DailyWorld News - The First International Newspaper From India https://dailyworld.in/ Tue, 07 Oct 2025 17:07:00 +0530 en https://dailyworld.in/tech/ipos-in-s-korea-rise-19-pc-through-q3-641815.html Seoul Oct 7 Initial public offerings IPOs in South Korea rose 19 per cent in the first nine months of the year from a year earlier data showed on Tuesday The proceeds from IPOs stood at 341 trillion won 243 billion in the JanuarySeptember period compared with 285 trillion won for the same period last year according to the data from consulting service provider IR Kudos Corp reports Yonhap news agencyA total of 55 companies made their debuts on the main bourse KOSPI and the techheavy KOSDAQ markets during the cited period up from 47 companies going public a year earlierLG CNS Co an information technology affiliate of LG Electronics Inc amassed the largest amount of IPO money at 119 trillion won followed by DH Shipbuilding Co with 500 billion won and Seoul Guarantee Insurance Co SGI at 182 billion won according to the dataThe consulting firm said IPOs will increase during the rest of the year amid a bullish run the data saidThe countrys benchmark index the KOSPI has advanced more than 43 per cent so far this yearBut the countrys financial regulator said earlier it will introduce stricter rules for IPOsStarting next year over 40 per cent of IPO shares will be first allotted to institutional investors who guarantee the holdings of IPO shares for a certain period usually three to six monthsCurrently only about 20 per cent of IPO shares are sold to such institutional investors to help with the smooth debut of a new company on the stock marketThe measure will come as some institutional investors have been under fire for pocketing decent gains by selling IPO shares on the first day of trading IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/ipos-in-s-korea-rise-19-pc-through-q3-641815.html Tue, 07 Oct 2025 10:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/gold-hits-fresh-record-high-on-mcx-amid-us-economic-uncertainty-641817.html Mumbai Oct 7 Gold prices hit fresh record highs in morning trade on the Multi Commodity Exchange MCX on Tuesday as investors turned to the precious metal amid growing global uncertainties and expectations of more rate cuts by the US Federal Reserve MCX Gold December futures touched an alltime high of Rs 120769 per 10 gramsAround 915 am gold was trading 043 per cent higher at Rs 120769 per 10 grams while MCX Silver December futures were up 012 per cent at Rs 147701 per kgIn the international market gold prices also surged to record highs as investors sought safehaven assets due to rising economic and political tensions in the United StatesExpectations that the US Fed may cut interest rates further have added to the positive sentiment around the yellow metalThe ongoing US government shutdown has deepened worries about the countrys economic stabilityThe deadlock which has now entered its seventh day has frozen about 17 trillion in funds for federal agencies roughly onefourth of the total annual budget and could lead to more job losses according to reportsMarket analysts said traders are now watching key upcoming events including the release of the Federal Open Market Committee FOMC meeting minutes a speech by the Fed Chair Chinas market reopening after the holiday and developments around the US shutdownGold prices rose to an alltime high extending gains to a third session on US economic and political uncertainties and expectations of further interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve experts saidWhite House backed off President Donald Trumps assertion that government employees were already being laid off due to the shutdown but warned job losses could result as the standoff looked set to stretch into a seventh day market analysts addedAs per the experts the focus this week will be on FOMC meeting minutes Fed chairs speech Chinas reopening after holiday and updates regarding US shutdown IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/gold-hits-fresh-record-high-on-mcx-amid-us-economic-uncertainty-641817.html Tue, 07 Oct 2025 10:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/sensex-nifty-extend-gains-on-buying-in-heavyweights-641818.html Mumbai Oct 7 Indian stock markets continued their upward trend on Tuesday supported by buying in major stocks such as ICICI Bank ITC and more However profit booking in select banking stocks limited the overall gains during the early trading hoursThe Sensex which rose more than 100 points in early trade was trading at 81843 up 52 points or 006 per centThe Nifty also gained 34 points or 014 per cent to reach 25112 after hitting an intraday high of 25140Among the top gainers on the Sensex were Power Grid Bajaj Finance HCL Tech Bharti Airtel ICICI Bank Ultratech Cement NTPC Hindustan Unilever Bajaj Finserv and BEL which rose between 03 per cent and 16 per centOn the other hand Trent Axis Bank Tata Motors TCS SBI Kotak Bank Tech Mahindra HDFC Bank and Infosys were among the major losers slipping up to 27 per centIn the broader market the Nifty MidCap index gained 008 per cent while the Nifty SmallCap index rose 041 per cent showing continued interest from investors in smaller companiesAmong sectoral indices Nifty Metal and Nifty IT were the top performers each gaining 04 per centThe Nifty PSU Bank index was the worst hit falling 03 per cent due to profit booking in public sector lendersAnalysts said that overall market sentiment remains positive though some volatility may persist due to profittaking at higher levelsThe ongoing mild rally in the market has the potential to gain momentum The FII selling in India is slowly declining since the sharp appreciation in other markets has pushed up their valuations and the valuation differential between India and other markets has come down analysts saidSince there is huge short position in the market any positive news can trigger shortcovering further aiding the rally they added IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/sensex-nifty-extend-gains-on-buying-in-heavyweights-641818.html Tue, 07 Oct 2025 10:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/revised-cghs-rate-structure-to-boost-healthcare-infra-enable-access-to-quality-care-641857.html New Delhi Oct 7 The revised Central Government Health Scheme CGHS rate structure which comes after 15 long years will boost healthcare infrastructure and enable access to quality care for over 40 lakh CGHS beneficiaries in the country according to reports on Tuesday Effective from October 13 the revised rates will cover approximately 2000 medical procedures including MRI mammography and laparotomy an abdominal surgery among othersThe move addresses the longstanding demand of private healthcare operators to improve pricing of scheme patients owing to inflationary medical costs according to a report by Emkay Global Financial ServicesThe revision represents a favourable development for hospital companies that serve patients under this programme added ratings agency ICRAThe updated policy introduces a tiered rate card system distinguishing between NABHaccredited and nonNABHaccredited facilities and factoring in superspecialty hospitals with over 200 beds as well as hospitals in tier2 and tier3 citiesThis structure is designed to better match reimbursement rates with the actual costs incurred by hospitals ICRA saidThis will also help superspecialty and NABHaccredited hospitals to see higher realisations while also addressing cost differences between major metropolitan areas and smaller citiesSuperspecialty hospitals with more than 200 beds will receive a 15 per cent premium to NABHaccredited hospitals base rate while the nonNABH ones will receive 15 per cent less than the base rateThe move is expected to help beneficiaries get treatment at some of the top hospitals which were previously difficult to access due to the low ratesCertain procedures in categories like nephrology obstetrics urology gastroenterology which were earlier not viable for private operators may now become viable given the sizable hikes undertakenThis should strengthen the healthcare infrastructure thereby enabling access to quality healthcare for the masses and in turn propel volume growth in the long term Emkay Global saidWhile the upward revision in the CGHS rate card is a favourable development one of the key concerns remains the long receivable cycle under government schemes like the CGHS compared with other payer categories such as cashpaying international patients or those covered by insurance ICRA stated IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/revised-cghs-rate-structure-to-boost-healthcare-infra-enable-access-to-quality-care-641857.html Tue, 07 Oct 2025 13:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/world-bank-raises-indias-fy26-growth-forecast-country-to-remain-worlds-fastest-641864.html New Delhi Oct 7 India is expected to remain the worlds fastestgrowing major economy underpinned by strong consumption growth improved agricultural output and rural wage growth according to a World Bank report released on Tuesday The World Bank raised Indias growth forecast to 65 per cent for FY26 from its earlier projection of 63 per cent in June citing resilient domestic demand strong rural recovery and the positive impact of tax reformsThe report pegs the growth of Bangladesh at 48 per cent in FY26 while for Bhutan the forecast for FY26 has been downgraded to 73 per cent due to hydropower construction delays but is expected to reverse as construction speed picks up in FY27In Maldives growth is projected to slow to 39 per cent in FY26 while in Nepal recent unrest and heightened political and economic uncertainty is expected to cause growth to decline to 21 per cent in FY26 the report observesIn Sri Lanka the forecast has been upgraded to 35 per cent in FY26 due to strong growth in tourism and service exportsGrowth in South Asia is projected to be robust at 66 per cent this year but is expected to slow to 58 percent in 2026 a downward revision of 06 percentage points from the April forecast Downside risks include spillovers from the global economic slowdown and uncertainty around trade policy sociopolitical unrest in the region and labour market disruptions posed by emerging technology such as artificial intelligence AISouth Asia has enormous economic potential and is still the fastest growing region in the world But countries need to proactively address risks to growth said Johannes Zutt World Bank Vice President for South Asia Countries can boost productivity spur private investment and create jobs for the regions rapidly expanding workforce by maximizing the benefits of AI and lowering trade barriers especially for intermediate goodsThe report recommends harnessing the potential of AI to boost productivity and incomes The rapid development of AI is transforming the global economy and reshaping labor markets South Asias workforce has limited exposure to AI adoption due to the predominance of lowskill agricultural and manual jobs But moderately educated young workers especially in sectors such as business services and information technology are vulnerable Since the release of ChatGPT job listings have fallen by around 20 percent in jobs most exposed to and most replaceable by AI relative to other occupationsBut AI could also bring substantial productivity gains especially in sectors that have strong potential for AI to complement humans Job listings data in the region indicate rapidly growing demand for AI skills with such jobs commanding a wage premium of nearly 30 percent relative to other professional rolesThe reports recommendations include steps to help accelerate job creation by streamlining sizedependent regulations that discourage firms growth better transport and digital connectivity more transparent housing search options upskilling and job matching as well as providing safety nets for affected workers IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/world-bank-raises-indias-fy26-growth-forecast-country-to-remain-worlds-fastest-641864.html Tue, 07 Oct 2025 13:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/global-fintech-fest-fm-sitharaman-unveils-foreign-currency-settlement-system-in-gift-city-641876.html Mumbai Oct 7 With an aim to boost international trade investment and ease of doing business Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday unveiled foreign currency settlement system in GIFT City Addressing the Global Fintech Fest 2025 here Sitharaman said that foreign currency settlement system to solve the problem of facilitating seamless transactions on realtime basis enhance liquidity management and ensuring complianceShe further informed that the FCSS will be a payment system within IFSC designed for settling transactions in foreign currency on a realtime basis or near realtime basis GIFT IFSC joins select group of financial centres that include Hong Kong Tokyo Manila and so on having infrastructure to settle foreign currency transactions locally the Finance Minister addedWith the operationalisation of the FCSS GIFT IFSC joins a select group of global financial centres including Hong Kong Tokyo and Manila that have the infrastructure to settle foreign currency transactions locallyTransactions in foreign currency by entities and International Financial Services Centre IFSC are currently settled through the correspondent banking arrangement which is routed through different participants and multiple banks Such transactions are not settled on a realtime basisSitharaman said that FCSS facilities seamless and efficient settlement of foreign currency transactions within IFSC on a realtime basis not 3648 hours enhancing liquidity management and operational resilience ensuring compliance with regulatory oversight under PSS ActStandard Chartereds India unit has been selected for US dollar clearanceThe foreign currency settlement system will function as a payment arrangement in the International Financial Services CentreThis foreign currency settlement system has been designed to ensure that transactions in foreign currency are completed in realtime or around realtimeIndia now ranks third in the world for the number of fintech companies and also leads in digital payment volumes having processed over 18580 crore UPI transactions worth Rs 261 lakh crore in 202425Gujarat International Finance TecCity also called GIFT City is a central business district in Gandhinagar Gujarat IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/global-fintech-fest-fm-sitharaman-unveils-foreign-currency-settlement-system-in-gift-city-641876.html