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Odisha’s New Budget Sets Path for Growth and Better Connectivity

The Odisha government has taken a new step to help people better understand the state budget. Speaking at the launch of the awareness program “Ame Janiba, Ama Budget” (Let Us Understand Our Budget), Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said that a budget is not just about numbers—it is about the dreams and development of every citizen.

ବଜେଟ କେବଳ ଆୟ-ବ୍ୟୟର ତାଲିକା ନୁହେଁ, ବରଂ ଏହା ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ସମଗ୍ର ଉନ୍ନତି ସହ ପ୍ରତ୍ୟେକ ନାଗରିକଙ୍କ ସ୍ୱପ୍ନ ପୂରଣର ଏକ ସୁଦୃଢ଼ ରୋଡମ୍ୟାପ୍ ବୋଲି ରାଜ୍ୟସ୍ତରୀୟ ବଜେଟ ସଚେତନତା କର୍ମଶାଳା ‘ଆମେ ଜାଣିବା, ଆମ ବଜେଟ’ ଅବସରରେ ମାନ୍ୟବର ମୁଖ୍ୟମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଶ୍ରୀ ମୋହନ ଚରଣ ମାଝୀ କହିଛନ୍ତି ।

ରାଜ୍ୟସ୍ତରୀୟ ବଜେଟ ସଚେତନତା କର୍ମଶାଳା:-

✅… pic.twitter.com/2KwBDaGzod

— CMO Odisha (@CMO_Odisha) April 7, 2026

To make the budget more accessible, awareness workshops will be held from April 1 to April 14 across the state, reaching even the Panchayat level. The goal is to explain the budget in simple language so that common people can understand how government plans impact their daily lives.

The Chief Minister highlighted that this year’s budget is 7% higher than last year, showing a strong focus on growth and development. He also shared that the 2026–27 budget aims to make Odisha a key logistics and connectivity hub in eastern India.

The initiative reflects the government’s effort to build a more transparent and people-friendly system, where citizens are informed and involved in the development process.

Through this campaign, the government hopes to bring the budget closer to the people and ensure that its benefits reach every corner of the state.

April 8, 2026
Godrej Industries Group Partners with PWD, Delhi Government for Restoration and Beautification of Netaji Subhash Place Flyover

Chandigarh, April 08: Godrej Industries Group (GIG), in partnership with the Public Works Department (PWD), Delhi Government, has undertaken the restoration and beautification of the Netaji Subhash Place (NSP) Flyover stretch, from Ring Road to the NSP Metro Station. The initiative aims to improve the visual quality and long-term usability of a key public infrastructure corridor in Northwest Delhi.

Located at the junction of Ring Road and arterial routes leading towards Rohini and Pitampura, the NSP Flyover serves as an important gateway to Northwest Delhi. Over time, parts of the area beneath the flyover and adjoining medians had become underutilised, visually unappealing, and vulnerable to dumping and encroachment. The restoration initiative seeks to address these challenges through a planned, sustainable, and citizen-centric approach, aligned with the Delhi Government’s broader efforts to enhance public infrastructure.

Speaking on the initiative, Smt. Rekha Gupta, Chief Minister of Delhi, said

“Revitalising under‑flyover spaces is an important step towards improving Delhi’s urban landscape and everyday experience for citizens. Meaningful public‑private partnerships enable us to restore neglected infrastructure into clean, safe, and well‑organised public spaces in a sustainable manner. Aligned with our vision of building a clean and beautiful Delhi, I appreciate the commitment shown by corporate partners like Godrej Industries Group in supporting the restoration and long‑term upkeep of the Netaji Subhash Place Flyover.”

The design approach prioritises low-height, shade-tolerant landscaping to maintain clear sightlines, improved lighting for pedestrian and traffic safety, and water-efficient irrigation systems to support long-term maintenance. These interventions are designed to encourage proper utilization of public spaces and improving the everyday experience for commuters and residents. All interventions have been planned within the regulatory framework of the Delhi Government and in close coordination with relevant civic and enforcement agencies.

Rakesh Swami, Group President and Head – Corporate Affairs, Godrej Industries Group, said,

“At Godrej Industries Group, contributing to nation‑building goes beyond our businesses and reflects our long‑standing commitment to responsible action, sustainability, and the strengthening of public ecosystems. Shared public infrastructure plays a vital role in creating safer and more liveable cities.

