Newspaper Summary - 181225

 iPhone Maker Tata Electronics Gets ₹1,500-cr Boost

Tata Sons’ arm Tata Electronics Ltd (TEL), the company that manufactures iPhones for Apple, has secured a significant boost of ₹1,500 crore from two state-owned companies in a move that is expected to strengthen its manufacturing base and technology push. The funding comes through fresh equity infusions by the State Bank of India (SBI) and the Tata-promoted Tata Group of Companies.

Tata Electronics, which is rapidly scaling up its operations and has secured large orders from Apple, is investing heavily to build a robust domestic supply chain and manufacturing ecosystem. The equity infusion is expected to provide TEL with greater financial flexibility to accelerate its capital expenditure, strengthen its working capital, and invest in advanced manufacturing technologies.

Details of the Investment

SBI, which is Tata Electronics’ primary banker, has picked up about a 4% stake, while the remaining equity has been subscribed to by the Tata Group of Companies, according to people aware of the development. An official stated that this infusion aligns with SBI’s strategy to support critical manufacturing and ‘Make in India’ initiatives, particularly in high-tech electronics. The investment from the Tata Group of Companies reinforces their commitment to making Tata Electronics a global supply chain player. TATA Sons and the Tata Group of Companies had previously infused about ₹5,000 crore, bringing the total equity infused in the company to around ₹6,500 crore.

Use of Capital and Strategic Goals

Tata Electronics plans to use the capital to expand capacity, acquire new operational systems, and invest in R&D and advanced automation, including AI-driven operating processes. The company is betting on operating systems that integrate AI and machine learning to improve efficiency and quality control across its manufacturing lines, which is particularly critical for meeting the stringent quality standards required by international clients like Apple.

This funding supports Tata Electronics' ambitious expansion plans, which include acquiring the Wistron unit in Karnataka and scaling up its Hosur manufacturing unit in Tamil Nadu. The company is rapidly increasing its operational footprint and capabilities to become a critical part of Apple's global supply chain. Tata Electronics aims to leverage India’s young workforce and government support for high-tech manufacturing, with the goal of increasing its operating revenue to $10 billion by FY30. The company is reportedly focusing on building competencies in complex component manufacturing, aligning with its long-term strategy to move beyond assembly into deep localization and technology ownership. TEL sees this funding as a bridge toward its expected revenue growth.

India tops world doping body Wada’s cheating charts in ’24

India remains in the top tier of the global doping charts, recording 260 Adverse Analytical Findings (AAFs) from over 7,000 samples tested by the National Anti Doping Agency (Nada) in 2024, according to a recent report from the World Anti Doping Agency (Wada). In percentage terms, India's positivity rate of 3.6% comfortably puts it ahead of sporting powerhouses such as the US, China, UK, and Russia.

Nada’s National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL) tested 7,113 samples last year, consisting of 537 blood and 6,576 urine tests. Although many nations tested more samples than India (excluding the US), they generally returned lower AAF percentages. For instance, China tested 24,214 samples, yielding only 43 positive findings (0.2%), while the US recorded 6,592 samples with an AAF of 1.1%. France returned the second-highest number of AAFs behind India at 91, followed by Italy (85), Russia and the USA (76 each), and Germany (54).

A senior Nada official acknowledged that the high numbers are certainly a cause of concern, but suggested that the significant sample size and corresponding positivity rate is a function of rigorous and transparent testing. Nada stated that they are dealing with the problem head-on by accepting there is an issue and running expansive education programs for athletes to prevent them from taking banned substances, alongside testing which acts as a deterrent.

The article titled ‘Indian farming entering a rapid transition period’ draws on the interview with Ankur Aggarwal, Executive Chairman & MD, Crystal Crop Protection Ltd.

Here are the key points reproduced from the interview:

"Science-first farming” is considered the path toward sustainable income growth, and Indian farming is currently entering a period of rapid transition.

Major challenges currently faced include unpredictable weather, shifting pest patterns, soil fatigue, and a widening knowledge gap among smallholders. The next ten years are expected to define the subsequent five decades, largely because climate patterns are becoming more unpredictable and technology is becoming more accessible.

The future of Indian farming will be shaped by three core factors: efficiency, sustainability, and technology. Aggarwal envisions a future where Indian agriculture is not only feeding the nation but is also globally competitive, technologically confident, and more inclusive of small farmers.

Structural shifts needed to achieve this vision include:

• Promoting precision input use, moving away from overuse.
• Implementing universal digital land records to improve farmer access to credit, insurance, and precision support.
• Developing better strategies for climate-resilient farming.
• Strengthening post-harvest and export infrastructure to reduce wastage and improve price realization.
• Ensuring closer coordination among research institutions, industry, and farmers.

