LinkedIn News India

India is emerging as a frontrunner in digital sovereignty investments, but a global gap between intent and execution persists, K G Narendranath reports for Financial Express, citing a study by SUSE. About 62% of Indian enterprises are actively investing in digital sovereignty, higher than Germany and Japan (57%), the U.S. (52%), and France (39%), finds the study, which surveyed 309 IT leaders across key markets. However, although 98% of organisations prioritise sovereignty, only 52% have implemented strategies. This highlights a “growing gap” between ambition and action, the report adds. Notably, 41% of organisations act only when pushed by regulation or customer demand, highlighting the role of external triggers. “Organisations are often forced to choose between accelerating AI and maintaining digital sovereignty, but it’s a false tradeoff,” says Margaret Dawson (戴珍珠) Officer, SUSE, adding that “sovereign AI makes it possible to achieve both”. But, the study also points to a forward-looking shift. Nearly 64% of IT leaders are identifying AI transparency — control over model training and provenance — as a key driver of digital resilience over the next five years. Even so, despite a reported 20% increase in budgets, many organisations continue to prioritise AI adoption over sovereignty, suggesting that the pace of innovation may outstrip preparedness to manage associated risks, the report adds. Meanwhile, IITM Pravartak Technologies Foundation and Sarvam AI recently partnered to accelerate India’s push for sovereign AI, focusing on building production-ready systems rooted in local data, languages and infrastructure, reports YourStory. The collaboration aims to deploy end-to-end AI applications across sectors such as government, defence, finance and healthcare, reducing reliance on global platforms. In fact, Sarvam AI is also in early talks to raise $250–300 million, suggests another report by Outlook Business. This will potentially value the firm at $1.2 billion, a 10x jump that indicates the surging momentum in India’s sovereign AI ecosystem. How do you think India’s sovereign AI ecosystem will shape up? Share your thoughts in the comments section. ✍: Nakul Ghai 📷: Getty Images Source: Financial Express (India): https://lnkd.in/dBsfF9_M Outlook Business: https://lnkd.in/dZPPfkpY YourStory Media: https://lnkd.in/giQGZGQi #SovereignAI #AI #Technology

India’s IPO market is driving a surge in hiring, with banks offering up to 30% pay raises to attract dealmakers, Rajesh Mascarenhas reports for Bloomberg. Firms are planning to increase investment banking roles by 15% to 20% in 2026, potentially adding around 300 positions. New entrants such as 360 One WAM, Emirates NBD Capital India, and DBS Group Holdings Ltd. are building equity capital markets teams, the report says. “Competition is intense, as all segments are targeting the same limited pool of talent with bankers switching firms typically seeing compensation increases in the range of 20%–30%,” Monica Agrawal of Sheffield Haworth, told Bloomberg. India ranked among the busiest IPO markets in 2025, with companies raising about ₹1.95 trillion. Investment banks earned a record $417 million in IPO underwriting fees, supported by strong deal flow and improved pricing power, the report says further. However, IPO activity has been slower at the start of 2026 due to weaker equity markets, slower earnings growth, and geopolitical tensions. Several companies have deferred listings to the second half of the year, the report notes. Can existing IPO pipelines sustain rising banker salaries? Share your view in the comments section. Source: https://lnkd.in/d49T-TPe ✍ Dhritiman Deb 📸 Getty Images #InvestmentBanking #IPO #Sensex #StockMarket #EquityMarkets

Fresh graduates in finance and analytics are securing higher salaries as industry-aligned training gains traction. In FY26 placements, the average salaries of over 4,500 hires stood at ₹4.5–6 lakh, with top offers reaching ₹23 lakh, Sunainaa Chadha reports for Business Standard, citing Imarticus Learning data. The demand for specialised skills and trained talent in banking, financial services, and tech is evident, with the total salaries of firms like Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and Flipkart reaching over ₹160 crore. The report points to greater employer interest in courses related to investment banking operations, financial analysis, and data science with Machine Learning and GenAI. “The model is straightforward: Train people in what the market actually needs, and take responsibility for the outcome,” says Nikhil Barshikar, founder and CEO of Imarticus Learning. Meanwhile, salaries for newly qualified chartered accountants range from ₹6–8 lakh at smaller firms, while packages for top performers and rank holders stood at ₹13–18 lakh. Earning potential increases with experience, as mid-career professionals move into higher-paying roles in consulting, corporate finance, and advisory functions — reflecting the growing importance of domain expertise, leadership, and strategic responsibilities in finance. The Big Four firms typically offer competitive packages, particularly for positions in audit, advisory, and consulting, the report adds. ➡️ What impact do specialised courses have on placement trends and salary packages? Share your take in the comments section. Sources: Business Standard: https://lnkd.in/ghbqHgkU https://lnkd.in/ggYv73dE ✍: Dipal Desai 📸: Getty Images #finance #salary #fresher

