KARNATAKA GIG WORKERS ORDINANCE
Andhra Pradesh inks 9 MoUs for Rs 4,100 crore space-defence push
At the 31st CII Partnership Summit in Visakhapatnam on 12-13 November 2026, the Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board signed nine MoUs covering rocket engines and test beds, satellites, missiles, explosives, aerospace manufacturing, flight training and heliports. Eight of them propose investments totalling Rs 4,100 crore and 6,865 direct jobs on about 1,472 acres in Sri Sathya Sai, Tirupati, Nellore and Visakhapatnam. The ninth is a five-year strategic partnership with Pawan Hans to develop and operate heliports across the State.
Congress divided on Cauvery dam project as both Karnataka & Tamil Nadu Congress units look for PM Modi’s intervention
Karnataka's Chief Minister DK Shivakumar is advocating for the Mekedatu reservoir project on river Cauvery. His remarks at a recent event have provoked backlash from Tamil Nadu's political parties, including Congress. TN Congress Committee president Manickam Tagore emphasized that the state will resist any attempts to construct the dam without consent. Shivakumar claims the project is vital for drinking water supplies and insists dialogue is crucial for resolution.
DK Shivkumar's dam push pits Karnataka & TN units against each other
Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has called for expedited clearances for the Mekedatu reservoir project. This initiative has increased tensions with Tamil Nadu, where local parties oppose it vehemently. Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president Manickam Tagore emphasized the state's determination to block the project. The ruling parties in Karnataka, however, support the initiative as essential for water management. Shivakumar’s remarks have prompted calls for dialogue to transcend state divisions.
Telangana implements gig worker rules, mandates minimum pay, social security benefits
The Telangana government has launched the Telangana Platform-Based Gig Workers Rules, which establish rights for gig workers. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy introduced the legislation during a ceremony with Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad. The new rules include provisions for social security benefits, minimum remuneration, and protection against arbitrary account deactivation. Shaik Salauddin from the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union emphasized the need for effective implementation of these rights.
Rahul Gandhi calls out ‘fascists’ at Bharat Summit, launches Telangana gig workers’ welfare scheme
Addressing the Bharat Summit 2026 in Hyderabad, Gandhi hit out at what he termed "fascists" in business, academia, and politics, asserting that they tend to scream and refuse to listen while the humble majority remains quieter.
Andhra Pradesh plans Visakhapatnam entertainment hub, Rana Daggubati to partner with state
Visakhapatnam is set to develop as a center for films, digital content, and gaming in Andhra Pradesh. Actor-producer Rana Daggubati has pledged to collaborate with the state government on this initiative. Minister Nara Lokesh emphasized the importance of creating a complete ecosystem for the entertainment industry. The plan includes building infrastructure for studios, production, and post-production facilities.
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"Not only illegal but will also affect farmers": Congress' Manickam Tagore affirms opposition for Mekedatu dam
Manickam Tagore condemned DK Shivakumar's comments about Mekedatu dam construction during an event with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He claimed that the project violates Supreme Court rulings and harms Tamil Nadu farmers' livelihoods. Tagore urged the central government to deny approval without consulting lower-riparian states like Tamil Nadu. He emphasized the importance of protecting state rights against unilateral actions by Karnataka.

Mekedatu row: Stalin urges Vijay to call all-party meet, take joint stand against Karnataka
MK Stalin has written to Chief Minister S Joseph Vijay urging an all-party meeting on the Mekedatu dam. He emphasized that Karnataka's proposed dam project threatens Tamil Nadu's water rights and farmer livelihoods. Recent statements by Karnataka's Chief Minister DK Shivakumar have raised concerns among Tamil Nadu's farmers. Stalin called for unity among political parties in Tamil Nadu to address this critical issue.

Telangana to provide gig workers Rs 5 lakh accident cover, Rs 10 lakh health insurance: Rahul Gandhi
Telangana has announced a new welfare scheme aimed at supporting gig workers in the state. The initiative includes accident insurance amounting to Rs 5 lakh and health insurance of Rs 10 lakh. Workers will receive 1% of each transaction for their deliveries directly into their bank accounts. This payment will be facilitated through a dedicated gig workers' board.

Congress believes in making workers partners, will stand by gig workers: Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad
Congress and Telangana government have launched the Gig Workers’ Social Security and Welfare Scheme in Hyderabad. Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi emphasized the importance of data rights for gig workers during the event. He noted that workers currently lack access to their work-related information from digital platforms. Additionally, he addressed the challenging working conditions faced by gig workers while promising improvements.

Karnataka targets Rs 7.5 lakh crore investments, 20 lakh jobs by 2030; to host Global Investors Meet in April
The targets have been set under the state's Industrial Policy 2025-30, with Karnataka seeking investments in sectors such as semiconductors, aerospace, artificial intelligence, clean energy, life sciences and electric mobility.

MeitY flags physical AI data; US data centre woes may help India
Happy Friday! MeitY is examining how home services platforms collect household data to train physical AI models.This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.

MeitY examines data collection by home services platforms for physical AI training
The consultation comes amid growing interest among AI and robotics developers in first-person video and sensor data, which can help train machines to understand and replicate human actions in real-world environments. Such recordings capture how people perform routine activities, providing training inputs for robots designed to undertake physical tasks.