Our partnership with the PWD, Delhi Government, underscores our belief that meaningful urban transformation is best achieved through responsible collaboration between government and industry. Working closely with the Chief Minister’s Office, PWD Minister Shri Parvesh Sahab Verma and his team, our focus has been on ensuring that the restoration of the NSP Flyover is thoughtfully planned, responsibly implemented, and maintained with a long‑term public perspective, contributing to improved safety, usability, and an enhanced everyday experience for citizens, while always keeping public interest at the centre.”

The NSP Flyover restoration adds to Godrej Industries Group’s long-standing engagement in supporting public spaces and urban infrastructure in partnership with civic authorities. Through sustained and responsible collaborations, including multi-year maintenance commitments, the Group continues to contribute to safer, more maintainable, and liveable urban environments across India.

April 8, 2026
Plumelet by Victoria Fomina, now available from Histria Books

Apr 08: Histria Books is pleased to announce the release of Plumelet by Victoria Fomina. This story is published by Histria Kids, an imprint of Histria Books dedicated to outstanding works for children that both educate and entertain.

Princess Plumelet is a spoiled royal who thinks nothing of ruining a guest’s dinner with a fistful of hot pepper. But when the victim turns out to be a shape-shifting enforcer from the Ministry of Proper Behavior, Plumelet is cursed and swept away to a monochromatic tower made of antennas and mathematical spirals.

Victoria Fomina’s picture book Plumelet takes the familiar framework of a bratty child learning her lesson and injects it with wild architectural surrealism. It is a visually arresting dreamscape where punishment means navigating mirrored corridors, negotiating personal space with a giant floating mouth, and confronting flocks of weeping eyes. Fomina’s collage art blends classical folklore with satellites, surveillance cameras, and sharp modern humor. It offers a wonderfully bizarre, edgy alternative for families tired of standard fables and ready for something weirder and infinitely more stylish.

Praise for Plumelet:

“In this fascinating picture book Victoria creates a new universe, infinite and colorful, inhabited by surprising characters, sometimes a little frightening, sometimes funny – that’s what children usually like enormously.”– Anastasia Arkhipova, ex-vice President of The International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY)

Victoria Fominais an internationally acclaimed artist and illustrator of more than fifty books. Born on the Black Sea coast among ancient ruins, she brings a rich historical aesthetic to projects ranging from classic fairy tales to composer biographies. She collaborates with top global clients like Penguin Random House, Vogue, and What on Earth Publishing with His Majesty King Charles III. Her award-winning artwork has been featured in eighty exhibitions across seventeen countries.

Plumelet by Victoria Fomina, 44 pp., ISBN (Hardcover) 978-1-59211-664-5, ISBN (Paperback) 978-1-59211-664-5, is available at HistriaBooks.com and from all major book retailers. This title is also available in Hardcover and as an eBook. Titles published under the imprints of Histria Books are distributed in the United States and Canada by Simon & Schuster and in the rest of the world through Unified Book Distribution.

April 8, 2026

transcosmos to hire top athletes as new graduates through Athnavi, a job support program by JOC

Tokyo, Japan, Apr 08: transcosmos announced its decision to hire two new graduates—top athletes striving to win on the world stage—through Athnavi, an employment support website administered by the Japan Olympic Committee (JOC). By incorporating athletes’ challenging spirit into the corporate culture, transcosmos aims to invigorate the organization and promote diversity in the workplace.

By hiring top athletes who demonstrate a challenging spirit, persistence, and a strong will to grow, transcosmos aims to transform every employee’s mindset and further invigorate the organization. transcosmos believes that athletes’ commitment to realizing their dreams will inspire employees and, in turn, lead to the company’s growth.

