25, Jun 2026
Yudo India Doubles Hot Runner Capacity at New Vasai Facility, Strengthening India’s Plastics Manufacturing Ecosystem
Vasai, Maharashtra June 25: Yudo Hot Runner India Pvt. Ltd. has opened a new 40,000 sq ft manufacturing facility in Vasai, near Mumbai, dedicated exclusively to Hot Runner systems. The expansion more than doubles the company’s domestic production capacity from around 180–190 systems per month to nearly 400 marking one of Yudo’s most significant investments in strengthening India’s plastics manufacturing base.
The facility embodies a “global technology, local manufacturing” approach – world-class hot runner systems engineered and built in India for Indian market. With design, R&D, simulation, manufacturing, assembly, and testing all under one roof, the Vasai plant becomes one of Yudo’s nine global R&D centres, placing India at the heart of the company’s worldwide network of 24 plants across more than 45 countries.
Hot runner systems are integral to injection moulding, the process behind a vast range of plastic products. Yudo serves diverse segments across India with automotive as its largest market, followed by packaging, medical, and PVC and commands close to 70% of the automotive hot runner segment, underlining its leadership in the industry.
By scaling domestic manufacturing, the new plant meets a significantly larger share of India’s hot runner demand from within the country – giving Indian customers faster delivery, localised engineering support, and globally benchmarked quality, all backed by an in-country R&D and testing ecosystem.
“With growing demand, shorter delivery timelines, and higher service expectations, it was essential to scale up our manufacturing capacity,” said Vishal Agarwal, President, Yudo Hot Runner India Pvt. Ltd.
“This facility strengthens our ability to serve the domestic market while reinforcing India’s role in Yudo’s global network.”
Mr. Agarwal pointed to Yudo’s deep roots in India, with over 25 years in the hot runner segment. “We are the oldest company in India still operating in this space, and Vasai was a natural choice given its position as a hub for automotive tooling,” he added.
The facility currently employs 100 people, with plans to grow to 125 within six months. As part of its commitment to inclusive manufacturing, Yudo is targeting 50% female workforce participation on the shopfloor, supported by structured training for CNC operations during day shifts.
That same focus on responsible manufacturing extends to the plant’s environmental design. The facility is powered by rooftop solar panels and harvests rainwater to reduce its draw on local resources. A heat-resistant film on the building lowers cooling loads and overall energy consumption, while a solar daylighting system channels natural light across the shopfloor, virtually eliminating the need for artificial lighting through the day. Together, these measures cut the plant’s energy use and carbon footprint, reflecting Yudo’s commitment to responsible, future-ready manufacturing in India.
The new plant reflects Yudo’s vision of becoming a market-centric company in India, catering to rising domestic demand while preparing for future growth. By combining global technology with local manufacturing, the investment supports India’s emergence as a self-reliant, advanced manufacturing hub and strengthens the wider plastics manufacturing ecosystem that underpins the country’s industrial progress.
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- By Neel Achary
25, Jun 2026
Roadmap for a Viksit Uttar Pradesh through AI, Investment and Innovation
Bengaluru/New Delhi, June 25: In a step towards connecting the vision of a Viksit Uttar Pradesh with the global technology and investment ecosystem, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath held an important meeting with Google Cloud Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Tarun Pant and his team during his Bengaluru visit.
In this interaction, held before the roundtable meetings and roadshow, the Chief Minister shared in detail the state government’s vision for improving the lives of common citizens, increasing farmers’ income, creating new opportunities for youth, strengthening the startup culture and connecting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) with new technologies.
During the meeting, extensive discussions were held with CTO Tarun Pant and the Google team on making development programmes more effective through Artificial Intelligence (AI), cloud technology, digital governance and data-driven solutions.
The Chief Minister also deliberated with Google’s team on how the reach and effectiveness of government services could be enhanced through technology. Discussions were also held on innovation-based solutions aimed at bringing positive changes in the lives of farmers, youth, startups, the MSME sector and common citizens.
Representatives of the Google team described the meeting as highly positive and meaningful and observed that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath shared a clear and farsighted roadmap for the development of Uttar Pradesh. He provided information about the goals and priorities set for farmers, MSMEs, startups and youth, and also discussed how these goals could be achieved more rapidly through AI and modern technology.
