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26, Jun 2025
Smart Tech Meets Smart Savings: Amazon Bazaar’s Paisa Vasool Days Are Live

This Paisa Vasool Days, Amazon Bazaar is your one-stop shop for must-have tech upgrades at unmissable prices. Whether you’re tuning into your favorite playlists with trendy headphones and neckbands, accessorizing your phone with chargers, holders, and selfie tools, or safeguarding your device with sleek screen guards and durable covers, Bazaar has you covered. You’ll also find clever gadgets for your desk, on-the-go essentials for your commute, and content-creation tools to capture every moment. With prices starting at just INR 99, up to INR 300 cashback on every order, free delivery, 5-day hassle-free returns, and cash on delivery, it’s never been easier to upgrade your setup.

Here are the top tech picks shoppers across India are adding to cart this Paisa Vasool Days:

Budget-friendly Gadgets

Earphones:
These ultra-lightweight wired earphones are the perfect budget-friendly pick for everyday use. Designed with a universal 3.5mm jack, they’re compatible with most smartphones and laptops, making them ideal for everything from calls to casual music sessions. The built-in mic ensures clear conversations, while the tangle-free cable adds to convenience. A simple, no-fuss essential that delivers reliable performance without stretching your wallet.

Neckbands:
Looking for a sleek, wireless audio upgrade without overspending? These budget-friendly Bluetooth neckband earphones offer a secure fit, punchy sound, and long battery life, perfect for workouts, commutes, or daily calls. The lightweight design rests comfortably around your neck, while the magnetic earbuds keep things tangle-free. A smart, value-packed pick for on-the-go listeners.

Earbuds:
These ultra-affordable wireless earbuds are perfect for casual listeners who want the freedom of Bluetooth without breaking the bank. Compact and lightweight, they’re easy to carry and ideal for everything from quick calls to on-the-go playlists. With simple touch controls and a pocket-sized charging case, they’re a value pick for daily convenience.

Wireless Headphones:
These wireless over-ear headphones are a solid pick for everyday entertainment and calls, without stretching your budget. With Bluetooth connectivity, built-in mic, and easy-touch controls, they offer hands-free convenience and decent sound quality for music, movies, or work calls. Plus, the cushioned ear cups and adjustable fit make long listening sessions more comfortable.

Products to hold onto

Mobile Charger Stand:
Tired of messy charging corners? This wall-mounted mobile stand is a simple yet clever fix. Designed to hold your phone securely while it charges, it keeps cables off the floor and your space clutter-free. Whether you’re charging overnight or watching videos hands-free, this compact essential adds both function and convenience to your daily routine.

Mobile Holders:
Get the perfect angle every time with this sleek and sturdy mobile mount. Designed for easy adjustability and strong grip, it’s ideal for video calls, hands-free navigation, and content creation. Whether on your desk or in your car, this no-fuss essential helps keep your phone secure and your setup smart.

Selfie Stick with Tripod:

Upgrade your content game with this all-in-one selfie stick and tripod combo. Lightweight yet durable, it features a built-in Bluetooth remote for seamless hands-free shooting. Whether you’re capturing travel moments, filming tutorials, or just taking better selfies, this versatile gadget ensures stable, high-quality shots every time.

Keep your gadgets protected

Spiral Cables:
Say goodbye to tangled wires with these vibrant spiral cable protectors. Designed to guard your charging cables from wear and tear, they’re not just practical, they add a fun pop of color to your everyday tech setup. Easy to wrap and universally compatible, they’re a simple, budget-friendly fix to extend your cable life in style.

Phone Covers:
Protect your phone without hiding its style. This transparent back cover offers everyday durability with a slim, snug fit that shields your device from scratches, drops, and dust. Its flexible build ensures easy installation, while the crystal-clear design keeps your phone’s original look front and center.

Screen Protectors:
Keep your smartwatch safe without compromising on its sleek look. This ultra-clear protective case offers full edge-to-edge coverage, shielding your watch from everyday bumps, scratches, and dust. Designed for a snug fit, it ensures easy access to all controls while maintaining the original touch experience and display clarity.

Amazon Bazaar is Amazon India’s dedicated value-based destination — built for budget-conscious shoppers looking for everyday essentials at ultra-affordable prices. From fashion and home décor to kitchen tools and wireless accessories, Bazaar offers a wide, curated selection where great deals meet a simplified, shopping experience. With features like “Buy More, Save More” and prices that start incredibly low, Bazaar delivers great deals with convenience and reliability.

Explore Amazon Bazaar and upgrade your tech game

Disclaimer: The product details, description, features, deals, pricing and other claims are as provided by the sellers and banking/ finance partners. Amazon is not involved in pricing or describing the products or claims with regard thereto and is not responsible for accuracy of product information provided by the sellers. The deals and discounts are provided by sellers and/or brands. ‘Amazon.in is an online marketplace and the word store refers to a storefront with selection offered by sellers.’

