DigiLocker taps AI firms, Slurrp Farm seeks investors
The Indian government is moving to expand its DigiLocker platform by bringing in private AI integrators to onboard more institutions and drive usage of the cloud-based digital document repository. Officials say the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is finalizing an empanelment process that will select firms responsible for onboarding, integration, and sustaining transaction volumes for requesters.
DigiLocker already stores government-issued documents for citizens and allows consent-based access for verification by banks, financial institutions, educational bodies, telecom providers, and corporations for KYC and other services. The new private partners will help scale this system further, enabling faster verification and broader reach across sectors.
Among the companies in the running are CoRover, an Indian AI platform provider, and Kyndryl, a global IT infrastructure services firm. Both have cleared initial rounds and are now undergoing technical evaluation, which will assess their ability to handle large-scale data flows securely.
The push comes under India’s Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) regime, which requires strict handling of document data—no retention, storage, caching, profiling, or secondary analytics of fetched documents. An official confirmed that compliance with these rules will be mandatory for all integrators, ensuring that user privacy remains protected throughout the process.
While DigiLocker has grown in adoption, its expansion hinges on integrating more private and public entities seamlessly. The AI integrators will not only help onboard new users but also ensure smooth operations after launch, according to the report. They are expected to provide technical support, manage API connections, and monitor system performance continuously.
In parallel, Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma-backed Slurrp Farm, a snack and breakfast cereal maker, is exploring a new funding round as some existing investors consider exiting. Sources say talks with potential backers are in early stages, with no finalized deal size or stake-sale structure yet. The company was last valued at ₹827 crore in its Series C5 round this August, per Tracxn data.
Slurrp Farm, founded a decade ago by Meghana Narayan and Shauravi Malik, has positioned itself in the growing supergrains category—products made from ingredients like finger millets, sorghum, and oats. Its investors include Sharma, Aditya Ghosh (former IndiGo executive and Akasa Air co-founder), and Ashish Dhawan, who collectively hold about 4.2% of the company.
Blackstone Leads $18 B Junior Debt Tranche and Amazon Launches Nvidia Chip SPV
Blackstone is heading an $18 billion tranche of class B junior debt, committing $9 billion from various funds and planning to syndicate the remaining amount, according to the report. The financing is linked to Broadcom’s intent to sell additional chips and data-centre equipment as it competes with Nvidia, while AI companies such as Anthropic seek ever-greater computing capacity. The report emphasizes that the debt structure is intended to support these broader market forces without specifying further terms.
Amazon is preparing to move roughly $8 billion worth of Nvidia Grace Blackwell chips, currently being installed in U.S. data centres, into a newly created special-purpose vehicle. The SPV will raise capital from investors and then lease the chips back to Amazon, allowing the retailer to strengthen its balance sheet. SPVs are legally distinct companies set up by a parent organization to hold specific assets and liabilities. Amazon plans to offer investors an equity stake of up to 10 percent in the vehicle, providing a direct ownership interest in the transaction.
