DST Supported QNu Labs Demonstrates India’s 1st 500 km Quantum-Safe Network Under National Quantum Mission

India’s Department of Science & Technology (DST), under the National Quantum Mission (NQM), announced that Bengaluru-based startup QNu Labs has successfully demonstrated a 500 km quantum-safe communication network — the country’s first extensive Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) deployment.

Key Facts

• Startup: QNu Labs Pvt. Ltd., incubated at IIT Madras and supported under DST’s National Quantum Mission (NQM).
• Achievement: Demonstrated India’s first 500 km Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) network over existing optical fiber infrastructure.
• Event: Officially announced at the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC 2025).
• Stakeholders Present: Dr. Jitendra Singh, Prof. Ajay K. Sood, Dr. Ajai Chowdhry, Prof. Abhay Karandikar.

What is Quantum Key Distribution (QKD)?

• QKD uses quantum mechanics to securely share cryptographic keys between two parties.
• Any attempt to intercept the quantum signal disturbs the system, alerting legitimate users.
• QKD is provably secure against classical and future quantum attacks, unlike conventional encryption.

Strategic Importance

• Cybersecurity Leap: A 500 km QKD backbone is a milestone for India’s digital security, especially for defense and critical infrastructure.
• Collaboration: Indian Army facilitated access to fiber networks in Rajasthan for testing.
• Global Positioning: Positions India alongside China, the US, and EU in building quantum-secure communication networks.
• Commercial Potential: QNu Labs expected to commercialize quantum-safe products for government, defense, and enterprise clients.

Why It Matters

This demonstration is a proof-of-concept for India’s quantum-secure future, showing that indigenous startups can deliver cutting-edge infrastructure. It strengthens India’s strategic autonomy in cybersecurity, reduces reliance on imported encryption technologies, and aligns with the National Quantum Mission’s vision of building a robust quantum ecosystem.

Adani Enterprises to Exit Indonesian Subsidiary in USD 125 Million Deal with Dubai’s Energico FZCO

Adani Enterprises has announced it will divest its entire stake in PT Adani Global (Indonesia) to Dubai-based ENERGICO FZCO for USD 125 million, with completion expected by November 30, 2025.

Adani Enterprises filed a disposal/divestiture notice on November 6, 2025, confirming the sale of its stake in PT Adani Global (Indonesia) to ENERGICO FZCO for USD 125 million. Media outlets such as ScanX News reported the same details, citing the official filing and highlighting that the divested entity contributed only 0.83% of consolidated revenue and 1.11% of net worth.  

Key Highlights of the Transaction

• Seller: Adani Enterprises Limited (AEL), through subsidiaries in Mauritius and Singapore.
• Buyer: ENERGICO FZCO, a Dubai-based company not affiliated with the Adani Group.
• Deal Value: USD 125 million.
• Completion Timeline: Expected by November 30, 2025.
• Impact on AEL: PT Adani Global (Indonesia) contributed only 0.83% of consolidated revenue and 1.11% of net worth.

Strategic Context

• Portfolio Rationalization: Adani Enterprises has been restructuring global holdings, focusing on core infrastructure, energy, and digital ventures.
• Regulatory Compliance: Buyer is independent of Adani Group, ensuring clean regulatory clearance.
• Capital Allocation: Divestment frees up capital for high-growth projects such as airports, green hydrogen, and data centers.

Broader Implications

• Indonesia Exit: Marks a shift away from coal-linked operations in Southeast Asia, aligning with Adani’s energy transition narrative.
• Investor Sentiment: Small financial impact suggests strategic signaling rather than immediate balance sheet gains.
• Global Footprint: Adani Enterprises continues refining its international presence, balancing risk management with expansion in emerging sectors.

Why It Matters

This move underscores Adani Enterprises’ pivot toward cleaner, scalable businesses while trimming non-core assets. For investors and regulators, it signals a commitment to transparency and compliance in cross-border transactions.

Paytm Launches AI-Powered Travel App ‘Checkin' for Smarter Bookings

• Introduces an interactive AI-first travel experience that is simple, delightful, cost-effective, and more consumer-friendly
• Enabled with an AI assistant for conversational trip planning that recommends destinations, personalises itineraries, and manages bookings
• Features a modern, intuitive interface designed for easy navigation, faster checkout, and transparent pricing across flights, trains, buses, and metro bookings
• Provides real-time flight tracking, keeping travellers informed throughout their journey. 

Paytm (One 97 Communications Limited), India’s full stack merchant payments leader serving MSMEs and enterprises, and a leading financial services distribution company, and the pioneer of mobile payments, QR codes, and Soundbox, has announced the launch of its new AI travel app, Paytm Checkin. This marks a significant step in Paytm’s journey to bring artificial intelligence into travel through a dedicated app that aims to redefine how people plan, book, and experience their journeys.