Prospective employee profile

Athlete Name: Misaki Nobata Sport: Shooting/Rifle shooting

Misaki Nobata Sport: Shooting/Rifle shooting

Major Results:

– Jul 2024	Olympic Games Paris 2024	#12 10m Air Rifle Women
#25 10mn Air Rifle Mixed Team
– Oct 2024	SAGA2024 The National Sports Festival (Oita)	#2 10mn Air Rifle Women
#1 10mn Air Rifle Mixed Team
– Nov 2024	National Shooting Sports Championship (Saitama)	#1 10mn Air Rifle Women
– Aug 2025	Asian Shotgun Cup (Kazakhstan)	#3 50mn Rifle 3 Positions Women
#2 50m Rifle 3 Positions Mixed Team
– Nov 2025	ISSF 2025 World Championship (Egypt)	#8 50mn Rifle 3 Positions Women
– Jan 2026	H&N Cup (Germany)	#2 10mn Air Rifle Women

– As of Mar 2026: Official national record holder (score: 633.7)
Comment: To achieve my goal of winning a medal at the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympics, I will continue to challenge myself along with all employees. Although there are setbacks in shooting, I will devote myself wholeheartedly, believing that my dream will come true if I do not give up and continue making sincere efforts, while always remaining grateful to everyone around me. At the same time, I also hope to continue growing as a person and as a member of society.

Athlete Name: Mako Hiraizumi Sport: Triathlon

Mako Hiraizumi Sport: Triathlon

Major Results:

– Feb 2025	World Triathlon Championship Series (Abu Dhabi)	#31 Elite Women, #7 Mixed Relay
– Feb 2025	Asia Triathlon Cup (Putrajaya)	#2 Elite Women
– May 2025	World Triathlon Championship Series (Yokohama)	#40 Elite Women
– Aug 2025	Asia Triathlon Championships (Istanbul)	#6 Elite Women
– Oct 2025	World Triathlon Championship Finals (Wollongong)	#15 U23 Women
– Oct 2025	Triathlon Japan National Championship (Tokyo)	#3 Championship Women
– Nov 2025	World Triathlon Cup (Florianopolis)	#10 Elite Women

Comment: I am deeply grateful to transcosmos for providing an environment in which I can continue my competitive career. Going forward, I will strive for growth and results as an athlete while contributing to the company and society, always keeping in mind my responsibility as a member of society. I will do my best to give back through my performance, with constant appreciation for all those who have supported me to date.

April 8, 2026

Rubrik Data Protection for Google Workspace Helps Enterprise Customers Achieve End-to-End Cyber Resilience

New Delhi, Apr 08: As adoption for Google Workspace continues to grow, Rubrik (NYSE: RBRK), the Security and AI Operations Company, has announced the launch of Rubrik Data Protection for Google Workspace. More than 11 million enterprises using Google Drive and Gmail can now use Rubrik features to help them achieve end–to–end cyber resilience.

Google Workspace is a suite of AI productivity tools that empowers teams to collaborate from anywhere. It holds mission-critical data for millions in organizations worldwide who cannot lose access to these tools or their data. Rubrik Data Protection can now help Google Workspace customers reduce the risk of significant data and business losses, or suspended operations.

Anneka Gupta, Chief Product Officer at Rubrik, says: “Organizations can’t protect data in isolation. Modern resilience requires us to see the entire estate at once. Rubrik is built on three pillars of resilience – data, identity, and AI – because an attack or error in one is a direct threat to the entire ecosystem. With our deep collaboration with Google Cloud, our core mission is to empower today’s organizations with a unified platform that offers trust and complete cyber resilience.”

“Cyber attackers are no longer just after data — identity is now their primary target. With AI becoming integral to organizations, even a single AI-driven error can have an organization-wide impact,” said Ashish Gupta, Managing Director, India & Head of Engineering at Rubrik. “As Google workspace adoption accelerates, building protection and resilience is no longer optional for Indian organizations; it is essential for maintaining control over data, identity, and AI.” he added.

Now, Google Workspace customers can benefit from these Rubrik features:

● Logical Air-Gap Protection: Immutable, air-gapped backups for Gmail and Google Drive

● High-Fidelity, Rapid Recovery: Instead of manual, destructive restores that strip away permissions

● Automated, Policy-Driven SLAs: Organizations gain additional layers of protection to meet strict RPO and RTO requirements

● Seamless Continuity: Rubrik’s “point-and-click” experience slashes recovery times from days of manual reconstruction to just minutes

April 8, 2026
Call SKY: Skyscanner Launches Fan Hotline for Cricket Match Travel Tips

India, Apr 08: Leading global travel app Skyscanner today launched ‘Hotline to SKY’, a first-of-its-kind travel helpline offering cricket fans travel tips and hacks directly from brand ambassador, Suryakumar ‘SKY’ Yadav as they plan their match-day journeys. Blending cricket fandom with travel inspiration, the campaign invites fans to call a dedicated number for simple and smart ways to plan trips around upcoming cricket matches.

