IBM made news throughout the world in 2023 when it laid off almost 8,000 workers; the majority of them were from its human resources department.
The step was taken to introduce AskHR, a proprietary AI platform intended to automate tedious administrative tasks. However, rather than reducing its personnel overall, IBM ended up recruiting the same number of people again, this time in fields that were far different from traditional human resources.
According to a recent Wall Street Journal interview with CEO Arvind Krishna, the shift exposes a deliberate workforce pivot: automate basic tasks and reinvest in positions that call for human ingenuity, problem-solving, and customer interaction.
AskHR Changing the Business Dynamics
Payroll administration, vacation requests, and employee paperwork were among the procedures that AskHR was designed to expedite. Approximately 94% of these jobs are currently handled by the AI system, which recorded over 11.5 million encounters in 2024 alone.
The effect was not just functional; IBM’s net promoter score increased from -35 to +74, indicating a notable increase in customer satisfaction. It was also difficult to overlook the productivity benefits. According to IBM, automating HR functions increased productivity across more than 70 job types worldwide by $3.5 billion.
The headcount, however, was unexpected. In fact, IBM’s overall workforce increased in spite of job layoffs. “We have more employees overall,” Krishna told a media house.
“Investing in human-touch areas like software engineering, sales, and marketing is made possible by AI.” This change reflects a larger trend in the industry: AI is changing employment rather than just replacing it. As the need for individuals capable of designing, implementing, and commercialising AI-driven solutions increases, routine positions are gradually being phased out.
IBM’s message is clear: if companies are willing to rethink their workforce and make strategic investments, automation may be a growth engine.
Other Companies Following the Similar Path
Similar changes have been tried by other businesses, with varying degrees of success. For example, the language-learning app Duolingo relied largely on AI chatbots but discovered that the technology was not able to completely replace human teachers.
Rehiring was necessary to cover service shortfalls. By recognising AI’s limitations—roughly 6% of HR-related enquiries still need human assistance—IBM was able to avoid these pitfalls.
Because a long-term talent strategy was used in its implementation, the AskHR platform was successful.
Automation Tool for Innovation
IBM viewed automation as a tool for innovation rather than as a way to reduce costs. Its choice to replace HR duties marked the beginning of a new hiring cycle that prioritised high-impact, less automatable positions rather than the conclusion of the discussion.
IBM’s strategy provides business transformation and HR professionals with a roadmap as well as a warning. Roles will be eliminated by automation, but more future-ready professions can and should take their place.
Reskilling, internal mobility, and rethinking personnel strategies to focus on company value rather than just operational efficiency are crucial.
Today, IBM has more than 270,000 employees worldwide. It has demonstrated that a net loss of jobs need not result from even severe automation. Instead, it calls for flexibility in both people strategy and technology adoption.
The company’s shift to AI exemplifies the nature of labour in the future, which is more about reallocating talent than it is about cutting staff.
IBM distinguishes itself for using automation as a catalyst for workforce transformation rather than merely a crude instrument for downsizing in a time when artificial intelligence is drastically changing the nature of jobs.
According to those familiar with the situation, Otipy, situated in Delhi NCR, ceased operations last week, as reported by a media outlet. On Saturday, the farm-to-fork vegetable supplier shut operations, leaving about 300 workers struggling to make ends meet.
Otipy cofounder and CEO Varun Khurana told his staff during a town hall on 17 May that the startup is unable to continue with its operations and encouraged them to find a better alternative. It was shocking, according to a media article that cited a former employee.
Like every other Saturday, employees went to work. They were subsequently told that they had lost their source of income. The ground beneath their feet seemed to have vanished. Additionally, a media report has discovered that Otipy has not paid employee salaries for the last 1.5 months.
In response to a question about this in the town hall, Khurana stated that the business will attempt to sell off its assets in order to pay off all outstanding debts.
Vendor Payments Not Yet Cleared
The Otipy has yet to settle outstanding vendor payments, according to a media report. One of the merchants told a media outlet that the issue began in October of last year when the payments began to be delayed.
At first, the founder and other members of the management would reassure us, but since the start of this year, no one has answered their phone.
In addition to informing its clients that it was closing, the business promised to start the refund process within 60 to 90 days. Otipy was testing electric carts to sell fruits and vegetables offline in the Gurugram area for over five months before the abrupt shutdown.
At the time, Entrackr stated that the business aimed to deploy 5,000 to 7,000 of these carts in Mumbai and Delhi NCR by 2026. Additionally, the news portal discovered that the business was also experimenting with the rapid commerce model.
Otipy, a B2B2C social commerce network for fresh produce, including fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and other food items, was founded in 2020 by Khurana and Prashant Jain and is a division of Crofarm Agriproducts. It is a Crofarm-owned stepped-down subsidiary.
Funding Rounds Till Now
Otipy intended to raise $10 million in a lengthy Series B investment round, according to media reports. It is still unclear, though, if the business was successful in obtaining this cash. The firm raised $32 million in a Series B fundraising round led by WestBridge Capital in March 2022, with SIG and Omidyar Network also participating.
The business has raised $44 million so far in many rounds of funding. Otipy’s sales in FY24 were INR 160 Cr on a stand-alone basis, which is 68% more than the INR 95 Cr it recorded in the prior fiscal year.
Additionally, the firm was able to cut its loss from INR 72 Cr to INR 52 Cr, a 28% decrease from the previous year. Crofarm has not yet submitted its FY24 financial statements. Fraazo, another WestBridge-backed business involved in vegetable delivery, has already ceased operations.
As part of its ongoing legal battle with Byju’s, Aakash Educational Services Ltd. (AESL) has accused EY of professional misconduct and conflict of interest.
