ISRO To Launch NVS-03, Boosting India’s Independent Space-Based Timekeeping Network

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to launch the NVS-03 navigation satellite aboard the GSLV-F18 rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. The mission is significant because NVS-03 will carry India’s third indigenous atomic clock into space, strengthening the country's independent timekeeping and navigation capabilities.

The NVS-03 satellite carries Indigenous Atomic clock, along with the procured Atomic clocks. It also includes L1 signal in addition to existing L5/S signals with Coverage over India land mass and a region extending 1500 km around Indian geopolitical boundary.

Why is this important?

Atomic clocks are the most accurate timekeeping devices available. Satellite navigation systems such as NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) rely on extremely precise timing signals to determine location accurately. Even tiny timing errors can lead to incorrect positioning data.

What is “time sovereignty”?

Time sovereignty refers to a nation's ability to maintain and distribute its own precise time reference without depending on foreign systems. By deploying indigenous atomic clocks in the NavIC constellation, India reduces its reliance on external navigation and timing infrastructure, which is critical for sectors such as:

• Telecommunications
• Banking and financial markets
• Power grids
• Transportation
• Defence and strategic operations

To recall, in July this year India officially launched a secure “White Rabbit” precision timing network to disseminate Indian Standard Time (IST), reducing reliance on foreign GPS-based timing systems and strengthening critical infrastructure. 

These two initiatives are closely linked because they address different layers of India's sovereign timing infrastructure.

• NVS-03's indigenous atomic clock generates highly accurate timing signals in space through the NavIC satellite constellation.
• The White Rabbit precision timing network, developed to distribute Indian Standard Time (IST) across the country, acts as the ground-based dissemination system that delivers this precise time to users and critical infrastructure.

NVS-03's indigenous atomic clock generates highly accurate timing signals in space through the NavIC satellite constellation. The White Rabbit precision timing network, developed to distribute Indian Standard Time (IST) across the country, acts as the ground-based dissemination system that delivers this precise time to users and critical infrastructure.

Key features of NVS-03

• Third satellite in ISRO's next-generation NavIC series.
• Carries an indigenous atomic clock along with procured atomic clocks.
• Adds the L1 navigation signal alongside existing L5 and S-band services, improving compatibility with a wider range of user devices.
• Designed to provide navigation coverage across India and up to 1,500 km beyond its borders.

NVS-03

Bigger picture

The mission will help strengthen NavIC, India's regional alternative to GPS. NavIC was developed to ensure that India has an independent positioning, navigation and timing service fully under its own control, particularly important during emergencies or geopolitical tensions.

In short, NVS-03 is not just another satellite launch. It is a strategic investment in India's technological self-reliance, navigation capability, and control over precise national timekeeping.

While NVS-03 strengthens India's ability to generate precise sovereign time from space, the White Rabbit network ensures that Indian Standard Time is securely distributed across the country's critical infrastructure, creating a fully indigenous timing ecosystem.

Montra Electric Brings 15-Minute Rapid Charging to SUPER AUTO FX with Exponent Energy

Powered by Exponent Energy’s rapid charging technology, the 15-minute rapid-charge option cuts waiting time, so that customers spend more time on the road and more time earning. Available initially in Bengaluru, Chennai and Delhi NCR 

Montra Electric, India's full-spectrum electric commercial vehicle brand, today announced a 15-minute rapid charge option for the SUPER AUTO FX, its electric passenger three-wheeler, powered by Exponent Energy’s rapid-charging technology. The collaboration helps drivers minimise charging downtime and get back on the road sooner. This will be introduced initially in Bengaluru, Chennai and Delhi NCR, where customers can access compatible Exponent Energy charging hubs.

Fast charging is still uncommon in the L5M electric passenger three-wheeler category. With the SUPER AUTO FX, Montra Electric is bringing a segment-leading proposition to it: rapid charge in just 15 minutes.

The announcement follows from the thinking behind ‘Pehle Aap’, the philosophy that guides everything Montra Electric builds. It means putting the customer first, understanding the realities of their everyday work, and designing solutions around what matters to them. Behind it sits the brand's belief in Izzat: that those who earn their living behind the wheel of a SUPER AUTO deserve respect, and products that respect their time.

For these customers, range and charging downtime have a direct bearing on how much they can earn in a day. Every hour spent waiting to charge is an hour without a fare. Montra Electric listened to that challenge and worked with Exponent Energy to engineer an answer around it.