Tue, 07 Oct 2025 14:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/sensex-nifty-open-higher-ahead-of-q2-earnings-season-641702.html New Delhi Oct 6 Indian stock markets opened slightly higher on Monday supported by gains in banking and IT shares as investor sentiment improved following the Reserve Bank of Indias recent lending reforms and ahead of the upcoming quarterly earnings season At the opening bell the Sensex rose 67 points or nearly 009 per cent to 8127479 while the Nifty advanced 22 points or nearly 010 per cent to 2491655Among the major gainers on the Sensex were Bajaj Finance HDFC Bank Axis Bank HCL Tech TCS Trent and Infosys which climbed up to 1 per centIn the broader markets the Nifty MidCap and Nifty SmallCap indices also moved up by 011 per cent and 008 per cent respectivelyMarket analysts said the Indian equity benchmarks showed strength despite global uncertainties and domestic challengesThey attributed the positive momentum to the RBIs dovish stance which kept the repo rate unchanged at 55 per cent while lowering the inflation forecast for FY26 and raising the GDP growth outlookCapital market lending reforms and expectations of strong festive demand also boosted investor confidence analysts addedAnalysts however advised traders to remain cautious amid ongoing volatilityA buyondips strategy remains advisable especially in leveraged positions Investors should book partial profits on rallies and use tight stoplosses Fresh long positions should be taken only if the Nifty sustains above the 25000 mark they saidThis week market activity is expected to be influenced by corporate earnings announcements management commentaries on the second half of FY26 developments in the IPO market the release of FOMC minutes and US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powells speechHopes of progress in the IndiaUS trade deal are also likely to guide investor sentimentOn Friday both benchmark indices had extended their rally for a second straight sessionThe Sensex had closed 22386 points or 028 per cent higher at 8120717 while the Nifty rose 5795 points or 023 per cent to settle at 2489425 IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/sensex-nifty-open-higher-ahead-of-q2-earnings-season-641702.html Mon, 06 Oct 2025 10:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/securities-firms-set-to-further-rise-on-increased-turnover-friendly-policies-641705.html Seoul Oct 6 Shares in securities firms which have already doubled this year are widely expected to further advance down the road on the back of increased turnover and marketfriendly steps industry watchers said on Monday According to the Korea Exchange KRX the index tracking listed securities firms stock movement has nearly doubled this year joining the ranks of topperforming sectors reports Yonhap news agencyThe benchmark index the KOSPI has rallied by more than 43 per cent so far this year and retail investors flocked to the market out of fear of missing outIn September alone the securities firmtracking stock index gained 82 per cent far higher than the 05 per cent gain of the KOSPIIn line with a market bull run the daily stock turnover which includes transactions on the countrys first alternative stock trading platform NXT reached 27 trillion won 193 billion up from the previous months 227 trillion wonDuring the third quarter of the year the daily turnover rose 97 per cent onquarter to 26 trillion wonForeign buying coupled with increased turnover will help propel the local stock market said Koh Yeonsu an analyst at Hana SecuritiesSecurities firms are positioned to benefit from this trend Yeonsu addedYoon Yudong an analyst at NH Investment amp Securities said backed by an easing monetary cycle the daily turnover will reach 30 trillion won this year and further rise to 37 trillion won in 2026 and 43 trillion won in 2027Analysts said a series of marketfriendly measures such as treasury share reform and tax policies are another boon for securities firmsAll conditions are ripe for brokerage firms earnings improvement said Yoon of NH Investment amp SecuritiesIt will be one of the shining sectors this year Yoon added IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/securities-firms-set-to-further-rise-on-increased-turnover-friendly-policies-641705.html Mon, 06 Oct 2025 10:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/indias-services-pmi-stands-at-609-in-september-641712.html New Delhi Oct 6 Indias services sector activity remained steady in September with the HSBC India Services Purchasing Managers Index PMI standing at 609 according to data released by SampP Global on Monday Pranjul Bhandari Chief India Economist at HSBC said business activity in the services sector remained strong even though it was slightly lower than the recent high seen in AugustMost trackers moderated but nothing in the survey suggested there is a big loss in growth momentum in services she saidInstead the Future Activity Index rose to its highest level since March indicating strengthening optimism among services companies about business prospects she addedThe PMI reading signalled continued stability in Indias services economy supported by firm demand new business activity and a positive outlook among companiesThe sector has remained one of the key contributors to Indias overall economic performance this yearMeanwhile Indias manufacturing sector also maintained its growth momentum in September though at a slower paceThe HSBC India Manufacturing PMI stood at 577 down from 593 in August marking the weakest improvement in sector health since MayHowever the figure remains well above the neutral 50 level which separates expansion from contractionThe September report highlighted that manufacturing output continued to grow on the back of steady demand though firms reported a mild slowdown in new orders and purchasing activityEmployment levels and input inventories remained stable reflecting confidence in the business outlook for the coming monthsIn August Indias manufacturing PMI had climbed to 593 driven by strong domestic demand and robust productionAccording to SampP Global that was the fastest improvement in operating conditions in over 17 years with much of the momentum coming from advertising success and demand buoyancy across intermediate and capital goods categoriesAnalysts believe that while both manufacturing and services sectors moderated slightly in September the overall growth momentum in Indias economy remains firm supported by steady domestic demand policy stability and improving business confidence IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/indias-services-pmi-stands-at-609-in-september-641712.html Mon, 06 Oct 2025 11:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/new-flexible-supercapacitor-to-power-wearables-evs-cut-dependence-on-imported-batteries-641728.html New Delhi Oct 6 Researchers at Nagaland University have developed a flexible supercapacitor device capable of powering nextgeneration wearable electronics electric vehicles EVs and renewable energy systems a breakthrough that has the potential to transform energy storage technologies in the country The research supported by the Indian Institute of Science IISc Bangalore and funded by the Anusandhan National Research Foundation ANRF could help India reduce dependence on imported batteries while boosting clean energy and storage technologies under the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat said the researchersGoing beyond labscale material development the team built a working prototype of the flexible supercapacitor demonstrating its practical viabilityWhile the immediate applications include healthmonitoring devices IoT gadgets and robotics the innovation also holds potential for electric vehicles the team said in the paper published in the peerreviewed scientific journal RSC AdvancesFlexible supercapacitors like these could improve regenerative braking systems provide quick acceleration boosts and extend battery lifespansThe device combines flexibility high energy storage and durability which are critical for future portable and wearable technologies The study is the first to compare tungsten vanadium and cobalt doping in molybdenum diselenide for energy storage Among them cobalt proved most effective said Dr Vijeth H Assistant Professor Department of Physics Nagaland UniversityThe research strengthens Indias path toward sustainable and selfreliant energy solutions Vijeth addedThe device created at the Advanced Materials for Device Applications AMDA Research Laboratory in Lumami campus of the University uses cobaltdoped molybdenum diselenide a cuttingedge twodimensional 2D materialIt delivers an impressive energy density of 3454 W h kg¹ and remains stable over 10000 chargedischarge cycles while also retaining performance even after repeated bending and twistingWith the rapid growth of wearables electric mobility and renewable energy reliable and efficient storage devices are in high demand By combining flexibility durability and high energy density the research has taken a significant step forwardThe next steps involve optimising the electrodeelectrolyte interface improving safety with solidstate gel electrolytes and scaling up the process to pilotlevel production Industry collaborations are also being explored to bring the technology closer to commercialisation said Peweu Marhu Research Scholar Department of Physics Nagaland University IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/new-flexible-supercapacitor-to-power-wearables-evs-cut-dependence-on-imported-batteries-641728.html Mon, 06 Oct 2025 12:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/meta-announces-launch-of-apacs-largest-capacity-subsea-cable-in-2028-641744.html New Delhi Oct 6 US tech giant Meta has announced the launch of the largest capacity subsea cable in the AsiaPacific region called Candle in 2028 Candle will span approximately 8000 kilometres bringing increased connectivity to Japan Taiwan the Philippines Indonesia Malaysia and Singapore the company said in a statementThe project will offer a capacity of around 570 terabits per second Tbps serving over 580 million people according to the company Meta announced that Candle will use 24 fibrepair technology to deliver bandwidth similar to its largest capacity cable namely Anjana The new cable will be developed in collaboration with regional telecom partners the company notedThe company also shared updates to several existing subsea projects including the completion of the Bifrost cable systemThe AsiaPacific APAC region is home to over 58 per cent of the worlds internet users many who rely on robust global infrastructure for online connectivity and access to innovative tech such as AIThe company reported recent advancements on the Bifrost Echo and Apricot cables Bifrost now connects Singapore Indonesia the Philippines and the United States with Mexico expected in 2026 Bifrost will chart a different path from prior transpacific cables to add over 260 Tbps of redundancy to this popular digital routeEcho now delivers 260 Tbps of capacity between Guam and California with options for onward connectivity into Asia in the futureWith future extensions to the Philippines Indonesia and Singapore Metas Apricot system has a 12000kilometre span that will complement the Bifrost and Echo systems with 290 Tbps of capacityMeanwhile Meta is reportedly hiring contractors in the United States at rates of up to 55 around Rs 4850 per hour to develop Hindilanguage AI chatbots designed for Indian users IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/meta-announces-launch-of-apacs-largest-capacity-subsea-cable-in-2028-641744.html Mon, 06 Oct 2025 15:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/zerodha-faces-outage-users-report-losses-amid-glitches-641767.html New Delhi Oct 6 Stock trading platform Zerodha faced a major outage on Monday leaving thousands of users unable to trade According to Downdetector 88 per cent of complaints were related to trading issues while 13 per cent pertained to the websiteThe platform experienced a sudden surge in problem reports which Downdetector flags when incidents exceed typical volume for that time of dayUsers quickly took to social media platform X to voice their frustrationAmid the chaos one user wrote on X Zerodha was down today and I lost money because of their error This glitch is happening way too often and it feels like the team has zero responsibility Losing money due to their negligence is unacceptableAnother user posted Nifty hits 25000 again Zerodha Im going downAnother expressed anger at pending orders writing Zerodha is down My orders are pending Wake up Zerodha and fix the issue immediatelyA separate complaint highlighted deeper concerns stating Looks like Zerodha is gradually losing its edge Support responses often miss the actual context replying without reading the query properly I was referring to margin not order execution The lack of attention to detail is disappointing from a platform once known for its precisionZerodha later sent updates to affected users assuring them that the problem had been resolvedThe message read Some of your orders would have shown under the pending status The issue is now resolved and you can check the updated order status on Kite We regret the inconvenience causedMeanwhile in September this year also the online brokerage was hit by the technical glitch which left users unable to view price updates on its Kite applicationThe technical issue prompted a wave of complaints across social media on September 3 where users recalled similar instances in the pastFollowing the complaints Zerodha acknowledged the problem on the social media platform X adding that order placement was not affected IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/zerodha-faces-outage-users-report-losses-amid-glitches-641767.html Mon, 06 Oct 2025 16:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/make-in-india-booster-eli-lilly-announces-1-billion-investment-in-country-641768.html New Delhi Oct 6 US pharma giant Eli Lilly on Monday announced plans to invest more than 1 billion in India over the next several years for new contract manufacturing boosting the countrys Make in India goal The strategic investment is expected to expand patients access to the companys key medicines including those for obesity diabetes Alzheimers cancer and autoimmune conditions around the world the company saidLillys investment in India