AAP seeks Verma arrest over road inspection altercation

Aam Aadmi Party leaders on Sunday demanded the arrest of Delhi Public Works Department Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma after a video appeared to show him slapping a young man during a road inspection in Tilak Nagar.

The footage, circulated on social media, shows Verma lowering the mobile phone held by the man before appearing to strike him across the face. The man then moves towards the minister as a security guard intervenes, while people gathered at the site protest against the apparent assault.

The confrontation occurred during an inspection of road construction work in west Delhi, where Tilak Nagar AAP MLA Jarnail Singh was questioning the quality of the surface. Singh alleged that portions of the road could be pulled up easily and accused the Public Works Department of poor construction.

The man involved was identified as Saheb Singh, who said he handles social media work for Jarnail Singh. He said he had accompanied the MLA after the PWD asked them to attend the inspection and was filming the exchange when the confrontation occurred.

Saheb Singh alleged that he had shown Verma how the road surface was crumbling and was struck while recording the inspection. He sought disciplinary action against the minister and said a police complaint had been made. He also alleged that people accompanying Verma threatened him after the incident. There was no immediate independent confirmation of that allegation.

Verma disputed the AAP's account of what led to the confrontation and accused the party of circulating the video without the full context. He alleged that Jarnail Singh had been pressuring PWD engineers to connect him with the contractor carrying out the road work and had sought a commission, an allegation the AAP MLA denied.

The minister also alleged that people accompanying the MLA used abusive language about his family and said the altercation followed the provocation. While defending his account of the events leading up to the clash, Verma acknowledged that the incident should not have happened.

The competing claims turned the road inspection into a political dispute between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the opposition AAP. Neither the allegations about commissions nor the counterclaims surrounding the confrontation had been independently established by Sunday evening.

AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal accused Verma of assaulting a man for highlighting alleged corruption in road construction and said he would visit Tilak Nagar on Monday to inspect the road. The party demanded that Verma be arrested and removed from the government.

Jarnail Singh said he had challenged the quality of the work in the minister's presence and accused Verma of becoming angry when defects were pointed out. He shared footage of the road surface being lifted and said his colleague was recording events when the confrontation took place.

AAP's Delhi unit chief Saurabh Bharadwaj also attacked Verma over the episode, arguing that a minister could not use force against someone questioning public works. The party sought police action on the basis of the video and the account given by Saheb Singh.

Verma, a BJP legislator from the New Delhi constituency, is a Cabinet minister in the Delhi government. Official government records list Public Works, Legislative Affairs, Irrigation and Flood Control, Water and Gurudwara Elections among his portfolios.

The Public Works Department is responsible for construction and maintenance of a range of Delhi government infrastructure, including roads, bridges, flyovers and public buildings. The inspection at Tilak Nagar concerned ongoing road work, placing the quality of the construction at the centre of the argument before the physical confrontation captured on video.

The video does not by itself establish the full sequence of events before the apparent slap. Accounts from Verma and AAP differ over what triggered the exchange, with the minister alleging abuse and intimidation and AAP leaders saying questions about road quality prompted his reaction.

Congress revives 2006 claims against Gyanesh Kumar

Congress has intensified its attack on Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar by circulating an account of a 2006 controversy in which his name was reported to have figured in suicide notes left by a Malaysian project official.

The party’s intervention adds a two-decade-old episode from Kumar’s tenure in Keralam to the political pressure surrounding his stewardship of the Election Commission. Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke, who has separately demanded Kumar’s resignation, also amplified the controversy on social media.

The case concerns Lee Been Seen, a Malaysian national who headed operations in Keralam for PATI-BEL, a joint venture involving Malaysian company PATI and Bhageeratha Constructions. The venture was working on a road package connected with the World Bank-assisted Kerala State Transport Project. Lee died by suicide in Kuala Lumpur in November 2006 after returning from Keralam.

Contemporary accounts said Lee left two notes, including one addressed to his wife and another to a director of PATI. The notes were reported to have described difficulties encountered with government officials, including alleged harassment and delays in payments due to the company. Kumar, then secretary of Keralam’s Public Works Department, was reported among officials named in connection with those allegations.

The episode has returned to political attention after former Keralam finance minister and senior CPI leader T M Thomas Isaac raised it while criticising Kumar’s record. Isaac said allegations involving bribery and demands for money by officials had circulated at the time and that Kumar’s name was among those mentioned. He acknowledged that he had not personally read Lee’s suicide notes.

That qualification is significant because the renewed political claims do not amount to a finding of wrongdoing against Kumar. Available accounts establish that allegations were made and an inquiry followed, but do not establish that Kumar was convicted or found criminally liable over Lee’s death or the accusations surrounding the road project.

The controversy nevertheless produced administrative action in 2006. Kumar was shifted from the PWD and the state vigilance machinery was asked to examine alleged financial irregularities connected with the project. Former officials have said the inquiry did not reach a definitive outcome, citing jurisdictional and other difficulties.

Jacob Punnose, who served as Additional Director General of Police for Intelligence at the time, has said the police did not obtain the suicide note and that legal constraints prevented Keralam authorities from accessing it. He also said Malaysian police did not approach them as part of an investigation. Former Vigilance ADGP Sibi Mathews has questioned how Kumar subsequently secured clearance for central deputation while facing a vigilance inquiry.

The resurfacing of the episode comes as opposition parties have stepped up pressure on Kumar over the Election Commission’s handling of electoral rolls and the Special Intensive Revision process. Congress leaders have sought his resignation and accused him of taking decisions that they say undermine established electoral procedures. The Election Commission has rejected suggestions that institutional differences demonstrate improper decision-making and has maintained that its final decisions are collective.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh has separately accused Kumar of acting unlawfully over changes connected with Form 6 used for voter enrolment, alleging that requirements concerning parental details were introduced without the statutory process necessary to amend the form. Election Commission officials have maintained that the declaration was introduced through instructions and that Form 6 itself was not amended.

Election Commission reasserts unanimity after internal dissent reports

The Election Commission on Saturday reasserted that its key decisions on the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls were unanimous, after its three members met in New Delhi amid questions over reported internal objections to the exercise.

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi met at Nirvachan Sadan at 3 pm and issued a detailed clarification addressing the SIR, voter enrolment procedures, its ECINET technology platform and administrative decisions. The commission released a photograph showing all three officials at the meeting.

The poll body said its June 24, 2025 order launching the SIR across states and Union Territories had the unanimous approval of the full commission. It said later schedules covering 12 states and Union Territories on October 27, 2025, and another 19 on May 14, 2026, were also approved unanimously. The commission noted that the Supreme Court upheld the original SIR order in May.

The clarification followed disclosures that Sandhu and Joshi had recorded objections over several matters linked to electoral-roll revision and the commission's functioning. The issues included changes connected with Form 6 for new voter registration, access to electoral-roll databases, decisions involving the IT division, appeals arising from the West Bengal revision and cases involving excluded voters in Goa.

The commission did not deny that differing views or observations had arisen during internal deliberations. Its statement instead stressed the unanimous approval behind the principal SIR orders and announced procedural measures governing future meetings and technology decisions.

Among them, agendas for commission meetings will be circulated in advance and minutes will be issued. Directions given by election commissioners to officials will have to be complied with. New initiatives involving IT modules and portals will first be discussed by a committee of officers before being submitted to the commission for approval.

The EC also ordered a review of ECINET by a committee headed by a Senior Deputy Election Commissioner and including an independent expert from an IIT or IIIT. The panel will examine whether the system complies with election laws and rules. The commission said field officers already have role-based access corresponding to their statutory powers and promised further operational flexibility where required.

Addressing another disputed issue, the commission said a letter sent to the Cabinet Secretary concerned the functioning of an officer on deputation to the EC and was unrelated to policy or the IT division. It said contested work-redistribution orders were not implemented after directions from two commissioners, while oversight of the IT division by a Deputy Election Commissioner was never withdrawn.

The meeting also produced changes affecting voters who receive SIR notices because they are unmapped or have what the commission calls logical discrepancies. Booth Level Officers will visit their homes, collect documents and upload them to ECINET for decisions by Electoral Registration Officers, removing the need for routine appearances at ERO or Assistant ERO offices.

Hearings will be held only in exceptional circumstances and should preferably take place online, the commission said. An elector may authorise an adult family member to attend where a hearing is required. District Election Officers were also instructed to establish help desks or special camps for people in night shelters, labourers, poorer residents and homeless people where necessary.

On Form 6, the commission said the declaration attached during SIR had been upheld by the Supreme Court. Outside an SIR period, it said forms prescribed under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, would apply.

The EC extended Delhi's deadline for claims and objections to October 30 and the deadline for disposing of notices, claims and objections to November 30. Maharashtra's corresponding deadlines were extended to October 12 and November 10.

The commission said SIR had been completed in 20 states and Union Territories, including Bihar and West Bengal, and that people omitted from the rolls, including young and first-time voters, could seek enrolment through continuous updation.