The main focus of the case is AESL’s governance and control problems after Byju’s failed takeover. AESL’s legal team claimed in a strongly written letter dated May 17, 2025, that EY offered advisory services to both AESL and Byju’s in a dual capacity, even though EY was fully aware of their entangled relationship.
EY was ordered to stop all activity and keep all contact records for any legal procedures by AESL, which called EY’s actions “unethical and legally untenable”.
Manipal Group Also Not Happy with EY
The Manipal Group, a major AESL stakeholder, was represented by CrestLaw Partners, who also questioned EY’s involvement in providing the group with tax, accounting, and regulatory compliance advice.
As the majority shareholder in AESL, CrestLaw wrote in a letter dated May 21 that the company would also like to note that their client, the Manipal Group, has been informed that there are significant correspondences in AESL’s records that demonstrate that EY was a constant factor in both operations and advice given to Mr Byju Raveendran, Byju’s, AESL, Aakash Choudhry, Blackstone, and our clients, the Manipal Group.
“Your involvement in the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP) in any way, through anyone, is a matter of considerable concern, regret and amounts to misconduct,” the statement continued.
EY responded to a media outlet by saying that it denies all accusations and takes client confidentiality and security very seriously. EY is therefore unable to provide any additional commentary on this issue.
AESL Threatens to go Legal
Sanjay Garg, the legal head of AESL, emphasised the importance of the matter and said that the organisation has enough evidence to present to any adjudicating or regulatory body to imply that participation in the CIRP process would interfere with the independent professional duties that organisations like you are supposed to carry out.
He went on to say that if EY did not understand the gravity of our point—that EY was both an advisor and a participant in many of the decisions—AESL would be forced to take the necessary action.
This comes amid a lingering legal battle between AESL and Byju’s, which started when Byju’s purchased AESL in 2021 for around $950 million in a deal that involved 70% cash and 30% equity.
The deal called for shares in Think & Learn to be distributed to the Chaudhry family, Aakash’s promoters, and the massive private equity firm Blackstone.
However, the Chaudhry family’s refusal to exchange their remaining shareholding, citing governance concerns, caused difficulties for the share transfer.
The family eventually received a legal notification from Byju’s. Blackstone, the Chaudhary family, shareholders, Ranjan Pai’s Manipal Group, and Byju’s engaged in a bitter court war for control of Aakash, which has been enmeshed in insolvency procedures for more than two years.
Anthropic, the OpenAI competitor sponsored by Amazon, unveiled Claude 4, its most potent set of AI models to date, on 22 May. According to the business, the two models—Claude Opus 4 and Claude Sonnet 4—are setting a “new standard” for AI agents since they can compose complicated actions, analyse thousands of data sources, carry out lengthy tasks, and produce content of human calibre.
In March 2023, Anthropic, a company created by former OpenAI research officials, released its Claude chatbot. Since then, it has participated in the increasingly intense AI arms race between IT giants and startups, a field that is expected to generate over $1 trillion in revenue in the next ten years.
More Companies Opting for AI
Businesses in almost every sector are scrambling to implement chatbots and agents driven by AI in order to stay ahead of their rivals.
According to Jared Kaplan, chief science officer at Anthropic, the company has shifted its focus from investing in chatbots to enhancing Claude’s capacity to perform intricate activities like research and coding, even creating entire code bases, since the end of last year.
Additionally, he admitted that the likelihood of the model going haywire increases with task complexity, saying, “And we’re really focused on addressing that so that people can really delegate a lot of work at once to our models.”
In an interview, Kaplan stated that the business has been preparing for these models since last year. According to Kaplan, these models are far more powerful as coders and agents.
Simply because some of the new infrastructure the brand was using to train these models made it extremely difficult for the teams to get everything up and running, it was undoubtedly difficult internally.
Anthropic Claims Claude Opus 4 World’s Best Coding Model
According to Anthropic, Claude Opus 4 is the “best coding model in the world” and is capable of operating on its own for seven hours, which is almost the equivalent of a full corporate workday. Anthropic claims that both models can switch between reasoning and tool use and search the web to accomplish things on a user’s behalf.
The business added that they can extract and save important information to preserve continuity and gradually develop tacit knowledge if they are granted access to local files. Last week, Anthropic said that its first-quarter annualised revenue had more than doubled to $2 billion, up from $1 billion in the previous quarter.
In a recent interview with a media outlet, revenue head Kate Jensen stated that the number of clients paying over $100,000 a year with Anthropic has increased eightfold in comparison to the previous year. Wall Street keeps investing in AI firms like Anthropic.
Last week, the company was granted a $2.5 billion, five-year revolving credit line to increase its liquidity in the increasingly competitive and costly AI market.
On 23 May, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) declared that it is looking into possible infractions by senior management of IndusInd Bank, which is accused of accounting crimes worth an estimated INR 3,400 crore.
Sebi is especially looking into the suspected securities market infractions by bank staff, although the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will conduct the main probe.
The Reserve Bank of India is investigating whatever Sebi needs to do in connection with… whatever Sebi’s mandate is… Sebi is doing… According to a report by a media agency, Sebi Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey told reporters at an Assocham industry event, “Sebi is looking into any egregious violations by anyone in their capacity.”
The board of IndusInd Bank confirmed on 22 May that some employees may have been involved in the scam and directed management to alert regulatory and investigation bodies.
Fraudulent Activities Observed in Various Banking Operations
The private sector bank is under investigation for engaging in fraudulent practices related to balance sheet disclosures, microfinance portfolios, and derivatives. The bank has started a forensic inquiry and an internal audit examination in response to high-level resignations.
Senior bank executives, including former Key Management Personnel, had circumvented important internal controls, according to internal audit findings. The central government has been informed by the bank that high management was probably involved in the accounting fraud.