26, Jun 2025
Panasonic Industry’s Automation solutions optimize manufacturing shopfloor with productivity, safety, and profitability

New Delhi, June 26th, 2025: Panasonic Industry division – one of the business divisions of Panasonic Life Solutions India (PLSIND), a leading diversified technology company showcased its latest automation innovations at the India Warehousing Show 2025. Panasonic Industry continues to deliver advanced industrial components and electronic devices to businesses in India. These include industrial automation devices, relays, connectors, sensors, wireless connectivity, semiconductors, and other passive components. Panasonic’s Industrial Automation solution within the Industrial division entails a diverse product portfolio and over 40 years of design expertise to deliver integrated solutions for various automation sectors such as Automotive, Pharmaceutical, Packaging, Warehousing, Electronics Manufacturing and Textiles, among others. It is helping Indian OEMs drive productivity, reliability, and real-time control across industrial and logistics operations.

Tadashi Chiba, MD & CEO of Panasonic Life Solutions India was also present at the India Warehousing Show 2025 along with the Panasonic Industry Division team.

Across worldwide industrial automation business has experienced rapid growth, and the adoption of automation techniques is likely to expand further. In India, too, industries and manufacturers are undergoing significant technological developments, leveraging automation solutions to enhance quality, and add flexibility to the manufacturing process while delivering improved productivity, safety, and profitability. Focusing on these factors, Panasonic INDD’s Industrial Automation solution installs technically advanced products and solutions on the shopfloors of Indian businesses to match the demand and aspirations of their consumers. Panasonic’s Industrial Automation solution portfolio comprises (but not limited to) the following solutions:

  • Factory automation solutions: – the automaton division recently introduced a Network Function Integrated Type HL-G2 SERIES – Laser Sensor, Motion Controller GM1, and Minas A7 servo systems. These components together form a robust automation solution designed to meet the evolved needs of modern industrial automation leading to better operation and control of equipment, eliminate errors and improve overall safety, efficiency, and productivity. To know more: https://www.panasonic.com/in/corporate/news/articles/panasonic-industrial-devices-division-indd-unveils-cutting-edge-factory-automation-solution-for-indian-oems.html
  • AC Servos & Motors: Panasonic offers highly dynamic servo drives with state-of-the-art technology, with a wide power range (50W – 22KW) combined with a lightweight and compact design. The innovative feature in the motors helps in reducing the resonance frequencies and vibrations, which results in high precision and stable machine operation.

Link- Introduction of PLC FP-XH & Servo Motor MINAS A6N – Panasonic – YouTube

  • Industrial Sensors: The company offers a wide variety of Factory Automation Sensors comprising Photoelectric, Fiber, Inductive Proximity, Measurement, Obstacle detection, Area Sensors and more.

Link- Biomedical / Laboratory automation – Sensor & Ionizer for Liquid Handling Solution – YouTube

  • Laser Markers: Panasonic Laser Marking Systems can manage any form of marking application and are suited for a variety of materials requiring extreme precision and endurance. (Panasonic Laser Marking system offers Fiber and CO2 type laser marking in 2D and 3D orientation. Panasonic was first company to introduce Fiber laser marker in Industry in 1999.)
  • Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs): Consists of a comprehensive array of modular PLC products that range from compact units with basic functionality to high-performance full function systems capable of digital / analog control, network communication, Web Server, IIoT 4.0 features and positioning control.
  • Human Machine Interface (HMI): Panasonic’s HMI panels are designed to enhance operability and preloaded Web Server, IIoT 4.0 features to facilitate the process of designing custom interfaces, eventually reducing the time and effort necessary to get the operator panels up and running.
  • Machine Safety: Panasonic provides Type-4 and Type-2 Sensing devices that meet international safety regulations confirming to PLe SIL3, PLc SIL1. The company offers the optimum device to solve any safety application, with Safety Light Curtains.

Link- Features of Compact & Robust Safety Light Curtain SF4D – Panasonic – YouTube

  • Conductor Bars: Panasonic Conductor Bars offer a versatile and comprehensive range of power distribution solutions designed to meet the needs of diverse industries. With a strong market presence in Japan and China and a growing customer base across Asia and North America, Panasonic Conductor Bars have earned the trust of thousands. These Conductor Bars are now available across Indian market, continuing our commitment to quality and excellence.
26, Jun 2025
Suniel Shetty, KL Rahul & Team Launch EV Venture Exelmoto

Mumbai, India: The electric mobility revolution in India just got aspirational—and a whole lot faster, cleaner, and cooler. Founded by designer and Automative Entrepreneur, Akshai Varde, Exelmoto is backed by a strategic all-star founding team comprising actor-entrepreneur-mentor Suniel Shetty, cricket sensation KL Rahul, and youth icon Ahan Shetty—bringing together a rare mix of credibility, cool, and cross-generational influence.

Exelmoto today announced the start of its pre-order window from June 28 for a limited batch of 999 Ebikes, each available for booking at a token amount of Rs 499 on https://www.exelmoto.com .

