmagineTN 2026
Tamil Nadu secured ₹9,820 crore at UmagineTN 2026 and unveiled the Tamil Nadu Deep Tech Startup Policy 2025–26, pledging ₹100 crore for 100 AI, biotech, and robotics startups, along with training for 10,000 people. With MoUs across key firms and Chennai’s growing global profile, the state is cementing its role as a deep-tech hub.
US Eyes Venezuelan Oil Sales to India Amid Russia Pressure
US considers allowing India to purchase Venezuelan oil amid pressure to reduce Russian imports. Details on the deal and its implications.
RBI Pivots to Real-Time, AI-Powered Oversight in Major Bank Supervision Reset
The Reserve Bank of India is overhauling bank supervision, shifting from onsite inspections to AI-driven, near real-time offsite monitoring powered by OSMOS and CRILC.
Assam to Host Its First Mobile Manufacturing Unit – Assam CM
Assam plans its first mobile phone manufacturing unit alongside Tata Group’s Rs 27,000 crore semiconductor facility at Jagiroad, aiming to leverage strong GSDP growth and align with India’s Production Linked Incentive scheme to build a high-tech electronics hub, create jobs, and plug into global value chains by 2026.
Grok Image Generation Now X Premium-Only Amid Misuse Backlash
xAI has restricted Grok’s public image generation on X to Premium subscribers after deepfake abuse, while keeping free access via its app, website, and pay-per-use API.
Global Fintech Investment Surges 21% to $53 Billion in 2025 as Payments and Crypto Drive Growth
Global fintech investment climbed 21% to $53 billion in 2025, led by the US, UK, India, UAE, and Singapore, with Binance, Kraken, FNZ, Ripple, and Revolut anchoring a sharp rebound from a three-year slump.
India’s High-Income Salaried Class Surges to 23% in 2025 as Diverse Income Sources Gain Momentum
ClearTax’s How India Filed in 2025 report shows a sharp rise in India’s high-income salaried class, led by 40–50 year olds and millennial entrepreneurs, alongside strong growth in ITR-2 and ITR-3 multi-income filings.
India’s Exports to China Surge 33%, Electronics Lead Four-Year High Amid Trade Realignment
India’s exports to China rose 33% to $12.22 billion in April–November 2024-25, led by electronics, agriculture, and base metals, even as the trade deficit heads toward $106 billion.
Gmail’s Gemini Makeover Brings AI Summaries, Writing Help and Smarter Inbox
Google is updating Gmail with Gemini-powered AI Overviews, Help Me Write, Proofread, and AI Inbox to summarise long threads, streamline drafting, and surface priority emails, initially rolling out in English in the US from January 9, with premium features reserved for Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers.
EPFO Plans UPI-Based PF Advance Withdrawals Through BHIM App
EPFO is preparing BHIM UPI integration to let eligible members claim provident fund advances more quickly, aligning retirement savings with India’s UPI-led digital payments push while keeping existing withdrawal rules and safeguards intact.
Skydo Secures Final RBI Authorisation for Cross-Border Payments
Skydo secures final RBI PA-CB authorisation, becoming one of India’s first licensed cross-border payment aggregators for MSMEs, freelancers and startups, as the country targets USD 2Tn in exports by FY30.
Travel Startup Capture A Trip Raises Rs 75 lakh on Shark Tank
Capture A Trip raised ₹75 lakh on Shark Tank India to expand international routes and scale offbeat travel experiences.
Dhruva Space Expands Orbital Footprint with Polar Access-1, Set to Enable 10 Space Missions via ISRO’s PSLV-C62
Dhruva Space’s Polar Access-1 aboard ISRO’s PSLV-DL-C62 enables 10 missions for 6 Indian States and 2 Nations, combining satellites, deployment systems, and GSaaS-based ground infrastructure to support disaster communication, environmental monitoring, education, and commercial Earth Observation while building long-term State-level and institutional Space Tech capabilities.
Power broker Trump Backs Sanctions Bill Threatening 500% Tariffs on India Over Russian Oil Purchases
Trump backs the Sanctioning of Russia Act of 2025, a bipartisan bill enabling tariffs up to 500% on countries buying Russian oil, placing India and China under intense pressure while Washington seeks leverage in Ukraine peace talks and weighs broader financial and energy sanctions.
India Govt. Eyes Lifting China Contract Curbs
India’s finance ministry is considering scrapping post-2020 restrictions that blocked Chinese firms from government contracts, potentially reopening $700-750 billion in power and infrastructure tenders as border tensions ease, pending approval from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s office.
India launches BHARATI program to boost agri-startup exports
APEDA’s BHARATI program, unveiled at Indusfood 2026, will mentor 195 agri-food and agri-tech startups, giving the top 10 global exposure as India targets $30 billion-plus exports this year and $50 billion by 2030. Backed by TPCI and Minister Chirag Paswan, the initiative aims to build a resilient food supply chain.
OpenAI Rolls Out ChatGPT Health for Personalized Wellness Insights
OpenAI’s ChatGPT Health links medical records and fitness apps to deliver personalized health guidance while avoiding diagnosis, with encrypted data and physician input.
Bharat-Focused Micro-Drama Platform MiniPix Raises ₹2.4 Crore Pre-Seed Funding Led by PedalStart
MiniPix, a Bengaluru-based mobile-first platform for regional micro-dramas, has raised ₹2.4 crore in pre-seed funding led by PedalStart and Venture Catalysts, aiming to scale content, deepen product-market fit, and expand across Bharat’s Tier-2 and Tier-3 markets with data-led, AI-enabled operations.
Ant Group Builds Cross-Border Payment Network to Challenge Visa, Mastercard Dominance
Ant Group is rapidly expanding a QR-based cross-border payment network through Ant International and Alipay+, challenging Visa and Mastercard as global volumes surge.
YouTube Music Faces Backlash as AI-Generated Songs Dominate User Recommendations
YouTube Music subscribers say AI-generated tracks are overwhelming their recommendations as rivals like Deezer and Spotify move faster with AI detection and controls.
Multibagg AI raises INR 1.5 Cr in pre-Seed funding led by AJVC
Multibagg AI raises Rs 1.5 crore pre-seed led by AJVC, taking total funding to Rs 2.15 crore to scale its AI-native equity research platform.
Haircare brand &Done secures $3M Series A to fuel R&D and expand their salon network
&Done secures $3M Series A to scale research, expand team & salon network, and build the brand. Learn more!
Aivar Secures $4.6M Seed Funding to Expand AI Services Globally
Aivar, an AI services startup, secures $4.6M in Seed funding to expand its AI services globally.