About ‘Hotline to SKY’

To spark curiosity, Skyscanner has rolled out a series of billboards across high-footfall locations in Delhi and Mumbai featuring a simple yet compelling prompt. Designed for instant engagement, the campaign turns a moment of curiosity into a real-time travel planning experience.

Once dialled in, callers are greeted by the voice of SKY, who responds to common cricket-related travel questions through a series of short, conversational voice notes. From navigating last-minute travel plans and finding cost-effective options, to building extended match-day itineraries, SKY shares practical advice alongside personal insights, including how he stays composed under pressure and his match-day mindset. The experience is powered by Skyscanner’s key features and expert travel hacks, including Price Alerts and its Calendar view search, helping fans plan more efficiently and make the most of their journeys. Through this, Skyscanner brings fans closer to the game while enabling smarter, more seamless travel planning around cricket.

Inside the Cricket Travel Boom: Key Trends

Travel demand took off following the announcement of the first phase of Indian Premier League (IPL) fixtures on 11 March, with Skyscanner recording a surge in domestic flight searches through to 12 April as fans geared up for the season. In the run-up to the opening clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), searches for the weekend of 27–30 March climbed 45% YoY (year-on-year), signalling early excitement. Mumbai quickly became the top trending destination for that weekend, driven by the face-off between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Momentum continued into April, with the ever-popular rivalry between RCB and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Bengaluru sparking a 56% YoY jump in searches for the weekend of 3–6 April, highlighting how fixture drops could potentially be triggering spikes in travel demand, among Indians.

Commenting on the campaign, Neel Ghose, Skyscanner Travel Trends and Destinations Expert, shared, “Cricket has always had an unmatched hold on Indian audiences, and following the game on the road is just as much a part of that passion. We’re seeing fans plan entire trips around match schedules, navigating last-minute bookings, cross-city journeys, and peak travel windows. With ‘Hotline to SKY,’ Skyscanner is simplifying this process through its features, such as Price Alerts, Whole Month, and flexible search filters, helping users make more informed decisions with greater control. And with SKY lending his voice, we’re bringing a perspective that cricket fans across India instinctively trust, combining real-time insights with guidance that’s as familiar as it is useful, so travellers can stay one step ahead.”

Sharing his experience, Suryakumar Yadav, Skyscanner Brand Ambassador, said, “Being part of ‘Hotline to SKY’ has been special for me. As cricketers, we always feel the energy of fans in the stands, but this was a chance to be part of their journey in a different way, as they travel to support the teams they love. Recording these messages made me think through real travel situations fans face, and I’m proud to be able to share helpful tips via Skyscanner’s features, tools, and hacks, that make their experience smoother. I encourage everyone to pick up the phone and dial in to the hotline to not only get some travel planning tips but also hear some of my personal takes.”

Cricket trips aren’t just about the match anymore; they’ve become mini getaways. Fans are using these moments to explore new cities, discover great local food, and soak in the buzz of match day alongside fellow supporters from all over the world. Skyscanner tapped into this shift through its ‘Pitch Perfect Journeys’ campaign last year, which revealed that while 80% of fans were excited to travel for their favourite IPL teams, more than half were turning it into a longer break, adding a few extra days to enjoy the destination.

Building on this, through the ‘Hotline to SKY’ campaign, Skyscanner continues to deepen its understanding of real traveller needs, offering meaningful support shaped by real-life experiences. By staying close to what fans encounter on their journeys, Skyscanner remains focused on making travel planning simpler, so fans can focus on what truly matters, blending the thrill of the game with the joy of discovering something new.

April 8, 2026
TAU Systems & Lawrence Berkeley Lab Achieve Breakthrough in Laser-Powered Accelerator, Enable 8+ Hours of Continuous FEL Output

Carlsbad, California, 8 April 2026: TAU Systems, a pioneer in compact particle accelerator technology, today announced a major scientific milestone: the first-ever demonstration of reliable, continuous operation of a laser-powered accelerator (LPA)-driven free-electron laser (FEL) sustained over more than eight hours without operator intervention. The achievement, published in a new research paper, marks a pivotal step toward making ultra-bright, tunable light sources practical for real-world scientific and industrial applications.