These are not traditional electric scooters—they are Ebikes, categorised as electric cycles equipped with pedal assist systems that allow riders to stay active while significantly reducing their carbon footprint, delivering one of the lowest costs per kilometre in the electric mobility segment.

What sets them apart is their patented design—a unique blend of motorcycle-inspired styling with the agility and convenience of a cycle. Built using premium components and offering unmatched fit-and-finish, Exelmoto’s Ebikes are proudly manufactured in India and are not just high on functionality—they’re certified head-turners built for riders who want performance, style, and sustainability in one powerful ride.

CELEBRITY-LED TRUST & COOL FACTOR: “Ride the Future” is not just a statement, it’s Exelmoto’s tagline—capturing the brand’s vision to redefine how India rides.

Suniel Shetty’s association with Akshai goes back to when Akshai first designed a custom bike for Ahan’s debut film Tadap and later redesigned some of Suniel’s personal motorcycles that he still drives today. Over the years, Suniel witnessed firsthand Akshai’s meticulous craftsmanship, innovative design philosophy, and unwavering commitment to excellence. This deep personal trust and understanding of Akshai’s exceptional capabilities, combined with his two decades of industry experience and clear vision for sustainable mobility, led Suniel and his family to invest in Exelmoto.

Speaking about Exelmoto, Suniel Shetty, entrepreneur and mentor, said, “I’ve watched Akshai create magic with metal and design over the years. When he shared his dream of clean, stylish mobility for India, I knew we had to be part of it. For the first time, I’m working with my sons, Ahan and KL Rahul, on a project, and it feels right that it’s something focused on a cleaner future. Exelmoto represents more than just transportation; it’s about reshaping how India moves forward. We believe caring for our environment should be effortless, stylish, and genuinely accessible to everyone. This is proudly made in India, designed for India, and it’s something we’re genuinely proud to be part of.”

KL Rahul, known for his focus on performance and discipline, added, “I believe in performance—on the field and on the road. And, I believe in products that blend purpose with performance. Exelmoto ticks all the boxes.With Exelmoto, we’re giving India a reliable, stylish, and affordable ride built for our kind of hustle. This initiative aligns with what many Indians are looking for—smart, clean, and future-ready ways to move.”

Ahan Shetty, addressing younger consumers, said, “This is for my generation—bold, smart, and conscious of the planet. We’re proud to be part of a brand that doesn’t just follow trends but sets them—both in how it looks and what it stands for. I ride Exelmoto because it reflects who we are—innovative, fearless, and future-focused.”

Speaking about the company’s vision, Akshai Varde, Founder and CEO of Exelmoto, said, “We designed Exelmoto to be a bridge between aspiration and accessibility. This isn’t just an EV. It’s a movement. Our goal is to make green commuting aspirational, affordable, and proudly Indian. With over two decades of experience in premium motorcycle design and manufacturing, I wanted to create an Ebike that delivers the thrill of a motorcycle, the freedom of a cycle, and the convenience of a mobile device. The result is a patented, precision-built product that’s as beautiful to look at as it is powerful to ride. Engineered for India, backed by Indian icons, Suniel, KL Rahul & Ahan, and built to serve both cities and small towns—Exelmoto is how the future moves.”

WHAT MAKES EXELMOTO A CATEGORY BREAKER:

Exelmoto’s debut includes two unisex Ebikes—E1X Sky and E2R Rosso—designed with patented motorcycle-inspired frames, blending the build quality of a bike with the ease and accessibility of a cycle.

Unlike standard e-scooters, these Ebikes feature pedal assist, allowing riders to stay fit while significantly reducing their carbon footprint. They offer the lowest cost per kilometer among electric two-wheelers in their category. Key highlights include:
• Rugged fat-tyre styling with premium finish and street appeal • Removable, easy-charge lithium battery (home/office compatible)• 40–60 km range per charge
• No registration or license required • Lightweight frame tailored to Indian road conditions • Designed for students, professionals, delivery riders, and families
“Ready Before the World Catches On” — Campaign Rollout Begins:
The pre-booking kickstarted with a spectacular campaign that encapsulates the vision stating “Ready Before the World Catches On.” ???? Ride the Future!

The campaign highlights India’s rising need for clean, smart, and stylish transport.
Rooted in authenticity and driven by aspiration, The overarching campaign theme, “Catch Up. Or Better… Pre-Book”, showcases how Exelmoto isn’t waiting for the world to adapt. It’s already riding into the future—with India’s most relevant icons leading the way. It taps into the desire for status, speed, and sustainability, while being accessible and cross-generational.

EXPANSION & ROADMAP:

Beyond the pre-order campaign, Exelmoto will activate a robust, nationwide dealer distribution and service network—designed not just for reach, but for long-term rider confidence. This model reflects the brand’s commitment to building a future-ready EV ecosystem where accessibility meets accountability. By integrating seamless delivery with dependable after-sales support, Exelmoto aims to redefine ownership expectations in the electric mobility space and set new benchmarks for trust and service in the Ebike category.