The financial results for the quarter and year ended March 31, 2025, have been updated to reflect all found errors, according to IndusInd Bank. Incorrect recognition of derivative trades cost INR 1,960 crore, interest income was reversed by INR 674 crore, microfinance fraud cost INR 172 crore, manual entry errors cost INR 595 crore, and slippages climbed by INR 3,400 crore during the March quarter.
Due to accounting problems in the areas of derivatives, microfinance, and assets/liabilities, the bank had its worst performance in the March quarter of FY25, with a net loss of INR 2,329 crore. The first financial report since the accounting errors were reported was this one.
However, IndusInd Bank shares rebounded Thursday, closing 1.82% higher at INR 785.10 on the BSE after initially declining 5.89% to INR 725.65, despite the company’s bad quarterly reports. Another aspect concerning the bank is that, as a result of the index rejig, defence PSU Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) would take IndusInd Bank’s spot in the BSE Sensex.
The Turmoil will Hamper Bank Performance
According to financial analysts, IndusInd firm may see muted performance in the near future. The new MD and CEO will have a difficult time reconstructing the firm and winning back investor trust.
The bank’s Board formed an Executive Committee for temporary operational management after CEO Sumant Kathpalia and Deputy CEO Arun Khurana resigned on April 29. The Board has until June 30 to submit new MD candidates to the RBI, according to a number of media publications.
In an effort to revolutionise how consumers find and purchase clothes, InMobi’s mobile content platform Glance has introduced Glance AI, a generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) commerce engine.
The site combines AI-styled looks with photorealistic try-ons, including avatar modelling, to provide a customised shopping experience. A similar application that allows customers to visually try on clothing was also introduced by Google earlier this week in the United States.
According to Glance CEO Naveen Tewari, the company has collaborated with Google and a few other players, and then all of the components were put together at Glance’s end and adjusted the model to function flawlessly. Almost $100 million, if not more, would be needed to get it here.
Glance runs digital platforms like the trends-first platform Roposo and lock screen search Glance. In addition to Google, Glance, an InMobi subsidiary, is backed by Jio Platforms and Mithril Capital. Now accessible globally on the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store, the latest product from the Singapore-based company is available.
Expansion Plans of Glance
The Glance intends to expand into more recent sectors like beauty, accessories, and travel later this year, even if the original model is educated in fashion. The model itself is trained on Google’s Gemini and Imagen on Vertex AI, providing consumers with individualised, incredibly lifelike experiences.
The foundation of Glance’s AI model is an open architecture with extensive hardware and software connections with telecom providers, manufacturers, and brands. It transforms brand shopfronts into AI shopfronts, TVs into home commerce gadgets, and phones into AI phones.
According to Glance, the site has more than 1.5 million active users in a few weeks. Over 40 million style requests have been made by users, of whom 50% have downloaded or shared their customised looks and 40% have tapped through to start a shopping adventure.
Glance AI’s unique selling proposition, according to CEO Naveen Tewari, is that it enables consumers to find their AI-curated, stylised looks, in contrast to traditional e-commerce sites that merely present a variety of products for browsing or searching.
Offering Users 400 Global Brands on Just One Click
With a single click, customers may buy from more than 400 international brands. Users will continue to have control over their data, according to Glance. Regarding pricing, CEO Naveen Tewari claimed that Glance AI is the most sophisticated and economical picture-generating system available today.
“That’s among the most important concepts we collaborate with Google on. If the prices had been ten times greater, we couldn’t have made this sustainable,” the CEO continued.
Tewari added that he anticipates cost reductions as the brand develops. He went on to say that one of their most valuable intellectual properties is the low-cost, high-fidelity image.
According to the corporation, the model is trained using data from almost 20 years of international trade, picking up fresh insights from emerging trends, cultures, and consumer behaviour. Additionally, the transaction journey model’s agent AI recognises shoppers’ intentions before they do.
If you live in a rural area, it may seem hard to think of business ideas. Numerous business sectors that are easily accessible in urban areas are not available in rural regions. The communities in the latter region face problems that city-dwellers aren’t aware of. However, when there’s creativity and acumen, everything’s possible.
Rural regions play a major role in the growth of the Indian economy. The Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) segment in rural and semi-urban India is expected to reach US$ 100 billion by 2025. The rural FMCG market is foreseen to improve at a CAGR of 17.41 percent.
Rural Activities Global Market Report 2025
The rural activities market has grown a lot in the last few years. It is expected to grow from $2,665.73 billion in 2024 to $2,871.96 billion in 2025, with a growth rate of 7.7% per year. This growth has mainly happened because of things like farming, traditional handicraft work, fishing and hunting, cutting trees (forestry), and rural tourism like eco-tourism and agri-tourism.
Why Starting a Business In the Village?
Starting a business in a village is often easier than in a city. One big reason is that starting costs are lower. Land, labor, and raw materials are cheaper in villages. Also, people in villages often support each other and like to buy from local businesses. This helps new businesses get customers more easily.
Villages also have less competition, so it’s easier to offer products or services that people need but can’t find nearby.
Another reason to start a business in a village is that village businesses are becoming more important. The government now supports rural businesses through different programs. Local business owners can get help like training, easy loans, and subsidies (discounts or money from the government).
Starting a small business in a village can make good money and also help the local economy grow. Let’s now look at some low-cost business ideas that you can start in a village.
Banana wafers are under-ripe bananas that are sliced into slices, spooned in syrup treatment, warmed under the light or in the cooker, fried, and consumed as a snack, nutrition, or dessert. You can cater to both regional and export demands. Banana wafer making is an easy rural business to start on a small scale and earn a high profit.