reflects confidence in Indias skilled talent robust infrastructure and businessfriendly policies while supporting Lillys journey as a global leader in life sciences Together we are shaping a stronger future for healthcare and manufacturing We are proud to support Lillys growth journey in India and wish them continued success in the years ahead said Nivruti Rai Managing Director amp CEO Invest India Ministry of Commerce amp IndustryLilly also plans to establish a new manufacturing and quality facility in Hyderabad The new hub will offer advanced technical capabilities and oversight for Lillys contract manufacturing network across the countryLillys continued expansion in Hyderabad highlights the citys emergence as a powerhouse in global healthcare innovation From the recent opening of its innovation and technology site to a new manufacturing collaboration and the establishment of a manufacturing and quality hub Lilly is moving swiftly to expand its presence in Telangana reinforcing the states position as a preferred destination for cuttingedge healthcare investments said A Revanth Reddy Honble Chief Minister of TelanganaThe company noted that it will immediately begin recruitment across roles such as engineers chemists analytical scientists quality control and assurance professionals and management positions in a boost to Indias highly skilled talent poolThe investment reaffirms our confidence in India as a hub for capability building within our global network said Patrik Jonsson Executive Vice President and President Lilly International Eli Lilly and Company IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/make-in-india-booster-eli-lilly-announces-1-billion-investment-in-country-641768.html Mon, 06 Oct 2025 16:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/tec-iiit-naya-raipur-sign-mou-to-collaborate-on-next-gen-telecom-tech-641586.html New Delhi Oct 4 The Telecommunication Engineering Centre TEC the technical arm of the Department of Telecommunications DoT has signed a memorandum of understanding MoU with the International Institute of Information Technology IIIT Naya Raipur the Ministry of Communication said in a statement on Saturday The partnership aims to jointly work on research innovation and standardisation in nextgeneration telecommunications technologiesThis collaboration brings together TECs leadership in telecom standardisation and IIIT Naya Raipurs expertise in academic research to strengthen Indias role in global telecom innovation the ministry saidThe partnership will focus on several key areas One important area is Open RAN and network disaggregation where both institutions will work on developing open interfaces modular architectures virtualisation and ensuring interoperability across vendorsAnother focus area is cognitive radio and spectrum sharing where research will be carried out on coexistence frameworks and studies that align with global spectrum policies including the agenda of the upcoming World Radiocommunication Conference WRC27In addition joint research will be undertaken in 5G 6G and IoT frameworks including the creation of advanced test environments to support future generations of networks Both partners will also actively contribute to global and national standardisation efforts participating in ITUT Study Groups and TECs National Working Groups to represent Indias interestsA significant part of the collaboration will be the development of Indiaspecific test frameworks standards and interoperability solutions tailored to the countrys diverse digital ecosystem These efforts will help ensure that solutions are affordable interoperable and suited to Indias unique connectivity needsThe partnership will boost Indias participation in international telecom standards and policy forums By creating joint research testbeds and realworld collaborations it will accelerate innovation in emerging communication technologiesIt also supports the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat by fostering indigenous research design and development in telecom the statement saidThe initiative will promote affordable interoperable and vendorneutral solutions tailored for Indias diverse connectivity needs while preparing the nation for 6G networks and advanced IoT applications IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/tec-iiit-naya-raipur-sign-mou-to-collaborate-on-next-gen-telecom-tech-641586.html Sun, 05 Oct 2025 00:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/nse-reduces-lot-sizes-for-nifty-50-other-index-derivatives-from-oct-28-641612.html Mumbai Oct 5 The National Stock Exchange NSE has announced that it will revise market lot sizes for four major index futures and options contracts including Nifty 50 effective from October 28 The lot size for the Nifty 50 index has been reduced from 75 to 65 and the Nifty Bank lot size has been cut from 35 to 30 according to an official statementThe Nifty Financial Services lot size is now 60 down from 65 while the Nifty Mid Select index has been reduced from 140 to 120 The market lot of derivative contracts for the Nifty Next 50 Index was kept unchangedInvestors can continue to trade with current lot sizes until the December 30 2025 expiry after which all new contracts of any maturity will follow the revised smaller lot sizesMembers are advised to inform their clients who have positions or take any new positions in the quarterly and halfyearly contracts of the upcoming revision in lot size on the belowmentioned dates NSE saidThe current lot size for Niftys weekly and monthly contracts will expire on December 23 while the monthly Nifty and Bank Nifty contracts will expire on December 30 All new contracts after these dates will adhere to the revised sizesThe NSE revises lot sizes of futures amp options contracts primarily to keep the contract value within a standard range and to keep the contracts affordable and standardisedTraders do not have to pay the full value of the contract upfront as derivatives are leveraged instruments but their lot size determines the participants exposure and the margin requiredLot size revisions are undertaken by stock exchanges to enhance market efficiency and liquidity as well as to ensure that contracts are more appealing to a broader range of market participants IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/nse-reduces-lot-sizes-for-nifty-50-other-index-derivatives-from-oct-28-641612.html Sun, 05 Oct 2025 10:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/swadeshi-campaigns-to-help-domestic-textiles-demand-reach-250-billion-by-2030-641620.html New Delhi Oct 5 The Ministry of Textiles has announced it will run a nationwide Swadeshi Campaign for the next six to nine months to boost the domestic demand for handloom handicrafts and textile products especially among urban millennials and Gen Z After the implementation of Swadeshi campaigns the domestic demand shall increase by a CAGR of 910 per cent per annum to reach a total domestic demand of textiles of 250 billion by 2030 the ministry said in a statementIndias textiles and clothing market reached a valuation of 179 billion in 2024 with an annual growth rate exceeding 7 per cent the government informedThe contribution of the household HH sector to the domestic market is 58 per cent and it is growing at a CAGR of 819 per centMeanwhile the nonhousehold consumption is 21 per cent of the domestic market and is growing at a CAGR of 679 per centThe Swadeshi campaign will be run across India to boost textile consumption among urban millennials and Gen Z while enhancing market access and income opportunities for weavers artisans and MSMEsThe campaign aims to reposition Indian textiles as symbols of pride and style especially for younger consumersMinistries public sector units and educational institutions will be encouraged to adopt Indianmade textiles for uniforms and furnishings an official statement saidThe ministry announced that the initiative complements existing programs including the productionlinked incentive scheme for textiles PM MITRA Parks and the One District One Product initiativeEvents social media outreach and statelevel participation will promote the slogan of the campaign the release saidThe recent changes in the GST rates will enhance demand for the textiles and apparels in the household and nonhousehold sectors which may yield higher growth rates in the consumption of textiles in the country the government said IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/swadeshi-campaigns-to-help-domestic-textiles-demand-reach-250-billion-by-2030-641620.html Sun, 05 Oct 2025 13:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/arattais-engineering-has-lot-of-depth-zohos-sridhar-vembu-641639.html New Delhi Oct 5 Zohos Chief Scientist and Cofounder Sridhar Vembu on Sunday explained the technological depth of homegrown engineering behind Arattai Zohos Indiamade messaging app The application has gained significant traction on social media this week following endorsements from business leadersVembu announced on X that Arattais messagingAV framework is built on 15 years of research and the application has a distributed framework that allows decentralisation of workload among many servers and databases and provides fault tolerance performance monitoring and securitySridhar Vembu wrote Arattai is on the surface a simple product but it has a lot of depth inside Let me list the engineering frameworks all homegrown that power Arattai First is what we call our messagingAV framework This has been the realtime workhorse of Zoho for a while and this is what offers you those crisp calls and meetings that connect quickly It has been perfected for 15 yearsThe distributed framework of the application is the backbone of Zoho and powers a lot of what you see on the surface and also keeps our systems secure We have been perfecting this for over 20 years now he addedZoho has teams actively working on these frameworks and providing strong support to the Arattai team he said adding that the customers can expect more innovations from the platform soonVembu has earlier said the company does not want Arattai to be a closed ecosystem like WhatsApp but instead an open network that works seamlessly across platformsArattai launched in 2021 is positioned as a privacyfirst messaging app with all Indian user data hosted within the countryVoice and video calls are already endtoend encrypted while standard messages will get encryption in future updatesSince September 25 Arattai has been averaging around one lakh downloads per day compared to just 300 earlier while daily active users rose 40 times in last week of SeptemberThe surge began after government representatives highlighted the app driving it to the top of Indias app charts IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/arattais-engineering-has-lot-of-depth-zohos-sridhar-vembu-641639.html Sun, 05 Oct 2025 13:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/punjab-unveils-digital-transformation-for-boosting-transparency-enhancing-efficiency-641649.html Chandigarh Oct 5 The Directorate of Treasury and Accounts in Punjab has unveiled digital transformation initiatives aimed at modernising the administration boosting transparency and enhancing efficiency across all government departments state Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said on Sunday These reforms spanning accounting audit fund management and citizen services mark a step towards fully digital governance in PunjabCheema said the Directorate has developed the SNASPARSH a new fund flow mechanism for centrallysponsored schemes and has availed an incentive of Rs 450 crore in FY 2425He said this integrated framework connects the public financial management system PFMS the state IFMS and RBIs Ekuber system aiming to increase cash liquidity in the treasury and reduce unutilised funds parked in bank accountsA separate SNA SPARSH treasury has been created to facilitate this mechanism and the state is now aiming for an incentive of Rs 350 crore under Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment for the fiscal year 202526 SASCI 202526 Cheema said in a statementHighlighting another key initiative the Finance Minister said the Pensioner Sewa Portal has been developed in consultation with the Punjab Development Commission to create a centralised database of all pensioners and facilitate online pension case processing between banks and the treasuryHe said this portal enables activities like sending ePPO from treasury to banks and provides pensioners with realtime tracking of pension updates grievance handling life certificate integrations and the ability to submit updation requestsDiscussing the new audit management system AMS the Finance Minister said the AMS grants all stakeholders realtime access to audit reports and facilitates enhanced oversight with regular review meetings at the Administrative Secretary level for timely resolution of audit parasThe DTA also plans to include the Accountant Generals audit reports in its future roadmap said CheemaThe new initiatives also include the nontreasury module a nontreasury accounting system developed in coordination with the Accountant General AG office to streamline the accounting for deposit works by the Forest and Works Departments This system automates the submission of monthly accounts by all divisions in these departments said the Finance MinisterAdding further he said that the government has also commenced the use of evouchers for all bills across Punjab a measure expected to significantly reduce costs related to stationery travelling and the handling of physical vouchers submitted to the AG PunjabHe said the necessary hardware for storing these evouchers has been procured and installed at the AG premisesCheema said that from automating departmental accounts and ensuring efficient central fund flow through SNASPARSH to digitising the entire audit and pension processes these initiatives will deliver significant savings increase accountability and most importantly improve service delivery to our employees and citizens IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/punjab-unveils-digital-transformation-for-boosting-transparency-enhancing-efficiency-641649.html Sun, 05 Oct 2025 14:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/grokipedia-beta-version-to-launch-in-2-months-elon-musk-641650.html New Delhi Oct 5 Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk informed on Sunday that an early beta of Grokipedia an xAIbuilt competitor to knowledge platform Wikipedia will launch in