Newsletter
Wholesale inflation takes a breather, digital privacy law kicks in, and Adani powers up Assam.
🗓 Morning, folks and Happy Monday! ☀️
Here’s some good news to start your day,
In a major boost for India’s agri exporters, the US has lifted tariffs on a wide range of farm & processed-food goods to ease domestic inflation.
Trump’s executive order scraps duties on 254 products, including coffee, tea, tropical fruits, nuts and spices, covering nearly $1 billion of India’s exports.
Shipments of tea, coffee, spices and cashew nuts had been hit hard in recent months, but with the tariff rollback, India’s agri exports are now poised for a rebound.
💡 Spotlight: Wholesale inflation turns negative 🛒
India’s wholesale price inflation fell to -1.21% in October, this drop came because the prices of food, fuel and many everyday products went down.
A month earlier, inflation was almost flat at 0.13%, and last year it was much higher at 2.75%.
Food prices saw the biggest relief, falling much more sharply than in September.
The government said this was expected, mainly due to the GST rate cuts on many common items. These lower taxes, along with a favourable base effect, have helped bring down both wholesale and retail inflation, giving consumers a bit of breathing room.
Let’s hit it!
1 Big Thing: India’s first digital data privacy law comes into action 👨💻
India’s long-awaited data privacy law has finally come into force. Two years after Parliament approved the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, the government has issued the official rules and set up a four-member board to implement it.
Here’s the breakdown: companies have up to 18 months to follow the new requirements. Consent managers, which help users control what data they share, get 12 months to register.
Social media platforms, online services, and any business handling user data must clearly explain what information they collect and why.
They must also give users an easy way to withdraw consent or file complaints with the Data Protection Board.
Within 18 months, every platform dealing with personal data must appoint a data protection officer.
For users under 18, companies must obtain verified parental consent, and some types of data used for tracking children will be fully banned.
For national security reasons, the government can request personal data from any company and may stop them from informing users.
What this means for you: apps and websites will need to be more transparent. You will see clearer permission prompts, more control over your data, and easier ways to get it deleted.
2. Cognizant to acquire 3Cloud to boost Azure’s edge 🤝
Cognizant has entered into an agreement to acquire 3Cloud to expand its capabilities in cloud transformation and enterprise AI enablement.
3Cloud is a technology services firm that helps businesses modernise using Microsoft Azure through cloud consulting, data solutions, and managed services.
For context, Microsoft Azure is a cloud platform that lets businesses store data, run apps, and access computing power online without needing physical servers.
What’s happening: this move will bring 3Cloud’s expertise in Azure, data and AI, and application innovation into Cognizant’s global ecosystem. It strengthens Cognizant’s position as a strategic partner for enterprises preparing for AI-driven operations.
Together, the two companies will become one of Microsoft’s strongest and most experienced Azure partners worldwide.
Big theme: this deal is part of a wider global trend where tech companies partner with or acquire specialised firms to scale faster in cloud and AI.
Microsoft’s partnership with OpenAI, Hexaware-Google Cloud deal, Amazon’s investment in Anthropic, all reflect this shift.
Cognizant’s move to acquire 3Cloud places it firmly in this race, giving it quicker access to cloud talent and stronger AI capabilities.
3. Reliance supercharges Andhra with 1 GW AI data centre 🔥
Reliance Industries is all set to install a 1 GW AI data centre and a 6 GWp solar power project to support it.
FYI: this is the second big-ticket investment commitment from a major corporate player after Google announced a 1 GW data centre cluster in Vizag with a $15 billion investment over five years.
What’s the deal: the proposed AI centre will be a fully modular, future-ready facility capable of hosting advanced GPUs, TPUs and AI processors.
It is planned as a twin to the company’s gigawatt-scale data centre in Jamnagar. It intends to deliver AI tools to students, farmers, entrepreneurs and families through the MyJio platform.
That’s not all, Reliance will also build a massive 6-GWp solar power project in Andhra Pradesh.
Why Andhra: global giants and tech companies are betting big on Andhra Pradesh because it offers massive infrastructure, affordable land, stable power, and aggressive pro-AI policies.
The state aims to build ~6 GW of data-centre capacity and is developing a 500-acre Data City dedicated to AI and deep-tech.
With fast approvals, strong incentives, coastal connectivity, and an active push to develop AI talent, Andhra Pradesh has become a low-risk, high-scale hub attracting both global and Indian tech investors.
