Archives January 2026

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi highlights $500 billion energy investment opportunity and landmark India–EU trade agreement; Dr. Sultan Al Jaber calls reliable partnerships the “real strategic reserve” in an era of transformation.

Jan 28- India Energy Week (IEW) 2026 officially opened today in Goa, bringing together global policymakers, energy ministers, CEOs, investors and innovators to shape the future of energy security, sustainability and growth.

With representatives from nearly 125 countries, the opening day included key speeches from leading global figures, highlighting India’s influence at a time when global energy systems are undergoing transformation.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi: India’s energy moment has arrived

Addressing the inaugural ceremony via video conferencing, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi welcomed global delegates and emphasised the importance of India Energy Week as a key forum for shaping a secure and sustainable future.

“India is a land of immense opportunities for the energy sector,” the Prime Minister said. As the world’s fastest-growing major economy, India’s demand for energy is rising continuously – and at the same time, India offers the capacity and capability to help meet global demand.

Prime Minister Modi highlighted India’s expanding role in global energy markets – India is among the top five exporters of petroleum products, supplying more than 150 countries worldwide. He emphasised the opportunities for India’s large refining base – currently the world’s second largest.

The Prime Minister also highlighted the landmark Free Trade Agreement between India and the European Union, describing it as a remarkable example of coordination between two of the world’s largest economies.

This agreement represents nearly one-quarter of global GDP and around one-third of global trade, Shri Modi said. Beyond trade, it reinforces India’s shared commitment to democracy and the rule of law.

In addition to Europe, the Prime Minister highlighted India’s expanding international engagement, including discussions with Canada on strengthening cooperation across the energy value chain. Discussions between Canadian Energy Minister Tim Hodgson and Indian Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri were held on the first day.

Outlining India’s ambition, Prime Minister Modi said the country was moving beyond energy security towards the mission of energy independence, supported by wide-ranging reforms, deep-sea exploration initiatives, LNG infrastructure expansion and rapid growth in city gas distribution.

“Our energy sector lies at the heart of India’s aspirations,” he said. “It holds $500 billion in investment opportunities. That is why Make in India. Innovate in India. Scale with India. Invest in India.”

Dr. Sultan Al Jaber: “Reliable partnerships are the real strategic reserves”

Another key speaker at the opening day was Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, and Managing Director and Group CEO of ADNOC. He urged industry leaders to look beyond short-term volatility and focus on the scale of opportunity created by rising global energy demand.

In an era of constant change, reliable partnerships are the real strategic reserves, Dr. Al Jaber said. “Transformation rewards those who move boldly, not those who wait for calm seas.”

Dr. Al Jaber described today’s energy landscape as being shaped by the rise of emerging markets, exponential growth in artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure, and the transformation of global energy systems – trends that converge in India.

Between now and 2040, oil demand will remain above 100 million barrels per day, he said. Demand for LNG and electricity will grow by 50 percent or more.

Highlighting India’s central role in global energy growth, Dr. Al Jaber noted that over the next 15 years India’s air travel is expected to grow by 150 percent, its urban population will approach one billion, and data centre capacity will increase ten-fold.

“Progress and growth at this scale require a special kind of partnership,” he said. “Partnership that is strategic, long-term, agile and flexible – steadfast, dependable, principled and consistent. This is precisely what defines the UAE-India relationship.”

He reaffirmed ADNOC’s commitment to India, noting that India is the UAE’s number one LNG market, ADNOC is India’s largest LPG supplier, and a reliable provider of crude, feedstocks and chemicals.

Natural gas critical to reducing emissions

Also on the first day of India Energy Week, a high level leadership panel examined the evolving role of natural gas and LNG in strengthening energy resilience, supporting economic growth and enabling a realistic and inclusive energy transition amid geopolitical uncertainty.

The panel included Shri Arvinder Singh Sahney, Chairman, IndianOil Corporation Limited, Shri Sandeep Kumar Gupta, Chairman & Managing Director, GAIL (India) Limited, Ms Fatema Al Nuaimi, CEO, ADNOC Gas, and Mr Steven Kobos, President & CEO, Excelerate Energy. Panellists underscored that natural gas and LNG are increasingly emerging as long-term, foundational components of modern energy systems and that the energy transition must be approached as energy addition rather than abrupt replacement.