two weeks Musk retweeted a post by an X user amXFreeze that called Grokipedia the worlds largest and most accurate knowledge source for humans and AI with no limits on useGrok is using massive amounts of inference compute to look at sources like Wikipedia page and asking Whats true partially true false or missing the tweet readIt will analyse sources like Wikipedia flagging falsehoods correcting halftruths and adding missing context in its entries it saidThe reason why it will be the true knowledge source is because its built solely for the truth and to navigate to the truth free from bias or hidden agendas Elon never does anything by half measures he dives straight to the full extent the tweet saidMusk has consistently criticised Wikipedias funding and editorial approach His proposal to use AI to navigate to the truth has generated mixed reactions on X with some users expressing support for a new competitor while others caution that Groks training data may introduce new biasesGrokipedia he has stated in earlier announcements is intended to be a massive improvement over Wikipedia and a step towards xAIs goal of understanding the universeElon Musk on October 2 became the worlds first person ever to reach a net worth of 500 billion followed by Oracles Larry Ellison at a distant secondMusks AI startup xAI was valued at 75 billion as of July xAI was targeting a 200 billion valuation after a fundraise although Musk said the company was not raising capital at that time IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/grokipedia-beta-version-to-launch-in-2-months-elon-musk-641650.html Sun, 05 Oct 2025 14:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/ipos-worth-rs-28-000-crore-to-hit-indian-primary-market-next-week-641541.html New Delhi Oct 4 The investors will have a busy time next week as the initial public offerings IPOs of around five companies are set to hit the primary market to raise a combined amount of over Rs 28000 crore Additionally 29 companies mainboard and SMEs will have their debut on domestic exchangesTata Capital a nonbanking financial company of the Tata Group will float its IPO between October 6 to 8 aiming to raise Rs 15500 crore Tata Capitals initial share sale is going to be the biggest so far this year The IPO is a combination of 21 crore fresh shares and 2658 crore shares as offer for sale OFS The Tata Group firms have a fixed price band of Rs 310Rs 326LG Electronics India the Indian subsidiary of South Koreabased LG has announced a floating Rs 11607 crore IPO on October 79 The IPO is entirely an offer for sale issue wherein the South Koreabased parent company will be offloading 1018 crore shares at a price band of Rs 1080Rs 1140The two companies will contribute the most in terms of raising capital with a combined issue size of Rs 27107 crore Further many SMEs IPOs will also open next weekThe year is turning out to be a blockbuster one for the IPO market with companies already raising close to Rs 85000 crore through 74 mainboard offerings as of September The momentum is picking up speed in October as upcoming listings will push the total raised amount past the Rs 1 lakh crore milestone for just the third time in historyEarlier in 2021 and 2024 the IPO market crossed this threshold In 2021 companies raised Rs 119 lakh crore through 63 IPOs while in 2024 the figure jumped to Rs 16 lakh crore from 91 initial offersAs per reports the numbers are expected to surpass all the records this year IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/ipos-worth-rs-28-000-crore-to-hit-indian-primary-market-next-week-641541.html Sat, 04 Oct 2025 16:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/multidisciplinary-team-probing-to-assess-cause-of-cough-syrup-deaths-in-mp-rajasthan-govt-641549.html New Delhi Oct 4 After detecting highly toxic chemical diethylene glycol DEG in samples of cough syrups manufactured by Tamil Nadubased drug manufacturer the Union government has informed that a multidisciplinary team comprising experts from central agencies such as NIV ICMR and CDSCO are probing to assess the cause of deaths in children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan About nine children have in recent weeks succumbed to death in MPs Chhindwara and two children died in Rajasthan one in Bharatpur and another in Sikar after consuming counterfeit cough syrup in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh due to suspected kidney failureA multidisciplinary team comprising experts from NIV ICMR NEERI CDSCO and AIIMS Nagpur etc are continuing the analyses of the various samples and factors to assess the cause of deaths said the Ministry of Health in an official statementA probe undertaken by the Tamil Nadu FDA at the behest of the MP government it was found that the cough syrups contained DEG beyond the permissible limitsAt the request of the MP Govt Tamil Nadu FDA had taken samples of Coldrif Cough Syrup from the manufacturing premises of Sresan Pharma in Kanchipuram Tamil Nadu The samples are found to contain DEG beyond the permissible limit the Ministry saidThe company has been ordered to explain the findings and cease production until further noticeEarlier the Tamil Nadu government had issued a statewide ban on the cough syrup brand Coldrif enforced from October 1 after concerns that the medicine may have been linked to the death of at least 11 children in Madhya Pradesh and RajasthanHealth authorities have also cleared stocks of the syrup from the local market to prevent further riskAccording to officials the same manufacturer had supplied its cough syrups to multiple states including Rajasthan Madhya Pradesh and Puducherry raising concerns about the reach of the potentially unsafe productThe Ministry noted that the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation CDSCO had earlier collected six samples all of which tested negative for the toxic chemicals DEG and ethylene glycol EGSimultaneously the Madhya Pradesh Food and Drug Administration MPFDA collected 13 samples three of which were analysed and also found to be free of contaminantsMeanwhile the government has initiated a risk based on inspection at the manufacturing premises of all the 19 drugs sampled spread across six statesThis will help find out the gaps leading to quality failure of drug samples and suggesting process improvement to avoid such incidents in the future the Ministry said IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/multidisciplinary-team-probing-to-assess-cause-of-cough-syrup-deaths-in-mp-rajasthan-govt-641549.html Sat, 04 Oct 2025 16:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/upi-payments-at-nh-toll-plazas-to-cost-less-than-cash-for-non-fastag-vehicles-from-nov-15-641553.html New Delhi Oct 4 Commuters not having a functional FASTag will now have to pay just 125 times the applicable fee at toll plazas on National Highways NHs if they pay through online mode using Unified Payment Interface UPI from November 15 the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways said in a statement on Saturday To incentivise digital payments and eliminate cash transactions at the user fee plazas on NHs for NonFASTag users the government of India has amended the National Highways Fee Determination of Rates and Collection Rules 2008Under the new rule vehicles entering a fee plaza without a valid functional FASTag will be charged twice the applicable user fee if the fee payment is made in cashSuch users who opt to pay the fee via the Unified Payment Interface UPI will be charged only 125 times the applicable user fee for that category of the vehicle the statement readFor example if a vehicle needs to pay a user fee of Rs 100 through a valid FASTag the fee will be Rs 200 if paid in cash and Rs 125 if paid via UPIThis amendment aims to strengthen the fee collection process enhance transparency in toll collection and promote ease of commuting for the National Highway usersThis notification will come into effect from November 15 2025 the Ministry saidThe latest amendment in the rules reflects the Government of Indias commitment to leveraging technology for efficient toll collection and reducing congestion at the toll plazas the statement noted The revised rules will encourage the adoption of digital payments enhance transparency in toll operations and improve the overall user experience on National HighwaysOn Independence Day this year the government introduced a FASTagbased annual toll pass for private vehicles priced at Rs 3000This service is available at toll plazas managed by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and the National Highways Authority of India for cars jeeps and vansThe pass is good for 200 toll trips or one year after it is activated whichever comes first The FASTag automatically transitions to standard paypertrip mode when the limit is reached Each oneway crossing at a pointbased toll plaza counts as one trip and a return counts as two A full journey from entry to exit is considered a single trip in closed or ticketed systemsThe pass will only be granted to cars jeeps and vans registered for personal use and it is only valid for noncommercial private vehicles IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/upi-payments-at-nh-toll-plazas-to-cost-less-than-cash-for-non-fastag-vehicles-from-nov-15-641553.html Sat, 04 Oct 2025 17:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/health-industry-bodies-welcome-cghs-move-to-revise-rates-after-15-years-641559.html New Delhi Oct 4 Health industry bodies have welcomed the central governments decision to revise the package rates for nearly 2000 medical procedures under the Central Govt Health Scheme CGHS The revised rates announced on Oct 3 will come into effect from Oct 13This reform along with the earlier GST relief reflects the governments commitment to strengthening healthcare delivery and addressing longstanding concerns of the sector said Ameera Shah President NATHEALTH in a statementCGHS is a vital programme for millions of beneficiaries and the revised rates will improve access to safe and effective healthcare while enhancing system efficiencyEarlier the Association of Healthcare Providers of India AHPI called the revision a longawaited stepThe last package was fixed in 2014 with only a minor update in 2024 This left hospitals and patients struggling for more than a decade with a gap between actual treatment costs and prescribed package ratesThe new policy would directly benefit both healthcare providers and CGHS beneficiaries the AHPI saidThe revised framework applies to the CGHS cardholders in all categories with semiprivate rooms defined as two to four patients forming the base for package rates and general wards accommodating up to 10 patientsThe rates will also vary based on city tiers with tierI cities applying the base rate tierII cities including Chandigarh Jalandhar and Ludhiana set at a 19 per cent lower rate and Tier 3 cities set at a 20 per cent lower rateFurther accreditation status will also determine rates with nonNABH hospitals receiving a 15 per cent lower rate than NABH hospitals while the superspeciality hospitals with over 200 beds will be entitled to 15 per cent higher rates than the NABH hospitalsBuilding on the momentum NATHEALTH suggested that CGHS and other governmentsponsored schemes be periodically benchmarked to the Consumer Price Index CPIThis will ensure predictability sustainability and a winwin value proposition for patients providers and policymakers Shah said IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/health-industry-bodies-welcome-cghs-move-to-revise-rates-after-15-years-641559.html Sat, 04 Oct 2025 17:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/comet-3iatlas-rocketing-through-solar-system-at-61-km-per-second-poses-no-threat-to-earth-nasa-641568.html New Delhi Oct 4 The rare Comet 3IATLAS rocketing through the solar system at 61 km per second poses no threat to Earth according to the US space agency NASA which is tracking the celestial being Comet 3IATLAS is the third known object from outside our solar system to be discovered from outside our solar system after Oumuamua in 2017 and 2IBorisov in 2019The letter I stands for interstellar indicating that the object came from outside our solar system Its the third known interstellar object hence the 3 in the nameIt was first discovered by the NASAfunded ATLAS Asteroid Terrestrialimpact Last Alert System survey telescope in Rio Hurtado Chile It observed the Minor Planet Center of the comet 3IATLAS on July 1 2025As per NASA the rare comet is travelling very fast yet poses no threat to usWhen it was discovered the interstellar comet was traveling about 137000 miles per hour 221000 kilometers per hour or 61 kilometers per second and its speed will increase as it approaches the Sun the US space agency said3IATLAS is expected to reach its closest point to the Sun around October 30 at a distance of about 210 million kilometers just inside the orbit of MarsComet 3IATLAS poses no threat to Earth and will remain far away The closest it will approach our planet is about 18 astronomical units about 170 million miles or 270 million kilometers NASA saidThe space agency tracking the comet through its various space telescopes including Hubble Webb and SPHEREx confirmed that there is no danger of this interstellar object hitting EarthAlthough the trajectory of the object brings it into the inner solar system it wont come close to Earth As the comet 3IATLAS journeys through the solar system it wont come closer than 18 astronomical units about 170 million miles or 270 million kilometers to our planet it addedThe comet is on course to pass behind the Sun in late October and venture past Jupiter in March 2026 on its way out of our solar system IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/comet-3iatlas-rocketing-through-solar-system-at-61-km-per-second-poses-no-threat-to-earth-nasa-641568.html Sat, 04 Oct 2025 20:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/private-sector-lenders-post-rise-in-deposits-ahead-of-q2-results-641572.html New Delhi Oct 4 Ahead of the second quarter earnings reports Q2 FY26 private lender HDFC Bank IDBI Bank and Kotak Mahindra Bank have reported an increase in their net advances based on their provisional estimate Disclosing its provisional numbers Kotak Mahindra Bank said that its net advances rose 158 per cent yearonyear YoY to Rs 462 lakh crore in the JulySeptember quarter Sequentially it escalated by 4 per cent to Rs 444 lakh croreKotak Banks total deposits stood at Rs 528 lakh crore