It’s a wrap: News this week (Nov 23 – Nov 29)

There have been multiple developments this week on the tech front. From major IT services deals to Genpact’s Lucknow office, this is the list of the most important developments for a quick catch-up:

Genpact’s new office in Lucknow

Consulting and outsourcing firm Genpact announced the opening of its new office in Lucknow today. By the end of 2025, the company plans to employ more than 2,000 people, marking a strong foothold in the region.

The company said that the investment in Lucknow is part of Genpact’s strategy to build an AI workforce and enhance its ability to deliver advanced technologies and digital transformation services globally. The new center will provide opportunities for local talent to enhance skill and develop in-demand expertise. 

TechM partners with China’s USI

Tech Mahindra on Thursday partnered with Universal Scientific Industrial Limited (USI), a Chinese provider of electronic design and manufacturing, to establish an engineering offshore development centre (ODC) in India.

The development centre, located at Tech Mahindra's Bengaluru office, will accelerate innovation in smart device engineering. This would be USI’s first development centre in India, which has 31 production and service locations across four continents including Asia, Europe, the Americas, and Africa.

This collaboration aims to provide scalable solutions, accelerate time-to-market, and deliver innovative advancements. It will leverage Tech Mahindra's specialised talent pool and advanced labs, focusing on technologies expected to drive the future of connected devices, additive manufacturing, connected vehicles, and augmented and virtual reality.

TCS-Sparsh deal

This week, TCS signed a three-year extension for its contract with System for Pension Administration Raksha (SPARSH) portal, India’s central web-based system for automating pension processes for defense personnel, to streamline pension distribution for over three million defense pensioners in India.

TCS will maintain the program's hardware and software while delivering key updates, the company said in a regulatory filing.

Since the rollout of SPARSH in October 2020, TCS has implemented an integrated pension disbursement solution, reducing processing times from 12-18 months to just 14 days. First-time pension payments are now processed within five to seven days.

TransUnion expands GCC to Pune

TransUnion has announced the expansion of its Global Capability Center (GCC) in Pune, India. The facility now covers 59,307 square feet across two floors and is intended to support the company’s global market strategy by enhancing its technological and operational capabilities. 

The Pune center is part of TransUnion’s GCC network, which includes locations in Costa Rica, India, and South Africa. In India, the company operates GCCs in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Pune. The Pune center is designed to support various functions, including product and platform solutions, data science and analytics, system architecture, intelligent automation, business process management, and shared services. 

Wipro expands IT deal with Marelli

Wipro has announced a four-year extension of its partnership with Marelli, a leading global automotive solutions provider.

As part of this collaboration, Wipro FullStride Cloud will lead the migration of Marelli’s Milan Data Center and local server rooms to a centralised cloud ecosystem. This transformation aims to create a more agile and stable IT infrastructure, enabling Marelli to adapt swiftly to market changes, foster continuous innovation, and enhance its competitive edge. The modernisation initiative is expected to streamline operations, reduce time-to-market for Marelli’s products, and deliver long-term value to all stakeholders.

CCI orders probe against Google

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) ordered a probe against Google in relation to the complaint filed by Winzo Games. The company has alleged that Google engages in unfair business practices regarding listing real-money gaming apps on the Play Store. In its order, CCI found that Google has abused its dominant position and found it to be prima facie in violation of antitrust provisions. 

Notably, Google is facing legal troubles in the US as well. Last week, the US Justice Department argued that Google should divest its Chrome browser to challenge the company’s illegal monopoly on online search.