Google India noted that the company is fully committed to India’s development and is excited about the opportunity to work with the Uttar Pradesh government in advancing these goals.
Along with this, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also held special interactions in Bengaluru with top executives of leading investment and technology companies from India and across the world. These included WestBridge Capital Managing Partner Sandeep Singhal, Accel Partners’ Prashant Prakash, InMobi founder Piyush Shah, Yulu founder Amit Gupta, NVIDIA South Asia Managing Director Vishal Dhupar, representatives of SarvamAI and senior officials of Blackstone.
Detailed discussions were held on the possibilities of investment, technology, innovation, Artificial Intelligence, the startup ecosystem and employment generation in Uttar Pradesh. Representatives of the industry appreciated the rapidly developing infrastructure, improved law and order and investor-friendly environment in Uttar Pradesh, and described the state as a major centre of future growth.
Under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Uttar Pradesh is steadily emerging as a new centre of investment, innovation and technology-driven development. Expressways, airports, industrial corridors, digital services and investor-friendly policies have placed the state among the country’s most attractive investment destinations.
The interactions held in Bengaluru with Google and global investors indicated that Uttar Pradesh is now moving rapidly towards becoming a national hub for technology, AI, startups, investment and employment generation.
25, Jun 2026
HCLTech and ServiceNow join forces to scale enterprise AI with Google Cloud
Gemini Enterprise-based AI agent solutions integrated with ServiceNow to drive real-world adoption of agentic AI
NOIDA, India and Sydney, Australia, June 25—HCLTech, a leading global technology company, has expanded its collaboration with Google Cloud and ServiceNow to deliver AI agents for enterprise adoption on the Gemini Enterprise platform. The launch coincides with HCLTech’s sponsorship of the Sydney Google Cloud Summit 2026.
Building on HCLTech’s recently launched Gemini Enterprise business unit, the latest collaboration brings together advanced ServiceNow AI capabilities, enterprise workflow orchestration and industry expertise to enable organizations to deploy and scale AI in real business environments.
HCLTech will introduce enterprise AI solutions on Gemini Enterprise that combine Gemini’s advanced AI capabilities with ServiceNow’s workflow platform – anchored in ServiceNow’s Blueprint for Agentic Business, a framework for structured, outcome-driven AI adoption. This includes a next-generation Factory Shop Floor Assistant, which delivers real-time operational intelligence to manufacturing environments, enabling faster decision-making and improved efficiency.
Initial solutions span two high-impact domains: Field Services, where Gemini Live, integrated with ServiceNow Field Service Management, delivers real-time audio and visual intelligence to field technicians for faster issues resolution; and Customer Experience, to ensure customer intent is preserved across channels. HCLTech is also leveraging ServiceNow’s AI Control Tower to enhance visibility and governance of AI agents within Gemini Enterprise, while an ITOps ServiceNow Agent—available on Google Cloud Marketplace for Gemini Enterprise—supports incident management and remediation in enterprise IT environments.
“Bringing agentic AI to the enterprise requires deep integration into the systems that businesses rely on every day,” said Satish Thomas, Vice President of Applied AI and Platform Ecosystem at Google Cloud. “Our partnership with HCLTech and ServiceNow combines the foundational power of Gemini Enterprise with industry-leading workflow and operational expertise, giving customers the tools they need to safely scale AI and accelerate innovation across their entire organization.”
“The future of enterprise AI lies in orchestrating intelligent agents across the business as a connected system of action,” said Michael Park, Senior Vice President, Global Partnerships and Channels at ServiceNow. “By bringing together ServiceNow’s AI-native platform, HCLTech’s implementation expertise, and Google Cloud’s Gemini Enterprise capabilities, we are helping organizations build the foundation for an agentic enterprise. This collaboration enables customers to orchestrate AI agents across workflows, systems and teams, accelerating productivity, strengthening governance and delivering business outcomes at scale.”