Regarding rising agricultural costs and plateauing yields, the biggest opportunity lies in precision. Improvements can be driven by better crop protection practices, stronger genetics through seeds, balanced nutrition, and timely advisories.

Ultimately, it is crucial to help the farmer realize real outcomes in the field, as this is where income improvement genuinely begins.

India is entering its most exciting GCC decade: Bhartiya Converge CEO

India is emerging as the topmost location for global capability centers (GCCs), with over 1,700 currently operating in the country. Companies like Bhartiya Converge are capitalizing on this trend by offering services to help global organizations establish and scale up GCCs in India.

Monica Pirgal, Chief Executive Officer of Bhartiya Converge, noted that GCCs in India have dramatically evolved, with more than half now leading global innovation programs and advancing in critical areas such as AI, machine learning, cloud engineering, cybersecurity, analytics, and product development.

Three Core Factors Driving India's GCC Appeal:

The rapid transformation of India's GCC landscape is driven by several factors:

1. Talent Pool: India hosts nearly a third of the world's digital talent, and an additional 2.5 million STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) graduates enter the market every year.
2. Innovation Ecosystem: This strong talent pipeline is combined with a vibrant innovation ecosystem, resulting in more than 150 new GCCs being established annually in India.
3. Strategic Focus: Global firms are increasingly moving their GCCs from being mere cost centers to acting as innovation hubs.

Future Outlook and Strategic Shifts:

Pirgal envisions India as entering its "most exciting decade in the GCC". The sector is projected to surpass $100 billion in value, employ between 2.5 and 2.8 million people, and host ** over 2,200 GCCs by 2030**.

Key shifts expected in the coming years include:

• Rise of Innovation: A significant increase in innovation-led and R&D-driven GCCs.
• Tier-2 Hubs: The rapid emergence of tier-2 cities as new GCC hubs.
• Multi-city Models: The expansion of multi-city operating models to de-risk talent concentration.
• Specialized Centers: Accelerated growth in specialized centers of excellence focusing on AI, digital manufacturing, robotics, cybersecurity, and sustainability technologies.

To navigate this landscape, global firms must address challenges, especially in securing specialized digital talent in areas like AI, cloud, and cybersecurity, where demand is currently rising by nearly 40% annually.

The article titled As High Seas Treaty nears force, India plans domestic framework details India's preparation for the new global ocean governance agreement.

With the High Seas Treaty set to come into force from January 17, 2026, India has begun shaping a domestic framework to support the ratification and implementation of the pact.

The agreement falls under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and focuses on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ). Adopted in March 2023, the treaty is regarded as a landmark achievement for protecting biodiversity in international waters.

Out of the 145 signatories, India is among the 76 countries that have ratified the pact.

To prepare for its rollout, the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) organized a national stakeholder consultation in collaboration with partners, including the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) and the Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology (CMLRE). This meeting assessed the scientific, legal, and institutional mechanisms needed for effective implementation.

Experts involved hailed the Treaty's entry into force as a "turning point" in global ocean governance. The goal is to ensure equitable access to high seas resources and strengthen conservation efforts against rising pressures from marine pollution, overfishing, and climate change.

The Treaty is expected to provide a structured framework to manage these challenges while safeguarding national interests. India's existing strengths in ocean science and marine technology were highlighted, prompting a call for greater scientific engagement with maritime law, ocean governance, and high seas management. One director noted that activities occurring in the high seas can still affect fish stocks located within India's Exclusive Economic Zone, even though India largely relies on nearshore and small-scale fisheries.

Japanese firms make a beeline for India eyeing long-term growth

India is emerging as an attractive market for Japanese companies and institutions looking for mergers and acquisitions because it offers better long-term value creation and growth prospects compared to Japan, which is currently coping with an ageing and shrinking population. For Japanese companies, investing in India is considered a once-in-a-generation growth opportunity in a politically stable market,.

Recent Investment Activity

Several large deals involving Japanese financial services institutions have recently occurred:

• Mizuho Financial Group’s securities arm announced the purchase of over 60 per cent stake in home-grown investment bank Avendus for $524 million.
• Japanese institutions, including Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), are reportedly eyeing a significant stake in Shriram Finance for $3-4 billion.
• Earlier this year, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation acquired just under 25 per cent stake in private lender YES Bank.
• Daiwa Securities Group acquired a minority stake in Ambit Wealth for $32 million.
• Japan’s JFE Steel recently acquired a 50 per cent stake in Bhushan Power and Steel in a joint venture transaction.

