India’s Antariksh Fund Picks Dhruva Space as First Bet

Dhruva Space has become the first company to secure funding from India’s new sovereign space-tech fund, Antariksh Venture Capital Fund (AVCF), landing ₹60 crore to expand satellite manufacturing, infrastructure, and mission capabilities. The AVCF, anchored by IN-SPACe and managed by SIDBI Venture Capital, has a corpus of ₹1,600 crore.

Launched in November 2025, the Antariksh Venture Capital Fund (AVCF) is India’s first dedicated sovereign space‑tech fund, anchored by IN‑SPACe under the Department of Space and managed by SIDBI Venture Capital Ltd. With a corpus of around ₹1,600 crore, it aims to provide institutional capital to private space startups at different stages of growth, helping them scale operations, commercialize technologies, and strengthen India’s global space ambitions. 

The fund has recently completed its institutional setup, in April this year. With Dhruva Space the space tech fund has begun investing in spacetech startups earlier than expected time of first quarter of FY2027. 

Key Highlights of the Deal

• First AVCF investment: Dhruva Space is the maiden recipient of the fund, marking a milestone in India’s private space ecosystem.
• Funding amount: ₹60 crore deployed into Dhruva Space.
• Fund corpus: AVCF established with ₹1,600 crore to back space-tech startups.
• Pre-Series B round: Dhruva’s ongoing round now totals ₹275 crore (₹150 crore equity + ₹125 crore debt).
• Order book: Exceeds ₹500 crore across satellite platforms, infrastructure, and mission services.
• Strategic focus: Funds will accelerate satellite manufacturing, infrastructure development, and critical technology advancement.

Why This Matters

• Boost to India’s private space sector: The investment signals confidence in startups capable of integrating innovation, manufacturing, mission execution, and commercial deployment.
• Strengthening sovereign capabilities: Dhruva Space aims to build indigenous space solutions, aligning with India’s ambition to become a global space hub.
• Global competitiveness: The capital will help Dhruva execute international customer programs, positioning India as a serious player in commercial space.

Snapshot Table

Aspect	Details
Investor	Antariksh Venture Capital Fund (AVCF), anchored by IN-SPACe, managed by SIDBI Venture Capital
Investment	₹60 crore
Fund Corpus	₹1,600 crore
Round Status	Pre-Series B: ₹275 crore (₹150 crore equity + ₹125 crore debt)
Order Book	₹500+ crore
Use of Funds	Satellite manufacturing, infrastructure, critical tech, customer programs

Risks & Trade-offs

• Execution risk: Scaling manufacturing and infrastructure requires flawless execution; delays could impact credibility.
• Global competition: Dhruva faces rivals from established players in the U.S. and Europe.
• Capital intensity: Space-tech demands continuous funding; ₹60 crore is significant but may need follow-on rounds.

Vedanta Goes Unlimited: Anil Agarwal Outlines His Vision to Build Each Company into a $100 Billion Company Post Recent Demerger

Vedanta Group Chairman Anil Agarwal unveiled an ambitious vision for 'Vedanta Unlimited' at Vedanta Limited's 61st Annual General Meeting (AGM). Speaking at the AGM, he said that the company's future will be built on three Ps - Produce More, Partner Better and Purpose Beyond Profit. Reflecting on the successful completion of Vedanta's historic demerger, he mentioned each of the Group’s five pure-play entities - Vedanta Limited (NSE: VEDL), Vedanta Aluminium Metal Limited (NSE: VAML), Vedanta Oil and Gas Limited (NSE: VOGL), Vedanta Iron and Steel Limited (NSE: VISL), and Vedanta Power Limited (NSE: VEDPOWER) - has the potential to become a $100 billion company.

Addressing shareholders, Agarwal said —

A year ago, you were shareholders of one integrated company. Today, you own five opportunities. Very few corporate transformations anywhere in the world have created such an opportunity for shareholders. And we believe this is only the beginning. 

RECORD FY2026 PERFORMANCE

Calling FY2026 a landmark year, Agarwal said, "This year, we recorded a record revenue of ₹1,74,075 crore and the best-ever profit of ₹25,096 crore.”

In FY2026, Vedanta also delivered highest-ever EBITDA of ₹55,976 crore and a Net Debt/EBITDA ratio of 0.95x (best in 14 quarters).

Produce More

The first P of Vedanta's strategy, Agarwal said, is the beginning of Vedanta Limited’s next phase of growth. He outlined plans to nearly triple zinc and lead production to 3 million tonnes by 2031, double silver output to 1,500 tonnes, expand copper production to 1 million tonnes by the end of the decade, increase ferrochrome capacity to 500,000 tonnes by FY2028, expand nickel production to 60,000 tonnes, and accelerate exploration across its ten critical mineral and strategic mineral blocks including lithium, cobalt, gold, copper, nickel, manganese, rare earths, and potash.