during the period up by 146 per cent from Rs 461 lakh crore in the yearago period In the previous quarter the bank had reported its total deposits as Rs 512 marking a sequential rise of 31 per cent for the current quarterIn an exchange filing HDFC Bank the countrys biggest private sector bank informed that its total advances grew 99 per cent YoY to Rs 2769 lakh crore in the quarterMeanwhile according to the private bank its periodend deposits rose 121 per cent to Rs 2801 lakh crore YOY Additionally its current account and savings account deposits advanced 74 per cent to Rs 949 lakh croreThe private sector lender had reported Rs 2519 lakh crore as the total advances in the same quarter a year agoFor the quarter that ended on June 30 the private lender reported gross advances of 2653 lakh crore while periodend deposits totalled Rs 2764 lakh croreIDBI Bank another private sector lender said its total business rose 12 per cent YoY in the September quarter of FY26 to Rs 533 lakh crore compared with Rs 478 lakh crore in the same period last yearThe lenders total deposits grew 9 per cent YoY to Rs 303 lakh crore while net advances expanded 15 per cent YoY to Rs 230 lakh croreThe banks CASA deposits stood at Rs 139 lakh crore up 4 per cent from Rs 133 lakh crore a year ago IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/private-sector-lenders-post-rise-in-deposits-ahead-of-q2-results-641572.html Sat, 04 Oct 2025 20:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/study-shows-size-severity-of-chikungunya-outbreaks-unpredictable-641575.html New Delhi Oct 4 The size and severity of chikungunya outbreaks a mosquitoborne disease is unpredictable according to a study The virus common in tropical and subtropical regions including Asia Africa and South America leads to symptoms such as acute fever followed by debilitating joint pain that can last for monthsThough rarely fatal the chikungunya virus can be particularly severe for highrisk individuals including newborns and older adultsIn a new study published in Science Advances researchers at the University of Notre Dame US analysed more than 80 outbreaks of chikungunya virus to improve the prediction of future outbreaks and inform vaccine trial developmentChikungunya outbreaks are unpredictable in both size and severity said Alex Perkins Professor of infectious disease epidemiology in the Department of Biological SciencesYou can have one outbreak that infects just a few people and another in a similar setting that infects tens of thousands That unpredictability is what makes public health planning and vaccine development so difficult Perkins addedFor the study the team reconstructed and analysed 86 chikungunya outbreaks creating the largest comparative dataset of its kindChikungunya was first identified in the 1950s Outbreaks have become increasingly frequent and widespread but theyre also sporadic and difficult to predict posing a challenge to public health officials when it comes to planning for and preventing infectionsChanges in outbreaks of chikungunya transmitted by bites from infected mosquitoes Aedes aegypti or Aedes albopictus are the primary vectors and other mosquitoborne illnesses are often considered in relation to climate change as warmer more humid conditions can promote mosquito activityBut Perkins noted that the study showed that climate isnt necessarily the most important factor when trying to predict the severity of an outbreak of disease caused by a virus like chikungunyaClimate factors like temperature and rainfall can tell us where outbreaks are possible but this study shows that they dont help very much in predicting how severe they will be he said Local conditions matter things like housing quality mosquito density and how communities respond Some variation is simply due to chance That randomness is part of the story too the expert added IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/study-shows-size-severity-of-chikungunya-outbreaks-unpredictable-641575.html Sat, 04 Oct 2025 20:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/long-covid-patients-more-likely-to-suffer-from-unusual-heart-rhythm-disorder-641455.html New Delhi Oct 4 An unusual heart rhythm disorder also known as Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome POTS is more common in people with long Covid according to a study The study found that the condition where the heart beats abnormally fast when changing position from lying down to standing up is more common in middleaged women than menFor people affected with POTS standing up is a challenge Their hearts beat faster than normal at rest and during exertion Patients also experience fatigue and difficulties concentrating symptoms that are common in long CovidResearchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden found that POTS occurs in almost a third of patients with severe long CovidPrevious smaller studies have shown that there is a connection but now we can say with certainty that POTS is a very common condition in patients with long Covid This is valuable knowledge for both health care professionals and patients said Mikael Björnson doctoral student at the Department of Medicine Solna Karolinska InstitutetThe study published in the journal Circulation Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology examined 467 patients with severe long Covid who had not been hospitalised for Covid19Ninetyone per cent were middleaged women who were essentially healthy and physically active before they developed long CovidThirtyone per cent of participants received a POTS diagnosis while 27 per cent had symptoms but did not meet the criteria for diagnosisThe remaining 42 per cent had no symptoms of POTS Patients with a diagnosis had significantly higher heart rates during walking tests and reported lower healthrelated quality of lifeIt is important to know that POTS can be detected with inexpensive simple tests that are available at all levels of health care For those who receive a diagnosis there are treatments that can alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life said Judith Bruchfeld Associate Professor at Karolinska InstitutetThe researchers now recommend that patients with long Covid who experience a significant increase in heart rate when changing position from lying down to standing as well as during exertion and who experience symptoms such as dizziness brain fog and pronounced fatigue be investigated for POTS IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/long-covid-patients-more-likely-to-suffer-from-unusual-heart-rhythm-disorder-641455.html Sat, 04 Oct 2025 10:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/over-44-lakh-chikungunya-disease-cases-155-deaths-reported-worldwide-in-2025-who-641460.html New Delhi Oct 4 The world saw more than 44 lakh suspected and confirmed cases of chikungunya disease and 155 deaths due to it from January to September 30 this year said the World Health Organization WHO In the latest outbreak notice from 40 countries Chikungunya virus CHIKV disease was noted in several countries including some that had not reported substantial case numbers in recent yearsBetween 1 January and 30 September 2025 a total of 445271 suspected and confirmed CHIKV disease cases and 155 deaths were reported globally from 40 countries including autochthonous and travelimported cases the WHO report saidThe region of the Americas with 328920 suspected and confirmed CHIKV disease reported the highest number of cases followed by the European region 56456 confirmed cases reported predominantly from French Overseas Departments in the Indian Ocean The region also reported 40 deathsIn India between 1 January and 31 March 2025 a total of 30876 suspected cases and 1741 confirmed cases were reported The states reporting the highest number of confirmed cases were Maharashtra Karnataka and Tamil Nadu No deaths were reported as per the WHO reportAnother recent study published in the British Medical Journal BMJ Global Health showed that more than 140 crore people worldwide could be at risk of chikungunya infection every yearThe global modelling study led by researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine stated that India could experience the biggest impacts of chikungunya potentially putting 51 lakh people at risk of the mosquitoborne infection every yearBrazil and Indonesia might be the second and third most affected with impacts due to the disease in India and Brazil accounting for 48 per cent of the global impact on healthcare systems and individuals the findings showedCHIKV disease is an Aedesborne disease widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions While the overall fatality rate is low severe disease can occur especially in vulnerable populations such as infants the elderly and those with preexisting conditionsAlthough CHIKV is transmitted by infected female mosquitoes most commonly Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus which can also transmit dengue and Zika viruses the disease can be introduced to new areas by viremic travelers and generate local transmissionThe risk is heightened by limited population immunity in previously unaffected areas favourable environmental conditions for the vector breeding gaps in surveillance and diagnostic capacity and increased human mobility and trade the report said The report called for strengthening disease surveillance enhancing vector surveillance and control and improving public health preparedness is essential to mitigate the risk of further transmission IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/over-44-lakh-chikungunya-disease-cases-155-deaths-reported-worldwide-in-2025-who-641460.html Sat, 04 Oct 2025 11:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/indias-coffee-exports-rise-15-pc-in-april-september-641469.html New Delhi Oct 4 The coffee exports from India in the value terms soared by 15 per cent in the AprilSeptember period this fiscal FY26 at 105 billion according to Coffee Board data The country had clocked 918 million in coffee exports in the same period last fiscal FY25In rupee terms coffee exports during H1 FY26 were up 19 per cent at Rs 911924 crore over Rs 767874 crore a year ago Moreover the per unit realised by exporters was up 34 per cent at Rs 471 lakh per tonne compared to Rs 352 lakh per tonne a year agoThe Indian coffee shipments were up 24 per cent at 195 billion in the same sixmonth period this fiscal from 157 billion in the previous yearFor the JanuarySeptember period this year the volume was 296 lakh tonnes 334 lakh tonnes India is the seventh largest producer of coffee and the fifth largest exporterMeanwhile Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal this week inaugurated the Coffee Experience Zone and Expo organised by the Coffee Board on the occasion of International Coffee DayThe Commerce Secretary highlighted that Indian coffee is sustainable and is grown in conjunction with forests He noted that coffee exports from India have doubled in recent yearsAgrawal also emphasised the need for greater diversification in the area of coffee cultivation He underlined the need to continue innovating and adding value pointing out that India being a land of spices has immense opportunities to innovate with coffeeHe stressed that apart from exporting coffee it is also important to work on Brand India and position the country strongly in the global marketThe event coincides with the implementation of the IndiaEFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement TEPA EFTA member countries Switzerland 145 million Norway 27 million and Iceland 3 million together import coffee valued at 175 million which is about 3 per cent of the global coffee importsHowever Liechtenstein trade data is not available with the Coffee Board IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/indias-coffee-exports-rise-15-pc-in-april-september-641469.html Sat, 04 Oct 2025 12:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/gold-silver-remains-bullish-this-week-hitting-all-time-highs-641496.html New Delhi Oct 4 Indian bullion prices remained bullish this week hitting alltime highs amid uncertainty looming due to shutdown in the United States tariff concerns and tight global geopolitical conditions The price of 24carat gold 10 grams started the week at Rs 115454 on Monday rose to hit an alltime high of Rs 117332 on Thursday according to data published by the India Bullion and Jewellers Association IBJAHowever the gold price fell a bit from its alltime high on Friday to end the week at Rs 116954 per 10 grams but remained Rs 1500 higher than the Monday priceMeanwhile the Silver price reflects the yellow metals journey ending the week at Rs 145610 per kg up Rs 1223 from Rs 144387 on MondayGiven the strong trending price action in recent sessions sharp twoway moves cannot be ruled out Key support is placed at Rs 116500 and 3840 while resistance is seen at Rs 118500 and 3900 said Jateen Trivedi of LKP SecuritiesOverall gold remains in a bullish structure but volatility is likely to stay elevated around the data release Trivedi said furtherIn the domestic futures market as well the precious metals prices have seen an uptickOn the MultiCommodity Exchange MCX the gold contract expiring on December 5 ended the week at Rs 118100 per 10 grams while the silver future contract expiring on the same date closed at Rs 145599 per kgMeanwhile according to analysts the gold prices continue to receive support from robust central bank purchases and sustained inflows into ETFs due to uncertainty in the global trade orderThe gold and silver have outperformed Indian equities for the fourth consecutive DiwalitoDiwali cycle continuing a trend where the yellow metal has outperformed equities in seven of the last eight years IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/gold-silver-remains-bullish-this-week-hitting-all-time-highs-641496.html Sat, 04 Oct 2025 13:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/india-worlds-second-largest-fish-producer-contributing-8-pc-to-global-output-641501.html New Delhi Oct 4 India is the worlds secondlargest fish producer contributing 8 per cent to global output and also ranks second in aquaculture production globally the government said on Saturday Since the introduction of targeted interventions in 2015 the government has approved or announced cumulative investments of Rs 38572 crore across various schemesConsequently total fish production has soared to 195 lakh tonnes The sector has been experiencing an annual growth rate of 874 per centSeafood