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.
RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra indicated that any discussion around introducing merchant discount rates on UPI payments is far from a settled matter, describing the conversation as premature. The statement comes as industry stakeholders debate whether levying MDR on UPI could reshape the economics of India's digital payments ecosystem. The outcome of this policy question has significant implications for how fintechs, banks, and payment aggregators hire and invest going forward.
Peptris, a Bengaluru-based startup, uses artificial intelligence to design molecules and predict their biological behaviour, significantly cutting down the time needed for lab validation. The company has reached a commercial milestone by licensing its lead drug candidate to a US-based developer, signalling growing global confidence in Indian AI-driven biotech. This positions Bengaluru as an emerging hub where deep-tech and life sciences are converging.
A Delhi-based startup called Neuranics Lab has built a point-of-care device named MorphX that delivers a complete blood count within minutes using just a fingerprick sample. The platform is designed to operate without a trained laboratory technician, potentially bringing diagnostic capability to settings far beyond traditional labs. This positions the product as a disruptive force in India's diagnostics and healthcare delivery ecosystem.
Pune-based SunCharge Motors has developed commercial electric auto-rickshaws fitted with rooftop solar panels that partially recharge the vehicle while in use. The design targets fleet operators who lose revenue waiting at charging stations. This positions the company within India's rapidly evolving electric mobility space, specifically addressing the last-mile commercial transport segment.
Bengaluru-based Lemnisca is developing AI-powered software that simulates microbial fermentation processes, allowing manufacturers to anticipate and resolve scaling problems before they hit the factory floor. The tool aims to bridge the gap between lab-scale experiments and industrial production. This positions the company within India's growing intersection of biotech, deep tech, and applied AI.
Persistent Systems has decided to opt out of campus recruitment for FY27, marking a significant shift in its talent acquisition approach. The company is prioritising experienced professionals who already have grounding in AI tools and workflows, rather than training fresh graduates from scratch. This decision reflects a broader reassessment of entry-level hiring happening across India's IT sector as AI reshapes what employers need on day one.
Audi India has announced plans to launch six new vehicle models over the next eighteen months as part of an aggressive push to double its share of the Indian luxury car market within three years. The strategy leans heavily on electric vehicles, with a significant sales push expected from 2027. This marks one of the most ambitious product expansion cycles the German automaker has undertaken in India.
Indian Bank has crossed the Rs 15 lakh crore business milestone and has now set an ambitious target of reaching Rs 35 lakh crore by 2032 — roughly 2.3 times its current size. The bank's MD & CEO expressed strong confidence in achieving, and even surpassing, this goal within the next seven years. This scale of expansion will almost certainly require significant additions to the bank's workforce and operational capacity.
ArisInfra Solutions, a B2B e-commerce platform serving the construction materials sector, posted a profit after tax of ₹20 crore in Q1 FY27, nearly four times its year-ago figure. Revenue climbed 37% year-on-year, pointing to strong business momentum. The sharp growth in both top-line and bottom-line metrics suggests the company is scaling its operations meaningfully.
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.