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Tag: #news

  • India Post to Discontinue Registered Post Service from September 1 After 50 Years

    After 50 years, the Indian Postal Department has announced that its renowned Registered Post service will be discontinued. In order to modernise operations, the service will be phased down starting on September 1, 2025, as part of a strategic integration with Speed Post.

    Impact on Users: Cost, Convenience, and Concerns

    For more than 50 years, the Registered Post was a dependable, reasonably priced, and legally valid service. The service played a crucial role in the lives of millions of Indians by distributing key documents such as government letters, legal notices, and employment offers.

    The decision was made in response to official data that revealed a 25% decline in registered products from 244.4 million in 2011–12 to 184.6 million in 2019–20. This decline was hastened by the use of digital technology and competition from e-commerce logistics and private couriers.

    Speed Post Integration: What’s Changing?

    All departments, courts, educational institutions, and users have been directed by the secretary and director general of the postal service to switch to the new system by September 1. By combining services under Speed Post, which has been in business since 1986, the merger seeks to increase tracking accuracy, delivery speed, and operating efficiency.

    However, because Speed Post is more costly, questions have been raised regarding affordability. Speed Post starts at INR 41 for up to 50 grams, which is 20–25% more expensive than Registered Post, which has a beginning rate of INR 25.96 plus INR 5 for 20 grams.

    Small business owners, farmers, and regular people who depend on reasonably priced services may be burdened by this pricing disparity in rural India, where post offices are essential for communication. According to officials, this modification is required to satisfy changing customer demands in the digital era.

    Registered Post: A Legacy of Trust Since British Era

    The shift has caused nostalgia among users, especially older generations and rural areas, who see Registered Post as a symbol of confidence, even though the Department of Posts guarantees that Speed Post will maintain essential functions like monitoring and acknowledgement.

    The British colonial era is where Registered Post got its start as a dependable way to convey safe, legally acknowledged documents. It was widely utilised by government agencies, banks, and academic institutions and was prized for its affordability and proof of delivery.

    It was a reliable way for government agencies, banks, courts, and educational institutions to guarantee documentation and compliance because proof of delivery and posting could be used in court.

  • Daily Indian Funding Roundup & Key News – 1 August 2025: Bhindi.io Raises $4M, UPI Hits Record 19.47B Transactions & More

    On 1st August, AI startup Bhindi.io raised $4 million in pre-seed funding to expand its agentic platform. Google proposed allowing all real-money games on the Play Store under legal self-declaration, and UPI hit a new high with 19.47 billion transactions in July. Here’s a quick look at the key funding deals and business news highlights from the day.

    Daily Indian Startup Funding Digest – 1 August 2025

    Company Round Amount Raised Lead Investor Use of Funds
    Bhindi.io Pre‑seed $4 million Cyber Fund Product development, global GTM, scaling

    Bhindi.io Raises $4 Million in Pre‑Seed Round

    Bhindi.io, an early-stage agentic AI startup, has raised US $4 million in a pre-seed funding round led by Cyber Fund. The platform, founded by Sowmay Jain in 2025, enables users to deploy and operate over 300 autonomous AI agents capable of performing complex tasks across domains such as software development, crypto portfolio tracking, research, marketing, and more. These agents are designed to execute user intents with minimal manual input, aiming to eliminate prompt fatigue often associated with traditional AI tools.

    The funding will be utilised to accelerate product development, scale operations, and support global go-to-market initiatives. Cyber Fund, the lead investor, had previously backed the founder’s earlier venture, Fluid, a decentralised finance protocol.

    Key News Highlights from 1 August 2025

    UPI Sets All‑Time High with 19.47 Billion Transactions in July

    India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) processed a record 19.47 billion transactions in July 2025, valued at INR 25.08 lakh crore, representing a 5.8% increase in volume and a 4.3% growth in value over June. Daily transactions rose to 628 million, up from 613 million in June. Compared to July 2024, year‑on‑year growth stood at +35% by volume and +22% by value.

    Delhivery Q1 FY26 Profit Surges 68.5% YoY to INR 91 Crore

    Logistics provider Delhivery delivered a significant turnaround in Q1 FY26 (quarter ending June 2025), posting a net profit of INR 91 crore, a 68.5% year‑on‑year increase. The result was driven by operational efficiency gains and a stable revenue base. This strong performance sets the company up favourably for the upcoming festive season.

