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Good Morning 🇮🇳
For years, Indian kids have been the unofficial math wizards, making relatives brag at weddings and WhatsApp groups. But now, Google’s Gemini Deep Think AI has joined the ranks, snagging a gold medal at the International Mathematical Olympiad. Last year, it took days for AI to get silver, but this time Gemini finished within the 4.5-hour exam window, giving even the most seasoned Kota coaching veterans a run for their money.
Looks like the classic “beta, learn from Sharma ji’s son” may just get upgraded to, “beta, learn from Gemini”.
Now, let’s get into the dispatch! 🚀
Today’s reading time is 4.5 mins.
MARKETS 🔔🐂🐻
As of Indian market close on July 22
The Indian market experienced a relatively flat trend on Tuesday, July 22, amid volatile sessions. The financial sector and Zomato saw gains, but these were offset by a dip in Reliance and the IT sector.
City of Dreams 🌆
Urban India: Big Dreams and Crumbling Infrastructure
Image credits: Telegraph India
India’s cities are no longer just places to live; they’re the new dream factories, buzzing with ambition and relentless hustle. But behind the sheen of opportunities lies a brewing challenge. According to a World Bank report, India’s urban population is set to double by 2050, reaching 951 million people. With that growth arises the need for over 144 million new homes by 2070.
The good, the bad and the solution
Cities are projected to create 70% of new jobs by 2030, acting as the heartbeat of economic growth. However, infrastructure isn’t keeping pace. Over 50% of the infrastructure needed by 2050 hasn’t even been built yet. Add to that the urban heat island effect, where cities are heating up 3–4°C more than surrounding areas, and we’ve got a climate crisis brewing on top of a concrete one.
Building resilient, low-carbon Indian cities will require over $2.4 trillion in investment by 2050, with private sector participation playing a crucial role in meeting this massive need. But there’s a silver lining: with the right investments in resilient infrastructure such as improved waste systems, heat-adaptive designs, and flood-resistant planning, India can save over 130,000 lives from the impacts of extreme heat by 2050.
How are cities tackling this problem?
Ahmedabad has pioneered a Heat Action Plan that includes early warnings, healthcare upgrades, and work schedule shifts for outdoor labourers.
Kolkata now boasts a city-level flood forecasting system.
Indore has revamped its waste management with a focus on green jobs.
Chennai has launched a full-blown climate action plan targeting both resilience and low-carbon growth.
Bottom line
The rush to the city is inevitable. The question is, can we make these cities liveable, breathable, and future-ready? The next few decades will decide whether urban India becomes a ticking time bomb or a blueprint for sustainable success.
Cybercrime and AI 🧠💡
Tackling Cybercrime with AI in National Security
Image credits: Pexels
India ranks third globally in cyberattacks, with over 2.3 million incidents reported in 2024 and financial losses nearing ₹1,200 crore. As cyber threats grow more sophisticated, artificial intelligence (AI) could become India’s most important defence weapon. According to a survey by Nexgen Exhibitions, over 86% respondents believe the Indian government needs to step in and support AI initiatives focused on national security.
A push for public-private partnerships
Interestingly, around 14% of respondents support public-private partnerships (PPPs) to drive AI innovation in defence. These partnerships could be crucial in bridging the AI divide and ensuring ethical and effective adoption of emerging tech across sectors.
How is the world using it?
The U.S. and U.K. now have AI Safety Institutes and joint testing agreements focused on AI’s national security impact. The U.S. Congress is considering an AI academy to train cyber defenders, while Australia and NATO allies are building AI labs and ethical frameworks to future-proof defence systems.
If AI is the new battlefield, India needs more than just firewalls; it needs foresight, funding, and a fast-tracked national strategy. Without bold tools and a clear national framework, India risks falling behind in this digital battleground.
BUSINESS: Dhanda Hai Yeh!
Image credits: Pexels
Crypto tax collection climbs: The government’s crypto tax FOMO is real. India's crypto income tax collection hit ₹437 crore in FY24 marking a 63% jump from FY23's ₹269 crore. Blame (or thank!) that 30% tax and 1% TDS on all crypto moves.
TATA goes AI: Tata Communications partnered with Amazon Web Services to deploy a 7.2 Tbps, 18,000 km AI-ready network across India, investing ₹430 crore. The project is expected to be fully operational by FY2026.
Indian office REIT shine: India's office real estate investment trusts (REITs) are flexing harder than gym bros—outperforming the entire realty index. Global investors are taking notice, highlighting a growing interest in India's commercial real estate market.