With Paytm Checkin, travel planning becomes an interactive experience. The in-app AI assistant understands queries intuitively, allowing travellers to ask, browse, and make bookings through simple conversation. It can recommend destinations, curate personalised itineraries, and organise bookings across flights, trains, buses, and metro, creating a seamless travel journey from planning to checkout. The AI continuously refines results based on preferences, previous selections, and travel patterns, delivering contextually relevant recommendations that improve with every interaction. These AI features are currently in early beta and will continue to evolve through real-world interactions and feedback.

Building on Paytm’s legacy of innovation and customer-focused interface, Paytm Checkin introduces a comprehensive suite of benefits that bring ease, flexibility, and transparency to travel. The platform offers zero convenience fees on bookings, ensuring complete price clarity with no hidden charges. For flight bookings, free cancellation at just ₹99 adds flexibility and peace of mind, while the Travel Pass priced at ₹249 unlocks additional savings and exclusive benefits. Paytm Assured for Buses ensures timely and reliable refunds, while Ticket Assure for Trains provides confirmed seat assistance for a smoother travel experience.

Paytm Checkin features a modern, intuitive interface for easy navigation, faster checkout, and transparent pricing, helping travellers find, compare, and book their trips effortlessly. With real-time flight tracking, it offers complete visibility and a seamless travel experience. Paytm believes artificial intelligence will redefine the way travel bookings are made by shifting from traditional searches to conversational, intuitive planning that makes travel simpler, faster, and more personal.

Vikash Jalan, CEO - Paytm Travel said, “We are taking a big step in AI-led travel with Paytm Checkin, creating a new and smarter way for people to plan and book their journeys. We believe AI will change the way travel bookings are done, and with Paytm Checkin, we are bringing a world-class, AI-first experience through a dedicated app designed to make travel planning simple, personal, and effortless.”

Paytm has pioneered mobile payments innovation in India and continues to integrate AI across multiple verticals to enhance personalization, speed, and efficiency. With Paytm Checkin, the company extends this vision to the travel segment, creating a smarter and more intuitive way to plan and book trips while ensuring reliability and transparency at every stage of the journey.


Link to the video: Here

How a Sustainability Business Model Can Unlock Long-term Profits

As businesses face increasing environmental challenges and shifting consumer expectations, sustainability business models are becoming a key factor in long-term success. Companies are realizing that sustainability isn't just about doing good for the planet; it can also unlock new opportunities for growth and increase profitability.

By focusing on energy efficiency, businesses can position themselves for long-term financial success. In this blog, we will read how adopting a sustainability business model can benefit companies and help them achieve lasting profitability.

What is a Sustainability Business Model?

A sustainability business model integrates environmental, social, and economic considerations into a company’s operations. It goes beyond just using green energy or recycling; it’s about creating a business strategy that benefits both the company and the world in the long run.

This model could include using renewable energy, reducing waste, and sourcing materials responsibly. By focusing on these factors, businesses can grow while also having a positive impact on the environment and society.

Why Sustainable Business Models Make Financial Sense

Embracing a sustainability business model is not just about environmental responsibility; it’s about making smarter decisions that support long-term profitability. Here’s why it makes financial sense:

Cost Savings: Implementing energy-efficient technologies, optimizing resource use, and reducing waste all contribute to lowering operational costs. These savings, once realized, can be reinvested into the business for further growth.

Regulatory Compliance: Governments are tightening environmental regulations, and businesses that adopt sustainability practices early are well-positioned to avoid penalties, comply with regulations, and remain competitive in a shifting landscape.

Stronger Brand Reputation: Consumers are usually drawn to brands that show they care about the planet. By prioritizing sustainability, businesses not only improve their reputation but also attract customers who value ethical and sustainable practices.

Attracting Investment: Investors are placing more value on businesses that show a commitment to sustainability. A sustainability business model makes companies more appealing to investors looking for long-term, responsible growth opportunities.

The Long-term Benefits of Sustainability

Adopting a sustainability business model isn’t just a short-term fix; it has long-term financial benefits:

Resilience: Sustainable businesses are more prepared for future challenges like resource shortages or price fluctuations in energy markets. They are more adaptable to the changes in global supply chains and regulations.

Innovation: Sustainability often drives innovation. Companies that focus on improving their environmental impact are more likely to find new ways to improve operations, develop new products, and create efficiencies that give them an edge over competitors.

Employee Engagement: Employees are also looking to work for companies that align with their values. A company that embraces sustainability is more likely to retain top talent, leading to improved productivity and a positive workplace culture.

How to Transition to a Sustainability Business Model

For businesses looking to adopt a sustainability business model, the transition can be done in several steps:

Assess Your Impact: Start by understanding your current environmental impact. Identify where you use the most energy, produce the most waste, or consume the most resources, and look for ways to reduce that footprint.

