Handpicked updates about India’s business and the business of India
What does FIFA have in common with a war summit? Apparently, a front‑row seat. FIFA President Gianni Infantino strolled into the Gaza Peace Summit in Egypt and the world raised a collective eyebrow. In a meeting co-chaired by Donald Trump and Abdel Fattah el‑Sisi (President of Egypt), Infantino pitched youth programs and FIFA’s plan to rebuild Gaza’s football infrastructure. Diplomacy through sport, or just wildly offside? Unclear until we get VAR on this. Either way, if it leads to lasting peace, we’re all for calling in the subs ⚽
Now, let’s get into the Dispatch! 🚀
Today’s reading time is 6 mins.
Markets 🔔🐂🐻
As of the Indian market closed on Oct 14th
The Indian stock market closed in the red for a second straight session on Tuesday, tracking weak global cues. The losses were fuelled by persistent investor concerns over a renewed escalation of US-China trade tensions.
Infrastructure & Governance
World-Class Dreams, Crumbling Foundations
Image credits: Indian Express
The Stark Reality: From collapsing bridges to massive craters in roads and highways especially during the monsoons, India’s infrastructure is sending a warning few are willing to heed. In the past four years alone, 170 bridges have collapsed, claiming over 200 lives. Every year, thousands of crores are spent on de-silting drains and river projects, yet cities like Mumbai flood after just a few hours of rain. The BMC, for instance, spent ₹7,000 crore over a decade, yet the city remains perennially underwater. Despite this, India has been aggressively increasing its public infrastructure budget. The 2025-26 allocation stands at ₹1.12 trillion—over 3% of GDP—and cumulative infrastructure spending is projected to reach ₹143 trillion between 2023-24 and 2029-30, more than double the preceding seven years. Yet, the promise of world-class infrastructure remains a mirage.
Execution Woes and Government Apathy: Much of India’s infrastructure is riddled with issues. Airports leak during heavy rain, expressways develop craters large enough to swallow trucks, and bridges fall decades before their intended lifespan. Between 1971 and 2017, over 2,130 bridges collapsed, according to the Central Road Research Institute. The government routinely convenes meetings, issues condolences, and promises stricter checks and punishments. But the problem isn’t the standards—the National Building Code 2016 and Indian Road Congress norms are largely on par with global benchmarks. The failure lies in operational execution. Flawed procurement systems, rampant L1-based corruption, low-quality design, minimal technical audits, and the lack of preventive maintenance ensure that disasters recur and examples abound: misaligned bridges, “bridges to nowhere,” and crumbling expressways.
A Crisis Of Accountability: Infrastructure quality failures are fundamentally a crisis of accountability. Punishing contractors or junior officials is tokenism. The real decisions - budgets, oversight, approvals - reside higher up, where political inertia reigns. The Chinese visitor’s question resonates as a larger mirror. China’s cities are planned, disciplined, and consistently maintained, supporting economic growth. India’s reactive patchwork, by contrast, is unprepared for rapid urbanization, investment demands, and climate shocks. If India aims to rival China economically, it cannot continue tolerating crumbling roads, flooded streets, or mismanaged cities.
FMCG & Consumer Trends
The Billion-Dollar Playground, Kids Are Driving FMCG Growth
Image credits: India Today
The Rising Segment: The FMCG sector has traditionally focused on adults, but kids—from babies to teens—are finally getting attention. Globally, kids’ beauty products form a $1,387M market, projected to reach $2,365M by 2033. In India, kids account for 15–20% of the $5B beauty and personal care market, with potential to exceed $28B by 2030. Though a majority of children are not direct spenders, they strongly influence buying decisions. Products that balance fun and function—cartoon-themed packaging, organic snacks, or pediatrician-approved shampoos—are winning parents’ approval. Modern parents prioritize ingredient transparency, age-specific formulations, and safety, often subscribing to essentials like diapers and wipes.
What’s Fueling Growth: Key drivers include over 20% of India’s population under the age of 14, rising disposable incomes, urbanization, social media influence, and niche D2C brands innovating in personal care, nutrition, and hygiene. Retail formats are evolving with curated marketplaces offering kid-focused experiences. Fast-growing segments include gentle personal care, kid-friendly oral care, fortified snacks, eco-friendly diapers, and vitamin-infused beverages.
Business India: Dhanda Hai Yeh!
Image credits: Fashion Network
Adani-Google Data Centre: Adani Enterprises is teaming up with Google to build India’s largest data centre campus in Visakhapatnam. The project signals a major boost to India’s digital infrastructure and cloud computing capabilities. It is expected to create jobs and attract further tech investment in the region.
KEC International Bags Saudi Transmission Order: KEC International has secured a Rs 1,064-crore contract to set up a transmission line in Saudi Arabia. The win strengthens the company’s international footprint in power infrastructure. The project spotlights growing cross-border opportunities for Indian engineering and construction firms.
Ford India At Risk? Ford’s comeback in India is under threat as its Chennai plant faces potential closure. The shutdown could derail production plans and delay any revival in the Indian market illustrating challenges foreign automakers face in sustaining operations amid rising costs and competitive pressures.
India’s Textile Export Shift: Indian textile exporters are pivoting to Europe while offering discounts to counter U.S. tariffs. The strategy aims to protect revenues and maintain market share amid shifting global trade dynamics. Europe is emerging as a key destination for Indian textiles, providing a buffer against tariff shocks.
Italian Fahion Brand OVS Expands India Sourcing: OVS plans to open five stores in the next two years while boosting sourcing from India. The strategy underlines India’s growing importance in global apparel manufacturing signalling stronger collaboration opportunities for local suppliers and designers.
