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Month: October 2025

Technology

Microsoft Unveils New Copilot Features with Collaboration and Google Integration

Observenow Desk October 27, 2025

Microsoft has rolled out a significant update to its Copilot AI assistant, introducing enhanced collaboration tools and seamless integration with Google services. The new features aim to streamline workflows for users across multiple platforms, allowing them to collaborate more efficiently, manage schedules, and access information directly from Copilot. This update reflects Microsoft’s commitment to making AI-driven productivity tools more versatile and user-friendly in a competitive market.

The enhanced Copilot now integrates with Google Workspace, enabling users to interact with Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Docs within the AI assistant interface. Additionally, Microsoft has expanded Copilot’s capabilities in Outlook and Microsoft 365 applications, offering features like automated summarization of emails, task prioritization, and AI-powered recommendations for scheduling and planning. These improvements are designed to save time, reduce cognitive load, and enhance productivity for individuals and teams.

Another highlight of the update is Copilot’s ability to analyze multiple browser tabs, consolidate information, and generate concise summaries, helping users make informed decisions quickly. Microsoft has also introduced “Mico,” an AI avatar that provides a more natural and interactive user experience, bridging the gap between human interaction and AI assistance. The avatar can assist with task management, information retrieval, and even proactive suggestions for workflow optimization.

Industry experts view these updates as part of Microsoft’s broader strategy to maintain its edge in the growing AI productivity tools market. By integrating with third-party platforms like Google and enhancing collaborative functionality, Microsoft is positioning Copilot as a central hub for both personal and professional productivity.

With the new features, Copilot is expected to drive greater adoption across enterprise and consumer segments, demonstrating Microsoft’s ongoing investment in AI technologies to improve efficiency and collaboration.

Tags: CopilotMicrosoft

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Technology

MobiKwik COO Mohit Narain Resigns Citing Health Reasons

Observenow Desk

MobiKwik, one of India’s prominent digital payments platforms, has announced the resignation of Mohit Narain, its Chief Operating Officer for consumer payments, effective October 24, 2025. Narain stepped down due to personal health concerns, marking a significant change in the company’s senior management team. His departure was formally communicated by MobiKwik through an exchange filing, reflecting the company’s commitment to transparency in leadership transitions.

During his tenure, Mohit Narain played a pivotal role in strengthening MobiKwik’s consumer payments infrastructure, enhancing product offerings, and expanding the company’s reach across India’s digital payments ecosystem. His leadership contributed to the platform’s growth in transaction volumes, user acquisition, and the adoption of innovative financial products targeted at both individual and small business users.

Industry analysts note that executive departures, especially at the C-level, can impact operational momentum, but companies like MobiKwik often implement structured succession plans to ensure continuity. While the company has not immediately announced a successor, the move allows MobiKwik to realign its leadership structure to meet evolving market challenges and maintain its competitive position in the fintech space.

MobiKwik continues to focus on expanding its offerings in areas such as QR-based payments, lending solutions, and digital wallets. The company’s management has reiterated its commitment to innovation and operational excellence, assuring stakeholders that core business functions and strategic initiatives will continue without disruption.

The resignation of Mohit Narain highlights the pressures and challenges faced by executives in the fast-paced fintech sector. MobiKwik’s response demonstrates an emphasis on leadership stability, strategic planning, and ongoing investment in technology-driven solutions to sustain growth and serve the evolving needs of Indian consumers.

Tags: MobiKwikMohit Narain

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Technology

ISRO to Launch CMS‑03 Satellite for Indian Navy, Gaganyaan Mission Progresses on Schedule

Observenow Desk

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to launch the CMS‑03 military communication satellite for the Indian Navy on November 2, 2025. This satellite, designed to operate in geostationary orbit, aims to significantly enhance India’s maritime security infrastructure by providing robust communication, surveillance, and navigation capabilities for naval operations. The launch marks another step in India’s growing emphasis on space-based defense technology.

CMS‑03, weighing approximately 2,650 kilograms, has been funded by the Ministry of Defence and is expected to have a mission life of seven years. Its deployment is part of ISRO’s broader strategy to support the country’s defense forces with advanced satellite technology, enabling secure and reliable communication across the maritime domain. The satellite will facilitate real-time data transfer and improve operational efficiency in the Navy’s communication networks.

In addition to the CMS‑03 launch, ISRO chairman emphasized that the Gaganyaan mission, India’s first human spaceflight program, is progressing as planned. The Gaganyaan project aims to send Indian astronauts into space aboard an indigenous crewed spacecraft, representing a significant milestone for the country’s human spaceflight ambitions. Preparations for Gaganyaan include extensive testing of spacecraft systems, life-support technologies, and astronaut training, with ISRO ensuring strict adherence to safety and mission protocols.