“Enterprises are moving quickly from exploring AI to embedding it at the core of their operations, and that shift requires stronger levels of integration and orchestration,” said Vijay Guntur, Chief Technology Officer and Head of Ecosystems at HCLTech. “Our collaboration with Google Cloud and ServiceNow reflects this evolution—integrating advanced AI, enterprise workflows and ecosystem scale to help clients move beyond pilots to sustained, enterprise-wide impact. By aligning AI with operational systems and industry context, we are enabling a more practical and accountable adoption of agentic AI, and our ServiceNow Agentic Blueprint gives enterprises the structured path to get there.”
“Agentic AI will only deliver enterprise value when it is built on a resilient, secure and scalable digital foundation,” said Jagadeshwar Gattu, President, Digital Foundation Services at HCLTech. “By combining HCLTech’s deep infrastructure, cloud and operations expertise with Google Cloud’s Gemini Enterprise platform and ServiceNow’s workflow and AI capabilities, we are helping clients move from experimentation to production-ready adoption. This collaboration enables enterprises to embed intelligence into mission-critical environments with the governance, visibility and operational rigor needed to drive measurable outcomes at scale.”
This expanded collaboration underscores HCLTech’s focus on enabling enterprises to transition from experimentation to scaled deployment of agentic AI, with solutions that are designed to deliver measurable impact across industries. HCLTech will showcase this focus at the Sydney Google Cloud Summit 2026, and at the Sydney ServiceNow World Forum where enterprise leaders will explore how cloud, AI and ecosystem collaboration can accelerate business transformation.
24, Jun 2026
AI may replace certain jobs. AI will not replace capable human beings– V.V. Laxmi Narayana
EThames Business School Transforms into Telangana’s First AI-Native Business School
Hyderabad, June 24, 2026: EThames Business School (EBS), one of Hyderabad’s leading institutions for business education, today announced its transformation into Telangana’s first AI-Native Business School at a special event held at its campus.
The transformation marks a significant shift in management education, with Artificial Intelligence being integrated into every aspect of teaching, learning, research, innovation, industry engagement, and student development.
To mark the occasion, students and faculty presented a unique skit titled “AI Tools Speak, Humans Decide.” Characters representing leading AI platforms—ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Perplexity, Copilot, and Grok—competed to persuade students to choose/use them. As the students became increasingly confused by the competing claims, professors stepped in to deliver the central message: use AI responsibly, think critically, question intelligently, and never allow Artificial Intelligence to replace Human Intelligence.
Students, faculty members, and institutional leaders also took separate pledges to use AI responsibly, ethically, and professionally. Certificates were presented to faculty and students who completed the institution’s AI-Native transformation programme. A commemorative AI-Native cake was also cut to celebrate the milestone.
Addressing an audience of more than 200 students, faculty members, industry leaders, and ecosystem partners such as V.V. Laxmi Narayana, IPS (Retd), Chief Transformation Officer, EThames Business School; Dr. Raghavendra Hunasgi, Venture Investor / CEO String Metaverse; Murali Bukkapatnam, Former Chairman, Global Board of Trustees, TiE; Bipin Chandra Pendyala, President, HYSEA; Ajit Rangnekar, former Dean ISB and others, Kali Prasad Gadiraju, Chairman, EThames Business School, said that the institution’s AI transformation journey began over a year ago.
“This is not merely the launch of a new initiative. It is our response to one of the most significant transformations in human history. For more than two centuries, educational institutions have prepared students for the world of work. Today, the world of work is changing faster than our educational institutions. If the world has changed so dramatically, how can education remain the same?” he asked.
He said that just as computer literacy became essential in the 1990s, AI literacy and AI capability have become essential today.
“Nobody asks students to perform complex calculations without a calculator. Calculators make us faster, more accurate, and more productive. Similarly, AI can help students learn faster, understand deeper, research better, and create more effectively. At EThames, we believe AI should not replace thinking—it should amplify thinking. AI should not replace learning—it should accelerate learning. That is why we have reimagined our classrooms, our faculty, and our learning environment to become AI-Native,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, V.V. Laxmi Narayana, IPS (Retd.), Chief Transformation Officer, EThames Business School, described AI as the next great chapter in humanity’s technological evolution.