4. Manipal Group submits bid for Byju’s parent Think & Learn 📘
Manipal Education & Medical Group has submitted an expression of interest (EOI) to bid for Think & Learn, the bankrupt parent of Byju’s.
For context, an EOI simply means a company has formally indicated it wants to explore or participate in a potential deal.
The deets: this is Manipal’s second submission after the deadline was extended to November 13. The group now plans to review Think & Learn’s financial and operational details before deciding on a full resolution plan.
Manipal’s interest is strategic because it already owns a majority stake in Aakash Educational Services, while Think & Learn holds about 25%. Gaining control of Think & Learn would allow Manipal to consolidate Aakash under one parent and streamline operations.
The why: the move isn’t mainly about rescuing Byju’s. The real target is Aakash. Think & Learn’s insolvency has created uncertainty around the test-prep business.
By entering the bidding process, Manipal aims to secure full ownership and bring stability to a company it already leads, without necessarily taking on the task of reviving Byju’s troubled core operations.
5. Stocks that kept us interested 🚀
1. Adani bags major contracts to boost power capacity in Assam 🔥
Adani Power & Adani Green Energy have secured Letters of Award (LoA) worth about ₹63,000 crore from the Assam Power Distribution Company. Shares of both the companies gained in Friday’s trading session.
Breaking it down: the new orders involve two big projects, one is a modern thermal power plant, and the other is a pumped storage (energy storage) facility.
Adani Power plans to invest ₹48,000 crore to build a large new power plant in Assam.
This plant will have a capacity of 3,200 MW and will use ultra-super-critical technology, which basically means it will be more efficient and produce more electricity using less fuel.
Adani Green Energy, on the other hand, will invest about ₹15,000 crore to set up two pumped storage plants. Together, these two plants will be able to store and supply 2,700 MW of power.
Why it matters: this is one of the largest power sector investments the Northeast has seen in years. Assam is betting on a mix of reliable thermal power and large-scale clean energy storage to secure its future energy needs.
For the Adani Group, these LoAs strengthen its position as a dominant national player across both traditional and renewable power.
2. Coromandel aims to boost Andhra’s farm economy with ₹2,000 crore 🍀
Coromandel International has inked a deal worth ₹2,000 crore with Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board.
Coromandel International is an agri-solutions company that offers products like fertilisers, crop protection products, specialty nutrients, and organic fertilisers.
The deets: under the agreement, the company will build a new fertiliser manufacturing plant in Andhra Pradesh, while also investing in green ammonia and green hydrogen production. The deal further includes expanding its overall fertiliser capacity to meet demand.
Why it matters: this move aligns with Andhra Pradesh’s broader push to attract $1 trillion in investments. The state’s agricultural sector is growing at 8.8%, driven by rapid adoption of biotech solutions.
The state is also tapping into the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM) with plans to scale up green hydrogen and green ammonia production.
3. Bharat Electronics bags fresh orders worth ₹871 crore ⬆️
Bharat Electronics announced a new order win of ₹871 crore. The company’s stock went up 2% on the back of this news.
The deets: orders include dispatch of a fire control system, thermal imager, ground support equipment, upgrades, spares, services etc.
Big picture: the news also comes amid rising security concerns in the country, driving demand for indigenised, high-quality defence systems.
With this order, BEL’s order book now exceeds ₹74,453 crore.
Market Bites this week
6. How does love move markets in India?
Indian weddings have quietly become a ₹10 lakh crore consumption engine, powering everything from gold and retail to jobs and taxes.
A single celebration activates over a dozen vendors, hundreds of workers, and an entire micro-economy built on UPI, EMIs, and digital planning.
Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities are now driving the fastest growth, as creator culture, curated décor, and destination weddings go mainstream.
Even with inflation and curfews, the sector remains one of India’s strongest, most resilient demand drivers. In India, love doesn’t just move hearts, it moves markets.
What else are we snackin’ 🍿
🛰️ R&D boost: Ericsson is expanding its India R&D presence with a new Bengaluru centre that will initially work on 5G and 5G-Advanced features for its 5G baseband.
🌱 Green boost: TruAlt Bioenergy signed an MoU with the Andhra Pradesh government to establish a sustainable aviation fuel plant, supported by the state’s investment agency APEDB.
That’s a wrap! Don’t let the Monday blues get to you.
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