HCLTech announced that it will begin giving its workers raises in October, following the lead of its bigger competitor Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), which did so last month with the support of robust revenue growth, improved deal visibility, and sizable artificial intelligence (AI) income.
The percentage increase that HCLTech would provide to its 226,640 employees was not disclosed. However, the business stated that it will adhere to the same procedure that was used the previous year. HCL has made a big decision by combining quarterly variable compensation with fixed pay for all of its workers, which it claims will help the less experienced workers.
HCL’s Senior and Midday Level Employee will Receive APB
Chief people officer Ram Sundararajan said that for the great majority, variable compensation was based on performance at the project level. In order to pay it on a monthly basis, we are combining it with fixed pay. Junior employees will benefit from quarterly performance-level compensation, which was primarily connected to them. HCL reiterated that senior and mid-level staff will continue to receive yearly performance bonuses, which tie compensation to performance.
During the second quarter, which concluded on September 30, the corporation hired 5,196 new engineering graduates and gained 3,489 employees. As a result, during the first half of the fiscal year, HCL hired roughly 7,180 new employees. Sundararajan had stated in April that the company would hire a lot more new hires in FY26 than in FY25. In FY26, HCL’s voluntary attrition decreased 30 basis points to 12.6%.
HCL Hired Additional 5,196 Freshers
Additionally, HCLTech onboarded 5,196 new hires in Q2, bringing the total number of new hires to 7,180 as of H1FY26. On a last-twelve-month (LTM) basis, voluntary attrition was 12.6%, a 20-basis-point decline from the quarter before. On October 13, HCLTech released their Q2 financial results.
For the quarter that concluded on September 30, 2025, net profit stayed constant at INR 4,235 crore. Compared to INR 28,862 crore in Q2FY25, the company’s revenue increased by 11% to INR 31,942 crore in Q2FY26. Revenue increased 5.2% sequentially, but net profit increased 10.17%. The operating margin increased 120 basis points sequentially to 17.5%. HCLTech has maintained its forecast for revenue growth in FY26 at 3-5% YoY in constant currency, with an operating profit or EBIT margin of 17-18% for the entire year.
Quick Shots
•HCLTech
to implement employee pay raises from October 2025.
•Junior
employees’ quarterly variable pay combined with fixed salary for monthly
payouts.
•HCLTech
continue to receive annual performance bonuses (APB).
•5,196
freshers joined in Q2; total 7,180 hires in H1FY26.
•HCLTech’s
Q2FY26 revenue rose 11% YoY to INR 31,942 crore.
Harvard University has highlighted that some college degrees may no longer offer the same career value as in the past. In a recent study, economists and faculty pointed out that certain fields are seeing declining returns in terms of career opportunities and earning potential. This has raised questions about the long-term benefits of traditional degree choices.
Degrees Experiencing Declining Value
The following degrees were identified in Harvard’s study as facing reduced market value due to oversaturation, technological changes, and evolving labour market demands:
Degree
Reason for Decline
General Business Administration
Oversaturation and changing hiring patterns
Computer Science
Rapid skill obsolescence without continuous learning
Engineering (Mechanical and Civil)
Impact of automation and global outsourcing
Accounting
Automation reducing traditional roles
Biochemistry
Narrow focus with limited career pathways
Humanities and Social Sciences
Careers often require further study or specialised skills
Psychology
Limited direct employment opportunities without advanced degrees
Sociology
Limited direct employment opportunities without advanced degrees
History
Lower mid-career wage growth
Philosophy
Strong critical thinking value but limited marketability
Harvard University has highlighted that some college degrees may no longer offer the same career value as in the past. Certain fields are seeing declining returns in terms of career opportunities and earning potential, raising questions about the long-term benefits of traditional degree choices.
Skills Matter More Than Degrees
Harvard’s research notes that adaptability, interdisciplinary knowledge, and in-demand skills increasingly determine career success. The findings suggest that students focus on developing relevant skills and continuous learning rather than relying solely on traditional degrees for career growth.
Harvard emphasises that the value of a degree can decline over time if it does not align with changing workplace demands. Graduates from these programmes may need additional skills or further education to maintain competitiveness.
Harvard Flags College Degrees Losing Market Value
Harvard University has highlighted that some college degrees may no longer offer the same career value as in the past. Certain fields are seeing declining returns in terms of career opportunities and earning potential, raising questions about the long-term benefits of traditional degree choices.
Preparing for the Future Job Market
Students can strengthen their career prospects by:
Investing in skills that remain relevant, such as data analytics, coding, AI, or healthcare expertise.
Pursuing interdisciplinary programmes that combine technical and creative skills.
