Google, Microsoft, Amazon Emerge as India’s Most Desired Employers for Gen Z: Insights from 37,000 Students

• Only 36% of HR leaders feel fully prepared to hire and manage Gen Z talent, revealing a growing readiness gap
• Nearly 27% of candidates drop out of hiring processes due to a lack of pay transparency
• 78% of organisations run internship programmes, but only 16% convert over 80% of interns into full-time hires
• 90%+ Gen Z professionals are willing to accept slightly lower compensation if roles offer stronger learning opportunities, faster career progression

Unstop, a leading platform connecting ~30 million students and early professionals with career opportunities, has released the Unstop Talent Report 2026, “Era of Human + AI: Decoding India’s Talent Landscape.” Based on insights from 37,000+ students and 500+ HR leaders, the report highlights how Gen Z professionals are redefining career expectations, preferred workplaces, and early career priorities.

Most Desirable Employers for Gen Z in 2026

Going away from the common motion of treating McKinsey, Unilever, and other consulting firms as dream employers in B-Schools, global technology leaders dominate Gen Z career aspirations, with Google, Microsoft, and Amazon emerging as the most preferred employers among both engineering and B-School audiences.

Sector Highlights

• BFSI: Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Morgan Stanley; HDFC Bank enters top 5.
• Consulting: McKinsey & Company, Bain & Company, Boston Consulting Group.
• FMCG/FMCD: Hindustan Unilever Ltd, ITC Limited, Nestlé.
• Service Companies (Engineering): TCS, Infosys, Wipro.
• Product Technology: Google, Microsoft, Amazon.
• Indian Conglomerates: Tata Administrative Services, Reliance Industries Limited, Aditya Birla Group.
• New-age Recruiters: Eternal, Swiggy, Meesho.

Gen Z Priorities: Learning, Transparency, and Flexibility

When choosing their first job, learning opportunities emerge as the strongest motivator for Gen Z, with 60–65% prioritising learning and skill development. Salary considerations rank lower at 11–13%.

Transparent pay and clear career progression are critical expectations, with nearly 27% of candidates dropping out of hiring processes due to lack of salary transparency.

Organisations Still Catching Up with Gen Z Expectations

Only 36% of HR leaders feel fully prepared to hire and manage Gen Z talent. 49–59% of early career employees leave organisations due to lack of growth opportunities. 90%+ Gen Z professionals are willing to accept slightly lower compensation if roles offer stronger learning opportunities, faster career progression, and better work–life balance.

Changing Campus Hiring Dynamics

95% of students are open to off-campus opportunities if better roles are available. Students at campuses where 150+ companies visit annually are nearly 2.9 times more likely to secure placements compared to campuses with fewer than 30 recruiters.

Internships Becoming the New Hiring Gateway

78% of organisations run internship programmes, but only 16% convert more than 80% of interns into full-time hires. Students expect internships to provide real work from day one, mentorship, and clear pathways to PPOs.

Early Attrition Begins Early

HR leaders cite higher studies (38%), better pay (30%), job-role mismatch (23%), and better company brands (22%) as leading reasons for early attrition. Around 26% of freshers remain on bench for 3–6 months before receiving meaningful work, increasing the likelihood of early job switches.

Gen Z is entering the workforce with a very different set of expectations compared to previous generations. They value transparency, learning opportunities, and meaningful growth over traditional markers of employment. Through the Unstop Talent Report 2026, we aim to provide organisations with actionable insights that can help them better understand and engage the next generation of talent. — Ankit Aggarwal, Founder and CEO of Unstop. 

Research Methodology

The Unstop Talent Report 2026 is based on insights gathered through a comprehensive survey conducted between January and February 2026, covering 37,000+ students and 500+ HR leaders across industries.

About Unstop

Unstop is India’s Largest Early Talent Community Engagement & Hiring Platform, connecting ~30 million students and early professionals with 35,000+ employers across domains. Incorporated in 2019, Unstop enables democratised access to opportunities through competitions, hackathons, assessments, learning programs, internships, and jobs. With 200,000+ engagements and 25 million+ assessments completed, Unstop powers iconic programs like Flipkart GRiD, Amazon ACE, HUL L.I.M.E, Tata Imagination Challenge, EY Techathon, and more.

