30, Jan 2026
Punjab’s Rajya Sabha MP Rajinder Gupta Advocates Employment Rights for Senior Citizens
New Delhi, Jan 30: Rajya Sabha MP Rajinder Gupta today raised a critical national concern during Zero Hour in the Upper House, highlighting the need for comprehensive employment rights for senior citizens in India.
Addressing the Chair, Gupta emphasized that India is undergoing a rapid demographic transition, with the population aged 60 years and above exceeding 140 million—a figure projected to reach nearly 350 million by 2036. With life expectancy approaching 70 years, the nation possesses a vast pool of healthy, skilled, and experienced senior citizens capable of contributing productively beyond conventional retirement age.
Gupta expressed concern over the absence of a comprehensive legal framework to address age-based discrimination in employment or to formally recognize the right to work post-retirement based on ability rather than age. While Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution guarantee equality and equal opportunity, age-based exclusion remains prevalent, particularly in the private sector and across formal and informal employment, with limited legal protections or recognition.
Highlighting global practices, Gupta noted that developed nations such as the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, Australia, Canada, and Japan have implemented progressive legislation to promote active ageing. In Japan, where nearly 29% of the population is above 65 years, age-based employment discrimination has been removed, enabling continued workforce participation of older citizens.
Urging timely policy intervention, Gupta appealed to the Government to introduce a comprehensive legal framework to:
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Prevent age-based discrimination in employment
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Enable the right to work beyond retirement for willing and capable senior citizens
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Create flexible, dignified, and safeguarded employment opportunities
He emphasized that such reforms would not only uphold constitutional values but also unlock the economic, social, and intellectual potential of India’s ageing population.
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- By Neel Achary
30, Jan 2026
NMIMS Opens 2026–27 UG Admissions Across Multiple Streams Category: Education
SVKM’s NMIMS opens undergraduate registrations for 2026–27 admissions across Commerce, Engineering, Law, Design, and Mathematics
As graduates build successful careers in consulting, banking, analytics, law, technology, design, and data science, SVKM’s Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS), Deemed-to-be University, has opened registrations for undergraduate admissions for the academic year 2026–27. Registrations for all UG programs have begun from 28th January 2026 across its multiple campuses: Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Shirpur, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Indore and Chandigarh. The undergraduate programs span Engineering, Technology Management, Pharmacy, Commerce, Economics, Liberal Arts, Branding & Advertising, International Studies, Management, Law, Design, and Mathematical Sciences. Exam dates vary by program and are available on the official NMIMS website.
For students aspiring to careers in commerce, management, economics, humanities, and international studies, admissions are offered through the NMIMS Programme Aptitude Test (NPAT). It opens doors to the School of Commerce, School of Economics, School of Liberal Arts, School of Branding & Advertising, Centre for International Studies, and the Pravin Dalal School of Entrepreneurship & Management. The programs offered include BBA, B.Com (Minor in Business Analytics), B.Sc (Finance), BBA (FinTech), Integrated BBA–MBA, B.Sc (Economics), BA Liberal Arts, BBA Branding & Advertising, BBA International Business, BBA Management & Marketing, and BBA (Hons.) Finance. Known for interdisciplinary teaching, global exposure, and industry-aligned curriculum, NPAT is counted among India’s most desirable UG entrance pathways. Graduates secured jobs in leading companies with top packages of ₹24.30 LPA for BBA and ₹22.55 LPA for B.Com and B.Sc Finance.
Engineering, technology management, and pharmacy programmes are offered through the NMIMS Common Entrance Test (NCET). It is a gateway to the School of Technology Management & Engineering and the School of Pharmacy & Technology Management across NMIMS campuses, except Bengaluru and Ahmedabad. The programs at these schools include B.Tech, the integrated five-year MBA Tech (B.Tech + MBA), and Pharma Tech (B.Pharm + MBA). From ABET-accredited engineering degrees to NIRF-ranked multidisciplinary technology-management pathways, NCET prepares students with strong technical and leadership skills. Graduates have benefitted with more than 500 recruiters visiting the campus for placements, with the highest package reaching ₹1.22 crore.
Law aspirants can seek admission through the NMIMS Law Aptitude Test (NLAT). It gives aspirants entry to the School of Law and opens admission to B.A., LL.B. (Hons.) and B.B.A., LL.B. (Hons.). These courses integrate legal education with humanities and management, equipping students to tackle the changing legal landscape. Students gain practical exposure through moot courts, internships, legal writing, and case studies, building foundations in subjects like Political Science, Economics, Sociology, History, and core legal principles including Constitutional, Criminal, and Contract Law. Graduates from SVKM’s NMIMS School of Law have secured placements with packages up to ₹19 LPA.
