India Electronics & Skills Push: IT minister Nara Lokesh says Andhra Pradesh is building 22 industrial clusters and wants universities to align programs with industry needs, including a rare-earth minerals processing ecosystem in North Andhra. Defence Electronics Cluster: Andhra’s Udayagiri gets a Rs 2,245-crore defence cluster plan, with Anadrone Systems leading tactical drone and electronic fuse work, plus ATL’s proposed defence electronics facility. Semiconductor Policy Pressure: Indian semiconductor startups backed by the ₹1,000 crore DLI scheme say funding isn’t enough; they want procurement and incentives that actually drive adoption of homegrown chips. EMS Picks: 360 One Capital highlights Avalon Technologies (box-build, semiconductors) and Dixon Technologies (smartphones, backward integration) as structural beneficiaries of India’s shift toward value-added manufacturing. AI Models Update: IndiaAI Mission has created 20 foundational AI models, with five released; Avataar AI’s Varya distilled video model is positioned as a low-cost, faster homegrown option. Trade & Exports Angle: A report argues India’s new FTAs can help unlock a US$1 trillion export target by 2030, with electronics among the strongest beneficiaries. Supply-Chain Risk Watch: South Africa’s BNPL market is pushing for formal regulation as the central bank warns about over-indebtedness from multiple obligations and lighter affordability checks. Energy Tech: A new solar-thermal desalination approach claims drinking water without chemical additives and aims to extract lithium from salts, targeting both water scarcity and battery-material demand.