US-based technology giant Google has announced a one-year free subscription to its ‘AI Plus‘ plan for eligible college students in India, giving them access to enhanced artificial intelligence tools and higher usage limits to support their learning.

In its latest blog post, Google said eligible students will receive access to Gemini Omni, twice the usage limits available to non-AI subscribers, 400 GB of storage and other features at no cost for one year.

Google is also offering students a discounted bundle that combines Google AI Pro and YouTube Premium, with savings of up to 70 per cent for those seeking ad-free music and video streaming.

Alongside the student plans, Google is introducing new and enhanced learning tools across Gemini and Google Search.

The company said students will also get access to a dedicated student hub that will help them organise their studies and get started with Gemini’s learning tools.

In addition, Google is introducing a new study notebook feature that provides personalised learning support through diagnostic quizzes. The quizzes identify students’ strengths and knowledge gaps before generating bite-sized study plans tailored to their individual learning goals.

Google is also expanding Gemini Live, allowing students to request and discuss Deep Research reports through voice-based conversations while on the move.

Google Search will also offer new features that allow students to generate interactive visuals to understand complex concepts, take practice quizzes across subjects, including standardised tests, and learn concepts step-by-step using Google Lens.

Additionally, students can organise academic projects using notebooks and create custom files to streamline their studies.

Google said it designed its education tools across Search, Gemini and YouTube with safety in mind. The company also said the tools draw on learning science to support personalised learning while keeping teachers in the lead.

The student offer is available in more than 140 markets where Google AI Plus operates, subject to certain exclusions. Eligible students in India can redeem the offer until December 31, 2026, subject to verification and applicable terms.

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday said that new avenues are being created for Indian farmers and processed food manufacturers to expand presence in the Singapore market and further to the whole ASEAN region and Australian market.

Goyal met Gan Siow Huang, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Industry, Singapore, and other dignitaries at the APEDA-FairPrice roadshow-cum-instore promotion being organised for expansion of exports of diverse range of India’s agricultural & processed food products.

“Organic products, fresh fruits and vegetables, frozen fruits and vegetables, dairy products, cashew, rice, millet-based products, and products sourced from different regions of India are being promoted through this engagement,” the minister posted on X.

He also held a meeting with Sopnendu Mohanty, Group CEO, Global Finance and Technology Network, a global advisory and investment firm based in Singapore.

They discussed opportunities to deepen India-Singapore cooperation in financial innovation, technology, and emerging areas of the digital economy.

“We also exchanged views on how India’s dynamic financial ecosystem and Singapore’s global financial and technology network offer significant opportunities for greater collaboration,” said Goyal.

The minister also met Cindy Lim, CEO of Keppel Infrastructure, in Singapore.

“We discussed opportunities for greater collaboration in infrastructure and sustainable development, building on the strong economic partnership between India and Singapore. India remains committed to enabling investments and partnerships that support resilient infrastructure and sustainable growth,” Goyal highlighted.

Goyal earlier joined Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar and Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Jitin Prasada, in engaging “with our Singaporean counterparts at the 4th India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable”.

“We discussed deepening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) across advanced manufacturing, fintech, digitalisation, healthcare, and sustainability,” the Commerce Minister informed.

Can the National Stock Exchange (NSE) allow trading in its own shares on its platform?

The question has gained prominence after a report suggested that NSE is exploring the ‘Permitted to Trade’ (PTT) route to allow investors to trade its shares on NSE while keeping the exchange formally listed on the BSE.

NDTV Profit, citing sources, reported that the National Stock Exchange (NSE) is looking to trade its shares on its own platform while remaining formally listed only on the BSE.

The existing regulatory framework does not permit stock exchanges to list themselves, the report said.

Therefore, the exchange would need approval from the market regulator, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), to admit its shares for trading on its own platform.

However, the PTT framework allows NSE to admit securities for trading without formally listing them on the exchange. Companies using this mechanism continue to remain listed on their primary stock exchange.

Earlier in May, NSE issued FAQs and clarified the framework for securities admitted under the PTT category on its mainboard segment. Under this framework, companies do not need to sign a separate listing agreement with NSE, while the exchange considers disclosures made to the primary exchange sufficient.

However, NSE continues to subject PTT securities to its surveillance and regulatory mechanisms.

Companies can subsequently seek full listing for securities admitted under PTT, provided they meet the applicable eligibility conditions. The exchange also retains the authority to suspend or prohibit trading in such securities.

