West Bengal’s emergence as a burgeoning IT hub received a major boost as the New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA) announced the issuance of the occupancy certificate for ITC Limited’s state-of-the-art IT and IT-enabled services (ITES) campus. Spanning 17 acres in New Town’s Action Area-III, this Rs. 1,200 crore facility features a high-rise office tower, business support centre, and knowledge centre, offering over 14.5 lakh sq ft of operational space.

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has initiated a formal investigation into Asian Paints Ltd. following allegations of anti-competitive behavior aimed at obstructing new market entrants in India’s decorative paints sector. The complaint, lodged by Grasim Industries—part of the Aditya Birla Group—claims that Asian Paints employed exclusionary tactics, including pressuring dealers, suppliers, and service providers to sever ties with competitors.

PlayboxTV, a rising star in the OTT aggregation space, is making a strategic leap into vertical-format content with a planned investment of Rs. 25 crore over the next 18 months. Through its new segment, PlayShots, the platform aims to ride the wave of short-form storytelling, a format gaining global traction. With an ambitious target of reaching Rs. 100 crore in annual recurring revenue, the company is positioning itself at the forefront of India’s evolving digital entertainment landscape.

At the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) in Seville, Spain, India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman delivered a compelling call for transformative reforms in the global financial architecture. She advocated for inclusive multilateral development bank (MDB) reforms, fairer credit rating practices, enhanced climate finance, and a reversal of declining Official Development Assistance (ODA). Stressing the need for a predictable and concessional climate finance mechanism, she underscored sovereign debt as a structural impediment to sustainable growth.

In a move to modernize its resource management infrastructure, the Indian government will launch a fully digital module for submitting and approving coal exploration proposals through its existing Single Window Clearance System. Scheduled for inauguration on July 4, the platform offers an integrated interface for coal block operators to seek approvals, including geological assessments and final exploration clearances.

In a strategic move to tap into Western India’s thriving real estate market, Chennai-based developer Casagrand has unveiled its first residential project in Pune—Casagrand Caladium. Positioned in the upscale locale of Upper Kharadi, the project comprises 334 luxury 2 and 3 BHK units, starting at Rs. 1.05 crore. With over 110 high-end amenities and the endorsement of Bollywood actors Genelia and Riteish Deshmukh, Casagrand is setting its sights on redefining urban living in the region.

Approximately 2.7 million power sector employees across India have announced a one-day nationwide strike on July 9, protesting the Uttar Pradesh government's decision to privatize two major electricity distribution companies (discoms) — Purvanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd (PVVNL) and Dakshinanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd (DVVNL).

India’s automotive sector displayed a patchwork of performances in June, reflecting broader economic and consumer sentiment shifts. Leading manufacturers like Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai Motor India registered double-digit declines in vehicle dispatches, signaling weakened demand, particularly in the small car segment. In contrast, Mahindra & Mahindra and Toyota Kirloskar posted growth, driven by strong utility vehicle sales.

In a significant development within the artificial intelligence landscape, Indian-origin AI researcher Trapit Bansal has departed OpenAI to join Meta’s newly formed superintelligence unit. An IIT Kanpur alumnus with advanced degrees from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Bansal is recognized as a key contributor to reinforcement learning at OpenAI. Meta’s aggressive talent acquisition reflects its strategic push to regain leadership in AI amid recent challenges.

In a continued effort to ease the burden on the hospitality and service sectors, state-run oil marketing companies have implemented another price cut on commercial LPG cylinders. Effective July 1, the price of a 19-kg commercial LPG cylinder has been reduced by Rs. 58.50, bringing the new retail price in Delhi to Rs. 1,665. This marks the fourth consecutive monthly reduction since April, signaling a strategic attempt to support small businesses facing high input costs.