बुलंद कॉन्फिडेंस की मदद से करियर की किसी भी कठिनाई का सामना किया जा सकता है, और इससे नई उपलब्धियाँ मिलना भी आसान होता है। आइए जानें कॉन्फिडेंस बढ़ाने के लिए कुछ टिप्स: ➡️ अपनी स्किल्स और नॉलेज को अपडेट करते रहें। ऑनलाइन कोर्स करें, किताबें पढ़ें, और जिस चीज़ या क्षेत्र में आपका नॉलेज कमज़ोर है, उस पर ज़्यादा काम करें। ➡️ खुद की तुलना दूसरों से न करें, इससे आत्मविश्वास कम हो जाता है। अपनी उपलब्धियों को सेलिब्रेट करें और खुद पर गर्व करना सीखें। ➡️ अपने बड़े लक्ष्यों को छोटे-छोटे भागों में बाँटें और उन्हें हासिल करें। इन छोटी सफलताओं से भी आत्मविश्वास बढ़ सकता है। ➡️ अपने कम्फ़र्ट ज़ोन से बाहर निकलते हुए कुछ नया सीखने या करने का प्रयास करें। इसके साथ-साथ हमेशा अपनी सोच सकारात्मक रखें। वर्कप्लेस में कॉन्फिडेंस बढ़ाने के लिए आपके क्या टिप्स हैं? कमेंट्स में हमारे साथ साझा करें। स्रोत: Dainik Jagran: https://lnkd.in/g8GVuGj9 AajTak: https://lnkd.in/gEY-xze7 ✍ : Isha Chitnis 📸 : Getty Images

OTT platforms and production houses are embracing the global trend of subtle, “stealth” brand placements integrated naturally into storylines, rather than overt product mentions, Christina Moniz reports for The Financial Express. According to Balaji Telefilms group Chief Revenue Officer Nitin Burman, brands are now working with scriptwriters to be part of the content storyline. The report says that JioHotstar is also working with brands where the integration is at story level, not placement level. “We pitch the stories to brands and seamlessly integrate them within our shows. While we have been working with long formats, there has been increasing demand for branded micro-dramas in the last few months for both, integrations within existing shows as well as advertiser-funded programming,” Burman says. But the effort is greater with microdramas, he says, noting that producing 10 to 12 short-form episodes takes as much work as a single 30-episode YouTube Original, while profit margins remain the same. Nearly 70-80% of Balaji Telefilms’ YouTube revenue comes from brand collaborations. JioStar’s Executive VP Ambuj Kashyap shares that audience engagement is driving this shift, and brands are using viewership data to place products in genres that match their target audience. And regional platforms are attracting local brands for high engagement, niche placements. But is it time for brands to move on from long-form shows and Bollywood films? “A well-made film or series still has the ability to build credibility and create a lasting emotional connection, which shorter formats can struggle to achieve at the same scale. Short-form is effective in keeping a brand consistently visible in environments where attention is constantly shifting. Each comes with its own challenges, but the most effective strategies bring both together cohesively and purposefully,” says Sudeep Subash, Partner and Chief Revenue Officer at Collective Artists Network. And now, brands are focusing more on content that resonates with their audiences. “The reality is that consumers don’t dislike brands, but they dislike interruptions from them. That is why advertisers are now trying to become part of the content that people engage with, whether it is a podcast during their commute or a short-form series one can watch on their phone,” says SHABBIR MOTIWALA, Chief Content Officer at Epidemik Content. ➡️ Does subtle brand integration make content feel authentic or does it risk undermining the story? Share your take in the comments section. Source: The Financial Express: https://lnkd.in/gCq4dn3m ✍: Dipal Desai 📸: Getty Images #content #brands #ott #adveritising

India’s fast-expanding aviation network is unlocking a new frontier for retail, with airports emerging as high-value consumption zones driven by rising passenger traffic, new airport developments, and strong domestic tourism momentum, Akshara Srivastava and Aneeka Chatterjee report for Business Standard. Brands across categories — from beauty to lifestyle tech and premium spirits — are scaling their presence at airports to tap affluent, time-rich consumers in transit, the report says. “Airports give us a highly intent-driven, premium audience,” says Pankaj Garg, CEO, DailyObjects, as the company eyes travel retail contributing up to 12–15% of offline revenue. Similarly, The Body Shop reports double-digit growth from airport stores, indicating strong traction in this channel. The shift is also being powered by premiumisation and evolving consumer behaviour. India’s retail real estate saw 8.9 million sq ft of absorption in 2025, with airports increasingly acting as “high-velocity gateways for curated retail,” benefiting from captive footfall and longer dwell times, according to CBRE. Brands such as Da Milano and Loca Loka are expanding selectively, viewing airports as key discovery and premiumisation channels, while others expect travel retail to contribute up to 15–20% of revenues in the coming years, the report says further. As infrastructure grows across metros and Tier 2 cities, travel retail is fast becoming a core part of omnichannel strategies, positioning airports as India’s new high streets for premium consumption, the report adds. How do you think this will influence brands’ marketing and retail strategies? Share your thoughts in the comments section. ✍: Nakul Ghai 📷: Getty Images Source: Business Standard: https://lnkd.in/dZkDp_v7 #Airports #Retail #Luxury