2. Small Scale Super Shop
Day-to-day village existence is altering significantly, and rural business ideas like supermarkets bring tremendous opportunity. Beginning a super shop in a village is slightly difficult. A prosperous industry strategy should encourage you. Thoroughly research the demand and your locale before you start the shop.
3. Pet Bottles Production
Pet jar or pet bottle creation is a lucrative manufacturing business idea for rural areas. According to specialists, polymer consumption by the Indian plastic industry is anticipated to double in the next six years. A PET bottle production department coupled with efficient injection molding and hit molding processes, is a profitable investment for entrepreneurs.
4. Vending Buffalo Milk
Buffalo milk is highly valued, and is most profitable business ideas in rural areas in India. With due care and therapy, high-quality milk can be attained. If you are skilled in putting forward, planting, and milking buffaloes, you can begin this business on your own or with a pair of farmhands. For those not familiar with milking, you can pay skilled dairy laborers to do the task.
5. Iodized Salt Production
Business Ideas in Rural Areas – Salt Production
Iodized salt is a white crystalline powder salt strengthened by iodine. People can effortlessly prevent iodine-related weakness by eating an adequate quantity of iodized salt. This is one of the most effective business ideas in rural areas that is practical, affordable, and meaningful. Anyone can begin iodized salt creation on a small scale as part of business ideas in rural areas.
6. Blogging
Business Ideas in Rural Areas – Blogging
You can launch and maintain a blog from anywhere. You need to have good internet connectivity and a device to work on. If you don’t have broadband internet, use mobile data. A blog focusing on a niche can be monetized using Google AdSense, affiliate marketing, and sponsored ads.
Don’t expect a huge turnover within a few months, but wait till you start getting serious traffic on your blog. Publish high-quality articles and periodically monitor the blog traffic to derive trends and patterns.
7. Air Bubble Packaging
An air bubble wrapper is an important component of the packaging industry. The need for securely wrapping welfare and fragile commodities has created a vast gap; entrepreneurs can leverage the manufacturing of air bubble films to bridge this divide.
8. Integrated Fish-Cum-Duck Polyculture
Keeping ducks along with fishponds suits the fish polyculture procedure perfectly, making it one of the innovative business ideas for rural areas. For example, you need a water body and a pond to go ahead with this business idea.
9. Diagnostic Center
Just like the residents of municipal cities, occupants in semi-urban towns and rural regions are equally cautious about catching illnesses. The best business in rural areas includes basic healthcare capabilities provided by the administration through dispensaries, but the need for a specialized diagnostic center cannot be undermined.
Initial costs include setting up the premises, purchasing equipment, hiring technicians and other staff, and establishing connections with different laboratories.
10. Agarbatti Making
A person can begin an Agarbathi-making business either on a small scale or by going all-out. Agarbatti is an essential aspect of almost every Indian household, both for religious and aromatic reasons. Local Agarbathi corporations witness appreciable revenue in India. You can do the same in a rural setup where the costs you incur will be lower. This is one of the most prominent manufacturing business ideas for rural areas to start by the rural people.
11. Goat Farming
Business Ideas in Rural Areas – Goat Farming
Goats have a major role to play in the agricultural segment, dairy, and poultry sectors. They are as valuable as cows and hens. Goat farming is a profitable business in rural areas, a lucrative business idea in a rural setting. You’ll need some helpers initially.
12. Coconut-Based Business
Business Ideas in Rural Areas – Coconut Business
Coconuts are an essential component of profitable businesses in rural areas in the Indian economy. The nation is the largest producer of coconuts on the planet. Coconuts are grown over 1.94 million hectares of Indian land. Around 90% of the coconut-accumulating areas occur in the four southern states of India, with Kerala accounting for about 50% of these four states.
13. Rural Marketing
If you are good at marketing, this rural business idea is for you. Your firm could collaborate with other corporations (for a fee per head or based on the assistance provided) and deploy marketing strategies such as door-to-door promotion, pamphlet distribution, etc.
Many media agencies specialize in attracting people in large towns and individuals with an online presence through media like TV and billboards. But only a few target rural neighborhoods. That is where you could barge in and begin a marketing agency to target people in rural and semi-urban settings.
A gym or health center is not that popular in rural areas, but it can be extremely rewarding if you are ready to put in the effort. Before you start, ensure you have fitness trainers to assist you. Of course, if you are into fitness yourself, you can contribute as well. Starting a gym in rural areas requires lower investment as compared to launching one in the cities.
15. Paper Bag Making
Paper bags, a crucial business for rural areas, are essential for packaging and/or holding items. This is one of the most unique business ideas in rural areas that anyone living in the village or small towns can launch.
Small Business Ideas in Rural Areas
16. Broadband Internet Provider
This small business idea in rural areas might sound hazardous and equity-urging, but it is potentially rewarding. You can become an internet assistance provider in rural regions. Your target consumers should be the youth relying on mobile data; give them access to high-speed internet, and watch your profits surge.
17. Jute Bag Making
Jute is a biodegradable, eco-friendly fabric. Jute bags have a relatively good market need and export capacity, making them one of the best business ideas in rural areas. By having reasonable machinery, you can instigate a jute bag unit in your residential area itself. For an eco-friendly personality, jute cords, jute cloths, and other jute commodities are essential. It can be one of the small business ideas in rural areas.
Growing crops that are in demand in India and different countries is a tested way of generating income. The thriving crops in India are rice, wheat, maize, mustard, bamboo, jowar, cotton, tea, spices, medicinal plants, condiments, and sugarcane. A profitable business idea for farmers and those with some knowledge about farming: this is one of the most effective and best business ideas for rural areas.
