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Business Wire India

 

• As AI systems gain broader access to enterprise data across environments, organisations must treat data visibility and encryption as core security elements.

• AI-enabled deepfakes and misinformation are increasing the effectiveness of identity-based attacks. Today, credential theft is the leading attack technique against cloud infrastructure in India (68%) and worldwide (67%). 65% of companies in India who responded to the survey report deepfake-driven incidents, and 55% experience damage from AI-generated misinformation.

• Investment in AI security is growing, with 30% of companies around the world including India allocating dedicated budgets; however, 53% are still relying on existing security budget.

 

According to the Thales 2026 Data Threat Report, organisations across various markets including automotive, energy, finance and retail say the rapid pace of AI-driven transformation is now their biggest security challenge. Based on the report’s research, conducted by S&P Global 451 Research, 64% of organisations in India and 70% globally who responded to the survey cite AI as their top data security risk. The concern is not only about malicious AI, but about the access it is being granted as it shifts from a tool to a trusted insider.

 

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260225890645/en/

 

 

 

As enterprises embed AI into workflows, analytics, customer service, and development pipelines, these systems are being granted broad, automated access to enterprise data, often with fewer controls than those applied to human users in a corporate environment.

 

“The rapid adoption of AI is driving a surge in next-gen cyber threats, particularly deepfakes. This is corroborated by the 2026 Thales Data Threat Report, which reveals 65% of organisations in India have already experienced deepfake-driven attacks. We appreciate India’s efforts to strengthen its legal framework and counter these risks,” says Ankur Kanaglekar, Vice President – India, Thales. “When identity governance, access policies, or encryption frameworks are weak, AI can amplify those weaknesses across corporate environments far faster than any human ever could.”

 

 

Visibility Gaps Are Widening as AI Expands Data Reach

 

 

The report reveals a troubling disconnect between AI adoption and data control. Only 34% of organisations worldwide, and 35% in India, know where all their data resides, regardless of its level of criticality. Just 39% worldwide and 36% in India can fully classify their data. Meanwhile, nearly half (47%) of sensitive cloud data remains unencrypted globally.

 

 

As AI systems ingest and act on data across cloud and SaaS environments, limited visibility makes enforcing least-privilege access increasingly difficult, that is granting only the strictly necessary access rights. This increases the extent of exposure if credentials are compromised.

 

 

Identity infrastructure is now the primary attack surface. Credential theft remains the leading attack technique against cloud management infrastructure, cited by 68% of organisations in India experiencing cloud attacks. At the same time, 44% rank secrets management among their top application security challenges in India, reflecting the growing complexity of governing machine identities, API (application programming interface) keys, and tokens at scale.

 

 

AI Is Powering More Convincing Attacks

 

 

While organisations race to adopt AI, attackers are doing the same. Nearly 65% of companies in India (60% worldwide) report experiencing deepfake-driven attacks, and 55% in India (48% globally) report reputational damage tied to AI-generated misinformation or impersonation campaigns.

 

 

As AI introduces new risks, it also increases existing ones. Human error already contributes to 26% of breaches in India, and with automation layered on top, small mistakes can scale faster and spread wider.

 

 

Security Investment Is Shifting, But Not at the Pace of the new Risks

 

 

While organisations recognize the need to adapt, investment is not keeping pace with the rapid expansion of AI-driven access and automation. 30% of organisations in India and globally now dedicate specific budgets to AI security, reflecting growing awareness. However, the majority (53%) in India still depend on traditional security programs built primarily for human users and perimeter-based controls. As machines increasingly authenticate, access, and act autonomously, many security strategies have yet to adjust to this shift in operating models.

 

 

“As AI becomes deeply embedded into enterprise operations, continuous data visibility and protection are no longer optional,” said Eric Hanselman, Chief Analyst at S&P Global 451 Research. “Organisations must treat data security strategy as foundational to innovation, not separate from it.”¹

 

 

Trust Must Evolve as Machines Gain Access

 

 

AI is not replacing traditional threats; rather, it is intensifying them by increasing their speed, scale, and reach. As automated systems gain broader access to enterprise data, organisations must rethink identity, encryption, and data visibility as core infrastructure. The organisations that embed strong governance into their AI strategies will be better positioned to innovate securely and avoid turning AI into their newest insider threat.

 

 

For more information, please download the full report and join our webinar hosted by Eric Hanselman, Chief Analyst at S&P Global 451 Research.