Design education at NMIMS is offered through the NMIMS Design Aptitude Test (NDAT). It provides access to the School of Design for its unique four-year AICTE-approved B.Des. in Humanising Technology degree program, which aims to make designing technology more humane, accessible and purposeful. The program offers specialisations into Virtual Reality (VR), Internet of Things (IoT), and Cognitive-science-based product design. Graduates have secured jobs across varied roles in EdTech, Gaming, Digital Media, IT Services, and Design Consulting with the highest package of ₹26.4 LPA.
For students inclined towards mathematics, analytics, and data-driven careers, the NMIMS Mathematical Sciences Test (MST) enables entry to the Nilkamal School of Mathematics, Applied Statistics & Analytics. The School offers B.Sc programs in Data Science, Applied Statistics & Analytics, and Applied Mathematical Computing. Graduates have secured placements in leading companies with the top package being ₹22 LPA.
30, Jan 2026
Budget 2026 Is a Golden Opportunity for Education Reform, Says Nirvaan Birla
As India heads into Union Budget 2026, the education sector is looking for deeper implementation rather than sweeping policy changes. With clear intent around digital learning, AI readiness and skills-embedded education, the ecosystem is well placed to execute at scale. The focus now must be on taking experiential and AI-enabled learning beyond metros and ensuring first-generation learners are not left behind.
Sharing his pre-budget perspective, Nirvaan Birla, Managing Director of Birla Open Minds Education Ltd., says,
“The upcoming budget is a golden opportunity to fuel India’s journey toward becoming a global talent powerhouse. By deepening the focus on teacher empowerment, we can turn the vision of the National Education Policy into a reality. The future belongs to a nation that invests in its learners today, ensuring every student has the tools to thrive in a digital-first world. As we head into #Budget2026, there’s a lot to feel positive about. The intent around digital learning, AI readiness, skills-embedded education and innovation is clear there, and with over 2 lakh recognised startups, the capacity to execute also exists.”
Budget 2026, he notes, presents an opportunity to strengthen implementation, empower educators and build a future-ready talent ecosystem.
30, Jan 2026
Coromandel International Delivers Resilient Q3 FY26 Results
Coromandel International Limited (BSE: 506395, NSE: COROMANDEL), a leading provider of agri-solutions in India, today announced its financial results for the quarter and nine months ended 31 December 2025. The Company continues to strengthen its leadership across fertilizers, crop protection, bio-products, specialty nutrients, organic fertilizers, and agri-retail, while advancing initiatives in agri-drone spraying and digital solutions that drive sustainability and farm productivity.
Q3 Standalone Performance:
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Total Income: Up 21% YoY
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EBITDA: Up 5% YoY
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PAT: Up 1% YoY
YTD Standalone Performance:
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Total Income: Up 30% YoY
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EBITDA: Up 20% YoY
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PAT: Up 19% YoY
Consolidated Results:
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Q3 Total Income: Increased from previous year
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Q3 PAT: Slightly lower than previous year
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YTD Total Income: Up significantly from previous year
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YTD PAT: Up from previous year
The Board has approved an interim dividend, reflecting a substantial return on equity.
Commenting on the results, Mr. S. Sankarasubramanian, MD & CEO, Coromandel International, said:
“Coromandel delivered a resilient performance this quarter despite a challenging business environment marked by a late monsoon, rising raw material costs, and currency depreciation. Our fertiliser plants operated at full capacity, delivering record quarterly production of NPKs. We maintained market leadership in the phosphatic fertiliser segment, achieving significant volume growth. Our Crop Protection business benefited from strong domestic and export demand, and our Retail network continued to expand with over 250 new stores this year.”
Nutrient and Allied Business:
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Q3 Revenue: Higher than previous year
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Q3 PBIT: Stable compared to previous year
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YTD Revenue: Up YoY
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YTD PBIT: Up YoY
Key projects include the Sulphuric acid and Phosphoric acid plants, on track for commissioning in Q4 FY26, and the fertiliser capacity expansion at Kakinada, slated for Q4 FY27. The Company also established a joint venture, Stuccoedge India Pvt Ltd, for Phospho-Gypsum products and initiated a water-soluble fertiliser plant at Vizag.
Crop Protection Business:
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Q3 Revenue: Up YoY
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Q3 PBIT: Up YoY
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YTD Revenue: Up YoY
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YTD PBIT: Up YoY
The Company has expanded the capacity of its key technical molecules and continues additional capacity augmentation. Its subsidiary, NACL Industries Limited, successfully completed a Rights Issue during the quarter.