POST-ORDER ROADMAP:

Following the pre-order campaign, Exelmoto will activate a nationwide dealer distribution and service network—designed not just for reach, but for long-term rider confidence. The company’s roadmap includes expanding pre-order access, fulfilment, and local activations across Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities, including Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Pune, Bengaluru, Jaipur, Kochi, Chennai, Nagpur, Lucknow Chandigarh, Indore and Hyderabad. Exelmoto will support this rollout with a combination of • Digital-first campaigns • Influencer-led storytelling • On-ground test ride experiences • City-wise community fan engagement

26, Jun 2025
Indian Students Prioritise Practical Learning and Global Experience, Reveals Oxford International Study

 26th June 2025: As the number of Indian students looking to study abroad continues to rise, the latest findings from Oxford International’s Student Global Mobility Index (SGMI) highlight a shift in what drives these decisions. Practical, hands-on learning and exposure to international environments have emerged as top motivators. According to the study, 30% of students chose overseas education for access to advanced practical studies, while 28% were influenced by the promise of a better future and global career opportunities.

While ambition runs high, the study also sheds light on the emotional and environmental challenges Indian students face when studying abroad. Weather conditions proved difficult for 26% of respondents, followed by homesickness (24%), cultural adjustment (21%), and accommodation issues (20%).

Conducted by Oxford International, the second edition of SGMI surveyed over 15099 current and prospective students from key regions across India. The research offers a holistic view of both the motivations and hurdles that shape Indian students’ global education journey, providing institutions and policymakers with valuable insights to better support this growing segment.

Commenting on the study and its findings, Mohit Gambir, Managing Director, Oxford International India, said, “Indian students today are driven by a desire to gain real-world skills and global exposure that go beyond pure academics. Our Student Global Mobility Index reflects this shift, while also highlighting the emotional and logistical challenges students face. Understanding these motivations and barriers is crucial for institutions looking to better support international students in their academic journey abroad.”

Other Key Findings from the study:

Gender-wise Insights

The top reason female students choose to study abroad is for advanced and practical studies (33%). For male students, both advanced/practical studies and the pursuit of a brighter future are equally important factors, each influencing 29% of their decisions. Among female students, 27% are motivated by the promise of a brighter future.

While 57% of students expressed concerns about studying abroad, a notable gender gap exists—67% of female students reported concerns compared to 51% of male students.

Concerns among students increase with age—from 66% at age 27 or older, to 62% (26 years), 58% (25 years), 53% (24 years), 51% (23 years), and 47% at age 22—while 57% of those aged 21 or younger also report concerns.

Male students’ top concerns include weather (29%), homesickness (21%), and accommodation (21%). Male students are nearly as concerned about food overseas (18%) as they are with homesickness and accommodation. Female students, in contrast, worry less about food (11%) but more about homesickness (27%).

Family influenced 44% of female students and 41% of male students in their decision to study abroad. Meanwhile, 41% of female and 39% of male students described themselves as self-motivated.

Region-wise Insights

Students from Central India show a stronger preference for short-term courses (16%) and top-ranked universities (18%). Students from Eastern India are particularly motivated by globalization, with 14% citing it as a key factor.

Students from Western India express more concerns than those from the South and North—36% worry about weather, 30% about culture, and 23% about food.

Students from Northern (44%) and Western India (42%) are most likely to make independent decisions about studying abroad.

In contrast, Family influence was notably stronger in Central India, where 52% of students cited it as a key factor in their decision to study abroad, followed by 44% in East India, both higher than the 35% – 44% range observed in other regions.

Oxford International India:

At Oxford International India (Oxford International Education Services), we believe in learning without limits. We provide pathways, courses, tools and support that prepare international students to excel in their studies, and help universities connect with a diverse and qualified talent pool. Since 1991, we have grown into a global force in international education, helping over 80,000 students every year.

We offer embedded pathways; direct entry recruitment with university partners, vocational programmes, online digital courses and academic English language courses and testing across the UK, USA, Australia and Canada. Our team of over 360 recruitment and conversion specialists are strategically located in over 50 locations worldwide to provide support to international students and source the right talent for our university partners, enhanced by a network of more than 2,500 educational consultants.

26, Jun 2025
POCO F7 Launches with Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 and Massive 7550mAh Battery

Chennai, 26th June 2025: POCO, one of India’s leading performance-driven consumer technology brands, is once again set to redefine smartphone user experience with the latest addition to its F-series, POCO F7. Designed for tech enthusiasts and those always on the go, the smartphone blends futuristic design, high performance, and an advanced battery into one sleek package.

 

POCO F7 sports a massive 7550mAh battery, India’s Largest Battery, equipped with Silicon Carbon innovation for enhanced energy density and long-term efficiency. This battery supports flagship-level 90W Turbo charging and 22.5W reverse charging, ensuring users stay powered throughout their day—and beyond. Remarkably, this all fits in a sleek 7.99mm body, making it India’s slimmest phone with a big battery.