 

 

About Thales

 

 

Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies for the Defence, Aerospace, and Cyber & Digital sectors. Its portfolio of innovative products and services helps address several major challenges: sovereignty, security, sustainability and inclusion.

 

 

The Group allocates €4.5 billion per year in Research & Development in key areas, particularly for critical environments, such as Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Quantum and Cloud technologies.

 

 

Thales has more than 85,000 employees in 65 countries. In 2025, the Group generated sales of €22.1 billion.

 

 

About Thales in India

 

 

Present in India since 1953, Thales is headquartered in Noida and has other operational offices and sites spread across Delhi, Gurugram, Bengaluru and Mumbai, among others. Over 2300 employees are working with Thales and its joint ventures in India. Since the beginning, Thales has been playing an essential role in India’s growth story by sharing its technologies and expertise in Defence, Aerospace and Cyber & Digital sectors. Thales has two engineering competence centres in India – one in Noida focused on Cyber & Digital business, while the one in Bengaluru focuses on hardware, software and systems engineering capabilities for both the civil and defence sectors, serving global needs. The Group has also established an MRO facility in Gurugram to provide comprehensive avionics maintenance and repair services to Indian airlines.

 

 

PLEASE VISIT

 

 

Thales Group

 

 

Thales

 

 

1 Thales 2026 Data Threat Report, 2026, commissioned by Thales

 

Recent images of Thales and its Defence, Aerospace and Cyber & Digital activities can be found on the Thales Media Library. For any specific requests, please contact the Media Relations team.

 

 

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260225890645/en/

 

Business Wire India

• Dr. Rasha Kelej together with African and Asian First Ladies mark International Women’s Day 2026 through their Impactful Development Programs
• Marking International Women’s Day 2026: Merck Foundation’s 14-Year Journey of Empowering Women, particularly Infertile Women, and supporting Girl Education
• On International Women’s Day 2026, Merck Foundation CEO, Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej Champions Girl Education as the Foundation of Women Empowerment

 

Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, together with First Ladies of Africa and Asia who are also their Ambassadors, and partners including Ministries of Health, Education, Communication & Gender mark ‘International Women’s Day 2026’, through their impactful and transformative development programs, reaffirming over 14 years of their sustained commitment and legacy in empowering women and girls.

 

Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej (Ret.), CEO of Merck Foundation and One of the Most Influential African and African Women for Seven Consecutive Years (2019 – 2025), expressed, “At Merck Foundation, empowering women and girls is not confined to a single day, rather it is embedded in everything we do. It shapes our vision and guides our programs. Together with my dear sisters, and our Ambassadors, the First Ladies of Africa and Asia, we have celebrated this day for 14 years not just in words, but through sustained action across our programs including ‘More Than a Mother’, ‘Merck Foundation Scholarships Program’, ‘Educating Linda’, and ‘STEM Program’.

 

On this special occasion, I extend my warmest wishes to all women and girls around the world. May you continue to rise with confidence, break barriers, and realize your full potential.”

 

“Merck Foundation More Than a Mother” is a strong movement that aims to empower infertile and childless women through access to information, education, health, and change of mindset.

 

Through their “Scholarships program”, Merck Foundation is transforming the patient care landscape across Africa, Asia and beyond, having provided more than 2500 scholarships for healthcare providers from 52 countries in 44 critical and underserved medical specialties to date.

 

“I am proud that out of the 2500+ scholarships provided across 52 countries in 44 critical and underserved specialties, about 1200 scholarships, that is nearly 50% have been provided to women medical graduates, empowering them to become future healthcare experts and leaders.

 

Also, I am happy to share that we have provided over 770 scholarships for young healthcare providers, dedicated to advancing women’s health by strengthening reproductive & sexual health, and fertility care capacity.”

 

Merck Foundation CEO strongly believes that Education is one of the most critical areas of women empowerment.

 

“As a part of our Educating Linda program, together with my dear sisters, the First Ladies of Africa, we have year to date provided more than 1200 annual scholarships to deserving yet underprivileged African schoolgirls from 19 countries, enabling them to complete their education and reach their full potential,” shared Dr. Kelej.

 

Merck Foundation also actively empowers women in Science and Technology through its STEM Program and the annual Merck Foundation Africa Research Summit (MARS) Awards that recognize and celebrate the Best African Women Researchers and Best Young African Researchers, fostering research excellence.

 

“Our goal is to empower women and young African researchers, enhance their research capacity, and promote their contributions to STEM,” emphasized Dr. Kelej.