“The Wheel transformed transportation. The Printing Press transformed knowledge. Electricity transformed industry and everyday life. The Computer transformed productivity. The Internet transformed communication. Smartphones transformed access. And now Artificial Intelligence is transforming everything,” he said.
Unlike earlier inventions that transformed specific aspects of life, AI is influencing every field simultaneously—from education, healthcare, business, and manufacturing to finance, media, governance, research, and creativity, he observed.
Addressing concerns about job losses due to AI, he said such fears have accompanied every major technological revolution.
“When railways arrived, people feared the end of traditional travel. When computers were introduced, many predicted widespread unemployment. When ATMs emerged, people said bank branches would disappear. None of those predictions came true. Technology changes jobs; it does not eliminate human potential. AI may replace certain jobs. AI will not replace capable human beings. The future belongs to those who are lifelong learners,” he said.
Dr. Sandeep Kumar Shukla, Director, IIIT Hyderabad, who joined virtually as Guest of Honour, lauded EThames Business School’s pioneering initiative. “AI is no longer a technology of the future. It is a reality of the present. Educational institutions must equip students not only to use AI tools but also to think critically, innovate responsibly, and work effectively alongside AI,” he said.
EThames can be a good laboratory for AI innovation—a place where the rigid boundaries of traditional pedagogy dissolve to make way for a fluid, intelligent ecosystem, said Dr. Raghavendra Hunasgi, Venture Investor / CEO String Metaverse
Murali Bukkapatnam, Former Chairman, Global Board of Trustees, TiE, said: “A school is not its machines. A company is not its algorithms. A future is not artificial. It is—and always will be—its people. By building Telangana’s first AI-Native Business School, EThames is also building a more human future.”
Bipin Chandra Pendyala, President, HYSEA, highlighted the distinction between AI students and AI-Native students. “AI students learn Artificial Intelligence as a subject. AI-Native students learn, think, collaborate, and innovate with AI as an integral part of their academic and professional journey. The future belongs to AI-Native talent,” he said.
Dr. Mani Pavitra said India has the potential to become the world’s largest creator economy.
“Having helped professionals create more than 100,000 reels, I have learned that the future belongs to those who create more than they consume. If our youth combine AI with character, execution, and innovation, they will not merely compete globally—they will build solutions for all eight billion people on Earth,” he said.
The event was attended by students, faculty members, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and members of the broader innovation ecosystem.
24, Jun 2026
Apis India Strengthens Leadership with Three Key Senior Appointments
New Delhi, June 24: Apis India Limited one of India’s honey processing and FMCG companies with a legacy spanning 100 years, has announced three senior leadership appointments as part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen organisational capabilities and support the next phase of growth. The company has appointed Arun Mishra as National Sales Head – General Trade, Ankit Nagar as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Key Managerial Personnel, and Pankaj Tripathi as GM-HR, Admin & IT.
Commenting on the appointments, Mr Amit Anand, Managing Director, Apis India, said:
“As Apis India enters its next phase of expansion, I am confident that these leadership appointments will play a pivotal role in driving our strategic priorities and strengthening our market position.”
He further added,
“We are delighted to welcome Arun, Ankit, and Pankaj to the Apis India leadership team. Arun’s extensive expertise will be instrumental in expanding our distribution network and strengthening our general trade presence across markets. Ankit brings strong financial acumen and experience in building scalable, process-driven organisations, which will be invaluable as we enhance operational efficiency and support long-term business growth. Pankaj’s deep experience in people leadership and talent development will help us build a future-ready workforce and foster a high-performance culture.”
Ankit Nagar,Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Key Managerial Personnel
Mr Ankit Nagar is a qualified Chartered Accountant with over 16 years of post-qualification experience across financial reporting, financial planning & analysis (FP&A), strategic growth planning, corporate governance, regulatory compliance and transformation initiatives. He has a strong track record of enabling organizations to achieve their growth ambitions while maintaining financial discipline and governance standards. He has led multiple mergers and acquisitions, business restructuring initiatives and managed financial, tax, and legal due diligence for strategic acquisitions as well as overseeing post-merger integration processes to realize synergies and support business expansion objectives.