Engaging in continuous learning and professional development to adapt to evolving industry demands.
Focusing on problem-solving, critical thinking, and communication skills, which are valuable across all sectors.
Pune-based direct-to-consumer (D2C) brand Two Brothers Organic Farms (TBOF) has successfully raised INR 110 crore (approximately $12.5 million) in a Series B funding round. The round saw participation from 360 One Asset, Rainmatter Investments, the Narotam Sekhsaria family office, and IGNITE Growth LLP.
This follows the company’s Series A round of INR 58.2 crore last year, led by Zerodha co-founder Nithin Kamath’s Rainmatter Foundation. The new funds will be used to expand processing facilities, strengthen supply chains, and broaden product reach both in India and international markets.
Focus on Sustainable Growth and Technology
Founded by Satyajit and Ajinkya Hange, Two Brothers Organic Farms operates on a farm-to-family model, connecting over 5,000 farmers to consumers. The company promotes natural farming, biodiversity, and supports rural livelihoods.
The brand produces and markets a range of organic products including ghee, rice, jaggery, wheat flour, spices, grains, and pulses. Around 60% of its revenue comes from its own website and app, while 15% comes from e-commerce marketplaces, 16-17% from quick commerce, and 20% from international sales, with the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the Middle East being its top international markets.
Strong Revenue Growth and Ambitious Plans
The company reported INR 108 crore in revenue for FY25, with a target of INR 200 crore for the current financial year. TBOF recorded a 58% year-over-year growth in FY24, generating INR 38.4 crore.
Looking ahead, Two Brothers Organic Farms plans to collaborate with 50,000 farmers and achieve INR 1,000 crore in annual revenue over the next five years, highlighting a strong growth trajectory in the Indian organic food market.
The company also intends to invest in technology, improve sourcing efficiency, and scale its distribution networks, aiming to meet the rising consumer demand for clean, traceable, and sustainably sourced food products.
Andrew Tulloch, co-founder of Mira Murati’s AI startup Thinking Machines Lab, has left the company to join Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram. The move highlights the growing competition among global tech firms for top artificial intelligence talent.
Andrew Tulloch exits Thinking Machines Lab to join Meta
Thinking Machines Lab confirmed Tulloch’s departure, saying he had “decided to pursue a different path for personal reasons.” The Wall Street Journal, which first reported the news, stated that Tulloch is heading to Meta to take up a senior AI-related role.
While his specific designation at Meta has not been disclosed, the hire fits into the company’s broader strategy to strengthen its artificial intelligence research and product development teams. Meta has been expanding its AI division rapidly, focusing on large language models, generative systems, and advanced infrastructure.
Why Tulloch’s move matters in the AI talent war
Tulloch is a respected AI researcher and engineer who previously worked with Meta before co-founding Thinking Machines Lab earlier this year alongside former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati. His decision to return to Meta suggests that large tech companies continue to hold a strong pull, even as high-profile startups attempt to attract top researchers with promising missions and equity-based incentives.
The move also reflects a broader pattern in the industry. Companies like Meta, OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google DeepMind are offering multi-million-dollar packages to secure leading AI experts. According to reports, Tulloch had earlier declined a billion-dollar offer from Mark Zuckerberg, though this figure has not been officially confirmed by either party.
What we know (and what we don’t)
Confirmed: Tulloch has officially left Thinking Machines Lab. The company has acknowledged his exit.
Confirmed: He is joining Meta, though the company has not released details of his new role or the start date.
Unconfirmed: Compensation details and the specific project or department Tulloch will join have not been made public.
Background: Thinking Machines Lab, founded in early 2025, focuses on advanced machine learning tools, including a platform called Tinker. The company has attracted global attention for its vision to build human-centric AI systems.
Impact on Thinking Machines and the AI industry
The departure of a co-founder is likely to be a moment of transition for Thinking Machines Lab, though not necessarily a setback. The company continues to be led by Mira Murati, who has been central to its research direction and long-term strategy.
For Meta, the hire reinforces its aggressive push to build AI capabilities that can rival OpenAI and Anthropic. The company is investing heavily in AI infrastructure, open-source models, and new research teams under its FAIR (Fundamental AI Research) division. Tulloch’s experience across both research and engineering makes him a valuable addition to that effort.
Industry observers say this move highlights the growing tug-of-war for AI expertise as companies race to build models that can define the next generation of computing.
Alliance Air, a government-owned regional airline, introduced ‘Rates Se Fursat’, a new pricing programme, on Monday to relieve travellers of the burden of fluctuating rates. According to an official, the latest initiative, which was introduced by Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu in front of Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha, Alliance Air Chairman Amit Kumar, and airline CEO Rajarshi Sen, offers a single, fixed fare that stays the same regardless of the booking date, even on the day of departure.