Jio Payments Bank Introduces UPI-based Cash Withdrawal Services

Jio Payments Bank Limited (JPBL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Jio Financial Services Limited has introduced UPI-based cash withdrawal through its Business Correspondent (BC) touchpoints, marking an important step towards strengthening India’s digital payments ecosystem and advancing financial inclusion in the country.

The feature enables customers, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas, to conveniently withdraw cash by simply scanning a UPI QR code and authorizing the transaction through their UPI application, eliminating the need for debit cards or access to traditional ATM infrastructure.

By enabling cardless cash withdrawals at BC touchpoints, the initiative bridges the gap between digital payments and physical cash access, while providing first-time digital users with an assisted and secure way to experience UPI transactions.

Through this initiative, JPBL continues to leverage the digital payments infrastructure and its last-mile BC network to expand accessible banking services, strengthen UPI's reach among cash-dependent segments, and enhance financial inclusion across rural and semi-urban India.

About Jio Payments Bank Limited

Jio Payments Bank Limited (JPBL) is a next-generation, digital-first bank committed to revolutionizing banking in India. Granted approval by the Reserve Bank of India under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, JPBL was incorporated in November 2016 to offer secure, simple, and inclusive banking solutions for every Indian. Its suite of offerings is designed to meet the diverse financial needs of individuals and businesses alike.

About Jio Financial Services Limited:

Jio Financial Services Limited (JFSL) is a Core Investment Company (CIC) registered with the Reserve Bank of India. As a new-age institution, JFSL operates a full-stack financial services ecosystem through customer-facing subsidiaries, including Jio Credit Limited, Jio Insurance Broking Limited, Jio Payment Solutions Limited, Jio Leasing Services Limited, Jio Finance Platform and Service Limited, and Jio Payments Bank Limited.

Through a 50:50 joint venture with BlackRock, JFSL offers asset management services in India through Jio BlackRock Asset Management Private Limited; and wealth management through Jio BlackRock Investment Advisers Private Limited. The JV with BlackRock also proposes to offer broking services through Jio BlackRock Broking Private Limited.

JFSL has entered into a 50:50 joint venture with the Allianz Group and has set up Allianz Jio Reinsurance Limited to offer reinsurance services in India. The two entities have also signed a non-binding agreement to explore opportunities in general and life insurance.

With a digital-first model, JFSL is committed to enhancing the financial well-being of Indian citizens by enabling them to borrow, transact, save, and invest seamlessly. Through the JioFinance app, customers can access a wide range of solutions including loans, savings accounts, investment products and solutions, UPI, bill payments, recharges, digital insurance, financial tracking and management tools, and more.

For more updates, please visit www.jfs.in

New Renault Duster Launched in India; Turbo Petrol Price Starts at INR 10.49 Lakh, Dispatches Begin Nationwide

• Introductory price of INR 10.29 Lakh available via R-Pass pre-booking until March 31, 2026
• Flexible subscription options and a 7-year Renault Forever warranty
• Strong Hybrid bookings receive exceptional response; full 2026 allocation sold out

Renault India, the wholly owned subsidiary of French carmaker - Renault Group, today announced the launch of the all-new Renault Duster, with turbo petrol prices starting at INR 10.49 Lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) and dispatches now underway nationwide. Built on the advanced Renault Group Modular Platform (RGMP), the new Renault Duster has been developed with a clear focus on structural robustness, efficiency and future-readiness.

Variants: Key Features

Authentic

• Eco LED headlamps, LED tail lamps
• Signature grill with DUSTER emblem
• 7" TFT driver display, rear AC vents
• 35 safety features including 6 airbags, TPMS, ESP

Evolution

• 17-inch alloy wheels, roof bars
• 10.1" OpenR multimedia, wireless smartphone replication
• Cruise control, rear view camera
• Paddle shifters (DCT only)

Techno

• LED fog lamps, panoramic sunroof
• Electric powered tailgate, connected car services
• Dual-zone AC, wireless charging

Techno+

• 18-inch diamond cut alloy wheels
• Hill descent control, blind spot warning
• 10.25" TFT driver display

Iconic

• 10.1" OpenR multimedia with Google built-in
• Electric front seats, ventilated seats
• 360° camera, 17 ADAS features
• Multisense driving modes with ambient lighting