Prior to joining Apis India, Nagar has worked with Dharampal Satyapal Foods Limited, Modi Rubber Limited, HSBC Electronic Data Processing Pvt. Ltd., and SRBC & Co LLP.
Arun Mishra, National Sales Head, General Trade
Based at the company’s New Delhi headquarters, Mr Arun Mishra will lead the General Trade sales function across India, with responsibility for driving revenue growth and strengthening Apis India’s distribution network. He is a Management Postgraduate with an MBA in Marketing & IT from Apeejay School of Management, Greater Noida, and brings over 25 years of experience in sales and marketing across reputed organisations including Soothe Healthcare, Birla Morton, Modi Naturals, Haldiram Snacks, and Devyani Beverage.
Most recently, Mishra served as Vice President, Sales at Sunbridge Agro, where he oversaw large-scale sales and marketing operations across India.
Pankaj Tripathi – GM-HR, Admin & IT
Mr Pankaj Tripathi holds an MBA in Human Resource Management and brings over 18 years of diverse experience across FMCG, manufacturing, hospitality, and retail sectors. He has held key HR leadership positions at DS Group, PVR INOX, Mahindra Group, and Royal Orchid Hotels. His expertise covers strategic HR business partnering, talent management, industrial relations, and HR digitalisation.
Recently, Apis India reported its highest-ever consolidated annual turnover of ₹390.51 crore in FY 2025-26, reflecting an approximately 11.5% YoY increase. Q4 FY26 was particularly robust, with consolidated net profit rising 27.3% YoY to ₹10.35 crore and revenue growing 8.6% YoY to ₹97.89 crore.
The year was also marked by key strategic milestones: the launch of the MISK Masala Dates range and a government-approved subsidy of approximately ₹1.66 crore towards a new 2,400-MT-per-annum jam manufacturing facility at Roorkee.
24, Jun 2026
India Set to Roll Out Services Production Index
New Monthly Production Index to Enhance Tracking of India’s Services-Led Growth
New Delhi: In a significant step towards strengthening economic data monitoring, the Government of India is set to launch a Monthly Production Index for the services sector in July, providing policymakers, businesses and investors with a more comprehensive view of the country’s economic performance.
The new index is expected to bridge a key data gap by offering high-frequency insights into the services sector, which contributes more than half of India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and serves as a major driver of economic growth, employment and investment.
Officials said the initiative is aimed at improving the measurement of economic activity by providing timely indicators on output trends across major service industries. The index will enable stakeholders to track growth patterns more accurately and assess the health of the economy on a monthly basis.
The move comes at a time when India’s services sector continues to play a crucial role in supporting economic expansion, driven by strong performance in areas such as financial services, information technology, telecommunications, transport, hospitality and professional services.
Experts believe the introduction of the monthly index will strengthen India’s statistical infrastructure and align economic reporting standards with leading global economies that already publish high-frequency services data.
The index is also expected to assist policymakers in making quicker and more informed decisions by providing real-time insights into sectoral performance, demand conditions and emerging economic trends.
Industry analysts have welcomed the initiative, noting that improved data availability can enhance transparency, support investment planning and provide greater clarity on the pace and direction of economic growth.
The launch of the Monthly Production Index reflects the government’s continued efforts to modernise economic data systems and improve the quality of information available for policy formulation and business decision-making.
24, Jun 2026
Tamil Nadu Gas Leak Tragedy: Odisha Woman Succumbs, Death Toll Rises to Eight
Keonjhar/Chennai, June 24 (UDN): The death toll in the Tamil Nadu gas leak tragedy involving migrant workers from Odisha has risen to eight following the death of another critically injured woman worker from Keonjhar district on Wednesday.
The deceased has been identified as Subasini Juang, a resident of Balisahi under Sunapentha village in Keonjhar district. She had been undergoing treatment in a critical condition after being exposed to toxic ammonia gas in the industrial accident.
With her death, the number of victims from Keonjhar district alone has climbed to eight, underscoring the scale of the tragedy that has devastated several families in the region. Earlier, seven women workers from the district had died due to injuries sustained in the same incident.