Google broadens Gemini into autonomous business calling

Google has begun testing a Pixel 11 feature that allows its Gemini artificial intelligence assistant to place and conduct routine telephone calls to businesses on a user’s behalf.

The early preview, announced on September 24, enables Gemini to contact shops, restaurants and service providers, navigate automated menus, wait on hold and converse with staff. Users can ask it to check whether an item is available, obtain business information or service quotes, make or alter reservations, and book, confirm or manage appointments.

Google is gradually making the capability available in the United States to eligible users aged 18 or over. Participants need a Pixel 11 with a US SIM card, a Google AI subscription, the public beta version of the Phone by Google app and the latest Gemini mobile app. Their device language must be set to English.

The company said the preview would roll out over two weeks to paid Gemini subscribers enrolled in the Phone app beta. Google described the programme as an early experiment, saying real-world conversations can be nuanced and that it is starting on a limited scale while refining the experience.

A user begins by telling Gemini what needs to be accomplished rather than manually dialling the business. Gemini can ask follow-up questions where necessary before initiating the call. Once connected, it identifies itself as an AI assistant and explains that the call is being recorded, before proceeding with the authorised request.

The call is made using the user’s phone number, according to Google’s documentation. Gemini may provide information that the user has supplied or approved when this is necessary to complete a task. That could include details required to move an appointment, reserve a table or ask a retailer to hold an item.

Google has built several controls into the experiment. A live transcript lets the user follow the conversation as it happens, while an option to take over allows the person to intervene and continue speaking directly at any point. The system also provides information about the call after it has ended.

The test extends Google’s existing suite of telephone assistance tools on Pixel devices. Hold for Me can remain on the line while a caller is placed on hold and alert the user when a representative becomes available. Direct My Call displays automated telephone-menu options on screen, reducing the need to listen through an entire recorded menu.

Gemini’s new capability combines those functions with an AI-generated voice that can conduct the conversation itself. That makes the experiment broader than tools designed merely to transcribe a menu or wait for a human operator, while placing greater emphasis on disclosure and user supervision.

Google has already deployed automated business-calling technology in other contexts. Its shopping service can contact nearby stores to check product availability after a user submits a request, while an earlier Ask for Me function has been used to seek information such as prices and services from businesses. The Pixel 11 experiment adds the ability for users to monitor and take over a live call.

The company says calls made through the new feature represent genuine customers carrying out genuine transactions, including booking appointments, placing products on hold and changing reservations. It has also acknowledged that automated calling affects the businesses and employees receiving those calls, a factor behind the deliberately narrow initial deployment.

The feature is not intended for every type of telephone interaction. Google’s guidance limits supported use cases and bars certain categories, while the initial eligibility requirements sharply restrict who can participate. The company has not announced a timetable for extending the feature to other Pixel models, countries, languages or users without a paid AI subscription.

Trump cancels $810 million in congressionally approved funds

President Donald Trump has moved to cancel $810 million in congressionally approved spending, using a disputed budget manoeuvre that leaves lawmakers only days to respond before the federal fiscal year ends.

The White House announced the rescissions on Friday, describing the package as nearly $1 billion and saying it targeted spending the administration considers wasteful or inconsistent with its priorities. The largest reduction is $567 million from Department of Health and Human Services programmes providing services to refugees, asylum seekers and other non-citizens.

The administration is using what is known as a “pocket rescission”, submitting proposed cancellations close enough to the September 30 fiscal-year deadline that the money can expire before Congress completes its normal review. The Government Accountability Office, Congress's non-partisan watchdog, has said the Impoundment Control Act does not permit presidents to withhold rescinded funds through their expiration date without congressional approval.

Senator Susan Collins of Maine, the Republican chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, sharply criticised the action, saying Congress had been notified without warning or consultation. She said the Office of Management and Budget appeared to have withheld the money for months in order to execute an unlawful cancellation of appropriations approved on a bipartisan basis and signed into law.

“OMB is an agency of the executive branch. It does not get to decide which programs are worth funding,” Collins said, adding that she would work with colleagues to address what she called illegal actions.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer also challenged the package, saying it stripped funding from programmes supporting children, schools, small businesses, health programmes and environmental research. House Appropriations Committee ranking Democrat Rosa DeLauro separately accused OMB of attempting to bypass Congress.

Under the Impoundment Control Act of 1974, a president may send Congress a special message proposing that specified budget authority be rescinded. Funds covered by a valid proposal can ordinarily be withheld temporarily while Congress considers it, but lawmakers must affirmatively approve the cancellation. If they do not, the money is generally required to be made available for obligation.

The timing is central to the dispute. Friday's announcement came five days before the fiscal year closes, making it effectively impossible for the usual 45-day congressional review period to run before the appropriations expire. The GAO has maintained that using the process this way improperly circumvents Congress's constitutional control over federal spending.

The White House argues that Trump is exercising presidential authority under the Impoundment Control Act. It said lower illegal border crossings had reduced the need for money allocated to migrant-related services and described the targeted programmes as providing little or no benefit to US taxpayers. Those characterisations reflect the administration's stated rationale and are disputed by opponents of the cuts.

Beyond the $567 million HHS reduction, the package includes $15 million from a Department of Homeland Security programme providing services including legal assistance and mental-health support to non-citizens, and another $10 million from DHS programmes supporting immigration legal services.

It also targets $25 million in Education Department programmes for migrant students, $70 million in international education grants and fellowships, $56 million in Housing and Urban Development housing-counselling funds and $28 million from HHS research programmes.

Other proposed cancellations include $15 million for the Justice Department's Community Relations Service, $10 million for Minority Business Development Agency programmes, $9 million from a Treasury conservation programme involving debt relief, and $5 million from the HHS Office of Minority Health.

The White House pointed to grants previously awarded through the affected accounts, including immigration organisations and research projects dealing with health equity, transgender care and carbon emissions. It cited a 2024 court ruling against a race-based presumption used by the Minority Business Development Agency. The administration presented those examples as evidence for cancellation, while the rescission itself concerns budget authority rather than repayment of grants already spent.

Trump-Xi talks yield limited accords amid rivalry

US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping ended their Washington summit with agreements on trade mechanisms and artificial intelligence dialogue, while leaving major disputes over Taiwan, technology and critical minerals largely unresolved.

The White House said on Friday that the two sides had agreed on recommendations for more favourable tariff treatment covering $30 billion of non-sensitive goods in each direction and formally activated bilateral boards on trade and investment created at their May summit in Beijing. China also committed to import at least 10 million tonnes of US coal in both 2027 and 2028.

The agreements provided concrete deliverables after a state visit dominated by ceremony and expressions of personal goodwill. Trump called the talks “very, very productive”, while Xi stressed peaceful coexistence and argued that competition between the world’s two largest economies should remain within bounds.

Yet the summit produced no comprehensive settlement of the trade and strategic disputes separating Washington and Beijing. The two governments are still working on US concerns about Chinese supplies of rare earths and other critical minerals, an issue that has given Beijing substantial leverage because of its commanding position in processing and refining.

A two-month extension of the existing trade truce, agreed by senior economic officials before the leaders met, pushes its expiry to January 10. The pause gives negotiators more time to pursue a broader arrangement while limiting the risk of another round of tariff escalation.

Artificial intelligence emerged as another area where the leaders established a channel without resolving their competing approaches. The White House said they created a US-China “Super Intelligence” dialogue to exchange views on risks and benefits, with another exchange due by November, as well as a bilateral communication channel for major incidents.

Xi publicly said AI development should remain under human control. Trump, who has made US technological leadership a central priority, had signalled before the meeting that he did not favour new restraints that could slow development. The result left the two powers talking about safeguards while continuing an intense contest over advanced chips, computing capacity and frontier models.

Taiwan remained a central point of disagreement. China’s account of the talks said Xi urged Trump to handle the issue prudently and oppose Taiwan independence. Washington announced no change to its longstanding policy, while concern over US arms support for the self-governed island continues to shadow bilateral relations.

The summit also covered Iran, Russia and North Korea. The White House said Trump and Xi agreed that Iran must not obtain a nuclear weapon and that no country or institution should impose tolls on international waterways. Trump also urged Xi to increase production of refined petroleum products as Washington seeks to ease pressure on global energy supplies.

Those discussions came as Trump sought Chinese cooperation on international crises while preserving US leverage in trade and technology. Washington retains powerful bargaining tools through access to advanced semiconductors, chipmaking equipment, the US market and financial system. Beijing, meanwhile, has demonstrated its ability to use rare-earth supply controls and the scale of its manufacturing base as negotiating leverage.

The balance was evident before Xi arrived. Chinese shipments of rare-earth magnets to the United States fell in August, reinforcing concerns about supply security even after earlier agreements were intended to keep critical materials moving. US efforts to develop alternative sources are advancing, but replacing China’s dominant refining capacity is expected to take time.

Trade remains similarly interdependent. Earlier commitments have progressed unevenly, including Chinese purchases of US agricultural products and efforts to lower market barriers. The new Board of Trade will establish a working group focused on agricultural access, while the Board of Investment is intended to provide a structured forum for addressing investment opportunities and obstacles.

