4991: 'Trump Candle' on markets; 2-3 startups likely to have foundational AI models ready by mid-Feb

At Mobile World Congress, Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia outlines India’s telecom ambitions. Stock markets brace for another brusing session as they reopen after Mumbai's Holi holiday. With risks around the Strait of Hormuz, policymakers assess oil supplies, trade exposure, tech vulnerabilities and market fallout across sectors. Also read our analysis on Iran’s defence pivot and find out which cars Indians bought most - all in the day’s Moneycontrol Editor’s  Picks.

In today’s Tech3 from Moneycontrol, we track how airspace disruptions in West Asia are unsettling Indian founders and investors operating through Dubai. We unpack fresh pressure points for the IndiaAI Mission amid global GPU supply dynamics, take you inside IIT Madras’ ambitious 400-brain mapping project, and examine Rapido’s entry into food delivery with its zero-commission app Ownly in Bengaluru.

In today’s Tech3 from Moneycontrol, we track how airspace disruptions in West Asia are unsettling Indian founders and investors operating through Dubai. We unpack fresh pressure points for the IndiaAI Mission amid global GPU supply dynamics, take you inside IIT Madras’ ambitious 400-brain mapping project, and examine Rapido’s entry into food delivery with its zero-commission app Ownly in Bengaluru.

Markets tumbled as the Sensex and Nifty fell up to 2% amid escalating Iran conflict fears. Crude oil surged past $80 after ship movement through the Strait of Hormuz stalled, raising inflation risks for India. Gold and silver rallied as investors sought safe-haven assets, while oil-sensitive stocks bore the brunt. SEBI chief Tuhin Kanta Pandey urged long-term investing and signalled data-driven regulatory reforms. Meanwhile, Clean Max’s under-subscribed IPO debut underscored the strain of listing in volatile markets. Tune in for all this and more in the day’s edition of Moneycontrol Editor’s Picks.

In today’s Tech3 from Moneycontrol, we unpack how escalating Middle East tensions are putting fresh pressure on Indian IT’s diversification strategy and business travel. SEBI chief Tuhin Kanta Pandey cautions investors against chasing IPO listing pops and addresses concerns around the Tiger Global tax verdict. We also track Groww’s AI co-pilot GR1 rollout plans and how Iran-Israel tensions are disrupting India’s peak summer outbound travel season.

In this edition of Moneycontrol Editor’s Picks find all the key developments from the News 18 Rising Bharat Summit. Listen to our exclusive chats with Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal who reveals how India negotiates trade deals, IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw who maps India’s AI readiness and telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia who addresses the evolving communications landscape including 6G and satcom. There’s much more inside. Tune in

In today’s Tech3 from Moneycontrol, India outlines plans to scale up to 200,000 GPUs to support its growing AI ambitions, signaling a major expansion in compute infrastructure and semiconductor production. The government moves closer to enforcing SIM binding on messaging platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram ahead of the compliance deadline. And Deepinder Goyal raises $54 million for Temple, his new wearable hardware startup, valuing the company at $190 million in one of the largest early-stage funding rounds.

Much before the UPI boom, when the Indian payments space was not as crowded, one company decided to forge a path that most others did not take. SabPaisa’s journey from a B2B collections company to end-to-end solutions provider hinged on strategic decisions taken early. And then came the AI pivot which transformed everything. On this episode, we talk to Amit Tyagi, Chief technology Officer at SabPaisa to understand how the company executed a monumental shift in months and built products that were founded on AI, not retrofitted by it. #Partnered

In this edition of Moneycontrol Editor’s Picks find all the key developments shaping the business landscape. Inside: Murugappa group settlement, SEBI’s tighter rules around certain mutual funds, Infosys founder Narayan Murthy and HDFC bank CEO Aditya Puri, IT Ministry stands firm on content takedown window and more.

In today’s Tech3 from Moneycontrol, industry veterans NR Narayana Murthy and Aditya Puri in a rare interview say fears of AI-led job losses may be overstated as adoption takes time. The government warns social media platforms to ensure fair revenue sharing with creators or face legal action. Apple Pay’s reported India entry plans trigger a fintech stock reaction, and the government holds firm on the new three-hour content takedown rule for online platforms.