He also reiterated ambitious expansion plans across the demerged companies. "Vedanta Aluminium is a remarkable company...over the next three years, we will double our capacity to 60 lakh tonnes per year at the lowest cost in the world. At Vedanta Oil and Gas, we aim to produce 500,000 barrels per day. To achieve this target, we will invest five billion dollars over the next three to five years. Vedanta Iron and Steel will grow from four million tonnes to 15 million tonnes annually with a focus on green steel and specialty steel, while Vedanta Power has a clear roadmap to expand to 20,000 MW and will also foray into nuclear power."

Partner Better

Highlighting technology as Vedanta's strongest partner, Agarwal said, "The future belongs to companies that embrace technology. Artificial intelligence is transforming industries across the world. Technology is our best partner. Whether it is exploration, operations, sustainability, safety or productivity, we are deeply embedding technology across every one of our businesses. Our goal is simple: To become smarter. Faster. Safer. And better."

Purpose Beyond Profit

Reaffirming Vedanta's commitment to nation-building, Agarwal said, "This year alone, we contributed more than ₹62,000 crore to India's exchequer. Over the past decade, this contribution has been nearly ₹5,00,000 crore."

He further added that Vedanta's flagship social impact programme, Nand Ghar, which comprises modernized anganwadis, has 15,000 centres across 17 states and has the potential to benefit 10 crore women and children across India.

JSW Group Named India’s Fastest‑Growing Conglomerate Brand with 55% Value Surge

JSW Group, one India’s leading diversified conglomerates, has been recognised as India's fastest-growing conglomerate brand in the Brand Finance India 100 2026 report, with its brand value rising 55% year-on-year to USD 2.3 billion. The ranking, published by Brand Finance, the world's leading brand valuation consultancy, reflects the Group's continued strengthening of its market position through capacity expansion, value-added products and sustainability-focused investments.

The recognition comes in a year when India's branded economy demonstrated notable resilience. According to the Brand Finance India 100 2026 report, the collective brand value of India's top 100 brands reached a record USD 252.8 billion, an increase of 7% year-on-year, driven by continued investments in digital transformation, infrastructure, manufacturing, financial inclusion and innovation across key sectors. Against this backdrop, JSW Group's 55% growth stands out as the fastest among the country's conglomerate brands.

The Brand Finance India 100 2026 report ranks India's top 100 most valuable and strongest brands, and includes ten sub-sector rankings spanning banking, IT services, hospitality and other industries. Brand value is understood as the net economic benefit that a brand owner would achieve by licensing the brand in the open market, while brand strength measures the efficacy of a brand's performance on intangible measures relative to its competitors.

MIT Unveils Chip That Controls Infrared Light, Revolutionizing Sensors Worldwide

MIT scientists have built a new chip that can bend and control invisible heat‑based light (infrared) one pixel at a time. Unlike older systems that need heavy moving lenses, this chip works electronically, making devices like thermal cameras and gas detectors smaller, cheaper, and smarter. This breakthrough could change how we monitor pollution, improve defense night‑vision, and even open doors to faster computers that use light instead of electricity.

The prototype chip is built using mostly standard semiconductor manufacturing methods, making it easier to produce at scale. The design combines a special light‑controlling surface with a grid‑like wiring system similar to what’s used in display screens. Thin layers of copper and silicon heat up tiny pixels, switching them between two states — crystalline and amorphous — which changes how each pixel bends or blocks invisible infrared light. To keep signals clean, a built‑in diode ensures electricity doesn’t leak between neighboring pixels. This clever setup means the chip can be expanded to much larger arrays, paving the way for powerful new infrared devices.

What Happened

Researchers at MIT have developed a revolutionary chip that can control infrared light pixel by pixel using a phase‑change metasurface. Unlike traditional infrared systems that rely on bulky moving parts, this chip is fully electronic — making devices like thermal cameras and gas‑detection sensors smaller, faster, and smarter.

The research study, published in Nature, presents a new chip-scale technology: a two-dimensional, pixel-level addressable metasurface that can dynamically control mid‑infrared light without moving parts. It demonstrates how phase‑change materials and crossbar wiring can be combined to create programmable infrared optics, paving the way for compact, scalable thermal imaging and sensing systems.

This research marks a shift from mechanical optics to programmable light control. Just as digital cameras replaced film, programmable metasurfaces could replace bulky infrared systems. The result: lighter drones, smarter pollution monitors, and faster optical computers — all powered by nanoscale engineering.

How It Works

• Phase‑change material: Each pixel can switch between two states (crystalline and amorphous), changing how it bends or blocks infrared light.
• Metasurface design: A thin, engineered surface manipulates light at the nanoscale.
• Crossbar wiring: Copper wires and doped silicon heat specific pixels, enabling precise control without electrical leakage.
• Pixel‑level control: Instead of moving lenses, the chip electronically adjusts focus and direction of infrared light.

Why It Matters

• Thermal cameras: Detecting heat leaks in homes, factories, and aircraft.
• Gas detection: Spotting pollutants like methane or propane in the environment.
• Defense imaging: Smarter night vision and surveillance systems.
• Optical computing: Using light instead of electricity to process information faster.