exports have also risen to Rs 60524 crore in 202324 With the notification of 34 fisheries production and processing clusters across the country the Department is now steering formation of speciesspecific clusters with focus on strengthening the speciesspecific value chain for leveraging the latest technologiesTo help continue this growth more than 15000 fishers and fish farmers from 34 states and union territories participated in a nationwide series of virtual interactions organised by the Department of Fisheries DoF from April to SeptemberLed by Dr Abhilaksh Likhi Secretary DoF this initiative offered a direct channel for stakeholders to express their concerns and aspirationsThe interactions spanned coastal inland hilly island and NorthEastern regions ensuring broad representation from nearly every district nationwide This exercise not only helped identify current challenges but also collectDuring the interactions fishers and fish farmers emphasised the importance of quality fish seed brood banks affordable feed and local feed mills Stakeholders also highlighted the need for further strengthening of facilities such as transport cage culture mini hatcheries ice boxes poly sheets cold storage and support for aquaculture including the integration of solar energyAdditionally stakeholders highlighted adoption of innovative technologybased solutions such as drones for live fish transport to expand market reach satellite applications for the safety and security of fishermen and potential fishing zone advisoriesThe fishermen appreciated the initiative of the Government for installing transponders free of cost in their fishing vesselsThese transponders have proven instrumental in providing them with timely Potential Fishing Zone PFZ advisories weather alerts and updates on cyclone navigating them to safer routes according to the ministry IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/india-worlds-second-largest-fish-producer-contributing-8-pc-to-global-output-641501.html Sat, 04 Oct 2025 14:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/fpi-selling-to-slow-down-amid-improved-earnings-attractive-valuation-641502.html New Delhi Oct 4 With the valuation differential coming down and Indian earnings likely to improve in FY27 foreign portfolio investors FPIs are likely to slow down selling going forward analysts said on Saturday Sustained FPI selling continued in September with the sell figure through exchanges touching Rs 27163 croreHowever in keeping with the longterm trend of buying through the primary market they bought equity for Rs 3278 crore in SeptemberThe selling in September takes the total sell figure for 2025 to Rs 198103 crore This massive selling on top of the Rs 121210 crore selling in 2024 takes the total FII selling to Rs 319313 crores for the last 21 months said Dr VK Vijayakumar Chief Investment Strategist Geojit Investments LtdHigher valuation in India and cheaper valuations elsewhere have been the principal drivers behind the FII strategyAccording to analysts the market enters the new week with cautious optimismThe RBIs supportive policy stance and strong GST collections offer domestic comfort though volatility could persist due to FII outflows and global headwinds Investors should closely track Q2 earnings particularly from IT and banking heavyweights for cues on sectoral leadershipA buyondips strategy remains advisable with a preference for domestic cyclicals such as metals autos financials and themes like defence while selectively adding from other sectors Broader markets should be approached carefully with a focus on fundamentally sound companies Traders should also keep a close watch on global developments especially US macro data and FOMC minutes which could influence nearterm sentiment said Ajit Mishra SVP Research Religare Broking LtdThe coming week will be pivotal as the Q2 FY26 earnings season gets underway with IT bellwether TCS scheduled to announce results on October 9 On the macroeconomic front the release of HSBC Services and Composite PMI along with banking sector data on loan and deposit growth will be closely monitored IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/fpi-selling-to-slow-down-amid-improved-earnings-attractive-valuation-641502.html Sat, 04 Oct 2025 14:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/centre-releases-discussion-paper-20-on-treatment-of-free-pds-items-in-cpi-compilation-641530.html New Delhi Oct 4 The government on Saturday said it is conducting the base revision of the Consumer Price Index CPI as it released discussion paper 20 on the treatment of free PDS items in the CPI compilation The process includes enhancing coverage of price collection refining existing methodologies exploring new data sources and effective use of modern technology in the price collection and index compilationIn view of the launch of free food grain distribution scheme by the government from January 1 2023 covering 75 per cent rural and 50 per cent urban population the issue of appropriate and realistic reflection of the same in CPI and inflation measurement has become relevant and desirable according to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme implementation MoSPIThe issue has been deliberated in detail with the National and International experts Reserve Bank of India International Monetary Fund and other UN institutions and Government organisations the ministry informedThe proposed methodology in the discussion paper 20 is designed by MoSPI after incorporating suggestions and feedback received during above mentioned interactionsThe ministry is inviting views and comments from experts academicians government bodies state governments financial institutions and other stakeholders on the Discussion paper 20 on treatment of free PDS items in the CPI compilation framework Comments and suggestions may be sent by October 22Indias CPI inflation edges up to 207 pc in Aug food inflation stays in negative zoneMeanwhile Indias inflation rate based on the Consumer Price Index CPI edged up to 207 per cent in August although prices food continued to decline during the month easing the burden on the common manThe headline inflation in August was marginally higher than the 161 per cent in July this year which was the lowest level of yearonyear retail inflation since June 2017 The inflation rate is well within the RBIs target rate of 4 per cent which allows the central bank to continue with the soft money policy to spur growth IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/centre-releases-discussion-paper-20-on-treatment-of-free-pds-items-in-cpi-compilation-641530.html Sat, 04 Oct 2025 15:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/csir-ampris-indigenous-sodar-innovation-to-boost-indias-weather-forecasting-641532.html New Delhi Oct 3 The newly developed Sound Detection and Ranging SODAR facility developed by the CSIRAdvanced Materials and Processes Research Institute AMPRI Bhopal will enhance Indias weather forecasting capabilities The indigenous technology was inaugurated recently in India Meteorological Department IMD New DelhiThe initiative is very significant in terms of strengthening the indigenisation of Indian technology for serving the society said Dr N Kalaiselvi DG CSIR and Secretary DSIR who joined the event virtuallyAt the event a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between CSIRAMPRI and IMDThe MoU between CSIRAMPRI and IMD is very promising said Dr M Ravichandran Secretary Ministry of Earth SciencesThe SODAR unit of AMPRI will add value and provide additional data for better forecast of the weather added Dr M Mohapatra DGM IMDThe purpose of this MoU is to enhance collaborative research work between CSIRAMPRI and IMD in climate and environmental studies with emphasis on scientific and societal challenges related to weather climate variability forecasting and disaster risk reductionThe MoU facilitates the sharing of SODAR system data across various locations for forecasting validation and research initiativesThis collaboration between CSIRAMPRI and IMD is expected to generate significant advances in the field of meteorology climate science and environmental studies benefiting both research communities and the nation as a whole said the Ministry of Science and TechnologyIn a paper published in the Indian Journal of Pure amp Applied Physics the CSIRAMPRI researchers described SODAR as an active groundbased remote sensing system which is used to determine the loweratmosphere wind profile and temperature structure SODAR can detect turbulence parameters in the Atmospheric Boundary Layer ABL from a distance and can be used for wind profilingSODAR with its significantly enhanced capability is expected to be a futuristic remote sensing device with several uses in the near future SODAR is also effective in protecting the environment IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/csir-ampris-indigenous-sodar-innovation-to-boost-indias-weather-forecasting-641532.html Sat, 04 Oct 2025 15:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/unclaimed-financial-assets-fm-sitharaman-urges-citizens-to-spread-the-word-641534.html Gandhinagar Oct 4 Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday urged citizens to spread the word about unclaimed assets in the financial sector guiding people to claim what is rightfully theirs Launching the nationwide awareness campaign on unclaimed assets in the financial sector from here she said that if the three As Awareness Access and Action are fulfilled the money lying in safe custody can be rightfully claimed by the people with proper documentsI urge you all to become ambassadors of this campaign reach out to people you know ask if they hold any papers of unclaimed financial assets and guide them to register on the portal to claim what is rightfully theirs FM Sitharaman told the gatheringThis initiative has the potential to benefit countless citizens I humbly request you to spread the word about this campaign in your communities and nearby areas she addedThe Finance Minister said she is very grateful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi who once advised me to go among the people and call upon them to claim what is rightfully theirsActing on his advice I am glad to share that Gujarat has taken the lead in launching this campaign she noted in a post on XWith concerted efforts from all the Finance Ministry regulators state governments and banks in villages if the entire chain is activated everyone will be able to reclaim their money she said adding that this is not only our assurance but also our dutyUnclaimed financial assets including insurance policy claims bank deposits dividends shares and mutual fund proceeds often remain unclaimed due to lack of awareness or outdated account detailsThe government is committed to ensure that every rupee saved by citizens can be rightfully claimed by them or by their legal heirs and nomineesThe campaign will encourage people to participate actively spread awareness and strengthen financial inclusion in every household IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/unclaimed-financial-assets-fm-sitharaman-urges-citizens-to-spread-the-word-641534.html Sat, 04 Oct 2025 15:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/bse-resolved-190-investors-complaints-during-september-641285.html New Delhi Oct 3 The Indian stock exchange platform Bombay Stock Exchange BSE announced on Friday that it had resolved 190 complaints from investors against 126 companies in the month of September 2025 Meanwhile the Bombay Stock Exchange received 173 complaints against 102 companies in September this year the bourse addedThe complaints resolved by the Bombay Stock Exchange include those brought forward from previous periodsFurther the stock exchange informed that the top three companies where complaints have been pending for redressal for more than one month as of September 2025 include Suraj Products Ltd Bajaj Auto Limited and Reliance Home Finance LimitedMeanwhile the Securities and Exchange Board of India has taken up 76 investmentrelated fraud cases during the fiveyear period from April 2020 to March 2025 in which the culprits were ordered to disgorge Rs 949 crore as illicit gainsSeveral Central government enforcement and regulatory agencies have been taking action to prevent detect and act against investmentrelated fraudsThe Reserve Bank of India Digital Lending Directions 2025 have also been issued to address concerns related to unethical practices by digital lending applications and confidential advisories to banks for robust systems to detect cyber frauds and money mule activityBesides the Reserve Bank of India generates public awareness about safe digital practices through campaigns across TV print SMS and digital platforms such as the RBI Kehta Hai campaign and BEAWARE booklet to educate consumers on fraud types and redressal mechanismsThe Securities and Exchange Board of India also runs the SEBI vs SCAM campaign which generates an ongoing fraud awareness campaign via TV print radio and social media in partnership with Market Infrastructure Institutions MIIsThe Securities and Exchange Board of India also runs SCORES or the SEBI Complaint Redressal System an online platform that enables investors to file and track complaints against listed entities and the market regulatorregistered market intermediaries IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/bse-resolved-190-investors-complaints-during-september-641285.html Fri, 03 Oct 2025 16:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/plant-based-diet-can-ward-off-chronic-diseases-keep-planet-healthy-report-641291.html New Delhi Oct 3 Eating a plantbased diet including whole grains fruits and vegetables with moderate intake of foods such as poultry and egg can not only boost human health and reduce the risk of chronic diseases but also keep the planet healthy with less impact on climate change and biodiversity loss according to a new report by the Lancet Commission on Friday The report showed that food systems are key drivers of the worlds most urgent challenges from chronic diseases and rising inequality to accelerating climate change and biodiversity lossFood production was also found to be a significant contributor to environmental degradation accounting for nearly 30 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions leading to climate change biodiversity loss land use change freshwater consumption nutrient pollution and novel entities such as pesticides and antibioticsOn the