Hydrogen Zone inauguration

India’s Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Shri Hardeep Singh Puri inaugurated the Hydrogen Zone on Day One of India Energy Week. The Hydrogen Zone, one of 11 thematic zones at this year’s event, showcases cutting-edge hydrogen technologies and solutions shaping India’s low-carbon future.

A platform for global collaboration

India Energy Week 2026 continues throughout the week with ministerial dialogues, executive roundtables, strategic agreements and technology showcases – reinforcing India’s position as a global convenor for energy insights and a catalyst for investment, innovation and partnership.

 Zee Entertainment UK Launches Flagship Zee TV With Live German Subtitles On Samsung TV Plus In Germany, Austria And Switzerland

London, Jan 27:   Zee Entertainment UK announces a landmark move in European broadcasting and streaming: the launch of flagship Zee TV as a live FAST channel on Samsung TV Plus across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. This bold step expands Zee’s global footprint and also ensures viewers enjoy authentic, premium South Asian entertainment.

For the first time ever, German audiences can stream Zee TV’s latest dramas, reality shows, and family entertainment with live 24/7 German subtitles, making content more accessible and inclusive than ever before. With German subtitles, this launch opens up a much larger audience base not just South Asians but also German-speaking viewers who can now enjoy Zee TV’s rich storytelling. This innovation sets a new benchmark for FAST streaming, combining cutting-edge translation technology with Zee’s flagship content.

Zee TV perfectly complements the existing popularity of Zee One and Zee5 in the region, both of which have built a super strong fan base among South Asians and local mainstream audiences in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, including high-earning hundreds of thousands Indian professionals who value quality content. Despite their willingness to pay for authentic entertainment, access has often been fragmented or limited. By offering live streaming directly to viewers, Zee is closing that gap and ensuring Gen 2 and Gen 3 of the diaspora can enjoy content without relying on parents for translation.

Samsung TV Plus is Samsung’s free, ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) service, delivering hundreds of live channels, on-demand movies and shows across news, sports, entertainment and more, subscription-free. The streaming service is available on Samsung TVs, Galaxy, and Samsung Smart Monitor devices.

Amit Goenka, President, International and Digital Businesses, Zee Entertainment, said:

“Zee TV Germany is a flagship launch and a defining moment in our global journey to make entertainment truly borderless. This kind of move is not just unprecedented, it’s essential to meet viewers where they are. By going live on Samsung TV Plus with 24/7 German subtitles, we are breaking language barriers and setting a new international benchmark for FAST streaming. As a content and tech media powerhouse, we will continue to reach our audiences in every possible way, accessible, and innovative. This is about creating cultural bridges, leading the FAST revolution, and shaping the future of global entertainment with global partners in technology – Samsung.”

Benedict Frey, Country Lead DACH + BeNeLux at Samsung TV Plus said,

” We are excited to continue our partnership with Zee Entertainment to grow our content offering in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland with the launch of flagship Zee TV on Samsung TV Plus. This addition strengthens our existing portfolio of Zee channels already available on the platform and brings even more premium South Asian entertainment to our customers. Making this content accessible with live German subtitles is a meaningful step in serving diverse audiences across the region and enriching the viewing experience for all.”

Currently, Zee TV UK’s social media handles engage hundreds of thousands of followers and viewers across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, reflecting the brand’s strong digital presence and loyal fan base. This launch will ignite conversations across Europe and beyond, driving engagement through authentic, legal content.

Viewers in Germany can now access Zee TV exclusively on Samsung TV Plus on channel number 4210. This partnership demonstrates the growing synergy between premium content providers and innovative streaming platforms, expanding the reach of quality international content. 

