It’s a wrap: News this week (April 26-May 2)

This week saw a wave of major tech announcements and milestones. From Sonata Software’s substantial contract win to Razorpay’s payment integration, here’s a quick overview of the most notable updates:

Sonata Software Signs $73 Million Contract with US Tech Firm

Sonata Software has entered a five-year strategic partnership with a leading US company in the technology, media, and telecom (TMT) space. Valued at $73 million, this collaboration focuses on scaling digital capabilities globally, promoting innovation, and streamlining IT systems through an AI-centric outsourcing approach.

Poonawalla Fincorp Rolls Out AI-Based Debt Collection Platform

Poonawalla Fincorp Ltd (PFL), a non-banking finance company (NBFC) under the Cyrus Poonawalla Group, announced the launch of an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven debt recovery platform. The system leverages machine learning to assess interactions via digital channels, calls, and field visits, using over 100 personalised strategies.

The NBFC has also digitised its channel allocation mechanism, reducing engagement time from days to hours after defaults occur. This AI solution enables significantly more accurate risk evaluation than older systems.

CtrlS Datacenters to Establish ₹500 Crore Facility in Bhopal

CtrlS Datacenters revealed plans for a ₹500 crore data center in Bhopal. The greenfield facility will be built on five acres in Badwai IT Park, a location granted by the Madhya Pradesh government. Announced during the Tech Growth Conclave 2025 in Indore, the center will cater to enterprise needs in AI, cloud computing, and data services, and is expected to generate around 200 jobs over various stages.

UKG Strengthens Indian Footprint with New Pune Hub 

US-based software provider UKG (Ultimate Kronos Group) has opened a new Centre of Excellence in Pune. The facility will bolster its product development, particularly around AI-powered workforce solutions. By year-end, the center aims to accommodate 500 employees, adding to its workforce of over 3,000 professionals in India.

UKG, which has had operations in India since 2007, seeks to harness Pune’s strong engineering pool to enhance global services delivered to clients in more than 150 countries.

LTIMindtree Partners with IIM Mumbai for AI-Centric Leadership Program

LTIMindtree has teamed up with the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Mumbai to offer a one-year executive development program focused on AI-led customer experience (CX) design. The initiative targets mid-level managers and integrates business strategy with advanced AI-driven CX techniques.

LTIMindtree’s CEO-designate, Venu Lambu, highlighted that the collaboration combines the company’s industry knowledge with IIM’s academic depth to help redefine customer experience in an AI-first world.

Massive Data Leak Hits Bengaluru’s Water Board, Reveals Citizen Info

A significant cybersecurity breach at the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has compromised the personal data of over 290,000 citizens, according to cybersecurity firm CloudSEK. The breach included names, addresses, phone numbers, and Aadhaar numbers due to exposed credentials and an unsecured admin portal.

CloudSEK’s XVigil platform flagged a dark web post by a threat actor named “pirates_gold,” offering full access to the BWSSB database. The actor has a history of targeting global sectors including healthcare, fintech, and e-commerce.

Infosys Debuts AI-Powered Tool Suite to Support SAP Cloud Shift 

Infosys introduced a new suite called Topaz for SAP S/4HANA Cloud to assist businesses migrating to SAP’s cloud platform. The AI- and generative AI-enabled suite is part of Infosys’ cloud infrastructure and includes preconfigured industry solutions and guides to facilitate faster, smarter digital transformation.

Razorpay Unveils India’s First MCP Server for AI Payment Integration 

Fintech leader Razorpay has launched India’s first Model Context Protocol (MCP) server integrated into a payment gateway. This new infrastructure allows businesses to connect their AI tools—like chatbots and automation engines—directly with Razorpay’s backend to execute actions such as payment initiation, refund processing, and transaction handling without dashboards or APIs.

This platform allows AI systems to execute financial commands in real time, streamlining operations significantly.

Netgear Acqui-Hires Chennai’s VaaG Systems, Plans Local R&D Growth

Networking solutions company Netgear has acqui-hired Chennai-based VaaG Systems, a startup focused on embedded and cloud software. This move aims to boost Netgear’s in-house R&D efforts as part of a broader three-year innovation plan.

The VaaG team will become the foundation of a new software development center in Chennai, with Netgear planning to hire over 100 engineers within the next 12–18 months. Led by founder Sudarsan Vasudevan—now VP of Engineering at Netgear—the team brings expertise from top firms like Cisco, HP, and Qualcomm. Their focus will be on using AI to simplify network management for small and medium enterprises.

India’s Largest Quantum Computer to Be Installed in Andhra Pradesh

A partnership between IBM, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), and the Andhra Pradesh government will lead to the setup of India’s largest quantum computing system in Amaravati’s upcoming Quantum Valley Tech Park. The project is part of a national push to advance quantum technology infrastructure.

This initiative will feature IBM’s Quantum System Two with a 156-qubit Heron processor—set to become the most powerful quantum computer in the country. The park aims to promote both academic research and practical applications in industries ranging from finance to healthcare.