The SUPER AUTO FX already offers a 150+ km true on-road range, with the option of a 15-minute rapid charge. This makes the proposition even more compelling: less time waiting, more time on the road, and a greater opportunity to earn, without the worry of charging downtime.

Commenting on the launch Mr. Deependra Sharma, CEO, e-3W, Montra Electric (TI Clean Mobility), said, "Pehle Aap is how every conversation at Montra Electric begins. We start by asking what matters to our customer, and for the people who run a SUPER AUTO every day, and one of the biggest worries has been the time lost waiting to charge. The more the vehicle is on the road, the more customer can earn. A full charge in 15 minutes gives that time back to them. We did not see this as adding one more feature. We saw it as solving a real problem that our customers face, and that is what Pehle Aap means to us."

Commenting on the launch, Mr. Arun Vinayak, Founder & CEO, Exponent Energy, said, “We’re proud to partner with Montra Electric once again. Our work together in electric cargo three-wheelers has shown what’s possible when the vehicle and its energy ecosystem are designed to work together. We’re excited to now take this partnership into passenger mobility with the SUPER AUTO FX. Exponent’s battery technology, city-wide charging network and 2.25 lakh km battery warranty help make electric mobility more practical for drivers. Montra has brought a fresh design sensibility to the auto segment, raising the bar for what an Indian auto can look and feel like. We’re glad to bring our energy technology to it.”

Earlier this month, Montra Electric, Exponent Energy and Exponent ONE introduced ONE Pass, a fully variable, pay-per-use Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS) solution for Montra Electric's three-wheelers, further extending Montra Electric’s Pehle Aap philosophy by aligning energy costs with vehicle usage and making electric mobility more practical for the drivers.

SUPER AUTO FX: Built around the customer

Along with fast charging, the SUPER AUTO FX strengthens the overall product proposition with:

• 15-minute rapid charge, enabled through the collaboration with Exponent Energy
• 150+ km on-road true range
• 32% segment-leading gradability
• 60 Nm torque
• Hill Hold Assist
• Car-like start with a push button
• In-cabin light, 12v mobile charging socket
• Best in class warranty: 5 years / 2.25 lakh kms *
• Other comfort, convenience and performance features that reinforce the SUPER AUTO's customer-first proposition

Together, these features reflect a simple idea: technology should work for the customer, not the other way round.

SUPER AUTO FX customers can access rapid charging through Exponent Energy’s network of 200+ chargers across Bengaluru, Chennai and Delhi NCR.

About Montra Electric (TI Clean Mobility Private Limited, Murugappa Group)

Montra Electric (Company Name: TI Clean Mobility Private Limited) is a pioneering clean mobility brand from the Murugappa Group, one of India's oldest and most respected business conglomerates, with a legacy spanning 126 years. Drawing on deep expertise in converting 'Metal to Mobility', earned over decades of manufacturing high-precision automotive and industrial components for India and global markets, and a track record of building strong brands, Montra Electric has set out with a vision of clean mobility. The company operates under four business verticals: e-3Wheelers, e-Small Commercial Vehicles, e-Tractors and e-Medium & Heavy Commercial Vehicles. Montra Electric's fast-expanding portfolio includes India's first 55-tonne electric truck trailer RHINO, the 3.5-tonne small commercial vehicle EVIATOR, the last-mile passenger vehicle SUPER AUTO, the last-mile delivery solution SUPER CARGO and India's first electric tractor, E-27.

To know more, visit the official Montra Electric website: www.montraelectric.com

About Murugappa Group

A 126-year-old conglomerate with presence across India and the world, the INR 1,056 billion (₹105,582 crore) Murugappa Group has diverse businesses in agriculture, engineering, financial services and more.

The Group has 10 listed companies: Carborundum Universal Limited, CG Power & Industrial Solutions Limited, Cholamandalam Financial Holdings Limited, Cholamandalam Investment & Finance Company Limited, Coromandel International Limited, E.I.D.-Parry (India) Limited, NACL Industries Limited, Shanthi Gears Limited, Tube Investments of India Limited, and Wendt (India) Limited. Other major companies include Cholamandalam MS General Insurance Company Limited and Parry Agro Industries Limited. Brands such as Ajax, Hercules, BSA, Montra, Montra Electric, Mach City, Chola, Chola MS, CG Power, CG Semi, Shanthi Gears, CUMI, Gromor, Paramfos, Parry’s are part of the Group’s illustrious stable.

