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Japan will pilot India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) to make payments easier for the rising number of Indian tourists. The move will allow Indian visitors to pay via UPI QR codes in Japan, with money debited directly from their Indian bank accounts eliminating the need for cash or international cards. Japanese IT firm NTT Data is working with NPCI to roll out the trial during the 2026 financial year, exploring integration between Indian and Japanese payment systems. Known for its real-time, low-cost, and interoperable QR-based transactions, UPI is among the world’s largest digital payment platforms. If successful, the trial could boost seamless cross-border payments and deepen fintech cooperation between India and Japan. #upi #digitalpayments #fintech #india #japan #crossborderpayments #tourism #cashless #qrpayments

Bharti Airtel has announced a strategic partnership with Adobe to offer Adobe Express Premium worth around ₹4,000 per year free of cost to its 360 million customers. The move aims to empower students, creators, small businesses, and professionals with easy-to-use AI-powered design tools. With Adobe Express Premium, users get access to premium templates, stock images, fonts, quick video creation, social media creatives, and generative AI features to create high-quality content in minutes without prior design experience. This collaboration strengthens Airtel’s digital ecosystem by adding value-added services beyond connectivity, while Adobe expands its reach across India’s rapidly growing creator and SME economy. The offer is expected to drive digital creativity, personal branding, and online business growth at scale. Availability and activation details are expected to be shared via the Airtel Thanks app. #airtel #adobe #adobeexpress #digitalindia #creatorseconomy #sme #ai #design #contentcreation #valueaddedservices #technews

Senior journalist Palki Sharma has exited Firstpost, stepping down from her role as Managing Editor after a transformative tenure. With nearly 25 years of experience in journalism, she played a pivotal role in defining Firstpost’s editorial strategy and strengthening its position as a global digital news platform. She was the driving force behind the launch and success of Vantage, the platform’s flagship show, which earned wide recognition for its sharp analysis of international geopolitics from an India-centric lens. Under her leadership, Firstpost expanded its global reach, built a strong editorial newsroom, and gained a loyal international audience. According to an internal announcement, Palki Sharma is leaving to build her own independent media venture, marking a new chapter in her career. Meanwhile, Binoy Prabhakar has been appointed as Chief Content Officer, taking charge of content leadership as Firstpost moves into its next phase of growth. #palkisharma #firstpost #mediaindustry #journalism #vantage #digitalnews #globalmedia #indianjournalism #leadership #newsindustry

The Goa government is considering a proposal to restrict access to social media platforms for children below the age of 16, following a framework similar to the recent regulations introduced in Australia, according to a Reuters report. Goa’s Minister for Information Technology, Rohan Khaunte, said the state is closely studying Australia’s law to understand how minors’ access to social media can be regulated, amid growing concerns around mental health, online addiction, cyberbullying, and digital safety. “If possible, we will implement a similar ban on children below 16 for usage of social media,” Khaunte told reporters, adding that detailed guidelines and implementation mechanisms are still under discussion. India is one of the world’s largest digital markets for global tech giants such as Meta (Facebook, Instagram), Google’s YouTube, and X, making any age-based restriction a significant policy move. While Goa is India’s smallest state by area, with a population of around 1.5 million, the discussion could set a precedent for other regions. The issue is also gaining attention beyond Goa. The southern state of Andhra Pradesh, home to over 53 million people, has indicated it is examining similar measures, highlighting a broader national debate on regulating children’s exposure to social media. If implemented, such a policy could have wide-ranging implications for technology platforms, parents, schools, and digital education policies across India. #goa #socialmedia #childsafety #digitalsafety #mentalhealth #onlinesafety #techpolicy #indiadigital #regulation #youth #cyberwellbeing

Zoho founder and CEO Sridhar Vembu has questioned WhatsApp’s privacy claims amid a lawsuit accusing Meta of misleading users about its end-to-end encryption. The case, filed in a San Francisco federal court, includes plaintiffs from India, Australia, Mexico, and South Africa, who allege that WhatsApp’s encryption does not fully prevent internal access to messages. Commenting on the issue, Vembu warned that ad-driven business models inherently clash with user privacy, saying companies that monetise user behaviour cannot realistically put privacy first. Meta has denied the allegations, stating that WhatsApp has used Signal Protocol encryption for nearly a decade, and has said it may seek sanctions against the plaintiffs’ lawyers. The controversy has drawn reactions from tech leaders, with Elon Musk cautioning users against WhatsApp and Telegram founder Pavel Durov openly dismissing its security claims. The case has reignited debate over whether advertising-funded platforms can truly protect private communication. #whatsapp #meta #privacy #encryption #adtech #cybersecurity #technews #sridharvembu #zoho

Zoho founder and CEO Sridhar Vembu has questioned WhatsApp’s privacy claims amid a lawsuit accusing Meta of misleading users about its end-to-end encryption. The case, filed in a San Francisco federal court, includes plaintiffs from India, Australia, Mexico, and South Africa, who allege that WhatsApp’s encryption does not fully prevent internal access to messages. Commenting on the issue, Vembu warned that ad-driven business models inherently clash with user privacy, saying companies that monetise user behaviour cannot realistically put privacy first. Meta has denied the allegations, stating that WhatsApp has used Signal Protocol encryption for nearly a decade, and has said it may seek sanctions against the plaintiffs’ lawyers. The controversy has drawn reactions from tech leaders, with Elon Musk cautioning users against WhatsApp and Telegram founder Pavel Durov openly dismissing its security claims. The case has reignited debate over whether advertising-funded platforms can truly protect private communication. #whatsapp #meta #privacy #encryption #adtech #cybersecurity #technews #sridharvembu #zoho