 

Moreover, Merck Foundation in partnership with First ladies of Africa and Asia, announces annual Awards of Media, Song, Film and Fashion to raise awareness about women empowerment, supporting girl education and related themes like breaking infertility stigma, ending female genital mutilation & child marriage, stopping gender-based violence.

 

Merck Foundation is also raising awareness about the importance of supporting girls’ education through a range of creative initiatives, including inspiring children’s storybooks, animation films, awareness songs, and dedicated episodes on this theme through their Our Africa by Merck Foundation TV program.

 

Watch episodes of Our Africa, focusing on Supporting Girl Education:

Episode 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5wpzOr22l0

Episode 11: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGz6yNSik7g

Episode 14: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjwRnP-Zi60&feature=youtu.be

 

Read Educating Linda Storybook here: https://merck-foundation.com/flipbook-proxy/digital_library/1623068469_6affa28d861b48da41cf.pdf#

 

Watch Merck Foundation Animation Films on supporting girl education:

 

• Jackeline’s Rescue: https://youtu.be/It1D-XEUjeY
• Ride Into the Future: https://youtu.be/Piz_6Ob68mI

 

Listen to Merck Foundation songs to support women empowerment and girl education:
 

1. Watch, share & subscribe “Girls Can” song here, sing by Cwesi Oteng from Ghana and Irene Logan from Liberia: https://youtu.be/6LP92vAWYgs
2. Watch, share & subscribe the “Like Them” song here, sung by Kenneth, a famous singer from Uganda: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCo52vtz3Q0
3. Watch, share & subscribe “Take me to School” song here, sung by Wezi, Afro-soul singer from Zambia, to support girls’ education: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWcujLMbKSg
4. Watch share & subscribe “Tu Podes Sim” Portuguese song, which means “Yes, You Can” in English by Blaze and Tamyris Moiane, singers from Mozambique in English here: https://youtu.be/BGWR2S-mxl4
5. Watch, share & subscribe “ABC, 123” by Sean K from Namibia song here: https://youtu.be/4Z2i4Wh-bpk
6. Watch, share & subscribe “Brighter day” song by Sean K and Cwesi Oteng from Namibia and Ghana respectively: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3_C4uyFuZk
7. Watch and share “Superwoman Song” by singers Cwezi and Adina from Ghana here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQ6ZprqAAJs

Click the link below to Download Merck Foundation App

https://www.merck-foundation.com/MF_StoreRedirection

 

Join the conversation on our social media platforms below and let your voice be heard

Facebook: Merck Foundation
X: @MerckFoundation
YouTube: MerckFoundation
Instagram: Merck Foundation
Threads: Merck Foundation
Flickr: Merck Foundation
Website: www.merckfoundation.com

Business Wire India

AmMetLife Insurance Berhad (AmMetLife) today announced that Wan Saifulrizal Wan Ismail has been appointed as the company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), succeeding Rangam Bir, who has left the company to pursue other opportunities.

 

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260308834498/en/

 

 

 

Wan has nearly 30 years of experience in the insurance and takaful industries, including as an industry regulator, actuary, and senior leader across insurance and takaful organizations. He has also served as the chairman of the Malaysian Takaful Association, reflecting his active leadership within Malaysia’s insurance sector.

 

“Wan brings a strong combination of actuarial insights, deep industry experience, and commercial leadership to AmMetLife, at a time when protection and health needs in Malaysia are evolving rapidly,” said Elena Butarova, MetLife’s Regional Head for Bangladesh, Malaysia, Nepal and Vietnam. “We are confident he will lead the company with focus and purpose in its next chapter.”

 

 

Speaking about his appointment, Wan said: “Now more than ever, Malaysians are looking to build a more confident future. I’m excited to be leading AmMetLife as we continue to share the benefits of insurance, health protection, and sound financial planning to millions of Malaysians.”

 

 

AmMetLife, established in 1973 as AmLife Insurance Berhad, is one of the longest-serving insurers in Malaysia. It is a joint venture between AmBank Group, a leading financial services group in Malaysia, and MetLife, one of the world’s leading financial services companies providing insurance, annuities, employee benefits, and asset management services to individual and institutional customers.

 

 

About AmMetLife

 

 

AmMetLife is a strategic partnership between AMMB Holdings Berhad (AmBank Group) and MetLife International Holdings LLC (MetLife). AmMetLife offers a comprehensive range of life assurance and wealth protection solutions distributed through a combination of over 200 AmBank and AmMetLife branded branch offices, in addition to the strength of its authorised life insurance agents nationwide. The strategic partnership combines the international expertise and financial strength of MetLife with the local strength and reach of AmBank Group to create a customer-centric and modern life assurance solutions provider in Malaysia.