Oil retreats as US-Iran truce talks advance

Oil prices fell about 2 per cent on Friday as hopes for a negotiated US-Iran truce outweighed fears that intensifying Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia could further disrupt crude supplies.

Brent futures settled $2.28, or 2.1 per cent, lower at $104.32 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude dropped $2.20, or 2.3 per cent, to $92.41. Brent still gained less than 1 per cent for the week, while WTI posted a weekly decline.

The retreat followed disclosures that US and Iranian negotiators in New York were exploring a phased arrangement to end the seven-month conflict. The discussions centre on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global energy shipments, in exchange for steps by Washington to ease its economic blockade of Iran.

Iran has proposed reopening the strait within seven days if the United States lifts its naval blockade of Iranian ports, waives sanctions affecting Iranian oil sales and observes a ceasefire. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi outlined the proposal during discussions on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, according to people familiar with the talks.

The diplomatic opening has reduced some of the risk premium embedded in crude prices, but traders remain wary because no binding agreement has been announced and major differences persist. A senior Iranian official said Tehran would not make concessions over its nuclear programme even if Washington accepted the Hormuz proposal, underscoring the limits of the negotiations.

Supply concerns remain acute in Saudi Arabia, where Houthi forces have stepped up missile and drone attacks. Saudi authorities said air defences intercepted several ballistic missiles, while the Houthis claimed strikes on energy infrastructure at Yanbu and other locations. Saudi officials have not confirmed damage from the latest claimed attacks.

Yanbu is particularly important because it is linked to Saudi Arabia’s East-West Pipeline, which allows crude to reach the Red Sea without passing through Hormuz. The pipeline resumed operations this week after damage from an earlier attack, but flows have been below full capacity and repairs are expected to take weeks.

France has said it will deploy soldiers, radar and air-defence systems to help protect the Yanbu oil terminal. Saudi Arabia has also held security discussions with Pakistan and Turkiye as Riyadh seeks to reinforce protection of critical infrastructure amid the escalation in Yemen.

The competing signals have produced sharp price swings. Brent rose 3.4 per cent on Thursday to $106.60 a barrel after an attack revived concern about Saudi supply, before reversing course on Friday as traders focused on the possibility of a diplomatic framework between Washington and Tehran.

Oil markets are also assessing the effect of a possible US restriction on diesel exports. President Donald Trump has said his administration is considering measures to curb exports as domestic diesel prices remain elevated, although Energy Secretary Chris Wright has argued that a ban would be ineffective and could raise prices for gasoline and jet fuel.

Any restriction on US diesel shipments could tighten international fuel markets already strained by disruptions linked to conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine. The United States is a major exporter of refined products, and analysts have warned that curbing overseas sales could prompt refiners to reduce output rather than materially lower domestic prices.

The Strait of Hormuz remains the central market variable. Roughly a fifth of global oil and gas shipments normally move through the waterway, and restrictions since the conflict began have forced producers, refiners and shipping companies to rely on costlier alternative routes and limited bypass capacity.

Saudi Arabia has been trying to increase exports through the Red Sea while also moving some barrels through Hormuz when conditions permit. The kingdom’s ability to sustain those flows has become more important as attacks threaten infrastructure designed to provide an alternative to the strait.

Militaries accelerate AI use as safeguards lag

Military adoption of artificial intelligence is advancing faster than international efforts to set common safeguards, a gap highlighted this week at the Beijing Xiangshan Forum as defence officials and experts warned that automated systems are compressing decision times and increasing escalation risks.

The three-day forum, which ended on Thursday, brought together about 2,000 military officers, diplomats and academics from more than 100 countries and organisations. China’s Ministry of National Defence said one discussion track focused on the risks and regulation of military applications of emerging technologies.

Several delegates argued that human judgement must remain central as armed forces deploy autonomous systems, machine-assisted targeting tools and AI-enabled command functions. Jürg Lauber, vice-president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, said growing autonomy in weapons systems made preservation of human judgement and control over the use of force increasingly important.

Pakistan’s Defence Secretary Muhammad Ali said AI was accelerating military decision-making while misinformation and disinformation could erode public trust before governments had time to respond. Thailand’s Defence Minister Adul Boonthumjaroen said the central challenge was not simply which country would become more powerful, but how an international order could be built around fast-moving technologies.

The debate comes amid weaker momentum around military AI governance. At the third Responsible AI in the Military Domain summit in A Coruña, Spain, in February, neither the United States nor China endorsed the meeting’s outcome document, known as Pathways to Action. The declaration remains open for additional endorsements and is now backed by more than 40 countries.

That marked a change from the first REAIM summit in The Hague in 2023, when both Washington and Beijing supported the Call to Action. The United States also backed the 2024 Blueprint for Action adopted at the second summit in Seoul, while China did not. The 2026 document moved further towards practical measures covering oversight, accountability, testing, risk management and responsible deployment.

The absence of both AI powers from the latest endorsement list has sharpened attention on middle powers such as the Netherlands, South Korea, Spain, Singapore, Canada and Australia, which have played roles in sustaining multilateral discussions. Analysts argue these countries may have greater space to advance operational standards even if the largest military and technology powers remain cautious about binding constraints.

Military applications are meanwhile expanding rapidly. Armed forces are using AI for intelligence analysis, target identification, logistics, cyber operations, drone navigation, battlefield awareness and command support. The spread of low-cost unmanned systems has also increased pressure for faster automated processing, particularly where communication links are disrupted or operators must respond within seconds.

Governments broadly agree on responsible use, but differences persist over what should be legally binding, how much human control is required and whether certain applications should be prohibited. Nuclear command systems remain among the most sensitive areas. Security experts from the United States and China have called for clearer red lines, human oversight of critical systems and dedicated channels to manage AI-related incidents, but the proposals have not been adopted by either government.

The United States and China have pursued separate national approaches to AI policy while continuing strategic competition over advanced semiconductors, computing power and model development. Both governments have acknowledged risks from military AI, yet their rivalry has complicated efforts to translate general principles into shared mechanisms.

REAIM’s 2026 Pathways to Action calls for responsible design, development, testing, deployment and use of military AI, along with stronger oversight and accountability across the technology’s life cycle. It also stresses capacity-building and knowledge-sharing among states, reflecting concern that many governments lack the technical expertise needed to assess increasingly complex systems.

The Beijing forum showed that anxiety over these risks is no longer confined to specialist meetings. Representatives from several Asian countries raised concerns about autonomy, compressed strategic timelines and misinformation, while discussion also covered potential benefits of AI for defence planning and operational efficiency.

Google widens Gemini push across student learning

Google is expanding Gemini deeper into education, giving eligible college students in India a year of Google AI Plus at no cost while introducing personalised study tools, interactive learning features and broader support for exam preparation.

The offer is part of a wider international push covering more than 140 countries and places Gemini more directly into students’ everyday academic routines. Eligible students in India receive Google AI Plus for 12 months, including higher Gemini usage limits, access to advanced artificial intelligence capabilities and 400 GB of cloud storage.

The programme is open to eligible university and college students aged 18 or above who are enrolled at qualifying degree or certificate-granting institutions. Students have to verify their academic status before activating the plan. The offer can be redeemed until December 31, 2026, and requires a valid payment method at registration.

Google AI Plus normally costs ₹399 a month in India. Unless cancelled, subscriptions activated through the student promotion will convert to the prevailing paid rate after the free period. Students whose earlier 2025 AI Pro student trial has expired may also qualify, subject to eligibility verification.

At the centre of the education expansion is a dedicated Student Hub within Gemini. It brings together study notebooks, flashcards, practice quizzes and other learning functions in a single interface. Students can upload syllabi, lecture notes and course materials and use them to build personalised learning programmes.

Study notebooks are designed to identify gaps rather than simply produce answers. A student can begin with a diagnostic quiz, after which Gemini creates shorter lessons based on areas requiring greater attention. Subsequent quizzes track performance and allow the programme to adjust the study plan as the learner progresses.

The notebooks, introduced on desktop earlier this year, have now expanded to mobile devices. They can incorporate course deadlines, notes and supporting material while connecting with other Google learning services, giving students a more structured way to manage subjects across a semester.

Gemini is also adding interactive visualisations aimed at subjects where static explanations may be insufficient. AI-generated tables, diagrams and three-dimensional simulations can demonstrate concepts such as molecular structures, mathematical relationships and scientific processes, allowing users to rotate, explore or modify visual material.

Gemini Live is being extended into research and study workflows as well. Students can initiate detailed research tasks and later discuss the results conversationally using voice. This gives the service a tutoring-style dimension alongside its established role as a generative AI assistant.

Exam preparation has become another significant part of Google's education strategy. Gemini already supports full-length practice material for examinations including JEE Main and NEET UG, with material developed around vetted educational content. Students completing mock examinations can receive feedback identifying stronger areas and subjects requiring further revision.

