Finance

HDFC Bank Inaugurates Tech & Digital Factory in Guwahati to Boost AI and Cybersecurity Talent


Written by Intern Swara Bodke || Team Allycaral

India, 2026: HDFC Bank, Indiaโ€™s leading private sector bank, has inaugurated its new Tech & Digital Factory in Guwahati, marking its first such facility in Assam and the fourth nationwide. The bank already operates similar Tech & Digital Factories in Mumbai, Bengaluru and Gurugram.
The new centre will serve as a hub for advanced technology development, innovation and talent incubation in Assam. It aims to strengthen talent pools in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Digital technologies and Cybersecurity, while building capabilities in Cloud, Data and core engineering tracks. The initiative is also expected to enhance digital product creation capabilities in the state.
The facility was inaugurated by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in the presence of Mr. Kaizad Bharucha, Deputy Managing Director โ€“ HDFC Bank, Mr. Ramesh Lakshminarayan, Chief Information Officer โ€“ HDFC Bank, dignitaries from the Government of Assam, members from participating educational institutions, and officers of the bank.


The Tech & Digital Factory will generate career opportunities for skilled professionals in Assam, enabling them to contribute directly to next-generation technology development while remaining in their home state.
The initiative is part of Advantage Assam 2.0, under which HDFC Bank partnered with the Government of Assam. The collaboration focuses on enhancing academic knowledge with industry expertise through a structured skill-building curriculum tailored to the BFSI and fintech sectors.
Centred on campus-to-corporate competency, the programme aligns with job requirements in banking and fintech industries. The curriculum includes essential banking knowledge along with new-age IT domains.
The programme commenced in September 2025, and over 150 students are currently being trained under the cohort. Participants will receive industry-relevant knowledge and hands-on experience from senior HDFC Bank executives.
Students enrolled in the programme will also undergo internships with HDFC Bank for a duration of 2 to 4 months. This will allow them to apply academic and technological concepts in real-world corporate scenarios. Importantly, the course is offered at no additional cost to students.
Commenting on the development, Mr. Kaizad Bharucha, Deputy Managing Director, HDFC Bank, said that the Bank had signed an MoU with the Assam Government at Advantage Assam 2.0 in February 2025 and was pleased to establish the facility within a year, supported strongly by the state government. He added that the new centre would enable the rollout of innovative digital products and services while attracting engineering talent from Assam to contribute to next-generation banking technology.
HDFC Bankโ€™s Tech & Digital Factory model continues to function as the nucleus of digital execution, with dedicated units focused on experience design, mobile and cloud engineering, APIs and orchestration, data and GenAI, and secure-by-design architecture.
HDFC Bank began its journey in Assam in 2004 with the launch of its first branch in Guwahati. Since then, the Bank has expanded to 138 branches and 248 ATMs across the state as of December 31, 2025. According to the State Level Bankerโ€™s Committee (SLBC) report, the Bankโ€™s Credit-Deposit (CD) ratio in Assam stood at 85.78% as of the same date.

TechPulse

Reliance Jio Launches JioPC: Indiaโ€™s First Cloud-Powered AI-Ready Virtual Desktop


In a major step toward making personal computing affordable and accessible for all, Reliance Jio has launched JioPC, a cutting-edge virtual desktop platform that delivers high-performance computing โ€” without the need for physical hardware.

At just โ‚น400/month, JioPC offers the power of a โ‚น50,000+ computer by leveraging the cloud. Designed to meet the demands of India’s fast-evolving digital economy, it allows users to simply plug in their Jio Set-Top Box, connect a screen, keyboard, and mouse โ€” and get started instantly.

What Is JioPC?

JioPC is a cloud-powered virtual desktop, requiring no CPU or expensive components. Your data, apps, and operating system run from Jioโ€™s secure cloud infrastructure. Itโ€™s Indiaโ€™s first PC-as-a-Service, made for every household โ€” students, freelancers, small businesses, and home users.

Key Features:

  • ๐Ÿ’ฐ Starts at โ‚น400/month โ€“ No lock-in, no upfront cost
  • โšก Fast boot-up, always updated
  • ๐Ÿ” Virus and malware protection at the network level
  • ๐Ÿง  AI-ready with access to smart tools
  • ๐ŸŽจ Includes Adobe Express โ€“ A professional-grade design & editing platform
  • โ˜๏ธ 512 GB cloud storage included
  • ๐Ÿ“„ Microsoft Office (browser version) access
  • ๐Ÿง‘โ€๐Ÿซ Perfect for students, creators, professionals, and small teams

Who Is It For?

