Hello,

Starting this week, IT services firms will report their third-quarter earnings, with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) kicking off the earnings season on Thursday, January 9.

According to industry watchers, seasonal furloughs and lack of mega deals are expected to weigh on Q3 earnings in India’s IT services sector. 

Elsewhere, one of the world’s biggest technology trade shows, CES, is set to take place from January 7 to January 10. Key themes this year include 5G connectivity, robotics, and of course, AI. 

Speaking of AI, did Meta mess up its bot experiment?

Late last week, the company reportedly started deleting Facebook and Instagram profiles of AI characters it created over a year ago after users rediscovered some of the profiles. The platform users then engaged with the bots in conversations that went viral on social media.

Lastly, researchers have found that it only takes a two-hour conversation with an AI model to make an accurate replica of someone’s personality.

Yikes!

In today’s newsletter, we will talk about 

• Tech at Maha Kumbh Mela 2025
• ICYMI: Upskilling in medicine

Here’s your trivia for today: Which US city is named after Saint Francis of Assisi?

Spirituality

AI at Maha Kumbh Mela 2025

In 2025, Maha Kumbh is set to embrace modernity, as cutting-edge technology redefines the pilgrim experience, emphasising comfort and sustainability. Pilgrims will be equipped with a Kumbh Mela mobile app—a smart tool designed not only to navigate the vast and sprawling grounds but to guide the soul.

Key takeaways:

• Powered by AI-based navigation systems, the app uses GPS to provide real-time directions to bathing ghats, temples, prayer spaces, and medical aid stations.
• It will also help visitors find their designated campsites and the best routes to take, whether for the holy bath or to explore nearby food options.
• By eliminating logistical stress, the app aims to help pilgrims fully immerse themselves in the spiritual experience, making their journey smoother and more enriching.

Healthcare

ICYMI: Upskilling in medicine

In today’s fast-evolving healthcare landscape, specialised upskilling has become indispensable. As medical research, treatments, and technology advance at an unprecedented pace, healthcare professionals must stay ahead to ensure the delivery of safe, effective, and high-quality care.

Staying ahead:

• Traditionally, doctors have relied on research articles, journals, case studies, conferences, and workshops to stay informed. However, startups like Medvarsity and OC Academy are now offering a diverse array of programmes to bridge the skills gap.
• These resources enable doctors to stay current with new treatment protocols, management strategies, disease manifestations, emerging comorbidities, and the latest research.
• Certification programmes offered by many of these startups start at under Rs 10,000. Diploma and degree programmes begin at around Rs 1 lakh, while fellowship programmes usually range between Rs 1–2 lakh and go up to Rs 30 lakh.

News & updates

• AI demand: Taiwan’s Foxconn, the world’s largest contract electronics maker, beat expectations to post its highest-ever revenue for the fourth quarter on continued strong demand for AI servers. Its revenue jumped 15.2% to $64.72 billion. 
• Prized tuna: The top bidder at a Tokyo fish market has paid $1.3 million for a tuna, the second-highest price ever paid at an annual prestigious New Year auction. Michelin-starred sushi restaurateurs, the Onodera Group, said they bought a bluefin tuna weighing 276 kg and roughly the size of a motorbike.

What you should watch out for

• Earnings: One Mobikwik Systems, Tata Elxsi, IREDA, and Avenue Supermarts (DMART) are likely to report their third-quarter results. 
• Demerger: ITC Hotels will demerge will demerge on January 6. The restructuring will see ITC retain a 40% stake in its hotel business, with the remaining 60% directly held by shareholders through a rights entitlement.

Which US city is named after Saint Francis of Assisi?

Answer: San Francisco

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Ofbusiness, a B2B commerce and fintech startup, is looking to invest about Rs 3,000 crore into doubling its steel business to more than 4MTPA in the next three years.

The company has acquired three steel firms — SMW Ispat, Shree Sidhbali Ispat and Noble Steel — in the past and the expansion is lined up in all the three companies.

“We are looking forward to investing close to $350 million, about Rs 3,000 crore, to scale up our steel business from the current 2 million tonne to more than 4 million tonne in the next 3 years. This is also expected to sharply increase the sector EBITDA to 2.5x from the current level. The funding will be a combination of internal accruals and debt & equity financing,” Co-Founder and CEO Asish Mohapatra said.

The company supplies steel to companies such as L&T, Adani, J Kumar, Dilip Buildcon, Ashoka Buildcon.

OfBusiness also plans to get into new categories such as pre-painted galvanised iron (PPGI) adding onto thermo-mechanically treated (TMT) bars and structures.

The company is also planning a $1 billion IPO in FY26.

“We have been continuously thriving for expansion of our business and be part of India’s tremendous growth journey of $10 trillion economy. To support our expansion plans we are looking forward to our $1 billion IPO in FY2026,” Mohapatra said.

OfBusiness has been into the business of steel, non-ferrous metals, bitumen, food products, as well as finished goods such as apparel and footwear, supplying them to its domestic and international clients.

Last year, OfBusiness delivered about 170,000 shipments across the country, enabling about 13,000 businesses to grow and thrive.

Launched in 2014, PhotoSparks is a weekly feature from YourStory, with photographs that celebrate the spirit of creativity and innovation. In the earlier 830 posts, we featured an art festival, cartoon gallery. world music festival, telecom expo, millets fair, climate change expo, wildlife conference, startup festival, Diwali rangoli, and jazz festival.

With 19 galleries and a crafts courtyard, Bengaluru’s Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath is a popular hub for arts and culture in the city. One of its spectacular annual activities is Chitra Santhe, regarded as one of India’s largest street celebrations of art.

The fair is held on the first Sunday of January each year, kicking off the arts calendar in style. Last year’s edition was dedicated to the achievements of Indian scientists in space research and related activities (see our coverage of the previous ten editions of Chitra Santhe here, from 2015 onwards).

In this photo essay, we showcase the diverse artworks from creators across the country. We follow up in forthcoming articles with artist insights on creativity, festival impact on artists and audiences, and their future initiatives.

The theme of Chitra Santhe 2025 is Protecting Women: A Shared Responsibility, addressing the rights of women and girls. The aim is to raise awareness about pressing social issues such as child marriage and female foeticide.

More than 1,500 artists from 22 states across India are participating this year. The entire stretch of Kumara Krupa Road is closed to traffic for the day, with artist displays featured on both sides of the main road and adjacent alleys.

Parking concerns are reduced thanks to feeder buses operated by BMTC from key metro stations. There is also provision for an online gallery with ten artworks per exhibitor, bringing the creative showcase to a larger audience outside Karnataka.

The 2024 edition reportedly drew over three lakh viewers to see and buy artworks. The fair also features live caricatures, face painting, dance performances, and plays.

It is encouraging to see the works of established as well as emerging artists, including students at the festival. The youthful volunteers also did a commendable job of helping run the event.

In this photo essay, we feature some of the diverse artworks on display, which include glass paintings, oil, watercolour, acrylic, collages, and lithographs. There are also doodles, sculptures, installations, mixed media, photography, and even upcycled works made from discarded materials.

Now what have you done today to pause in your busy schedule and harness your creative side for a better world?

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(All photographs were taken by Madanmohan Rao on location at Chitra Santhe.)