    Enforcement Directorate Summons Anil Ambani in Latest Probes

    Anil Ambani has been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to appear on 5 August 2025 in connection with two financial probes. The first involves an INR 17,000 crore loan fraud case related to Yes Bank funding of Reliance Group companies. The second centres on a INR 68.2 crore fake bank guarantee, allegedly submitted to the Solar Energy Corporation of India using forged documents and a cloned email domain resembling SBI. The ED is investigating the involvement of shell entities and encrypted messaging platforms used to conceal the transactions.

    Google Proposes to Allow Real‑Money Games on Play Store

    Google has formally proposed to the Competition Commission of India (CCI) that all skill‑based real‑money gaming (RMG) apps be permitted on Google Play in India, provided they are self‑declared as lawful under Indian law and jurisprudence. This commitment aims to address the CCI’s antitrust concerns, particularly regarding prior exclusion of non‑rummy and non‑FSR games from its platform. If approved, compliant RMG developers can expect access to the Play Store within 120 days, with associated advertising policy changes rolled out in 150 days.

    Apple iPhone Sales in India Hit Quarterly High

    During Q3 of fiscal 2025 (April–June), Apple reported global iPhone revenue of approximately $44.6 billion, up nearly 13–13.5% year-on-year. The company attributed part of the surge to customers purchasing ahead of expected tariff hikes. Apple CEO Tim Cook highlighted record quarterly revenue in India across smartphones, Macs, and services. Industry data also notes that the iPhone 16 became the best-selling device in India for the period, contributing to a full‑year record in wholesale smartphone value in the country.

    Daily Indian Funding Roundup and Key News: 31 July 2025
    Here are the top Indian startup funding deals and business news from July 31, 2025: Metaforms, STAN raise funds, Swiggy posts losses, Tata Motors to acquire Iveco, and more.
    StartupTalkyStartupTalky News

  • Google to Open Play Store for All Legal Real-Money Gaming Apps in India

    In response to an ongoing antitrust investigation by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) into the tech giant’s alleged abuse of dominance in the real-money gaming (RMG) ecosystem, Google has recommended adjustments to its Play Store and advertising standards for a greater number of RMG apps in India.

    CCI Antitrust Probe Sparked by WinZO Complaint

    The Delhi-based RMG platform Winzo filed a complaint that prompted the CCI to begin its antitrust investigation in November 2024. Regarding Google’s commitment application, the CCI had requested feedback from stakeholders regarding the purported exclusion of specific RMG apps from Google Play and the selective onboarding of rummy and daily fantasy sports apps, which distorted the competitive environment.

    Google suggested in its application to replace the present “pilot program” by permitting the distribution of all RMGs on Google Play in India, which creators have self-declared to be legal online real-money games in accordance with relevant legislation.

    In order to establish that their application is legally permissible, the application stated that developers must submit evidence that the application is in good standing with a reputable and authoritative third-party body that has demonstrated to Google’s reasonable satisfaction that it meets specific criteria and has been recognised as acceptable in Google’s policies.

    Advertising Rules to Loosen for Games of Skill

    Additionally, the company stated that it will amend its advertising guidelines to permit advertisements for “games of skill” in India, provided that creators provide third-party certification confirming that the games are neither gambling apps nor “games of chance.” Google restricted the Play Store hosting of apps in the daily fantasy sports (DFS) and rummy categories as part of an experimental program that began in 2022.

    These two types of RMG apps are still available in the app store, even though the trial was only meant to run for a year. A WinZO representative commented on the CCI’s investigation, saying WinZO is appreciative of the CCI’s ongoing dedication to promoting an equitable, transparent, and prosperous digital economy.

    WinZO’s Case Against Google: Monopoly or Market Gatekeeper?

    Google suspended its plans to expand and permit the listing of new types of RMGs on the Play Store in India and globally more than a year ago, attributing the decision to the absence of a central licensing framework and the challenges associated with creating a suitable monetisation model.

    In June of last year, the IT giant originally intended to introduce its extended RMG support to developers for their consumers in Brazil, Mexico, and India.

    After that, WinZO filed a complaint in November, claiming that Google’s regulations unjustly hurt RMG apps and abused its dominating position in the app store and digital advertising sectors. WinZO also cited modifications to Google Ads guidelines that limit advertising to DFS and Rummy apps solely.