The company has also been expanding practice options for international examinations including the SAT, ACT and GRE. The approach moves generative AI closer to adaptive test preparation, an area traditionally served by tutoring businesses, specialist educational platforms and publishers.

Google Search is being tied more closely to the same learning ecosystem. Students can request personalised quizzes across subjects and use AI-generated interactive visuals to examine difficult concepts. Search can also work with uploaded PDFs, presentation files, photographs and handwritten notes to create study documents built around the material supplied by the user.

Lens is being developed as another route into AI-assisted learning. Students can photograph a problem or study material and ask the system to explain the underlying concept, identify possible mistakes and guide them towards a solution rather than merely supplying an answer.

The strategy reflects intensifying competition among technology companies to establish generative AI as a routine educational tool. Students represent an important user group because habits developed during university years can influence which productivity and AI services they later adopt in professional life.

India has become particularly important to that contest. More than two million students in the country gained access to Google's advanced AI tools through its earlier student programme, while the 18-to-24 age group has emerged as a major component of Gemini usage.

AI costs push companies towards on-premise computing

Rising expenditure on cloud-based artificial intelligence is prompting companies in India to reassess whether renting high-performance computing capacity remains economical as AI moves from experimentation into large-scale production.

The shift is particularly visible among businesses running persistent inference, model fine-tuning, computer vision and generative AI workloads. Cloud platforms continue to offer speed, flexibility and access to advanced GPUs without heavy upfront investment, but hourly charges can become substantial when expensive accelerators remain active around the clock.

GPU prices available through the IndiaAI Compute Portal illustrate the scale of the calculation facing enterprises. On-demand access to a single Nvidia H100 SXM GPU is listed at about ₹153 an hour, while a 12-month reservation brings the rate down to around ₹117. An H200 SXM GPU is available at roughly ₹140 an hour on demand in some configurations, compared with about ₹100 under longer reservations.

More powerful systems cost considerably more. A two-GPU Nvidia B200 configuration is priced at about ₹581 an hour on demand, while an eight-GPU configuration exceeds ₹2,300 an hour. Prices vary by provider, architecture, reservation period and configuration, making headline GPU rates only one part of the overall expense.

For companies operating workloads continuously, those charges accumulate quickly. An H100 running uninterrupted at ₹153 an hour would generate compute charges of more than ₹1.3 million over a year before storage, networking, data movement and other services are considered. Larger clusters can multiply that figure rapidly.

That arithmetic is strengthening the argument for owning AI infrastructure where utilisation is predictable. Purchasing servers places GPUs directly under enterprise control and removes recurring rental charges, although companies must fund hardware, networking, electricity, cooling, maintenance and technical staff before any savings emerge.

Utilisation is therefore becoming the critical variable.

A GPU server operating only occasionally can become an expensive idle asset. Cloud infrastructure remains attractive for experimental projects, irregular training runs and companies whose AI demand changes sharply from week to week. Capacity can be increased or released within minutes without purchasing equipment that may remain unused.

The equation changes when GPUs operate continuously at high utilisation. Companies running stable production inference or regular model training can potentially spread hardware costs over several years and lower the effective cost of each computing hour.

Hardware ownership nevertheless carries risks that cloud customers largely transfer to their providers. AI processors are evolving rapidly, meaning expensive equipment can lose relative competitiveness long before it physically wears out. New generations from Nvidia, AMD and other suppliers offer higher performance, larger memory and improved energy efficiency, potentially altering the economics of systems purchased only two or three years earlier.

Software compatibility can be equally important. Nvidia's CUDA ecosystem remains deeply embedded across AI frameworks and enterprise applications. Alternative accelerators may offer attractive pricing or memory specifications, but migration can require engineering work, optimisation and testing that reduce theoretical savings.

Performance also varies significantly by workload. A cheaper GPU is not automatically less expensive if a model takes longer to produce the same number of tokens or complete the same training task. Enterprises are increasingly measuring cost per inference, cost per million tokens and useful output per watt rather than relying solely on hourly rental prices.

Cooling and power requirements present another obstacle to bringing AI infrastructure inside corporate facilities. High-density AI racks can demand far more electricity than conventional enterprise servers, with newer configurations requiring specialised liquid cooling and upgraded power distribution.

This is encouraging a third model between public cloud and equipment installed inside company offices. Enterprises can purchase or reserve dedicated GPU infrastructure housed in specialised data centres, combining greater control with professionally managed power, cooling and connectivity.

Hybrid deployment is also gaining ground. Sensitive data and predictable inference can remain on dedicated infrastructure, while cloud GPUs absorb temporary spikes, experimental workloads and unusually large training jobs.

Data governance adds another dimension. Organisations handling financial, healthcare, government or proprietary information may prefer local or dedicated systems because they offer tighter control over where data and models are processed. Cloud providers have responded with private-cloud, sovereign-cloud and dedicated infrastructure options, narrowing some of that distinction.

India's expanding shared compute infrastructure is meanwhile altering the cost equation. More than 38,000 GPUs have been empanelled under the IndiaAI Mission, with another 20,000 planned as part of efforts to broaden access to advanced computing. The programme allows eligible startups, researchers, government bodies and other users to access subsidised or competitively priced GPU capacity without making large capital investments.

Competition among cloud providers, domestic data-centre operators and specialised GPU companies is also pushing enterprises towards more granular purchasing decisions. Reserved capacity, spot pricing, smaller inference accelerators and purpose-built AI processors can reduce bills without forcing companies to abandon cloud infrastructure entirely.

AI pushes IT services beyond billable-hour model

Artificial intelligence is accelerating a fundamental change in India’s IT services industry, pushing outsourcing contracts away from billing for employee hours towards pricing based on productivity, savings and measurable business results.

Major providers including Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, HCLTech, Wipro, Tech Mahindra and Cognizant are adjusting delivery models as corporate customers demand that AI-generated efficiency translate into lower costs. The shift threatens a decades-old model in which revenue growth was closely connected to adding engineers and charging clients for their time.

India’s technology sector is expected to cross $315 billion in revenue in FY26, with direct employment approaching six million. Yet the industry's growth strategy is increasingly based on value and specialised capabilities rather than expanding headcount. AI has moved from experimentation to industrial-scale deployment, while providers are adopting outcome-based and risk-sharing contracts as automation increases productivity.

Under traditional time-and-material contracts, customers essentially paid for the number of people assigned to a project and the hours they worked. Generative AI is weakening that relationship. Coding assistants, automated testing, software agents and AI-powered maintenance tools allow smaller teams to perform work that previously required substantially larger groups.

Customers consequently want part of those efficiency gains. Some contracts are being structured around specific targets such as faster processing, reduced technology expenditure, improved customer service or quicker software development rather than the size of the delivery team.

The transition is also changing competition. Persistent Systems and Coforge have posted considerably stronger growth than several larger rivals, benefiting from demand for rapid AI pilots and specialised services. During the April-June quarter, Persistent's dollar revenue rose about 16 per cent while Coforge recorded growth of roughly one-third. Growth among several of the largest providers was around 1-3 per cent.

Outcome pricing carries risks for suppliers. Technology companies must estimate in advance how much productivity AI can deliver, potentially exposing themselves to margin pressure when promised efficiencies fail to materialise. Contracts linked to business results can also create disputes over whether the technology provider was responsible for an outcome affected by other parts of a customer's operations.

Tech Mahindra chief executive Mohit Joshi has warned against assumptions that AI productivity will improve by 70-80 per cent over five to seven years while providers guarantee prices despite rising technology infrastructure costs. Some companies have walked away from contracts where pricing or productivity commitments were considered commercially unsustainable.

The labour impact is becoming equally significant. Entry-level software work historically provided the foundation of the industry's employment pyramid, with large numbers of graduates recruited for coding, application maintenance and testing. AI can automate growing portions of these tasks, reducing demand for some conventional junior roles while raising requirements for engineers capable of working with AI systems, cloud platforms, cybersecurity, data and industry-specific technology.

Hiring is therefore moving from volume towards skills. Campus recruitment requirements have shifted from basic coding and cloud knowledge towards AI and machine learning, advanced data analytics and DevOps, while AI and machine-learning positions command some of the industry's highest skills premiums.

That does not mean graduate recruitment is disappearing. Infosys said 10,766 fresh graduates completed training at its Mysuru education centre during FY26, with generative AI and prompt engineering incorporated into foundation training. About 84 per cent of its 328,594 employees are now AI-aware.

TCS has also intensified retraining. More than 270,000 employees had advanced AI skills by the end of FY26, compared with about one-third of that level a year earlier. The company recorded $2.3 billion in annualised AI revenue during the March quarter and is preparing thousands of forward-deployed engineers to work directly with clients on AI implementation.

The changing economics are influencing acquisitions and large contracts as well. TCS this week agreed to buy Porsche's technology consulting subsidiary MHP for an enterprise value of €320 million as part of a five-year partnership valued at €1.25 billion. The programme is designed to expand AI across engineering, manufacturing, operations and customer experience, illustrating how providers are positioning themselves deeper inside clients' businesses rather than supplying technology labour alone.