To assess the initiative’s operational viability and passenger response, a pilot programme will be launched on a few routes between October 13 and December 31, 2025.
Indian Aviation Sector’s Dynamic Air Pricing
The majority of the Indian aviation market uses a dynamic pricing model, meaning that demand, seasonality, and competition all affect ticket prices in real time. According to the statement, although it works well for managing income, passengers frequently become frustrated by the unpredictability of last-minute fares.
According to the statement, “Fare Se Fursat” seeks to solve this persistent issue by bringing consistency and transparency to pricing. During the introduction, Naidu stated that the “Fare Se Fursat” plan is a perfect fit with the fundamental ideas of the UDAN plan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s goal of democratising aviation and making it accessible to the middle class, lower middle class, and neo-middle class is being carried out today by Alliance Air.
Alliance Air carried 37,000 passengers in total during the reporting month, accounting for 0.3% of the 1.29 crore passengers carried by all domestic carriers during that month, according to the August DGCA monthly traffic figures. According to DGCA data, the airline’s OTP was the lowest among the five carriers—IndiGo, Akasa, Air India Group, and SpiceJet—at 55% in August 2025, despite recording a load factor of 68.7%. According to the aircraft fleet tracking website Planespotter, as of October 11, it has eight aircraft in operation and twelve on the ground out of a total of twenty in the fleet.
Aiming at Making Aviation More People Oriented-Naidu
Making aviation more people-orientated has been Naidu’s main goal since assuming leadership of the ministry. The minister went on to say that even for last-minute reservations, the static ticket system ensures cost predictability by removing the uncertainty and anxiety brought on by fluctuating airfares. He claimed that the introduction of Udan Yatri Cafes, which sell tea for INR 10, coffee for INR 20, and snacks for INR 20 at airports, is elevating and lowering the cost of air travel.
“Now we are taking a step further and addressing the major concern of passengers, which is the airfare,” Naidu stated. With the concept of One Route, One Fare, Alliance Air has taken a daring and exemplary move, the minister added, characterising the airline as the “backbone” of the government’s regional air connectivity initiative UDAN, which links Tier-2/3 cities to the national aviation network. It is genuinely ‘Naye Bharat ki Udaan’ to be concerned with public service and not just profit.
Quick Bites
· Rates Se Fursat” — a new fixed
fare initiative by Alliance Air.
· Pilot phase from Oct 13 to Dec
31, 2025 on select routes.
· To relieve travellers from
fluctuating airfares and offer price transparency.
· Introduced by Civil Aviation
Minister Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu in presence of senior officials.
India’s startup and corporate ecosystem witnessed significant developments on 13th October 2025, with notable funding rounds, technological advancements, and strategic investments. Key highlights include fintech startup GoodScore raising $13 million, wealthtech firm Dezerv securing $40 million, and deep-tech Chara Technologies obtaining $6 million. Additionally, Jio Payments Bank forays into next-gen tolling, and Foxconn announces a INR 15,000 crore investment in Tamil Nadu.
GoodScore raises $13 Mn in Series A led by Peak XV
GoodScore, a fintech startup, raised $13 million in Series A led by Peak XV. The platform enhances credit scoring using advanced technology, focusing on underserved customers. The funds will scale operations, improve AI-driven analytics, and expand financial inclusion, helping individuals and small businesses access loans and financial services efficiently.
Dezerv raises $40 Mn led by Premji Invest and Accel
Dezerv, a wealthtech firm, secured $40 million in a funding round led by Premji Invest and Accel. The platform provides tech-driven investment advisory and portfolio management. Funds will support technology expansion, product development, and customer acquisition, making sophisticated wealth management accessible, personalized, and scalable across India for retail and high-net-worth investors.
Chara Technologies raises $6 Mn in Series A led by Arkam Ventures
Chara Technologies, a deep-tech startup, raised $6 million in Series A led by Arkam Ventures, with participation from Kalaari Capital and Exfinity Venture Partners. The company develops rare-earth-free electric motors and controllers. Funds will accelerate production, R&D, and technology development, supporting sustainable, high-performance EV powertrain solutions for domestic and global markets.
Key Business News for 10th October 2025
Jio Payments Bank Expands into Next-Gen Tolling Services
Jio Payments Bank has secured a contract to implement a FASTag-based Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system for Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling at two toll plazas between Gurugram and Jaipur. This initiative aims to enhance digital infrastructure and streamline highway toll operations across India.
