5145: Infosys bets on jobs, India rewires energy flows & Malayalam cinema’s blockbuster year | Editor's Picks

India’s economy shows surprising resilience, indicated by a surge in GST collections driven by robust year-end spending. Meanwhile, Vodafone faces no risk to its immediate survival as state steps in to support and Apple accuses Indian authority for regulatory overreach after demand for revealing its global turnover. Also inside: the nagging problem of inverted duty structure ushered in by GST 2.0, India’s fuel demand rise amid Strait of Hormuz disruption and some interesting insights from the two riveting political contests in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.

Infosys is taking a contrarian stance in the AI era, with CEO Salil Parekh ruling out layoffs and committing to hire 20,000 fresh graduates. Global interest in India’s financial sector is rising, with Emirates NBD likely to deepen its role at RBL Bank through a board-level presence. The Centre is exploring ways to bring NRIs and OCIs into MSME financing, India’s oil import strategy is shifting amid Strait of Hormuz disruptions and Malayalam cinema is poised to have another strong year with several content-led movies already in the pipeline.

In today’s Tech3 from Moneycontrol, Infosys leans into AI as a growth driver while tightening deal discipline. Dreamteam, founded by former Freshworks executives, lines up a $40 million round. Big Tech players like Meta and Alphabet reshape operations around AI, and Cars24 sees back-to-back founder exits ahead of its planned IPO.

India is drafting a new urea investment policy to plug a major fertiliser supply gap and reduce costly import dependence. Meanwhile, the UAE’s exit from OPEC could loosen global oil supply, lower prices and ease India’s inflation pressures. As temperatures cross 40°C, e-commerce giants Amazon and Flipkart are expanding heat protections for delivery workers, though unions want stronger safeguards. In corporate India, firms including HCL Tech, Wipro and Tech Mahindra are tightening workplace safety and POSH measures after the TCS Nashik harassment case.

In today’s Tech3 from Moneycontrol, Cognizant reports steady growth but flags a cost reset with restructuring plans. Karnataka flags AI’s potential impact on jobs while pushing ahead with infrastructure and an AI City plan. NPCI explores giving smaller UPI apps early access to features to reduce market concentration. Heatwaves drive new safety measures for delivery workers across platforms. And Sahi raises $33 million as broking startups continue to attract investor interest.

The government is preparing a Rs 2.5 lakh crore credit guarantee scheme to support sectors such as aviation and MSMEs hit by the West Asian war. Airlines have warned of severe stress as fuel costs rise, while the UAE’s exit from OPEC and OPEC+ could reshape global energy markets. Despite this uncertainty, EV demand remains robust, with electric car sales jumping 47% and two-wheeler registrations rising 28% in April. Sun Pharma, after its record Organon acquisition, plans to seek RBI approval for foreign remittance exemptions tied to corporate guarantees. Markets regulator Sebi is also considering a uniform framework for options strike prices to improve trading efficiency. Meanwhile, banks are cutting credit card perks, with airport lounge access among the first benefits to be capped.

India Inc is in the middle of a major transformation. Sun Pharma has acquired US-based Organon in the biggest-ever overseas deal by an Indian drugmaker. Tata Trusts are set to hold a crucial meeting on May 8, where issues such as a fresh term for N Chandrasekaran, the possible listing of Tata Sons, and governance matters may come up for discussion. Despite the West Asia war, early fourth-quarter earnings have surprised positively, with revenue growth hitting a three-year high and profits reaching a five-quarter peak. In capital markets, Acko is preparing for an IPO at a valuation of $2-2.5 billion. At the same time, AI-led disruption is reshaping IT and banking, driving stronger deal wins but also leaner hiring. Also inside: the surge in instant home services and how consumers are taking to them.

In today’s Tech3 from Moneycontrol, ACKO lines up bankers for its upcoming IPO, signalling the next wave of startup listings. Instant househelp platforms cross 10 million users as on-demand services scale up. India’s IT firms see strong deal wins but weak revenue conversion amid AI-led shifts. And Amazon expands its quick commerce push to 100 cities with a larger fulfilment network.

India Inc. delivered a mixed scorecard this week. Reliance Industries posted record annual profit and revenue, but markets, however, remained under pressure with a sharp selloff in IT stocks—Infosys leading the fall. In contrast, global tech majors like Google are strengthening their India bets with large investments in AI infrastructure and talent. In telecom, Vodafone Idea awaits clarity on AGR dues while Bharti Airtel steps up cybersecurity preparedness in the AI era. Also inside: Investor interest in consumer brands continues, Dhurandhar 2 has emerged as a runaway success, and Sachin Tendulkar’s enduring legacy as he turns 53.

In today’s Tech3 from Moneycontrol, India’s IT sector sees strong deal wins but weak revenue conversion as AI reshapes contracts. Wealth-tech platforms push to bring retail investors into structured investing. Dosa brand Benne eyes fresh funding from Claypond Capital, and SuperOps cuts workforce as it pivots to an AI-first model.