30, Jan 2026
NTT DATA Signs Strategic Collaboration Agreement with AWS to Accelerate Enterprise Cloud and Agentic AI Adoption
London, Jan 30: NTT DATA, a global leader in AI, digital business, and technology services, today announced a multi-year Strategic Collaboration Agreement (SCA) with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to help enterprises modernize legacy systems, adopt agentic AI responsibly, and scale innovation across industries.
The collaboration combines NTT DATA’s expertise in cloud transformation, cloud-native modernization, and Agentic AI with AWS’s scale and innovation capabilities, delivering tailored enterprise solutions that modernize mission-critical workloads, build secure cloud foundations, and drive measurable business outcomes.
Key Focus Areas of the Collaboration:
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AI-driven Large-scale Cloud Transformation: Accelerating migration and modernization of on-premises workloads to AWS, leveraging generative and agentic AI, automation, and data platforms to unlock new business models and intelligent operations.
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Industry Cloud Solutions on AWS: Delivering repeatable, industry-specific solutions across financial services, healthcare, life sciences, public sector, manufacturing, retail, and energy, leveraging NTT DATA’s Industry Cloud with 500+ extensible business components and AI agents.
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AI and Data Innovation for Managed Services and Client Experiences: Modernizing contact center solutions on Amazon Connect and driving AI-enabled customer experience (CX) solutions at scale.
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Digital Sovereignty and Regulated Cloud Solutions: Supporting European governments and enterprises through the AWS European Sovereign Cloud, delivering sovereign-by-design solutions that meet stringent data residency and compliance requirements.
NTT DATA has formed a dedicated AWS Business Group, aligned with AWS sales and delivery teams, comprising 11,000 AWS-certified experts, with plans to certify nearly 10,000 more over the next three years.
Abhijit Dubey, President and CEO, NTT DATA, Inc., said:
“Cloud and AI are central to enterprise transformation. Through our collaboration with AWS, we are helping clients move beyond experimentation to scale AI responsibly, delivering secure, industry-specific solutions that create tangible business value worldwide.”
Greg Pearson, VP AWS Global Sales, added:
“This collaboration enables enterprises to unlock the potential of cloud and AI, modernize operations, accelerate innovation, and meet evolving regulatory requirements, including through the AWS European Sovereign Cloud.”
Proven Success Example:
Honda Trading Asia successfully migrated to AWS with NTT DATA’s support, modernizing infrastructure and establishing a foundation for AI innovation. Somya Mayuraskoon, Director, Honda Trading Asia Co., Ltd., said:
“NTT DATA’s expertise ensured a smooth migration to AWS, unlocking new growth possibilities and AI innovation opportunities.”
Driving AI Innovation Across Industries:
NTT DATA will develop industry-specific, AI-driven cloud solutions across regulated and high-growth sectors, including:
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Financial Services: Modernizing core banking and compliance workloads.
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Healthcare & Life Sciences: Building secure AI-enabled data platforms for insights and research acceleration.
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Public Sector: Delivering compliant private cloud solutions for secure citizen services.
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Manufacturing & Automotive: Modernizing operations using generative and agentic AI for efficiency gains.
Innovation environments, including sandboxes and dedicated labs, will allow NTT DATA and AWS teams to develop, test, and scale solutions for enterprise adoption. This initiative also expands NTT DATA’s Smart AI Agent™ Ecosystem, enabling enterprises to deploy and manage responsible, business-driven AI at scale.
30, Jan 2026
Atlanta Electricals Secures Five New Orders, Boosting Order Book to Record Levels
New Delhi, Jan 30: Atlanta Electricals Limited (NSE, BSE: ATLANTAELE), a leading manufacturer of power transformers, has won five new orders worth ₹288 crore from Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Ltd (KPTCL) and an Independent Power Producer (IPP) executing a project for NTPC. These orders are scheduled for execution over the next 12 months, taking the company’s order book to ₹2,787 crore.
The two orders from KPTCL, totaling ₹146 crore, include the supply of 13 transformers, comprising six 100 MVA, 220/110 kV power transformers and seven 150 MVA, 220/66 kV power transformers, along with 11 Nitrogen Injection Fire Protection Systems (NIFPS).
The three orders from the IPP, worth ₹142 crore, involve supplying ten 125 MVA, 220 kV transformers and five 100 MVA, 220/33 kV transformers for projects across Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh.
