Good morning, and happy Tuesday! We're already cruising through the week, and we’ve got some exciting news for you today.
Now, grab your cup of coffee (or tea) and dive into today’s top headlines. Let’s make this Tuesday one to remember!
📌 Top Headlines of the Day
TCS salary hike is coming this April
TCS plans to increase employee salaries by 4-8% for FY 2025-26, with payouts starting in April 2025.
Hikes and variable pay are linked to compliance with the return-to-office mandate.
Senior employees will receive lower payouts (20-40%).
Employees report declining increments since former CEO N Chandrasekaran’s exit.
Infosys will also finalize salary hikes by March 2025, with expected increases of 5-8%.
Supreme Court to hear Ranveer Allahbadia’s plea today
The Supreme Court will hear YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia’s plea on Tuesday, challenging multiple FIRs filed against him over controversial remarks made on comedian Samay Raina’s YouTube show India’s Got Latent. The comments sparked outrage, leading to legal action across states.
The Maharashtra Cyber Cell has asked Allahbadia to appear on February 24, while the National Commission for Women (NCW) rescheduled his hearing to March 6 after he reported receiving death threats.
Authorities, including Mumbai and Guwahati Police, claim Allahbadia has not been cooperating with the investigation. So far, 42 individuals, including artists and influencers, have been summoned.
Raina apologized, stating his intent was only to entertain. Allahbadia also expressed regret, calling his comment inappropriate and unfunny.
Tesla begins hiring in India
The EV giant has listed 13 job openings on LinkedIn, covering customer-facing and operational roles, with positions available in Mumbai and Delhi. This move suggests Tesla is laying the groundwork for a formal launch in India.
Tesla had long hesitated to enter India due to steep import duties, which stood at 110% for high-end EVs. However, India recently slashed the tariff to 70% for cars priced above $40,000, making the market more accessible.
📌 Startup News
Zomato launches Nugget
It is an AI-powered, no-code customer support platform designed to help businesses automate service interactions without technical expertise.
Announced by CEO Deepinder Goyal, Nugget has been in development for three years and now handles over 15 million queries monthly across Zomato, Blinkit, and Hyperpure.
The platform can autonomously resolve up to 80% of queries, continuously learning and adapting to improve efficiency.
It reduces resolution time by 20% and boosts agent compliance by 25%.
To encourage adoption, Zomato is offering it free for businesses until their existing customer support contracts expire.
Cherrapunji gin raises $1.2 million
Raincheck Earth Co., maker of Cherrapunji Craft Gin, raised $1.2 million in a pre-Series A round from Japanese investors and AngelList India Syndicate.
It is the first alcoholic beverage startup from Northeast India to secure foreign investment.
The brand, known for using rainwater and native botanicals, has won 13 global awards.
Funds will drive domestic and global expansion, boost production, and enhance product innovation. Investors see strong potential in its unique market approach and global appeal, positioning it as a rising player in the alco-bev industry.
📌 Global News
Mona Kattan buys Huda Beauty's fragrance brand 'Kayali'
Huda Beauty is selling its fragrance brand Kayali to co-founder Mona Kattan and private equity firm General Atlantic.
This allows the founders to regain a stake previously held by TSG Consumer Partners since 2017.
Kayali will now be an independent company, with Mona Kattan staying as CEO. The deal’s value was not disclosed.
Financial advisors included Goldman Sachs and Raymond James, while legal support came from Gibson Dunn, Skadden, and Latham & Watkins.
India to plan its first offshore airport North of Mumbai
India plans its first offshore airport near Mumbai on an artificial island by Vadhvan seaport, modeled after Hong Kong and Osaka airports.
Approved by federal and state authorities, feasibility studies will follow.
Located 125 km from Mumbai’s existing airport, the project highlights India’s infrastructure push but faces challenges like attracting sufficient passenger traffic.
The airport will connect via bullet trains and highways, ensuring accessibility.
The adjacent Vadhvan seaport will be India’s largest, and the offshore airport aims to bypass land acquisition delays common in infrastructure projects.
📌 Now, Bolly News
Sanam Teri Kasam box office Day 9
Sanam Teri Kasam is thriving at the box office despite competition from Vicky Kaushal’s Chhaava.
The re-release has earned ₹30.95 crore nett in 11 days, far surpassing its original 2016 run of ₹10 crore nett.
With steady collections, it is set to cross ₹50 crore and overtake Tumbbad’s re-release (₹32 crore nett).
The film opened with ₹26.4 crore in its first week, slowing post-Chhaava’s release but maintaining momentum.
Chhava box office collection Day 4
Vicky Kaushal's Chhaava is on track to be Bollywood’s first major hit of 2025.
After a strong debut, it passed the crucial first Monday test, earning ₹24 crore, nearly double the combined earnings of the next seven highest-grossing films on their first Mondays.
With a domestic total of ₹140.5 crore and a global gross of ₹164.75 crore, the ₹130 crore-budget film has already turned profitable.
Directed by Laxman Utekar, Chhaava is based on Chhava, a novel about Maratha ruler Sambhaji. Rashmika Mandanna marks her fourth consecutive theatrical success.
So, that’s it for today. If you enjoyed this edition, subscribe to hear from us every day!
See ya 👋