In this week’s recap, we dive into the key stories that are sparking conversations in the world of finance. From top banks trimming credit card rewards to the International Monetary Fund raising India's FY27 outlook, here’s a look at the finance stories making waves. Watch the video and share your take — what do you think is the biggest finance story this week? Source: Himanshi Bhardwaj - Business Standard https://lnkd.in/dGaAnSrp https://lnkd.in/diK-SWzX L. Ramakrishnan - The Economic Times https://lnkd.in/d8HbtJ3T ✍ Dhritiman Deb 🎥 Dhritiman Deb #LinkedInVideo #FinanceWrap 

In this week’s recap, we dive into the key stories sparking conversations in the world of technology. From CTOs in new-age companies rethinking senior engineer roles to Indian spacetech startups transitioning to scalable manufacturing, here’s a look at the tech stories creating a buzz. Watch the video and share your take — what do you think is the biggest tech story of the week? Source: Puran Choudhary, Tanya Pandey - The Economic Times https://lnkd.in/dgw3TG8Q https://lnkd.in/dypNpyag Jyoti Banthia - businessline https://lnkd.in/gDG_SxSW ✍ Dhritiman Deb 🎥 Dhritiman Deb, Isha Chitnis #LinkedInVideo #TechWrapIndia

The share of the top three global car manufacturers in India’s passenger vehicle (PV) exports has grown to 80% in FY26 from 73% in FY25, surajeet das gupta reports for Business Standard. Maruti Suzuki India led the consolidation in exports with a 34.4% increase followed by Hyundai Motor India at 16.36%, while Nissan India recorded a 15.5% increase. In contrast, domestic players such as Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra together contributed just 3.2% of the total PV exports. At the same time, India’s commercial vehicle industry, after growing 11.7% in FY26 largely due to a downward revision in goods and services tax rates, is expected to moderate to 6–7% growth in FY27, reports Anjali Singh for Business Standard, citing data from the Federation of Automobile Dealers Association. “The upcycle has largely played out in FY26. FY27 is likely to see continued growth, but at a more moderate pace,” says Som Kapoor, Partner, EY-Parthenon. Experts also cite oil price volatility, monsoon-linked demand, and macroeconomic pressures as key factors behind this slowdown. Meanwhile, the EV market is expanding into larger formats, with automakers targeting the seven-seater segment for family buyers, Shally Seth Mohile reports for The Economic Times. VinFast, BYD, JSW MG Motor India, and Kia India are launching models priced between ₹17 lakh and ₹75 lakh. Sales in this segment are expected to rise from under 10,000 units to over 50,000 units, the report says. "Seven-seater electric SUVs are emerging as the fastest growing one in the EV landscape. It offers compelling value economics due to the favourable low-GST regime. A wave of product offensives from both mass-market and luxury carmakers is set to significantly widen consumer choice accelerating adoption," says Puneet Gupta , Director, S&P Global Mobility. Can Indian automakers catch up as global players dominate PV exports? Share your thoughts in the comments section. Source: https://lnkd.in/dhfgrzF6 https://lnkd.in/dSe_YCjV https://lnkd.in/dkVJ5rxH ✍ Dhritiman Deb 📸 Getty Images #ElectricVehicle #OEM #PassengerVehicles #CommercialVehicles

"Historically, the Big Four or the massive MNCs were the primary absorbers of freshers, but today, technology has levelled up the playing field," says Durgaraje Virendra Bheda, AVP-IT Staffing at Quess Corp Limited. Large companies still hire the most graduates. However, micro and small companies are catching up faster, increasingly absorbing talent in high numbers, shows LinkedIn data. In many ways, smaller firms are not just hiring graduates, but they're actually building future leaders, adds Bheda. Tune in as she decodes the trend, and share your take in the comments — what's one skill that will help graduates thrive at smaller organisations? Check out the Grad's Guide 2026 here: https://lnkd.in/gbzxqAC8 #LinkedInVideo ✍ : Isha Chitnis 🎥 : Ajithesh Guru Prasath, Isha Chitnis