Desi Dispatch Newsletter: 19/06

Good Morning India 🇮🇳 we are BACK BABYYYY!

Reddit just pulled off a masterstroke and named Sachin Tendulkar as their brand ambassador - Aila, maja aayega! From post-match presentations to post-thread wisdom, Sachin's stepping into subreddits. Through his official Reddit profile, the god of cricket will share personal reflections and exclusive content (read: “how I sledged McGrath”).

Now, let’s get into the dispatch! 🚀 

Today’s reading time is 5 mins

MARKETS 🔔🐂🐻

DEFENSE 📈🇮🇳
India's Defence Revenue skyrockets by 17%

What Happened?  
Good news for India's defence sector! According to a report by ICRA (Investment Information and Credit Rating Agency), the sector is looking at a significant revenue boost of 15-17% in the fiscal year 2026. This positive outlook is primarily due to a strong pipeline of orders (possibly an outcome of Operation Sindoor’s Success) and progress in executing existing ones.  

Who Gains: 

• Indian Defence Companies: All parts of the defence production chain – land, naval, aeronautical, armaments, and even IT for defence- are expected to see healthy growth. This means more business and better profits for them.

• Government's "Atmanirbhar Bharat" Initiative: The push for self-reliance in defence manufacturing is paying off, leading to increased domestic production and exports. 

• Indian Economy: With healthy profit margins (expected to be 25-27%) and increased local production, this sector is contributing significantly to economic growth and creating jobs. 

The Wider View: This growth isn't just surprising. It's a result of sustained government support and policies like "Atmanirbhar Bharat" (Self-Reliant India), which are heavily promoting local manufacturing. India is not only looking to fulfil its own defence needs but is also becoming a significant player in the global defence export market. 

The Flip Side: While the growth figures are exciting, it's worth noting that managing working capital can still be a challenge for private players in this sector. Long project timelines and payment structures sometimes make cash flow tricky. 

BUSINESS INDIA
DHANDA HAI YEH!

• Ola goes ‘Zero Commission’: Ola launched a 0% commission model nationwide, letting driver-partners keep 100% of fares from autos, bikes, and cabs. It's India's first to do so at this scale, rolling out in phases for a sustainable ecosystem. Kya Ola yeh zero se hero ban paayega?

• Electric two wheel manufacturer Ather Energy plans to double its retail network to 700 Experience Centres by FY26 across India. Driven by strong Rizta scooter demand, with over 1 lakh units sold, they're expanding charging and service infrastructure too. 

• Honeywell’s Sweet Success: Honeywell India is set to cross $1 billion in revenue by 2025, driven by 5G, cloud, and AI. The company, operating for over 90 years, anticipates double-digit growth in automation, aviation, and energy. 

• India’s green moves: India has proposed Virtual Power Agreements (VPPAs) via CERC to boost renewable energy trading. What the hell are VPPAs? They are a way for institutions to meet their carbon neutrality goals without actually using renewable energy. Read all about it here.

• Vodafone Idea has partnered with AST SpaceMobile (rivals to Musk-owned SpaceX) to bring direct satellite-based mobile services to smartphones across India. This aims to expand connectivity while integrating space-based tech with Vi's network. 

WORLD: BUSINESS AND GEOPOLITICS 🌍
KYA CHAL RAHA HAI?

• MI6 gets its first-ever boss lady: Blaise Metreweli, MI6’s current tech chief, becomes its first female head in 116 years. With decades in intelligence, she brings deep field experience and leadership in cyber threats, assuming the top role “C” in October. 

• UK finally bins its Victorian abortion law: UK Parliament has voted to decriminalise abortion by repealing a long-standing Victorian-era law. The decision marks a significant step in modernising the country’s reproductive health legislation 

• Meta tried to poach with mega bucks: Sam Altman claims Meta offered $100M bonuses to lure OpenAI staff. Despite the jaw-dropping offers, he says most employees stayed loyal, valuing mission over money. 

 Iran-Israel War updates

• Iran tells citizens: Delete WhatsApp, it’s spying for Israel: Iranian state TV warned users to uninstall WhatsApp, claiming without evidence that the app shares data with Israel. Meta hasn't responded, and no proof has been presented so far. 

• Trump gives stern warning to Iran: Trump claimed the U.S. knows Supreme Leader Khamenei’s location and demanded Iran’s unconditional surrender. The bold statement comes amid rising nuclear tensions and fears of Israeli military action. 

Aur Batao: News from across India 📰

• Modi to Trump: No thanks, we got this: PM Modi told Trump that India didn’t accept or seek US mediation in the Pakistan ceasefire. He reaffirmed India’s stance about no third-party interference in Indo-Pak matters. Meanwhile Trump hosted the Pakistani army chief.

• INS Arnala joins the “pool”-party: The Indian Navy has inducted INS Arnala, its first anti-submarine warfare shallow watercraft. Designed for coastal defence and sub-hunting, it's a big boost to India's maritime muscle.

• India & Canada hit refresh at G7: At the G7 Summit, India and Canada agreed to reappoint High Commissioners, easing tensions.

Air India Ahmedabad plane crash tragedy and its aftermath

• Air India turbulence continues: Air India cancelled 7 international flights in 24 hours, following the Ahmedabad tragedy. The airline cites operational reasons as fallout from the incident disrupts schedules. 

• DGCA digs deeper into Air India crash: India's aviation regulator has asked Air India for pilot and dispatcher training records after the Ahmedabad crash. The move aims to assess crew readiness and safety compliance. 

Sports and Entertainment

• Aamir Khan reportedly rejected ONLY ₹120 crore Amazon Prime Video offer for ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’s OTT rights, prioritising theatrical release to encourage “back to cinemas”. 

• India’s million-dollar TT boost: The World Table Tennis (WTT) has launched an Indian wing and pledged to invest $3-5 million in the next 2-3 years, in a bid to transform Indian into a global Table Tennis hub.

• In a recent interview, Jasprit Bumrah revealed that he declined India's Test captaincy for the England tour over fitness concerns. Gill now leads the Blues, while Bumrah's sole aim remains to sweep batsmen off their feet. 

• Hockey Honour: The Australian hockey team gave Manpreet Singh, India’s hockey legend, a guard of honour and a signed jersey for his 400th international appearance. He's India's second player to reach this milestone. 

What the Fact are you saying?

Do you know? 95 years ago, on 18th April 1930, the BBC found no news around the globe, so they just played the Piano instead. Heads up - we may just send you a Diljit collab one day if we’re too lazy.

NOTE FROM THE DESI DISPATCH TEAM

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