 

 

 

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260308834498/en/

 

Business Wire India

ScienceLogic, a United States-headquartered technology company that offers an agentic AI platform to power modern IT environments, will host an opening ceremony at its new Sohini Tech Park Office (12th Floor) on Tuesday, March 10 at 10 AM IST. Local media are invited to attend.

 

Located in Hyderabad’s Nanakramguda Financial District, ScienceLogic’s new India office will service global enterprises, service providers, and government agencies. Participating in the ceremony will be ScienceLogic Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder Dave Link, Chief Scientist and Co-Founder Richard Chart and Chief Financial Officer Komal Misra.

 

The event will include brief remarks from the CEO and CFO as well as an opportunity to learn more about ScienceLogic’s entrance to India, the customers it serves, and its products and guiding vision.

 

ScienceLogic Opening Ceremony Itinerary

10 AM: Meet and greet with ScienceLogic executives, team

10:15: Lamp lighting, ribbon cutting, office tour

10:30-11: Cake cutting, snacks, networking

11-12: ScienceLogic CEO Dave Link addresses staff, attendees

12-2: Lunch (ground floor), tour of additional building facilities

 

To RSVP, or if you have any questions, please contact Akanksha Bhatia (akanksha.bhatia@sciencelogic.com).

 

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260308338110/en/

 

Business Wire India

Xsolla, a global video game commerce company that helps developers launch, grow, and monetize their games, today reaffirmed its ongoing commitment to supporting women across the global gaming ecosystem through curated community initiatives, industry events, and thought leadership platforms in key growth markets, including Türkiye, Dubai, and Cyprus.

 

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260308595758/en/

 

 

 

As the gaming industry continues to expand across emerging and high-growth markets, Xsolla is focused on empowering developers globally, including fostering a more inclusive ecosystem that gives women founders, studio leaders, publishers, and entrepreneurs greater access to visibility, networks, and opportunities.

 

Through a series of targeted industry gatherings and community-led discussions, Xsolla has actively supported conversations around women in leadership in gaming. Most recently, in Dubai, Xsolla hosted a dedicated event that convened women founders and senior leaders from across the Middle East and neighboring markets. As the MENA gaming market continues its rapid expansion, with revenues projected to reach $9.57 billion by 2030, the event provided a platform for open dialogue, knowledge sharing, and conversations on scaling studios for regional and global growth.

 

 

In 2025, Xsolla co-organized the Women in Games Cyprus conference alongside Axlebolt, WN, and the Women in Games Association, a dedicated gathering of more than 70 senior leaders featuring panels, roundtables, and workshops designed to help women and allies connect, collaborate, and grow together professionally and personally.

 

 

With a strong and rapidly growing gaming ecosystem that reached $1.01 billion in revenue in 2025, Türkiye represents another critical focus market. Home to a new generation of talented women professionals across the video game landscape, Xsolla sees significant opportunity to support this rapidly growing market by connecting regional talent to the global gaming industry through its international network and sector expertise.

 

 

By leveraging its suite of tools, partnerships, and events, Xsolla aims to:

 

 

• Increase visibility for women leaders and founders in gaming
• Encourage mentorship and peer-to-peer collaboration
• Facilitate cross-border connections between regional studios and global markets
• Support sustainable growth across emerging gaming hubs

 

“Representation matters, not only at the executive level, but across every layer of the gaming ecosystem,” said Ilayda Bayari, VP of Business Development EMEA at Xsolla. “By fostering mentorship, creating visible role models, and building meaningful connections between regional talent and global networks, Xsolla helps create real pathways for the next generation of women entering the industry. A more inclusive ecosystem drives stronger innovation, better decision making, and long-term growth for the entire ecosystem.”

 

Back at home in Los Angeles, Xsolla is championing female leaders within the organization and in the community who lead our teams across various roles, including Legal, Human Resources, Office Directors, Business Development, Training, and Customer Success. Our leaders are active participants in inclusive organizations across the industry and beyond, earning recognition from Women We Admire and OnConferences’ Top Leaders, and contributing as speakers and hosts for events, including with Women in Games and Women in Games International. We believe in providing opportunities for growth and leadership through internal advancement, cross-functional collaboration, and active participation in industry organizations that support and celebrate women in gaming.

 

 

By supporting inclusive leadership and cross-border collaboration, Xsolla continues to contribute to a more connected and opportunity-rich global industry.