Traditional FEL facilities rely on large, costly radio-frequency accelerators that occupy entire campuses. LPAs shrink the acceleration distance from hundreds of meters to just millimeters by harnessing powerful laser pulses to accelerate electrons in a plasma. While the physics of LPA-driven FELs has been understood for almost 50 years, LPAs have historically had lower beam quality and stability, until now. Translating this technology into a stable light source has remained one of the field’s most stubborn engineering challenges.

The TAU Systems team, in collaboration with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab), achieved this breakthrough by engineering a suite of interlinking stabilisation technologies onto the Hundred Terawatt Undulator (HTU) experiment at Berkeley Lab’s BELLA Center. The result was 100 MeV electron beams delivered at 1 Hz with high consistency over a continuous ten-hour period, driving a self-amplified spontaneous emission (SASE) FEL operating at 420 nm (in the visible blue-ultraviolet range) for more than eight hours without any manual adjustments.

Stephen Milton, VP of Accelerator Science at TAU Systems said: “This is the moment the community has been working toward. We have shown that an LPA-driven FEL is not just a proof-of-concept experiment. It is a platform capable of delivering the stability that real scientific and industrial users demand.”

Beyond simply operating the light source autonomously, the team used the extensive dataset collected during the run to map correlations between the properties of the drive laser, plasma source, and electron beam, and the resulting FEL output. These insights are already informing the next phase of performance improvements, with residual correlations in the data indicating that further gains in stability and brightness are within reach.

“This reported level of reliability and performance of the LPA-driven FEL not only represents a great improvement toward demonstrating the potential for future light source applications,” says Finn Kohrell, a postdoctoral scholar in the BELLA Center at Berkeley Lab and lead author of the published results. “It also allows us to gather an unprecedented amount of data about the highly complex interaction between the LPA and FEL process, and to identify which parameters are most impactful for further improving the FEL performance.”

The implications extend well beyond just one laboratory. Compact LPA-driven light sources have long been envisioned as a way to democratize access to high-brightness X-ray and UV beams, which are currently only available at a handful of national synchrotron and FEL facilities worldwide. Applications include structural biology, materials science, semiconductor lithography, medical imaging, and fundamental physics research. By demonstrating autonomous, multi-hour operation, TAU Systems and Berkeley Lab have cleared a critical barrier on the path to commercially deployable compact FELs.

TAU Systems characterizes the current system as a powerful research platform for the broader LPA-driven FEL community, enabling systematic studies of accelerator-to-light-source coupling that were previously impossible without long-duration stable operation. The company expects the findings to accelerate progress across the field and inform the design of future compact light source installations.

April 8, 2026
Airrived Named Among Only 11 Startups in Gartner’s “Emerging Tech: AI Vendor Race — Startups to Watch in Agentic AI”
DUBLIN, Calif.–We are at the inflection point. After decades of building systems that assist humans, we are crossing into an era where intelligent systems act autonomously — executing decisions, orchestrating workflows, and adapting to complex environments in real time. Most companies are still laying the groundwork. Airrived has arrived.
Today, Airrived announces it has been recognized among only 11 startups globally in Gartner’s newly released report, “Emerging Tech: AI Vendor Race — Startups to Watch in Agentic AI” (published March 23, 2026). Of 129 companies evaluated, Airrived is the only one purpose-built for cybersecurity and IT — the domains where stakes are highest and trust is non-negotiable.

“129 startups chasing Agentic AI. Only a few made the cut. And just one is focused on Cybersecurity and IT — Airrived. The Agentic era has AIRRIVED.”
— Anurag Gurtu, Co-founder and CEO, Airrived

A Different Kind of Foundation

While much of the market remains fixated on copilots, wrappers, and orchestration layers dressed up as intelligence, Airrived is building something categorically different: the Agentic OS — a new foundational layer for the enterprise that doesn’t just assist, but executes, adapts, governs, and scales.