Foxconn to Invest INR 15,000 Crore in Tamil Nadu, Creating 14,000 Jobs
Foxconn has committed INR 15,000 crore to establish advanced manufacturing and R&D operations in Tamil Nadu, focusing on AI-driven technology and value-added production. The investment is expected to generate 14,000 high-value engineering jobs, marking a significant boost to the state’s electronics sector.
This article has been contributed by Sai Krishna Musunuru, Director & CEO of Payinstacard
In less than 10 years, the monetary system of India has changed drastically. It went through an extremely fast and turning point change, where it moved from cash-based transactions to one of the most digitally connected economies in the world. The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) is the one that has led such a change. It is the core of India’s digital payments ecosystem and is considered one of the most successful public-private digital payment initiatives all over the world.
Basically, the NPCI through its various innovations like the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), RuPay and Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS), has completely changed how Indians make payments, save and transact their money. The convenience brought about by the organization is only a part of the story, as it has also allowed the economy at all levels to be more open, trusted and transparent.
The Genesis of a Payment Revolution
The purpose of setting up the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) in 2008 by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) was single-minded: to build a sturdy, interoperable payment and settlement system that would be fit for an economy with a billion people.
In those days, the financial system in India was disjointed and digital penetration was quite low; besides, the transaction costs were high. The launch of the Immediate Payment Service (IMPS) and later the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) facilitated the interoperability and the instant payment ecosystem to be established.
Every month, NPCI is performing multi-billion transactions through its network which are non-stop fund transfers, payments to merchants, and various programs to bring unbanked people into the banking fold under a secure and regulated system.
UPI: The Game-Changer
The start of UPI in 2016 was the flag-off that India’s digital trip took a new direction. UPI, designed as an open, interoperable protocol, made it possible for the clients to have more than one account linked to them and carry out instant transactions of real-time value through a simple mobile phone interface.
One of the great strengths of UPI is its cleverness and general standard. It does not depend on a particular app, bank, or device thus, any user located in the farthest corner of the country can make immediate money transfers simply by a few taps.
This framework not merely made payments more accessible to common people but also attracted huge innovations. Financial institutions, banks, and startups could now leverage UPI’s infrastructure, thus, escalating the competition and creativity. Consequently, digital transactions became open to billions who have never gone through the process of formal banking.
UPI is projected to handle more than one billion transactions per day by 2025, which basically means that no other system can have such a scale and be so reliable as UPI.
The facilitation of transactions is not the only thing that NPCI does. However, low and very low-income people are also beneficiaries of the system, albeit to a lesser extent. It’s worth noting that the adoption of digital payments in India has been mainly driven by the affordability of mobile phones and Internet access, rather than by bank penetration or the level of financial literacy.
There has been a significant change in the digital payment ecosystem in the country post the advent of systems by NPCI. The shift has been from metros and affluent users to the entire country where digital finance has become accessible through UPI, RuPay, F, and BBPS, allowing participation in the formal economy by millions.
The integration of services such as Aadhaar-based authentication and offline UPI Lite transactions has enabled even feature phone users to join the digital bandwagon. Small businesses and micro-entrepreneurs made it easy to accept digital payments by using UPI QR codes and charging very low transaction fees.
This inclusionary model has made the switch to digital payments from a privilege into a public utility (the next and very important step towards the realisation of India’s vision of a nearly cash-light economy).
Catalyst for Trust and Transparency
Building Trust in Digital Payments
NPCI is among one of those who have helped very much in the digital payment ecosystem to build trust. Their design allows for safe, well-regulated, and documented transactions, which reduces the cases of fraud and thus, increases the trust of the users.
NPCI by implementing interoperability and standardized protocols has made digital payments to be transparent and open for inspection, which has been a major factor in fighting leakages in government subsidies and welfare schemes. For example, Direct Benefit Transfers (DBTs) are currently done by crediting the money directly into the accounts of the recipients without any intermediaries thus, guaranteeing both the effectiveness and the monitoring of the process.
In addition, e-RUPI, a digital voucher system, is one of the programs which reflect NPCI’s innovative mindset towards targeted and purpose-specific disbursements, allowing the government and public welfare to benefit from fintech innovation.
Policy Push: The Backbone of India’s Digital Payment Growth
Policy ecosystems fundamentally aided NPCI to achieve one of its major successes; the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and The Government of India put in such an ecosystem. Though Digital India, Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), and Aadhaar were significant moves that ensured digital inclusion, regulatory support was essential in preserving the security and standardization of various platforms.
