Expansions, layoffs, funding, leadership moves, and policy shifts — with our take on what it means for hiring in India, today and over the next five years.
PB Fintech, the company behind PolicyBazaar, posted a 92% jump in net profit during Q1 FY27, with revenues climbing 40% year-on-year. The strong performance was driven by growth in both its insurance premium and credit businesses. This signals robust momentum across the company's core digital financial services verticals.
Multiple major companies have announced significant investment plans in Karnataka following a state-organised investment roadshow held in Mumbai. Cipla and Rocket India are committing Rs 300 crore toward expanding manufacturing capacity in the state, while Blackstone is evaluating data centre and renewable energy infrastructure opportunities. Saint-Gobain is also looking to grow its manufacturing presence, and Horizon has been encouraged to target industrial projects in tier-two Karnataka cities.
India's food safety regulator FSSAI has directed energy drink manufacturers to drop the word 'energy' from their product labels, affecting major players operating in the country. The ruling has triggered immediate trade disruption, with distributors holding back stock amid uncertainty. Brands now face a costly and complex exercise in rebranding, reformulation, and repositioning across their entire supply chain.
AI-driven equity research startup Pinegap has closed an $8 million Series A round led by Stellaris Venture Partners. The company plans to deploy the capital across sales, engineering team expansion, and building an in-house bench of seasoned equity research professionals. This signals a deliberate push to scale both its technology and domain-expert workforce.
After a gap of roughly two decades, the Reserve Bank of India has announced it will once again grant licenses to urban cooperative banks. Eligible credit societies must demonstrate a minimum capital base of Rs 300 crore and deposits of at least Rs 10,000 crore, along with a clean five-year financial track record. Multi-state credit societies with over ten years of operation are in the frame, and their directors will face a fit-and-proper scrutiny before any approval is granted.
DLF has outlined an ambitious plan to build a Rs 1 lakh crore sales pipeline over the next four to five years, anchored by a sharp focus on luxury residential properties. The developer is targeting a broader customer base that includes younger urban buyers and the NRI community, while expecting profitability to nearly double from 2028. The company's large commercial portfolio remains on hold for monetisation for now.
Mindspace Business Parks REIT posted a 27.8% jump in net operating income, reaching Rs 788 crore for the quarter, while leasing close to 0.9 million square feet of office space. The trust also expanded its development pipeline with new office and hospitality projects, bringing its total portfolio to approximately 46.2 million square feet. A record quarterly distribution per unit of Rs 6.67 underlines strong investor confidence in the commercial real estate segment.
Bharti Airtel has indicated it has room to increase prices on its lower-tier unlimited data plans, backed by strong profit growth from its core operations. The company is also scaling up its data centre footprint in Mumbai and plans to increase capital deployment in its Africa business. These moves signal a broader strategic push to build higher-value infrastructure and services.
Delhi NCR-based cooling solutions startup Optimist is reportedly in advanced discussions to secure around $10 million in fresh funding from TDK Ventures. If the round closes, it would mark a significant capital infusion into India's domestic air conditioning and climate technology space. The deal signals growing investor interest in energy-efficient cooling solutions amid India's intensifying summers and rising demand for affordable AC units.
Delhi NCR-based pain management startup Zanskar is reportedly in advanced discussions to close a $6 million funding round, with Bessemer Venture Partners expected to lead the investment. The fresh capital would mark a significant vote of confidence in India's emerging pain care and digital health segment. If completed, the round is likely to fuel the company's operational and team expansion plans.
Air India has named Tewolde Gebremariam, a veteran of Ethiopian Airlines, as its new Chief Executive Officer, replacing Campbell Wilson. The leadership transition comes at a challenging time for the carrier, which is grappling with a record annual loss and disruptions tied to ongoing geopolitical tensions. Gebremariam is expected to prioritise stabilising international routes and restoring the airline's financial footing.
Air India, now under Tata Group ownership, has appointed Tewolde Gebremariam — the former long-serving chief of Ethiopian Airlines — as its new chief executive. Gebremariam is credited with transforming Ethiopian Airlines into Africa's dominant carrier, and Tata is banking on that operational expertise to arrest Air India's persistent financial losses. The appointment signals a serious intent to professionalise leadership and accelerate the airline's international growth ambitions.