People are willing to spend on high-quality crops rather than purchasing low-quality crops at a low price. So, if you can provide quality products in the market, you’ll never fall short of buyers.
19. Bio-Diesel Production
Bio-diesel production apparatus, one of the most profitable small business ideas for rural areas in India, can be set up at any place where Jatropha oil, the major ingredient, is effortlessly accessible. There is a continual inspection of renewable streams of energy due to diminishing fossil fuel availability. The need for biodiesel is increasing rapidly in rural areas of India.
20. Duck Farming
The duck farming industry is a successful business that many are pursuing in villages and other rural areas. To begin this business, you need to possess a large area or turf. Duck farming is simple and concession-free.
You can nurture your ducks in low, high, wet, dry, and all other sorts of conditions.
21. Opening A Restaurant
The food business is one of the fastest-growing ventures in India, and in rural areas, cuisines and fast food pick up the pace at an unimaginable rate. The concept of cafes is yet to be fully realized in such places. Take advantage of this trend and start a successful restaurant or café, exploring promising business opportunities in rural areas!
22. Spice Powder Making
Business Ideas in Rural Areas – Spice Powder Making
The spice powder-making business assures a decent recovery. Even a home-based spice-making initiative can churn profits. Chilli powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder, and whatnot. It isn’t that difficult to manufacture spice powder. Moreover, there is massive scope for expansion, especially in small towns and villages.
23. Candle Making
Aromatic ornamental candles have a huge demand. There are several uses of such candles: decoration, religious reasons, etc. A candle-making unit can be started on a small scale and as a part-time endeavor. Women entrepreneurs are spearheading this segment by showcasing innovations in candle-making every other day.
24. Aluminum Foil Manufacturing
Aluminum foil, the most profitable small business in rural areas, is employed in several industries in different ways. Some of these include pharmaceutical pills, unitized packaging of tea and coffee, ready banquets, bakery commodities, frozen poultry, fish, milk container lids, wine, lube oil, greases, powdered milk, confectionery, biscuits, photographic pictures, gift robes, butter, home wraps, margarine, and cigarettes. Aluminum foils are here to stay.
25. Solar Business
Business Ideas in Rural Areas – Solar Business
India is enriched with huge solar energy potential. About 5000 trillion kWh of solar power occurs over India’s land area every year. Most fractions only yield 4-7 kWh per sq.m of energy every day. Solar thermal and solar photovoltaics are the two technology paths for the modification of solar radiation into warmth and electricity. With the advancement in technology, solar energy is a profitable manufacturing business to start, especially in rural areas.
26. Yard Clean-up Service
If you have access to a ride-on lawn mower and any other power-operated yard equipment, this is a business idea to consider. Since you’ll be helping in enormous regions that need clean-up, the need for helping hands is a must.
Yards in rural areas can be enormous, extending beyond several acres in some cases. Your yard clean-up service will assist in clearing vast yard areas, and this will distinguish your business from opponents who do minor yard clean-ups and landscaping. For people in villages, governing huge properties is a challenge, and periodic clean-ups are essential.
27. Mushroom Farming
Mushrooms have seen an increased demand in recent times. People now see mushrooms as an essential ingredient of everyday cooking. And mushrooms don’t sell for cheap. The territory required to grow this edible fungus is effortlessly accessible in villages and rural areas. The mushroom harvesting industry is a great segment to step into if you are thinking of a small-scale business idea. It is one of the most unique business ideas in village in India.
28. Ginger And Garlic Paste Making
Ginger and garlic paste are primarily used as a seasoning in several nutritional practices and also serve as carminatives and gastric stimulants in many therapies. As instant combinations and sauces are becoming popular, the need for ginger garlic paste is also increasing. The creation procedure isn’t that complicated. The commodity has an enormous scope for export as well.
ATMs need space for functioning. Banks usually lease an area for some years, and the treaty is rebuilt every two to three years. If you are looking forward to an overhauled monthly income, ATM space rental is a decent retail business recommendation.
30. Computer Training Institute
If you’re a computer specialist and can teach others how to operate a computer, you can begin a computer training institute in a rural village. Everyone’s getting tech-savvy, and the number of computer-literate individuals is increasing in an unprecedented manner. Bank on this opportunity and start teaching people Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and other applications.
31. Jam Jelly Making
Any person can begin jam jelly-making from home. As your business thrives, you can expand the catalog of items on offer. Jam jelly manufacturing requires ordinary machinery and appliances. These are consumable diet items and have extremely reasonable market needs. It is one of the unique business ideas in the rural areas.
32. Cashew Processing
Rural Area Business Ideas – Cashew Processing
In cashew processing, the manufacturing process encompasses cell cuisine, slashing, cashew core drying, peeling, rating, and filling. Besides, you can commence cashew nut processing on a small scale and as an export-oriented factory. Also, the industry mandates easy machinery.
33. Packaged Drinking Water Production
The shortage of pure drinking water has created a yawning gulf for packaged drinking water. Urban or rural, packaged water is a necessity. Before you dive into the packaged drinking water business, it’s imperative to survey the PH level of the water where you will set up the unit.
34. Flour Mill
One great business idea for villages in India is starting a flour mill, which is often considered the most profitable business in rural areas in India. People in these regions prefer locally ground grains over packaged flour, making it a low-cost investment with potential success. To maximize profitability, selling your products to nearby villages is crucial. However, choosing a location with a reliable electricity supply and having a backup power source is essential for sustained operations in this lucrative venture.
Establishing a cold storage unit is a wise one-time invl businesses in rural areas in India. Despite the initial higher costs, long-term returns make it profitable. This business involves preserving vegetables, fruits, medicines, and packaged foods in cold storage, preventing spoilage, and extending shelf life.