In fact, a scenario where both traditional banks and fintechs have an equal opportunity to operate has been created due to the RBIs continuous focus on interoperability, security, and affordability. Addressing the policies in particular that are designed to promote the adoption of digital transactions as well as consumer rights there are those that support merchants with zero-MDR transactions, organize financial literacy campaigns, and run cybersecurity awareness programs. Other vital frameworks are the Payment and Settlement Systems Act (2007), the main act for regulation and supervision of payment systems and the Data Protection Guidelines for Payment Systems that secure user information.
Alongside this, the Bharat BillPay, e-RUPI, and UPI Regulatory Framework schemes are the pillars of the digital economy that allow for hassle-free digital transactions and welfare programs beneficiary-specific implementation, thus, helping users and merchants.
It was not one single event that caused India to make it on the global list as a leader in digital payments, but the combination of foresight in regulation, public infrastructure, and relentless innovation were the game-changers. This instance in India is a vivid demonstration of how policy, technology and trust working together, can redefine a whole financial ecosystem and, thereby, millions of lives can be benefitted.
Adapting to Emerging Technologies
Another reason why NPCI is successful is that it has always been able to adjust its strategy to meet changing circumstances. The evolution of consumer needs and global fintech trends has brought NPCI to support traditional bank-led systems only to complete the integration of the most advanced technologies such as tokenization, contactless payments, and biometric authentication.
Biometric UPI authentication, for instance, the latest development that allows users to authenticate transactions with their fingerprints or facial features, is yet another step towards digital comfort and safety. Such breakthroughs are essential given the growth of the Indian digital landscape and the variety of cyber threats that have appeared.
Furthermore, NPCI’s endeavors to connect UPI with foreign payment networks beginning with nations like Singapore and the UAE reflect the goal of India to set UPI as the global payment standard.
Conclusion: Building the Digital Backbone of New India
NPCI’s impact on the shift to digital payments in India is a revolutionary change to the least degree. In fact, along with providing the technical infrastructure, it has also been the trust infrastructure that forms the basis of a digital economy of the modern era.
NPCI, by bringing banks, fintechs, consumers, and merchants all under one interoperable framework and thus, eliminating the need for any direct linkage, has changed the way India transacts altogether. In this manner, payments have become not only quicker but also safer and accessible to all
Having become the world’s benchmark for large-scale, inclusive digital transformation, India is now gazed upon by many and in this context, NPCI acts as a shining example of how policy, innovation, and public trust all together can enable a country to empower one transaction at a time.
AI assistants for meetings are changing the game when it comes to teamwork. Note-taking was long since expunged from the team’s soul by listening, recording, and composing concise task-oriented summaries. The tools catch the gist of the conversation, assigning follow-ups and logging decisions, leaving nothing to chance. The transcripts provide a powerful follow-up mechanism for those in attendance or out. Intelligent search will find details in seconds. Many integrate with calendars, chats, and project tools to keep work on track. With voice activity detection, instant summary of actions, and reminders, they save time and minimize errors.
Fireflies.ai – Best AI Meeting Assistants to Replace Note-Taking
Fireflies.ai is making life easy when it comes to meetings. It listens in on voice and then transcribes into a summary with actionable points, promptly waiting for follow-up. Their AI joins your active Zoom, Google Meet, Teams call and discreetly makes it, in one breath, a searchable note and then quite an easy recap. It has analytics onboard to determine who spoke, for how long, and to give you insights you might have missed. In all, a helpful application in keeping more than 10 million users on track and organized at their workplace, this app has many times provided a lot of satisfaction to the users.
Processing is slow, especially for fast-paced teams.
depth of analytics is not as strong as the competition.
Pricing
Plan
Pricing
Pro
$18/seat/month
Business
$29/seat/month
Enterprise
$39/seat/month
Otter.ai
Otter.ai – Best AI Meeting Assistants to Replace Note-Taking
Otter.ai transforms how teams catch up on meetings. An AI listens, transcribes, and flags points of importance within the meeting, allowing people to focus entirely on it instead of taking notes. Live summaries and automatic action items keep ideas clear and easy to follow. Apart from that, people can get AI-powered answers from previous transcripts, making it easy to find information when such a necessity arises. Otter.ai works seamlessly with Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet, making transcripts and highlights available to the entire team. Users save hours every week, plus they also boast of having up to 95% accuracy in their transcripts.
Jamie – Best AI Meeting Assistants to Replace Note-Taking
Jamie simplifies meeting summaries, action items, and decentralized AI. Once trained with audio capture, live or virtual, transcribed using Zoom, Teams, and in-person talks, it creates well-cooked transcripts with intelligent summaries and decisions. The assistant enables asking questions, drafting follow-ups, and tasking at any time you think of it-often with a tap or two. Speaker tags and customized note templates keep everything nice and tidy. Supporting 100+ languages and built on privacy principles, Jamie is safe for client work. By putting in easy calendar links, it takes away any hassle of the platform. Jamie empowers teams along the axes of control, clarity, and focus-undisturbed by the bot.