With F7, POCO yet again ensures segment highest performance takes centre stage, with the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset, delivering a blazing 2.1 million+ AnTuTu score—a feat unmatched in its category. Backed by LPDDR5X memory, UFS 4.1 storage, and up to 24GB (12GB + 12GB) Turbo RAM, the smartphone sets a benchmark in its segment. POCO’s custom-built HyperOS 2.0 with AI Suite ensures a seamless, adaptive experience. The all-new IceLoop Cooling System—featuring a full A720 big-core architecture—manages thermals even during the most intense usage.

The phone’s 6.83” 1.5K AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and ultra-narrow bezels makes it the segment’s largest and most immersive display, perfect for gaming, content streaming, and creative work.

Commenting on the latest launch, Himanshu Tandon, Country Head, POCO India, said, “With the POCO F7, we’ve focused on what matters most to our community — raw, uncompromised power. It’s not just about a big battery or fast charging, it’s about giving users everything — flagship performance, bold design, durability, and immersive visuals — all packed in one sleek, affordable package. F7 is the performance beast India has been waiting for.”

What makes the F7 stand out?

• Snapdragon® 8s Gen 4 – 2.1 million+ AnTuTu score and full A720 architecture for top-tier processing and efficiency.

• India’s largest battery – 7550mAh Silicon Carbon battery – Flagship-sized power that lasts longer and charges faster with 90W fast charging and 22.5W reverse charging.

• India’s slimmest phone with a 7550mAh battery – Just 7.99mm thick with IP66, IP68 and IP69 durability protection.

• Best thermal management – The F7 uses the IceLoop cooling system to ensure steady frame rates and low latency

• Premium glass and metal design – Corning® Gorilla® Glass 7i protection on both sides and a flashy, bold camera deco for a standout look.

• Up to 24GB Turbo RAM (12 GB + 12 GB Virtual RAM) + UFS 4.1 – Next-gen memory and storage for unmatched multitasking and app loading speeds.

• 6.83”1.5K AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate – Segment’s largest display with ultra-slim bezels for immersive visuals.

• 50MP Sony IMX882 camera with OIS + 20MP selfie – Flagship camera setup with Ultra Snapshot mode for vivid, life-like images.

26, Jun 2025
happn unveils an AI-powered tool that redefines how singles plan their first dates

India, June 26, 2025 – happn, the real-life dating app, is making a bold move into emotional AI with the launch of its new date planning feature – Perfect Date. Powered by artificial intelligence and large language models (LLMs), it helps users move from chatting on the app to meeting up in real life thanks to tailored suggestions based on their habits, favourite places, passions, and geolocation.

An emotional AI designed to boost compatibility

Planning a date should be simple. Yet a significant 69% of singles say they find picking the right spot challenging, with 35% describing it as extremely stressful and 33% finding it somewhat so. Some even turn to external AI tools for help. This growing complexity highlights a pressing need: dating should be about sparking connections, not stressing over whether the other person will like the spot you suggest. Perfect Date steps in at just the right moment: once the conversation begins, users can define a geographic area and receive up to five personalized suggestions, based on mutual interests, be it culture, food, nightlife, or other local outings. With 86% of singles seeking venue suggestions and 62% trusting AI to help make those decisions, this smart feature takes the stress out of planning.

The feature goes beyond basic preference recommendations. It identifies contextual compatibility after a Crush, using a combination of LLM-driven insights and user-provided information to deliver a selection of venues tailored to both people’s tastes.

This isn’t about predicting a “universal best spot.” The feature creates unique suggestions, and the AI looks at the geographical zone they define, then uses shared interests like hobbies, favourite activities, profile Teasers, and every element on the profile that might be useful to understand the person’s vibe. Its strength lies in the balance between algorithmic logic and human perception: the AI makes suggestions, but leaves the final decision up to the users.

An ethical vision of AI applied to dating

Unlike standard AI assistants, happn’s approach is subtle and user-led. Perfect Date only activates within the right context, when prompted by the user, and always keeps control in their hands. This low-pressure model represents a distinctive approach: AI as a companion, rather than a decision-maker. Transparent, customised, but never directive.

With Perfect Date, happn strengthens its distinctive approach to dating: emotional, contextual, local and always serving real-life connections. In a fast-evolving industry, happn stands out by using technology to support, not replace, human interaction. The result: less mental load, more fluidity, and dates that truly reflect the people involved.

As Karima Ben Abdelmalek, CEO & President of happn, puts it: “The perfect first date spot can make all the difference. Today’s singles crave a space that balances comfort, vibe, and authenticity. happn’s Perfect Date feature is designed to deliver just that, effortlessly suggesting ideal spots, ensuring stress-free real-life connections. By blending human sensibilities with smart tech, we’re redefining the dating experience to be authentic, intuitive, and a true reflection of our users.” 