It provides better income for local farmers and significantly reduces commodity wastage. By offering a reliable solution for storing perishable goods, a cold storage unit becomes a valuable asset for the community, supporting the sustainability of the agricultural supply chain and creating economic opportunities. Overall, venturing into cold storage positively impacts the local economy and enhances the quality of life in rural areas.
36. Threshing Machine
Rural Area Business Ideas – Threshing Machine
Getting a tractor with drilling and threshing tools can be profitable in villages. Few farmers own threshing machines in rural India, so there’s a high demand for renting this equipment, especially during harvest time. If getting a new one is too expensive, consider a used one, which might be more affordable. Remember, keeping the equipment in good shape is crucial for a successful business. Being reliable and offering timely service can make customers happy.
37. Automobile Repair
In villages, most people rely on their two-wheelers and four-wheelers for transportation, but when it comes to servicing and repairs, they must travel to the city. That’s why opening an automobile repair shop in rural areas is a smart and lucrative business idea. To run this business successfully, having some experience and skills in vehicle repair is essential.
You can also consider hiring professional mechanics to enhance the service quality. A well-equipped workshop with the necessary tools and equipment attracts customers and builds trust. By offering convenient and reliable vehicle repair services locally, you tap into a growing market and contribute to the convenience and satisfaction of your fellow villagers.
38. Salon Shop
Starting a salon in a village or small town is a good idea. Many people care about looking good today, so salons are always in demand. Even if there are other salons, you can make money if you provide good service and market well. You don’t need a big space or much money to start. It helps if you have some skills and experience, but you can hire experts. As your business grows, you can open more salons in different places and make more profits.
39. Tutoring Service
In villages in India, some people may not have gone to school much, but they want their children to learn well. This is where a tutoring service can help.
Even though it might not be the first idea for a small-town business, having a coaching center can make good money. Finding good teachers is not too tough because many smart people are around. You can start with just a few teachers and don’t need to spend much money initially. If the teaching is good, more and more students will come, and your business can grow slowly.
40. Pesticide / Fertilizer Store
Opening a store that sells pesticides and fertilizers can be a great business idea in rural areas. Since agriculture is the main focus, many people might be interested in these products. Just keep in mind that you’ll need a license. The discounts from fertilizer companies and government subsidies make running a fertilizer store profitable. You can even expand your business by selling seeds. Having good knowledge about plant nutrition and soil will be a big help.
Open a clothing store specializing in traditional attire and everyday wear. By providing affordable, locally inspired options, you’ll help promote and celebrate local fashion and style while supporting the community’s cultural heritage. It may be considered one of the best business ideas in the village.
42. Poultry/Live-Stock Farming
There’s always a big demand for poultry products in both villages and cities. You can start small with a farm and gradually expand it. Before starting any business, it’s important to learn about it. Decide which type of poultry you want to raise and the location to set up the farm. It can be one of the businesses to start in the rural areas.
43. Dairy Farming
Most Profitable Business in Rural Area in India – Dairy Farming
Start a dairy farm to produce fresh milk, making sure to take good care of the animals and keep everything clean. This will give the community a steady supply of fresh milk, helping to meet their nutritional needs. As your farm grows, you can also explore other dairy products like cheese and yogurt.
44. Organic Fruits and Vegetables Centre
The demand for organic fruits and vegetables is always growing. You can sell produce from the village and build a profitable business in rural areas.
To succeed, you need to know about farming and how to care for the produce. Apart from this, you can make deals with farmers to handle the harvesting. You’ll also need a good storage system to keep the fruits and vegetables fresh, either by refrigerating or storing them properly.
45. Transportation Services
Starting a local transportation and delivery service is a great business idea for small towns. You can meet residents’ needs for reliable transport and goods delivery. This can be considered as one of the profitable businesses in rural areas.
Begin by getting vehicles that can carry passengers and deliver cargo. This can be a profitable business in rural areas of India. Offer services like taxi rides, school transport, and delivery of groceries, parcels, and other essentials.
46. Bakery
Starting a village bakery for fresh bread and pastries can be a rewarding and profitable venture in rural areas. Offer a range of baked goods like bread, buns, cakes, and cookies, using high-quality ingredients and traditional recipes to draw in customers.
Create a warm, inviting space where people can enjoy fresh treats with a cup of coffee. This concept can thrive in both rural and urban India. Engaging with the local community and participating in events can further boost your bakery’s popularity.
47. Cloth Dyeing and Printing
Offering fabric dyeing and printing services is a creative and profitable business idea for rural areas. You can use techniques like tie-dye, block printing, and screen printing to create unique fabric designs.
Begin by sourcing quality dyes and tools while mastering various dyeing and printing methods. This business can appeal to local fashion designers, boutiques, and individuals seeking custom-designed fabrics.
48. Handmade Soap Making
Most Profitable Business in Rural Area in India – Handmade Soap Making
Making and selling handmade soaps is a creative and profitable business idea. Use natural ingredients like essential oils, herbs, and organic bases to craft soaps.
Learn soap-making techniques like cold process and melt-and-pour methods. Offer a variety of soaps, such as scented, unscented, exfoliating, and moisturizing options.
Focus on high-quality and unique designs to attract customers. Sell your soaps at local markets, craft fairs, and online platforms.
49. Village Library and Bookstore
Starting a village library and bookstore is a valuable and educational business idea. Provide a space for residents to borrow books, access learning resources, and buy books.
Build a diverse collection, including fiction, non-fiction, educational materials, and children’s books.
Engage the community by hosting book readings, literacy programs, and study groups. Promote your library and bookstore through local advertising and collaborations with schools.