Pros
Fully bot-free for maximum confidentiality and discretion
Sembly AI – Best AI Meeting Assistants to Replace Note-Taking
Sembly AI provides smart assistance during meetings by dealing with the needs of transcription, taking notes, and tracking action points so that nothing is lost. It records and transcribes in real time within Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, etc. After each call, Sembly summarizes clearly and in a searchable manner, and even keeps track of the tasks assigned during meetings. It supports 48+ languages and integrates into your project management and CRM tools to turn conversations into project plans. The setup is easy, and the interface is user-friendly for everyone. Aimed specifically at remote and global teams, Sembly essentially promotes focus, saving time, and eliminating manual tasks.
Pros
Automates task assignment and document generation
Has deep integrations with CRMs and project tools such as Slack, Trello, and Salesforce
Sharing and collaboration features are quite flexible
Cons
Speaker recognition might fail in noisy meetings
Not friendly for customizing niche workflows
Pricing
Plan
Pricing
Professional
$15/month
Team
$29/user/month
Enterprise
Contact Sales
tl;dv
Website
tldv.io
Rating
4
Free Trial
Yes
Best For
Recording, transcribing & summarizing meetings
tl;dv – Best AI Meeting Assistants to Replace Note-Taking
tl;dv instantly transforms meetings into clarity to help all the teams make clear decisions and actions through a long call. This AI assistant listens, transcribes, and tags important moments intelligently across Zoom, Google Meet, and Teams to summarize well in over 40 languages. Unique features include clipping video highlights, searching transcripts, and even syncing meeting data to Notion, Slack, and thousands more apps. Reports generated by AI show trends among the various meetings by drafting instant follow-ups, thus easing the workflows. It is ensured that GDPR compliance is there for privacy, simple integration fits all kinds of teams, with flexible plans.
Pros
Multi-lingual transcription and adaptable forms.
GDPR privacy with encrypted data storage.
AI system that is very competent in terms of reporting and tracking of action items.
Cons
Possible technical glitches and failures in recordings.
The free version has limitations on the length of a session and volume.
Fathom – Best AI Meeting Assistants to Replace Note-Taking
Fathom has developed an innovative AI assistant designed to simplify note-taking. Through the assistant, meetings can be recorded, transcribed, and summarized so that teams will not have to bother with the activity. Fathom works through platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, and Teams to produce real-time summarization, action items, and transcriptions. Highlights and AI insights will appear right after the call, while CRM integration handles follow-ups and sales updates. With unlimited recordings, even on the free plan, and easy onboarding, Fathom works well for startups and large teams. It’s clear, privacy-safe summaries save hours and ensure no detail or decision is missed. The searchable archive renders every meeting an asset for use at any time.
Pros
“Ask Fathom” AI for smart Q&A across meetings
Syncing with all CRMs like Salesforce, HubSpot, etc., and Outlook
Privacy with SOC2, HIPAA, and GDPR compliance
Cons
No mobile app
Not much customization of summary templates can be done.
Pricing
Plan
Pricing
Premium
$20/user/month
Team
$18/user/month (Min 2+ users)
Business
$28/user/month (Min 2+ users)
Notta
Website
notta.ai
Rating
4.5
Free Trial
Yes
Best For
Transcribing, summarizing, and sharing meeting notes
Notta – Best AI Meeting Assistants to Replace Note-Taking
Notta makes meetings simple by turning every word into neat notes, smart summaries, and searchable transcripts. Teams can stop typing and focus on the talk. It works with Zoom, Meet, Teams, and Webex, joining calls on its own and recording in 58+ languages with speaker labels. AI tools create summaries, mind maps, instant translations, and even give chatbot Q&A from transcripts. Notta’s templates make note-taking, sharing, and storing hassle-free, aside from its built-in scheduler for meetings. Cross-platform synchronization combined with Notta’s crisp and precise transcription aids in keeping global teams focused, ideas captured, and actions done quickly—wherever they meet.