26, Jun 2025
AstraZeneca Expands Bengaluru Hub with 166 Crore Investment Creating 400 Jobs for R and D and AI Innovation

AstraZeneca expands Bangalore Global Hub in India with ₹166 Crore Investment, creating 400 Jobs to boost R&D, global services and AI innovation

AstraZeneca, a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company, today announced the expansion of its state-of-the-art Global Hub in Bangalore, strengthening its presence in India. The new facility will house nearly 1300 employees, including 400 new jobs, supporting the company’s capabilities in AI-powered innovation across Research and Development, Global Business Services, IT, and Digital Health operations.

This announcement represents AstraZeneca’s second major investment in India within a year, following the expansion of its Global Innovation and Technology Centre (GITC) in Chennai. The combined workforce now at AstraZeneca India Private Limited (AZIPL) will reach close to 4,000 employees, strengthening company’s capability to deliver life-changing medicines to patients worldwide.

“Our Global Hub in Bangalore is a strategic investment that will play a vital role in advancing AstraZeneca’s bold ambition to deliver 20 new medicines by 2030 — by strengthening automated, scalable, data-driven, and patient-centric solutions. This step reflects our commitment to tapping into the world-class talent and ecosystem available in Karnataka to power the next generation of scientific innovation. We are equally committed to decarbonize our operations and value chain, and the hub supports our net zero ambition”, said Jackie Crockford, Vice President, Global Business Services, AstraZeneca.

 “This hub enhances our R&D capabilities by connecting us with India’s exceptional scientific and technological expertise. The expansion will accelerate the development of innovative medicines and help us deliver across R&D, ultimately benefitting patients around the world”, said Magnus Nord, Vice President, Global Patient Safety BioPharma, AstraZeneca.

 The new facility will serve as a dynamic hub dedicated to advancing AstraZeneca’s critical priorities:

  • Advanced clinical research supporting AstraZeneca’s global therapeutic areas
  • Development of AI-powered healthcare solutions and digital health technologies
  • Centralized data analytics to enhance clinical trial efficiency and patient outcomes
  • Specialized support for global regulatory compliance and pharmacovigilance

The Karnataka government has welcomed the expansion as a validation of the state’s position as a global innovation hub. “AstraZeneca’s investment reaffirms India’s leadership in science, technology, and healthcare, and is a testament to Karnataka’s robust life sciences ecosystem. This expansion aligns perfectly with our vision to create high-value employment opportunities while fostering innovation in critical sectors, making Bangalore a global hub for biotechnology and R&D,” said Honorable Minister Shri Dinesh Gundu Rao, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of Karnataka.

The Global Hub in Bangalore reflects AstraZeneca’s dedication to environmental sustainability and every aspect of this facility has been carefully planned to make a meaningful progress towards a healthier planet. The hub is designed to achieve LEED Platinum certification and is currently powered by 75% green energy. It implements full waste-water recycling, IoT-enabled systems for optimized energy management and much more.

26, Jun 2025
PhonePe and HDFC Bank partner to launch co-branded credit card

June 26, 2025: PhonePe and HDFC Bank today announced the launch of the ‘PhonePe HDFC Bank Co-Branded Credit Card’, marking PhonePe’s foray into the co-branded card segment. In partnership with HDFC Bank, this new line of co-branded RuPay Credit Cards is designed to meet the evolving financial needs of the Indian consumer by offering benefits on UPI spends especially on the PhonePe Platform.

This strategic partnership between HDFC Bank and PhonePe leverages their respective banking and fintech strengths to make credit cards accessible and user-friendly. Available in ‘Ultimo’ and ‘UNO’ variants, these cards offer rewards on popular spending categories like recharge, bill payments, travel, online shopping, groceries, and cabs. Additionally, the cards integrate seamlessly with UPI, allowing users to pay for their everyday spends via credit card while enjoying the rewards offered on the cards via the extensive merchant network enabled on UPI QRs.

Speaking on the launch, Sonika Chandra, Chief Business Officer, Consumer Payments at PhonePe said, “We are excited about our first co-branded credit card launch in partnership with HDFC Bank. This launch underscores our commitment to providing innovative financial solutions to our wide set of user base. This card is positioned to offer PhonePe customers value on their regular spends, by giving them 10% reward points across select categories like bill payments, recharges, and travel bookings. Additionally, consumers can use this card seamlessly across millions of UPI merchants. We are confident that our strategic partnership with HDFC Bank, coupled with the benefits that this card offers will redefine the credit card experience for millions of Indians.”

Parag Rao, Country Head – Payments, Liability Products, Consumer Finance & Marketing, HDFC Bank, said, “As India’s leading card issuer, it is our constant endeavour to create impactful, tailored offerings for our customers, and expand access to credit in meaningful ways. Our partnership with PhonePe allows us to tap into a segment of digitally native consumers, making credit cards more rewarding and widely usable, especially via UPI—an interface that has become central to India’s digital payments ecosystem. With this co-branded card, users get the best of both worlds with our trusted credit card platform and PhonePe’s customer-centric digital experience.”