Tata Sierra.ev gains built-in 5G connectivity

Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles and Tata Communications have partnered to equip the Sierra. ev with built-in 5G cellular connectivity, strengthening the electric SUV’s role as a software-defined vehicle capable of receiving continuous digital upgrades.

The arrangement integrates Tata Communications’ MOVE Connected Vehicle Platform with Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles’ N. IO software-defined vehicle architecture. The combination is designed to provide persistent connectivity for infotainment, vehicle diagnostics, emergency functions and over-the-air software updates throughout the vehicle’s operating life.

The Sierra. ev will use the 5G connection to support faster software downloads, secure content streaming, remote vehicle support and real-time diagnostics. Owners will also be able to purchase additional digital subscription packages, creating scope for services and features to be added after the vehicle has been sold.

The technology marks a shift in how Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles is approaching vehicle development. Rather than treating software as a fixed component installed during manufacturing, the N. IO platform allows functions to evolve through updates delivered remotely. That approach brings passenger vehicles closer to smartphones and other connected devices whose capabilities can change after purchase.

Sven Patuschka, chief technology officer at Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles, said increasingly software-defined vehicles would make intuitive digital connectivity central to customer experience. He described the Sierra. ev as an important step in that transition, with the Tata Communications network providing the digital infrastructure needed for continuous innovation.

The system is also intended to support artificial intelligence-enabled applications as vehicle software becomes more sophisticated. Reliable high-bandwidth connections can allow data generated by cars to be processed more rapidly, supporting personalisation, predictive maintenance and services that depend on near-real-time communication between the vehicle and cloud infrastructure.

Safety-related functions form another part of the deployment. Embedded connectivity can maintain emergency calling services and enable remote assistance when required, while diagnostic data can help identify vehicle problems without the owner first taking the car to a workshop.

Tata Communications executive vice-president Vivek Manglik said vehicles were developing into intelligent digital ecosystems capable of running an expanding range of applications and services. He said the underlying digital infrastructure would be critical to expanding those capabilities securely while improving convenience and personalisation.

The Sierra. ev already offers the iRA. ev connected-car suite with about 70 functions and advanced 5G connectivity. Connected services include remote controls, trip-related functions and over-the-air updates. Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles is offering four years of iRA. ev services from activation, beginning with one year of its higher-tier Ultra Pack followed by three years of Essential Pack access, with options for customers to renew or upgrade.

Connectivity is increasingly becoming a competitive differentiator in the passenger-vehicle market as manufacturers move beyond conventional infotainment systems. Cars capable of downloading software remotely can receive bug fixes, revised interfaces and, where the vehicle architecture permits, additional functions without requiring physical service-centre visits.

The model also provides manufacturers with new commercial opportunities. Digital subscriptions can generate revenue after a vehicle has left the showroom, while real-time data can improve maintenance planning and help companies understand how vehicle features are being used. Such systems, however, also place greater emphasis on cybersecurity, data management and reliable telecommunications coverage.

The Sierra. ev incorporates several other technology-heavy features, including Level 2+ advanced driver-assistance functions on higher variants, digital displays, surround-view systems and app-based infotainment. Its connected platform is designed to provide the communications backbone needed for such technologies to develop further over the vehicle lifecycle.

India’s telecommunications network has expanded sharply since the introduction of commercial 5G services, giving carmakers a larger infrastructure base for connected-vehicle applications. The country had more than 1.28 billion wireless subscribers at the end of March 2026, while wireless data consumption during the January-March quarter reached nearly 77,953 petabytes.

For Tata Communications, connected vehicles represent an extension of its enterprise connectivity and Internet of Things operations. Its MOVE platform is designed to manage cellular connectivity for mobile assets across networks while giving businesses tools to control services and data connections.

US sanctions four India-based firms over Iran trade

The United States has sanctioned four India-based companies over alleged purchases and handling of Iranian petroleum and petrochemical products, extending Washington’s new economic pressure campaign against Tehran to businesses operating in India.

The companies named are Portease Partners LLP, Sadashiva Overseas Limited, PP Softtech Private Limited and Prakrutees Infra Impex India Private Limited. Three individuals associated with the businesses — Indrismiya Ashrafmiya Sheikh, Harish Ramachandra Rangi and Prashant Garg — have also been targeted.

The measures form part of “Operation Economic Outcast”, a broad sanctions drive announced by the administration of President Donald Trump to restrict revenue available to Iran and increase the cost for foreign companies continuing commercial dealings with Tehran.

Sadashiva Overseas Limited was accused of importing about $69 million worth of Iranian-origin petroleum products from several companies between February 2024 and June 2025. The transactions included purchases involving Bonjoure Commodity FZE, an entity already subject to US sanctions.

PP Softtech Private Limited allegedly imported about $25 million worth of Iranian-origin petroleum products between January 2024 and June 2025. Its director, Prashant Garg, was separately designated as part of the action.

Prakrutees Infra Impex India Private Limited was accused of importing roughly $25 million of Iranian petroleum products from several suppliers between May 2023 and February 2026.

Portease Partners LLP, described as a customs broker, allegedly facilitated multiple shipments of Iranian petrochemical products into India. Its designated partners Sheikh and Rangi were included in the sanctions action because of their roles in the company.

Washington said the companies knowingly engaged in significant transactions involving the purchase, acquisition, sale, transport or marketing of petroleum or petroleum products originating in Iran. The designations were made under existing executive authorities governing sanctions on Iran’s energy sector.

The action potentially restricts the targeted businesses’ access to the US financial system and freezes property or interests in property falling within US jurisdiction. Companies dealing with designated entities can also face heightened compliance scrutiny from international banks, insurers, shipping companies and commodity traders.

The inclusion of India-based businesses comes as Washington expands pressure beyond companies directly operating in Iran and focuses increasingly on overseas intermediaries that facilitate trade, shipping, payments and procurement.

Operation Economic Outcast has targeted close to 60 individuals, companies and vessels across several jurisdictions. The wider campaign covers Iran-linked petroleum trading, maritime networks, military procurement, missile-related activity and other channels Washington says generate or move funds for Tehran.

The administration has also warned governments and private businesses that continued economic engagement with Iran could expose them to secondary sanctions. Such measures allow Washington to penalise foreign entities even when transactions do not directly involve US companies or citizens, particularly when dealings involve designated sectors or sanctioned counterparties.

The latest strategy represents an intensification of economic pressure after months of disruption to energy markets and shipping around the Gulf. Iranian crude exports have already fallen sharply from levels recorded before the conflict, while restrictions around the Strait of Hormuz and greater scrutiny of tanker movements have complicated Tehran’s ability to reach overseas buyers.

China remains the largest destination for Iranian crude, although volumes have declined substantially under tighter enforcement and shipping constraints. Independent refiners have historically accounted for much of the trade, often using intermediaries, alternative payment arrangements and complex shipping structures.

India had largely stopped direct purchases of Iranian crude after US sanctions waivers expired in 2019, although trade in other products and humanitarian goods continued. The latest designations illustrate Washington’s increasing focus on identifying petroleum-origin transactions further down the trading chain rather than concentrating only on direct crude imports.

The measures could prompt additional compliance reviews among India-based commodity traders, customs brokers, shipping agents and financial institutions handling international payments. Businesses involved in petroleum products may face greater demands to document product origin, suppliers, beneficial ownership and payment routes before banks or insurers approve transactions.

Weather disruption forces Delhi flight diversions

Heavy rain and thunderstorms disrupted operations at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport on Monday, forcing at least 15 arriving flights to divert and causing hundreds of delays and more than two dozen cancellations as unstable weather swept across the capital.

Twelve of the diverted aircraft were sent to Jaipur, two to Chandigarh and one to Lucknow after conditions around Delhi deteriorated. International services were among the affected flights, while several aircraft approaching the airport were forced to abandon landings or alter their arrival plans as thunderstorms reduced the operational window available to pilots and air traffic controllers.

The disruption spread rapidly through the airport’s tightly packed schedule. More than 280 flights were delayed during the day and at least 20 were cancelled, with later data putting cancellations at 26. Delhi airport normally handles more than 1,300 aircraft movements daily, making weather-related interruptions capable of producing cascading delays well beyond the capital as aircraft and crews fall out of their planned rotations.

Airlines warned passengers that departures and arrivals could continue to be affected and advised travellers to verify flight status before leaving for the airport. IndiGo said schedules had been disrupted by the weather, while Air India cautioned that services operating to and from Delhi could be affected. SpiceJet also issued passenger guidance as rainfall complicated both airport operations and journeys to the terminals.

Thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds of around 30 to 40 kmph accompanied the rain across parts of Delhi. Weather authorities issued a red alert for heavy rainfall for parts of the city during the intense spell, increasing the likelihood of temporary restrictions on flight movements when visibility, wind direction or runway conditions moved outside safe operating limits.

Rainfall varied sharply across the capital. Chhatarpur recorded 28 mm between 8.30 am and 11.30 am, while Lodi Road received 24.6 mm. Pitampura recorded 18.5 mm during the same period, with considerably lower totals at the Ridge, Mayur Vihar, Safdarjung and Ayanagar, reflecting the localised intensity typical of monsoon thunderstorms.

