Author: Sreelatha M

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MapmyIndia’s Mappls App Wins Official Endorsement

India’s homegrown navigation app, Mappls by MapmyIndia, is emerging as a “Swadeshi alternative” to foreign GPS platforms, bolstered by government backing and new features.

CEO Rakesh Verma has urged the Centre to pre-install Mappls on smartphones under the PLI scheme to strengthen data privacy and national security. Used across government sectors, the app offers 3D junction views, toll and traffic alerts, offline access, and multi-language support.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw’s endorsement lifted MapmyIndia’s stock 2.26%, while Bengaluru’s integration of real-time traffic countdowns highlights its smart city reach. Mappls now stands as a symbol of India’s secure digital innovation drive.

Also Read: Google’s $10 Billion Bet Puts Visakhapatnam on Global Tech Map

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Beyond

Mumbai’s First Underground Metro Connects South–North in 45 Minutes

Mumbai has stepped into a new age of commuting this week as its first fully underground metro line, the Colaba–Bandra–SEEPZ corridor or Aqua Line, began full operations. Stretching 33.5 kilometres with 27 stations, the high-capacity line now carries passengers from Cuffe Parade in South Mumbai to Aarey in the North in just 45 minutes, transforming the way the city moves.

The final link, from Acharya Atre Chowk to Cuffe Parade, was flagged off on October 8 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the presence of Japan’s Ambassador to India, Maharashtra’s Governor and Chief Minister, and senior union ministers. The metro’s construction, years in the making, tested engineering limits by tunnelling through Mumbai’s dense, heritage-rich core without disturbing life above ground.

Funded in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which covered over half of the JPY 680,692 million project cost through concessional loans, the line reflects decades of Indo-Japan infrastructure collaboration. PM Modi saluted the engineers and workers for taking on one of India’s toughest projects, calling the metro “a living symbol of a developing Bharat.”

Connecting commercial powerhouses like Bandra-Kurla Complex, Dharavi, Mumbai International Airport, and SEEPZ, the Aqua Line is designed for inclusivity with women-only coaches, disabled-friendly access, and advanced safety systems. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis called the metro a pride of the state and a testament to Mumbai’s resilience.

Fast, safe, and deeply rooted beneath the city it serves, the Aqua Line stands as a reminder that Mumbai’s spirit knows no limits, even when the path forward lies deep below the surface.

Also Read: Indian Households’ Gold Holdings Surge to $3.8 Trillion Amid Record Prices

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Leaders

Akasa Air Faces Leadership Turbulence as Co-founder Khatri Resigns

Neelu Khatri, one of Akasa Air’s founding pillars and the architect of its global ambitions, has stepped away from the cockpit of its leadership. The Senior Vice President for International Affairs resigned this week, marking the fledgling airline’s first major exit since its take-off in 2022.

The timing is notable as just a few weeks ago, Akasa secured ₹1,200 crore in fresh funding from investors led by Premji Invest, fuelling plans to stand toe-to-toe with aviation heavyweights like IndiGo and Air India. The company has already spread its wings internationally, while launching flights to Doha and preparing for more destinations.

Khatri joined Akasa Air even before its inaugural flight, helping chart the carrier’s course into overseas markets. Her departure comes just as the airline is at full throttle, aggressively expanding its network both domestically and internationally. Insiders suggest her move was a personal career decision, while the airline maintains that its growth trajectory remains unaffected. Her responsibilities have been passed on to senior executives as part of a broader leadership realignment.

While the skies remain friendly for now, foreign expansion in the competitive Indian airline landscape is no soft landing. As one of the few shareholders in the parent entity, SNV Aviation, Khatri’s quiet exit has industry watchers speculating about the reasons behind it.

Also Read: Rolls-Royce Eyes India as Strategic Global Hub, CEO Confirms

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Corporate

P&G Pulls Plug on Pakistan Ops as Multinational Exit Deepens

Procter & Gamble (P&G), the American giant behind household brands such as Ariel, Pampers, and Head & Shoulders, is shutting down its direct operations in Pakistan and will shift to a third‑party distribution model. The company cited mounting challenges, from soaring costs to weakening consumer demand, as reasons for its decision.

The exit adds to a growing list of global corporates pulling back from Pakistan. Earlier this year, Shell bowed out of the fuel retail sector, while pharmaceutical major Pfizer scaled back its local presence, highlighting the difficult conditions multinationals face in the country.

Alongside this blow that will impact the economy, P&G has also sought to delist Gillette Pakistan, its shaving products subsidiary, from the Pakistan Stock Exchange. Although the Gillette brand will continue to be sold, it will no longer trade as a listed company if the delisting is approved.

“The change aligns with our strategy to simplify operations and prioritise resilient, sustainable markets. Through partnerships, we aim to continue reaching Pakistani consumers effectively,” a P&G spokesperson said.