Engage Your Team: Sustainability requires buy-in from all employees. Encourage staff to contribute ideas, adopt sustainable practices in their work, and help foster a culture of sustainability across the organization.

Communicate Your Efforts: Transparency is key. Make sure your customers, investors, and other stakeholders know about the sustainability practices you are implementing. This helps in building trust and shows that you are serious about your commitment.

Partner with Experts: Collaborating with other businesses or experts who specialize in sustainability can help you implement the best solutions tailored to your needs. They can provide guidance, technology, and best practices to ensure your sustainability efforts are successful.

Unlocking Profitability with Sustainability

A sustainability business model is not just about being eco-friendly; it’s a smart strategy for ensuring long-term profitability. By reducing operational costs, improving efficiency, and building a strong brand reputation, companies can reap the financial rewards of sustainable practices. Furthermore, businesses that lead in sustainability create value for all stakeholders, from consumers to investors to employees.

To make this transition successful, it’s important to partner with trusted experts and sustainable technology providers. This partnership will help you implement effective solutions, stay up-to-date with industry trends, and ensure that your business is contributing to a sustainable and profitable future.

NetApp Excellerator Cohort-14 Demo Day Showcases India’s Deep-Tech Startups Driving AI and Cloud Innovation

NetApp, the Intelligent Data Infrastructure company, today hosted the Demo Day for the 14th cohort of its flagship accelerator program – NetApp Excellerator. The event brought together some of the most promising deep-tech startups working at the intersection of AI, data, and cloud. The event showcased how the selected startups are redefining possibilities in enterprise technology, responsible AI, and digital infrastructure.

The Demo Day marked the culmination of an intensive, mentorship-driven journey for Synthefy, Filo Systems, TrueFoundry, Sentra, and Genloop.ai — five innovative startups that were part of the current cohort. Over the past few months, these startups worked closely with NetApp’s global leadership and technology experts to fine-tune their solutions, build scalable go-to-market models, and explore proof-of-concept (PoC) opportunities with NetApp customers and partners.

“Through NetApp Excellerator, we aim to nurture innovation that has real-world impact — supporting startups building the next generation of data and AI infrastructure. Each cohort reinforces our belief that collaboration between startups and established enterprises can accelerate meaningful change,” said Vasanthi Ramesh, VP & Engineering Head, NetApp India. “As we celebrate another successful Demo Day, we’re proud to see how these founders are pushing boundaries and strengthening India’s position as a global innovation hub.”

Speaking about the impact of the program, Anuraag Gutgutia, COO, Co-Founder, TrueFoundry, shared, “NetApp Excellerator has been instrumental in refining our platform which will help us scale our business vision. The mentorship, technical guidance, and access to NetApp’s network with real business value delivered, helped us accelerate faster than we imagined while building for global markets with confidence.”

Since its inception in 2017, NetApp Excellerator has emerged as one of India’s leading corporate accelerator programs, dedicated to empowering deep-tech and AI-led startups. To date, the program has accelerated 90 startups over eight years and 13 cohorts. Its alumni have collectively raised over USD 600 million, and eight startups have achieved successful exits. Recognized among the top five accelerator programs in India for corporate innovation by the NexTT Awards, NetApp Excellerator continues to play a pivotal role in building innovation-driven businesses.

As the Demo Day for Cohort 14 concluded, the spotlight was on collaboration, responsible innovation, and the power of India’s deep-tech ecosystem to drive future-ready solutions. With each new cohort, NetApp continues to strengthen its mission to empower startups that are building for scale, sustainability, and global relevance.

About NetApp

For more than three decades, NetApp has helped the world’s leading organizations navigate change – from the rise of enterprise storage to the intelligent era defined by data and AI. Today, NetApp is the Intelligent Data Infrastructure company, helping customers turn data into a catalyst for innovation, resilience, and growth.

At the heart of that infrastructure is the NetApp data platform – the unified, enterprise-grade, intelligent foundation that connects, protects, and activates data across every cloud, workload, and environment. Built on the proven power of NetApp ONTAP, our leading data management software and OS, and enhanced by automation through the AI Data Engine and AFX, it delivers observability, resilience, and intelligence at scale.

Disaggregated by design, the NetApp data platform separates storage, services, and control so enterprises can modernize faster, scale efficiently, and innovate without lock-in. As the only enterprise storage platform natively embedded in the world’s largest clouds, it gives organizations the freedom to run any workload anywhere with consistent performance, governance, and protection.

With NetApp, data is always ready – ready to defend against threats, ready to power AI, and ready to drive the next breakthrough. That’s why the world’s most forward-thinking enterprises trust NetApp to turn intelligence into advantage.

NETAPP, the NETAPP logo, and the marks listed at www.netapp.com/TM are trademarks of NetApp, Inc. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.