Manonmani Lakshmanan

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Business | Technology | Current Affairs & More

[Manonmani Lakshmanan @mano20011998]

The effects of urbanization on Bangalore’s microclimate are becoming more apparent.
#UrbanHeatIslandEffect
https://t.co/MHKzi8zhEn

[Manonmani Lakshmanan @mano20011998]

Worlds first OptoSAR satellite!
#MissionDristi
#GalaxEye
https://t.co/MKDMr4veQT

[Manonmani Lakshmanan @mano20011998]

Unemployment edges up to 5.1% in March as urban joblessness rises https://t.co/xxlVTe16oE

[Manonmani Lakshmanan @mano20011998]

😂😂😂

[Iran In Hyderabad @IraninHyderabad]

The Strait of Hormuz isn’t social media. If someone blocks you, you can’t just block them back.

[Manonmani Lakshmanan @mano20011998]

What a podcast!
https://t.co/aA5mXBoOA7

[Manonmani Lakshmanan @mano20011998]

🤣🤣🤣
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#AprilFool

[Kartik Kannan @kartik_kannan]

IRCTC Sets Sights on "Bharat Dating" with Priyanka Chopra Jonas; Appoints SoftBank as Financial Advisor for $500M Fundraise

NEW DELHI — April 1, 2026 — In a move that has sent shockwaves through the global tech and dating ecosystem, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) today announced the formal launch of its AI-driven matchmaking vertical, IRCTC Rishta.

Aiming to disrupt the monopoly of Western dating apps, IRCTC has secured a strategic partnership with global icon and tech investor Priyanka Chopra Jonas. Priyanka, who famously backed Bumble’s entry into India, joins IRCTC Rishta as a lead investor and strategic advisor, citing that "Indians date differently, and no one understands the Indian heartbeat better than the Railways."

The SoftBank Play: Taking on the Global Giants
To fuel this massive vertical expansion, IRCTC has officially appointed SoftBank Group as its lead financial advisor to spearhead a $500 million Series A fundraise. The move signals IRCTC’s intent to pivot from a travel monopoly to a consumer tech powerhouse, directly challenging the likes of Match Group (Tinder/Hinge) and Bumble.

"The Indian dating market has been force-fed Western dating tropes for too long," said a spokesperson for IRCTC. "With the backing of SoftBank’s Vision Fund and Priyanka’s expertise, we are building a platform grounded in the 'Shared Journey'—literally and figuratively. We aren't just selling tickets anymore; we’re selling 'Destiny'."

Why Priyanka Chopra Jonas is Betting Big
Speaking from Los Angeles, Priyanka Chopra Jonas stated:

"Bumble was about the first move; IRCTC Rishta is about the right track. In India, relationships are built on shared experiences—long conversations over platform chai, the camaraderie of a 24-hour journey, and the inherent trust required to share a coupe. IRCTC has the data, the scale, and the cultural soul to redefine how 1.4 billion people find love."

Institutional Backing & Future Roadmap
The "Tatkal Match" algorithm—proprietary tech developed in collaboration with SoftBank—analyzes over 23 million daily passenger interactions to predict compatibility. Early beta testing showed that couples matched via "Shared Travel History" had a 40% higher success rate than those matched via traditional swiping.

Masayoshi Son, CEO of SoftBank Group, added via a brief statement: "IRCTC sits on the world's most valuable 'intent data.' By combining railway logistics with human emotion, we are creating a new category: 'Logistical Love.' This is the next unicorn in our portfolio."

A Technical Note on "Tatkal Matches"
While the market is buzzing with this $500M valuation, IRCTC reminds the public that certain "Service Charges" will apply:

Dynamic Pricing for Dates: Much like premium trains, the cost of "Send First Message" will increase as your match's "Waitlist" grows.

Verification: All profiles are verified via Aadhar and PNR history to ensure your date isn't "Catfishing" their berth preference.

Disclaimer: If you are currently checking the stock market for IRCTC’s "Dating Dividend" or trying to find Priyanka’s name on the Board of Directors... Take a deep breath and look at the date.

While India’s railways truly do bring people together, IRCTC Rishta remains a figment of our April Fools' Day imagination. Priyanka Chopra Jonas is busy being a global superstar, SoftBank is busy with actual tech, and IRCTC is focused on getting you to your destination on time.

Happy April 1st! May your real-life PNR always be "CNF."