JioPC is tailor-made for:

  • Students needing affordable, up-to-date learning tools
  • Small businesses and solopreneurs running daily operations
  • Remote workers seeking a secure and reliable desktop
  • Creative users leveraging tools like Adobe Express
  • Families and shared homes where one smart device serves all

How to Set Up:

  1. Power on your Jio Set-Top Box
  2. Open the JioPC app from the Apps section
  3. Connect your keyboard and mouse
  4. Sign in with your linked contact number or register
  5. Start using your new cloud computer instantly!

Why It Matters:

With JioPC, Reliance Jio aims to bridge the digital divide in India. No longer is high-performance computing limited by cost, geography, or outdated hardware. The platform is part of a broader mission to empower every Indian with next-gen technology that evolves and grows with their needs.

Availability:

JioPC is available nationwide to all existing and new JioFiber and Jio AirFiber users. New subscribers get a free 1-month trial to explore all features.

JioPC isnโ€™t just a product. Itโ€™s a movement.
A movement toward smarter, safer, scalable computing โ€” made in India, for India.

Business

Microsoft to Lay Off 9,100 Employees in Strategic Workforce Reduction


In a significant workforce shakeup, Microsoft is laying off approximately 9,100 employees โ€” around 4% of its total global workforce. The decision comes as the tech giant continues to adjust its business strategy amid economic headwinds and a shift in focus toward emerging technologies like AI and cloud services.

While specific departments affected have not been disclosed, sources suggest that the layoffs span multiple divisions, including engineering, marketing, and customer support. Microsoft emphasized that the layoffs are a proactive step to streamline operations and ensure long-term competitiveness in a rapidly evolving tech landscape.

The company, which employs over 221,000 people worldwide, has been undergoing strategic shifts to align with a future increasingly driven by AI, automation, and digital infrastructure. These layoffs follow similar workforce reductions across the tech industry, with other major firms also trimming headcount to navigate slower growth and rising operational costs.

Microsoft reiterated its commitment to supporting impacted employees with severance packages, job placement services, and counseling resources.

This marks one of the largest layoffs by Microsoft in recent years and underscores the broader trend of tech companies tightening their belts while doubling down on innovation.

Business

IIIT Prayagrajโ€™s Vipul Jain Secures Record-Breaking โ‚น1.45 Crore Job Offer from US Tech Giant Rubrik


Prayagraj, June 27, 2025 โ€“ In a landmark achievement that has created a buzz in academic and tech circles alike, Vipul Jain, a final-year B.Tech student at the Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) Prayagraj, has secured a record-breaking job offer worth โ‚น1.45 crore from Rubrik, a leading US-based cloud data management company. This is the highest package ever offered to a student in the instituteโ€™s history.

A Moment of Pride for IIIT Prayagraj

Vipulโ€™s placement has put IIIT Prayagraj on the national map for top-tier campus recruitment. The โ‚น1.45 crore compensation package includes both base salary and performance-based incentives, and positions Vipul to join Rubrikโ€™s elite engineering team at their U.S. headquarters.

The institute administration expressed immense pride in Vipulโ€™s achievement, with faculty members praising his dedication, technical acumen, and consistency throughout his academic journey. This success, they said, reflects the growing quality of students graduating from IIITs across the country.

โ€œThis is not just a personal milestone for Vipul, but a proud moment for the entire IIIT Prayagraj community. It reinforces our commitment to academic excellence and preparing students for the global tech landscape,โ€ said a placement cell coordinator.

The Journey Behind the Offer

Vipul, who specialized in Computer Science and Engineering, has been a standout performer in multiple coding competitions and hackathons. He completed internships with top-tier firms and published several research papers in areas such as distributed systems and AI-based security, which caught the attention of Rubrikโ€™s hiring panel.

The multi-round selection process included rigorous technical interviews, system design challenges, and problem-solving tests. Vipul impressed the recruiters not only with his problem-solving skills but also with his innovative approach to large-scale data architecture and cloud security.

Setting an Example for Future Technologists

Vipulโ€™s success story is likely to inspire current and future students, not just at IIIT Prayagraj but across India. At a time when students are increasingly competing on global platforms, his achievement demonstrates the immense potential of Indiaโ€™s young tech talent.

He is expected to join Rubrik after graduation and begin working on cutting-edge projects in data protection, zero-trust security, and AI-driven infrastructure โ€” areas considered central to the future of enterprise technology.