For Pakistan, the decision carries weight far beyond P&G’s exit. Analysts warn that the exit of trusted global brands shakes consumer markets and supply chains while deeply eroding investor confidence, delivering a blow the economy cannot afford right now. With inflation surging, the rupee under pressure, and foreign reserves stretched thin, the steady withdrawal of blue-chip multinationals adds to the strain on an already fragile investment climate.

Also Read: Oil Bounces Back as Russia Sanction Threats Stir Market

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Corporate

Elon Musk Becomes The First Person Ever Worth $500 Billion

Tesla CEO Elon Musk, on Wednesday, became the first person ever to achieve a net worth of nearly $500 billion, according to Forbes Real Time Billionaires.

The record was propelled by Tesla stock gains and surging valuations of his startups, including SpaceX and xAI.

Musk is now half-way to becoming the first ever trillionaire.

In December, he became the first person ever worth $400 billion and is $150 billion ahead of Oracle founder Larry Ellison.

Tesla shares climbed by nearly 4% on Wednesday, adding an estimated $9.3 billion to Musk’s fortune. The EV maker’s stock price has nearly doubled since Musk announced in April that he would be stepping back from his role as head of President Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency.

With Tesla’s market cap back within 10% of the all-time high it hit in December, Musk’s 12% stake in the company is now worth $191 billion, Forbes said.

The Tesla board last month proposed a $1 trillion compensation plan for Musk that could give him additional stock worth up to $1 trillion if Tesla achieves record-breaking performance milestones like growing its market cap more than eightfold over the 10-year life of the award.

In July SpaceX was in talks to raise money and sell insider shares in a deal valuing the firm at around $400 billion, Bloomberg News reported.

In August 2020, Musk became the fifth person ever worth $100 billion. He became the world’s richest person for the first time in January 2021, with a nearly $190 billion net worth. Then, in September 2021, he was the third person ever worth $200 billion, after Amazon’s Jeff Bezos and Frenchman Bernard Arnault of luxury goods conglomerate LVMH. Musk hit $300 billion in November 2021 and $400 billion in December 2024.

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Corporate

Google Cloud Shrinks Headcount as AI Takes Center Stage

Google is making another round of job cuts, this time letting go of more than 100 employees in its Cloud division as part of an AI-focused restructuring. The layoffs have been targeted specifically for design and user experience research teams, with some U.S.-based groups viewing the headcount slashed by nearly half. Quantitative research and platform service experience units were among the hardest hit segments.

The affected staff were notified via internal emails and given until early December to find alternate roles within the company. For employees on temporary work visas, the situation is even more pressing, as they have just 60 days to secure a new job or face leaving the country.

What makes the cuts striking is that they come despite Google Cloud’s strong growth. The unit posted $13.6 billion in revenue in Q2 2025, a 32% rise year-on-year, with operating income hitting $2.8 billion. Still, Google is pressing ahead with a tighter, AI-first roadmap that includes voluntary exits, management shake-ups, and retooling workflows around machine learning tools. CEO Sundar Pichai has signaled that streamlining is key to scaling efficiently.

Earlier this year, Microsoft had trimmed 9,000 roles while Meta continues its multiyear downsizing in pockets. Across Big Tech, profitability no longer guarantees job security. This restructuring echoes a broader industry trend prevalent among renowned companies. Companies are recalibrating for what they see as the next big shift, embedding AI deeply into their businesses, even if it comes at the cost of letting go of manpower.

Also Read: Elon Musk Becomes the First Person Ever Worth $500 Billion

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Corporate

Reliance Introduces Budget-Friendly Packaged Water “Campa Sure”

Reliance Consumer Products is getting ready to enter India’s bottled water market with a fresh, value-forward brand called Campa Sure. The idea is to support the local dealers. Instead of buying out bottling companies, Reliance plans to team up with regional partners to ramp up production and bring the brand closer to consumers across Northern India.

Campa Sure is just a few weeks away from the launch. It will be offered at pocket-friendly prices that make safe, clean drinking water more accessible. The company will sell 250 ml bottles at ₹5, 1-litre bottles at ₹15, and 2-litre bottles at ₹25, which is about 20 to 30% cheaper than popular brands like Bisleri and Aquafina.

This is a thoughtful strategy of Reliance’s bigger plan in order to shake up everyday consumer categories with smart partnerships and affordable products. The bottled water market in India has a huge market, valued at around ₹30,000 crore, but it’s also fragmented, with many small players serving local markets.

By working with regional bottlers rather than acquiring them, Reliance hopes to keep up quality standards and also curb the common issue of fake bottled water thriving in the market.

With Campa Sure, Reliance wants to offer consumers a trustworthy and budget-friendly option, bringing more choice and competition to a vital segment that touches millions of lives every day.