 

 

For more information about Xsolla and its gaming ecosystem initiatives, please visit: Xsolla.com

 

 

To learn more about how Xsolla celebrates International Women’s Day, visit: https://xsolla.pro/IWD-2026

 

 

About Xsolla

 

 

Xsolla is a global commerce company with robust tools and services to help developers solve the inherent challenges of the video game industry. From indie to AAA, companies partner with Xsolla to help them fund, distribute, market, and monetize their games. Grounded in the belief in the future of video games, Xsolla is resolute in the mission to bring opportunities together, and continually make new resources available to creators. Headquartered and incorporated in Los Angeles, California, Xsolla operates as the merchant of record and has helped over 1,500+ game developers to reach more players and grow their businesses around the world. With more paths to profits and ways to win, developers have all the things needed to enjoy the game.

 

 

For more information, visit xsolla.com.

 

 

 

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260308595758/en/

 

Business Wire India

 

Dfns today announced the launch of Payouts, a new API enabling institutions to convert stablecoins to fiat and route payouts across multiple bank accounts while keeping wallet-level governance and controls in place.

 

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260305327930/en/

 

 

 

Solving the problem of single-rail off-ramps

 

Today, most fintechs and institutions still hard-wire a single payout provider into their stack, or rely on vertically integrated models that bundle routing, pricing, custody, and settlement together. That approach may be convenient early on, but it creates structural problems at scale: weak price discovery because there is no competitive pressure on margins, limited auditability because routing decisions are opaque, and operational fragility because a single provider degradation in any corridor requires architectural intervention to resolve.

 

 

Dfns Payouts introduces a different model. Stablecoin off-ramps move from being a vendor dependency to programmable infrastructure, where routing is competitive and governance is consistent. For fintechs, banks, and enterprises, the advantages are tangible:

 

 

1. Pricing improves because providers compete per transaction instead of operating behind a single embedded margin.
2. Execution becomes auditable and defensible, as routing decisions can be evaluated against cost, speed, and reliability criteria before any signature occurs.
3. Operational resilience is strengthened because routing can shift if a provider degrades in a corridor, without requiring wallet migration or architectural changes.
4. Stablecoin off-ramps move from being a vendor dependency to becoming programmable infrastructure.

 

Initial Integration with Borderless.xyz

 

The initial Payouts integration with Borderless enables stablecoin-to-fiat settlement into bank accounts across more than 94 countries and 60 currencies, through a network of 14+ licensed financial institutions.

 

 

“Stablecoins have matured. Off-ramps haven’t,” said Clarisse Hagège, CEO of Dfns. “Institutions should not have to choose between execution quality and governance. With Payouts, they get programmable routing underneath and institutional control at the wallet layer.”

 

 

“Orchestration changes the economics of stablecoin payouts,” said Kevin Lehtiniitty, CEO of Borderless. “When providers compete per transaction, customers benefit from better pricing, broader coverage, and built-in resilience.”

 

 

Availability

 

 

Payouts are available today for Dfns clients.

 

 

• For more information or to request a demo, visit dfns.co.
• To start integrating, visit app.dfns.io.

 

 

 

 

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260305327930/en/

 

Business Wire India

On 1 February, the Union Budget announced government plans to significantly increase its capital spending. The allocation is INR 11.21 lakh crore for FY 2025-26 and is expected to increase further next year. For MSMEs, this will shape how demand and business opportunities develop in the period ahead.

When the government spends at this scale, it creates work across the economy. Large projects rely on many suppliers, contractors, and service providers, and MSMEs are a key part of this chain. Along with new projects, the budget also focuses on structural reforms such as easier access to MSME business loan options, simpler tender participation, and better support for business expansion.

However, accessing these opportunities requires more than just intent; it requires immediate liquidity. When a tender opens, the window to mobilise resources is often short. This is where the synergy between government policy and agile financial partners becomes critical. Platforms like Lendingkart are increasingly pivoting to ensure that, as the government opens doors, MSMEs have the immediate working capital required to walk through them, moving beyond the slow processing times of traditional financing.

Lendingkart explains how government spending turns into real opportunities for MSMEs, what role policy reforms play, how a business loan for MSMEs can support growth during this phase, and how you can position your enterprise to benefit from this momentum.

Public Capex Meaning

Public capital expenditure refers to the funds the government allocates for creating long-term physical assets such as transport infrastructure, power facilities, public buildings, and urban infrastructure. Unlike revenue expenditure, which covers recurring expenses such as salaries and administration, capital expenditure (capex) focuses on asset creation that adds to the country’s productive capacity.