Meanwhile, the bodies of five deceased workers were brought back to their native villages in Keonjhar on Wednesday and handed over to grieving family members by district administration officials. The mortal remains were taken to Kodipasa, Talachampei, Rangamatia, and Tangiri villages, where emotional scenes unfolded as relatives and residents gathered to pay their final respects.
“Four of the five women workers died in the tragic mishap. The condition of one is stable,” said a villager, as mourning engulfed the affected villages. Most of the bereaved families belong to economically weaker sections, prompting renewed demands for adequate compensation and long-term rehabilitation support.
The incident occurred on Sunday at a seafood processing unit in Periyapalayam, Tiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu, when an ammonia gas leak triggered a major industrial accident. Several workers were exposed to the toxic gas, resulting in multiple deaths and leaving dozens hospitalized.
In response to the tragedy, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has announced enhanced ex-gratia assistance of ₹10 lakh for the families of the deceased workers.
Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the leak, while rescue and medical teams are monitoring the condition of those still under treatment.
24, Jun 2026
India, China Explore Ways to Deepen Engagement
New Delhi, June 24: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss ways to deepen cooperation between India and China and strengthen bilateral engagement across multiple areas of mutual interest.
During the meeting, both sides reviewed the current state of relations and exchanged views on enhancing dialogue and stability in ties between the two neighbouring countries.
Wang Yi emphasised the importance of expanding cooperation and maintaining constructive engagement to promote regional stability and mutual development. He noted that closer collaboration between India and China could contribute positively to broader global and regional challenges.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi underscored the need for maintaining peace and stability along the border areas and highlighted the importance of building a relationship based on mutual respect, sensitivity and shared interests.
Both sides acknowledged the significance of regular communication at high levels to address concerns and explore opportunities for cooperation in areas such as trade, investment and people-to-people exchanges.
The meeting reflects ongoing diplomatic efforts to manage differences and strengthen engagement between the two major Asian economies.
24, Jun 2026
India Strengthens Position in Global AI Landscape Amid Rapid Technology Adoption
New Delhi, June 24: India is steadily positioning itself as a significant player in the global artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem, driven by rapid digital adoption, expanding talent pools and increasing investments in emerging technologies, according to a recent report.
The report highlights that India’s growing AI capabilities are being supported by strong technological infrastructure, a large base of skilled professionals and rising demand for AI-driven solutions across industries such as healthcare, finance, manufacturing and services.
Experts noted that government initiatives promoting digital transformation, along with private sector innovation, are accelerating the development and deployment of AI applications across the country.
The study further states that India’s startup ecosystem is playing a crucial role in advancing AI innovation, with companies focusing on areas such as machine learning, automation, data analytics and generative AI solutions.
Analysts believe that India’s demographic advantage, combined with its expanding digital economy, positions it strongly to contribute meaningfully to the global AI value chain in the coming years.
The report also emphasised the importance of continued investment in research, skilling and infrastructure to ensure sustainable growth in the AI sector and strengthen India’s global competitiveness.
With increasing global collaboration and domestic innovation, India is expected to deepen its role in shaping the future of artificial intelligence worldwide.
24, Jun 2026
India Remains Resilient Despite Global Uncertainty: Report
New Delhi, June 24: India continues to showcase resilience in the face of global economic and geopolitical uncertainties, with strong participation from domestic investors helping stabilize financial markets, according to a recent report.
The report highlights that despite external challenges such as geopolitical tensions, fluctuating commodity prices and global economic slowdowns, India’s financial markets have remained relatively stable due to sustained inflows from domestic investors.
Growing participation from retail investors, mutual funds and domestic institutional investors has provided a strong cushion against volatility triggered by foreign capital movements. This trend has helped maintain investor confidence and support market performance during periods of global turbulence.
Analysts noted that India’s robust macroeconomic fundamentals, expanding digital economy and steady economic growth outlook continue to attract long-term investment interest. The increasing role of domestic capital has also reduced the market’s dependence on foreign institutional flows.
The report further stated that rising financial awareness, greater access to investment platforms and increasing household participation in equity markets have strengthened the country’s investment ecosystem.
Experts believe that the growing influence of domestic investors will remain a key factor in supporting market stability and enhancing India’s ability to navigate global economic shocks in the years ahead.