Abrasives, technical ceramics, electrominerals, electric vehicles, auto components, fans, transformers, signalling equipment for railways, bicycles, fertilisers, sugar, tea, and several other products make up the Group’s business interests.

Guided by the Five lights — integrity, passion, quality, respect, and responsibility — and a culture of professionalism, the Group has a workforce of 1,06,224 employees.

For more information, see www.murugappa.com

About Exponent Energy:

Exponent Energy, founded in 2020, is a Bengaluru-based full-stack energy company enabling safe and rapid charging for commercial EVs. The proprietary platform combines the battery pack, pump, and connector to deliver 0-to-100 charges in 15 minutes. With a mission to make electric the better energy choice, Exponent’s stack seamlessly integrates to deliver a holistic charging ecosystem. Its technology, built on standard lithium-ion cells, is scalable and adaptable across multiple commercial vehicle categories.

For more information, see: https://www.exponent.energy/

Krafton Announces PUBG Live Action Series in Development at Netflix

Emmy and Golden Globe winner Donald Glover to direct, write, executive produce, and star in the series adaptation

KRAFTON, Inc. today announced that PUBG, its best-selling game that globally popularized the battle royale genre, is in development as a live-action series adaptation at Netflix.

Two-time Emmy and Golden Globe winner Donald Glover (Atlanta, Community) will direct, write, executive produce, and star in the series. Stephen Glover will join as a writer and executive producer.

The series will also be executive produced by Michael Schaefer for NEON TV, Fam Udeorji for Gilga, and Taeseok Jang and Sujin Lee for LV3H.

PUBG, a global cultural icon with seven Guinness World Records, is one of the world’s most enduring gaming franchises. KRAFTON is expanding the franchise into original entertainment content, with LV3H, its entertainment entity, involved in the development and production of the series.

Piramal Alternatives Injects ₹135 Cr into Q&Q Solutions to Fuel Precision Manufacturing Growth

Investment to support capacity expansion, strengthen manufacturing capabilities and pursue strategic growth initiatives.

Piramal Alternatives, the fund management division of the Piramal Group, today announced an investment of INR 135 Cr in Q&Q Solutions India Private Limited (“Q&Q”), a precision manufacturing company that manufactures complex, mission-critical components for global OEMs. The investment, made through Piramal Alternatives’ India Credit Opportunities Fund II (“PCF II”), will support capacity expansion, strengthen manufacturing capabilities and strategic growth initiatives.

This marks the seventh investment by PCF II, a sector-agnostic fund that invests in high-growth, mid-market companies with an investment horizon of three to four years. Piramal Alternatives’ first fund, with a corpus of INR 2,100 Cr, is fully invested, having made 17 investments and successfully exited 15.

Mr. Kalpesh Kikani, CEO, Piramal Alternatives, said: “We are pleased to partner with Q&Q and its management team as the company enters its next phase of growth. Its longstanding relationships with leading OEMs, coupled with a focus on quality and timely delivery provide a strong foundation for expansion. We believe this partnership will help Q&Q scale its manufacturing capabilities and capitalise on the growing opportunities in precision engineering.”

Mr. Gnanasekaran (Gnan), Managing Director, Q&Q Solutions India Private Limited, said: “We are delighted to partner with Piramal Alternatives, whose investment is a strong endorsement of our vision. The funding will help us expand capacity, strengthen our infrastructure and advanced manufacturing capabilities. It will also support our growth through organic and strategic acquisitions as we build a world-class, backward integrated precision engineering company to meet rising global demand and better serve our OEM partners across multiple domains.”

Piramal Alternatives has a track record of investing across asset classes and partnering with leading investors to create long-term value. Through tailored financing solutions across the capital stack, Piramal Alternatives remains committed to supporting businesses in achieving their growth ambitions.

Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, Q&Q Solutions is a backward-integrated precision engineering company with capabilities across casting and machining. The Company supplies mission-critical components to global OEMs and Tier-1 customers across the energy and industrial sectors; post investment it’s poised to address needs of aerospace and other demanding applications.