This is important because most public projects are executed through private participation. The government relies on local manufacturing units, contractors, and service providers for materials, equipment, construction, and ongoing services. As public capex increases, project activity rises, procurement expands, and MSMEs across the supply chain see more structured and sustained business opportunities.

Capital Expenditure Allocation Across Key Sectors

Now that the concept of capital expenditure is clear, the next step is to see where the money is going. The Union Budget outlines specific sectors where capital spending will be concentrated, offering a clear view of priority areas.

 

Reference Link: https://www.indiabudget.gov.in/index.php

 

Sector	Allocation (INR Cr)	Key Focus Areas
Defence	7,85,000	Modernisation, indigenous procurement, border infrastructure
Railways	2,78,000	New lines, electrification, station redevelopment, Vande Bharat
Roads & Highways	2,87,000	National Highways, Bharatmala Phase 2, expressways
Urban Development	95,000+	Smart Cities 2.0, metro expansion, water supply
Rural Development	1,78,000+	PMGSY roads, rural housing, sanitation
Education & Health	1,50,000+	New institutions, hospital upgrades, digital infra

 

These allocations will open up a wide range of opportunities for MSMEs across sectors. As capital spending increases in areas such as railways, defence, roads, and urban development, demand rises for components, materials, services, and specialised support across the value chain. This sector-wise flow of spending creates multiple entry points for MSMEs, particularly in areas linked to local manufacturing and domestic supply chains.

Direct Procurement and Tender Opportunities

Once key sectors are identified, the next step is understanding how businesses can access this spending. Government procurement is becoming more inclusive, with a stronger focus on participation from MSMEs and local manufacturing units.

Massive Infrastructure Pipeline

Higher capital spending leads to more infrastructure projects across roads, railways, ports, and urban development. While large firms may secure the main contracts, these projects rely on a wide network of suppliers for materials, components, services, and maintenance. This structure allows MSMEs, especially those involved in local manufacturing, to participate across different stages of execution.

MSME Procurement Mandate

To ensure smaller businesses benefit consistently, the government has formalised procurement rules as part of broader government schemes for MSME growth. Central ministries and public sector enterprises must source at least 25% of their annual purchases from MSEs, with dedicated sub-targets for SC/ST-owned and women-owned enterprises. These measures provide a structured and reliable pathway for MSMEs that meet quality and compliance requirements.

The INR 10,000 Crore SME Growth Fund

As outlined in the Union Budget, the ability of MSMEs to scale alongside higher public spending has become a key focus. To support this, an INR 10,000 crore SME Growth Fund has been proposed to help small businesses grow at the right time.

This fund is different from a regular MSME business loan. Instead of short-term financing, it is designed to provide growth capital so businesses can expand capacity, upgrade technology, and meet the requirements of larger contracts. The aim is to help MSMEs move from small-scale execution to handling bigger opportunities with confidence.

Enhanced Credit Guarantees (CGTMSE) And Speed

While some businesses may look for growth capital, many simply need easier access to debt without heavy collateral requirements. This is where the Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises, or CGTMSE, becomes relevant.

As part of the Union Budget approach to strengthening MSME financing, additional support has been provided to expand CGTMSE coverage. This gives banks and NBFCs greater confidence to lend, as a portion of the risk is backed by the government. For MSMEs, this can mean simpler access to an MSME business loan, with reduced collateral pressure and better support for meeting working capital needs linked to new orders.

In a capex-driven economy, speed is currency. This is where digital lending platforms have transformed the landscape. By simplified documentation, Lendingkart enables MSMEs to bypass the waiting period associated with business loans. Whether it’s bridging a gap for material procurement or scaling the workforce for a new tender, the ability to secure unsecured business loans online ensures that capital availability matches the pace of project execution.

Improving Cash Flow Access through TReDS Upgrades

Delayed payments are one of the biggest challenges for MSMEs working on large projects. You deliver the work, but payments often take months to come through. To address this, the government is strengthening the Trade Receivables Discounting System, or TReDS, to improve cash flow for MSMEs.

• CPSE Mandate: Central Public Sector Enterprises will now be required to use TReDS to settle payments with MSMEs. This ensures faster payment cycles and also encourages private buyers to adopt the same system.

• Credit Guarantee Integration: A dedicated credit guarantee support through CGTMSE has been introduced for invoice discounting on TReDS. This reduces risk for lenders and makes it easier for MSMEs to raise funds against approved invoices.

