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Tag: Inc42 Media

  • India’s MeitY Extends Comments Deadline for Draft IT Rule Amendments—Tightening Platform Content Moderation Requirements

    This article was generated by AI and cites original sources.

    Deadline Extended for Rule Amendment Feedback

    India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has extended the deadline for public feedback on draft amendments to the Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code Rules, 2021. According to Inc42 Media, stakeholders can now submit comments on the proposed changes until April 29, after the draft was published on March 31 and the earlier comment window had been set to close on April 12. The draft revisions are designed to establish faster content moderation timelines once a platform has “actual knowledge” of unlawful content.

    Compliance Requirements and Content Takedown Timelines

    The draft amendments introduce operational compliance requirements that affect how platforms manage user-generated content. Inc42 Media reports that the proposed changes would require social media intermediaries—specifically naming Meta, Google, and X—to comply with a broader range of government-issued instruments.

    Issued under Section 87 of the IT Act, 2000, the draft expands the types of documents that can drive platform obligations. Inc42 Media lists the instruments as advisories, clarifications, orders, directions, standard operating procedures, and codes of practice connected to implementing the rules.

    A key operational requirement is the proposed stricter content moderation timeline. Inc42 Media states that platforms hosting content that could potentially facilitate “unlawful acts” must remove such material within three hours of gaining “actual knowledge.” The draft defines “actual knowledge” as arising either through a court order or via a reasoned written notice issued by an authorised government official.

    Safe-Harbour Protections and Compliance Risk

    Inc42 Media reports that failing to comply with the rules could result in intermediaries losing safe-harbour protections from liability for third-party content. This linkage between moderation timing and legal risk establishes the operational importance of how platforms interpret “actual knowledge” and how quickly they can act.

    The draft’s structure indicates that platforms may need processes to validate notice authenticity, capture the relevant scope of content, and route enforcement actions within the specified timeframe. The new obligations are time-bound and condition-driven.

    Digital Rights Organizations Raise Concerns

    The draft amendments have drawn criticism from digital rights organizations. Inc42 Media quotes the Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF), which stated that the rules “creates a sweeping power for MeitY to issue binding instruments which are not anchored in law such as clarifications, advisories, directions, SOPs, codes of practice, and guidelines that intermediaries must comply with as a condition of safe harbour under Section 79 of the IT Act.”

    This critique targets the governance model for moderation obligations. If compliance requirements can be driven by instruments that are not “anchored in law,” platforms may face ongoing changes to enforcement criteria and processes.

    Inc42 Media also reports that IFF argued the proposals came “at a time of fear and increased government directed censorship,” including concerns about online political speech. The technological implication is that moderation timelines and takedown obligations could affect how platforms treat user-generated speech categories.

    Parliamentary Debate on Platform Features and Potential Obligations

    Beyond the draft’s takedown and compliance framework, Inc42 Media reports a related debate involving social media features. Member of Parliament Nishikant Dubey stated that the Parliament’s Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology indicated that social media platforms like X should either remove the community notes feature or pay a “publisher’s tax.”

    Inc42 Media reports IFF’s response: it stated that “no Australian statute treats a ‘Community Notes’ style feature as converting a platform into a ‘publisher’ liable to any levy or tax.“

    From a technology perspective, the community notes discussion indicates how information systems inside platforms—such as user or crowd-sourced context features—can be interpreted by regulators in ways that affect platform obligations. The source does not confirm any rule changes tied to community notes specifically; it reports the MP’s claim and IFF’s rebuttal.

    Government Position and Ongoing Consultation

    Inc42 Media reports that electronics and IT secretary S Krishnan characterized the amendments as “purely clarificatory and procedural” and stated they do not expand the government’s authority over online content. He also indicated that oversight of news content online would shift to the MIB, which already regulates registered digital publishers, as user-generated news content becomes more common online.

    In a meeting that IFF founder and director Apar Gupta attended, Krishnan indicated that some changes are being made based on feedback, including greater definitional clarity around terms like “news” and “current affairs.” The source does not specify the exact wording changes, but indicates that the draft is not static during the consultation window.

    With the comment deadline now extended to April 29, stakeholders may focus on the draft’s operational definitions—particularly “actual knowledge”—and on how compliance instruments could affect moderation workflows.