Pros
Customizable AI templates, mind map, and chat Q&A
Rapid editing and multi-language support with translation tools
Sharing notes collaboratively and managing files securely
Cons
Free plan limits recording to 3 minutes for each meeting
Mobile and dashboard usability could be enhanced
Pricing
Plan
Pricing
Pro
$13.49/month
Business
$27.99/month
Enterprise
Custom
MeetGeek
Website
meetgeek.ai
Rating
4.5
Free Trial
Yes
Best For
Automated meeting transcription, AI summaries, and workflow integration
MeetGeek – Best AI Meeting Assistants to Replace Note-Taking
MeetGeek is that intelligent meeting assistant that records, transcribes, and summarizes everything said within every talk, leaving the teams to concentrate on the discussion. Connects with Zoom, Teams, and Google Meet to build automatic transcripts and AI summaries entailing action items, key points, and next steps. A searchable knowledge base and built-in analytics to enable easy review of notes, what was said by whom, and team productivity. Its simple design allows easy sharing, auto-disciplinary notes, speaker tags, and role-based dashboards. MeetGeek connects with 2,000+ work applications so they know how to save time, follow up quickly, and have everything at hand for teams of all sizes.
Pros
Extremely accurate topic-based summaries with analytics
Automatic voice recognition with identification
High integrations: Slack, Teams, CRM, and more
Cons
Audio/video processing may run slower for casual meetings.
Unreliability in terms of the bot joining random meetings.
Pricing
Plan
Pricing
Pro
$19/user/month
Business
$39/user/month
Enterprise
$59/user/month
Read.ai
Website
read.ai
Rating
4.5
Free Trial
Yes
Best For
Automated meeting transcription, summaries, and enterprise search
Read.ai – Best AI Meeting Assistants to Replace Note-Taking
Read.ai redefines meetings with intelligent AI, delivering fast and unified insights through all notes, chat, email, and customer tools. Each conversation is analyzed, searched, and summarized regardless of the platform used in order to bring critical points, actions, and next steps into focus. Integrated security and privacy mean the conversations and data remain protected, while platform-agnostic integrations allow sync across all workspaces into one simple dashboard. Read.ai can support over 20 languages and empower teams to discover and share outcomes across meetings, process flows, and customer chats in the core premise: seamless knowledge discovery, smarter follow-ups, and a single source of truth.
Pros
AI search and summary for every meeting tool and workflow
Works regardless of what meeting platform is being used-truly platform agnostic
SOC II-certified, does not train on customer data
Cons
Advanced insights depend on integrations and amount of data
Requires setup to connect multiple tools
Pricing
Plan
Pricing
Pro
$19.75/user/month
Enterprise
$29.75/user/month
Enterprise+
$39.75/user/month
Fellow
Website
fellow.ai
Rating
4.5
Free Trial
Yes
Best For
AI-powered meeting transcription, summaries, and workflow integration
Fellow – Best AI Meeting Assistants to Replace Note-Taking
Fellow transforms meetings into a focused action session with AI-backed notes, summaries, and organized action items—keeping everyone present and aligned. This software will join meetings in Zoom, Teams, or Google Meet and will transcribe accurately in 99 languages, auto-summarizing discussions and surfacing decisions. Fellow integrates natively with the leading tools such as Asana, Jira, Slack, and CRMs, and its “Ask Fellow” chatbot allows teams to instantly surface meeting insights or draft follow-ups. Shared agendas, pre-meeting briefs, and a centralized hub for recordings keep Fellow working for teams in preparing and closing the loop on action items, all with tight privacy controls for sensitive content.
Pros
Rapid integration with leading productivity tools
More than 500 templates that cater to every type of meeting
Centralized repository that keeps meeting notes, agendas
Cons
Does not provide the storage of full transcriptions
Custom keyword search seems simple across all meetings.
Pricing
Plan
Pricing
Team
$7/user/month
Business
$15/user/month
Enterprise
$25/user/month
Conclusion
Intelligent meeting assistants have changed how teams work; previously, they had lengthy and cluttered calls, but now, these calls can be focused and productive as the best-suited assistant captures, organizes, and shares meeting points in real time as key insights and action items without any manual effort. Now they have introduced instant summaries, searchable archives, and easy collaboration features, thus making meetings less complex and speeding them up with less stress.
What are Best AI Meeting Assistants to Replace Note-Taking?
Best AI Meeting Assistants to Replace Note-Taking are:
Fireflies.ai
Otter.ai
Jamie
Sembly AI
tl;dv
Fathom
Notta
MeetGeek
Read.ai
Fellow
Can AI meeting tools generate action items automatically?
Yes, many tools use natural language processing (NLP) to identify tasks and action items discussed during meetings.
How do AI meeting assistants improve team productivity?
AI meeting assistants save time by automating note-taking, summarizing discussions, and creating task lists. They also help teams stay aligned through searchable transcripts, instant summaries, and integrations with collaboration tools—reducing post-meeting confusion and improving workflow efficiency.
According to various media reports, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has offered to close a FEMA violation case against the Walmart group company Flipkart, provided it acknowledges its error and pays a fine.