Mr. Niral Patel, Chairman and Managing Director, Atlanta Electricals Limited, said:
“These order wins reflect the robust momentum in India’s power sector, where both generation and transmission & distribution segments are witnessing strong growth. This upcycle is translating into sustained transformer demand and a healthy order pipeline. The NTPC order adds an optimal balance between utility and private sector projects.”
He added,
“We remain committed to strengthening the nation’s power infrastructure through advanced transformer solutions, while enhancing capacity utilisation across our expanded manufacturing base.”
Atlanta Electricals, listed on NSE and BSE in September 2025, recently reported consolidated financial results for Q3 FY26, recording strong revenue and EBITDA growth, along with a healthy PAT performance. With over 30 years of industry experience and a diversified portfolio spanning power, auto, and inverter-duty transformers, Atlanta Electricals continues to support India’s grid modernisation and capacity expansion through reliable and energy-efficient transformer solutions.
30, Jan 2026
Indrani Dutt Unveiled “Punarjanmo” at the 49th International Kolkata Book Fair
Kolkata, Jan 30: Renowned poet, writer, and lyricist Indrani Dutt launched her book “Punarjanma” , a select collection of her upcoming poems, at the 49th International Kolkata Book Fair, marking a moment of deep literary reflection and renewal. The launch was graced by Shree Tridib Kumar Chatterjee, Author, Editor, General Secretary of the Publishers & Booksellers Guild & Shree Saikat Mukhopadhyay, Author along with Indrani Dutt, Renowned poet, writer, and lyricist , who came together to celebrate poetry as a powerful voice of conscience, resistance, and rebirth.
“Punarjanmo” which translates to Rebirth, resonated deeply with readers through its evocative themes of struggle, inner strength, and the triumph of hope over despair. Rooted in vivid imagery and emotional depth, the poems reflected a shared memory of pain, protest, and steadfast resolve, ultimately arriving at the promise of light after darkness. The verses flowed from anguish and helplessness to courage, renewal, and a deep rooted belief in justice and freedom.
Speaking on the occasion, Indrani Dutt said,
“Punarjanma is not just a collection of poems; it is a reflection of our collective wounds and our collective courage. It speaks of despair, but more importantly, it speaks of hope, of rising afresh with faith, truth, and justice. This book is my humble attempt to capture that eternal cycle of pain, resistance, and rebirth that defines humanity.”
30, Jan 2026
DPS Hinjawadi Celebrates Republic Day with ‘Khushi Utsav’ Promoting Empathy and Inclusion
DPS Hinjawadi Marks Republic Day with ‘Khushi Utsav’, Celebrating Empathy, Inclusion, and Shared Citizenship
Pune, Jan 30: Delhi Public School (DPS), Hinjawadi, celebrated Republic Day 2026 with its signature Khushi Utsav and Khushi Bazaar, an initiative designed to reinforce the constitutional values of empathy, inclusivity, and collective responsibility.
As part of the celebrations, the school welcomed 50 families from a nearby ZP school in Nande village, including students and their family members, as special guests. Thoughtfully prepared utility and learning kits were distributed with dignity, promoting equality, respect, and compassion.
Students actively participated in the festivities, embodying the spirit of service and celebration. Parent-led stalls, including food, ice-cream, and simple game counters, added warmth and vibrancy, while adventure and activity zones created an engaging experience for visiting children and families.
A highlight of the event was the flag unfurling ceremony, jointly conducted by the youngest child from the visiting ZP school and the Principal of DPS Hinjawadi, symbolising unity, equality, and collective national pride.
Addressing the gathering, Principal Dr. Jaya Parekh shared the message: “Anekta mein ekta hai, aur ekta mein bal hai”—unity in diversity and strength in unity. She emphasised that all children are equal and highlighted the joy of sharing as a powerful learning experience.
The initiative received strong appreciation from the ZP school’s principal, teachers, and students, who lauded the school’s culture, staff commitment, and student involvement. Conceived as the first step in a long-term vision, Khushi Utsav and Khushi Bazaar are planned to become an annual Republic Day tradition, reinforcing DPS Hinjawadi’s belief in nurturing empathy, responsibility, and citizenship alongside academic excellence.
30, Jan 2026
Paytm Delivers Third Straight Profitable Quarter as PAT Rises; Revenue Grows in Q3 FY2
New Delhi, Jan 30, 2026: Paytm (One 97 Communications Limited), India’s leading full-stack merchant payments and financial services platform, today announced its financial results for the quarter ending December 2025 (Q3 FY26), reporting its third consecutive profitable quarter. The performance was driven by strong monetisation across payments and financial services, higher payments GMV, and increased merchant subscriptions.