The Agentic OS combines fine-tuned domain models, deep reasoning, multi-agent orchestration, and policy-driven control into a single governed infrastructure. It transforms autonomous AI from experimental capability into trusted, production-grade operation. Others are enabling AI to act. Airrived is defining how AI can be trusted to act.

At the center of this vision is AetherClaw — Airrived’s flagship security capability and the clearest expression of its mission: autonomous systems that operate across every domain of the enterprise, governed by design, and trusted by default.

“We are not building another layer on top of existing AI. We are building the operating system that makes autonomous AI safe enough to trust — and powerful enough to transform.”
— Anurag Gurtu, Co-founder and CEO, Airrived

Already in Production

Months after emerging from stealth in February 2026, Airrived is not a promise — it is a platform. The company is already deployed in production at some of the world’s most demanding enterprises:

A Fortune 150 insurance company, running high-volume, mission-critical agentic workflows at enterprise scale.

A global bank, with governed autonomous agents operating across regulated financial environments.

One of the largest fast-casual restaurant chains in the world, deploying operational intelligence at scale.

A major telecom infrastructure provider, running autonomous operations across complex, high-availability infrastructure.

These deployments are not pilots. They are proof that governed, reliable, scalable agentic intelligence is not a future capability — it is a present one.

Industry Recognition

Since emerging from stealth, Airrived has earned recognition from every major industry body in the agentic AI space: Gartner Tech Innovator in Agentic AI • Cybersecurity Excellence Award, Agentic AI Platform (highest votes) • Global InfoSec Award, Most Advanced in Agentic AI • Security Today CyberSecured Award • BIG Innovator in Agentic AI • 2026 AI Excellence Award, Business Intelligence Group.

These honors are not accolades collected at a distance. They are independent validation that Airrived is delivering what the industry has long demanded: agentic AI that enterprises can actually trust.

What Comes Next

Gartner’s report makes clear that the urgent imperative for enterprises is to move beyond single-task AI toward multiagent systems capable of orchestrating complex, cross-domain workflows at scale. The question is no longer whether agentic AI will transform the enterprise. The question is who will build the infrastructure that makes it safe to do so.

Airrived has answered that question.
April 7, 2026
Kazmoos AI to Exhibit at GITEX AI ASIA 2026, Showcasing Unified Agentic AI Workforce Platform for Organisations of All Sizes

Singapore, Apr 07: Kazmoos AI, the agentic AI platform built to bring an organisation’s entire AI workforce together in one unified place, today announced its participation in GITEX AI ASIA 2026. The company will exhibit at Hall C, Stand HC-P181 at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, from 9–10 April 2026.

GITEX AI ASIA is Asia’s largest and most global technology, AI, and startup event, uniting over 23,000 tech buyers and decision-makers, 600+ global enterprises and startups, and 250+ investors from more than 110 countries. The 2026 edition arrives at a defining moment for the region, with Asia’s enterprise AI spending projected to reach US$78 billion this year as governments and organisations accelerate AI adoption across every major sector.

At GITEX AI ASIA 2026, Kazmoos AI will demonstrate how businesses of all sizes, from fast-growing startups to established enterprises can build, automate, govern and scale intelligent workflows through a single platform. The company’s agent-centric ecosystem enables seamless collaboration between AI agents and human teams, with human-in-the-loop oversight and responsible AI principles embedded at every step. Kazmoos AI delivers enterprise-grade capabilities without enterprise price tags, making intelligent workforce automation accessible to organisations that have historically been priced out of the AI transformation.

“GITEX AI ASIA brings together the most forward-thinking organisations across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond, and there is no better stage to show what Kazmoos AI is building. We started with a simple belief: AI agents should be for everyone not just organisations with deep pockets or large technology teams. Visitors to our booth will see exactly how Kazmoos AI delivers the full power of AI workforce automation at a price point and simplicity that any organisation can act on today.”

— Saraswathi Mopuru, CEO, Kazmoos AI

Attendees visiting Hall C, Stand HC-P181 can expect live demonstrations of the Kazmoos AI platform, including:

• Unified agent orchestration across complex, multi-step business workflows
• Human-in-the-loop controls designed for transparency and responsible AI governance
• No-code and low-code tools for rapid deployment across business functions
• Cost-effective pricing built for organisations of all sizes from startups to enterprises

The Asia-Pacific region represents one of the fastest-growing markets for AI adoption globally. With SMEs making up the backbone of most APAC economies, Kazmoos AI is positioned to serve the millions of organisations in the region that need intelligent automation solutions but have been underserved by platforms built primarily for large enterprises.