other hand adopting the Planetary Health Diet PHD a flexible plantrich dietary framework offered a clear sciencebased target for a sustainable healthy and just food futureThe plantrich healthy diet in combination with global efforts to reduce food loss and waste by half can improve public health restore planetary health and provide enough food for an expected global population of 96 billion people by 2050 said the teamThe analysis also reveals that shifting global food systems and diets could prevent approximately 15 million premature deaths each year by lowering rates of chronic diseases linked to poor diets such as heart disease diabetes and cancerFood systems are a major contributor to many of the crises we face today and at the same time the key to solving them said Shakuntala Haraksingh Thilsted Commission cochair and director for nutrition health and food security at the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research CGIARThe evidence laid out in our report is clear the world must act boldly and equitably to ensure sustainable improvements The choices we make today will determine the health of people and the planet for generations she addedThe PHD first introduced in 2019 recommends plantrich flexible diets including whole grains fruits and vegetables nuts and legumes While the diet is complemented by moderate intakes of animalsourced foods such as red meat poultry fish eggs and dairy it also calls for limiting added sugars saturated fats and salt to reduce dietrelated chronic diseasesThe report associated adherence to the PHD with significant reductions in the risk of major chronic diseases including type 2 diabetes cardiovascular disease certain cancers and obesity This includes an estimated 27 per cent lower risk of premature death or the prevention of approximately 15 million premature deaths per year globally compared to current diets IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/plant-based-diet-can-ward-off-chronic-diseases-keep-planet-healthy-report-641291.html Fri, 03 Oct 2025 16:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/mirror-mirror-in-the-lab-bric-rgcb-scientists-build-tiny-nanopores-to-spot-diseases-early-641332.html Thiruvananthapuram Oct 3 Imagine a microscopic tunnel that can tell whether you might be developing cancer well scientists at BRICRGCB Thiruvananthapuram are turning that imagination into reality In a breakthrough study researchers have created mirrorimage nanopores tiny proteinlike channels designed to act like a reflection of natural moleculesLed by Dr KRMahendran the team built these synthetic structures named DpPorA from special peptides that are flipped versions of natural proteinsComputer simulations confirmed that the mirrorimage pores are structurally opposite to their natural counterparts and surprisingly this mirror trick makes them more stable and selectiveTheir findings were recently published in Nature CommunicationsThese nanopores are like highly selective gates explained Dr MahendranWe can tune them to let certain molecules pass while blocking others That means we can detect everything from tiny sugar rings to fullsize proteins which opens the door to early detection of diseases and even personalised diagnosticsBut the innovation doesnt stop there Lab tests revealed that these mirror molecules can target and damage cancer cells while leaving healthy cells unharmed hinting at future therapies that could fight cancer safelyProf Chandrabhas Narayana RGCB Director hailed the discovery as a gamechangerIt has enormous potential not only in cancer but also in healing wounds repairing muscles and boosting immune function It could even help tackle neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimers and Parkinsons he saidThe work was a collaborative effort involving CSIRNIIST Thiruvananthapuram Constructor University Germany and the Centre for Human Genetics BengaluruFunding came from top Indian science bodies including the Department of Biotechnology Department of Science and Technology ICMR and CSIRBy combining chemistry nanotechnology and cancer biology this research has created a powerful new tool that could revolutionise medical diagnosticsThese tiny mirrorimage pores may one day help detect diseases early safely and precisely transforming the way doctors diagnose and treat illnesses IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/mirror-mirror-in-the-lab-bric-rgcb-scientists-build-tiny-nanopores-to-spot-diseases-early-641332.html Fri, 03 Oct 2025 16:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/mirror-mirror-in-lab-bric-rgcb-scientists-build-tiny-nanopores-to-spot-diseases-early-641337.html Thiruvananthapuram Oct 3 Imagine a microscopic tunnel that can tell whether you might be developing cancer well scientists at BRICRGCB Thiruvananthapuram are turning that imagination into reality In a breakthrough study researchers have created mirrorimage nanopores tiny proteinlike channels designed to act like a reflection of natural moleculesLed by Dr KRMahendran the team built these synthetic structures named DpPorA from special peptides that are flipped versions of natural proteinsComputer simulations confirmed that the mirrorimage pores are structurally opposite to their natural counterparts and surprisingly this mirror trick makes them more stable and selectiveTheir findings were recently published in Nature CommunicationsThese nanopores are like highly selective gates explained Dr MahendranWe can tune them to let certain molecules pass while blocking others That means we can detect everything from tiny sugar rings to fullsize proteins which opens the door to early detection of diseases and even personalised diagnosticsBut the innovation doesnt stop there Lab tests revealed that these mirror molecules can target and damage cancer cells while leaving healthy cells unharmed hinting at future therapies that could fight cancer safelyProf Chandrabhas Narayana RGCB Director hailed the discovery as a gamechangerIt has enormous potential not only in cancer but also in healing wounds repairing muscles and boosting immune function It could even help tackle neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimers and Parkinsons he saidThe work was a collaborative effort involving CSIRNIIST Thiruvananthapuram Constructor University Germany and the Centre for Human Genetics BengaluruFunding came from top Indian science bodies including the Department of Biotechnology Department of Science and Technology ICMR and CSIRBy combining chemistry nanotechnology and cancer biology this research has created a powerful new tool that could revolutionise medical diagnosticsThese tiny mirrorimage pores may one day help detect diseases early safely and precisely transforming the way doctors diagnose and treat illnesses IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/mirror-mirror-in-lab-bric-rgcb-scientists-build-tiny-nanopores-to-spot-diseases-early-641337.html Fri, 03 Oct 2025 16:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/trai-releases-recommendations-on-digital-radio-broadcast-policy-for-private-broadcasters-641339.html New Delhi Oct 3 The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India TRAI on Friday released recommendations for a digital radio broadcast policy for private broadcasters The guidelines include terms conditions and reserve prices for launching digital radio broadcasting services in four A category cities Delhi Mumbai Kolkata and Chennai and nine A cities Hyderabad Bengaluru Ahmedabad Surat Pune Jaipur Lucknow Kanpur and NagpurThe ministry announced that digital radio services will launch in simulcast mode mandating new broadcasters to adopt the format while allowing existing FM operators to migrate voluntarily Each assigned frequency will transmit one analogue channel three digital channels and one data channelRadio broadcasters should commence simulcast operations within two years of the conclusion of the auction process or acceptance of an option for migration the ministry saidThe sunset date for the analog broadcasting should be decided after evaluating the progress of digital radio broadcasting at a later date it addedThe Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had sought recommendations from TRAI under Section 11 of the TRAI Act 1997 Further a consultation paper was released in September 2024 and an open house discussion was conducted in January 2025 prior to finalising its recommendationsAuthorisations will be valid for 15 years with fees based on adjusted gross revenue and streaming revenue will be factored into gross revenue calculations it addedThe TRAI statement said that digital radio broadcasting provides many advantages including the capability of broadcasting three digital and one data channel along with one analog channel on a single spot frequency in simulcast modeIn such a condition the digital radio channel will provide a superior quality of audio whereas in the analogue mode broadcasting of only one channel is possible on the carrier frequency it addedIn a competitive environment digital radio broadcasting can provide new opportunities to radio broadcasters as well as multiple listening options and valueadded services to the listeners the release noted IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/trai-releases-recommendations-on-digital-radio-broadcast-policy-for-private-broadcasters-641339.html Fri, 03 Oct 2025 16:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/mahindra-and-mahindra-launches-new-thar-2025-price-starts-at-rs-999-lakh-641343.html New Delhi Oct 3 Mahindra and Mahindra on Friday launched the new Thar 2025 starting at Rs 999 Lakh exshowroom with new design elements advanced comfort features and smart technology integration for better urban commute This Iconic SUV is engineered to redefine urban commuting and elevate rugged weekend adventures the automobile manufacturer said in a statementThe Thar brand has garnered a dedicated community of over 3 lakh passionate ownersMore than just an SUV it represents a lifestyle statement inspiring to embrace adventure and exploration with unmatched capability and a timeless design the company saidThe new model is equipped with a 2603 cm HD infotainment screen that supports both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay along with Typec USB ports providing seamless integration of your smartphones functionalitiesThe tyre direction monitoring system gives realtime information on tyre orientation enhancing safetyFor adventure enthusiasts the adventure stats gen II feature offers valuable offroad data such as racing tab altimeter outside temperature and pressure trip meter and steering direction adding an extra dimension to your journey and ensuring a smart and connected driving experience Mahindra and Mahindra saidAdditionally the company offers a range of engine options to suit diverse driving preferences paired with multiple transmissions 6speed manual transmission 6speed torque converter automatic transmission in RWD as well as 4X4 configurationsOver the years Thar has become more than just an SUV its a symbol of freedom adventure and a lifestyle that resonates deeply with our customers At Mahindra we are committed to listening to our customers and evolving with their needs which is why the New Thar reflects both their feedback and our dedication to provide the best to our customers said Nalinikanth Gollagunta Chief Executive Officer Automotive Division Mahindra amp Mahindra LtdBy blending new design elements smart technology enhanced comfort and convenience features the New Thar offers an unparalleled driving experience that empowers our customers to explore limitless possibilities in both urban and offroad settings he addedThe new model has features rear AC vents ensuring passengers in the second row enjoy a comfortable drive while the sliding armrest and dead pedal AT offer additional comfort for the driverDoormounted power windows and a rearview camera provide ease of driving and the internally operated fuel lid ensures hasslefree refuelling the company said IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/mahindra-and-mahindra-launches-new-thar-2025-price-starts-at-rs-999-lakh-641343.html Fri, 03 Oct 2025 17:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/deadly-brain-cancer-can-alter-skull-immune-response-study-641350.html New Delhi Oct 3 Glioblastomas the deadliest form of brain cancer affect much more than just the brain scientists have found A team from the Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center MECCC and Albert Einstein College of Medicine has found the first evidence to show that glioblastoma can erode the skull alter the makeup of skull marrow and interfere with the bodys immune responseImportantly drugs intended to inhibit skullbone loss made the cancer more aggressive according to results published in the journal Nature NeuroscienceOur discovery that this notoriously hardtotreat brain cancer interacts with the bodys immune system may help explain why current therapies all of them dealing with glioblastoma as a local disease have failed and it will hopefully lead to better treatment strategies said corresponding author Jinan Behnan Assistant Professor Department of Neurological Surgery and in the department of microbiology and immunology at EinsteinThe median survival of glioblastoma patients who receive standard treatment of surgery chemotherapy and radiation is approximately 15 monthsAs is true for many other bones the skull contains marrow in which immune cells and other blood cells formUsing advanced imaging techniques on mice that developed two different types of glioblastomas the team found that the tumours caused skull bones to erode especially along the sutures where skull bones fuseSuch erosions seem to be unique to glioblastoma and other malignant intracranial tumours since they dont occur with strokes other types of brain damage or even other systemic cancersComputerisedtomography CT images of patients with glioblastoma revealed that decreases in skull thickness were present in the same anatomic areas as in miceThe skull erosions in the mice increased the number and diameter of the skulltobone channels The researchers hypothesised that these channels might allow the glioblastoma to transmit signals to the skull marrow that could profoundly change its immune landscapeFurther the team found that glioblastoma activated several genes in the skull marrow that boosted production of inflammatory immune cells but in femur marrow the cancer suppressed genes needed to produce