As Europe’s largest South Asian broadcaster and streaming powerhouse, Zee Entertainment UK delivers nine channels across linear TV and FAST platforms, complemented by Zee5’s cutting-edge digital experience. With this launch, Zee TV Germany becomes Zee’s ninth channel in Europe, further cementing the company’s leadership as the premier provider of South Asian entertainment across the continent. Zee Entertainment UK continues to strengthen its global footprint, meeting audiences where they are and fostering cross-cultural exchange through television and digital innovation.

Rohtak, Jan 27: Rohtak Royals, the franchise representing the city of Rohtak in the inaugural Kabaddi Champions League (KCL), have announced a strong line-up of sponsors for the upcoming season of the KCL. Adroit Sports LLP-owned Rohtak Royals franchisee, have roped in ixigo as the Official Travel Partner and John Players as the Official Loungewear Partner, while Campus Activewear, MuscleBlaze and Knack Pro Sports have come on board as the Official Footwear, Nutrition and Hydration Partners, respectively. The partnerships mark a significant step for the Rohtak Royals as they prepare for their first-ever campaign in the Kabaddi Champions League, underlining the growing commercial appeal of the franchise and the league.

Commenting on the sponsorship announcements, Aishwarya Bhargava, COO, Rohtak Royals, said, “We are delighted to welcome ixigo, John Players, Campus Shoes, MuscleBlaze and Knack Pro Sports to the Rohtak Royals family. These partnerships come at a crucial time as we gear up for the inaugural season of the Kabaddi Champions League. Each of these brands aligns perfectly with our vision of performance, professionalism, and fan engagement, and we look forward to building long-term associations with them.”

Head Coach Surender Nada added, “Strong support off the mat plays a vital role in a team’s success on the mat. Having reputed brands come on board gives our players added confidence and motivation as we prepare for a challenging season ahead. We are focused on putting up strong performances and representing Rohtak with pride.”

ixigo, India’s leading online travel platform, comes on board as the Official Travel Partner of Rohtak Royals. Known for its user-friendly interface and data-driven travel solutions, ixigo will support the team’s travel requirements through the season, ensuring seamless and efficient travel for players and support staff.

John Players, a renowned name in men’s fashion, joins the franchise as the Official Loungewear Partner. With a strong focus on comfort, style, and versatility, John Players’ association adds a touch of modern lifestyle appeal to the Rohtak Royals brand, catering to both athletes and fans alike.

Campus Activewear, one of India’s biggest domestic sports and athleisure lifestyle brands, has been named the Official Footwear Partner of Rohtak Royals. Campus offers a diverse product portfolio for the entire family. With the changing market dynamics, Campus has sustained its focus on product design and innovation by facilitating access to the latest global trends and styles through a fashion-forward approach.

MuscleBlaze, a pioneer in the sports nutrition space in India, has come on board as the Official Nutrition Partner. Trusted by athletes across disciplines, MuscleBlaze will play a key role in supporting the fitness, recovery, and overall performance needs of the Rohtak Royals squad during the season.

Knack Pro Sports, a performance-driven hydration drink from Knack Beverages, has joined Rohtak Royals as the Official Hydration Partner. Designed for athletes, its advanced formula with essential salts, minerals, BCAAs, glutamine, multi-vitamins, and prebiotics supports hydration and recovery. Guided by its philosophy of “Hydration Naye Bharat Ka,” Knack Pro Sports will play a key role in powering the Royals through the season.

Earlier, KMC Constructions Limited joined hands with Adroit Sports Ventures as the Strategic Partner for Rohtak Royals, combining infrastructure-led expertise with a focused sports development vision aligned with “Kheloge Kudoge Banoge Lajawaab.” Backed by Mr. Shashank Shekhar, Director, KMC Constructions Limited, Adroit Sports Ventures operates across talent identification, high-performance training, event management, and sports infrastructure, guided by Mr. Gajendra Sharma and led by Mrs. Aishwarya Bhargava, with the Rohtak Royals franchise jointly owned by Adroit Sports Ventures and Mr. Surender Malik.

Rohtak Royals will take on Faridabad Fighters in their second game of the inaugural Kabaddi Champions League on January 28, 2026. The Kabaddi Champions League is scheduled to be held from January 25 to February 7, featuring eight teams in the league’s first season.

