Author: News Desk

Thiruvananthapuram has emerged as a standout destination in Agoda’s latest international travel growth rankings, highlighting the Kerala capital’s growing global appeal. The surge reflects increasing international searches and bookings, driven by a mix of cultural heritage, scenic beauty, and improved connectivity. At the heart of the city’s attraction is the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, a major spiritual and architectural landmark drawing visitors from across the world. Beach destinations such as Kovalam, Shanghumugham, and the nearby Varkala Cliff continue to rank high among foreign travellers seeking coastal escapes. Nature and adventure tourism are gaining traction with destinations like Ponmudi Hills, offering cool climates, winding roads, and panoramic views.…

Gujarat has emerged as India’s best-performing startup ecosystem for the fifth consecutive year, according to the Startup Ecosystem Ranking 2026 (5th Edition) released under the Startup India initiative. The ranking highlights the state’s consistent efforts in building a robust environment for innovation, entrepreneurship and startup growth. The assessment evaluates states on parameters such as policy support, funding access, incubation infrastructure, talent development and regulatory ease. Gujarat topped the rankings by demonstrating sustained progress across these indicators, supported by proactive governance and industry collaboration. According to the report, Gujarat’s strong network of incubation centres, innovation hubs and startup-focused policies has helped nurture early-stage ventures as well as scale-ups.…

Kochi-based agri-tech startup Fuselage Innovations, supported by Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM), has won the Aspire Award at the National Startup Awards 5.0 held in New Delhi on Friday. The National Startup Awards 5.0 are instituted by Startup India under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India. The awards were announced on the sidelines of National Startup Day 2026, which marked ten years of the Startup India initiative. Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with startup founders and entrepreneurs during the event. Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal was…

Dilpreet Singh Bajwa, a 22-year-old cricketer born in Gurdaspur, Punjab, has been named captain of the Canada national team for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, set to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from 7 February to 8 March 2026. Bajwa’s journey from being overlooked in Punjab’s domestic cricket system, where he struggled to secure selection despite strong performances, to leading an international side at cricket’s biggest T20 event is a remarkable turnaround. He moved to Canada in 2020, where he quickly established himself in the domestic circuit and earned a spot with the Montreal Tigers in Global T20 Canada before breaking into the national setup. In T20…

The Union Budget of India for 2026-27, the annual financial statement outlining the government’s revenue, spending priorities, tax proposals and economic agenda, is scheduled to be presented in Parliament on Sunday, 1 February 2026 by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. This date continues a long-standing tradition of tabling the Union Budget on 1 February, even though it falls on a Sunday this year. The Budget Session of Parliament is expected to begin on 28 January 2026 and run through early April, comprising two phases where lawmakers will debate and review the budget proposals before approval. Alongside the Budget, the Economic Survey, a pre-budget report detailing India’s economic performance and outlook, is…

A recent LocalCircles survey of more than 90,000 quick-commerce users across India has revealed that a significant share of consumers do not favour ultra-fast “10-minute delivery” claims promoted by platforms like Blinkit, Swiggy Instamart and Zepto. The results suggest a shift in consumer sentiment toward more balanced delivery expectations that prioritise safety and essentials over extreme speed. According to the poll, 38% of respondents said they do not want anything delivered within 10 minutes, while 62% said there are some products for which faster delivery is desirable. Among those who still value rapid delivery, 100% cited medicines as the top priority, followed by 55% for essential household items and 25% for discretionary goods.…

OpenAI has announced an investment in Merge Labs, a brain-computer interface (BCI) startup cofounded by Sam Altman that aims to develop high-bandwidth neural interfaces blending biological, device and AI technologies. Merge Labs closed a $250 million seed round at an $850 million valuation, with OpenAI among its biggest backers alongside investors such as Bain Capital and Gabe Newell. Merge Labs describes itself as a research lab focused on bridging biological and artificial intelligence to maximise human ability, agency and experience. It is pursuing new BCI methods expected to interact with the brain at higher bandwidth by combining biology, advanced sensing and AI interpretation systems, with early aims including…

Convergence Energy Services Ltd (CESL) has launched a new tender for the procurement, operation and maintenance of 6,230 electric buses across major Indian cities, marking a major expansion in the country’s electric public transport push. Bids are open until March 10, 2026 under a Gross Cost Contracting (GCC) model, where operators handle both fleet delivery and infrastructure development for charging and support networks. Under the tender, 3,330 buses are earmarked for Delhi, including a mix of 7-metre and 9-metre low-floor air-conditioned units, while the remaining 2,900 buses will be allocated to Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad, with specified mixes of AC and non-AC buses tailored to city needs. This initiative…

Maharashtra has emerged as India’s most export-ready state, overtaking Tamil Nadu in the latest export preparedness rankings, driven by robust industrial output, upgraded logistics and proactive trade policies. The shift marks a significant development in the country’s regional export landscape, showcasing how states are competing to attract global business and strengthen their position in international markets. The report highlights that Maharashtra’s manufacturing clusters, including those in the Mumbai–Pune–Nashik corridor and around key industrial zones, have delivered strong export performance across sectors such as automobiles, engineering goods, chemicals, textiles and pharmaceuticals. Enhanced port infrastructure, particularly at Mumbai Port and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), has also played a central…

In a LinkedIn post, entrepreneur Rahul Sasi reflected on a pivotal moment from 2012 when his visa application to enter the United States and speak at the Black Hat cybersecurity conference was rejected, a setback that could have stalled his international ambitions. Nearly a decade and more of persistence later, his startup CloudSEK achieved a significant milestone by securing Series B2 funding, with backing from Connecticut Innovations, the state government’s venture fund, underscoring elevated confidence in India-built cybersecurity solutions on the global stage. The journey from early rejection to attracting institutional support abroad highlights not only the resilience of founders but also the increasing global appetite for Indian tech…