• GeM Integration: The Government e-Marketplace will be linked with TReDS to share transaction data with financiers. This helps MSMEs access quicker and more affordable advances against government orders.

• Secondary Market Creation: Invoices on TReDS will be converted into asset-backed securities, creating a secondary market. This improves liquidity in the system and speeds up the availability of funds.

Together, these steps make it easier for MSMEs to convert invoices into cash without long delays. When combined with other government schemes for MSME financing, they help reduce the working capital pressure that often affects businesses supplying to government projects.

Introducing ‘Corporate Mitras’ for Easier Compliance

To support MSMEs in making the most of new opportunities, the government has introduced the concept of “Corporate Mitras.” The aim is to simplify compliance and reduce the effort required to meet regulatory requirements.

Corporate Mitras act as a support link between MSMEs and government systems, helping with routine filings and documentation. This cuts down time spent on paperwork and allows businesses to focus more on local manufacturing and daily operations, which is a key priority highlighted in the MSME Budget.

Reviving Legacy Clusters

The capex push is not limited to new infrastructure projects. It also focuses on strengthening traditional industrial clusters that already support a large number of MSMEs. The budget has allocated funds to modernise long-standing hubs, such as the textile clusters of Gujarat and the brassware cluster of Moradabad.

This support includes common facility centres, better waste treatment systems, and improved logistics connectivity. For MSMEs operating in these clusters, this means access to upgraded infrastructure without having to invest individually. These efforts help revive local manufacturing hubs and improve efficiency at the ground level.

What Does this Mean for Your Business

Higher capital spending is expected to lead to more tenders across sectors and at both the central and state levels. New areas such as green energy, digital infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing are also opening up, giving MSMEs more options to expand into related lines of work.

At the same time, improvements in payment systems and credit support have made participation easier. Faster invoice discounting, stronger guarantees, and better digital platforms help reduce cash flow gaps that earlier made government projects difficult for smaller businesses.

As these opportunities grow, access to timely funding becomes essential. Securing the right MSME business loan or working capital support through platforms like Lendingkart can help MSMEs bid confidently, execute orders smoothly, and scale without financial strain.

The Union Budget signals a clear push toward higher capital spending, backed by policy reforms and financial support aimed at improving MSME participation. Together, these measures create a more structured environment where opportunities are easier to identify and access.

Ultimately, the difference between winning a tender and passing it up often comes down to financial confidence. With Lendingkart’s focus on offering collateral-free business loans and rapid disbursals, MSMEs are no longer restricted by asset-heavy requirements or slow banking approvals. By aligning your financial planning with a partner that understands the urgency of government contracts, you ensure that your business is ready to capitalise on the INR 11.2+ lakh crore wave.

For MSMEs, especially those engaged in local manufacturing, this means better visibility, smoother execution, and stronger support systems. With the right planning and access to finance, businesses are better positioned to align with this spending cycle and grow sustainably.

Business Wire India

 

Today, Sutherland announced the launch of Sutherland FinAI Hub, an enterprise Agentic AI platform built exclusively for Banking and Financial Services. As financial institutions accelerate AI adoption, many initiatives remain confined to pilots, unable to scale across legacy systems and core operations. Sutherland FinAI Hub is designed to help close that gap.

 

FinAI Hub is an innovation ecosystem where Sutherland works with clients to design, prototype, and scale Agentic AI workflows across core operations. At launch, the platform brings together a large and expanding workforce of domain-trained AI agents purpose-built for financial institutions, supporting functions across retail banking, payments, cards, consumer and commercial lending, servicing, back office, risk and compliance functions.

 

 

These modular agents can operate independently or be orchestrated across end-to-end workflows spanning onboarding, KYC, AML, fraud, underwriting, payments, disputes, servicing, and collections. For example:

 

 

• KYC Agent performs identity verification and document validation
• AML Screening Agent supports sanction screening and monitoring
• Transaction Monitoring Agent detects anomalies in transactions real time and triggers alerts
• Loan Underwriter Agent decisions applications against eligibility, credit policy, bureau data and risk parameters
• Dispute Resolver Agent manages chargeback claims and validations
• Delinquency Predictor Agent predicts account delinquency using behavioral, financial, and interaction signals

 

 

Each agent is trained on real financial services workflows and operates within a unified architecture designed for regulated environments. Secure deployment models ensure sensitive data remains within the institution’s environment, enabling autonomous execution while preserving regulatory control.