    Why India Is Crucial for the Global RMG Ecosystem?

    It contended that this limits the reach and expansion prospects of other gaming platforms by denying them access to a significant advertising channel. Nearly 20% of the world’s gamers reside in India, which also invented microtransaction-driven business models that currently generate over 85% of online gaming profits, according to the spokesperson.

  • COAI Urges Government to Regulate OTT Platforms Under Telecom Framework

    The government has been urged by the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) to establish a formal regulatory framework for over-the-top (OTT) communication platforms like Signal, Telegram, and WhatsApp. COAI claimed in a statement that these platforms are the “weakest link” in the nation’s communication security, providing message and voice services akin to those of telcos but functioning outside of the regulatory framework.

    COAI emphasised the significance of controlling all communication channels to improve national security, citing a recent event in Pahalgam where satellite phone signals assisted in the capture of three terrorists.

    OTT Apps Like WhatsApp & Signal Bypassing Compliance Norms

    Since OTT players currently evade compliance obligations like lawful interception, subscriber verification, anti-spam protocols, and domestic infrastructure investment rules that telcos must follow, the industry body, which represents private telcos Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea, said the regulatory gap presents difficulties for law enforcement.

    Unified License System Suggested for OTT Communication Players

    The DoT’s security directives under this act require authorised interception capabilities, local infrastructure, and the retention of domestic traffic—all crucial components for safeguarding user privacy for satellite communication services while guaranteeing national security. COAI suggested creating a specific OTT authorisation under the Unified License framework in order to close the gap.

    Telecom Act 2023: Regulatory Gap Leaves Telcos at a Disadvantage

    A specific OTT authorisation under the Unified License, according to COAI Director General SP Kochhar, will guarantee fairness, improve security, balance innovation with the nation’s security requirements, and establish uniformity across platforms. In order to alleviate the existing regulatory disparity, it was also suggested that OTT regulations be brought into compliance with the Indian Telecommunications Act, 2023.

    OTT platforms that operate via the internet are not constrained by the infrastructure and interception constraints that apply to traditional telecom services. The Telecommunications Act 2023’s final text does not specifically place OTT platforms under licensing, despite telecom players’ calls for a “same service, same rules” approach.

    OTT providers and tech groups contend that the IT Act 2000 already regulates them and that further regulation will impede privacy rights and innovation.

    TRAI vs COAI: Spectrum Pricing Dispute Over Satcom Market

    There is also a dispute between TRAI and COAI on the suggested satellite spectrum. Many satcom companies, including Starlink, Amazon’s Project Kuiper, and Airtel’s Eutelsat, are preparing to enter the Indian market.

    However, Indian telcos are concerned about their entry into the global satcom market, particularly with regard to regulatory recommendations on satellite spectrum. Telcos criticised TRAI’s spectrum pricing strategy as “unfairly low” and predicated on “flawed assumptions” after the agency had suggested that satellite spectrum be priced at 4% of adjusted gross revenue (AGR).

    Additionally, the COAI requested a second review. However, TRAI allegedly denied COAI’s request to reconsider its suggestions for satcom spectrum, claiming that the consultation process was exhaustive and open.

  • UPI Records All-Time High with 19.47 Billion Transactions in July 2025

    Transactions over the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) increased 5.8% to reach a new all-time high of 19.47 billion in July. Year-over-year (YoY), the number of transactions increased by 35%. The number of transactions decreased to 18.40 billion in June.

    Transaction Value Rises to INR 25.08 Lakh Cr

    UPI transactions in July were INR 25.08 Lakh Cr, up 4.3% from INR 24.04 Lakh Cr in the previous month, according to data from the National Payments Corporation of India. Prior to this, the amount of UPI transactions reached an all-time high of 18.68 billion transactions in May.

    Compared to 613 million in June, the average daily transaction count increased to 682 million in the reviewed month. In addition, the average daily transaction value in July was INR 80,919 Cr.

    PhonePe, Google Pay, and Paytm: Who Dominates UPI?

    Nearly 50% of the overall transaction amount and 46.5% of all UPI transactions in June were made through PhonePe. Paytm maintained a 6.9% volume and 5.6% value share, while Google Pay held a 35.6% volume and 35% value share. The nation’s most popular digital payment system for merchant and peer-to-peer transactions is still UPI, which was created by NPCI.