By:  Anuj Khurana, Co-founder & CEO, Anaptyss

“In an increasingly digital world, data privacy has moved beyond being a compliance checkbox to becoming a core business and risk imperative with direct financial impact. In 2025, the average cost of a data breach has risen to approximately USD 4.4 million, with financial services institutions facing even higher exposure- often exceeding USD 5.5-6.0 million per incident- given the sensitivity of their data and the complexity of their ecosystems.

Across the global BFSI landscape, threat vectors continue to evolve. Phishing and supply-chain compromises remain persistent drivers of breaches, but a newer and fast-emerging risk is the ungoverned use of AI, often referred to as ‘Shadow AI’. In India, Shadow AI already ranks among the top three contributors to breach costs, underscoring a broader global trend where the pace of AI adoption is outstripping security, governance, and regulatory controls.

At Anaptyss, we see this convergence of data privacy, cybersecurity, and financial crime risk as a defining challenge for the industry. BFSI organizations can no longer afford to manage privacy, compliance, and financial crime controls in silos. Modern risk and compliance architectures must be engineered with privacy-by-design at their core- embedding data classification, lineage and provenance tracking, access governance, model explainability, and lifecycle management directly into AML, fraud detection, and risk analytics platforms.

By aligning data governance with real-time risk intelligence and resilient operating controls, financial institutions can not only reduce privacy breach exposure but also strengthen their defenses against financial crime. On this Data Privacy Day, the message is clear: responsible data and AI governance is no longer optional- it is foundational to trust, resilience, and sustainable innovation in the financial services ecosystem.”

Modern Diagnostic & Research Centre, a leading diagnostic chain, has successfully concluded its Initial Public Offering (IPO), raising ₹36.89 crore, which received an exceptional response from investors across categories. The issue was oversubscribed by a staggering 350.49 times at the close of the oversubscription period, which shows the market’s confidence in the company’s growth strategy and business model.

The IPO, which was open for subscription from Wednesday, December 31, 2025, closed on January 2, 2026, had its allotment of shares completed on Monday, January 5, 2026. The allotment status for the same was made available on the BSE website or on the registrar’s website, MUFG Intime India. The public issue consisted of a fresh issue of 4.1 million equity shares, aggregating ₹38.49 crore, offered in a price band of ₹85 to ₹90 per equity share with a lot size of 1,600 equity shares. Modern Diagnostic shares also commenced trading on the BSE SME exchange on January 7, 2026.

Modern Diagnostic & Research Centre was founded by Dr. D.S. Yadav, CMD, with an esteemed & rich heritage of quality diagnostics since inception, opening operations at New Railway Road, Gurugram, in 1985, with an impressive journey of more than four decades, earning the organization a pioneering name in quality pathology, as well as quality imaging, with a capacity to conduct 2,500 different tests in-house, mostly related to molecular, cytogenic, as well as radiological, studies.

The network of the company consists of more than 20 laboratories and diagnostic centers spread over 8 states, catering to individual patients, hospitals, and corporate clients with sophisticated diagnostic solutions. The USP of the company, MDRC, lies in the blend of legacy strengths, broad test menu, accredited labs, state-of-the-art imaging and pathology offerings, home sample collection, digital reporting for patients, and the focus for accurate results in diagnostics.

The company intended to use ₹20.7 crore of the net proceeds to acquire sophisticated medical equipment for its diagnostic centers and laboratories, thus enhancing its capabilities. Another ₹8 crore was allocated to meet the working capital needs, while ₹1 crore was earmarked to repay part of the debt. The rest of the amount was set aside for general corporate purposes.

During the allotment phase, the grey market price of the unlisted shares of Modern Diagnostic was reported at around ₹103.5 per share, indicating a Grey Market Premium (GMP) of ₹13.5, or approximately 15 percent, over the higher end of the IPO price band, as reported by sources monitoring the grey market activity. It was noted that grey markets are unregulated and unofficial markets, and investors should not solely depend on the GMP for IPO listing performance.