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About Piramal Alternatives:

Piramal Alternatives is the fund management business of the Piramal Group and a leading institutional capital provider in India. With a total of $1.6 billion under management, it is making a significant impact in addressing credit gaps within the mid-market segment. The company has established deep, decades-long relationships with renowned investors such as CPPIB, CDPQ, IFC, and global partners like Bain Capital.

Piramal Alternatives offers tailored capital solutions, ranging from pure credit to structured investments, specifically designed to support business transformation, turnaround, and growth. It has a proven track record of strong relative performance and multiple realizations across asset classes. Piramal Alternatives aims to be a significant provider of customized solutions across the entire capital stack to high-quality corporates that are looking to maximize their growth. The flagship funds include the India Resurgence Fund (IRF) and the Piramal Performing Credit Fund (PCF).

About Q&Q Solutions India Private Limited:

Headquartered in Coimbatore, Q&Q is promoted by first generation entrepreneur, Mr. Gnanasekaran (Gnan), who is one of the prominent industry figures with 20+ yrs of experience in precision manufacturing and foundry business. Mr Gnan has been instrumental in onboarding global OEMs and expanding these partnerships into multi-product engagements over the years, the company provides end-to-end solutions from casting to fully tested functional assemblies being shipped to global destinations with industry 4.0 as process back bone.

Air India and SBI Card to Launch Co-Branded Credit Card Soon

(L-R) Tewolde Gebremariam, CEO & Managing Director, Air India; Salila Pande, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, SBI Card; Oliver Jenkyn, Group President, Visa and Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer, Air India

Industry leading organisations across airlines, credit cards and payment networks unite to curate new co-brand credit card program

Air India, India’s leading global airline, and SBI Card, India’s largest pure-play credit card issuer, today announced having entered a partnership to develop a new co-brand Visa-powered credit card program that will offer a rewarding suite of travel and lifestyle benefits to members of Air India's Maharaja Club loyalty programme.

The partnership combines the complementary strengths of three leading organisations across airlines, credit cards, and payment network, to create a compelling proposition for Air India's fast-growing base of frequent flyers and loyalty members.

As India’s flag carrier, Air India has a long and distinguished history of connecting India to the world. SBI Card brings trusted credit card expertise, deep experience of serving Indian customers, and a strong understanding of their evolving payment needs. With over four decades of presence in India, Visa combines its technology leadership with the scale of its global payments network and an extensive experience in building successful co-brand partnerships around the world.

Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer, Air India, said, "As we transform every aspect of the customer journey with Air India, from a modernising fleet and world-class cabin products to an expanding global network, we are also building one of India's most compelling loyalty ecosystems with Maharaja Club. We see a tremendous opportunity to create a co-brand credit card that is unmatched in its ability to reward customers for both their everyday earning and their travel & lifestyle aspirations. Together with SBI Card and Visa, our goal is to build India's most compelling travel credit card programme and make Maharaja Club the loyalty currency of choice for millions of Indians."

Salila Pande, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, SBI Card, said, “As travel aspirations evolve and customers seek experiences that offer greater value and convenience, we see a significant opportunity to redefine the role of credit cards in their travel journeys. At SBI Card, our focus remains on developing differentiated credit card propositions that are aligned with evolving customer preferences, unique spending needs, and lifestyle aspirations. Through this strategic partnership, we aim to create a compelling travel-focussed credit card that delivers rewarding experiences to customers. This partnership marks another significant step towards delivering innovative payment solutions for customers and expanding customer choice.”

Suresh Sethi, Group Country Manager, India and South Asia, Visa, said, “Our partnership with Air India and SBI Card reflects a shared ambition to shape the next generation of payment experiences - where every transaction adds greater value to the journey. By bringing together Visa’s trusted global network and decades of co-brand expertise, we aim to create a compelling proposition that elevates travel for Air India and SBI Card customers in India and around the world.”

With a simplified structure, a host of customer-friendly features, renamed tiers, and an updated identity, Maharaja Club has added over five million new members since the programme was redesigned in 2024. Maharaja Club members are now able to earn and redeem Maharaja Points on flights operated by Air India and Air India Express to and from 104 destinations across North America, Europe (including the UK), Australia, Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia, South Asia, in addition 25 other Star Alliance member airlines. Maharaja Club’s partnerships with over 100 other brands across categories, including hospitality, retail, lifestyle and financial services, enables members to earn Maharaja Points across a broad range of travel and everyday spends.