Prices

Standard Prices (INR)	Authentic	Evolution	Techno	Techno+	Iconic
Turbo TCe 100	10,49,000	11,69,000	13,49,000	-	-
Turbo TCe 160	-	12,99,000	14,49,000	15,29,000	16,99,000
Turbo TCe 160 DCT	-	14,49,000	15,89,000	16,69,000	18,49,000

R-Pass Prices (INR)	Authentic	Evolution	Techno	Techno+	Iconic
Turbo TCe 100	10,29,000	11,39,000	13,19,000	-	-
Turbo TCe 160	-	12,69,000	14,19,000	14,99,000	16,59,000
Turbo TCe 160 DCT	-	13,99,000	15,49,000	16,29,000	18,09,000

*R-Pass prices valid till March 31, 2026

Technical Specifications

	Turbo TCe 100	Turbo TCe 160
Displacement (cc)	999	1333
Cylinders	3	4
Power	100 PS @ 5000 rpm	163 PS @ 5250 rpm
Torque	166 Nm @ 2000-3750 rpm	280 Nm @ 2000-3500 rpm
Transmission	6-speed manual	6-speed manual	6-speed DCT
Fuel	Petrol (E20 Compatible)
Suspension (Front)	MacPherson strut with anti-roll bar
Suspension (Rear)	Twist beam with coil spring
Brakes	Front: Disc	Rear: Drum (MT), Disc (DCT)
Tyres	225/60 R17	225/60 R17 / 225/55 R18
Dimensions	Length: 4346 mm | Width: 1815 mm | Height: 1701 mm | Wheelbase: 2657 mm
Fuel Tank	50 L
Ground Clearance	212 mm
Boot Space	518 L (parcel shelf), 700 L (roof)

Bengaluru Gets a World-Class Electronics Co-Innovation Hub as Henkel Launches Advanced Application Center

Advanced electronics lab bridging materials and applications at Henkel Adhesive Technologies’ Customer Application Center in Bengaluru

Henkel today announced the launch of its Customer Application Center in Bengaluru, reinforcing its commitment to India’s rapidly expanding electronics manufacturing sector. The new facility will serve as a collaborative innovation hub where Henkel experts and customers can co-develop, test, and validate advanced adhesive and thermal management solutions for next-generation electronics manufacturing.

The new facility represents one of Henkel's most significant application engineering commitments in the India Middle East and Africa (IMEA) region, and is designed to address a critical gap in India's electronics value chain: the absence of localized, world-class application testing and validation infrastructure that allows manufacturers to develop, qualify, and scale advanced materials solutions without the time and cost of sending work overseas.

India's electronics manufacturing sector has grown nearly six-fold over the past decade. The momentum is accelerating, driven by the rapid build-out of data center and AI computing infrastructure, 5G and fiber network expansion, electric vehicle charging systems, industrial automation, and advanced medical devices. Each of these sectors depends critically on high-performance adhesives, thermal management materials, and protective coatings, and each demand faster, more localized application engineering support than India's ecosystem has traditionally been able to provide.

 

Customers along with team members of Henkel Adhesive Technologies inaugurating the Customer Application Center in Bengaluru

Bengaluru was a natural choice. The city's concentration of semiconductor design talent, electronics R&D centers, and global OEM engineering teams makes it the single most important node in India's electronics innovation ecosystem. Locating the center here puts Henkel's application expertise directly alongside the engineers and manufacturers who need it most.

"India's electronics manufacturing ecosystem is at an inflection point, and Bengaluru is at the center of it," said S. Sunil Kumar, Country President – India, Henkel. "What manufacturers across our focus sectors increasingly need is not just world-class materials, but a local partner who can co-develop, test, and validate those materials under real production conditions, and help them move from concept to market faster. That is precisely what this center is designed to do. It is our most tangible expression yet of Henkel's long-term commitment to India's electronics future."

The 5,000 sq. ft. facility, of which approximately 2,400 sq. ft. is dedicated laboratory and testing space, is built to replicate actual electronics manufacturing conditions, allowing customers to evaluate and optimize materials and processes before committing to production scale. Around 60-65% of the investment has gone into advanced lab and testing equipment, with 20-25% directed at customer co-development infrastructure.

The facility serves five high-growth sectors: telecom and 5G infrastructure, data centres and AI computing, power electronics and EV systems, industrial automation, and medical electronics. Its key capabilities span advanced thermal management testing, precision dispensing systems, electrical characterisation tools, and rapid-cure chambers, supporting the full journey from prototyping and material validation through to production readiness.