Comparison

Feature	Old Infrared Systems	MIT Chip
Optics	Moving lenses	No moving parts
Size	Bulky	Compact
Control	Whole surface only	Pixel‑by‑pixel
Applications	Limited	Expansive (thermal, gas, defense, computing)

Challenges Ahead

• Scaling up: Current prototypes are small (6×6 pixels). Expanding to millions of pixels is the next step.
• Durability: Materials must withstand repeated switching without wearing out.
• Integration: Needs to fit into existing semiconductor manufacturing processes.

The Big Picture

This chip represents a shift from mechanical optics to programmable light control. Just as digital cameras replaced film, programmable infrared chips could replace bulky thermal systems. The result: lighter drones, smarter pollution monitors, and faster optical computers — all powered by nanoscale engineering.

Cloudflare Launches Precursor, a First Privacy-First Defense Platform Against Bad Bots

• Built on one of the world’s largest networks, Precursor is the only defense of its kind to replace disruptive checkpoints to stop evasive bots without slowing down users

Cloudflare, Inc. (NYSE: NET), the leading connectivity cloud company, today announced the general availability of Precursor, a next-generation, continuous behavioral validation engine for bot management. Built directly on Cloudflare’s edge, Precursor runs seamlessly inside web browsers to monitor entire user sessions in order to detect bot automation. Unlike traditional, static CAPTCHAs, it analyzes ongoing interactions in real time to catch advanced bots, improving detection precision without interrupting legitimate users.

For the first time, automated bot traffic has eclipsed human activity on the Internet, now generating roughly 57% of all web requests. This milestone emphasizes a seismic evolution from an Internet built for human clicks to a digital landscape now dominated by AI agents. For organizations and everyday consumers, this means that legacy defenses are blind to a new breed of automated threats that drive up infrastructure costs, manipulate inventory, and compromise data. While a modern bot can easily fake a single action to pass a one-time security check, replicating an entire human journey remains a massive engineering hurdle. To protect the integrity of the global Internet, organizations must move away from static, point-in-time defenses and embrace continuous behavioral validation - analyzing telemetry across an entire session to unmask automated imposters trying to blend into the crowd.

"Traditional security checks look at a single moment in time, but modern bots have gotten smart enough to fake their way through the front door," said Dane Knecht, CTO of Cloudflare. "Instead of just checking an ID at the gate, we are looking at behavior over the entire visit. This makes life seamless for real users, while making it incredibly difficult and expensive for bad actors to fake human behavior. Cloudflare already protects users billions of times a day at critical moments like login and checkout, but until now, the space between those moments was a black box. With Precursor, we’re now eliminating that blindspot."

Now generally available, Precursor provides a session-level view of site activity by continuously collecting robust browser signals to block unwanted automated traffic through:

• Privacy-Led Defense: Built to protect end user confidentiality, Precursor logs aggregate behavioral patterns rather than recording specific user inputs. For example, keyboard activity is recorded exclusively as timing rhythm and cadence - never capturing actual keystrokes.
• Zero-Code, One-Click Setup: Precursor is enabled with one click, automatically allowing Cloudflare to inject a compact, dynamic script passing through the network, requiring no modifications to underlying code. The script evaluates interaction trail dimensions such as mouse movement, scrolling rhythm, typing cadence, clipboard activity, and page visibility duration.
• A Real-Time Analysis Engine: Cloudflare's servers instantly unpack the telemetry data sent from a user's browser and scan it for signs of faked or computer-generated activity. We then validate whether interaction streams map rationally to human behavior, such as cross-referencing that pointer activity aligns with page visibility or text fields are focused during typing events.
• Session-Long Security Measures: Unlike traditional defense challenges that reset per every request, Precursor continuously evaluates the visitor’s user journey across a web or single page application. Automated agents cannot reset their behavioral signatures by refreshing a page, allowing defensive algorithms to adjust a session's Bot Score with compounding context.

To learn more, please check out the resources below:

Blog: Introducing Precursor: detecting agentic behavior with continuous client-side signals


Cloudflare Precursor

About Cloudflare

Cloudflare, Inc. (NYSE: NET) is the leading connectivity cloud company. It empowers organizations to make their employees, applications and networks faster and more secure everywhere, while reducing complexity and cost. Cloudflare’s connectivity cloud delivers the most full-featured, unified platform of cloud-native products and developer tools, so any organization can gain the control they need to work, develop, and accelerate their business.

Powered by one of the world’s largest and most interconnected networks, Cloudflare blocks billions of threats online for its customers every day. It is trusted by millions of organizations – from the largest brands to entrepreneurs and small businesses to nonprofits, humanitarian groups, and governments across the globe.

Learn more about Cloudflare’s connectivity cloud at cloudflare.com/connectivity-cloud. Learn more about the latest Internet trends and insights at radar.cloudflare.com.