The upcoming launch of CMS‑03 demonstrates ISRO’s dual focus on both defense and human space exploration. By strengthening maritime communication and surveillance capabilities while advancing crewed spaceflight initiatives, ISRO continues to position India as a key player in the global space domain. Experts note that these developments will not only enhance national security but also pave the way for future innovations in satellite and aerospace technologies.

With CMS‑03 and Gaganyaan on the horizon, India’s space program underscores its commitment to strategic technological advancement and operational excellence in both civilian and defense sectors.

Tags: CMS‑03 SatelliteGaganyaan MissionISRO

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Technology

Flipkart Minutes Sees Leadership Change as Kunal Gupta Takes Charge of 10-Minute Delivery Unit

Observenow Desk

Flipkart Minutes, the rapid-delivery arm of the Indian e-commerce giant Flipkart, has announced a significant leadership change with the exit of Kabeer Biswas. Biswas, who has been instrumental in shaping the company’s quick-commerce strategy, will be stepping down, making way for Kunal Gupta to lead the 10-minute delivery vertical. This transition reflects Flipkart’s ongoing efforts to refine its rapid-delivery operations and stay competitive in India’s fast-growing instant commerce sector.

Kunal Gupta, who assumes leadership of Flipkart Minutes, brings extensive experience in operations and logistics management. His appointment signals the company’s focus on optimizing delivery efficiency, scaling services, and enhancing customer experience in ultra-fast delivery. Industry observers note that the quick-commerce space in India has become highly competitive, with players constantly innovating to reduce delivery times and expand coverage. Gupta’s leadership is expected to introduce strategic operational changes that align with Flipkart’s broader growth goals.

During Kabeer Biswas’s tenure, Flipkart Minutes made significant strides in building a robust delivery network capable of fulfilling orders within minutes. The transition to new leadership is seen as a move to further accelerate growth and improve operational agility. Kunal Gupta is expected to focus on strengthening backend processes, integrating technology for real-time tracking, and exploring new delivery models to meet rising consumer expectations.

This leadership shift is a crucial step in Flipkart’s broader strategy to dominate the rapid-delivery market in India. By bringing in fresh leadership, the company aims to sustain its growth trajectory, improve delivery reliability, and maintain a competitive edge. Stakeholders and industry watchers will be closely monitoring how Gupta’s strategies shape the future of Flipkart Minutes and its position in the instant commerce ecosystem.

Tags: Flipkart MinutesKunal Gupta

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Exclusive

BharatPe Appoints Ajit Kumar as New Chief Technology Officer to Drive Innovation

Observenow Desk

BharatPe, one of India’s leading fintech platforms, has announced the appointment of Ajit Kumar, former Senior Vice President of Engineering at Paytm, as its new Chief Technology Officer (CTO). The move is aimed at strengthening the company’s technology leadership and accelerating its innovation roadmap in an increasingly competitive digital payments landscape.

Ajit Kumar brings over 19 years of experience in the technology and fintech sectors, having played a key role in scaling Paytm’s engineering operations and leading multiple product and platform initiatives. At BharatPe, he will oversee the overall technology strategy, drive product innovation, and enhance the company’s digital infrastructure to support rapid growth across merchant and consumer services.

The appointment comes at a time when BharatPe is aggressively expanding its offerings, which include QR-based payments, lending solutions, and digital banking services for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in India. The company aims to leverage Kumar’s expertise to innovate faster, improve platform reliability, and explore new technological avenues such as AI, machine learning, and data analytics to enhance customer experience.

In a statement, BharatPe highlighted that Kumar’s leadership will be pivotal in aligning technology initiatives with the company’s broader business objectives. His proven track record in driving engineering excellence and scaling digital platforms is expected to reinforce BharatPe’s position as a leading fintech player.

Industry analysts view this appointment as a strategic move that will enable BharatPe to stay competitive amid the growing number of fintech startups and the expansion of traditional banking players into digital services. With a strong focus on technology-led growth, BharatPe is positioning itself to deliver innovative, reliable, and secure financial solutions to millions of merchants and consumers across India.

Ajit Kumar’s entry is anticipated to bring renewed energy to BharatPe’s technology division, ensuring that the company continues to innovate while maintaining operational excellence and delivering seamless digital payment experiences.