    UPI’s Global Expansion via PayPal, Venmo, Tenpay

    The government is pursuing a number of steps to expand UPI’s reach globally, even as it continues to gain traction locally. The international division of the National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) and the US-based online payment gateway PayPal collaborated last month to create PayPal World, a global digital payment platform.

    Users will be able to utilise UPI and their other native payment systems, such as PayPal’s Venmo, China’s Tenpay Global, and Latin America’s Mercado Pago, to send money abroad or pay for foreign commerce.

    UPI will record more transactions with new international users as a result of this improvement. RBI governor Sanjay Malhotra stated in March that the central bank intends to keep extending UPI’s reach “bilaterally” by connecting its payment infrastructure with other countries’ quick payment systems.

    RBI Raises Concerns on UPI’s Sustainability

    Although NPCI’s digital payment system keeps growing, the RBI is apprehensive about its long-term viability. The RBI governor stated last month that modifying the free digital transaction system to include minor fees is essential to UPI’s financial viability.

    According to him, the government has been paying for the smooth, real-time payments infrastructure by subsidising banks and other stakeholders, as the UPI system is currently free for customers.

    However, in order to provide consumers with digital payment choices through smart devices, including as wearables, linked cars, and smart applications, NPCI is developing an internet of things (IoT) version of the UPI.

  • Anil Ambani Under ED Probe for Alleged INR 68 Cr Fake Bank Guarantee Fraud

    The current inquiry by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) into claims of financial irregularities in the Anil Ambani Group has been stepped up. According to NDTV Profit, the corporation has also started an investigation into the INR 68.2 crore Anil Ambani fresh probe issue.

    On the evening of July 28, the ED conducted a series of searches for Anil Ambani in four locations, three of which were in Bhubaneswar and one in Kolkata.

    The searches were connected to a business called Biswal Tradelink Pvt. Ltd., a modest organisation under investigation for running a network of shell corporations and providing a phoney bank guarantee worth INR 68 crore to pay commissions.

    INR 68 Cr Fake Bank Guarantee: What Happened

    Authorities claim that Biswal Tradelink gave the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) a fictitious bank guarantee worth approximately INR 68.2 crore. The company was accused of charging an 8% commission for phoney bank guarantees in the Reliance Group scandal.

    Shell Companies and Cloned SBI Emails: The Scam’s Modus Operandi

    The thieves used a phoney domain, s-bi.co.in, that was made to resemble State Bank of India’s official website (sbi.co.in).

    By sending phoney emails that appeared to be from SECI and other organisations, the cloned domain was utilised to deceive them. By locating communications from suspects, ED officials have demonstrated that the network was using Telegram’s disappearing chat function to evade detection and maintain secrecy.

    It was thought that the bank guarantee in the Anil Ambani fraud case was set up to facilitate the transaction between Maharashtra Energy Generation Limited and Reliance NU BESS Private Limited, both of whom are associated with the Anil Ambani business group.

    Based on falsified communications that were intended to mimic the State Bank of India (SBI), the agency has concluded that the bank’s guarantee was a fraudulent bank guarantee cost.

    When interacting with SECI, the syndicate reportedly tried to pass off the assurance as genuine by substituting the falsified email address “s-bi.co.in” for “sbi.co.in.”

    The Decline of Anil Ambani’s Business Empire

    Anil Ambani’s attempts to join a number of industries, such as entertainment, defence, and infrastructure, were not very successful. When the Allahabad High Court invalidated the land purchase in 2009, it was a major blow to his plans to build a massive gas-based power station in Dadri, Uttar Pradesh. Additionally, his forays into the entertainment sector, which included agreements with Adlabs and DreamWorks, did not provide the anticipated results.

    When his telecom business, Reliance Communications (RCom), started to accrue significant debt, financial difficulties worsened. The business entered insolvency proceedings in 2019. In the same year, after RCom failed to pay INR 550 crore to Ericsson AB’s Indian unit, the Supreme Court threatened to put Ambani in jail, putting him under intense legal pressure.

    By stepping in at the last minute to supply the required finances, Mukesh Ambani was able to keep his brother out of jail. Anil Ambani faced more legal difficulties after three Chinese banks filed a lawsuit against him in a London court over a $680 million loan default.