    Source: Inc42 Media

  • Indian startups raise $360.5M in April as KreditBee leads funding week

    This article was generated by AI and cites original sources.

    Between April 6 and 10, 2026, 23 startups raised $360.5 million, according to Inc42 Media. This represents a 174% increase from the $131.5 million raised across 18 deals the previous week. Following a slower period in the first quarter of 2026, April’s early funding activity shows renewed capital deployment toward fintech and lending technology.

    Fintech leads the week

    The fintech segment ranked as the top funded startup segment this week, driven primarily by KreditBee’s $280 million funding round. GoSats also raised $5 million during the same period.

    Weekly funding breakdown

    Inc42 Media’s data shows two comparable periods. Between April 6 and 10, 23 startups raised $360.5 million. The previous week saw 18 deals totaling $131.5 million. The increase in both deal count and total capital suggests that larger funding rounds, particularly KreditBee’s $280 million, significantly influenced the week’s totals.

    Most active investors

    Inc42 Media identified IAN Group and Unicorn India Ventures as the most active startup investors during the week, each backing two startups.

    What this means for India’s startup funding

    The funding data suggests that capital deployment accelerated in early April following a slower first quarter. The concentration of funding in fintech, particularly through KreditBee’s large round, indicates investor interest in the lending technology sector. Whether this represents a sustained shift in investor appetite or a temporary surge tied to a single large deal remains to be seen in subsequent weeks.

    Source: Inc42 Media

  • RBI’s proposed 1-hour delay for digital payments: a “time-based” safeguard for UPI, cards, and net banking

    This article was generated by AI and cites original sources.

    India’s central bank is considering a technical change to how certain digital transfers are processed—adding a deliberate time lag as a fraud-mitigation control. According to Inc42 Media, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is discussing measures in a discussion paper titled “Exploring safeguards in digital payments to curb frauds”, with feedback open until May 8. The proposal includes a 1-hour delay for processing digital transactions of ₹10,000 or more and a 24-hour delay for citizens aged 70 years and above for transactions of ₹50,000 and above.

    A core proposal: slowing down certain APP transfers

    The RBI’s focus is on authorised push payments (APP)—a payment category where the payer authorizes the transfer to a payee. In its discussion paper, the RBI argues that a time lag could act as a preventive control by disrupting the fraudster’s psychological influence over the victim and by giving the payer an opportunity to reconsider the transaction, as described by Inc42 Media.

    Under the proposal, users would experience a 1-hour lag for transactions exceeding ₹10,000. Inc42 Media reports that the delay would be implemented on all merchant transactions made from UPI, cards, and net banking.

    Notably, the proposal is not described as a blanket delay for every kind of payment. Inc42 Media says the RBI has proposed exemptions for recurring payments like e-mandates and for payments made via cheques. That carve-out suggests the RBI is trying to balance fraud prevention with continuity for payment flows that may not be easily paused without breaking user expectations.

    How the mechanism could work: overrides and whitelisting

    Inc42 Media also reports that the RBI is considering an option to handle time-sensitive transactions. Specifically, the RBI may provide a way for the payer to override the lag for a specific transaction by explicitly authorizing it—for example, through a whitelisting mechanism. In such cases, the delay may be bypassed, according to the reporting.

    The proposed control could also be structured around payees rather than individual transactions. Inc42 Media states that instead of allowing whitelisting of transactions or in addition to it, payees can be whitelisted by the payer. Under that approach, all payments to whitelisted payees would not be subjected to time lag.

    From a technology standpoint, these details matter because they imply the fraud-mitigation logic would need to integrate with existing payment rails—UPI, cards, and net banking—while also supporting payer-controlled configuration (whitelists) and per-transaction override flows. Even without implementation specifics in the source, the described design points to a system that can classify payments (merchant vs. recurring vs. exempted), apply timing rules, and consult payer preferences before enforcing the delay.

    Targeted protection for older users and larger amounts

    The RBI’s discussion paper also includes a demographic and threshold-based safeguard. Inc42 Media reports that for APP transactions worth ₹50,000 and above, the central bank suggests a 24-hour delay for citizens aged 70 years and above.