#AprilFools #IRCTCRishta #PriyankaChopra #SoftBank #IndianRailways #DatingDifferently

[Manonmani Lakshmanan @mano20011998]

Breaking records! 👀
#IndianRupee

[Rahul Shivshankar @RShivshankar]

BREAKING Rupee Hits Record Low Of 94.15 Against US Dollar For The First Time

[Manonmani Lakshmanan @mano20011998]

#Terafab

[Elon Musk @elonmusk]

Quantity has a quality all its own

TERAFAB

[Manonmani Lakshmanan @mano20011998]

#Terafab
https://t.co/WfEEZuyvkD

[Manonmani Lakshmanan @mano20011998]

#Groundsource

[Sundar Pichai @sundarpichai]

We trained a new flood forecasting model designed to predict flash floods in urban areas up to 24 hours in advance.

To help address a flash floods data gap, we created Groundsource: a new AI methodology using Gemini to identify 2.6M+ historical events across 150+ countries.

We’re open-sourcing this dataset to advance global research, and urban flash flood forecasts are live now in Flood Hub to help communities stay safe.

[Manonmani Lakshmanan @mano20011998]

The perfect juxtaposition for quantum physics!

[MiguelFranco @miguelAfrancoL]

@Kekius_Sage Shakespeare basically explained quantum physics in 1603:
“To be or not to be…” = pure superposition!
The electron (or Hamlet) exists in BOTH states until observed.
The Bard dropped Schrödinger’s cat 300 years early 😂⚛️🐱
Mind officially blown. #Shakespeare #QuantumPhysics

[Manonmani Lakshmanan @mano20011998]

Aha, I found my rule-of-thumb guide!

[Big Brain Business @BigBrainBizness]

Steve Jobs on how to design insanely great products:

[Manonmani Lakshmanan @mano20011998]

#BengaluruTraffic

[TOI Bengaluru @TOIBengaluru]

#Bengaluru was the SECOND most congested (traffic-wise) city in the world in 2025, rush hour speed was 13.9 kmph — #TomTom Traffic Index.

Average time taken to cover 10 km was 36 minutes & 9 seconds.

More details about Bengaluru’s traffic 👇

@timesofindia

[Manonmani Lakshmanan @mano20011998]

Feel the immersive effect of binaural audio for yourself: https://t.co/GhYkEePw3c

[Manonmani Lakshmanan @mano20011998]

Interesting thread!

[Aakanksha @aakancvedi]

Something strange is happening in India's stock markets

In 2025, 63% IPO money raised didn't go to companies, but went to promoters and private equity

And this is not by accident, I spent weeks digging SEBI filings to understand how IPOs are rigged, here's what I found

1/12

[Manonmani Lakshmanan @mano20011998]

What’s Napoleon without Josephine? A crisp, engaging retelling of their turbulent bond. Link below.
#Napolean #Josephine

[National Geographic @NatGeo]

The truth behind the turbulent love story of Napoleon and Joséphine🔗
https://t.co/aS0ixLnTlC

[Manonmani Lakshmanan @mano20011998]

One more from #ThisIsUs
https://t.co/pOQuG0EK6b

[Manonmani Lakshmanan @mano20011998]

Life as it really is! #ThisIsUs

[NBC Entertainment @nbc]

The director yelled "I've got tears in my eye" and Mandy Moore heard "keep making them cry"

[Manonmani Lakshmanan @mano20011998]

Ouch :')

[The Kobeissi Letter @KobeissiLetter]

Recent Layoff Announcements:

1. UPS: 48,000 employees
2. Amazon: Up to 30,000 employees
3. Intel: 24,000 employees
4. Nestle: 16,000 employees
5. Accenture: 11,000 employees
6. Ford: 11,000 employees
7. Novo Nordisk: 9,000 employees
8. Microsoft: 7,000 employees
9. PwC: 5,600 employees
10. Salesforce: 4,000 employees
11. Paramount: 2,000 employees
12. Target: 1,800 employees
13. Kroger: 1,000 employees
14. Applied Materials: 1,444 employees
15. Meta: 600 employees

The labor market is clearly weakening.

[Manonmani Lakshmanan @mano20011998]

😂😂😂

[Vivek @Mallufideintent]

AQI is a western construct. India must have its own index -Bharatiya Air Quality Weather Administrative System (BAQWAS).

Under BAQWAS, AQI of 250 will correspond to 1 on BAQWAS and this will be categorised as "Ati Uttam". Similarly AQI of 1000 will coresspond to 2, and this will be categorised as "Param Uttam".

Smoke and its generation has been a part of our ancient rituals since time immemorial. It is Western culture that has now made us look upon it as something undesirable.

BAQWAS will peak during Deepavali and winter and restore the pride we had lost due to this foreign imposed "AQI", which as we all know actually stands for Al Qaeda International.