4870: Budget action plan for Viksit Bharat, Zoho Pay in works & OpenAI’s walled garden | MC Editor's Picks

Pre-IPO door shut for Mutual Funds, equity market braces for a big IPO wave next month, the fallout from Russian oil sanctions, what China’s 15th five-year plan entails and the genius that was Piyush Pandey - all this and more in the day’s edition of Moneycontrol Editor’s Picks newsletter.

In today’s Tech3 from Moneycontrol, we break down how NPCI’s rule on UPI mapping triggered chaos among payment apps, why Zomato’s Deepinder Goyal is investing $25 million in his longevity venture Continue, what’s driving Binance’s big India push, and how Wint Wealth is closing a $20 million fundraise.

Corporate India's responsibilities are not limited to contributing to the nation’s economic growth. They are equally responsible for spending the right amount at the right place, for the right cause. Sattva Consulting is out with the 7th edition of its CSR report, which suggests that corporate philanthropy is moving beyond the metros into India's emerging Tier-2 cities and industrial belts. Corporates are now taking their time, thinking what to do when they do. CEO Srikrishna Murthy shares that a combination of factors is leading to significant spending in tier-2, tier-3 towns, outside metros. CSR is moving away from few pockets to different parts of India. Social impact is deeply about the denominator and there are a lot of opportunities to dig in more capital on an annual basis. Listen in.

In today’s Tech3 from Moneycontrol, we dive into the marathon journey of Meesho’s Vidit Aatrey as he gears up for a Rs 4,250 crore IPO, why Perfios CEO says AI adoption in India’s banking sector is still at an experimentation stage, Oracle’s surprising new bet on AI-powered ambulances, and WazirX’s long-awaited return after a crippling cyberattack.

Tune in to the day’s newsletter to learn more about the Union Budget’s 5-year sectoral plan in alignment with Viksit Bharat, a possible record outlay for MGNREGA, Zoho’s new consumer payments app, lifetime trustees at Tata Trusts, the pre-IPO advisory boom and OpenAI’s plan to keep users within its ecosystem.

In today’s Tech3 from Moneycontrol we bring you the top stories shaping India’s tech and startup ecosystem. The government proposes stricter IT Rules to regulate deepfakes, ensuring clear labeling and transparency. UPI transactions surge this October, fueled by Diwali shopping and GST cuts. Zoho prepares to launch Zoho Pay, aiming to compete with Google Pay and PhonePe. Plus, India Quotient raises $129 million for its fifth fund, signaling renewed investor confidence in early-stage Indian startups.

Vedanta is pursuing a deal to acquire Jaiprakash Associates Ltd, the investigation into the IndusInd Bank fraud case has taken a new turn, EPFO is stepping up its enforcement drive and FIIs are finally making a quiet comeback. Also find our reports on India’s progress on trade pacts and the country’s first Household Income survey in 5 decades, among other big headlines from the day.

In today's Tech3 from Moneycontrol, we bring you the top startup and tech updates. Infosys posts strong Q2 numbers while Wipro’s growth remains steady. Zomato-parent Eternal sees revenue surge but profit dips, with Blinkit driving rapid expansion. Ola Electric launches Ola Shakti, entering the battery energy storage market as part of its diversification strategy. And in the funding space, our scoops got confirmed: Zepto closed a massive $450 million round, while Kuku raised $85 million to double down on AI content.

The Centre is planning to merge smaller public sector banks with larger banks such as Punjab National Bank, Bank of Baroda, and SBI by FY27. Emirates NBD’s India unit is likely to acquire a 51% stake in RBL Bank. Only about 20% of stocks are cheap today, and even that comes with legitimate concerns, as 50-60% of stocks trade in an overvalued zone, said Maran Govindasamy.

In today’s Tech3 from Moneycontrol, Coinbase makes a fresh bet on CoinDCX at a $2.45 billion valuation, eyeing India and the Middle East as the next crypto frontier. Logistics firms race against the festive clock as Diwali deliveries go into overdrive. India to get a new credit rating agency after nearly a decade, shaking up the scorecard. And Paytm cleans house with a major internal restructuring.