The ‘Ultimo’ variant offers customers significant reward points which includes:

  • 10% reward points on PhonePe app spends across categories like bill payments, recharges, travel bookings via PhonePe and purchases on Pincode, a hyperlocal delivery app by PhonePe.
  • 5% reward points on spending with leading online merchants.
  • 1% reward points on all UPI Scan & Pay transactions using the card.
  • Two domestic airport lounge accesses per quarter.

Eligible PhonePe users can apply for the co-branded credit card directly on the PhonePe Mobile App, the application process is fully digital. Once the card is issued by HDFC Bank, users can link the card on PhonePe and make payments to merchants via UPI. Users can also manage their card and pay their monthly credit card bill through the PhonePe app.

The card will be rolled out to eligible PhonePe users in a phased mann

26, Jun 2025
Genesys Introduces Cloud AI Studio to Empower Businesses with Agentic AI for Transformational Customer Experiences

Bengaluru, June 26, 2025 – Genesys®, a global cloud leader in AI-Powered Experience Orchestration, today announced Genesys Cloud™ AI Studio – the foundation organisations need to responsibly move to agentic AI-driven customer engagement. Genesys Cloud AI Studio is a centralised innovation hub designed for building, managing and scaling AI faster. It provides organisations with intuitive, agentic-ready tools embedded with guardrails for smarter, more personalised experiences. Genesys Cloud AI Guides, the first capability released for Genesys Cloud AI Studio, will equip brands to rapidly design, deploy and govern virtual agents that can operate with greater autonomy across complex, enterprise-wide customer journeys.

“Scalable oversight of AI is critically important as we move into agentic decision-making and operation at lightning speed. For enterprises to leverage agentic AI, they must evolve how they approach AI governance and adoption,” said Hayley Sutherland, research manager for conversational AI at IDC. “Genesys is offering organisations a robust entry point for autonomous AI, and the tools to help ensure every AI-powered customer interaction is secure, ethical and aligned to their strategy and values.”

As AI advances to act more independently and make non-deterministic decisions, strong governance is critical. Yet 80% of business leaders cite explainability, ethics, bias or trust as significant adoption barriers, even with deterministic forms of AI like generative. Half admit their organisations lack the governance to manage these risks, according to research from IBM Institute for Business Value.

Responsible Agentic AI at Scale for All 

Most virtual agents today require technical resources to develop and follow rigid, pre-programmed flows that can break under complex real-world interactions. In contrast, agentic AI will introduce more autonomy, enabling virtual agents to make decisions and adapt dynamically. This advancement will likely promise better customer experiences but also heightens governance risks as virtual agents’ actions can affect customer loyalty and brand reputation across the enterprise.

With AI Guides, Genesys will empower organisations to confidently embrace the future using an easy no-code interface to build and deploy intelligent virtual agents that can reason and act within configurable guardrails defined by the business. These virtual agents are equipped to handle more complex, multistep customer interactions. Use of AI Guides will allow virtual agents to move beyond managing transactional customer interactions to trigger enterprise-wide workflows, collaborate across human and AI teams, and act on behalf of brands in higher-stakes moments.

AI Guides is designed to help organisations scale semi-autonomous customer experiences by providing clear, governed instructions that guide the behaviour of large language model-driven agents to minimise hallucinations and align outputs with business goals through:

  • Natural Language, No Code Required: Easily build or refine virtual agents using plain language or existing documentation with no coding skills needed.
  • Build Once, Deploy Anywhere: Design experiences once and deploy them across Genesys Cloud Virtual Agent and Copilots, and more to maintain consistency and reduce duplication of effort.
  • Enterprise-Grade Collaboration: Seamlessly connect front, middle and back-office systems to execute tasks, automate workflows and deliver measurable business outcomes.
  • Guardrails Built In: Implement configurable, testable safety controls to help enable increased accuracy, appropriate tone and policy compliance to support responsible adoption of agentic AI.

AI Guides is built with flexibility at its core, using a model-agnostic architecture that enables continuous A/B testing and iterative improvements as new language models emerge. This allows Genesys to select and evolve the optimal model over time to help organisations deliver the best outcomes. This versatility is powered by the Genesys Cloud platform, which offers seamless integration with proprietary, open-source and leading frontier models including those available through Amazon Bedrock, ultimately enabling organisations to bring their own models. With this extensibility, organisations can innovate with AI to best align with their goals without compromising safety, oversight or performance.

Building the Foundation for Autonomous Customer Engagement

AI Guides introduces essential agentic AI capabilities to the Genesys Cloud platform’s conversational, generative and predictive AI. Underpinning Genesys Cloud AI is the Genesys Event Data Platform, which transforms raw interaction data into structured signals, such as intent, outcomes and behaviour, to enrich customer profiles. This context helps fuel smarter orchestration, accelerate model training and improve more effective AI performance across capabilities, including Genesys Cloud AI Studio and AI Guides.