GITEX AI ASIA 2026 attendees are invited to visit Kazmoos AI at Hall C, Stand HC-P181 on 9–10 April 2026.

April 7, 2026
Rising Costs Keep Truck Rentals Firm in March: Shriram Mobility Bulletin

New Delhi, Apr 07: India’s mobility and logistics activity remained stable in March, with truck rentals across key trunk routes holding firm and witnessing marginal month-on-month increases. This firmness was supported by year-end dispatches and rising operating cost pressures, even as overall freight movement remained steady.

On a year-on-year (Y-O-Y) basis, trucking activity showed resilience across most routes. The Delhi–Kolkata–Delhi corridor recorded a 10% increase, followed by the Bengaluru–Mumbai–Bengaluru route at 9%. The Delhi–Mumbai–Delhi, Mumbai–Chennai–Mumbai and Delhi–Chennai–Delhi routes each registered growth of 8%, underscoring sustained inter-city freight movement.

Month-on-month (M-O-M), limited increases were observed across several corridors, indicating stable demand conditions. Rentals on the Delhi–Kolkata–Delhi route rose by 1.8%, Bengaluru–Mumbai–Bengaluru by 1.5%, while the Delhi–Mumbai–Delhi and Mumbai–Chennai–Mumbai routes increased by 1.2% each.

The firmness in rentals can be attributed to continued industrial and consumption-led movement at the close of the financial year, coupled with stable fleet availability and the absence of major supply-side disruptions. However, LPG tanker movement was significantly impacted during the month due to curtailed supplies.

Looking ahead, the ongoing conflict in the Middle East is likely to exert further pressure on logistics operations through rising costs. Tyre manufacturers have announced price hikes effective April 1, driven by higher crude oil prices and increased input costs. This, along with the seasonal increase in toll charges from April 1, is expected to push truck rentals higher in the coming months. Additionally, an early onset of summer could lead to some moderation in activity levels.

Vehicle sales trends presented a mixed picture on a month-on-month basis. Passenger vehicle segments performed strongly, with motor car sales rising 11% and two-wheeler sales increasing 14%, supported by year-end discounts and improved buying sentiment. In contrast, agriculture-linked segments witnessed moderation. Commercial tractor sales declined by 3%, while agricultural tractor and agricultural trailer sales fell by 9% and 14% respectively, reflecting seasonal factors.

Select commercial vehicle segments, however, showed positive momentum. Construction equipment vehicle sales increased by 13% and maxi cab sales rose by 11% month-on-month, indicating continued demand from infrastructure activity and passenger mobility.

Electric vehicle (EV) sales recorded strong growth during March. Electric two-wheeler sales surged 72% month-on-month, followed by electric passenger vehicles at 57% and electric three-wheelers at 8%, driven by increasing adoption in urban mobility and last-mile connectivity amid fuel price volatility. On a year-on-year basis, EV growth remained robust, with electric three-wheelers up 166%, electric passenger cars rising 138%, and electric two-wheelers increasing 53%.

Commenting on the trends, Sudarshan Holla, Joint Managing Director & Chief Operating Officer – Commercial Vehicles, Shriram Finance, said: “The ongoing conflict in the Middle East is beginning to disrupt logistics activity across the country. Higher toll charges from April 1, cost pass-through by tyre manufacturers, and the likelihood of rising fuel prices are set to push truck rentals higher this month. If the conflict persists, cost pressures on operators will intensify. The key positive in March was the strong performance of car and two-wheeler sales.”

Macro indicators also pointed to a gradual recovery in movement activity. FASTag collections increased by 3.8% in volume and 3.9% in value on a month-on-month basis, indicating stable highway traffic and freight flows during the period. Petrol and diesel consumption recorded strong growth in March 2026, with petrol volumes rising 13% month-on-month to 3.78 MT and 8.0% year-on-year. Diesel consumption also saw robust momentum, increasing 14% over February to 8.73 MT, marking an 8.1% rise compared to the same period last year.

April 7, 2026