TICE Dispatch: Google’s $15B India Bet, Zepto Tops LinkedIn List & More

What made headlines today across India’s startup, economy, and policy landscape? From Google’s $15B AI hub to Zepto topping LinkedIn’s list, catch all the top 12 business stories of October 15, 2025 in this daily dispatch.

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TICE Dispatch

As India strides deeper into the digital age, today’s stories reflect the intersections of policy, capital flows, and startup innovation. A few themes stand out — global tech giants doubling down on India, sharper focus on AI adoption even as job disruption looms, and renewed momentum in capital deployment even in a tricky macro environment. Below is your curated roundup of the top developments across government, economy, finance, and startups.

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Top News of the Day

Google commits $15 billion for India AI-hub & data infrastructure

In a major push, Google announced it will invest $15 b over five years to build a gigawatt-scale AI and data centre hub in Visakhapatnam. This will be one of its largest investments outside the U.S., aimed at strengthening its cloud/AI ecosystem and positioning India as a regional AI hub.

Hyundai India appoints Tarun Garg as CEO + $5 b expansion plan

Hyundai Motor India named Tarun Garg as its new CEO effective January 2026 — the first Indian to head its local operations. Simultaneously, the company unveiled a $5.07 b investment plan toward capacity expansion, R&D and product upgrades through FY 2030. The automaker also plans to invest ~₹45,000 crore and launch 26 new models (many hybrid) in India, reinforcing its long-term bet on the market.

AI chatbots are replacing call-centre roles at scale

Startups like LimeChat are deploying generative AI agents that reduce staffing needs in BPO operations by up to 80%. In some cases, companies have replaced 40% of voice agents with bots. This shift is raising concerns about job losses in a sector employing over 1.6 million.

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PE/VC investment in India hits $26 billion YTD

Driven by festive consumption, renewed investor enthusiasm, and larger deal sizes, India’s private equity and venture capital deployment has hit $26 b in the first nine months — surpassing full year levels of 2023–24.
Notably, the share of mid-size deals ($10–25 m) has risen, and sectors like IT and consumer staples are leading.

Consuma AI raises ~₹12 crore for SaaS market research

The market research startup secured ₹12 crore (led by Equirus Capital) to scale its AI‐driven consumer data platform. (In broader funding news: RARA Barefoot raised ~$500K; Flowatt Battery Science got ₹2.2 Cr; Everbright Health raised $7 m; Matters.AI raised ₹55 Cr.)

Zepto leads LinkedIn’s Top Startups India 2025 list

For the third consecutive year, ‘quick commerce’ unicorn Zepto has clinched the top rank on LinkedIn’s annual Top Startups India list. It’s followed by Lucidity (enterprise cloud) and Swish (10-min food delivery). The ranking emphasizes employee growth, engagement, job interest and ability to attract talent.

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Apple presses India to ease tax burden on equipment ownership

Apple is lobbying the Indian government to amend its tax rules so that machinery it owns (but rents or leases to contract manufacturers) is not taxed as “business connection” income in India. The issue arises as Apple expands its manufacturing footprint in India

RBL Bank to consider equity fundraising on 18 October

RBL Bank has announced that its board will meet on 18 October to consider raising funds via equity or equity-linked securities. This comes amid reported talks of a possible stake purchase by Emirates NBD.

Himachal Pradesh launches startup & student innovation policy

The state government unveiled a policy to promote entrepreneurship and youth innovation, allocating ₹25 lakh in fund support (up to ₹5 lakh per proposal). The scheme is tied to its housing & urban development authority.

TN urged to adopt Gujarat-style startup governance

Tamil Nadu’s State Planning Commission, via a new report, has recommended adoption of Gujarat’s tiered governance model for startup policy. The report also advises integrating successful practices from Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Odisha to strengthen Tamil Nadu’s startup ecosystem.

Punjab CM courts Bengaluru investors

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann visited Bengaluru and sought investments, highlighting sectors like food processing, textiles, auto components, tourism and IT. He pointed to investment proposals worth ₹1.23 lakh crore (since March 2022) and the setting up of a major Tata steel plant in Ludhiana.

UP adds 4,000 new factories in 2024–25

Uttar Pradesh recorded the establishment of ~4,000 new factories in the last fiscal year. The state now has over 27,000 operational factories across diverse sectors, accounting for 8.3% of India’s industrial workforce.

Today’s headlines reflect a clear narrative: global giants, particularly in tech, are placing long-term bets on India’s infrastructure and talent. Simultaneously, domestic capital is flowing more robustly, and AI is reshaping business models — both as opportunity and disruption.

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