Blinkit has launched the NCMC Bharat Yatra Card, making it easier for commuters to access public transport across multiple Indian cities through a single, interoperable card. Priced at ₹50, the zero-KYC, RuPay-powered card by Pine Labs supports instant UPI top-ups and removes the need for city-specific metro or bus cards. Built on the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) framework, it allows users to travel seamlessly across metros and buses in different cities using one card. The launch marks a significant step towards simplifying urban mobility and encouraging greater adoption of public transport by reducing friction in ticketing and payments. Currently, the NCMC Bharat Yatra Card is available via Blinkit deliveries in Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai, and Ahmedabad, with further expansion expected in the coming months. #ncmc #bharatyatracard #blinkit #publictransport #urbanmobility #digitalpayments #rupay #upiinindia #smartmobility #fintech #indiainnovation

Swiggy has become one of the first Indian consumer internet brands to roll out Model Context Protocol (MCP) across its ecosystem, enabling users to browse and place orders directly using AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, and Google Gemini. The AI integration spans Swiggy’s core business verticals food delivery, quick commerce platform Instamart, and going-out vertical Swiggy Dineout allowing users to discover, decide, and order through simple natural language prompts instead of traditional app navigation. According to Swiggy CTO Madhusudhan Rao, the move is aimed at removing friction from everyday decisions by making on-demand convenience more personalised, faster, and intuitive. Users can now interact with AI assistants to get recommendations, compare options, and complete transactions seamlessly. With this rollout, Instamart becomes the first quick commerce platform globally to adopt MCP, giving users conversational access to an assortment of 40,000+ SKUs, ranging from groceries and daily essentials to instant needs. For context, Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open-source standard introduced by Anthropic in November 2024. It allows large language models to securely connect with live systems such as APIs, databases, and services enabling AI agents to move beyond static responses to real-time, action-based interactions. This launch positions Swiggy at the forefront of AI-led commerce, signalling a shift where AI assistants could increasingly act as the new interface for food ordering, quick commerce, and local discovery. #swiggy #ai #mcp #modelcontextprotocol #chatgpt #claude #gemini #quickcommerce #foodtech #instamart #dineout #consumertech #indianstartups #futureofcommerce #aicommerce

Indian fintech startup Mysa has raised $3.4 million in a Pre-Series A round, taking its total funding to $6.2 million. The round was co-led by Blume Ventures, with strong participation from Antler (doubling down), IIMA Ventures, and Neon Fund, alongside new investors Piper Serica, Ikemori Ventures (Japan/IVS), and Raise Financial Services. The fresh capital will be used to scale Mysa’s AI-powered, bank-integrated finance stack, designed to replace legacy ERPs and fragmented banking tools used by finance teams. The platform currently unifies bills, approvals, reimbursements, automated accounting, and multi-bank payments into a single intelligent workflow giving CFOs real-time control and visibility. With this round, Mysa plans to expand into procurement, corporate cards, and embedded financial services, strengthening its position as an end-to-end operating system for business payments in India. As Indian enterprises mature and demand faster, more automated financial operations, Mysa is positioning itself at the intersection of AI, fintech, and enterprise finance, tackling complexity with a product-first approach. India’s first AI-powered platform for how businesses pay built for modern CFOs, not legacy systems. Ashutosh prasad Panigrahi Mohit Jain Mohit Rangaraju Arpita Kapoor Joseph Sebastian Ashish Fafadia Nitin Sharma Takaaki Nishino Gowri Shankar Nagarajan Abhay Agarwal Ajay Modi Hardik Dua Siddhartha Ahluwalia Nansi Mishra Soniya Sadhnani, ACA, CFA Vipul Patel #fundingnews #preseriesa #indianstartups #fintech #aifinance #cfotech #enterprisefinance #payments #startupindia #venturecapital #saas #b2bfintech

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday hailed the newly signed India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA) as the “mother of all trade deals”, calling it a historic milestone in global economic cooperation. The Prime Minister made the remarks while virtually addressing the Opening Ceremony of India Energy Week 2026. Referring to the agreement signed a day earlier, PM Modi said the deal reflects the deepening partnership between two of the world’s largest economies. Together, India and the EU account for nearly one-fourth of the global GDP, making this one of the most significant trade agreements in recent times. The India-EU trade deal aims to reduce tariffs, simplify regulations, promote investments, and strengthen cooperation across key sectors including manufacturing, clean energy, technology, automobiles, pharmaceuticals, and services. The agreement is expected to boost bilateral trade, enhance supply chain resilience, and attract European companies looking to diversify manufacturing away from traditional hubs. Government officials believe the FTA could play a crucial role in positioning India as a global manufacturing and export hub, aligning with flagship initiatives such as Make in India, Atmanirbhar Bharat, and PLI schemes. Increased access to European markets and advanced technologies is expected to support job creation and industrial growth in India. However, experts have flagged concerns that lower trade barriers could also lead to a surge of European imports into the Indian market, potentially impacting domestic industries and MSMEs if adequate safeguards are not enforced. Analysts say the long-term success of the deal will depend on balanced implementation and sector-specific protections. As India moves closer to deeper economic integration with Europe, the India-EU trade deal is being seen as a defining step that could reshape India’s role in global trade. #indiaeutradedeal #pmmodi #indianews #globaltrade #fta #manufacturingindia #makeinindia #indiaeurope #economynews #tradeagreement