Recent 6 months news in Business

Vodafone Idea (Vi), the third-largest telecommunications service provider in India, has appointed Shah Rukh Khan as brand ambassador and introduced a revitalised brand identity.

As part of the revamp, the logo of the company has been redesigned from “V!” to “Vi”. The company also launched a marketing campaign titled “Vi badal raha hai... tayaar rahiye” (Vi is changing... Be ready).

Adani Energy Solutions Ltd (AESL) has attained an Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) score of 90, the highest globally in the utilities sector.

The score, assessed by S&P Global through its Media and Stakeholder Analysis (MSA) review, surpasses the global industry average of 41 for the sector.

NVIDIA has announced an agreement to acquire the premier open-source AI platform ‘Hugging Face’ for $12.93 billion in cash and equity. This transaction represents the largest acquisition undertaken by NVIDIA to date.

Hindalco Industries Ltd has commissioned the first Superfine Precipitated Aluminium Trihydrate (PPT ATH) manufacturing plant of India in Belagavi, Karnataka. The greenfield facility marks the inaugural domestic production of this high-value specialty alumina product.

The unit has an initial capacity of 30,000 tonnes per annum (expandable to 60,000 tonnes) and is powered entirely by renewable energy sources. It is to be noted that PPT ATH serves as a Halogen-Free Flame-Retardant (HFFR) material used in cables, insulation, and polymers.

Tata Elxsi, the design and technology services division of the Tata Group, has entered into a strategic partnership with Bengaluru-based Sarla Aviation to develop an air taxi. The vehicle is designed to have a capacity to transport 6 passengers and 1 pilot.

SpaceX has announced an investment of $100 billion to build its largest rocket launch complex named “Starbase Louisiana” in southern Louisiana, USA.

AkinAnalytics, a Hyderabad-based women-led deep technology (DeepTech) and defence technology startup, has launched an indigenous drone named “NIKA2” Kisan Medium Drone.

The drone, unveiled by Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, is designed to provide technology-driven solutions for farmers and field-intensive industries.

Google has emerged as the successful bidder in a bankruptcy auction to acquire internal enterprise data and software assets of Spirit Airlines for $10 million.

The company intends to use these assets for product development and training AI models.

Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) has partnered with UK-based Rolls-Royce Ltd to design, develop, and manufacture an indigenous combat engine for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme of India.

It is to be noted that the collaboration also aims to explore the establishment of a dedicated Aerospace Gas Turbine Complex in India, which will serve as a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for power and propulsion technology.

L&T Energy Hydrocarbon Onshore (LTEH Onshore) has secured a contract worth over ₹15,000 crore from a company based in West Asia for a gas compression facilities project. The project was bagged against a letter of award issued for the FY26.

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has acquired Germany-based MHP Management- und IT-Beratung GmbH (MHP), a subsidiary of Porsche AG, for €320 million.

Additionally, Porsche AG has entered into a 5-year strategic agreement with TCS valued at €1.25 billion.

Larsen & Toubro, through its AI infrastructure arm Vyoma.AI, has bagged a contract worth between ₹10,000 crore and ₹15,000 crore from the USA-based Together AI (Together Computer Inc) to build the largest single-cluster NVIDIA B300 AI factory in India.

The facility will be established at the L&T data centre campus in Chennai, and is designed to deploy 10,000 NVIDIA B300 Graphics Processing Units (GPUs).

Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has entered into a strategic collaboration with Norway-based Hystar AS for the phased indigenisation and local manufacturing of Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolyser systems.

The partnership aims to support green hydrogen projects in India by establishing localized production capabilities for the advanced electrolyser technology.

Bank of America Corporation (BofA) has entered into a Joint Venture (JV) agreement with Jio Financial Services Ltd (JFSL). Under the JV, BofA will acquire up to a 49.9% stake in Jio Credit Ltd (JCL).

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the acquisition of a 23% equity shareholding in TM International Logistics Ltd by Tata Steel Ltd.

Additionally, the CCI has approved the acquisition of a specific equity shareholding in Bharti Life Insurance Company Ltd by Prudential Corporation Holdings Ltd.

Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) has delivered 'MS Maria', the second of eight Multi-Purpose Vessels (MPVs) in the 'HS EcoFreighter' series, to the Germany-based shipping firm HS Schiffahrts UG & Co KG.

The vessel was designed by the Netherlands-based Groot Ship Design and constructed by CSL in compliance with the classification rules of Det Norske Veritas (DNV). It is a 7,000 Deadweight Tonnage (DWT) ice-class vessel featuring a raked stem with the 'Groot Crossbow' design.

Airtel Business, the enterprise arm of Bharti Airtel, has partnered with ITI Ltd to accelerate enterprise digital transformation and strengthen digital infrastructure in India.

International Business Machines (IBM) Corporation and Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT) Bengaluru have inaugurated the ‘IBM-MIT AI Lab-MAHE’ at the Bengaluru campus.

Additionally, IBM Corporation and CHRIST University have announced the establishment of the ‘IBM Innovation Center for AI’ to promote AI education, research, and innovation.

Adani Airport City Ltd (AACL), a step-down wholly-owned subsidiary of Adani Enterprises Ltd (AEL), has incorporated AACL Global IFSC Ltd as a new wholly-owned subsidiary of Adani Airport Holdings Ltd (AAHL).

The Lucknow-Delhi-Lucknow Tejas Express, operated by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), is set to become India’s first privately branded passenger train.

The semi-high-speed train will be temporarily renamed as the ‘Sprite’ Tejas Express for a duration of 6 months.