Tags: Ajit KumarBharatPe

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News

Turning Ambition into Impact: IIM Calcutta Launch 9th Batch Exclusive Leadership Programme for Women Professionals

Observenow Desk October 24, 2025

– A future-focused executive education initiative designed to elevate women into boardrooms by building strategic, digital & cross-functional expertise, authentic leadership presence and inclusive decision-making skills.

Calcutta: The Indian Institute of Management Calcutta (IIM Calcutta), in collaboration with TimesPro, has announced admissions to the ninth cohort of its esteemed executive education initiative – Transitioning into Leadership: A Programme for Women Executives (TLPWE). This rigorous, twelve-month, LIVE online learning experience has been meticulously developed to equip mid-career women professionals with strategic leadership capabilities, cross-functional business insights and a compelling executive presence to succeed in senior decision-making roles.

Despite their demonstrated capabilities, women remain significantly underrepresented in senior leadership. The Grant Thornton Women in Business 2024 report shows that only 34% of such roles globally are held by women—a modest rise that still reflects deep-rooted inequities. In India, this figure has improved from 17% in 2017 to 28% in 2024, yet gaps persist. The Global Gender Gap Report 2025 highlights that just one in four C-suite roles is occupied by a woman, warning it could take 123 years to reach parity. These insights underscore the urgent need for targeted mentorship, structured leadership development, and systemic reform.

Transitioning into Leadership: A Programme for Women Executives offers a transformative and inclusive space for reflection, collaboration and growth. It fosters a supportive environment where learners explore shared challenges and opportunities across sectors. Peer learning enables women to strengthen their leadership identity and navigate organisational complexities strategically. The programme builds capabilities in digital transformation, communication and emotional intelligence, helping learners develop authentic leadership styles, use their voice with impact and unlock their full business potential.

Speaking on the announcement of the 9th batch, Professor Nimruji Prasad Jammulamadaka>, <Professor, Organisational Behaviour, IIM Calcutta said, “TLPWE is designed to help women introspect on their individual leadership journeys while acquiring essential, future-centric capabilities. Storytelling, critical thinking and digital agility form the foundation of this new leadership era. Through immersive and reflective pedagogy, this programme closes the theory-practice gap and empowers women to transcend structural barriers by harnessing their unique strengths and social perspectives.”

Dr. Nandita Roy, Assistant Professor, Business Ethics & Communication, IIM Calcutta said, “Women play an indispensable role in today’s interconnected and globalised business ecosystem. As a new generation of aspirational women prepares to lead, it is imperative that they are equipped with the right tools and contemporary skill sets. Transitioning into Leadership: A Programme for Women Executives represents a crucial initiative by IIM Calcutta and TimesPro and we are proud to contribute towards the advancement of inclusive leadership.”

The curriculum is structured across nine strategic modules. Core components include Women in Management and Global Gender Perspectives, Leading and Managing Teams, Strategic Communication and Argumentation, Digital Transformation and Analytics, Legal and Human Resource Perspectives, among others. The programme culminates with a Capstone Project, wherein learners tackle a real-world leadership challenge under faculty mentorship, in addition to two campus immersion sessions at IIM Calcutta’s sprawling 135-acre campus.

Previous cohorts have comprised accomplished women professionals from diverse sectors such as information technology, financial services, healthcare and hospitality. Most learners bring five to twenty years of managerial experience and have held roles including Director, Assistant Vice President, Communications Lead and Senior Consultant across leading organisations.

Delivered via TimesPro’s state-of-the-art Direct-to-Device platform, the programme fosters active engagement through real-time faculty interaction and peer learning. The pedagogical approach combines case studies, interactive lectures, role-based simulations and collaborative assignments. A strong emphasis is placed on live interaction over passive instruction, thereby promoting analytical thinking, ethical judgement and the capacity to influence strategic outcomes in complex business environments. Upon fulfilling academic requirements, learners are awarded a Certificate of Successful Completion by IIM Calcutta and are inducted into the IIM Calcutta Executive Education Alumni community.

Applicants must hold a recognised undergraduate degree or equivalent diploma with at least 50% marks and possess a minimum of five years’ professional experience in managerial capacities to be eligible for TLPWE. The programme also welcomes women entrepreneurs, professionals involved in family businesses and corporate nominees identified as high-potential leaders.

Tags: IIM CalcuttaTimesProTLPWE

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Technology

Matters.AI Raises ₹55 Crore Seed Co-Led by Kalaari Capital and Endiya Partners to Launch Bharat’s First AI Security Engineer

Observenow Desk October 15, 2025

Bangalore. October 15, 2025. Matters.AI, an AI-native data security company built in Bharat, today announced a ₹55 Crore fundraise to pioneer a new class of system, the AI Security Engineer. Unlike traditional security platforms that only monitor or alert, the AI Security Engineer is a self-learning system that understands how sensitive data behaves, predicts misuse before it happens, and responds autonomously across Cloud, SaaS, Endpoints, and On-Prem environments.

