Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh is quickly emerging as India's next tech hub. The state played a key role in securing Google's largest investment in India—$10 billion—for an AI data centre in Visakhapatnam. State IT Minister Nara Lokesh revealed that Andhra worked closely with the Centre to provide tax certainty, policy clarity, and dedicated infrastructure for global tech giants. The new data centre will have a separate power grid, partially subsidised by the state, and could drive the next phase of India's AI revolution.
In corporate news, Piramal Finance and KKR are exploring options to exit Shriram General Life Insurance through a listing or secondary sale. With Rothschild and Ambit Capital advising the deal, the companies aim for a smooth exit after earlier attempts failed due to valuation gaps.
The government is also turning to quick commerce platforms like Blinkit, Zepto, and Swiggy Instamart to monitor whether brands are passing on GST rate cuts to consumers. Officials estimate that around 90% of benefits have already been transferred to customers through lower retail prices.
In the markets, veteran fund manager Prashant Jain believes that Indian equities are entering a breakout phase after a healthy period of consolidation. With valuations stabilizing and earnings growth returning to fundamentals, investors could see a strong pre-Diwali rally.
On the lifestyle front, Indians are traveling more than ever—spending nearly $50 billion on overseas trips in just three years. From the Northern Lights to French culinary tours and Maldivian getaways, luxury travel bookings are up by 35-40%, showing a clear shift toward longer and more premium experiences.
India's economic pulse seems strong—from IPO euphoria to tech investments and global wanderlust, it's a season of growth, confidence, and ambition.