If SEBI approves the arrangement for NSE, the exchange would remain formally listed on the BSE while allowing investors to trade its shares on NSE as well, giving them an additional trading venue.

The development comes ahead of NSE’s proposed initial public offering. The exchange filed its draft red herring prospectus with SEBI in June for an IPO comprising an offer for sale of 14.89 crore equity shares.

NSE first initiated its listing plans in 2016 but delayed them amid regulatory scrutiny related to the co-location controversy.

Separately, NSE reported an 8.2 per cent sequential decline in consolidated revenue from operations to Rs 4,560 crore for the quarter ended June 30. However, its net profit rose 8.7 per cent to Rs 3,120 crore.

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has directed telecom companies to strictly enforce the limit on mobile connections, barring operators from issuing new SIM cards to subscribers who already hold nine connections, according to an official statement released on Thursday.

From August 24, 2026, telecom service providers (TSPs) must implement technical and organisational measures to identify subscribers seeking connections beyond the permitted limit. Operators must inform such customers that they have already reached the maximum number of mobile connections allowed and cannot receive another connection, according to the DoT circular.

The directions also require customers to declare in the Customer Application Form (CAF) the mobile connections registered in their names across different telecom operators and licensed service areas. The respective Licensed Service Areas (LSAs) will handle issues arising from the implementation of these instructions.

The DoT said telecom companies can access details of subscribers who already exceed or have reached the prescribed limit through its Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP).

To help operators identify such subscribers, the DoT will make a representative image of each subscriber who has reached the permitted limit available on the DIP from August 23. The platform uses subscriber information submitted by telecom companies to help operators identify customers who already hold nine SIM cards.

Until operators implement these measures on a post-facto basis, they must immediately suspend any mobile connection activated beyond the prescribed limit for that day, in accordance with the terms of the CAF.

Operators must keep the connection suspended until they resolve the issue related to exceeding the permitted limit.

Under the existing instructions issued on August 9, 2012, individuals can hold a maximum of nine mobile connections across all telecom operators and licensed service areas in India.

However, the government has set a lower limit of six connections for subscribers in Jammu and Kashmir, Assam and the North-East. The DoT now seeks to ensure that telecom companies strictly enforce these limits.

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) on Thursday began a two-day National Conference on Mission Karmayogi for Mission Karmayogi Development Officers (MDOs) to strengthen institutional capacity-building mechanisms and improve their effectiveness across the health sector.

The conference seeks to equip MDOs with the skills to plan, implement and sustain capacity-building initiatives under Mission Karmayogi, the MoHFW said.

The event brought together MDOs and other capacity-building stakeholders to foster institutional collaboration, peer learning and knowledge exchange.

The MoHFW organised the conference in collaboration with the National Institute of Health and Family Welfare (NIHFW), Capacity Building Commission (CBC) and Karmayogi Bharat (KB). On the first day, participants focused on aligning learning interventions with organisational needs, advancing competency-based professional development and sharing implementation best practices.

Rakesh Kumar, Director (Training), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, said Mission Karmayogi marks a significant shift from the traditional rule-based approach to a role-based, competency-driven model focused on capacity building and civil service development.

He said MDOs play a critical role in turning this vision into measurable institutional outcomes. They must identify capacity-building requirements, facilitate relevant learning interventions and promote a culture of continuous professional development within their organisations.

Highlighting the Mission’s progress, Rakesh Kumar said the Ministry had recorded 21,927 course enrolments and 17,660 course completions, reflecting the growing adoption of structured and technology-enabled learning.

He stressed that capacity building should go beyond course completion and focus on strengthening competencies, improving workplace performance and delivering tangible improvements in institutional functioning and public services.

He urged MDOs to ensure that officials apply the knowledge and skills gained through Mission Karmayogi to improve performance and outcomes across the health system.

Rakesh Verma, Chief Operating Officer, Karmayogi Bharat, highlighted the growth of the iGOT Karmayogi platform into the world’s largest capacity-building platform. He said the platform provides government officials with a technology-driven ecosystem for continuous learning and professional development.

Verma also pointed to growing international interest in the platform. He said India has signed an MoU with Mauritius and is engaging with several Latin American and SAARC countries to share its experience and explore collaboration in capacity building.

India hosts 2,117 global capability centres (GCCs) that operate 3,728 units across the country. The industry generated an estimated $98.4 billion in revenue in FY26, according to a report released on Wednesday.