Also Read: Google’s Smart Homes Get Smarter with Gemini AI

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Leaders

Hurun 2025: Ambani Leads, Adani Follows, King Khan Rises

India’s rich list just got a fresh twist, and there is one popular and familiar name holding the crown with glory.  Mukesh Ambani is back on top. In the M3M Hurun India Rich List 2025, the Reliance boss reclaimed his crown with a staggering family fortune of ₹9.55 lakh crore, nudging past Gautam Adani at ₹8.15 lakh crore.

But this year’s narrative goes beyond boardrooms and balance sheets.
Bollywood’s own Shah Rukh Khan, hailed as King of Romance, who recently won the National Film Award for Best Actor (Jawan), is now officially a billionaire, with wealth pegged at ₹12,490 crore. From blockbuster films to Red Chillies Entertainment, endorsements, and sharp investments, SRK’s financial star power has caught up with his onscreen aura.

Among the business fraternity, Roshni Nadar Malhotra remains India’s richest woman, standing tall with a net worth of ₹2.84 lakh crore.  Aravind Srinivas, a new-age 31-year-old co-founder of AI startup Perplexity, is now India’s youngest billionaire with ₹21,900 crore to his name. Kaivalya Vohra, 22-year-old co-founder of Zepto, has become the youngest individual to feature on the list, with a net worth of ₹4,480 crore.

The 2025 edition claims to have broken many records already, with 1,000 individuals, 358 dollar billionaires, and a combined wealth pool of ₹167 lakh crore, nearly half of India’s GDP.  Overall, Mumbai leads as the billionaire capital (451), followed by Delhi (223) and Bengaluru (116). Interestingly,  66% of these fortunes are all self-made, and these names are quite an inspiration.

As the list unfolds, it narrates a bigger story where India’s wealth is no longer confined to old industrial dynasties. Tech innovators and cinema icons are reshaping the landscape. In today’s India, billionaire status is less about inheritance and more about creation.

Also Read: Gold and Silver Soar as US Shutdown Sparks Safe-Haven Demand

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Technology

‘Healthy Mode’ Now Live on Zomato in Gurugram

Zomato founder Deepinder Goyal has announced the launch of a new feature called “Healthy Mode”, aimed at helping users make more informed and nutritious food choices. Acknowledging that while Zomato revolutionized food ordering, it fell short in promoting healthy eating, Goyal described this feature as a corrective step.

Healthy Mode, currently available in Gurugram, uses AI-driven analysis and restaurant data to assign a “Healthy Score” to dishes, ranging from Low to Super. The score evaluates meals based on protein, complex carbs, fiber, micronutrients, and calorie content. This allows users to filter and compare dishes not just by calories, but by overall nutritional value.

“This isn’t your basic healthy filter,” Goyal said. “We’ve set the bar high, even professional athletes can rely on it to find meals that meet their standards. This is personal for me. Zomato made indulgence easy, but not healthy eating. Healthy Mode is our first serious effort to change that.”

The platform’s new feature also aims to increase transparency, showing users why a dish is considered healthy. By offering detailed nutritional insights, it empowers users to choose meals that better align with their dietary needs.

Goyal also addressed common perceptions about food delivery leading to poor dietary habits. He noted that regular users in big cities often opt for simpler, home-style meals, while the majority of less frequent users indulge occasionally. The goal, he emphasized, is to ensure healthy options are clearly visible, accessible, and easy to choose.

Zomato plans to roll out Healthy Mode to more cities in the coming weeks and is inviting users to provide feedback to improve the feature further.

Categories
Beyond

72,000 EV Charging Stations to Spring Up under PM E-DRIVE Scheme

India is rapidly embracing clean mobility as part of its evolving automobile landscape. In a significant step forward, the central government has issued detailed guidelines for setting up over 72,000 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations under the PM E-DRIVE scheme. The initiative aims to close infrastructure gaps, accelerate EV adoption, and establish a nationwide charging network across cities, highways, and major transport hubs.

Backed by ₹2,000 crore, the charging infrastructure rollout is a key component of the ₹10,900 crore PM E-DRIVE programme, focused on promoting sustainable transport solutions.

The guidelines introduce a location-based subsidy model to incentivize both public and private sector participation:

  • 100% subsidy for government premises (offices, hospitals, educational institutions), provided public access is free.
  • 80% subsidy on infrastructure and 70% on charging equipment for transport hubs and government-controlled sites like railway stations, airports, bus depots, and fuel outlets.
  • 80% infrastructure subsidy for commercial areas, highways, and city streets.
  • Battery swapping and charging stations also qualify for 80% infrastructure support. 

The scheme will be implemented by the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI), with Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) serving as the Project Implementation Agency (PIA). States and UTs will nominate nodal agencies to identify high-priority locations and submit proposals through a centralized online portal.

Charging stations will be strategically placed in urban centres, smart cities, metro-connected towns, and along high-density transport corridors. Subsidies will be released in two tranches, tied to performance and compliance.

This initiative aims to create a strong, inclusive EV ecosystem and make clean mobility more accessible across India.

Also Read: FADA President: Hatchbacks Here to Stay Despite Rising SUV Dominance