Sahaj Retail Ltd and Techno India Group have partnered to launch a blue-collar skilling initiative, aiming to train one lakh youth in rural and semi-urban areas across five states. The program, titled Sahaj-Techno Blue Collar Jobs, will focus on providing vocational skills aligned with industry needs, targeting unemployed, underemployed, and school dropout populations with affordable training and placement opportunities.
In JEE (Advanced) 2025, 54378 candidates qualified, with Rajit Gupta topping the CRL. Devdutta Majhi secured the top rank among female candidates. IIT Hyderabad zone has the highest number of qualified candidates, while IIT Bombay and IIT Delhi zones lead in top 100 ranks. IIT Kanpur conducted the examination.
In May, the job landscape for white-collar professionals in India remained steady. The Naukri JobSpeak Index indicated a modest uptick, signaling positive trends. Roles in AI and machine learning surged, particularly in urban centers like Delhi NCR and Chennai. There was a strong demand for experienced professionals, especially within the oil and gas and real estate sectors.
Indian executives are increasingly prioritizing well-being by integrating physical activity into their workday. From walking meetings to exercise snacking, leaders are finding creative ways to stay fit amidst demanding schedules. Companies are embedding wellness into their culture, promoting movement breaks and prioritizing employee health, recognizing its positive impact on decision-making and overall performance.
IT CEOs have indicated that AI-led productivity is changing the business model, with revenue growth and headcount growth being de-linked. “The last couple of years, we have been challenging our teams on how you can deliver twice the revenue and half of the people,” said HCLTech CEO C Vijayakumar in February.
Fresh graduates from India's top colleges face a tough placement season as major recruiters significantly reduce intake due to global economic headwinds and evolving industry needs. Companies cite recessionary trends, AI disruptions, and a preference for experienced candidates, leading to delayed offers and increased uncertainty for students. Colleges are adapting curricula to better prepare students for specialized roles.
Despite recent layoffs impacting software engineers, Microsoft's Aparna Chennapragada insists coding remains vital. She views AI as an evolution, not a replacement, suggesting engineers will transition into "software operators." While AI automates tasks, particularly in idea generation, project management roles may shift towards taste-making and editing, reflecting Microsoft's investment in AI infrastructure.
HUL Managing Director Rohit Jawa's remuneration increased by 3.75% to Rs 23.23 crore in FY25, 146.47 times the median employee remuneration. The company's annual report highlighted an 8.46% decrease in permanent employees, with 6,604 on the rolls. HUL divested its water business, Pureit, and decided to demerge its ice cream business amidst a challenging operating environment and evolving consumer landscape.
India's employment market anticipates a workforce expansion of 2.8% in the first half of FY26, a decrease from the previous period's 7.1%. Economic factors are driving companies to prioritize cost efficiency and skills-based growth. Flexi-staffing and the gig economy are gaining traction, with automotive, EV, e-commerce, and tech startups leading workforce growth.
The UPSC has introduced a new application portal effective May 28, 2025, streamlining the registration and application process for its various examinations. This portal replaces the old OTR module and features a universal registration system to save applicants time.