Awfis Space Solutions and Zinnov jointly released the report, which found that India’s GCC count has grown nearly 32 per cent since FY21. These centres now employ more than 2.36 million professionals.

The report also noted that 506 Global 2000 companies operate centres in India. GCC adoption now extends beyond large multinational corporations to private equity-backed firms, mid-market enterprises and digital-native companies.

Commenting on the findings, Awfis Chairman and Managing Director Amit Ramani said India’s GCCs increasingly take ownership of products, platforms and AI-led mandates. This shift has created greater demand for workspace solutions that can scale quickly and offer operational flexibility.

Zinnov CMO and Managing Partner Nitika Goel said the rapid industrialisation of AI is reshaping workforce requirements. Organisations increasingly seek professionals who combine technical expertise, domain knowledge and business context.

The report highlighted the growing complexity of GCC operations. Complex problem-solving activities now account for 38.1 per cent of GCC work portfolios, while cutting-edge R&D activity has doubled between 2015 and 2026.

Nearly half of India’s GCCs now undertake an equal or greater share of frontier work than their global headquarters. Companies that develop AI products allocate twice as much cutting-edge R&D work to India as organisations that primarily adopt third-party AI solutions.

Talent demand has also increased alongside this shift. India’s GCC AI and machine learning talent pool could nearly double to 250,000 by 2026.

The report also highlighted the growing importance of workplace strategy in GCC expansion. India recorded a record 20.7 million sq ft of office leasing in the first quarter of 2026, with GCCs accounting for 44 per cent, or 9.1 million sq ft.

GCCs currently account for 40-45 per cent of enterprise flexible-seat adoption. Meanwhile, 67 per cent of GCCs plan to expand flexible office space so that it represents more than 10 per cent of their overall real estate portfolio.

India’s international tax framework stands at a critical juncture, and the country needs to balance tax-base protection with policy stability, predictability and certainty for global investors, Monica Bhatia, Principal Chief Commissioner of Income Tax (International Tax), said on Wednesday.

Addressing the 23rd International Tax Conference organised by ASSOCHAM, Bhatia said the Supreme Court’s Tiger Global judgment, the new Income-tax Act, evolving dispute-resolution mechanisms and rapid technological advances are reshaping India’s international tax landscape.

“Policy stability is foundational to investor confidence,” Bhatia said. She also highlighted government measures following the Tiger Global judgment that aim to provide greater certainty for bona fide legacy investments.

Bhatia also highlighted India’s progress in advance pricing agreements (APAs). She said the country has crossed the 1,000-agreement mark, including more than 220 bilateral agreements.

Looking ahead, the senior Income Tax official said artificial intelligence is changing business models as well as tax administration. This transformation raises new questions about permanent establishment, profit attribution and the location of value creation.

She stressed that international cooperation and consensus-based global rule-making will become increasingly important as technology advances faster than existing tax rules.

Rakesh Nangia, Chairman of ASSOCHAM’s Task Force on International Taxes, said international taxation has moved from rapid evolution to a period of fundamental transition. He identified the Tiger Global judgment, new tax legislation, global minimum tax developments and AI as key forces shaping the next phase.

Sandeep Chaufla, Chairman of ASSOCHAM’s National Council on Direct Taxes, said governments seek to protect their tax bases while taxpayers demand certainty and predictability.

“Balance in terms of legislation and its implementation is the need of the hour,” he said, while highlighting AI’s growing role in tax administration.

The event also examined the post-Tiger Global tax landscape, AI and international tax policy, BEPS 2.0, treaty evolution, the new Income-tax Act, APAs, safe harbours and cross-border dispute resolution.

Indian automobile manufacturers delivered a broadly resilient performance in the first quarter despite a challenging cost environment, with most two-wheeler makers limiting margin pressure through pricing actions and cost controls, according to a report released on Wednesday.

HSBC Global Investment Research analysed the sector and found that most two-wheeler original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) reported only minimal margin contraction during the quarter.

Effective cost management helped manufacturers absorb rising input expenses.

Commercial vehicle manufacturers also delivered a reasonable quarter, with performance trends falling between those of two-wheeler and passenger vehicle makers, the report said.

Commodity costs remained a key pressure point for the sector. Although prices softened modestly during the current quarter, input costs remained broadly stable and continued to weigh on profitability.

To offset these cost pressures, most automakers raised vehicle prices in July and August.

The price increases should provide some support to margins, although the impact will depend on demand sensitivity and the pace at which commodity costs ease, according to the report.