    Anil allegedly offered a personal guarantee when the loans were given to RCom in 2012. Ambani said in court, however, that he had only offered a non-binding “personal comfort letter,” not an asset-tied assurance. This case is still pending resolution.

  • UPI Rule Changes from August 1, 2025: Key Updates for Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm Users

    According to directives issued by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), a new set of UPI regulations went into effect today, August 1, 2025. The purpose of today’s UPI regulation amendments is to enhance the functionality of the online payment system.

    If you use PhonePe, Google Pay, Paytm, or any other UPI app, the new UPI regulations that go into effect on August 1st will have an impact on your regular payment system. However, if you follow the NPCI guidelines, the UPI regulation changes won’t cause any problems, and payments might even go more smoothly.

    Balance Check Limit Set to 50 Per Day

    Numerous revisions to UPI rules have been adopted by the NPCI. You will no longer be able to check your bank balance on your PhonePe, Google Pay, and other apps indefinitely, as the restriction is set at 50. To make up for the inconvenience, a new UPI rule has been implemented that requires you to view your bank balance following every transaction.

    Time Restrictions on Scheduled Bill Payments

    According to the new UPI regulations, planned bill payments must be processed between 10 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. Furthermore, consumers will only have the option to check the status of a pending transaction three times, separated by ninety seconds.

    GPay and Other UPI App Changes

    GPay customers will have to follow the NPCI adjustments since the new UPI regulations will apply to Google Pay transactions. These include verifying the status of pending transactions, showing the bank balance, and calculating the bank balance cap.

    The number of UPI transactions permitted daily has not been modified by the NPCI in its new UPI regulations, which went into effect on August 1. A user has a daily restriction of INR 1 lakh and is only permitted to perform a maximum of 20 UPI transactions.

    New User Transfer Limits Explained

    A transfer limit for UPI is frequently implemented for new users. For new users, banks typically permit a UPI transfer of INR 5,000 per transaction and a total of INR 5,000 for the first 24 hours.

    The new UPI regulations also mandate that planned bill payments be processed during specific hours. The purpose of this step is to alleviate the strain on the everyday UPI transactions.

    Why NPCI Enforced These UPI Rule Changes?

    Now, during off-peak hours, auto payments to merchants or planned OTT platforms must be made by 10 am or after 9:30 pm. The circular also states that NPCI may take any required steps, such as restricting access to the UPI API, imposing fines, suspending new clients or onboarding, or taking other appropriate action, in the event that these instructions are not followed.

    By implementing these regulations, NPCI hopes to improve online payment efficiency and lower the number of fraud incidents.

  • Karnataka Launches INR 1,000 Cr Quantum Mission to Become Asia’s Quantum Capital by 2035

    With the goal of making the state the “Quantum Capital of Asia” and establishing a $20 billion quantum economy by 2035, the Karnataka government has started the INR 1,000 Cr Quantum Mission.

    According to the ET, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stated that a Quantum Technology Task Force will direct policy and that Q-City, manufacturing zones, and quantum parks will encourage creativity in the state. He was speaking at the Bengaluru 2025 conference of Quantum India on 31 July.

    Commenting on the development, Bruce Keith, Cofounder, InvestorAi stated, “As one of the few foundational AI companies in India, we welcome Q-City and the other Karnataka initiatives. We have found the AI talent pool at the foundational end to be quite shallow so the PhD fellowship and college skilling programmes are very welcome. I believe that the transition from IT Services to specialised product niches is key to ensuring India’s success in this rapidly changing AI era.”

    Quantum Skilling and Job Creation in Karnataka

    The chief minister went on to say that the state wants to make Karnataka the Quantum Capital of Asia by 2035 and create 10,000 high-skilled jobs. In addition, the government intends to establish 150 PhD scholarships and quantum skilling programs in 20 colleges throughout the state.

    India’s First Quantum Hardware Park

    In order to increase domestic production of quantum components, Karnataka will construct India’s first Quantum Hardware Park, four innovation zones, and a specialised fabrication facility, Siddaramaiah added.

    In order to create two lakh jobs in the industry, the state would also set aside a Quantum Venture Capital Fund to invest in over 100 firms and assist in the creation of 100 patents.

    The decision was made at a time when the quantum technology industry is receiving more attention, with companies speeding up their products and looking to raise money to secure their place in the global market.