Expressing his views on the successful IPO, Dr. D.S. Yadav, the CMD for Modern Diagnostic & Research Centre, stated, “The strong enthusiasm shown by the investors has reaffirmed our conviction that precise diagnostic facilities provide a strong base for quality health. The amount generated from the IPO has been used for the installation of the most advanced health facilities and systems that would further improve the diagnostic facilities and provide a strong base for a transparent organisation.”

With a robust subscription response and a plan in place for the use of funds, Modern Diagnostic & Research Centre entered its next phase of growth with renewed momentum and was poised to further enhance its presence and improve the standards of diagnosis across its network.

This January, 3 Spices invites diners to embark on a richly immersive culinary journey with Sofreh, an exclusive Persian food pop-up celebrating the depth, warmth, and heritage of one of the world’s oldest cuisines. Scheduled from 26th to 31st January 2026, the food pop-up will be available only during dinner, offering guests an evocative taste of Persia through time-honoured recipes and soulful flavours.

Curated to reflect the essence of Persian gastronomy, Sofreh showcases a menu steeped in tradition, where saffron-infused delicacies, aromatic grilled kebabs, and herb-rich slow-cooked stews take centre stage. Signature dishes include the comforting Ghormeh Sabzi, the indulgent Fesenjan with its delicate balance of nutty and tangy notes, Albaloo Polo, and fragrant Persian pilaf, each prepared using authentic techniques and ingredients true to the cuisine’s roots.

Speaking about the pop-up, the Khizer Khan, Hotel Manager at DoubleTree by Hilton Pune-Chinchwad said,

“With Sofreh, we aim to bring an authentic and immersive dining experience to our guests—one that goes beyond food and tells the story of Persian culture, heritage, and hospitality. At 3 Spices, we continuously strive to curate meaningful culinary journeys, and this pop-up is a celebration of flavours that are both soulful and timeless.”

So, this January, head to 3 Spices at Double Tree by Hilton Pune-Chinchwad and savour the soul of Persia through a dining experience that blends tradition, flavour, and finesse.

Republic Day Sale 2026 Sets New Benchmarks: Beauty Surges While Electronics Dip; Online Payments Flip Cash on Delivery, Reveals GoKwik Insights

New Delhi, Jan 27: The 77th Republic Day has officially concluded, not just with parades, but with a massive digital footprint that cements the occasion as a primary shopping season in the Indian calendar. New data released by GoKwik reveals that the 2026 Republic Day sale period witnessed a robust 34% year-on-year growth in orders, signalling a maturing D2C ecosystem where consumer intent is high and distinct from traditional festive sales.

The e-commerce enablement platform released its post-sale insights, capturing how Indians shopped during the Republic Day period. The data reveals sharp shifts in category trends, payment preferences, and shopping timing.

The “Glow-Up” Surges, Electronics Dip According to GoKwik, the 2026 sale saw a massive acceleration in the Beauty and Personal Care (BPC) sector. Data indicates that the Beauty and Personal Care category nearly doubled its order volume, surging by approximately 74% year-on-year. This growth was driven by a high demand for “Clean Beauty,” haircare, and skincare products.

In contrast, the Electronics category saw a decline of nearly 24% in order volumes compared to the previous year. Meanwhile, Fashion sustained its position as a dominant category, continuing to drive a significant portion of the total sale volume alongside Beauty.

Online Payments Flip the Script Perhaps the most significant behavioral marker of the 2026 sale was the collapse of Cash on Delivery (COD) dominance. For the first time in this sale period’s history, online payments accounted for the majority of orders, edging out COD. This marks a fundamental maturing of the Indian shopper, driven by increased trust in homegrown brands and the allure of “Prepaid Discounts.”

The “Coffee & Cart” Ritual Shopping activity showed a distinct move toward early hours. The “Morning Rush” emerged as the prime shopping window, contributing the highest volume of orders. Unlike previous years defined by late-night impulse buys, 2026 shoppers were decisive early risers, checking out their carts before clocking in for the workday.

