Bihar Budget, Ola Electric, Travel Trends

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It’s March 4. Today, we break down Bihar’s Budget, trouble at Ola Electric, India’s evolving travel trends, and more. Plus, job openings at Google, Ikigai Law, Navi, and others in Who’s Hiring at the end.

Policy & Governance

> Bihar Budget 2025-26
The Nitish Kumar-led NDA government in Bihar has tabled a ₹3.17 lakh crore budget for 2025-26, with a focus on education, rural development, and welfare schemes for backward communities. Key provisions include:

• ₹13,368 crore allocated for welfare schemes targeting OBCs, EBCs, and minorities.

• ₹22,700 crore set aside for education—the highest allocation.

• ₹15,586 crore granted to rural development, the second-largest allocation, aimed at improving roads, electricity, water supply, and infrastructure.

This is the state government’s last Budget before Assembly polls in October-November this year. (Indian Express)

> Indian Woman Executed in UAE Over Child's Death
A 33-year-old woman from Uttar Pradesh, was executed in Abu Dhabi on February 15 after being convicted of killing a four-month-old child. Her father, Shabbir Khan, claimed she was deceived and trafficked to Abu Dhabi before being implicated in the infant’s death. He alleged she was “trapped and forced to sign a false confession”, leading to her wrongful conviction.

In 2024, Shabbir Khan had appealed to President Droupadi Murmu and PM Narendra Modi to secure clemency for his daughter. (Livemint, NDTV)

> SC Lifts Ban on Ranveer Allahbadia’s Podcast
The Supreme Court has allowed YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia to resume uploading The Ranveer Show but with conditions. He must submit an undertaking ensuring the content maintains "morality and decency" and is suitable for all ages. The court had earlier restricted him from airing the podcast following backlash over his remarks on comedian Samay Raina’s show. (Hindustan Times)

> Equality for the Visually Impaired in Judicial Service
The Supreme Court has ruled that candidates cannot be denied judicial service roles solely due to physical disabilities. It struck down a provision in the Madhya Pradesh Judicial Services Rules that excluded visually impaired and low-vision candidates, affirming their right to participate in the selection process. The Court emphasized that the State must provide affirmative action to ensure inclusivity in judicial recruitments. (LiveLaw)

Business

> Ola Electric Lays Off 1,000 Employees
Ola Electric is cutting over 1,000 jobs across sales, distribution, and marketing as part of an internal restructuring effort. This follows a similar downsizing in November 2024, when 500 employees were let go. The company, whose stock has dropped over 60% since its August IPO, reported a net loss of ₹564 crore for the December quarter—wider than last year’s ₹376 crore loss—while revenue fell 19.4% to ₹1,045 crore. (Bloomberg, Moneycontrol)

> ₹100 Crore Fund for Early-Stage Startups
AJVC, a micro-VC firm founded by Aviral Bhatnagar, has raised ₹100 crore for its debut fund. The firm focuses on pre-seed investments, typically writing ₹1.5 crore checks for a 9% stake. So far, it has backed nine startups across AI, B2B, consumer brands, and consumer tech. (Economic Times)

> ED Says Paytm Violated Foreign Exchange Rules Worth ₹611 Crore
India's Enforcement Directorate (ED) has found that Paytm and its units violated the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) in transactions worth ₹611 crore ($70 million). The agency stated that Paytm failed to report a foreign investment in Singapore to the RBI and did not comply with pricing guidelines when receiving foreign direct investment. (Reuters)

Tech, Media & Telecom

> AI to ‘Neutralize’ Indian Accents in Call Centers
Teleperformance, the world’s largest call-center operator, is rolling out AI-powered "accent translation" technology to modify Indian workers’ English accents in real time. The tool, combined with background noise cancellation, aims to make customer interactions more "understandable" for international clients. Teleperformance, which serves companies like Apple, TikTok, and Samsung, is deploying the system across its Indian call centers. (Bloomberg)

> AWS Bets on Maharashtra
Amazon Web Services (AWS) will invest $8.2 billion in Maharashtra over the next few years, according to India’s IT ministry. The country’s cloud services market, valued at $8.3 billion in 2023, is projected to reach $24.2 billion by 2028, per International Data Corporation. (Reuters)

> AI System Prevents Elephant Deaths on Railway Tracks
An AI-powered early warning system in Tamil Nadu’s Madukkarai forest has enabled 2,500 safe elephant crossings over the past year, achieving zero accidents. The system, operated by local tribal youth, uses thermal cameras on 12 towers to monitor railway tracks and alert train drivers in real time. (The Hindu)

Etcetera

> The Rise of the New Indian Traveler
India’s travel industry is booming, fueled by rising demand from Tier II and III cities. A new wave of travelers is reshaping the sector: Gen ACE (under 40)—adventurous, social media-influenced, and traveling with peers—and Gen LUX (over 40)—luxury-focused, experience-driven, and often traveling with family.

• 57% of travel service providers report increased bookings since 2022.

• Domestic trips now last a day longer; international trips, two days longer.

• Domestic trips usually have a budget of under ₹50,000 per person; international trips often exceed ₹1,00,000. 

With a $231 billion tourism GDP contribution, India ranks second in Asia-Pacific—highlighting the sector’s growing economic importance. (EY)

Worth a Look

The BBC made a two-minute video on Sanjay Banoudha, a photojournalist who has covered the Kumbh Mela for 30 years. Listening to Banoudha talk about how the Mela has evolved over all these years is fascinating.

Who’s Hiring

> Google – The tech giant is hiring a Regional Counsel, Legal (3+ years PQE). It is also hiring across various software engineering roles.

> Mastercard – The payments company is hiring a Product Management Specialist in Gurgaon. This is open for candidates with degree or experience in tech, data analytics, or a related field.

> Ikigai Law – The law and policy firm is hiring associates (1-5 years PQE) to work on tech-focused contracts and regulatory and product advisory.

> Antler – The early-stage VC firm is hiring an Investment Manager – Consumer (5+ years PQE). This role is for someone passionate about consumer and AI.

> Amazon – The e-commerce company is hiring a Corporate Counsel in Singapore (6+ years PQE) for its devices business.

> Navi – The financial services company founded by Sachin Bansal is hiring across engineering, data science, product, and other technical roles. 

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