Religious Freedom, Summer Blackouts, Poker

Welcome to 1947—your clear, unbiased source for news that helps you cut through the noise and form your own conclusions.

It’s March 27. Today: a U.S. report on religious freedom in India, how to prevent summer blackouts, and a poker tournament for entrepreneurs. Plus, job openings at Spotify, Swiggy, Redesign Health, and more in Who’s Hiring.

Policy, Governance & Regulation

> Government Rejects U.S. Panel's Religious Freedom Report
India has dismissed the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom’s (USCIRF) latest report as “biased and politically motivated.” The report accuses the Indian government of targeting religious minorities through laws like the UAPA and CAA and recommends designating India as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) for the sixth time. However, the U.S. State Department has repeatedly declined to act on this recommendation. (The Hindu)

> Maharashtra Gives a Boost to EVs
Maharashtra has scrapped a proposed 6% sales tax on electric vehicles priced above $35,000 to boost adoption in India's nascent EV market. The decision comes as Tesla prepares to enter India, where EVs currently make up just 2% of total car sales. The federal government aims to raise this to 30% by 2030. (Reuters)

> Report Alleges Indian Interference in Canada’s Conservative Leadership Race
A Canadian media report alleges that Indian agents interfered in the 2022 Conservative leadership race by fundraising and organizing within Canada’s South Asian community for Pierre Poilievre. India has denied past allegations of election interference, but the report claims this was part of a broader effort to influence Canadian politics. (BBC)

> Kerala Passes Bill to Allow Private Universities for the First Time
The Kerala Assembly has passed a draft bill permitting private universities in the state, marking a major policy shift for the Left-led government, which has historically opposed private involvement in education. Kerala was the only state without private universities, and the bill follows the recommendations of the 2022 Shyam Menon Commission report. (Indian Express)

Health & Environment

> Study: Efficient ACs Could Prevent India’s Summer Blackouts
A University of California, Berkeley study suggests that tightening energy efficiency standards for air-conditioners could cut India’s peak electricity demand by 60 GW by 2035, saving ₹7.5 trillion ($87 billion) in power infrastructure costs. With peak demand expected to hit a record 270 GW this summer, the report warns that without policy action, ACs alone could account for 180 GW by 2035, almost 30% of the total. It recommends raising efficiency standards to today’s five-star rating within two years and gradually improving benchmarks by 2033. (Bloomberg)

Business

> Offshore Job Market Booms as Global Firms Expand Operations
In India’s most advanced cities, American companies are racing to set up larger offshore campuses staffed with highly skilled professionals handling vital global business functions. With 1.9 million Indians already employed by foreign firms and up to 900,000 more expected to join by 2030, offshore business center revenues hit $65 billion in 2024 and are projected to surpass $100 billion by 2030. (New York Times)

> BluSmart CEO and Top Executives Resign Amid Restructuring
BluSmart Mobility is undergoing a leadership shakeup as CEO Anirudh Arun, Chief Business Officer Tushar Garg, CTO Rishabh Sood, and VP of Experience Priya Chakravarthy step down. The exits come as the company restructures operations, including its parent firm Gensol Engineering selling 2,997 EVs to Refex Green Mobility in a leaseback deal, pending regulatory approvals. (Financial Express)

> Bank of India Raises $400 Million in First Dollar Loan Since 2012
Bank of India has secured a $400 million syndicated loan, marking its first dollar-denominated deal in over a decade. The loan attracted 22 lenders, including CTBC Bank and Standard Chartered, with demand strong enough to increase the size by $100 million. This marks a significant move as India’s borrowers tap global credit markets. (Bloomberg)

Tech, Media & Telecom

> Censor Board Blocks Film 'Santosh' Over Police Brutality Portrayal
Santosh, a critically acclaimed film by British-Indian director Sandhya Suri, has been banned in India. The film, which tackles issues like misogyny, Dalit discrimination, and police brutality, was denied approval by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) due to its portrayal of the police. It follows a young widow investigating the murder of a Dalit girl, addressing sexual violence and anti-Muslim prejudice in India. (Guardian)

> Goodbye Truecaller
Vodafone Idea, Airtel, and Jio are working with vendors like HP, Dell, Ericsson, and Nokia to roll out the calling name presentation feature, which will display caller names without third-party apps like Truecaller. Initially, it will only show names within the same telecom network, with broader implementation pending government regulations. (Livemint)

> Wipro Secures $645 Million Deal with UK’s Phoenix Group
IT firm Wipro has won a 10-year, £500 million ($645.4 million) deal with British insurer Phoenix Group to manage life and pension business administration for its ReAssure unit. This marks Wipro’s second mega deal of the financial year, following a $500 million contract with a U.S. communications firm in June 2024. (Reuters)

Quick Hits

> A parliamentary panel has criticized the environment ministry for utilizing less than 1% of the ₹858 crore allocated for pollution control, despite the financial year nearing its end.

> A survey of 150 ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNIs) found that 22% want to leave India for better living conditions and business opportunities. India’s UHNI population, currently at 2.83 lakh, is expected to grow to 4.3 lakh by 2028.

> TRAI chief Anil Kumar Lahoti has urged a tenfold expansion of India's subsea cable infrastructure, noting that the country hosts just 1% of global cable landing stations.

> Meesho’s first-ever annual report highlights 187 million transacting users in 2024, 1.3 billion orders in nine months, and a ₹197 crore positive cash flow for the financial year.

> India’s men’s regu team made history by securing its first-ever gold at the 2025 Sepaktakraw World Cup in Patna.

> Offline and PokerBaazi are hosting a poker tournament for India’s top founders, requiring $5M+ in VC funding or $5M+ in annual revenue to participate. 

Worth a Look

Sajith Pai from Blume VC unpacks key insights from the Indus Valley Report—India’s economic growth, changing consumer behavior, quick commerce, and more. A worthwhile 30-minute watch!

Who’s Hiring

> Spotify is hiring a Market Strategy & Operations Associate as a part of its early-career program.

> Redesign Health is hiring a Global Development Associate. Great chance to solve problems in healthcare with a global team.

> Sarvam AI is hiring for several roles, including a Product Manager, Business Development Representative, and Marketing Manager.

> Anand and Anand, a top tier intellectual property law firm, is hiring a Trademark Attorney.

> Swiggy is hiring a Legal Counsel I (General Corporate) to assist with contracts, commercial transactions, and more.

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