Author: News Desk

The Adani Group has announced a major infrastructure expansion in Odisha, pledging three large projects focused on digital infrastructure, power, and manufacturing. The initiatives were outlined by Karan Adani, Managing Director of Adani Ports and SEZ, during the groundbreaking and inauguration of 36 industrial projects in Khordha. The total investment across these projects stands at ₹33,081 crore and is expected to generate around 9,700 direct and indirect jobs. The expansion aligns with Odisha’s long-term vision of becoming a $1.5 trillion economy by 2047. Focus on Digital Infrastructure The first project is a data center at Info Valley in Bhubaneswar, backed…

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Wednesday that India’s logistics cost has fallen to 9 per cent, aided by the rapid development of expressways and economic corridors. He was speaking at the BME Conclave 2026. Infrastructure Boost Reduces Costs Gadkari cited a report by IIT Chennai, IIT Kanpur, and IIM Bangalore, which showed logistics costs had already decreased from 16 per cent to 10 per cent due to the construction of expressways and economic corridors. He stated that the latest data confirms a further drop to 9 per cent, which will make India’s exports more competitive. Comparison with Other Countries…

Silicon Valley has long celebrated the “college dropout becomes billionaire” story, but the rise of Surya Midha, Adarsh Hiremath, and Brendan Foody is rewriting that narrative. Their company, Mercor, is now valued at $10 billion, making 22-year-olds Midha and Hiremath the youngest self-made billionaires globally. Mercor isn’t just a business success; it’s reshaping how companies hire talent in the AI era. Surpassing Previous Young Billionaires Mercor’s founders have overtaken other young tech billionaires. They surpassed Shayne Coplan of Polymarket, who became a billionaire at 27, and Alexandr Wang of Scale AI, who achieved the milestone at 28. Surya Midha, the…

Travellers on Indian Railways can now change their boarding station up to 30 minutes before the train’s departure, providing greater flexibility for last-minute plan changes. This new rule was announced by the Southern Indian Railways, effective from April 1, 2026. How the New System Works The updated system allows passengers to modify their boarding station until the final reservation chart is prepared, typically 30 minutes before the train leaves its origin station. This ensures passengers do not lose their confirmed seats if they cannot reach the originally booked station on time. For example, if a passenger booked from Station 1 but can only reach Station 5 in time, they…

Vietnamese conglomerate Vingroup will invest $8.5 billion (around ₹70,000 crore) in Maharashtra over the next two years, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced on Wednesday. The investment marks a major foreign push into urban infrastructure and clean mobility in the state. Scope of Investment The investment has been formalised through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the state industries department and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA). Projects will cover electric mobility, smart townships, tourism, and social infrastructure, generating nearly 24,700 direct jobs. Smart Townships and Urban Development Developments will be spread across roughly 5,000 acres in the Mumbai Metropolitan…

OFF/BEAT, the new venture by boAt cofounder Aman Gupta, has secured ₹100 crore (about $10.7 million) in its seed funding round, led by Bessemer Venture Partners. The startup has not disclosed the participation of other investors. Transition from boAt to OFF/BEAT Gupta announced OFF/BEAT in March after moving to a non-executive role at boAt, which is preparing for a public listing. The new venture is expected to operate as a venture studio platform, supporting emerging founders and ideas, though its specific offerings have not yet been revealed. Focus on Cultural and Technological Shifts OFF/BEAT stated that India is experiencing a…

In March 2026, the Indian Army took a major step toward electric mobility by issuing and closing tenders for a new class of “Silent Scout” electric motorcycles and scooters. These vehicles are designed not just as replacements for traditional petrol-powered bikes but as tools that redefine mobility, reconnaissance, and communication in forward operating areas. Key Procurements and Tenders Central to this initiative is tender GEM/2026/B/7383148, issued by the Department of Military Affairs, focusing on electric motorcycles and scooters for operational use. A related sub-tender, GEM/2026/B/7293693, targets “Battery Operated Two Wheeler Messengers,” highlighting the Army’s need for silent, rapid communication between…

India and Turkiye held the 12th round of Foreign Office Consultations (FoC) in New Delhi on April 8, 2026. The Indian delegation was led by Sibi George, Secretary (West) at the Ministry of External Affairs, while the Turkish delegation was headed by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Berris Ekinci. This was the first round of FoC since 2022, when the previous meeting took place in Ankara. Relations between the two countries have been tense due to statements by Turkish President Recep Erdogan on Kashmir and Turkiye’s military support to Pakistan during the Operation Sindoor conflict last year. The consultations in…

India is fast-tracking DRDO’s Project Kusha, an advanced long-range air defence system, to strengthen the country’s ability to protect its skies while reducing dependence on foreign suppliers. Officially named the Extended Range Air Defence System, Project Kusha is being developed as a homegrown alternative to imported systems like the Russian S-400. Three-Layer Missile Structure Reports indicate that Project Kusha will operate across three tiers of missiles: the M1 with a range of around 150 km, the M2 covering roughly 250 km, and the M3, the most sophisticated, expected to reach 350–400 km. Early development milestones for the M1 interceptor have…

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has instructed the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to reduce landing and parking charges at non-major airports by 25% to help curb the sharp rise in domestic airfares amid the ongoing West Asia crisis. The move is part of a broader effort by the government to support airlines struggling with higher operational costs caused by disruptions in fuel supplies and soaring global jet fuel prices. 25% Reduction for Domestic Flights According to the ministry, the reduction in landing and parking charges — which form part of the aeronautical tariff — will apply immediately to all…