The “Tiranga” Effect in Bharat The sale also highlighted a deep-rooted thematic connection. Merchants fully embraced the theme with “Patriotic” coupon codes like REPUBLIC26, BHARAT, and FREEDOM seeing category-wide adoption.

Beyond discounts, the sale spurred a demand for identity. Merchandise with “Republic” and “Tiranga” themes, ranging from tricolor apparel to special edition stationery and curated snack combos, saw brisk sales. Notably, a significant portion of these thematic orders were shipped to Tier 2 and Tier 3 towns in states like Assam, West Bengal, and Odisha, highlighting that the patriotic sentiment driving consumption is a truly pan-India phenomenon.

Commenting on the findings, Chirag Taneja, Co-founder and CEO, GoKwik, said:

“The data reflects a fundamental shift in Indian consumer behaviour. What’s fascinating is how the top categories behaved this season. Beauty and Personal Care grew aggressively by ~75%, while Fashion sustained its strong contribution. Furthermore, with online payments overtaking COD, we are witnessing the maturation of the Indian online shopper in real-time. They are decisive, they pay digitally, and they shop before breakfast.”

GoKwik’s insights are derived from network data analyzing millions of orders across D2C brands, comparing the performance of the Republic Day sale period in 2026 against 2025.

Higher Spending, Increased Daily Time on Offshore Betting Platforms as Domestic RMG Remains Banned – Survey in Tamil Nadu

Chennai, Jan 27: A new survey conducted by CUTS International among 1,000 former online real money gaming (RMG) users in Tamil Nadu finds that spending on illegal offshore betting platforms has increased significantly since the nationwide ban on all online money games in India through Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025. The findings suggest that while users have shifted platforms following regulatory changes, their underlying gaming behaviour, spending levels, frequency, and engagement intensity has remained largely unchanged.

Despite the state enacting stringent regulations in February 2025, through The Tamil Nadu Online Gaming Authority (TNOGA), which imposed tighter operational mandates on domestic and legitimate operators, the study indicates that since the PROG Act 2025, offshore betting platforms continued to be a part of user’s gaming behaviour. About 67.8% of respondents engaged with offshore platforms alongside domestic operators, prior to the national ban. This proportion has since increased to 83%, driven by more respondents initiating offshore use after the ban (26.9%) than discontinuing it (11.7%).

 “The data from Tamil Nadu clearly shows that users have not stopped online money gaming or reduced spending,” said Mr. Amol Kulkarni, Director (Research), CUTS International. “Instead, the same patterns of behaviour are now playing out on illegal offshore betting platforms. What stands out is the noticeable shift and consolidation of spending on these platforms, with fewer but higher-value transactions, even in a state where they were formally banned.”

CUTS surveyed online gaming users in Tamil Nadu through a self-reported online questionnaire to assess changes in behaviour before and after restrictions on legal platforms took effect. The analysis examined shifts in platform usage, monthly spending, and frequency of play, session duration, and daily engagement. Across all parameters, the data points to platform substitution rather than any meaningful reduction in gaming activity.

KEY FINDINGS

• Offshore platform usage remains high: Offshore betting usage increased from 67.8% before restrictions to 83% after, underscoring sustained and widespread access to offshore platforms despite regulatory prohibitions.
• Significant increase in offshore spending levels: While offshore betting was previously concentrated in lower-value play, post-restriction spending has shifted sharply toward higher ticket sizes:
• 25% of offshore users now spend ₹5,000–9,999 per month, 
• Pre-ban, only 2% reported monthly spends offshore above ₹10,000; post-ban, the share has increased with 21% spending ₹10,000–24,999 per month
• 9% report monthly spending offshore of ₹25,000 or more

These spending levels indicate a consolidation of higher-value play on offshore platforms, which was earlier spread across both regulated domestic money gaming platforms and unregulated offshore operators.

• Frequency and intensity of play remain unchanged: User engagement has intensified on offshore platforms:

• Daily offshore play increased from 3% pre-restrictions to 45% post-restrictions
• Users spending more than two hours per session offshore rose from 2% to 43%
• Multiple gaming sessions per day are now significantly more common offshore

The survey findings point to an important policy implication: prohibitive regulation that removes regulated domestic supply without effectively addressing access to offshore or informal alternatives may displace higher-value gaming activity into less regulated environments.