Noah Kahan Last of the Bugs World Tour 2027: Who is Noah Kahan? Here's complete schedule with 31 shows
Noah Kahan has announced his Last of the Bugs World Tour 2027 a few days back. The shows will be held in North America, Europe and the UK. Around 31 shows will be organized in total. The tour comes after his fourth album The Great Divide charted at number one on the Billboard 200.

MeitY probes physical AI data use; Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang resigns
MeitY is reviewing the practice of collecting first-person video and sensor data from gig workers to train physical AI models. This and more in today’s ETtech Top 5.

Lights, camera... microdrama! Big showmen hooked on new gig in town
India's microdrama industry is experiencing significant growth, attracting investments from major entertainment companies and creators. Aamir Khan Productions and Excel Entertainment are launching a microdrama venture to produce high-quality content. Partnerships with creators and telecom companies will enhance the platform's offerings as the market expands. Despite challenges in monetization and audience retention, viewership for microdramas continues to rise steadily.

From free internet upgrades to sneakers: The brands cashing in on GTA 6 before it even launches
Grand Theft Auto VI is set for release on November 19, 2026, and pre-loading begins on November 10. Internet providers like Spectrum and Xfinity are offering free speed upgrades to facilitate quicker downloads. Nike is reportedly collaborating with Travis Scott and Rockstar Games to launch a special sneaker collection for the game. The collection may feature three Air Force 1 Low sneakers priced at $130 each.

Fires, protests, pollution: How Apple's supply chain woes in India have caused troubles over the years
Three contract workers lost their lives due to asphyxiation at a Tata Electronics factory in Hosur. This incident has prompted investigations by the companies involved and the Tamil Nadu state government. Recent years have witnessed various operational issues at Apple supplier facilities, leading to heightened scrutiny. Apple's supply chain in India continues to face challenges amid efforts to diversify from China.

Karnataka stands by E20 report, seeks nationwide third-party fuel testing
Karnataka has intensified its allegation regarding petrol containing ethanol levels exceeding the 20% limit. The state government is seeking independent testing from accredited laboratories and urges other states to conduct similar inspections. Food and Civil Supplies Minister Rizwan Arshad released test results indicating ethanol content as high as 31.2% in various petrol samples. Oil marketing companies have denied these allegations and questioned the sampling methodology used by Karnataka.

Gokul Dairy power tussle: Farmers, Opposition leaders stage protest in Kolhapur
Protests took place in Kolhapur as dairy farmers opposed the state's decision to grant voting rights to nominated directors. The ruling Mahayuti's strength would increase on the cooperative's 25-member board, shifting the power balance. Dairy farmers marched to the district collectorate carrying cattle to voice their opposition. The Rajarshi Shahu Shetkari Samvichari Aghadi has challenged this ordinance in court, seeking its annulment.

Cybercrime networks shift to smaller, mobile scam operations amid enforcement pressure: FATF
In its report released from Paris, the global money-laundering watchdog said large, fortified compounds where cyber slaves were forced to commit financial cybercrimes are being moved to apartments, houses, hotels and office floors, sometimes rebranding as legitimate outsourcing or marketing firms.

Cybercrime networks shift to smaller, mobile scam operations amid enforcement pressure: FATF
In its report released from Paris, the global money-laundering watchdog said large, fortified compounds where cyber slaves were forced to commit financial cybercrimes are being moved to apartments, houses, hotels and office floors, sometimes rebranding as legitimate outsourcing or marketing firms.

Karnataka to probe electoral fraud, Form 7 misuse: Shivakumar
Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar announced a police investigation into alleged electoral fraud by the BJP. He accused the party of manipulating voter rolls and distributing pre-filled Form 7 applications. Shivakumar highlighted the removal of many voters, especially from marginalized communities, during recent electoral processes. He emphasized the importance of protecting voting rights and restoring names to electoral rolls.

Lenskart, Nykaa, PhysicsWallah see Q2 profits surge
New-age companies Nykaa, Lenskart, and PhysicsWallah reported strong numbers for the September quarter. This and more in today’s ETtech Top 5.

Gig workers may get social security benefits through 2% transaction levy on businesses
The government is considering implementing a 2% transaction-based levy on aggregators to support social security for gig workers. This levy will fund benefits such as insurance, health, and maternity support for over 12 million workers. There is a consensus that this approach ensures fairness among different types of aggregators. The new scheme is expected to be launched in 2027, requiring gig workers to meet specific work criteria.

ETtech Explainer: Food delivery, ride-hailing firms differ on gig worker welfare levy calculation
Food delivery and quick-commerce companies such as Zomato and Swiggy are seeking a levy based on the value of transactions facilitated through their platforms, while cab and bike-taxi aggregators such as Uber and Rapido want it to be calculated on their own turnover rather than the total value of rides facilitated.

Premji's deeptech bets; Razorpay gets IPO nod
Happy Thursday! Premji Invest is stepping up its bets on defence and aerospace manufacturing.This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.

Centre sets up social security board to frame welfare schemes for gig workers
In a significant move, the Ministry of Labour and Employment has initiated the National Social Security Board, designed to improve welfare for unorganised and gig economy workers. This board will advise on the rollout and supervision of important social security programs. Scheduled to meet three times annually, it will also manage policy discussions and oversee the financial aspects of the Social Security Code.
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