    How Karnataka’s Mission Aligns with India’s NQM?

    In 2023, the National Quantum Mission (NQM) was approved by the union cabinet, with a total expenditure of INR 6,003.65 Cr from FY24 to FY31. Under the Department of Science and Technology, the mission seeks to establish a dynamic and creative ecosystem in QT by establishing, fostering, and expanding scientific and industrial R&D.

    In August of last year, the NQM made public its intention to award funds to ten to fifteen businesses engaged in quantum technology.

    The development of very sensitive magnetometers in atomic systems and atomic clocks for accurate time, communications, and navigation will be the main goals of the National Quantum Mission.

    How NQM will help in Creating Quantum Devices?

    For the creation of quantum devices, NQM will also aid in the design and synthesis of quantum materials, including superconductors, innovative semiconductor architectures, and topological materials. Quantum communications, sensing, and metrological applications will also see the development of single-photon sources/detectors and entangled-photon sources.

    The nation’s technology development ecosystem might become globally competitive with the help of NQM. With applications in medication design, space, banking, security, and other areas, the mission would have a significant positive impact on a number of industries, including communication, health, and finance.

    Additionally, the Mission will significantly advance national initiatives such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), Digital India, Make in India, Skill India, Stand-up India, Start-up India, and Self-reliant India.

    Recent Quantum Startups Backed by NQM

    In April of this year, QNu Labs, a quantum cybersecurity business, obtained INR 60 Cr in Series A funding backed by the NQM. Only a few weeks ago, the deeptech startup QpiAI earned $32 million in its Series A fundraising round, which was co-led by Avataar Ventures and NQM.

  • Bengaluru Engineer Arrested in INR 379 Cr CoinDCX Crypto Theft Scandal

    A software developer from Bengaluru has been taken into custody on suspicion of taking part in a huge cryptocurrency theft that targeted CoinDCX, a well-known Indian exchange, and cost INR 379 crore. Neblio Technologies, the parent firm of CoinDCX, submitted an official complaint, according to police, which prompted the breakthrough.

    On July 26, the Whitefield CEN Crime Police arrested Rahul Agarwal, 30, a native of Haridwar, Uttarakhand, who now resides in Carmelaram, Bengaluru.

    Investigators discovered that his workplace laptop’s private login credentials had been used during the security breach, leading to his detention.

    How the INR 379 Cr Theft Unfolded?

    It has been reported that the investigation started when Hardeep Singh, the vice-president for public policy at CoinDCX, went to the authorities to investigate suspicious activity on the site. An unnamed individual gained access to the CoinDCX system at 2:37 am on July 19 and transferred one USDT—a stablecoin based on the US dollar—to an external wallet.

    Company Probe Leads to Developer’s Laptop

    The break became more severe hours later. Approximately $44 million (approximately INR 379 crore) had been moved to six different cryptocurrency wallets by the time the activity was discovered.

    The corporation conducted an internal investigation as a result of this widespread syphoning. Rahul Agarwal’s official laptop was the sole device that seems to have been compromised, according to the company’s internal inquiry.

    Police confiscated the device and started interrogating Agarwal in light of this discovery. Agarwal admitted to “moonlighting,” or doing freelance work for several clients outside of his regular job, but denied any direct involvement in the theft.

    According to him, he was given assignments by three or four private clients, but he had no idea who they were or what kind of access they had.

    Upon closer examination of Agarwal’s actions, it was discovered that his bank account had an unidentified INR 15 lakh deposit. Agarwal allegedly told police that he had received a WhatsApp call from a German number when he was questioned.

    He did not specify how the files were used or who sent them, but the caller allegedly told him to fill out some of the files that were sent to him. The authorities have not ruled out the potential that Agarwal’s credentials could have been used remotely to carry out the intrusion, either through malware or by outside criminals abusing his freelance work.

    Police officials are still looking into the origin of the German connection, the INR 15 lakh bank deposit, and whether any other people or foreign connections were involved in the theft, even though Agarwal is still in custody.

    Authorities Investigate Deeper Network, Wallets, and Security Lapses

    Authorities are also investigating whether internal cybersecurity protocol flaws at CoinDCX had a role in the attack and how the hacker escalated access from a single USDT transaction to a comprehensive multi-crore steal. The identities of the six cryptocurrency wallets used in the crime are being investigated, and the Rs 379-crore stolen sum has not yet been located.