CUTS International conducted a similar survey in Delhi NCR in December 2025, which saw one in four surveyed users migrating to offshore platforms. With similar surveys in other states, CUTS International is building a broader, evidence-based understanding of how users respond to the PROG Act and how spending and engagement patterns evolve across different regulatory contexts.

Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO), the worldwide leader in networking and security, unveiled the results of its 2026 Data and Privacy Benchmark Study, showing a striking shift in how organizations approach data privacy and governance. As AI adoption accelerates, nearly all companies are expanding privacy programs and governance frameworks to protect their data and innovate at scale. The growing demand for high-quality data to power AI is exposing gaps in oversight, and raising the stakes for trust, security, and competitiveness. The bottom line: for organizations to succeed in the AI-era, scalable and responsible AI strategies must be built through a mature, integrated approach to privacy and data governance.

Cisco surveyed 5,200 IT, technology, and security professionals with data privacy responsibilities across 12 markets* worldwide. The study reveals AI as the primary catalyst, driving 90% of companies to report expanded privacy programs, with 93% planning further investment to keep up with the complexity of AI systems and expectations of customers and regulators. Notably, globally 38% of organizations surveyed spent at least $5 million on their privacy programs in the past year, up from 14% in 2024.

AI Raises the Bar for Privacy and Trust, But Governance Is Still Evolving

An overwhelming 95% of organizations report that robust privacy frameworks unlock AI agility and innovation, while an equal 95% recognize privacy is essential for building customer trust in AI-powered services.

This year’s report points to a deep structural shift, where trust is no longer established simply by meeting regulatory requirements. Data governance is now seen as a strategic business enabler with 100% of organizations surveyed in India reporting at least one tangible benefit from their privacy initiatives, such as enhanced agility, innovation, and greater customer loyalty. 46% say that clear communication about how data is collected and used is the most effective way to build customer confidence.

With this momentum, governance is evolving to meet the needs of this changing landscape. Many organizations are still working to define and establish the governance structures required to manage AI responsibly at scale. While nearly two-thirds of organizations in India report having a dedicated AI governance body in place, only 12% describe these structures as mature. And, as AI systems draw from increasingly complex and distributed datasets, 70% of organizations struggle to access relevant, high-quality data efficiently.

“AI is forcing a fundamental shift in the data landscape, calling for holistic governance of all data – both personal and non-personal,” said Jen Yokoyama, Senior Vice President, Legal Innovation and Strategy at Cisco. “Organizations must deeply understand and structure their data to ensure every automated decision is explainable. It’s not just for compliance, but a necessary scaling engine for AI innovation.”

AI Sparks Global Data Flow Challenges

While around 79% of respondents in India are generally positive about data privacy laws, there is a growing push to streamline and update data requirements.

The study found that 91% of organizations surveyed in India face heightened demand for data localization and global data complexity. 91% of organizations in India say data localization adds cost, complexity, and risk to cross-border service delivery. Further, 87% report these requirements limit their ability to offer seamless 24/7 service across markets.

Global companies increasingly prefer technology partners that match their footprint: 87% believe global‑scale providers are better at managing cross‑border data flows.

“To capture the potential of AI, organizations (87%) are advocating for a shift toward harmonized international standards” said Harvey Jang, Cisco Vice President and Chief Privacy Officer. “They recognize that global consistency is an economic necessity to ensure data can flow securely while maintaining the high standards of protection required for trust.”

Building Trust and Innovation in the AI Era

To successfully evolve from reactive compliance to a proactive approach, the data shows that companies should invest in robust data infrastructure, prioritizing transparency, and embedding security and privacy throughout AI initiatives.  Organizations should make informed decisions about data localization, establish strong AI governance, and empower their teams with comprehensive training and safeguards. These concrete actions are crucial for building enduring trust, driving responsible innovation, and ultimately thriving in the dynamic, AI-driven digital economy.