The center directly supports India's Make-in-India and Production-Linked-Incentive objectives by bringing application engineering, process optimization, and reliability validation onshore. A substantial share of activities that Indian electronics manufacturers previously had to route through overseas facilities, or simply defer, can now be conducted locally, compressing development cycles and accelerating time to market.

Henkel application experts will work side-by-side with customer engineering teams at the facility; co-developing solutions tailored to specific device architectures and manufacturing requirements. This collaboration model is central to the center's design and is what distinguishes it from a conventional testing laboratory.

About Henkel

With its brands, innovations and technologies, Henkel holds leading market positions worldwide in the industrial and consumer businesses. The business unit Adhesive Technologies is the global leader in the market for adhesives, sealants and coatings. With Consumer Brands, the company holds leading positions especially in laundry & home care and hair in many markets and categories around the world. The company's three strongest brands are Loctite, Persil and Schwarzkopf. In fiscal 2025, Henkel reported sales of about 20.5 billion euros and adjusted operating profit of around 3.0 billion euros. Henkel’s preferred shares are listed in the German stock index DAX. Sustainability has a long tradition at Henkel, and the company has a clear sustainability strategy with specific targets. Henkel was founded in 1876 and today employs a diverse team of about 47,000 people worldwide – united by a strong corporate culture, shared values and a common purpose: "Pioneers at heart for the good of generations.” More information at www.henkel.com

GVFL Leads ₹13.3 Crore Funding in Surat’s Canvaloop, Turning Farm Waste into Textiles

GVFL, Gujarat’s pioneer venture capital firm, has announced a lead investment of ₹10 crore in the Rs 13.3 crore fund flow into Canvaloop, the Surat-based innovating textile startup that converts agricultural waste into high-performance textile material. The remaining Rs 3.3 crore has been pumped in by Mumbai-based Rockstud Capital.

Canvaloop, founded in 2020 by Shreyans Kokra, addresses textile pollution by transforming crop residues into spinnable material, including HempLoop, FlaxLoop, BanLoop, NettleLoop, and PineLoop. Engineered for ‘adoption-first’ compatibility with existing mills, these materials ensure seamless sustainability.

The fresh capital of Rs 13.3 crore will drive growth by boosting production from 30 tonnes to 300 tonnes per month, assembling an elite team, and pioneering regenerative cellulose R&D. It will accelerate Canvaloop’s mission to transform the textile industry’s sustainability landscape, making eco-friendly materials mainstream and commercially viable.

GVFL Managing Director Mihir Joshi emphasized the strategic fit: "Canvaloop exemplifies the scalable innovation Gujarat startups are delivering in deep-tech sustainability. With its founder, Shreyans Kokra’s vision, we are excited to fuel their journey from a local waste-to-fiber pioneer to a global supply chain backbone. This investment aligns with GVFL’s commitment to high-impact ventures driving environmental and economic value.”

On the investment of Rs 3.3 crore, Abhishek Agarwal, Managing Partner at Rockstud Capital, said: “India’s manufacturing future will be shaped by founders rethinking materials and supply chains. Canvaloop’s ability to convert agricultural waste into textile-grade materials shows how sustainability and industrial innovation can go hand in hand. We think such solutions are vital for the shift to circular manufacturing in global supply chains.”

Canvaloop founder Shreyans Kokra said,

GVFL’s lead investment, along with the money from Rockstud Capital, supercharges our vision. It proves sustainable textile material can be practical and profitable.

According to Kokra, the textile and fashion industry’s path to net zero is increasingly being shaped by raw material choices, and there is a focus on cutting greenhouse-gas emissions from fiber and raw material production by 45% by 2030. “This is exactly where Canvaloop aligns with the focus. He stated, "We transform agricultural waste into textile-grade materials and yarns using proprietary low-impact technology. Our climate-friendly, closed-loop process eliminates the use of solvents, recycles water, and utilises bio-waste as a heat source."

Canvaloop has served 200+ clients, generated revenue, and validated commercial viability. It targets mass-premium/luxury segments with proprietary processing for consistent, cost-effective quality. Over the next 6-12 months, the startup aims for 10x production, new launches, and a path to global wardrobe presence in seven years.