    While the source excerpt cuts off before fully describing the complete details for this higher tier, the reported structure indicates a layered approach: a shorter delay for transactions above ₹10,000 in general, and a longer delay for older users above a higher threshold. This kind of tiering is a common pattern in risk controls—applying stronger friction where the expected downside (for example, harm from fraud) is higher, while keeping lower-friction controls for less risky scenarios. Here, the RBI’s stated rationale—disrupting psychological pressure and providing reconsideration time—aligns with that tiering logic.

    Why this matters for digital payments technology

    The RBI’s proposal is essentially a time-based safeguard layered onto existing digital payment channels. As Inc42 Media notes, the backdrop is an ongoing increase in digital financial theft. In that environment, the RBI appears to be exploring whether adding processing delay can reduce successful APP fraud outcomes without requiring changes that would stop payments entirely.

    There are several technology implications that observers may watch for if the RBI moves from discussion to implementation:

    1) Payment orchestration changes across rails. Because the delay is described as applying to merchant transactions across UPI, cards, and net banking, the safeguard would need consistent enforcement logic across systems that may differ in how they authorize, confirm, and settle payments.

    2) Risk controls that depend on payment type. The proposed exemption for recurring e-mandates and cheques implies the system would classify payment categories and selectively apply delays.

    3) A new user-controlled trust layer. The whitelisting and override mechanisms imply a configuration model where payers can pre-authorize certain transactions or payees. That adds a new dimension to payment UX and state management: the system would need to reliably maintain and apply whitelist status at time of authorization.

    4) Operational trade-offs around time-sensitive flows. Inc42 Media explicitly mentions that some transactions may be time-sensitive and therefore may need an override path. Implementing that without undermining the fraud-mitigation goal would likely require careful rules for what can be overridden and how that authorization is performed.

    Finally, the RBI’s discussion paper process—feedback open until May 8—signals that these design choices are still under review. The source frames the proposal as part of a broader set of measures, but the excerpt focuses on the time lag, exemptions, and whitelisting concepts. As the consultation progresses, the industry may look for additional technical details on enforcement, edge cases, and how the delay interacts with existing payment confirmation and user authorization steps.

    Source: Inc42 Media

  • Ola Electric Announces 46100 LFP Cell Readiness, Scales Gigafactory to 6 GWh

    This article was generated by AI and cites original sources.

    Ola Electric shares rose nearly 20% to hit the upper circuit on April 9, closing at ₹36.34 versus ₹30.29 the previous close, after the company announced on April 7 that its in-house developed 46100 Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) cell is ready. Alongside the battery milestone, Ola is ramping its Gigafactory capacity to 6 GWh from 2.5 GWh, while vehicles using 4680 Bharat Cells are already on the road, according to Inc42 Media.

    New 46100 LFP cell format announced

    On April 7, Ola announced its new 46100 format LFP cell, developed as part of its vertically integrated battery innovation efforts. In a statement cited by Inc42 Media, the company described the cell as “bigger than the current NMC 4680 Bharat Cell” and said it represents “a step change in scale, cost efficiency, and applicability across both mobility and energy storage solutions.”

    According to the company statement, the 46100 format LFP cell “will begin entering Ola’s products starting next quarter.” The announcement signals a planned transition path for battery hardware and pack-level engineering. However, the source does not specify which models will use the 46100 LFP cell first, nor does it provide measured performance metrics such as energy density, cycle life, or pack-level efficiency.

    Gigafactory capacity expansion to 6 GWh

    Ola is currently ramping up its Gigafactory’s capacity to 6 GWh from 2.5 GWh. The company has vehicles already integrated with 4680 Bharat Cells on the road.

    The parallel timing of cell readiness and capacity expansion suggests Ola is aligning its battery development roadmap with factory scaling. The source does not detail how Ola’s production lines will handle the transition between the “current NMC 4680 Bharat Cell” and the larger “46100 format LFP cell,” or address manufacturing constraints such as equipment utilization, formation and testing throughput, and pack line configuration.

    Market activity and investor response

    On April 9, over 42 crore shares changed hands during the session, with a turnover of approximately ₹147 crore. The company’s market capitalization stood at ₹16,029 crore (approximately $1.7 billion) at the end of the session. These figures reflect investor response to the technical milestone announced by the company.