Recommended: ChatGPT Challenges Google
Has ChatGPT become your new best friend? According to a report by Axios, ChatGPT now receives 2.5 billion prompts on a daily basis, a 150% surge from six months ago. The US and India are considered the two largest markets for ChatGPT.
WORLD: HIGHLIGHTED NEWS🌏
EU Trade Tussle with Uncle Sam
As the August 1 deadline looms, both the EU and US appear to be readying themselves for a fierce trade war. President Trump’s recent threat of 30% tariffs, up from the 20% floated in April, adds fuel to the fire in already tense trade negotiations. As a rebuttal, the EU is considering its own countermeasures:
Anti-Coercion Instrument: This is a legal tool allowing the EU’s bloc of 27 countries to impose new taxes on American tech companies. Additionally, it lets these countries reduce investments in US firms on EU soil and prevents US companies from bidding on European contracts.
Earlier, the EU drew up retaliatory tariff measures targeting more than $100 billion of US Exports to the bloc; however, they haven’t yet been put into effect.
The enormity of this trade war
The US and EU have the world’s largest bilateral trade agreement. As per EU data, more than $5 billion worth of goods and services move between the two economies every day. Germany could be the biggest loser as a result of this trade war, having sent $174.5 billion worth of goods last year (more than any EU country). While both sides are still hoping for a deal before Trump's August 1 deadline, they're clearly preparing for a potentially pricey battle.
DUNIYADIARY 🌏
Denmark vs. Deepfakes: Denmark aims to amend its copyright law, giving people explicit rights over their body, voice, and face in a bid to tackle growing deepfakes and digital imitations. The legislation proposes heavy penalties for tech companies that don't comply.
Trump swipes left on SpaceX: Amidst the Trump-Musk feud, Donald Trump seeks alternatives for the $175 billion Golden Dome missile defence system. He's now eyeing Amazon's Project Kuiper and other defence giants, reducing reliance on Musk’s dominating SpaceX program.
US dumps UNESCO… again: The US, under Trump, has withdrawn from UNESCO for the second time, effective 31st December 2026. The White House claims the agency supports "woke” and “divisive" causes. This move reverses President Biden's re-entry as Israel welcomes this decision.
Buddhist stupas destroyed: China demolished over 300 Buddhist stupas and numerous sacred statues in Drakgo, a region in Tibet, along with a severe crackdown and enforced silence upon local Tibetans.
Dhaka Jet Crash Tragedy: A Bangladesh Air Force training jet crashed into a Dhaka school on Monday, killing 27 and injuring over 160. The F-7 BGI aircraft crashed shortly after take-off, prompting a one-day state mourning.
Global call to end Gaza war: A group of 28 countries, including Britain, Japan and a host of European nations, issued a joint statement saying the war in Gaza “must end now”. Over 80,000 people have died as a result of the Hamas-Israel war so far.
Aur Batao 📰
MiG-21 bows out, Apache takes flight: After more than 60 years, India’s last MiG-21s will retire on Sept 19, ending a legendary but turbulent era of over 700 jets and 400+ crashes. Meanwhile, the Army has just inducted three US-made Apache AH-64Es—"tanks in the air" with three more due this year. India’s skies are entering a whole new combat chapter.
Air India clears check: Air India and Air India Express have finished precautionary checks on all Boeing 787 and 737 aircraft, with no faults found in the engine fuel control switch locks. This follows a DGCA-mandated inspection after a June 12 crash linked to both switches suddenly flipping to ‘CUTOFF’.
India safer than US & UK: According to Numbeo’s 2025 Safety Index, India secured the 66th spot (score: 55.7), beating the US (ranked 89) and UK ( ranked 87). Tiny Andorra topped the global list, while Venezuela was named the least safe nation.
ISRO’s shoots for the Moon: ISRO chief V. Narayanan unveils India’s plans of building its own space station by 2035 and landing an astronaut on the Moon independently by 2040.
Ayurveda goes AI: India becomes the first country to fully digitise traditional medicine systems like Ayurveda, Unani, & Homoeopathy via the AI-powered Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL).
ICICI bribery scandal: A tribunal has confirmed that ex-ICICI Bank CEO Chanda Kochhar accepted a ₹64 crore bribe in a quid pro quo for sanctioning a ₹300 crore loan to Videocon. The money trail shows funds flowed to her husband’s firm, NuPower, right after the loan.
F1 Biopic Incoming: India’s first F1 driver, Narain Karthikeyan, is getting a Tamil-language biopic directed by Mahesh Narayanan, set to release next year.
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