The ₹42 Crore Seed round was co-led by Kalaari Capital and Endiya Partners, with participation from Better Capital, Carya Venture Partners, and leading cybersecurity angels. The earlier ₹13 Crore Pre-Seed was led by Better Capital and Carya Venture Partners.

Funding will accelerate R&D in predictive detection, expand go-to-market operations in India and the US, and strengthen engineering and customer success teams serving regulated industries under the DPDP framework.

The Question That Started It All- Every CISO the founders met said the same thing: “I can’t even tell you where my sensitive data is right now.” That’s the reality of modern security. Across enterprises, over 90% of sensitive data remains invisible to security teams and what you can’t see, you can’t protect. Every day, analysts chase thousands of alerts, yet most real data threats slip through unnoticed. Legacy DLP and DSPM tools flood teams with noise, missing the signals that truly matter. And when an incident finally happens, the response is painfully slow. In a one-hour investigation, 80% of the time is wasted pulling logs, mapping access, and piecing together what went wrong, leaving only minutes to understand the actual threat.

Matters.AI was built to end that fatigue. It turns chaos into clarity, giving enterprises one autonomous system that can see, understand, and protect data everywhere, before damage is done.

It’s the system that thinks like an engineer. Unlike legacy tools that react after incidents, Matters.AI uses semantic graphs and predictive models to understand context and intent.

Full-Stack Visibility for a Complex World

● Endpoint visibility and control through real-time data tracing.
● Data lineage & fingerprinting to track how data moves and why.
● On-prem and SaaS deployments for hybrid enterprises.
● GenAI governance across ChatGPT, Gemini, and Copilot.
● Native integrations with Zoho, Snowflake, Salesforce, AWS, Azure, GCP, and Databricks.

With the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act setting new benchmarks for accountability, organizations need real-time visibility into how sensitive data moves across environments. Matters.AI gives enterprises that clarity, built in Bharat, trusted worldwide.

Keshava Murthy, CEO & Co-Founder, said, “India has built rockets, payments, and softwares for the world, now we’re building to protect it. The world doesn’t need another dashboard screaming alerts; it needs a system that can think. That’s Matters.AI, the AI Security Engineer that never sleeps.”

Harsh Sahu, CTO & Co-Founder, said, “Our system “reasons” like a human engineer, learning from how people and data interact, predicting misuse, and responding autonomously.”

Dhiraj Khare, Chief Revenue Officer, said, “CISOs want clarity, not chaos. Matters.AI connects every data layer – endpoint, cloud, SaaS, Gen AI, On Prem into one control plane where visibility meets action.”

Sateesh Andra, Managing Director, Endiya Partners, added “Security teams tell us their biggest gap is between visibility and enforcement. Matters unifies discovery, lineage, and intent-aware controls into a single policy plane so organizations can prevent data exfiltration across cloud, SaaS, endpoints, and AI tools – while cutting alert noise. We’re delighted to co-lead this round with Kalaari Capital, and back Keshav, Harsh, and Dhiraj as they execute on this AI-native architecture.”

Sampath, Partner, Kalaari Capital, said “As privacy regulations tighten worldwide and AI adoption accelerates, enterprises face an urgent need for intelligent, autonomous data protection. Matters.AI is building the control layer for this new reality, a system that learns, adapts, and secures data while ensuring continuous compliance in an AI-driven world”

About Matters.AI

Matters.AI is the AI-native data-security platform that thinks like an engineer. By unifying DSPM, Insider Risk, DDR, Exfiltration Defense, and DLP into one intelligent layer, it understands what data means, who’s interacting with it, and why stopping threats before they become incidents.

Backed by Kalaari Capital, Endiya Partners, Better Capital, and Carya Venture Partners, Matters.AI protects enterprises across India and the world.

Learn more at www.matters.ai

Tags: Dhiraj KhareEndiya PartnersHarsh SahuKalaari CapitalKeshav MurthyMatters.ai

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Technology

Austria Rules Microsoft Illegally Tracked Students, Orders Data Access

Observenow Desk October 13, 2025

Austria’s data protection authority has determined that Microsoft 365 Education illegally tracked students, ruling that the company must provide students access to their personal data. The decision follows a 2024 complaint by privacy advocacy group Noyb, which alleged violations of EU data protection laws, particularly concerning children’s rights.