    Battery strategy: vertical integration and cross-application use

    Ola’s April 7 statement ties the 46100 LFP cell to vertical integration and positions it for use across multiple application categories. The company stated the new cell format is “applicable across both mobility and energy storage solutions.”

    This cross-application approach could indicate a strategy to reduce fragmentation by standardizing parts of the cell ecosystem and leveraging manufacturing learning across product lines. However, the source does not confirm whether the 46100 LFP cell will be used in stationary storage products immediately, nor does it describe any energy storage system configurations. Any expectations about how quickly the technology will translate beyond vehicle packs would be speculative based on the provided information.

    Related hardware announcements: ebike PLI certification and pricing

    Earlier in April, Ola secured Production Linked Incentive (PLI) certification for its ebike Roadster X+ 4.5 kWh, confirming compliance with domestic value addition norms and making it eligible for government incentives.

    The company also reduced the price of the Roadster X+ 9.1 kWh by 31% last week. These announcements indicate that Ola’s product roadmap extends beyond passenger vehicles and that its battery and energy hardware strategy is linked to incentives and manufacturing localization. However, the source does not explicitly connect the Roadster X+ announcements to the 46100 LFP cell transition.

    What this means for EV manufacturing

    The April 9 share movement reflects investor interest in two operational developments: a new in-house 46100 LFP cell format ready for product entry “starting next quarter,” and a Gigafactory capacity ramp to 6 GWh from 2.5 GWh. Together, these steps point to a manufacturing-focused approach—develop the cell format, validate readiness, and scale output capacity in parallel.

    Industry observers may track how quickly Ola converts the “ready” cell into production volumes and whether the transition from the “current NMC 4680 Bharat Cell” to the “bigger” 46100 format affects pack integration, supply chain sourcing, and manufacturing yield. The source does not provide those downstream indicators, so the immediate takeaway is the company’s stated intention and timeline rather than confirmed field outcomes.

    Ola’s framing of the 46100 LFP cell as part of “vertically integrated battery innovation efforts” suggests the company is pursuing in-house battery development. If Ola continues to expand battery format options while scaling capacity, this could influence how the company designs its battery supply chain and standardizes components across mobility and energy storage. The extent of that impact will depend on execution details not included in the available reporting.

    Source: Inc42 Media

  • Nexus Venture Partners Reduces Delhivery Stake Through ₹530 Cr Block Deal

    This article was generated by AI and cites original sources.

    Venture capital firm Nexus Venture Partners has sold Delhivery shares worth ₹530.4 Cr through multiple block deals, according to Inc42 Media. The transactions—executed via Nexus Ventures III and the Nexus Opportunity Fund—transfer ownership in a logistics network that reported expanding revenue and profitability in its most recent quarter. The event reflects how VC capital flows connect to the infrastructure supporting e-commerce logistics: routing, warehousing operations, and the data systems that coordinate them.

    Details of the Share Sale

    In the reported set of deals dated April 8, 2026, Nexus Venture Partners offloaded a total of 1.2 Cr shares of Delhivery for ₹530.4 Cr. The share sales were executed through two fund channels: 1.04 Cr shares sold at ₹442 per share via Nexus Ventures III, generating ₹461.3 Cr, and 15.6 Lakh shares sold from Nexus Opportunity Fund for ₹69.1 Cr.

    Buyers included multiple institutional investors: Nippon India Mutual Fund, SBI Mutual Fund, Alphamine, BNP Paribas, Edelweiss Mutual Fund, and ICICI Prudential Life Insurance, among others. The largest buyers were Nippon India Mutual Fund and SBI Mutual Fund, which each bought over 45.8 Lakh shares worth ₹202.2 Cr.

    The shares were sold at a discount of nearly 4% to the stock’s last closing price on the BSE on Wednesday. Block deals typically reflect negotiated pricing and liquidity considerations rather than retail trading dynamics, which can affect the speed of ownership transfer and investor interpretation of near-term valuation.

    Delhivery’s Financial Performance

    The share sale occurred alongside reported financial results for Delhivery. Delhivery’s net profit rose 59% year-over-year to ₹39.6 Cr in Q3 FY26, and revenue from contracts with customers rose 18% year-over-year to ₹2,804.9 Cr, according to the report.