With the launch of Genesys Cloud AI Studio and AI Guides, Genesys is equipping organisations with critical capabilities to advance toward Level 4 of Experience Orchestration, which is where customer engagement becomes semi-autonomous, scalable and governed by business-defined guardrails. Another upcoming tool, Genesys Cloud Custom Conversation Summaries, will further enhance control, enabling organisations to generate interaction summaries that reflect their unique brand voice, formatting standards and compliance requirements.

“Many organisations lack the infrastructure and governance framework for the responsible use of agentic AI with their customers today. We’re focused on giving every business an accessible and safe path forward,” said Olivier Jouve, chief product officer at Genesys. “With AI Guides, Genesys is delivering the foundation for agentic orchestration with guardrails and trust embedded so our customers can accelerate innovation and position themselves to drive ROI and differentiation.”

Availability for Genesys Cloud AI Studio capabilities, AI Guides and Custom Conversation Summaries are expected in the second quarter of the company’s fiscal year 2026 (May 1–July 31, 2025). For more information, visit https://www.genesys.com/en-sg.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release that are not historical or current facts are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Unless required by law, Genesys undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events after the date of this press release.

26, Jun 2025
Bessemer Venture Partners releases report on consumer trends in India

26 June, Bangalore: The India practice of Bessemer Venture Partners today released a report titled ‘Click, Watch, Shop: the consumer opportunity in India’. The report outlines the tech, demographic and policy tailwinds from the past decade that have fueled the rise of a $1 trillion digital opportunity and also talks about the user behaviours that will shape consumer offerings in the future.

A tailwind trifecta of internet penetration, evolving demographics, and policy changes are among the trends that have enabled the rise of new age consumer companies such as Swiggy, Urban Company, Boldfit, Vetic and more. Going forward, it is the evolution of commerce marketplaces, content platforms and changing consumer aspirations that will power newer companies to win in the Indian context.

Commerce will become quicker, better and more aspirational across channels

India’s burgeoning online commerce sector has witnessed an extraordinary expansion in recent years. Starting from a base of $30 billion in 2020 and is expected to get to $300 billion by the end of the decade in 2030, contributing to a $1 trillion dollar digital opportunity. This demonstrates it is no longer a niche phenomenon catering to a small segment but has firmly established itself as a dominant force within the Indian retail landscape for a significant and growing share of the population.

In addition, the recent rise of quick commerce (q-commerce) has introduced a new dimension to the online retail ecosystem, further revolutionizing the way consumers access goods. Platforms such as BigBasket, Blinkit, Swiggy, and Zepto have spearheaded this movement, demonstrating the viability and consumer appeal of rapid delivery services. This segment is seeing the further trend of verticalised q-commerce emerging, with startups like Snabbit, Swish and Slikk catering to niche needs.

Lastly, D2C brands are increasingly catering to an aspirational mass-premium audience – an audience characterized by the demand for newer, better priced, higher quality products.

Content: Entertainment comes home

India is experiencing a content revolution driven by consumers’ diverse appetites for entertainment, education, and gaming. Characterized by short attention spans and a multitude of accessible platforms across interests, languages, and budgets, user engagement is rapid, facilitated by frictionless microtransactions or autopay-led subscriptions.

Platforms are adapting to these shorter attention spans with quick and engaging content. Over the past five years, short-form video platforms in India have witnessed a 3.6X growth in daily active users, competing with mainstream digital platforms. Moreover, the rise of virtual tipping, UPI autopay and other micro-transactions is expected to reach $1.5 billion by 2029 and exemplifies the growth of UPI-enabled microtransactions which allows companies to experiment with diverse monetisation models beyond just ads.

The rise of new lifestyle and consumption habits

The modern Indian consumer’s choices increasingly prioritise what were previously seen as lifestyle spending. These include previously thought “non-essential” spending in areas such as physical and mental health, financial wellness, and pet care. This expenditure has moved from being a good-to-have to a must-have for Indian consumers.

For instance, there is increased spending on organic food, protein, fitness gadgets, preventive healthcare, and wellness services.) Health-focused food and beverage (F&B) as a category has expanded from ~11% to ~16% of F&B spend and is expected to continue to increase as brands have been quick to adapt to this trend.

Similar trends can be seen in segments such as financial services (eg: personal finance offering such as Groww) and petcare.

The report concludes with the metrics and numbers that Bessemer tracks to evaluate the robustness of a business. These metrics, pertaining to TAM, acquisition, usage and retention are important for founders to track the health of their business.

Anant Vidur Puri, Partner, said “India presents a $1 trillion dollar digital opportunity. The emergence of multiple consumer marketplaces, platforms and new-age brands in the past decade are a testament to the growing aspirations of an emergent India. This makes us exceptionally optimistic about the potential for many more consumer plays to emerge in the coming years.”