Analysts at the global brokerage said demand remained healthy across vehicle segments despite successive price increases. They expect mid-single-digit growth in the second half, improving on their earlier forecast of low-single-digit growth for most OEMs.

HSBC also noted that concerns over the monsoon have eased somewhat.

However, the report cautioned that further price increases and a high comparative base could challenge growth in the second half of FY27 and into FY28, particularly if consumer affordability weakens.

On valuations, HSBC said stocks across its coverage universe trade at premiums to historical averages. Two-wheeler manufacturers appear significantly more expensive than passenger vehicle makers.

Over the next one to two years, the brokerage prefers companies with reasonable valuations, diversified and defensive revenue profiles, and strong long-term structural growth drivers.

Rishabh Pant has entered the record books as the first Indian cricketer to hit 100 sixes in Test cricket.

The star wicketkeeper-batter reached the milestone during Day 4 of the first Test between India and Sri Lanka at the Galle International Stadium on Tuesday.

Pant entered the match with 97 Test sixes and needed three more to reach the landmark. He hit one six in the first innings while scoring 39 off 62 balls, which also included four fours. The left-hander then struck two more maximums in the second innings to complete the feat.

Pant smashed Lahiru Kumara for a straight six that cleared the boundary in the first session. He then waited through the second session as Asitha Fernando tested him with bouncers and Keshara Nuwantha produced disciplined bowling.

The Indian batter responded with controlled strokeplay and found regular boundaries before hitting Kumara over deep fine leg for his 100th Test six. The shot also brought up his half-century from 53 balls.

Pant has now become the first Indian to hit 100 sixes in Test cricket and only the fourth player overall to achieve the feat.

Recently retired Ben Stokes leads the list with 138 sixes, while former England Test coach and New Zealand batter Brendon McCullum follows with 107.

Pant’s 100th six also put him level with former Australia wicketkeeper-batter Adam Gilchrist, who became the first player to reach 100 Test sixes and finished his career with exactly 100.

Pant displayed excellent shot selection throughout his innings. He regularly left the short deliveries that Lahiru Kumara and Asitha Fernando used to test him and avoided taking unnecessary risks.

The 28-year-old also handled Keshara Nuwantha’s off-spin intelligently. Rather than attacking the spinner with conventional big shots, Pant used the reverse sweep effectively and collected several boundaries.

Pant’s innings remained crucial for India as the visitors looked to set Sri Lanka a challenging target after losing Dhruv Jurel for seven runs early in the second session.

India carried a 294-run lead into the break at 116/4. KL Rahul and Devdutt Padikkal helped India steady the innings after Yashasvi Jaiswal fell to Fernando in the opening over of the second innings.

For Sri Lanka, Keshara Nuwantha, Prabath Jayasuriya and Asitha Fernando impressed with the ball. Fernando and Jayasuriya claimed two wickets each, while Nuwantha had taken one wicket at the time of writing.

US-based technology company Meta is intensifying efforts to curb the spread and reappearance of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) across its platforms in India amid ongoing discussions with the government, according to a report.

NDTV Profit reported that Meta and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) have discussed the company’s approach to illegal content and the broader responsibility of digital platforms to prevent harmful material from resurfacing after authorities or platforms remove it.

Meta is taking steps to address the circulation of such content and remains particularly cautious because CSAM clearly violates Indian law, the report said.

The company is also working to prevent previously flagged material from reappearing on its platforms. This effort highlights the growing focus on ensuring that platforms do not simply remove illegal content but also prevent its repeated circulation.

According to sources cited in the report, the government has reiterated that platforms may lose safe harbour protection if they fail to meet applicable legal requirements. However, officials are not seeking to censor social media platforms. Instead, they want platforms to comply with Indian laws and fulfil their legal responsibilities.

“Platforms need to strike the right balance between social good and harms,” the report said.

The discussions also cover broader concerns linked to social media services, including platform addiction and the circulation of exploitative content.

Government officials have further stressed the importance of considering India’s cultural context while platforms formulate and enforce content moderation policies, according to the sources.

Meanwhile, the ministry is exercising its statutory powers sparingly and continues to focus on ensuring that platforms meet their legal obligations.

Although intermediaries can potentially lose safe harbour protection for hosting prohibited content, courts ultimately determine whether such protection applies in individual cases based on the platform’s compliance with prescribed legal conditions.

The discussions come as regulators worldwide increase scrutiny of online platforms over content moderation, user safety and compliance with local laws.