Obesity, Guns on WhatsApp, Project Lion

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It’s March 5. Today, we’re covering the country’s obesity crisis, gun sales on WhatsApp, and the Project Lion initiative. Plus, job openings at McKinsey, Meta, RedBus, and others in Who’s Hiring at the end.

Policy & Governance

> South vs. North: Seat Redistribution Battle
India’s southern states are opposing the Modi government’s proposal to redraw parliamentary constituencies in 2026 based on population, fearing it will reduce their political representation in favor of the more populous north. Tamil Nadu CM M.K. Stalin has called a meeting with leaders from over 40 parties to strategize against the plan. The five southern states—Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Kerala—contribute roughly 30% of India’s GDP. (Reuters)

> Income Tax Dept Can Access Digital Content from 2026
Starting April 1, 2026, the Income Tax Department will have the authority to access social media, emails, bank accounts, and online investments if they suspect tax evasion or undisclosed assets. Under Section 132 of the I-T Act, officials can already search and seize physical assets; the new provisions extend these powers to digital records, enabling deeper financial scrutiny. (Economic Times)

> Maharashtra Minister Resigns Over Aide’s Arrest
Dhananjay Munde has resigned as Maharashtra’s food and civil supplies minister after his close aide, Walmik Karad, was arrested in connection with the murder of a sarpanch in Beed district. His resignation follows instructions from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. (NDTV)

Business

> India’s First e-Rupee Deal
Mintoak, a PayPal-backed merchant payments startup, has acquired Digiledge in India’s first central bank digital currency (CBDC) deal, reportedly worth $3.5M. The RBI launched an e-rupee pilot in December 2022 and expanded it to payment firms last April. The acquisition signals growing interest in digital currency in the fintech space. (Reuters)

> M2P Acquires AI Startup Mad Street Den
Fintech infrastructure firm M2P is acquiring Chennai-based AI startup Mad Street Den in a $10-15 million cash and stock deal. Mad Street Den builds AI solutions that help retailers cut costs and boost revenue through automation and personalization. The deal highlights the ongoing consolidation in India's SaaS sector. (Moneycontrol)

> InsuranceDekho Secures $70 Million
Insurtech firm InsuranceDekho has raised $70 million in a new funding round, after its revenue skyrocketed from ₹96.5 crore in FY23 to ₹743.6 crore in FY24. The company, which offers motor, health, travel, and pet insurance comparisons, also reported a profit of ₹85.71 crore last fiscal. (Entrackr)

Tech, Media & Telecom

> Animation Studio Technicolor India Shuts Down
Technicolor India, which provided VFX and animation for Hollywood studios like DreamWorks and Warner Bros, is shutting down its Bengaluru and Mumbai operations amid a global restructuring. The move affects about 3,000 employees. While some blame AI, experts argue it isn’t replacing artists but automating repetitive tasks, allowing more focus on creativity. (The Hindu, Business Line)

> WhatsApp Groups Used for Illegal Gun Trade
Between April 2024 and January 2025, researchers from Digital Witness Lab found over 8,000 messages advertising firearms across 234 public WhatsApp groups. These groups, some with hundreds of members, openly reference gun sales, violating Meta’s policies. Similar issues have been reported globally, with firearms-related ads found on Meta’s platforms in the U.S. and EU. (Rest of World)

Health & Society

> Obesity Crisis by 2050
A new study projects that India will have 450 million overweight or obese adults by 2050, the second highest globally after China. This includes 218 million men and 231 million women. China (627 million), India (450 million), and the US (214 million) are expected to bear the brunt of the global obesity crisis. (BBC, Lancet)

> India Meets Maternal Mortality Target
India has achieved its National Health Policy target of reducing maternal mortality to 100 deaths per 1 lakh live births, Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda announced. The country saw an 83% drop in maternal deaths between 1990 and 2020, surpassing the global decline. Infant mortality also fell by 69% in the same period. (The Hindu)

> Low Awareness of Shingles Among Older Indians
A global survey found that 56.6% of Indians aged over 50 years know little to nothing about shingles, despite over 90% of adults in this age group carrying the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). The virus, which also causes chickenpox, can reactivate later in life as shingles—a painful disease with potential long-term complications. (The Hindu)

Science & Environment

> ₹2,900 Crore for Project Lion, as Gujarat reports high animal deaths
The central government has approved over ₹2,900 crore for Project Lion, aimed at conserving Asiatic lions, found only in Gujarat. A high-tech wildlife monitoring center and a state-of-the-art hospital have been set up in Sasan to boost conservation efforts. PM Modi also inaugurated the Vantara animal rescue and rehabilitation center in Jamnagar, which houses over 1.5 lakh rescued animals across 2,000+ species.

This comes against the backdrop of the death of 286 lions and 456 leopards in the past two years in Gujarat. About 30% deaths were due to unnatural causes such as poaching, accidents, and habitat threats. (Hindustan Times, Moneycontrol, New Indian Express)

> India’s First Gangetic Dolphin Census Estimates over 6,000
India’s first-ever estimate of Gangetic dolphins has found 6,327 individuals in the Ganga and its tributaries, though differences in past survey methods make it difficult to assess population trends. According to the Environment Ministry, the survey, conducted from 2021 across 8,507 km, also recorded three Indus river dolphins. (The Hindu)

Worth a Look

Need a break? Condé Nast lists India’s top April travel destinations. If you’ve been on the fence about planning a vacation, this might push you over the edge.

Who’s Hiring

> McKinsey – The consulting firm is hiring across several roles, including consultants, data science, and engineers.

> Nurix – Mukesh Bansal’s AI startup is hiring AI engineering managers. It raised $27.5 million in September 2024.

> Meta – The company is hiring a Lead Counsel, Litigation in Singapore. It is also hiring across engineering and data protection roles.

> Law Office of Apar Gupta – The lawyer and cofounder of the Internet Freedom Foundation is hiring an associate (1-2 years PQE).

> Redbus – The online ticket booking platform is hiring a product manager.

> Shiprocket – The e-commerce enablement startup is hiring a product marketing manager and analytics lead.

Shoutout to Chinmaya for the feedback on the Who’s Hiring section!

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