50. Fruit Juice Production
Business Ideas in Rural Areas – Fruit Juice Production
Starting a fresh fruit juice business is a healthy and refreshing village startup idea. Use locally grown fruits like mango, orange, pineapple, and mixed fruit to make a variety of juices.
Invest in good-quality juicing equipment and maintain proper hygiene and storage. Focus on offering natural, preservative-free juices to appeal to health-conscious customers.
Sell your juices at local markets, stores, and online platforms to reach more buyers.
51. Pottery
Pottery is a traditional and profitable rural business that blends art with utility. In villages, handmade clay items like pots, diyas, and decorative pieces are always in demand, especially during festivals and weddings. With low investment and rising interest in eco-friendly products, pottery offers good income opportunities. It also helps preserve rural art and provides employment to local artisans.
Tips for Starting a Business in a Village
Tips for Starting a Business in Rural Areas
Understand What People Really Need: Before starting any business in a village, ask yourself: Whose problem am I solving? A good village business is one that adds real value to people’s everyday lives.
Choose Quality Over Quantity: Whether it’s the products you sell or the materials you use, always go for quality. Even in rural areas, people appreciate good value. High quality helps build trust and even creates a brand people remember.
Make the Most of Government Support: There are many helpful government schemes aimed at boosting rural businesses. From subsidies to training programs, use what’s available to give your business a solid start.
Marketing: In villages, word of mouth is powerful. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t market your business. Use local events, community boards, and even WhatsApp groups to spread the word and connect with potential customers.
Conclusion
If you want to start your own business in a village, this is the best time. You can start with any of the rural business ideas covered in this article. At the end of the day, you need to work hard, put in maximum effort, and make financial sacrifices to sustain your business. At the same time, you can’t cave under debt or some other liability. Ideate, deliberate, and create!
FAQs
What is the best business for rural areas?
Banana Wafer Making, Small Shops, Pet bottle production, Vending Buffalo Milk, Iodized Salt Production, Air Bubble Packaging, Agarbathi Making, and Goat Farming are some of the best businesses you can start in rural areas or villages.
Which business is most profitable in the village?
Grocery stores, Electronics, Mobile and Accessories stores, Fertilizers and seeds Storage stores, and Clothing stores are some of the most profitable businesses in the village.
What are the most successful small businesses?
Cleaning services, Tutoring services, Personal training and fitness instructors, Delivery services, and Digital marketing services are the most successful small businesses.
Which are profitable village business ideas?
Village business ideas include farming, dairy production, handmade crafts, organic food sales, poultry farming, tailoring, soap making, and small-scale manufacturing, catering to local and nearby markets.
In a shocking turn of events, Builder.ai, a VC-funded startup valued for its no-code and low-code software development platform, abruptly filed for bankruptcy — leaving thousands of clients stranded and millions of dollars at stake. One of the most vocal victims is a $65,000 EdTech startup client, whose business is now effectively held hostage.
Background: The Builder.ai Collapse
Builder.ai, which raised a staggering $450 million in funding and employed 1,500 people, was once a beacon of promise for startups looking to build technology without deep engineering resources. The company offered development-as-a-service, but, as recent events show, it also sold dependency on their platform.
Suddenly, Builder.ai fired all employees and locked clients out of their own software code and data. Many startups relying on their infrastructure face a sudden existential threat.
The Human and Business Cost
Muhammad Umar, a founder and startup advisor, shared a firsthand account from his client:
“Muhammad, they fired everyone. ALL 1,500 employees. They’re keeping my code hostage. My startup will be dead in days.”
When asked about the contract and ownership of the code, the client revealed the harsh reality:
“There’s nobody left to give it to me. The entire company is GONE.”
This incident exposes a critical flaw in depending on third-party platforms that lock down code, data, and hosting — effectively holding businesses hostage.
Why This Matters: Lessons for Founders
Code Ownership is King: Without owning your core code, your business future rests on someone else’s stability.
Platform Dependency is Risky: No export options, locked-in hosting, and inaccessible data are business killers.
Bankruptcy Equals Business Death: When your vendor folds suddenly, your startup may vanish with it.
The Bigger Picture: VC-Funded Startups and the Risk of Dependency
Builder.ai’s downfall serves as a cautionary tale against unchecked reliance on venture-backed platforms without clear ownership or exit plans. While VC money accelerates growth, it can also mask underlying risks that materialize abruptly in crises.
Final Thoughts
Builder.ai’s bankruptcy is a stark reminder that startup success isn’t just about fast growth or shiny tech — it’s about control, ownership, and sustainable foundations. Founders must prioritize these over convenience to protect their ventures from becoming collateral damage.
In a dynamic job market, fresher hiring opportunities are growing at an unprecedented pace and Mumbai, the financial capital of India has emerged as the highest-paying city for freshers with an average salary package of INR 4.29 Lakh followed by National Capital Delhi at INR 4.05 Lakh per annum, according to an analysis by AI-powered hiring platform GetWork.
On the other hand, Pune offers an average package of INR 3.34 lakh, while Bangalore, India’s startup and tech hub, recorded an average salary of INR 2.95 lakh. Chennai recorded the lowest among metros, with average fresher compensation at INR 2.65 lakh per annum. All the figures are from the jobs posted on GetWork in the financial year 2025.
Commenting on the trends, GetWork CEO & Founder, Rahul Veerwal said, “The variation in average fresher salaries across metro cities demonstrates a strong demand originating from regional cities, cost-of-living and industry specific concentration. Metro cities that are densely populated with corporate headquarters and financial institutions, naturally offer higher-level compensation at entry level than tech-centric hubs that are majorly dominated by startups. Subsequently, these trends reflect how local economic ecosystems shape fresher hiring scenarios in India.”