Flipkart was granted the option last week by the Enforcement Directorate in accordance with the Foreign Exchange Management Act’s (FEMA) compounding provisions. Flipkart has been given the option to compound, according to a PTI report. Flipkart has been requested by ED to acknowledge its error, pay a fine, and shut down the seller network connected to it.
ED Also Summoned Amazon
Amazon India was also called by the ED to enquire about the company’s condition. An Amazon India representative who was contacted stated that the business does not comment on investigations that are still underway. But according to ED sources, they haven’t offered Flipkart any offers regarding compounding.
The compounding option provided by the ED is intended to increase India’s bargaining position in the current bilateral trade negotiations with the United States, according to an official of one of the e-commerce companies who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Without having to deal with drawn-out enforcement processes, firms can use the compounding rules to freely admit violations of the FEMA regulation and settle the case by paying a penalty for the violations. The ED has been investigating Flipkart and Amazon India for allegedly violating FEMA regulations.
Why E-Commerce Players are Under ED Scanner?
Allegations have been made that these businesses are using their platform to promote deals in an effort to increase sales. In July 2021, the ED first sent a show-cause notice to Flipkart, associated companies, and individuals, asking them to explain why they shouldn’t face additional charges under India’s Foreign Direct Investment laws and regulations for alleged infractions from 2009 to 2015.
The notification referred to the years 2009–2015, prior to the U.S. giant Walmart acquiring the majority of Flipkart. Even after Flipkart was acquired by Walmart, ED nevertheless sent notice to the company to look into its operations after 2016. The corporation received its most recent notice in April of this year. Flipkart is also under investigation by the Competition Commission of India for alleged violations of competition laws by some of its Indian subsidiaries and other parties.
One of Flipkart’s subsidiaries obtained a non-confidential copy of the CCI DG’s Investigation Report in September 2024, which contained allegations of specific violations of competition law.
Quick Shots
•ED offers Flipkart the option to settle a FEMA
violation case by paying a penalty.
•Walmart-owned Flipkart asked to acknowledge errors
and close related seller network.
•Compounding option given under Foreign Exchange
Management Act (FEMA) provisions.
•Amazon India also summoned by ED for similar
FEMA-related enquiries.
•ED’s move seen as part of India’s tightening
scrutiny of e-commerce giants.
•FEMA case dates back to 2009–2015, before Walmart’s
acquisition of Flipkart.
The payments bank is leveraging its digital payments capabilities to serve the nation through infrastructure-linked financial services
Jio Payments Bank Limited (JPBL), a digital-first payments bank and a subsidiary of Jio Financial Services Limited (JFSL), has won a contract to implement the FASTag Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR)-based MLFF toll collection system across two toll plazas – Shahjahanpur and Manoharpura – between Gurugram and Jaipur.
The MLFF tolling system is an advanced electronic toll collection technology that accurately identifies, classifies, and charges vehicles travelling without requiring them to slow down, stop, or use designated toll lanes. It leverages a combination of Radio-Frequency Identification, ANPR, Dedicated Short-Range Communication, and Global Navigation Satellite System technologies to ensure smooth, contactless tolling operations across multiple lanes, thereby reducing congestion and improving commuter convenience.
These plazas were awarded as part of the tender issued by Indian Highways Management Company Limited (IHMCL) for managing toll processing under India’s pilot MLFF project, aimed at enabling seamless, barrier-free vehicular movement on national highways. So far, five MLFF bids have been awarded, of which JPBL has secured two, demonstrating its competitiveness in this space.
Securing the contract to collect and process toll for an MLFF project is a significant milestone for JPBL, building on the foundation of its FASTag acquisition-based toll processing operations, which commenced in July 2025. JPBL is already managing toll operations at 11 toll plazas on different highway stretches across the country as an acquirer bank. With the acquisition of toll management rights at these two MLFF road projects, JPBL is well-positioned to play a pivotal role in the country’s evolving infrastructure-linked digital payments landscape.
For its toll management operations across highways, JPBL is exploring synergies with Jio Platforms, leveraging the latter’s robust digital capabilities. As India witnesses a period of rapid physical infrastructure creation, complemented by state-of-the-art digital infrastructure, JPBL is well-positioned to play a catalytic role in this transformation.
Vinod Easwaran, Managing Director & CEO, Jio Payments Bank Limited says: “Our expansion into the tolling ecosystem is a natural progression of our mission to digitise everyday payments and build smart financial infrastructure at scale. This milestone reflects our commitment to delivering seamless, citizen-centric financial services and driving access, efficiency, and inclusion across the country. By leveraging the synergy of digital capabilities with the group ecosystem, we are actively building capabilities to participate in the evolving mobility ecosystem in India.”
