IAIRO launches as India's execution engine to build sovereign AI capability and domain-specific, deployable models.
IAIRO is an execution-first public-private partnership established to convert foundational and applied AI research into deployable systems and sovereign intellectual property. Focused on mission-scale delivery across governance, healthcare, climate resilience, language inclusion and digital public infrastructure, it prioritises compact, domain-specific, neurosymbolic models and translational mechanisms-entrepreneur-in-residence programs, applied labs, and venture-creation pathways-to retain talent, attract capital, and scale research into global products.

ETCIO Annual Conclave 2026 brings CIOs together for deployable AI, cyber clinics, workshops and sector playbooks.
The Economic Times CIO will host the 8th ETCIO Annual Conclave, 21-24 May 2026, a residential summit for CIOs and IT decision-makers focused on converting insight into action through outcome-oriented workshops, sector tracks that end in deployable playbooks, production-grade AI and cyber clinics, hands-on masterclasses, and structured networking. The programme builds on prior edition metrics and the ETCIO AI Playbook 2025, which reports 67% partial AI deployment and 8% full-scale deployment among surveyed leaders.

Wibmo named among Chartis Top 50 for retail banking analytics, highlighting payments security and advanced fraud prevention solutions.
Wibmo, a PayU company, is ranked 41st in the Chartis Retail Banking Analytics 50 for 2025, reflecting strength in analytical breadth, market impact, computational infrastructure, strategic alignment, and innovation; the company provides integrated analytics and payment-security solutions for retail credit analytics, fraud and risk management, AI-driven decisioning, and financial optimisation.

Ko rber acquires majority stake in Stellium to expand global SAP supply chain consulting capabilities and integrate AI and automation.
Ko rber has entered a binding agreement to acquire a majority stake in Stellium, subject to customary closing conditions, with the combined firm to operate as Ko rber Stellium; the deal aims to expand Ko rber's global SAP Supply Chain Management portfolio by integrating Stellium's SAP expertise and regional presence while maintaining Stellium's leadership to ensure operational continuity and enable capability integration across AI, automation, and advanced supply chain solutions.

Duroflex Airboost mattress approved for spinal support and recommended for enhancing deep restorative slow wave sleep.
The release asserts that the National Health Authority has granted exclusive approval to Duroflex AirboostTM for spinal support and back-pain reduction, and that the Indian Society for Sleep Research recommends the product for enhancing N3 (Slow Wave) sleep; these endorsements underpin the manufacturer's market and advertising claims about Airboost's pressure distribution, breathability and energy-restoration features across multiple sales channels.

iQIYI files 880 invention patents in 2025, over half focused on AI-driven content creation and immersive technologies.
iQIYI filed 993 patents in 2025, including 880 invention patents and 12 high-value patents, with over half focused on AI applications across content creation, production, distribution, and immersive experiences. Key technologies include Script Studio for rapid script evaluation (over 17,000 scripts assessed), a multi-agent solution for consistent AI-generated long-form animation, and nearly 20 VR sensory immersion patents covering motion tracking, audio, lighting, and gesture interactivity.

CabBazar expands intercity travel with true one-way pricing, all-inclusive fares, deep Tier-2/Tier-3 reach and B2B marketplace.
CabBazar deploys true one-way and one-way multi-city intercity pricing with both tax-inclusive and tax-exclusive fare options, promoting all-inclusive fares to eliminate last-minute charges; it complements this with rapid booking, deep Tier-2/Tier-3 penetration, value-added services (luggage, pet-friendly options, lowest-price guarantee), a large fleet network, a bootstrapped profitable model, decentralized Tier-2 operations with significant female employment, and a planned B2B marketplace to improve supply-side coordination.

Herbalife India appoints Dr. Shivangi Rana to lead vritilife skincare education and training focused on Ayurveda and preventive skin health.
Herbalife India has appointed Dr. Shivangi Rana as skincare expert for its vritilife Ayurveda-inspired range to curate digital content on skin concerns, daily routines, nutrition-led wellness, and to support training and education initiatives that present Ayurveda in a clinically evaluated, modern lifestyle context focused on preventive, long-term skin health.

Chandigarh University industry-aligned curriculum boosts employability through major corporate collaborations, accredited programs, high-tech labs and paid internships.
Chandigarh University employs an industry-aligned curriculum designed with corporate partners and advisory boards, supported by formal collaborations, industry-sponsored R&D labs and Centres of Excellence to deliver specialised programs in emerging technologies. The model embeds corporate mentorship, live projects, digital certifications and structured paid internships to align graduate competencies with employer requirements, with program quality reinforced through multiple accreditations and international curriculum alignment.

University of Melbourne and TIDCO sign LOI to establish a research and teaching centre in Tamil Nadu.
A Letter of Intent between the University of Melbourne and TIDCO establishes a University of Melbourne centre at Tamil Nadu Knowledge City to drive collaborative basic, applied and translational research, industry-aligned curriculum development, skills and capability training, and sector-focused engagement, framed as a long-term initiative to connect academic expertise with industry demand and support cross-border innovation and talent development.