    These figures provide context for institutional buyer interest in the equity. Logistics company performance typically depends on systems that coordinate pickup and delivery, manage fulfillment and routing, and integrate customer ordering with network capacity. The source does not specify which operational systems drove the reported results, but it establishes that the company reported growth in both revenue and profitability during the referenced quarter.

    Pattern of Stake Reduction

    The Inc42 report indicates this is not the first time Nexus has sold its stake in Delhivery. The report references three prior sale events: in June last year, Nexus sold 1.2 Cr shares for ₹461 Cr; in August 2024, it offloaded 78.19 Lakh shares for ₹344 Cr. Nexus held a 10.26% stake at the time of Delhivery’s listing in 2022 and has steadily reduced that stake since then.

    As of the end of December 2025, the report states Nexus Ventures III held a 4.49% stake, equivalent to 3.35 Cr shares. This figure quantifies the remaining exposure at the time the stake was being trimmed. In the current transaction, Nexus sold 1.2 Cr shares, which could represent part of a planned downscaling rather than a single abrupt exit.

    The source indicates Nexus has likely offloaded a portion of its stake to book profits, as Delhivery’s shares have been on an upward trend. The stock has surged more than 85% in the past year and is up more than 14% on a year-to-date basis.

    Institutional Participation in Logistics Equity

    At first glance, the headline concerns share sales. The underlying asset, however, is a logistics network—which is fundamentally a technology network requiring data integration across shipments, inventory, and customer interfaces, plus operational systems that maintain delivery performance consistency. The financial results and large institutional participation provide signals about how market participants view the company’s ability to monetize logistics capacity.

    The report names the buyers—mutual funds and financial institutions such as Nippon India Mutual Fund and SBI Mutual Fund—indicating that the equity is being treated as a mainstream investment vehicle. When a company’s shares are held by large pools of capital, it can influence how the market prices operational improvements and, by extension, how management may prioritize efficiency-focused technology investments.

    The source remains focused on transactions and financial reporting rather than product engineering. It does not describe Delhivery’s specific logistics technology stack, nor does it link the reported profit and revenue growth to particular platform changes. Any connection between the sale and technology roadmap would be speculative; what can be stated from the source is that Delhivery reported growth in Q3 FY26 and that Nexus Venture Partners is reducing its stake through discounted block deals with multiple institutional buyers participating.

    Source: Inc42 Media

  • RoshAi Secures Funding to Advance Autonomous Vehicles for Industrial Applications

    This article was generated by AI and cites original sources.

    Indian startup RoshAi has successfully raised ₹22 Cr (approximately $2.4 Mn) in a recent funding round led by IAN Group. The Kochi-based company plans to use the investment to strengthen its core technology, expand deployments, and enhance operations. RoshAi specializes in enabling driverless operations for commercial vehicles in restricted environments like seaports, mining sites, and industrial yards through a combination of retrofit hardware and AI-driven fleet software.

    RoshAi’s platform integrates AI software, retrofit hardware, and a cloud-based fleet management system. By equipping existing vehicles with drive-by-wire kits and leveraging AI for perception, navigation, and control, RoshAi aims to enhance safety, efficiency, and uptime in industrial settings. Key features include real-time fleet monitoring, predictive maintenance, and route optimization. The company licenses its software to OEMs and fleet operators while deploying hardware solutions across various industries.

    This funding round will support team expansion, working capital, and sustaining operations for the next 9-12 months. With a total funding of approximately $3.4 Mn, RoshAi plans to strengthen its autonomy stack, perception systems, and fleet management platform, alongside advancing its market presence in the US and other global markets through strategic hiring and sales infrastructure development.

    Source: Inc42 Media

  • Leverage Edu’s Potential IPO: Examining the Edtech Platform’s Growth and Challenges

    This article was generated by AI and cites original sources.

    Leverage Edu, the edtech platform, is reportedly planning a potential IPO in the next 12–18 months, aiming to raise between ₹2,000 Cr and ₹3,000 Cr. The company is targeting a valuation of $900 Mn (₹8,362 Cr), leveraging its diversified offerings in the study abroad space.