The aviation disruption came alongside widespread problems on Delhi’s roads. Waterlogging was reported at several locations, while traffic slowed on important routes connecting residential and commercial districts with the airport. Gurgaon and other parts of the National Capital Region were also affected, adding another layer of uncertainty for passengers attempting to reach terminals for scheduled departures.

Weather diversions are used when pilots and air traffic controllers determine that conditions at the intended airport may prevent a safe landing within operational or fuel limits. Aircraft may be placed in holding patterns while crews wait for conditions to improve, but prolonged thunderstorms can force flights towards designated alternate airports. Jaipur is frequently used as an alternative for Delhi-bound services because of its proximity and airport infrastructure.

Heavy rain alone does not necessarily halt modern airline operations, but thunderstorms present more complex hazards. Strong winds, lightning, rapidly changing visibility and wind shear can affect approaches and departures, while standing water can alter braking performance on runways. Airport capacity can therefore decline even when individual flights remain technically capable of operating, creating queues that ripple through arrival and departure schedules.

Monday’s disruptions underline Delhi airport’s exposure to seasonal weather at a time when passenger and aircraft volumes leave limited room for recovering schedules after prolonged interruptions. Flight delays can continue even after conditions improve because aircraft diverted elsewhere must refuel and reposition, crews can approach regulatory duty limits, and subsequent departures may be waiting for aircraft that have not yet arrived.

Resona deepens Tata Capital partnership for India growth

Japan’s Resona Bank has expanded its ties with Tata Capital through a business cooperation agreement aimed at helping Japanese companies secure financing, identify partners and pursue investment opportunities across India.

The non-exclusive memorandum of understanding announced on Monday builds on Resona Bank’s $20 million commitment as a limited partner in Tata Capital Growth Fund III LP. The vehicle invests in Tata Capital Growth Fund III, an India-focused growth equity fund managed by Tata Capital.

The partnership gives Resona’s corporate clients access to Tata Capital’s extensive domestic network and financial-services expertise as Japanese companies increase their exposure to manufacturing, sales, procurement and research and development operations across the country.

Tata Capital and Resona Bank will explore business matching, introductions and financing opportunities generated through their respective networks. The arrangement is designed particularly for companies assessing market entry, capacity expansion or broader commercial partnerships.

Resona’s investment strengthens the Japanese institutional presence in Tata Capital’s growth-equity franchise, which has maintained relationships with investors from Japan over successive funds. Tata Capital has previously established alliances with Japanese financial groups in areas ranging from private equity and investment banking to structured finance, leasing and cross-border transactions.

Rajiv Sabharwal, managing director and chief executive of Tata Capital, said the partnership combines Tata Capital’s understanding of the domestic market with Resona Bank’s relationships among Japanese businesses. He said Tata Capital Growth Fund III would support companies seeking to participate in the country’s expanding economy.

Mamoru Saito, executive officer at Resona Bank, described India as an increasingly important market for Japanese companies, particularly for manufacturing, sales, procurement and research and development. The agreement reflects a broader shift among Japanese financial institutions towards building local partnerships capable of supporting customers beyond traditional trade finance.

Tata Capital Growth Fund III is targeting about $250 million and is structured as a Category II alternative investment fund. It received its registration in September 2024. Its investment strategy focuses on growth-stage businesses operating across areas linked to urbanisation, strategic services and manufacturing, while also examining opportunities in healthcare, financial services, consumer businesses and technology.

The Asian Development Bank approved an investment of up to $25 million in the fund in June, underscoring growing institutional interest in mid-market companies. The fund is expected to target profitable small and medium-sized businesses capable of using additional equity capital to expand operations, create jobs and strengthen their market positions.

The Resona commitment therefore carries significance beyond its $20 million size. The Japanese bank can combine financial exposure to growing companies with commercial access for its corporate customers, potentially creating opportunities for investments, supplier relationships, technology partnerships and acquisitions.

Japanese companies have maintained a substantial presence across sectors such as automobiles, auto components, electronics, industrial machinery, chemicals and financial services. Businesses are also evaluating the country as an alternative manufacturing and sourcing base as companies diversify supply chains and seek exposure to faster-growing consumer markets.

Financial institutions have responded by broadening their role from lending towards advisory services, private equity connections, acquisition financing and local-market introductions. Resona already operates an Asian network encompassing representative offices and banking partnerships across several major economies, allowing it to support customers pursuing cross-border expansion.

The bank has relationships with multiple lenders operating in India, including Axis Bank, YES Bank and State Bank of India, as part of its overseas network. Its collaboration with Tata Capital adds access to a diversified non-bank finance platform with lending, wealth distribution, commercial finance and private-equity capabilities.

Tata Capital, the Tata group’s flagship financial-services company, has expanded rapidly across consumer and corporate credit. Its consolidated loan book stood above ₹2.2 trillion in the 2024-25 financial year, while profit after tax exceeded ₹36 billion. The company listed on domestic stock exchanges in October 2025.

Its growth-fund platform provides another channel for connecting international capital with privately held businesses. Unlike conventional lending, growth-equity investment allows companies to obtain longer-term capital without immediately increasing debt, an increasingly important option for businesses undertaking expansion, acquisitions or technological upgrades.

DP World pushes for longer Nhava Sheva tenure

DP World is seeking an extension of its concession to operate the Nhava Sheva International Container Terminal at Jawaharlal Nehru Port, reinforcing its long-term commitment to one of the country’s most important container gateways.

The Dubai-headquartered ports and logistics group has opened discussions with the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority over continuing operations beyond the existing concession period, which is due to expire on June 30, 2027. The request comes as DP World prepares to deploy an additional $5 billion across ports, logistics and supply-chain infrastructure in the country over the coming years.

Nhava Sheva International Container Terminal, known as NSICT, became the country’s first privately operated container terminal after a 30-year build-operate-transfer agreement was signed in July 1997. The facility has since become an established component of the container-handling network at Jawaharlal Nehru Port near Mumbai.

DP World took control of the terminal after acquiring P&O Ports in 2006. Its continued presence at Nhava Sheva now forms part of a wider strategy to integrate port terminals with rail, warehousing, freight forwarding, coastal shipping and inland logistics operations.

Discussions over the concession have gained urgency because the adjacent Nhava Sheva Gateway Terminal, also operated by DP World, has a concession running until 2031. Port authorities have examined the possibility of aligning the two concession periods so the adjoining facilities could eventually be offered as a larger combined terminal.

The proposed approach would potentially allow the two terminals to operate as a more integrated facility, offering greater berth flexibility and improving the ability to accommodate larger container vessels. Combining terminal operations could also help reduce infrastructure duplication and improve utilisation of available waterfront capacity.

A four-year extension for NSICT has previously been considered as one possible route to align its tenure with the neighbouring terminal. However, the issue involves legal and commercial questions because the original concession agreement does not provide an automatic mechanism for extending the operating period.

Commercial terms are likely to play a central role in the negotiations. The NSICT concession operates under a royalty model, with payments linked to container volumes and annual escalation provisions. Any extension would have to balance revenue expectations for the port authority against the economics of operating and upgrading an ageing terminal.

DP World’s interest in maintaining its Nhava Sheva presence comes alongside a substantial expansion of its infrastructure network. The company has already invested about $3 billion over three decades and has committed another $5 billion to strengthen integrated logistics, multimodal connectivity and maritime infrastructure.

Its network spans more than 200 locations and supports port terminals, inland container depots, rail freight services, warehouses and supply-chain operations. More than 24,000 direct and indirect jobs are linked to the company’s activities across the country.

DP World is also developing a major greenfield container terminal at Tuna Tekra in Deendayal Port in Gujarat. The project is designed with an initial annual capacity of about 2.19 million twenty-foot equivalent units and a berth of around 1,100 metres, with provision for further expansion. Completion is targeted for 2027.

The company operates container terminals at several strategic maritime locations, including Nhava Sheva and Kochi, while expanding inland freight corridors designed to connect manufacturing centres more efficiently with ports.

Jawaharlal Nehru Port remains central to that strategy because of its position serving the Mumbai metropolitan region and industrial belts across western, central and northern parts of the country. The port is connected to the Dedicated Freight Corridor and has invested in common rail infrastructure capable of handling longer and double-stack container trains.

NSICT’s original concession marked a turning point in the development of private participation at major ports. The model helped introduce private capital, equipment and operating expertise into container terminal development at a time when cargo volumes were expanding rapidly.

The port has since developed into a multi-terminal complex involving several private operators, increasing competition and overall container-handling capacity. DP World also operates the 330-metre Nhava Sheva Gateway Terminal, which has design capacity of about 800,000 TEUs annually.

Extending the older terminal’s concession would therefore have implications beyond DP World’s existing operations. A decision could influence how the port structures future tenders, combines neighbouring assets and seeks private investment while maintaining competition among terminal operators.