Factors Driving India’s Appeal

India’s appeal to global investors, particularly from Japan, is founded on the scale of its consumption opportunity, as roughly 500 million people remain under-banked across goods and services, guaranteeing long-term demand across sectors.

Foreign investments are further encouraged by government incentives and policies targeting several sectors, including manufacturing and industrials (such as automotive, transportation, and logistics), renewable energy, climate change, technology, consumer durables, and services. Furthermore, Japanese investors recognize the strong intellectual capital in the Indian workforce that can be efficiently utilized, reducing the need to send large numbers of expatriates.

Strategic and Financial Confidence

India has been ranked at the top for three consecutive years among promising countries for business development in the medium term, according to a report published by the Japan Bank for International Co-operation in March. The percentage of companies that voted for India was 58.7 per cent, an increase of 10.1 points from the prior year. In August 2025, the Prime Ministers of India and Japan set a new target of ¥10 trillion in private investment in India from Japan.

Regulators in India are favorably inclined toward Japanese capital because it stands out for its strategic and patient nature, which relies on long-term partnerships, trust, and operational integration. Although valuations in India are not inexpensive, investors remain comfortable entering at current levels based on the expectation of long-term value creation,.

Big Tech Is Taking Over Much More Than Just Our Minds

Warnings about digital media and its barons are coming in thick and fast. Earlier this month, Nobel laureate economist Paul Krugman referred to the US as "a digital narco-state". An academic at the University of London recently highlighted how Big Tech's influence has extended to government procurement and personnel hiring, which some critics allege has captured state authority.

Examples cited include:

• A ten-billion-dollar contract with Palantir Technologies being justified as a move toward "efficiency".
• The Federal chief information officer having spent a decade at Palantir.
• Peter Thiel’s former chief of staff heading the White House’s science and technology policy.
• Silicon Valley executives from Meta, Palantir, and OpenAI transitioning from the private sector to the rank of lieutenant colonels in the US army in June 2025.

The columnist states that while the digital world presents an unprecedented story, the issue of "tech-authoritarian elephant in the room" is being underplayed. Some individuals who run these firms appear to hold an authoritarian mindset. For example, Palantir founder Alex Karp, Peter Thiel, and Elon Musk are criticized for using their power to exaggerate the ill effects of immigration while appearing to favor controlling immigration to benefit Caucasians. Karp's company, Palantir, uses its software for the US government to track down illegal immigrants.

Furthermore, Elon Musk is noted for overtly meddling in politics, including a $250 million donation to Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign and offering $100 to voters who attended Trump rallies.

Regardless of age, everyone should be concerned about the effects of social media on politics and personal lives. The reliance on screens and smartphones is described as potentially causing a "universal attention deficit disorder," leading to reduced ability to read longer works. The columnist notes that the capture of state authority seems easy in a world where it is difficult to escape the clutches of technology.

Big Tech Is Taking Over Much More Than Just Our Minds

Warnings about digital media and its barons are coming in thick and fast. Earlier this month, Nobel laureate economist Paul Krugman referred to the US as "a digital narco-state". An academic at the University of London recently highlighted how Big Tech's influence has extended to government procurement and personnel hiring, which some critics allege has captured state authority.

Examples cited include:

• A ten-billion-dollar contract with Palantir Technologies being justified as a move toward "efficiency".
• The Federal chief information officer having spent a decade at Palantir.
• Peter Thiel’s former chief of staff heading the White House’s science and technology policy.
• Silicon Valley executives from Meta, Palantir, and OpenAI transitioning from the private sector to the rank of lieutenant colonels in the US army in June 2025.

The columnist states that while the digital world presents an unprecedented story, the issue of "tech-authoritarian elephant in the room" is being underplayed. Some individuals who run these firms appear to hold an authoritarian mindset. For example, Palantir founder Alex Karp, Peter Thiel, and Elon Musk are criticized for using their power to exaggerate the ill effects of immigration while appearing to favor controlling immigration to benefit Caucasians. Karp's company, Palantir, uses its software for the US government to track down illegal immigrants.

Furthermore, Elon Musk is noted for overtly meddling in politics, including a $250 million donation to Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign and offering $100 to voters who attended Trump rallies.

Regardless of age, everyone should be concerned about the effects of social media on politics and personal lives. The reliance on screens and smartphones is described as potentially causing a "universal attention deficit disorder," leading to reduced ability to read longer works. The columnist notes that the capture of state authority seems easy in a world where it is difficult to escape the clutches of technology.