For the quarter, Paytm posted a profit after tax (PAT) of ₹225 crore, reflecting strong year-on-year growth. EBITDA rose to ₹156 crore with a margin of 7%, reflecting revenue growth and operating leverage. Contribution profit stood at ₹1,249 crore, with a contribution margin of 57%, improving from the previous year.
Payments and UPI Growth:
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Paytm UPI consumer GMV grew 35% over the past nine months, more than double the industry growth rate of 16%, marking the third consecutive quarter of market share gains.
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Payments services revenue (including other operating revenue) grew 21% YoY, while net payment revenue increased 25% YoY, supported by improved payment processing margins and a growth in merchant subscriptions to 1.44 crore.
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Payments GMV rose 24% YoY.
Financial Services Distribution:
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Revenue from distribution of financial services grew 34% YoY, driven by growth in merchant loans and wealth product distribution.
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The growth occurred despite lower volumes under the Default Loss Guarantee (DLG) program.
Operational Efficiency and Cash Position:
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Indirect expenses declined 8% YoY due to lower employee costs (including ESOPs) and reduced Provisions for Doubtful Debt (PDD).
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Cash balance remains strong, providing flexibility for business expansion.
Regulatory Milestones:
During the quarter, Paytm’s offline merchant business was transferred to Payments Services Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary, in line with regulatory guidelines. Payments Services Limited received RBI approval to operate as an Online Payment Aggregator, while PPSL was authorised to operate as a Payment Aggregator for offline and cross-border payments.
Strategic Highlights:
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Sustained profitability and growth driven by industry-leading monetisation across payments and financial services.
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Expanded merchant payment leadership and higher consumer UPI market share leveraging AI capabilities.
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Revenue growth remained resilient despite regulatory changes impacting rent payments via credit cards and the Real Money Gaming Act, reflecting proactive compliance measures.
Commenting on the results, Paytm said
“Q3 FY26 marks our third consecutive profitable quarter, reflecting continued execution excellence, strong monetisation, and growing market leadership in payments and financial services. Our focus on AI-driven insights, operational efficiency, and regulatory compliance positions us well for sustainable growth in the coming quarters,” the company stated.
30, Jan 2026
Palo Alto Networks Completes Chronosphere Acquisition, Unifying Observability and Security for the AI Era
Mumbai, India, Jan 30: As enterprises increasingly rely on AI to run digital operations, protect assets, and drive growth, success depends on one critical factor: trusted, high-quality, real-time data. Palo Alto Networks (NASDAQ: PANW), the global cybersecurity leader, today announced it has completed its acquisition of Chronosphere, addressing a core challenge of the AI era: the inability to see and secure the massive data volumes running modern businesses.
Chronosphere, a Leader in the 2025 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Observability Platforms was purpose-built to handle this scale. While legacy tools break down in cloud-native environments, Chronosphere gives customers deep visibility across their entire digital estate. With this acquisition, Palo Alto Networks is redefining how organizations run at the speed of AI—by enabling customers to gain deep, real-time visibility into their applications, infrastructure, and AI systems — while maintaining strict control over data cost and value.
The planned integration of Palo Alto Networks Cortex AgentiX™ with Chronosphere’s cloud-native observability platform will allow customers to apply AI agents that can now find and fix security and IT issues automatically—before they impact the customer or the bottom line. AI security without deep observability is blind; this acquisition delivers the essential context across models, prompts, users, and performance to move from manual guessing to autonomous remediation.
Nikesh Arora, Chairman and CEO, Palo Alto Networks:
“Enterprises today are looking for fewer vendors, deeper partnerships, and platforms they can rely on for mission-critical security and operations. Chronosphere accelerates our vision to be the indispensable platform for securing and operating the cloud and AI. We believe that great security starts with deep visibility into all your data, and Chronosphere provides that foundation for our customers.”
Martin Mao, Co-founder and CEO, Chronosphere is joining Palo Alto Networks as SVP, GM Observability and comments:
“Chronosphere was built to help the world’s most complex digital organizations operate at scale with confidence. Joining Palo Alto Networks allows us to bring AI-era observability to a global audience. Together, we’re delivering a new standard — where observability, security, and AI come together to give organizations control over their most valuable asset: data.”
The Chronosphere Telemetry Pipeline remains available as a standalone solution, enabling organizations to eliminate the ‘data tax’ associated with modern security operations. By acting as an intelligent control layer, the pipeline filters low-value noise to reduce data volumes by 30% or more while requiring 20x less infrastructure than legacy alternatives. This is key to Palo Alto Networks Cortex XSIAM® strategy, ensuring customers can scale their security posture—not their spending—as they transition to autonomous, AI-driven operations.