Rupee slips to 95.74 as market pressures persist

The rupee weakened to around 95.74 against the US dollar on Monday as subdued domestic equities, elevated crude prices and uncertainty surrounding fresh US sanctions on Iran kept currency traders cautious.

The currency closed at about 95.7450 per dollar, extending pressure seen during the previous week while remaining confined to a comparatively narrow trading band. Persistent dollar demand from importers was partly offset by foreign currency inflows and intervention by the Reserve Bank of India, limiting the extent of depreciation.

The closing level was weaker than Friday's 95.6950, when the rupee had ended almost unchanged on the day but recorded a decline of roughly 0.3% for the week. The move on Monday kept the currency within sight of the psychologically important 96-per-dollar level, which traders have watched closely during bouts of volatility linked to Middle East tensions.

The Reserve Bank of India has remained active across currency markets, with dollar sales through state-run banks helping curb speculative pressure. Its interventions have contributed to unusually low short-term volatility despite substantial swings in crude oil and other global assets.

Two-week realised volatility in the rupee has fallen below 2%, while one-month implied volatility has eased to about 4%, below its year-to-date average of roughly 5.2%. Dealers expect the currency to remain broadly within a 95.50-96.50 range in the near term unless geopolitical developments trigger a sharper move in oil or the dollar.

Domestic equity weakness added to the cautious tone. The Sensex fell about 172 points to 77,369.11, while the Nifty 50 slipped below 24,250. Investors remained wary ahead of details of Washington's planned sanctions against Tehran, even as crude prices retreated from their latest highs during Monday's session.

Brent crude fell below $93 a barrel during trading after gaining more than 5% in the previous week. Prices had climbed as negotiations involving Washington and Tehran reached an impasse and uncertainty persisted over shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.

The pullback in oil offered some relief to the rupee but did little to remove the broader risk confronting the currency. India imports close to 90% of its crude requirements, leaving the economy sensitive to sustained increases in energy costs. Higher crude prices raise the country's import bill, increase demand for dollars from refiners and can place additional pressure on inflation.

Brent has remained around the low-$90s despite disruptions surrounding Hormuz, substantially above levels that prevailed before the escalation in Middle East tensions. Market forecasts have also shifted higher, with expectations that persistent supply constraints could push Brent towards $100 a barrel later this year.

Iran-related risks have become an important driver of currency and bond markets. Washington is preparing tougher economic sanctions aimed at increasing pressure on Tehran and potentially restricting its oil trade. Iran has warned that intensified economic pressure could have consequences for energy flows from the Gulf, adding uncertainty to a region that remains crucial to global petroleum supplies.

The dollar also strengthened modestly against a basket of major currencies, rising about 0.2% and adding pressure on several Asian currencies. Regional equity markets were mostly weaker as investors reduced exposure to risk ahead of the US sanctions announcement and key economic signals from the Federal Reserve.

Capital inflows have nevertheless provided the rupee with an important cushion. Measures introduced by the RBI to strengthen external liquidity have attracted tens of billions of dollars, boosting the central bank's capacity to manage disorderly currency movements.

The central bank's large foreign exchange reserves and continuing inflows have enabled it to resist abrupt declines, while importer hedging and month-end corporate dollar requirements remain sources of downward pressure. Its interventions have also prevented the rupee from moving decisively beyond 96 per dollar during periods of heavier selling.

Private operators set for 11-airport leasing round

The government has moved closer to leasing 11 Airports Authority of India airports to private operators after a key appraisal panel gave in-principle clearance to the plan, opening the way for one of the country’s largest airport monetisation rounds.

The airports will be offered in five bundles under the public-private partnership model, pairing larger, commercially stronger facilities with smaller airports that may require financial support. The proposed concessions are expected to run for 50 years, while ownership of the airports will remain with the Airports Authority of India, or AAI.

The five proposed groups comprise Amritsar and Kangra; Varanasi, Kushinagar and Gaya; Bhubaneswar and Hubballi; Raipur and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, formerly Aurangabad; and Tiruchirappalli and Tirupati.

The Public Private Partnership Appraisal Committee has granted in-principle approval for the transaction, marking an important step before the government proceeds towards detailed bid documentation and the competitive auction process.

Authorities are also examining restrictions on how many bundles a single company can win. The move follows concerns that further consolidation could increase concentration in the airport sector, where a relatively small number of private groups already handle a substantial share of passenger traffic.

The proposed safeguards could become one of the most closely watched features of the auction. Adani Airport Holdings and GMR Airports operate several of the country’s largest airports, while international infrastructure companies and investment groups are also expected to study the opportunity.

Earlier preparations for the transaction had attracted interest from operators including Adani, GMR, France-based Vinci Airports and the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund. The final field of bidders will become clear only after tender conditions and qualification requirements are issued.

The government intends to use the bundling mechanism to make smaller airports commercially viable by linking them with stronger traffic-generating facilities. Revenue from the larger airport in a package could effectively support investment and operating requirements at the smaller facility, reducing the burden on AAI.

Investment requirements associated with the 11 airports have been estimated at about ₹8,622 crore as capacity expansion and infrastructure upgrades are pursued. The precise capital expenditure obligations imposed on successful bidders will depend on the concession agreements and traffic projections incorporated into the tender documents.

AAI has also been targeting substantial proceeds from airport monetisation. Earlier estimates indicated that leasing the 11 airports could generate roughly ₹6,000 crore for the authority, giving it additional resources to build and upgrade aviation infrastructure elsewhere.

The model follows previous airport privatisations under which private concessionaires assumed responsibility for operations, management and development while the underlying assets remained publicly owned.

Delhi and Mumbai were transferred to PPP operators in 2006. A later auction resulted in Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Mangaluru, Jaipur, Guwahati and Thiruvananthapuram being awarded under 50-year concessions. Those six airports were won by Adani Enterprises through competitive bidding based on per-passenger fees payable to AAI.

The forthcoming transaction differs significantly because airports are being offered in clusters rather than exclusively as individual assets. The policy is designed partly to ensure that bidders cannot concentrate solely on profitable airports while leaving lower-traffic facilities dependent on public financing.

Varanasi is among the most commercially significant assets in the programme, serving a major tourism and pilgrimage centre and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s parliamentary constituency. Tirupati also handles substantial pilgrimage-linked passenger traffic, while Amritsar is an important international and domestic gateway for Punjab.

Kushinagar and Gaya have strategic importance for Buddhist tourism, although their traffic volumes are considerably smaller. Kangra serves the Dharamshala region, while Hubballi provides connectivity to a major commercial centre in Karnataka.

The government has previously identified 25 AAI airports for monetisation as part of its broader infrastructure asset programme. Airport leasing is intended to unlock capital from operational public assets while bringing private investment into terminals, passenger services and commercial development.

The structure has nevertheless intensified debate over competition. Finance authorities have raised concerns about the possibility of an oligopolistic market if the same groups continue acquiring multiple airports, prompting proposals to limit the number of bundles that any one bidder may secure.

Scientists prevail in Johnson & Johnson talc case

A US federal judge has rejected Johnson & Johnson’s trade libel case against three scientists whose research linked cosmetic talc exposure to mesothelioma, ruling that the company failed to show the researchers acted with actual malice.

US District Judge Jamar K. Walker granted summary judgment to doctors Theresa Emory, John Maddox and Richard Kradin in the Eastern District of Virginia, ending the remaining claim in litigation brought by Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Pecos River Talc LLC. The company has said it plans to appeal and seek a trial over what it describes as false statements concerning talc and asbestos exposure.

The dispute centred on a scientific paper published in March 2020 in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine. The researchers presented a case series involving 75 people with malignant mesothelioma whose only known exposure to asbestos, the paper said, was through cosmetic talc. The group was described as additional to 33 patients covered by an earlier study.

Johnson & Johnson challenged the accuracy of those representations. Evidence developed during the litigation showed that eight of the 75 patients had also appeared in the earlier study, contradicting the description of the group as entirely additional. The company also argued that some patients had possible asbestos exposure from sources other than cosmetic talc.

Walker found that mistakes had occurred in the underlying data but concluded that the record did not establish the legal standard required for trade libel. Pecos River had to produce clear and convincing evidence that the scientists published statements they knew were false or acted with reckless disregard for their truth.

The judge determined that the company had not created a genuine dispute of material fact on actual malice. The researchers had compared anonymised patient data and information supplied through lawyers, circumstances that could make duplicate cases difficult to identify. The court found no evidence showing that errors apparent during later litigation had been obvious to the researchers when the study was prepared.

The decision is significant beyond the immediate talc dispute because it addresses the boundary between corporate litigation and scientific publication. The researchers’ lawyers argued that allowing defamation-style claims to proceed without evidence of deliberate or reckless falsehood could have a chilling effect on researchers studying products that are already the subject of major litigation.

Johnson & Johnson takes the opposite view. It has maintained that the scientific literature used against the company in talc lawsuits contains serious flaws and that expert witnesses working with plaintiffs’ lawyers have helped create misleading claims about its products. The company has repeatedly said its cosmetic talc was safe, asbestos-free and did not cause cancer.