Gems & Jewellery Exports Rise In September: India’s gems and jewellery exports (majorly affected by US tariffs) rose 6.5% to $2.9 billion in September. The growth demonstrates the sector’s resilience despite global economic challenges. Strong international demand continues to support the industry’s expansion and contributes to foreign exchange earnings.
Tata Electronics Justech Buyout: Tata Electronics has acquired the India unit of Chinese iPhone supplier Justech. The acquisition strengthens Tata’s electronics manufacturing capabilities and domestic supply chain presence. It also reflects a broader trend of Indian companies consolidating local tech assets to reduce foreign dependency.
Infosys UK NHS Contract: Infosys won a ₹14,000 crore contract to implement a workforce management system for the UK’s NHS. This landmark deal is among the largest IT outsourcing contracts in Europe, reinforcing India’s position as a leader in global software services and healthcare tech solutions.
World 🌏
Has OpenAI Bitten Off More Than It Can Chew?
Image credits: Futurism
Mega Deals, Mega Ambitions: OpenAI has inked deals with chip giants like Broadcom, Nvidia, and AMD, committing billions to build sprawling AI data centers. Alone, these facilities will consume an estimated 26 gigawatts of electricity—roughly 10% of what CEO Sam Altman envisions over the next eight years. The scale is staggering: projects that are equivalent to 17 nuclear plants or nine Hoover Dams, with spending forecasts approaching $850 billion globally.
Broadcom’s High-Stakes Bet: Broadcom’s agreement to develop custom chips and computing systems for OpenAI has sent its stock up nearly 10%, but the partnership carries risk. Custom systems are expensive, non-transferable, and could squeeze margins. Bernstein Research estimates potential revenue above $100 billion, yet the uncertainty of OpenAI’s profitability (expected only by 2029) makes this a high-stakes gamble.
Infrastructure, Ecosystem, And Energy: Beyond chips, OpenAI’s mega data centers in Texas, New Mexico, and Ohio indicate a wider infrastructure push. Partners like Oracle and Nvidia are investing alongside OpenAI, balancing equity, debt, and operational costs. Energy needs are so vast that Altman is funding nuclear and fusion ventures, seeing steady, concentrated power as crucial to powering AI’s future.
Hardware And Long-Term Vision: OpenAI isn’t stopping at software and data centers. The acquisition of Jony Ive’s hardware startup hints at new devices designed to reshape everyday computing. While rollout is planned to be gradual, it signals ambitions far beyond AI models—into hardware, design, and user experience.
The Bottom Line: Investors are optimistic, but the financial model is untested. OpenAI’s appetite for rapid expansion, coupled with enormous capital and energy requirements, raises the question: are these bets sustainable, or is the company stretching itself too thin in pursuit of AI dominance?
DuniyaDIARY 🌏📒
Image credits: WSJ
JPMorgan Beats Estimates: JPMorgan Chase exceeded analyst expectations as trading revenue soared to nearly $9 billion in Q3 2025, marking a record for the bank. Strong performance in trading and investment banking drove the earnings beat irrespective of volatile markets showing growing investor demand for risk management solutions.
GM’s EV Setback: General Motors will take a $1.6 billion charge due to its EV pullback, reflecting the challenges in scaling electric vehicle production and market demand. Analysts say the charge may weigh on near-term earnings but could help GM focus on more profitable ventures.
US-China Port Fees Clash: The US and China have implemented tit-for-tat port fees, escalating tensions in global shipping. This move threatens to increase costs, slow trade, and disrupt supply chains. Analysts warn that prolonged tit-for-tat measures could have broader economic repercussions for exporters and importers.
Goldman Beats Estimates: Goldman Sachs saw profits rise as a rebound in dealmaking boosted investment banking revenues. The results reflect strong client activity in mergers, acquisitions, and advisory services. Analysts note that Goldman is capitalizing on recovering corporate confidence, signaling a positive near-term outlook.
EU Fines Luxury Brands: The EU fined Gucci, Chloe, and Loewe a combined €182 million for fixing resale prices, citing anti-competitive practices. Regulators say such pricing agreements distort the market and harm consumers. The move signals heightened scrutiny of luxury goods pricing across Europe.
AMD-Oracle AI Deal: AMD and Oracle struck a deal for 50,000 GPUs to support AI infrastructure, building on the ongoing surge in large-scale AI partnerships. The collaboration reflects growing demand for high-performance computing in AI model training. Industry experts see this as part of a broader tech investment wave.
Aur Batao 📰
LG India IPO Record: LG Electronics India’s IPO listing shattered a 15-year-old Coal India record, illustrating strong investor appetite for well-priced, quality offerings. The stock’s debut performance marks renewed confidence in India’s large-cap IPO market.
BCCI Backs Gautam Gambhir: Following allegations of favouritism against Harshit Rana, the BCCI publicly supported Gautam Gambhir’s stance. The board emphasized fair play and transparency in selection processes, signaling a zero-tolerance approach to bias. The declaration aims to reassure players and fans amid online trolling and controversies.
Ajay Devgn Launches Whisky: Actor Ajay Devgn entered the growing luxury spirits market in India, introducing a premium single malt whisky brand called GlenJourneys. Focused on the domestic market with its Cask Series, the brand combines celebrity endorsement with quality, aiming to appeal to affluent consumers and connoisseurs.
Scientists Develop ‘Superwood’: Researchers have created a new material called ‘Superwood,’ which is 10 times stronger than steel while remaining lightweight. The breakthrough could revolutionize construction and manufacturing, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional metals.
Cancer ‘Super Vaccine’ Breakthrough: Scientists have developed a new vaccine that can prevent cancer before it develops. The vaccine works by recognizing and attacking cancer cells at an early stage, potentially stopping tumor formation. Early trials—mostly in mice—show promising results, potentially transforming cancer prevention and offering a proactive approach to one of the world’s deadliest diseases.