Contract Verse streamlines contract lifecycle management with AI tools, centralized repositories, and Aadhaar eSign and DSC support.
Contract Verse centralizes contract lifecycle management-creation, collaborative review, approval, execution, renewal, and archival-with AI-assisted search, template workflows, centralized repository, audit trails, and e-stamping. It supports secure electronic execution through Aadhaar OTP-based eSign and Digital Signature Certificates, implements role-based access and enterprise security, and is represented as compliant with the Indian IT Act and relevant data-security benchmarks to ensure legal enforceability and governance of contracts.

Axis Max Life launches 'Bharosa Tum Ho' campaign emphasizing consumer trust, claims settlement performance and protection-focused messaging.
Axis Max Life relaunches the 'Bharosa Tum Ho' campaign centring on Trust and citing its superior Claims Settlement Ratio as validation; the Company confirms its joint venture identity, IRDAI Registration No. 104, Company Information Number U74899PB2000PLC045626, and FY2024-25 gross written premium of INR 33,223 Cr, while deploying an integrated media mix to promote Protection, Savings and Retirement propositions.

Protein sourcing: prioritize animal welfare, sustainable farming, and supply-chain transparency for long-term ethical nutrition.
The piece contrasts grass-fed systems that support natural grazing, animal health, and milk integrity with intensive factory-fed models that create hidden welfare and environmental costs, framing those costs as systemic risks to long-term viability. It promotes a "Green Factory" approach that aligns technology with natural processes to protect quality without exceeding biological limits, and stresses supply-chain transparency and consumer engagement as means to make ethical sourcing a market standard.

Right to Information: Economic Survey urges re-examination amid allegations government is weakening RTI protections and risking activists.
The Economic Survey proposes re-examining the Right to Information Act to exempt confidential performance reports, draft comments and consider a possible ministerial veto, arguing the Act should not enable idle curiosity or external micromanagement but remain aligned with transparency and accountability goals. Congress alleges the government has weakened RTI via changes to Information Commissioners' tenure and pay, vacancies in the Commission, effects of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act on the public interest clause, thousands of pending cases, and the murder of RTI activists, alongside non-implementation of whistleblower protections.

Centre's fiscal deficit stood at Rs 8.55 lakh crore, 54.5% of the annual budget target.
Centre's fiscal deficit to end-December was Rs 8.55 lakh crore (54.5% of the 2025-26 budget estimate) against a budgeted deficit of 4.4% of GDP (Rs 15.69 lakh crore). Total receipts were Rs 25.25 lakh crore (72.2% of BE) and total expenditure Rs 33.8 lakh crore (66.7% of BE), comprising Rs 25.93 lakh crore revenue spending and Rs 7.87 lakh crore capital spending.

Menstrual health: schools must provide free sanitary pads and functional gender-segregated toilets for students.
The right to menstrual health is part of the right to life; states and Union Territories must ensure free oxo-biodegradable sanitary napkins in every school with accessible dispensation points, establish menstrual hygiene management corners, provide functional gender-segregated toilets with water, privacy and hand-washing facilities, and ensure accessibility for children with disabilities, with derecognition and state accountability as consequences for non-compliance under the Right to Education framework.

Project approvals: ministers may clear projects up to Rs 50 crore; reapproval for >15% cost escalation and paperless treasury.
Departmental ministers are authorised to approve projects up to Rs 50 crore, with Rs 50-150 crore approvals at the finance minister level and projects over Rs 150 crore requiring chief minister approval. Projects with cost escalation above 15% require re-approval. Departments must obtain annual action plan approval by April 15, and fiscal measures include timely payments to low-paid workers, budget control, and a mandate for fully paperless fund transfers via a cyber treasury by April 2026. New buildings must include five-year maintenance clauses and a corpus for older structures' upkeep.

Indian rupee hit a record low then ended marginally higher amid FII outflows, dollar strength and falling oil prices.
The rupee hit an intraday record low of 92.02 per US dollar then closed slightly firmer at 91.97, as sustained foreign institutional outflows and weak domestic equities depressed the currency while a stronger dollar index limited gains; falling crude and commodity prices offered partial support, and official commentary described the rupee as "punching below its weight," urging examination of investor reluctance despite controlled inflation and favourable growth prospects.

Stock markets slipped as metal and IT weakness, FII outflows and rupee depreciation dampened sentiment ahead of Budget.
Equity indices ended lower as metal and IT sector weakness, FII outflows and rupee depreciation weighed on markets; pre-Budget positioning and external headwinds, including global growth concerns, higher US yields, geopolitical risks and tariff pressures, maintained cautious sentiment while DIIs provided offsetting buying.

Abhee Ventures 45-acre acquisition in Gunjur signals luxury township development and institutional governance with senior appointment.
Abhee Ventures acquired 45 acres in Gunjur, East Bengaluru to develop a master-planned luxury residential township and has engaged Ashwinder R. Singh to support brand positioning, go-to-market strategy and stakeholder engagement for the Phase 2 launch, building on an existing construction partnership and aiming to institutionalise governance, distribution discipline and delivery credibility.