    Analysts compare Leverage Edu to high-growth platforms like Zomato and ixigo, highlighting its unique approach. By integrating fintech services, accommodation, and travel insurance into its platform, Leverage Edu aims to ensure a steady revenue stream throughout the year, unlike the cyclical nature of university intakes.

    In the fiscal year 2026, Leverage Edu reported impressive financials with a 112% year-over-year revenue growth reaching ₹375 Cr, achieving EBITDA profitability, and expanding its user base to over 1.75 Lakh. However, the company may face challenges, particularly concerning visa regulations in key markets and investor skepticism towards its valuation.

    As Leverage Edu prepares for its IPO journey, convincing investors about its sustainable growth model amidst market uncertainties and geopolitical tensions remains a critical task.

    Source: Inc42 Media

  • KreditBee Raises $280 Million to Enhance Lending Technology

    This article was generated by AI and cites original sources.

    KreditBee, a prominent lending tech company, has successfully raised $280 million in its Series E funding round, achieving a post-money valuation of $1.5 billion. The investment was led by Motilal Oswal Alternates, Hornbill Capital, and MUFG-backed Dragon Funds, with contributions from WhiteOak Capital, A.P. Moller Holding, and existing investors like Premji Invest and Advent International.

    Founded in 2016, KreditBee operates through its NBFC KrazyBee Services Pvt Ltd, offering efficient loan services. The funding injection arrives as KreditBee prepares for an IPO, having received approval to transition into a public entity last year. This substantial capital influx will empower the Bengaluru-based company to diversify its lending portfolio, expand market presence, and enhance its technological infrastructure. The funds will be used to advance AI capabilities for improved risk assessment, increased credit accessibility, and personalized financial solutions.

    With a focus on bolstering its tech stack, KreditBee aims to leverage the funding to drive innovation and growth, ensuring a competitive edge in the evolving fintech landscape.

    Source: Inc42 Media

  • Fino Payments Bank Appoints Former RBI Executive as Chief Compliance Officer

    This article was generated by AI and cites original sources.

    Fino Payments Bank has announced the appointment of Abhilash Ankathil, a former executive at the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), as its new Chief Compliance Officer (CCO). Ankathil, with over twenty-five years of experience in banking, non-banking ecosystems, payment system regulation, and legislative drafting, will take on the role from April 6 for a three-year term. This move follows the resignation of the previous CCO, Aashish Pathak, who recently departed the company.

    The appointment of Ankathil comes amid increased regulatory scrutiny on the bank, with the Managing Director and CEO facing allegations of involvement in a significant GST evasion case related to online betting platforms. Despite these challenges, Fino has reported steady growth, with around 7 lakh new accounts opened in Q4 of the 2025-26 fiscal year, bringing its total customer base to approximately 1.75 crore.

    This strategic appointment highlights Fino’s commitment to regulatory compliance and governance, underscoring the importance of experienced leadership in navigating complex financial landscapes. Ankathil’s extensive background in regulatory frameworks and legal expertise positions him well to oversee compliance operations and ensure adherence to industry standards.

    Source: Inc42 Media

  • AI Startup NeuroPixel.AI Ceases Operations Amid Intense Competition

    This article was generated by AI and cites original sources.

    Bengaluru-based AI startup NeuroPixel.AI has announced the decision to wind down its operations after facing challenges in competing with larger tech players in the fashion e-commerce sector. Founded in 2020, the company specialized in AI-powered solutions, leveraging proprietary technology that struggled to match the distribution and scale of competitors, despite offering comparable quality at a lower cost.

    The closure was attributed to a lack of market penetration, exacerbated by the entry of Google’s NanoBanana Pro image generation model. Financial strain from a major client defaulting on payments further impacted the startup, leading to the cessation of service operations. While NeuroPixel.AI aims to monetize its technology stack, it will be discontinuing its current services.

    NeuroPixel.AI’s offerings included AI-enabled fashion cataloguing, synthetic model generation, and virtual try-ons, catering to brands like Myntra and Fabindia. Their tools were designed to reduce image production costs significantly and enhance product visualization for higher conversion rates.

    Source: Inc42 Media