 

“Financial institutions are under increasing pressure to drive growth, manage risk, and modernize operations simultaneously,” said Banwari Agarwal, CEO, Banking & Financial Services, Sutherland. “Sutherland FinAI Hub enables banks and financial services firms to move beyond isolated AI use cases and embed intelligent automation across the enterprise. This is about translating AI ambition into measurable business outcomes at scale.”

 

 

“We are moving from an era of AI experimentation to one of AI accountability,” said Doug Gilbert, CIO & Chief Digital Officer, Sutherland. “In regulated industries, intelligence must be accurate, observable, explainable, interoperable, and resilient from inception. Sutherland FinAI Hub reflects our approach to building agentic systems that are enterprise-grade by design, not retrofitted for scale.”

 

 

Early deployments of Sutherland FinAI Hub components have demonstrated measurable impact, including up to 50 percent faster processing cycles and approximately40 percent reductions in operating costs, along with improvements in straight-through processing and customer resolution rates.

 

 

Sutherland FinAI Hub is purpose-built for the financial services industry, trained on sector-specific workflows and operational data rather than adapted from generalized enterprise AI models. Its Responsible AI framework aligns with industry standards including PCI DSS, SOC 2, GDPR, and FCA expectations, while comprehensive audit traceability logs prompts, actions, and decisions to support regulatory transparency. A human-in-the-loop model ensures autonomous intelligence enhances expert judgment rather than replacing it.

 

 

The platform’s modular, multi-agent architecture enables phased deployment aligned to priority workflows and regulatory requirements, allowing financial institutions to scale agentic AI with confidence.

 

 

About Sutherland

 

 

Artificial Intelligence. Automation. Cloud Engineering. Advanced Analytics.

 

 

For Enterprises, these are key factors of success. For us, they’re our core expertise.

 

 

We work with global iconic brands. We bring them a unique value proposition through market-leading technologies and business process excellence. At the heart of it all is Digital Engineering – the foundation that powers rapid innovation and scalable business transformation.

 

 

We’ve created 363 unique and independent inventions, 250 of which are AI-based and rolled up under several patent grants in critical technologies. Leveraging our advanced products and platforms, we drive digital transformation at scale, optimize critical business operations, reinvent experiences, and pioneer new solutions, all provided through a seamless “as-a-service” model.

 

 

For each company, we provide new keys for their businesses, the people they work with, and the customers they serve. With proven strategies and agile execution, we don’t just enable change — we engineer digital outcomes.

 

 

Sutherland
Digital Outcomes.

 

 

 

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260306878786/en/

 

Business Wire India

Blenders Pride Packaged Drinking Water, a cultural icon that has elevated the idea of success for generations, unveils its newest campaign, ‘The One And Only’ – a compelling new narrative of success. In today’s world, where markers of success have become increasingly visible and crowded, the brand reasserts a timeless truth – True success lies in distinction – that draws admiration and sets one worlds apart.

 

The new campaign captures this spirit, portrayed by three protagonists—Avanti Nagrath, Kirandeep Chahal and Mahieka Sharma — each embodying a different facet of the brand. Avanti radiates charisma with her fearless confidence and individuality, Kirandeep evokes desire with her magnetic and unapologetic presence, and Mahieka inspires awe with poise and quiet admiration – all in an aspirational world filled with many equals — yet where they and hence, the brand itself, stand a cut above the rest and unmistakably command everyone around them.

 

Rooted in style and substance, the brand has consistently shaped aspirational success in modern Indian culture – from leading with innovations, pioneering many industry-firsts to building iconic fashion platforms. With ‘The One And Only’, it now charts the course of its next evolution, speaking directly to a new generation of bold achievers who seek more than recognition – they seek admiration & influence.

 

The 360-degree integrated campaign has been launched across Digital & Social platforms including the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup, front page ads on leading Newspapers and impactful Outdoor sites across major cities, driving widespread visibility and reinforcing the brand’s cultural leadership. 

 

Debasree Dasgupta, Chief Marketing Officer, Pernod Ricard India, said, “Blenders Pride has always believed in the power of success with style and stature. ‘The One And Only’ presents a defining new idea of success, one that’s fueled by distinction. It brings forth the cultural context that, today, the aspiring youth in India aims to not just be successful but stand apart with assurance. With this narrative of success, Blenders Pride captures the resounding aspirations of the youth, while further strengthening its position as an inspiring cultural leader.”

 

Watch the latest film here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=-z3YH-R-QiM

 

Follow for more updates: www.instagram.com/blenderspridefashiontour

Business Wire India