  • Bengaluru Start-Up ‘Skillsurger’ Launches AI Career Agent to Close the Gap Between Ambition and Opportunity

    Bangalore (Karnataka) [India], July 30: When Ananya Iyer lost her job as a marketing associate in last year’s round of tech layoffs, she faced the familiar whirl of résumé rewrites, online courses and marathon interview prep. “It felt like a full-time job just managing my job search,” she recalls. Two months later, she joined the closed beta of Skillsurger.com, an AI-powered career agent that promised to diagnose her skill gaps, redesign her CV, and rehearse interviews—using the same large-language-model technology popularised by ChatGPT. Within three weeks, she had two offers on the table, one at a 22 % salary bump.

    Stories like Iyer’s are beginning to surface across LinkedIn and Reddit, and they underpin the quiet arrival of Skillsurger’s public launch this week. Founded by Apeksha Gupta, a Bengaluru-based tech professional, the start-up sits at the junction of generative AI and professional development—an intersection investors have tipped as the next billion-dollar SaaS frontier.

    “A CV is just data until someone contextualises it,” says Gupta.“Our agent learns who you are, where you want to go, then reverse-engineers the fastest path.”

    From Generic Job Boards to Precision Career Maps

    Unlike conventional job portals, Skillsurger begins with a 30-second profile scan. Users upload a résumé; the platform’s proprietary AI technology converts it to a web profile, which can be enhanced based on career path and job of interest or AI-suggested.

    That gap analysis powers four signature tools:

    1. AI-Tailored Career Paths – curated role suggestions ranked by salary, market demand and skills overlap.
    2. Top-Job Matches – a real-time feed of openings filtered for fit, location flexibility and growth trajectory.
    3. CV Auto-Upgrade – one-click résumé rewrites that embed relevant keywords for Applicant Tracking Systems.
    4. Learning Paths + Courses – bite-sized course playlists (many free) drawn from Coursera, Udemy and company-specific training academies.
    5. AI Mock Interviews – role-specific practice sessions with instant feedback on content, tone and confidence cues.

    During its last-month invite-only beta, the platform attracted 5,000 users—largely mid-career professionals in tech, finance and product management. According to internal telemetry shared with reporters, the median user secured an interview 14 days sooner than the control cohort that relied on conventional job-board alerts.

    Why Now?

    Industry analysts say the timing is ripe. A recent Deloitte study notes that 63% of professionals plan to change jobs in 2024–25, yet only 11% feel “well equipped” for the search. Meanwhile, corporate L&D budgets continue to fragment across MOOCs, bootcamps and internal academies, leaving workers to stitch together their own upskilling roadmaps.

    “We’re seeing the unbundling of the career ladder,” explains Dr. Ritu Kataria, Future-of-Work researcher“Tools that recombine discovery, learning and placement into a single flow will dominate the next cycle.”

    A Business Model that Starts Free—But Values Commitment

    Skillsurger adopts a freemium strategy: a seven-day unrestricted trial, then ₹ 860 per month (≈ $10) for unlimited job matches, CV rewrites and interview sessions. For enterprise clients, the company quietly rolled out a SaaS tier that charges per employee, already piloted by two Indian IT services firms looking to streamline internal mobility.

    Gupta insists the pricing is intentional: “We wanted to be cheaper than a single session with a human career coach, yet sticky enough that users commit to their growth.”

    Early Success and What’s Next

    • 40 % reduction in average time-to-interview among beta cohort
    • 98 % CV rewrite satisfaction (in-app NPS survey)
    • First enterprise deal signed in Q2 2025, covering 1200 learners

    Next on the roadmap: multi-lingual support (Hindi, etc) and a Chrome extension that grades job descriptions in-line and flags instant fit scores.

    For professionals reconsidering their next move—or companies seeking to future-proof their workforce—Skillsurger may be worth a test-drive. The team is capping its discounted plan at the end of the month; after that, pricing is expected to rise.

    Prospective users can explore the full feature set at skillsurger.com, where sign-up takes less than a minute and no credit card is required for the initial trial. If the platform delivers on its early promise, scrolling LinkedIn might feel a little less daunting—and that following interview a lot more attainable