The Virginia case formed part of a broader legal strategy challenging experts involved in talc litigation. Johnson & Johnson also pursued separate litigation against Jacqueline Moline, whose earlier research examined mesothelioma cases associated with cosmetic talc. A federal judge in New Jersey dismissed that case in 2024, finding that the challenged research did not support the company’s allegations of fraud or libel.

The latest ruling does not establish that cosmetic talc causes mesothelioma, nor does it resolve the wider scientific debate over asbestos contamination and cancer risk. Its immediate legal finding is narrower: the company did not present sufficient evidence that Emory, Maddox and Kradin published their disputed statements with the level of knowledge or recklessness required to sustain the trade libel claim.

Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer affecting the lining surrounding organs, most commonly the lungs, and asbestos exposure is its principal established cause. Litigation involving cosmetic talc has focused heavily on allegations that some talc deposits or finished products contained asbestos fibres. Johnson & Johnson has consistently disputed claims that its products contained asbestos.

The ruling arrives as the company seeks to reduce its exposure to more than a decade of talc litigation. Johnson & Johnson announced in July a proposed settlement committing at least $5.5 billion to resolve about 76,000 ovarian cancer claims. The agreement requires participation by firms representing at least 95 per cent of the remaining claims before it can take effect.

The settlement follows three unsuccessful attempts to resolve large numbers of talc claims through bankruptcy proceedings involving subsidiaries. A bankruptcy judge rejected the latest restructuring plan in 2025, after which Johnson & Johnson returned to defending cases individually while pursuing challenges to plaintiffs’ expert testimony.

AI skills reshape cybersecurity hiring across G7

Artificial intelligence skills are rapidly becoming a standard requirement for cybersecurity professionals, with their presence in job advertisements across the G7 economies doubling within a year as employers redesign security teams around AI agents and human oversight.

AI capabilities were specified in 28.5% of cybersecurity job postings between October 2025 and March 2026, compared with 14.2% in the corresponding period a year earlier. By March, the proportion had climbed to 29.7%, highlighting how quickly knowledge of AI-powered systems is moving from a specialist qualification towards a mainstream cybersecurity requirement.

The shift comes as overall demand for cybersecurity workers continues to expand. Job postings across Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States grew 9.5% during the six months ending March 2026. The growth accelerated from 6.8% in the preceding six-month period.

The findings form part of new research by the AI Workforce Consortium, established by Cisco in 2024 with technology and employment groups including Accenture, Cornerstone, Eightfold AI, Google, IBM, Indeed, Intel, Microsoft and SAP. Pearson has since joined the consortium.

The changing requirements go beyond learning how to operate generative AI applications. Security engineering, cloud security, detection and response engineering and security operations roles increasingly demand an “agentic” combination of skills that allows professionals to direct, supervise and verify autonomous AI systems.

Security operations centres illustrate the transformation. AI agents can now perform high-volume tasks including alert triage, threat-intelligence correlation and execution of established response procedures. Human analysts are consequently moving away from processing every alert themselves towards overseeing automated decisions, investigating ambiguous threats and determining when machine-generated conclusions require intervention.

This evolution is making some cybersecurity positions more strategic rather than simply eliminating human work. Demand for ethical reasoning skills in cybersecurity postings increased 533% year on year, while systems-thinking requirements rose 251% and stakeholder-engagement skills increased 125%.

Employers are increasingly looking for professionals who can understand the technical output of AI systems while judging its reliability, implications and potential risks. Such abilities are becoming particularly important as autonomous agents gain access to security tools capable of taking actions rather than merely producing recommendations.

The transition is also exposing an imbalance between senior and entry-level recruitment. Cybersecurity postings carrying senior titles increased 65% during the six months ending March 2026, while junior-titled positions grew only 5.9%.

Employers appear to be raising expectations for people entering the profession even as the global shortage of cybersecurity workers remains severe. The worldwide cybersecurity skills gap exceeds 4.8 million positions, leaving organisations competing for experienced specialists while entry-level candidates struggle to demonstrate the broader capabilities employers increasingly demand.

A May survey of cybersecurity leaders showed the difficulty particularly clearly. Forty-nine per cent identified practical experience with AI agents as one of the hardest competencies to find among entry-level applicants. Technical cybersecurity depth was cited by 48%, while 45% identified deficiencies in human and professional skills.

The mismatch is placing pressure on universities, certification providers and corporate training programmes to move beyond conventional classroom instruction. Training increasingly needs to expose students to AI-enabled security environments where they can evaluate agent-generated findings, challenge automated recommendations and understand when autonomous actions should be stopped or escalated.

Internships, apprenticeships and laboratory-based learning are consequently becoming more important as employers seek evidence that applicants can operate alongside AI systems before joining production security teams.

The transformation builds on a broader acceleration in AI-related technology employment. Earlier labour-market analysis across G7 economies found AI capabilities appearing across 78% of the technology roles examined, while demand for AI security skills had risen sharply. Skills involving responsible AI, foundation-model adaptation and multi-agent systems were also among the fastest-growing specialist requirements.

Investment patterns, however, indicate a possible workforce weakness. More than a third of cybersecurity leaders plan to invest in AI-powered security capabilities over the next one to two years, while only about a quarter place comparable priority on investing in workforce skills.

TDCX expands Hyderabad base as India workforce surges

TDCX is expanding its operations in Hyderabad with a new campus at Meenakshi Eco Park, increasing capacity as its India workforce grows by more than 600% over three years.

The expansion strengthens the Singapore-headquartered customer experience specialist’s presence in one of the country’s largest technology hubs and underlines India’s growing importance in supporting global technology, digital economy and high-growth clients.

The Meenakshi Eco Park facility gives TDCX additional space to scale customer experience operations, technology functions and specialised services as demand from international clients becomes increasingly complex. The company entered the market in 2022 with a 45,000-square-foot office at Skyview 20 in Hyderabad, establishing the city as both a service delivery location and a digital innovation hub.

Since then, TDCX has expanded rapidly as companies seek a combination of skilled labour, multilingual capabilities and technology expertise. Its headcount in the country has risen by more than sixfold over three years, making the Hyderabad operation an increasingly significant part of its global delivery network.

The expansion comes as customer experience outsourcing is being reshaped by artificial intelligence, automation and growing demand for higher-value services. Large technology companies are increasingly looking beyond traditional contact-centre functions, seeking partners capable of handling digital advertising, e-commerce, trust and safety, fintech, mobility and technically demanding customer interactions.

TDCX has positioned its operations around that shift. Its services combine customer support with revenue operations, content and community management, digital transformation, AI-enabled analytics and consultancy. The company says its model is designed to combine automation with human judgement, particularly where customer queries or platform decisions require more complex handling.

Hyderabad provides access to a large pool of technology and engineering professionals as well as employees experienced in business process management. The city has become an important global capability centre destination, attracting major investments from technology, financial services and digital businesses seeking skilled workers and comparatively competitive operating costs.

Meenakshi Eco Park, in Hyderabad’s western technology corridor, is emerging as a major commercial development. The project has a planned built-up area of about six million square feet and has attracted large corporate occupiers. Uber has leased more than 900,000 square feet at the development under a long-term agreement, while investment management company Invesco has also taken substantial office space there.

TDCX’s move reflects a broader transformation in the outsourcing sector, where companies are placing greater emphasis on specialised skills rather than simply increasing the number of customer service agents. Generative AI can now resolve routine inquiries, summarise conversations and provide real-time assistance to employees, encouraging service providers to direct more workers towards complex customer interactions, technical support and revenue-generating functions.

The company is also using AI-supported tools in its customer operations. Such systems can assist agents by retrieving information, suggesting responses and analysing customer sentiment while automation handles repetitive processes. Human employees remain central to interactions requiring judgement, empathy or an understanding of regulatory and cultural factors.

TDCX operates across Asia-Pacific, Europe and the Americas and employs more than 20,000 people across its global network. Its operations cover more than 50 languages and dialects, allowing multinational clients to consolidate customer experience programmes across different markets.

India is becoming an increasingly important part of that network because of its combination of English-language proficiency, engineering talent and established outsourcing infrastructure. While traditional business-process work remains substantial, employers are increasingly recruiting workers with skills in data analytics, software development, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and digital operations.

That development is also altering competition for talent in Hyderabad. Global capability centres, cloud computing companies, financial institutions and technology groups are expanding in the city, increasing demand for employees who combine technical proficiency with communication and customer-management skills.

TDCX initially identified Hyderabad as its entry point because of the city’s technology ecosystem and availability of specialists in areas including frontend development, user interface and user experience design, Angular, React and full-stack engineering. Its technology teams have worked on software intended to generate deeper insights into customer behaviour and improve service outcomes.

The new campus provides additional capacity for the next phase of that strategy. TDCX is expected to use its expanded Hyderabad footprint to support international businesses seeking round-the-clock digital customer operations while developing capabilities around AI-assisted services and other technology-intensive customer experience functions.