Salary Trends for Freshers in FY25
Overall, companies hiring freshers in FY25 offered an average salary of INR 3.22 Lakh, which is 3.4% higher than the INR 3.12 Lakh average salary offered in FY24. The trend report by GetWork also found that Sales and Finance roles offer the highest salaries to fresh graduates. This showcases the sustenance in demand in these high-performance job functions.
Fresher Salary Spectrum on GetWork
Average salary packages exhibit an overall market health, however, a closer look at the salary range reveals the diverse realities freshers face as they enter the workforce. Freshers draw the highest salary of INR 10 Lakh, hired through GetWork in FY25. This indicates lucrative opportunities in select roles or sectors for top-tier talent.
In contrast, the lowest fresher salary recorded at INR 2.1 lakh, which illustrates the broad range of compensation at the entry level depending on skillset, location and employer type.
India’s job market is stabilising than before, and hence, the fresher compensation is gradually improving. The rise in salaries, especially in metro cities like Mumbai and Delhi NCR and the strong growth in Sales and Finance roles indicate companies are willing to invest in entry-level talent to bring adaptability and new-age skills to the work. This serves as a benchmark for students to prepare for campus placements and recruiters to stay competitive in the race for young talent.
About GetWork
GetWork is a next-gen HR tech platform that leverages the power of agentic AI to redefine the hiring process. Its digital recruiters intelligently read job descriptions, source from a verified talent pool, engage candidates across phone, email, and WhatsApp, and continuously learn from HR feedback and candidate interactions to improve outcomes over time, saving recruiters over 100 hours a week. Further, GetWork’s GenAI-powered Horizon AI acts as a copilot for job seekers, offering mock interviews, personalised upskilling suggestions, and more, especially empowering candidates from Tier 2 and 3 cities and colleges.
With industry-trained agents, customizable recruiter behaviour, unified communication, and seamless integration with existing HR tools, GetWork.ai helps fast-growing teams scale hiring with speed, efficiency, and unmatched quality, transforming recruitment from a manual bottleneck into an automated growth engine. Since 2019, GetWork has enabled 50,000+ placements through a network of 900+ enterprise partners, including HDFC, Sharekhan, Motilal Oswal, and Aditya Birla Group.
The system is designed to safeguard high-value critical infrastructure such as nuclear power plants, oil refineries, ports, airports, and energy grids from drone-based attacks
With the advanced SkyOS™ platform, Indrajaal Infra offers autonomous, real-time airspace security across vast areas up to 4,000 sq km.
Indrajaal, India’s leading autonomous drone defence company, announces the launch of Indrajaal Infra, a specialised product line designed to safeguard high-value critical infrastructure such as nuclear power plants, oil refineries, ports, airports, and energy grids from drone-based attacks.
Built on Indrajaal’s advanced SkyOS™ platform, Indrajaal Infra offers autonomous, real-time airspace security across vast areas up to 4,000 sq km. The system integrates AI-driven threat detection with a layered defence approach, combining sensors, spoofers, jammers, and command intelligence to deliver 24/7 autonomous protection against rogue drones.
Currently, Indrajaal Infra is already operational at a strategic naval port in Gujarat, following successful trials during recent cross-border escalations. Deployment is also underway at India’s largest naval port in Karnataka, signalling a critical step in fortifying India’s maritime and industrial defence infrastructure.
The launch is especially timely given the recent India–Pakistan conflict, which witnessed an increase in drone-based threats targeting sensitive assets near the western border. While many were intercepted before causing damage, the incidents exposed critical gaps in conventional surveillance and perimeter defences.
“Peacetime readiness is wartime insurance. The cost of protecting critical assets today is far lower than the cost of rebuilding them after an attack,” said Kiran Raju, Founder & CEO of Indrajaal. “Indrajaal Infra is designed to ensure operational continuity, national resilience, and industrial sovereignty in a rapidly evolving threat environment.”
Drone Warfare: A New Age of Strategic and Economic Risk
The global rise in asymmetric drone warfare has drastically lowered the cost of causing strategic damage. Incidents like the Pelham oil terminal attack, power station strikes in Sudan, and energy infrastructure targeting in Ukraine have proven that state and non-state actors can now paralyse billion-dollar assets using low-cost commercial drones.
Economic Disruption
Drone strikes can halt refinery operations, costing upwards of INR 400–800 crore per day.
Logistics hubs and port facilities face weeks of downtime and export disruption.
Power grid and nuclear facility damage could paralyse city-scale regions.
Strategic Fallout
Drones undermine conventional defence systems by operating below radar and outside fixed perimeters.
Infrastructure attacks during peacetime weaken deterrence and embolden adversaries.
Reactive emergency mobilisation diverts armed forces and security resources from primary defence mandates.
Indrajaal Infra directly addresses this threat landscape with a plug-and-play, interoperable solution that integrates into existing infrastructure while enabling future expansion. Its AI-led, C5ISRT-capable architecture ensures seamless detection, decision-making, and autonomous threat mitigation.
The company is actively working with national and state agencies, defence establishments, and strategic enterprises to scale Indrajaal Infra across India’s most sensitive and economically vital infrastructure corridors.
About Indrajaal
Indrajaal stands at the forefront of air defence, an AI-powered drone infrastructure powerhouse born from 15 years of expertise in autonomous solutions and fortified by three decades of defence manufacturing excellence. Proudly Made in India, Indrajaal delivers powerful anti-drone solutions that safeguard critical infrastructure, cities, and military assets with unparalleled precision. As pioneers in autonomous drone infrastructure, Indrajaal led the charge with groundbreaking innovations in anti-drone systems, drone ports, drone highways, and drone traffic control systems. Indrajaal is redefining the future of aerial security, protecting our skies with unmatched vision and resilience.
