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Apple’s Big Bet: Foxconn to Supercharge iPhone Production in India

Apple is turbocharging its manufacturing in India, with Foxconn set to double iPhone output to 25–30 million units in 2025-more than twice last year’s production. A sprawling new Foxconn facility in Bengaluru is nearing completion, poised to become the company’s second-largest iPhone hub globally after China. The Bengaluru plant, built at a cost of $2.6 billion, will soon start rolling out iPhone 16 models, aiming to produce up to 500 iPhones per hour at full capacity. Foxconn’s expansion is part of Apple’s aggressive push to diversify its supply chain, reducing reliance on China amid ongoing US-China trade tensions. Apple’s CEO recently announced that most iPhones sold in the US this June quarter will be made in India, marking a historic shift in the company’s manufacturing strategy. The new Bengaluru unit alone is expected to create around 50,000 jobs by 2027, with the broader expansion projected to generate 100,000 direct and indirect jobs over the next decade. Foxconn’s manufacturi...
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Ad or Art? Netflix’s AI Product Placements Set to Rewrite Streaming Reality

Netflix is launching a bold new era of advertising, using artificial intelligence to blend branded products directly into the worlds of its hit shows and films. These AI-driven ads will allow brands to “marry” their products with the visual style of Netflix originals like  Stranger Things ,  Bridgerton , and  Wednesday , making commercials nearly indistinguishable from the fiction viewers love. For users on the ad-supported plan, branded items could appear mid-show, as overlays, or even when the program is paused, visually merging with the scene and atmosphere. The new format promises more personalized, interactive ads-think clickable overlays, QR codes, and context-aware placements that respond to viewer preferences. Netflix’s president of advertising, Amy Reinhard, calls this “an entirely new palette” for brands, hinting that the pace of innovation will only accelerate as AI advances. The AI-powered Ads Suite, Netflix’s in-house technology, is designed to make these int...
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Urban Job Crunch: India’s First Monthly Unemployment Data Reveals Stark Divide

India has entered a new era of labour market transparency with the government’s release of monthly unemployment data for the first time. The numbers for April 2025 have ignited debate and concern, especially over the sharp contrast between urban and rural joblessness. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the figures, the shift in methodology, and what it means for India’s workforce and policymakers. Key Highlights of the April 2025 Unemployment Data The national unemployment rate for April 2025 stands at 5.1%. Urban unemployment is significantly higher at 6.5%, while rural areas report a lower rate of 4.5%. This is the first time India has released monthly unemployment figures, moving away from the previous quarterly and annual reporting system. Why the Shift to Monthly Data Collection? The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) revamped the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) to provide high-frequency, real-time insights into the job market. The new approach uses a rota...
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Gold Rush Boosts India’s Forex Reserves to $690 Billion Mark!

India’s foreign exchange reserves soared by $4.56 billion, reaching $690.62 billion in the week ending May 9, 2025. This robust jump comes after a brief dip of $2.06 billion the previous week, marking a strong recovery and continuing the broader uptrend seen in recent months. The surge was powered primarily by a dramatic rise in gold reserves, which shot up by $4.52 billion to $86.34 billion, reflecting a global trend of central banks turning to gold as a safe-haven asset. Foreign currency assets, the largest component of the reserves, also saw a modest increase of $196 million, now totaling $581.37 billion. Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) dipped by $26 million to $18.53 billion, and India’s reserve position with the IMF fell by $134 million to $4.37 billion. The Reserve Bank of India’s active management has ensured that the country’s reserves now provide import cover for 10–12 months, underlining the resilience of India’s external sector. At just $14 billion shy of the all-time high rea...
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HAL’s Q4 Profit Takes a Hit: Net Slips 7.7% Amid Aircraft Delivery Delays

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) reported a 7.7% year-on-year drop in net profit for the January-March 2025 quarter, with profits falling to Rs 3,977 crore from Rs 4,309 crore in the same period last year. The decline was attributed primarily to delays in the supply of the Tejas light combat aircraft, which impacted the company’s bottom line despite robust order books. Revenue from operations also saw a 7.2% decrease, coming in at Rs 13,700 crore compared to Rs 14,768 crore in the previous year’s quarter. Despite the quarterly dip, HAL’s full-year performance remained strong: net profit for FY25 rose nearly 10% to Rs 8,364 crore, and annual revenue inched up 2% to Rs 30,981 crore. The company’s shares bucked the quarterly trend, rising 4% post-results, reflecting investor confidence in HAL’s long-term prospects and its critical role in India’s defense sector. Over the past five years, HAL shares have soared more than 1,700%, underlining sustained market optimism. The board had earli...
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Central Government Greenlights ₹3,700 Crore HCL-Foxconn Semiconductor Mega-Plant Near Jewar Airport, UP - India’s Sixth Chip Unit to Boost Atmanirbhar Bharat Vision

The Union Cabinet has approved a ₹3,700 crore semiconductor manufacturing unit in Uttar Pradesh’s Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) region near Jewar airport. The plant is a joint venture between Indian IT giant HCL and Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Foxconn, marking Foxconn’s second major attempt at entering India’s chip manufacturing sector.  Designed with a capacity to produce 20,000 wafers per month, the facility will focus on assembly and packaging of display driver integrated circuits (ICs) used in mobile phones, laptops, automobiles, PCs, and other display devices. The plant will have an output capacity of 36 million units per month and is expected to commence commercial production by 2027. This is the sixth semiconductor unit approved under the government’s ambitious India Semiconductor Mission, which aims to reduce import dependency and position India as a global semiconductor hub. The project is expected to generate around 2,000 jobs, contribu...
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Airtel’s Profit Rocket: Net Jumps 432%, Dividend Bonanza Announced

Bharti Airtel delivered a blockbuster performance in the January-March 2025 quarter, with net profit soaring 432% year-on-year to Rs 11,022 crore, a near five-fold jump from Rs 2,071.6 crore in the same period last year. The profit surge was fueled by recent tariff hikes and a significant one-time tax gain, boosting the bottom line and setting a new benchmark for the telecom sector. Consolidated revenue from operations climbed 27% year-on-year to Rs 47,876 crore, reflecting strong growth in both India and Africa markets. India revenues alone rose 28.8% year-on-year to Rs 36,735 crore, with mobile services revenue up 20.6% thanks to premiumization and a focus on high-value customers. Airtel’s average revenue per user (ARPU) remained steady at Rs 245, maintaining its lead over key competitors. The board announced a generous final dividend: Rs 16 per fully paid-up equity share and Rs 4 per partly paid-up share, rewarding shareholders for the company’s stellar performance. The telecom gian...
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