🌾 A $10-trillion India needs a $1-trillion harvest

Good morning and happy Friday. Hope you have a restful weekend when it arrives 🛏️ 

Ruchirr Sharma & Shatakshi Sharmaa  

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• 🌾 A $10-trillion India needs a $1-trillion harvest

• 🎮️ India’s Next Digital Jackpot

• Bite-sized summaries

  • 🤑 Dabur Launches ₹500 Cr Ventures Arm

  • 🔨 Bollywood Series Row Deepens

• 🧑‍🍳 What else is cookin’?

AGRICULTURE

🌾 A $10-trillion India needs a $1-trillion harvest

India’s ambition to become a $10-trillion economy by 2047 hinges on transforming its agricultural sector into a $1-trillion contributor, up from the current $450 billion, according to industry experts speaking at a CII summit on Thursday.

Although agriculture employs nearly 46% of India’s workforce, it contributes only 15% of GDP, revealing a deep productivity gap. Experts called for policy reforms, science-led decision-making, and stronger private investment to unlock growth and ensure long-term sustainability.

“If we want to reach $10 trillion, agriculture’s share must rise to $1 trillion,” said Ajai Rana, Chairman of the CII Northern Regional Committee on Agriculture and the Federation of Seed Industry of India. Citing the rise in hybrid corn adoption from 15–20% to 90% in two decades, he stressed that technology thrives when backed by consistent policy support.

The summit, titled “Policy Reforms to Drive Growth in Agriculture,” highlighted the need for a national agricultural technology council to harmonize Centre–state regulations, streamline approvals, and ensure science-based policymaking.

Raghavan Sampathkumar, Executive Director of the Federation of Seed Industry of India, identified key roadblocks: “Activism influence, ad hoc interruptions, and arbitrary interpretations of laws. Science must triumph over sensation.”

Industry leaders agreed that a science-driven, harmonized framework could double the agri-inputs sector from its current $60 billion valuation within a decade, positioning Indian agriculture as a core pillar of the $10-trillion vision.

Read more: Economic Times

GAMING

🎮️ India’s Next Digital Jackpot

India’s digital entertainment scene is leveling up — fast. What started as casual Candy Crush sessions is turning into a full-blown economic powerhouse. According to Bitkraft Ventures and Redseer, gaming and interactive media in India are on track to hit $7.8 billion by FY30, tripling from $2.4 billion today.

So, what changed? For years, India played — but didn’t pay. Games were free, attention spans short, and wallets closed. But with UPI making payments frictionless, COVID normalizing online entertainment, and a young, smartphone-first audience of 500 million gamers, that’s flipped. Spending ₹100 on a game now feels like better value than a movie ticket.

Here’s where the money’s going:

• Gaming is growing 18% annually, powered by social play, local language content, and AI-driven development. In-app purchases will soon beat ads as the top revenue source.

• Esports is India’s new IPL — blending digital and physical events, sponsorships, and even government backing.

• Interactive media — from micro dramas to audio streaming to astro-tech — is booming as Tier 2 and 3 India go online in force.

The bigger picture: India is no longer just a market for consumption; it’s becoming a creator economy. International studios are building for India, while homegrown developers are building from India. The status quo — free users, imported content — is fading. What’s replacing it is a self-sustaining digital ecosystem where entertainment isn’t just watched or played, but paid for, shared, and lived.

India’s gaming revolution isn’t coming. It’s already loading.

Read more: Economic Times

GENERAL OVERVIEW

🗞️ Bite-sized summaries

🤑 Dabur Launches ₹500 Cr Ventures Arm - Dabur India Ltd has launched ‘Dabur Ventures’, a ₹500 crore investment platform fully funded from its balance sheet to acquire stakes in high-growth, digital-first businesses. The initiative targets emerging segments in personal care, healthcare, wellness foods, beverages, and Ayurveda, aligning with Dabur’s innovation-led and premiumisation strategy. CEO Mohit Malhotra said the move positions Dabur for future consumer trends. The company also reported a 6.5% YoY rise in Q2 FY26 net profit to ₹453 crore on revenues of ₹3,191 crore, with market share gains across 95% of its portfolio—underscoring its strong brand presence and sustained growth momentum.

🔨 Bollywood Series Row Deepens - The Delhi High Court has granted more time to IRS officer Sameer Wankhede, Red Chillies Entertainment, and Netflix to file replies in a defamation suit over the series “The Ba**ds of Bollywood.”* Wankhede, who seeks ₹2 crore in damages to be donated to Tata Memorial Hospital, alleges the show defames him and disrespects national symbols. He claims it portrays anti-drug agencies negatively and violates the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act. The court listed the matter for November 10. Wankhede’s plea also seeks removal of the alleged defamatory content from online platforms, while Netflix’s counsel opposed the suit.

HEADLINES

🧑‍🍳 What else is cookin’?

What’s happening in India (and around the world 🌍️)

• Reserve Bank of India wants rupee internationalisation to support developed economy goal

• Ford Motor Company to make new engines in India with about US $370 million investment

• India says companies have licences to import rare-earth magnets from China

• Cyclone Montha damage estimated at ~US $603 million in Andhra Pradesh, India says

• Oil prices changed little after Donald Trump reduces tariffs on China

• Asia stocks sink as Trump-Xi deal, Bank of Japan hold fuel market jitters

• J.D. Vance says testing U.S. nuclear arsenal is important to national security after Trump’s directive

• U.S. and China agree to pause dueling port fees in trade truce