Industry Trends

Cognizant plots big bets with AI, outcome-based pricing and possible India IPO

After stabilising its operations over the past three years, Cognizant is shifting gears toward aggressive growth strategies, with artificial intelligence and outcome-based pricing at the forefront. CEO Ravi Kumar S emphasizes the company’s evolution from a traditional IT services provider to a builder of “agentic capital,” while a potential secondary listing in India signals its intent to tap new investor pools. Strategic acquisitions and platform-led services are now central to Cognizant’s next phase of expansion.

Industry Trends

Davos 2026 | $15 bn FDI inflows validate India’s financial sector, but deposits remain the real challenge: Axis Bank CEO

Axis Bank CEO Amitabh Chaudhry highlighted that while foreign investors are showing renewed interest in India’s financial sector, the underlying challenge of mobilising domestic deposits remains unresolved. Speaking from Davos, he noted that inflows totaling nearly $15 billion provide strategic firepower, but real balance sheet expansion depends on building a strong deposit base—a task that requires deep local understanding and persistent effort. Chaudhry also pointed out that while foreign entrants increase competition, they do not automatically translate into retail deposit growth, underscoring the systemic nature of India’s funding challenge.

Industry Trends

Jio Platforms IPO nears as Ambani’s Reliance awaits final government notification on revised IPO rules

Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) is moving closer to the long-awaited public listing of Jio Platforms, as the conglomerate waits for a final government notification on revised IPO norms before filing its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP). The regulatory changes are seen as critical for a transaction of this scale and complexity. The proposed Jio Platforms IPO is expected to be the largest ever in Indian capital markets, with estimates suggesting it could raise $4–4.5 billion, or roughly Rs 33,000-37,000 crore. Investment banks have valued Jio Platforms at around $180 billion, nearly Rs 15 lakh crore. At that valuation, selling just 2.5% of the company, the minimum threshold under the SEBI revised framework for companies valued above Rs 5 lakh crore, could raise about $4.5 billion, according to Jefferies estimates from November 2025. The government has already approved a reduction in the minimum IPO float for large companies to 2.5% from the earlier 5%, a move aime...