The authority found that Microsoft’s data collection practices in its educational platform failed to comply with strict EU regulations on transparency, consent, and purpose limitation. Tracking of students without explicit parental consent was deemed unlawful, highlighting the need for greater accountability in EdTech tools used in schools.

The ruling mandates that Microsoft must grant students and their guardians access to all data collected, along with clear explanations of how it is processed. Authorities emphasized that educational platforms must prioritize privacy and adhere to the principles of data minimization, especially when handling information related to minors.

Privacy experts note that this decision sets an important precedent for EdTech providers operating in the EU, signaling that violations of children’s digital rights will be met with stringent enforcement. It underscores the broader responsibilities of technology companies in ensuring compliance with data protection frameworks while maintaining transparency and trust.

Microsoft has yet to publicly comment on the ruling but is expected to adjust its data policies for the education sector in Austria and potentially across the EU. The case reflects growing scrutiny on how tech giants collect, store, and utilize personal information, particularly in contexts involving vulnerable populations like students.

This decision by Austria reinforces the importance of protecting children’s digital privacy and highlights the need for robust legal frameworks to govern data practices in educational technology. It also serves as a reminder to companies to prioritize ethical data management alongside innovation.

Tags: Microsoft

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Technology

Allahabad HC Directs Google and Meta to Remove Objectionable Videos Against Rambhadracharya

Observenow Desk

The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court has ordered Google and Meta to remove defamatory and objectionable videos targeting spiritual leader Jagadguru Rambhadracharya. The court directed both companies to ensure the content is taken down within 48 hours, emphasizing the protection of personal reputation and public morality.

The ruling follows a petition highlighting that several online videos contained misleading, offensive, and harmful content, which could damage the spiritual leader’s image and misinform the public. The court stressed that digital platforms have a responsibility to act promptly against such content to prevent the spread of defamation and protect individuals from online harassment.

Legal experts note that this order underscores the growing accountability of social media platforms and search engines in moderating content that violates personal rights. The directive also serves as a precedent for faster judicial intervention in cases of online defamation, especially against public figures or spiritual leaders.

Google and Meta were instructed to not only remove the objectionable content but also implement measures to prevent its re-uploading. The court emphasized that timely compliance is crucial to uphold the legal rights of affected individuals and maintain trust in digital platforms.

This decision reflects the judiciary’s proactive approach in addressing challenges posed by digital content and social media misuse. By holding major tech companies accountable, the Allahabad High Court aims to balance freedom of expression with the protection of personal reputation, ensuring that online spaces remain safe and respectful.

The directive also signals to digital platforms the importance of robust content moderation policies and adherence to legal orders, highlighting their role in preventing the spread of harmful or defamatory material in India’s rapidly expanding digital ecosystem.

Tags: GoogleLucknow Bench of the Allahabad High CourtMeta

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BFSI

Digital Payments See Boost as Biometrics and Passkeys Replace OTPs

Observenow Desk

The digital payments ecosystem in India is poised for higher transaction success rates as new two-factor authentication methods, including biometrics and passkeys, gain traction. These device-tied authentication methods are expected to improve transaction success by 2–3 percentage points, addressing the common failure issues associated with one-time passwords (OTPs).

OTP-based verification has long been a source of friction in digital payments, often failing due to delayed delivery, network issues, or incorrect entry by users. By contrast, authentication methods linked directly to a user’s device, such as fingerprint scans, facial recognition, and secure passkeys, streamline the payment process and reduce the likelihood of errors. This shift enhances reliability, customer experience, and trust in digital payment platforms.

Experts note that adopting biometrics and passkeys also strengthens security, making it more difficult for unauthorized users to access accounts or execute fraudulent transactions. As financial institutions and payment service providers integrate these technologies, the industry expects a reduction in transaction failures and disputes, leading to smoother operations for merchants and customers alike.

The move aligns with broader trends in fintech innovation, where seamless and secure authentication is becoming a critical differentiator. Payment platforms are increasingly investing in AI-driven fraud detection and advanced cryptography to complement device-based authentication, ensuring that digital transactions remain both fast and secure.

As the adoption of these methods grows, users can expect faster checkout experiences, reduced dependency on mobile networks for OTP delivery, and fewer failed payments. Industry stakeholders see this transition as a significant step toward improving digital financial inclusion and enhancing the overall efficiency of India’s payments ecosystem.

The integration of biometrics and passkeys is expected to reshape digital payments in India, making them more user-friendly, secure, and reliable, while encouraging wider adoption across urban and rural segments.

Tags: DIGITAL PAYMENTS

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