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India’s AI ambitions hit the high note with Microsoft scholarship surge
MUMBAI: India isn’t just coding the future, it’s rewriting it, line by line, in AI. The country has emerged as one of the top applicant nations for the 1 million dollars Microsoft AI Innovator Global Scholarships, a landmark initiative by Women in Cloud, launched alongside Opulis: Women Powering Microsoft’s Trillion-Dollar Shift.
The collector’s edition coffee table book endorsed by Microsoft and the Microsoft Alumni Network celebrates 50 women tech leaders who have helped steer the company through its transformation into the AI era. But this is more than just glossy pages and golden stories; Opulis doubles up as a career catalyst through its Book-to-Scholarship Model, where every purchase unlocks real AI learning opportunities for aspiring professionals.
Since its launch, the scholarship programme has drawn over 700 applications from 20-plus countries, including Brazil, the US, Nigeria, India, Australia, South Africa, Canada, Kenya, and Egypt. India’s strong showing underscores its growing momentum in AI skilling particularly among young professionals and women technologists eyeing the global digital workforce.
“We’re ensuring that access to AI careers and education isn’t limited to a few, it belongs to everyone, especially women ready to lead India’s digital future,” said Opulis president of women in cloud and executive producer Chaitra Vedullapalli. “Electricity unlocked the industrial revolution, and AI is unlocking quantum progress.”
Through 1,000 Opulis book pre-orders worldwide, Women in Cloud has already unlocked 100 Microsoft AI Certification Scholarships offering learners world-class credentials that can power careers worth Rs 55–60 lakh per annum. The move is projected to create over Rs 60 crore in new economic value annually, translating to about 7 million dollars in wages and an estimated 21 million dollars total economic impact.
The ultimate goal? To ignite 1,000 AI careers by 2030, powered by book sponsorships, corporate grants, and community support proof that storytelling and access can together spark large-scale economic mobility.
Marking Microsoft’s 50th anniversary, Opulis also spotlights five Indian-origin women leaders shaping the company’s AI journey: Chaitra Vedullapalli, Monika Mital Gupta, Aparana Gupta, Sharmila Rathinam, and Nitasha Chopra. Among them, Aparana Gupta, based in India, leads as Director of Engineering and Principal Software Engineering Manager at Microsoft embodying the homegrown excellence the programme seeks to inspire.
Available in hardcover and digital editions across Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and over 4,000 global retailers, Opulis carries a unique promise: every 10 books sold funds one AI Innovator Scholarship, creating a virtuous loop of knowledge, opportunity, and empowerment.
In the end, Opulis isn’t just chronicling women who powered Microsoft’s trillion-dollar shift, it’s scripting a new chapter where Indian women and technologists worldwide can claim their seat at the AI table. And this time, they’re not just participating in the revolution, they’re training it.
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8PM Packaged Drinking Water named Lead Trouser Sponsor for Sunrisers Hyderabad
Brand partners with IPL team for 2026 season with campaign ‘Rise in Orange, Celebrate with Black’.
MUMBAI: 8PM Packaged Drinking Water has found a clever way to stay in the game by hitching its wagon to one of cricket’s most exciting teams. The brand from Radico Khaitan Limited has announced its association with Sunrisers Hyderabad as the Lead Trouser Sponsor for India’s Premier Cricket League 2026. The partnership will see 8PM Packaged Drinking Water gain prominent visibility during the high-energy tournament.
To mark the collaboration, the brand has launched the campaign thought “Rise in Orange, Celebrate with Black.” The idea cleverly links the on-field intensity of Sunrisers Hyderabad’s iconic orange jersey with the off-field celebrations powered by 8PM Premium Black Packaged Drinking Water.
Radico Khaitan Limited chief marketing officer Kunal Madan said, “We are delighted to be associated with Sunrisers Hyderabad for the 2026 season. With the league’s unmatched reach and the team’s strong fan following, this is a great opportunity to connect meaningfully with consumers across the country.”
Sunrisers Hyderabad enters the season with a formidable lineup featuring players such as Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Travis Head, and Pat Cummins, making it one of the most watched teams this year.
A spokesperson from Sunrisers Hyderabad added, “We are pleased to welcome 8PM Packaged Drinking Water to the Sunrisers family. This association brings together shared values of energy, resilience, and excellence.”
The partnership underscores Radico Khaitan’s strategy of aligning with marquee sporting platforms to build contemporary, consumer-centric brands. By tapping into the emotional connect and massive viewership of the league, 8PM aims to deepen engagement and strengthen brand affinity during the cricket season.
In the fiercely competitive world of Indian cricket sponsorships, 8PM has chosen to play it smart, pairing the thrill of orange with the cool refreshment of black. As Sunrisers Hyderabad prepare for another exciting season, the brand is set to ride the wave of passion, performance, and celebration.