several types of immune cellsNotably they found that administering US FDAapproved antiosteoporosis drugs zoledronic acid and denosumab that prevent bone loss can halt skull erosion However zoledronic acid fuelled tumour progression in one type of glioblastoma Both drugs also blocked the beneficial effects of antiPDL1 an immunotherapy drug that boosts levels of tumourfighting T cells IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/deadly-brain-cancer-can-alter-skull-immune-response-study-641350.html Fri, 03 Oct 2025 17:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/gst-reforms-boosting-economy-easing-lives-of-common-people-nk-singh-641361.html New Delhi Oct 3 NK Singh Chairman of the 15th Finance Commission and a noted economist on Friday said the Goods and Services Tax GST reforms have provided significant relief to the common citizens while improving Indias business and investment atmosphere Speaking on the sidelines of the Kautilya Economic Conclave 2025 here Singh said The impact of the GST reform is now visible It has increased purchasing power and provided relief to the common man It has also significantly improved the business and investment environment and promoted ease of doing businessHighlighting Indias economic prospects Singh noted that the countrys vast untapped market offers immense opportunities for private investment and publicprivate partnershipsHe described the current moment as a turning point with multiple virtuous cycles aiding India in addressing future challengesThe economist reiterated that India remains the worlds fastestgrowing economy with a strong foundation moving steadily towards becoming the thirdlargest economy globallyAccording to official data Indias real GDP growth in the AprilJune quarter stood at 78 per cent and the Reserve Bank of India RBI has revised its growth forecast for FY 202526 to 68 per cent a development economists see as a significant milestoneEarlier at the same event Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman emphasised Indias resilience amid global uncertainties She said that despite volatile global conditions and changing rules of international trade the strength of the domestic economy has enabled India to grow rapidly and withstand external shocksShe highlighted that Indias robust domestic factors minimise the impact of global uncertaintiesWe are in a shifting global landscape that resembles a zerosum approach Indian economy is resilient and continues to grow sustainably FM Sitharaman said while delivering an inaugural address at the Kautilya Economic Conclave 2025 in the national capitalBy 2047 becoming Viksit Bharat by selfreliance does not mean we wish to be a closed economy We have to reach 8 per cent GDP growth to get to the goal for a developed nation the finance minister added IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/gst-reforms-boosting-economy-easing-lives-of-common-people-nk-singh-641361.html Fri, 03 Oct 2025 17:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/indias-it-services-to-see-recovery-in-fy27-long-term-growth-rate-within-4-to-5-pc-641362.html New Delhi Oct 3 The sustainable growth of Indias IT services sector is likely to be within 4 to 5 per cent above the trendline of the past three years a report said on Friday Analysts assumed less macro volatility in the coming quarters and expected some recovery in growth in FY27 the report from HSBC Global Investment Research saidThe IT services sector is unlikely to see a turnaround in Q2 FY26 with demand remaining soft amid macroeconomic uncertainty and the deflationary impact of artificial intelligence it saidThese factors may not improve until FY27 in our view as global headwinds provide a cushion to pricing pressure the report added providing a buy rating on many IT stocksGrowth in the second quarter is expected to stay in line with the first quarter driven largely by vendor consolidation and costrationalisation deals which HSBC called a zerosum gameSustainable growth rate for the sector is unlikely to be more than 45 per cent though over the past three years growth has been below even this trend rate While FY24 and FY25 were impacted by loss of share to GCCs FY26 has been impacted by both AI deflation and an uncertain macro environment the research firm saidEven though recent US corporate results are quite solid corporates are still holding back discretionary new initiatives the report notedQuarterly expectations indicate that largecap IT firms are expected to achieve 02 per cent sequential growth in dollar terms Midtier companies may experience a decline of 1 per cent to growth of 55 per cent the firm forecastedThe firm however maintained that largecap IT stocks are no longer fiveyear buyandhold compounding stocks and instead require active management around their cyclesvolatility IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/indias-it-services-to-see-recovery-in-fy27-long-term-growth-rate-within-4-to-5-pc-641362.html Fri, 03 Oct 2025 17:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/stock-market-ends-higher-amid-buying-in-banking-metal-stocks-641370.html Mumbai Oct 3 The domestic equity indices ended the session higher on Friday amid buying in PSU banking consumer durables and private banks stocks Sensex ended the session at 8120717 up 22386 points or 028 per cent The 30share index started the session lower at 8068414 against last sessions closing of 8098331 However the index returned in green following buying in banking and metal stocks touching an intraday high at 8125199Nifty closed at 2489425 up 5795 points or 023 per centThe Nifty extended its pullback for the second straight session crossing above its key 50DMA at 24830 and forming a bullish candle on the daily chart After last weeks steep decline the index displayed signs of recovery by closing above the 24800 mark said analystsLooking ahead a gradual move towards 25200 seems probable and a decisive breakout beyond this level could open the path for an extended rally towards 25500 they addedTata Steel PowerGrid Kotak Bank Axis Bank LampT BEL Titan Asian Paint NTPC and SBI were top gainers from the Sensex basket Tech Mahindra Maruti Ultratech Cement Bajaj FinServ Sun Pharma ICICI Bank and Eternal settled lowerMost of the sectoral indices inched higher amid buying sentiment Nifty FMCG jumped 65 points or 012 per cent Nifty IT escalated 44 points or 013 per cent Nifty Bank increased 241 points or 044 per cent and Nifty Fin Services ended the session 44 points or 017 per cent higherBroader indices soared high amid buying in mid and smallcap stocks Nifty Midcap 100 soared 473 points or 083 per cent Nifty Small Cap 100 surged 122 points or 069 per cent and Nifty 100 closed 66 points or 026 per centThe Indian currency steadied within a tight range over the past few days having suffered a historic low earlier in the weekThe underlying mood for the rupee remains down due to sustained capital outflow from foreign investors Nevertheless a rebound in local share markets and moderation in crude oil prices to lend some stability said Dilip Parmar of HDFC SecuritiesFor the nearterm outlook the spot USDINR exhibits an ascending trend line support near 8840 while facing overhead resistance at 8910 he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/stock-market-ends-higher-amid-buying-in-banking-metal-stocks-641370.html Fri, 03 Oct 2025 17:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/ebola-virus-strain-found-in-semen-breast-milk-months-after-infection-study-641378.html New Delhi Oct 3 US researchers have detected the Sudan Ebola virus strain in semen and breast milk among survivors about eight months after infection raising concerns about the potential for sexual and mothertochild transmission Nearly 60 per cent of the survivors of an outbreak in Uganda from 202223 reported ongoing and debilitating health issues even two years postinfection that interfered with their daily lives noted researchers at Washington State UniversityThis is the first time anyone has been able to closely follow Sudan Ebola survivors over the long term and the results show the virus continues to affect peoples lives well after an outbreak ends said lead researcher Kariuki Njenga Professor in the WSUs College of Veterinary MedicineJust as concerning is the fact we detected the virus in semen and breast milk which shows there is a risk survivors could pass on Ebola months after recovery Njenga addedEbola is a severe often fatal haemorrhagic fever in humans caused by four known strains Zaire Sudan Bundibugyo and Taï ForestThe Zaire and Sudan are the deadliest strains with case fatality rates ranging from 7590 per cent for Zaire and 5565 per cent for SudanThe study followed 87 survivors from the outbreak in Uganda alongside a control group of 176 community members who had not been infected Survivors reported symptoms affecting the musculoskeletal system 45 per cent central nervous system 36 per cent and eyes 20 per cent at much higher rates than those in the control groupHalf of the survivors reported multiple persistent symptoms including memory loss joint and back pain and depression that resulted in an inability to perform basic activities These symptoms remained consistent across the twoyear followup periodThese results point to a kind of long Ebola very similar to what the world has seen with long Covid Njenga said Symptoms did not significantly improve across two years of followup which is why longterm care and support for survivors are criticalResearchers stopped detecting the Sudan Ebola virus RNA in semen for up to 210 days and in breast milk for up to 199 days after infection In two men the virus reappeared in semen samples eight months after consecutive negative results suggesting possible latency and reactivationThe study comes amid the ongoing Ebola outbreak in Kasai Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo DRC As of Wednesday a total of 64 cases had been reported including 42 deaths while 12 patients have recovered and been dischargedThe Congolese government declared the outbreak on September 4 marking the countrys 16th Ebola outbreak since the virus was first identified in 1976 Xinhua news agency reported IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/ebola-virus-strain-found-in-semen-breast-milk-months-after-infection-study-641378.html Fri, 03 Oct 2025 17:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/navi-mumbai-international-airport-creation-of-every-hand-and-heart-that-built-it-gautam-adani-641393.html New Delhi Oct 3 Gautam Adani Chairman of the Adani Group on Friday called Navi Mumbai International Airport the creation of every hand and heart that built it The Airport is scheduled to be inaugurated on October 8To every hand that worked and every heart that cared this is your creation said Gautam Adani in a post on social media platform XThe billionaire industrialist said this while sharing his son Jeet Adanis post on XIn the post Jeet Adani Adani Airports Director called it a deeply touching and humbling lesson to see his father expressing gratitude to all workersSome monuments are built with concrete and some with gratitude Watching my father walk through the Navi Mumbai International Airport thanking every hand and heart that built it was a deeply touching and humbling lesson in leadership Jai Hind said Jeet AdaniEarlier while visiting the airport Gautam Adani called it a monument shaped by thousands of hands and heartsThe industrialist also saluted the efforts of differently abled colleagues construction workers and other staff members who worked for the development of the airport and expressed his gratitudeThe Navi Mumbai International Airport Private is designed to accommodate both domestic and international passengers featuring stateoftheart facilitiesIt includes a 3700metre runway capable of handling large commercial aircraft modern passenger terminals and advanced air traffic control systemsIt is expected to handle 2 crore passengers per annum MPPA and cater to the burgeoning air traffic demands of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and Western India while strengthening Indias global connectivityThe airport will be 14 km from Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust JNPT Sea Port 22 km from Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation MIDC Taloja Industrial area 35 km from Mumbai Port Trust via Mumbai Trans Harbour Link 32 km from Thane and 40 km from the power loom town BhiwandiThe Airport also achieved a significant milestone of receiving the Aerodrome Licence essential for commencing operations from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation DGCA on Tuesday Airlines such as IndiGo Akasa Air and Air India Express have announced plans to commence operations from the airport with initial flights connecting various domestic cities IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/navi-mumbai-international-airport-creation-of-every-hand-and-heart-that-built-it-gautam-adani-641393.html Fri, 03 Oct 2025 18:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/navratri-sales-of-consumer-goods-surge-to-10-year-high-as-gst-cuts-boost-demand-641396.html New Delhi Oct 3 Indias economy witnessed its highest Navratri sales of consumer goods in over a decade propelled by the governments nextgen GST reforms that reduced tax rates and made products more affordable for the consumers These measures not only lowered prices but also unlocked consumer aspirations enabling families to upgrade vehicles invest in home appliances and spend more freely on lifestyle goods turning festive cheer into recordbreaking consumption as per the dataLeading car maker Maruti Suzuki clocked a 100 per cent growth in Navratri which doubled from last year bestever in at least a decade Maruti Suzuki reported 150000 bookings and expects to reach 200000 bookings The company retailed 85000 vehicles last NavratriThe automobile market leader also delivered a massive batch of 165 lakh vehicles in the first 8 days of Navratri On Day 1 of Navratri Maruti delivered record 30000 cars its best singleday performance in 35 yearsHomegrown auto major Mahindra amp Mahindra which sells popular SUVs such as the XUV700 Thar and Scorpio N saw sales jump 60 per cent yearonyearAt Hyundai the surge in demand for models like Creta and Venue pushed SUVs share of total sales to over 72 per cent as per the dataTata Motors retailed more than 50000 vehicles during the festive period with demand from Altroz Punch Nexon and Tiago modelsShowroom footfalls of twowheeler maker Hero MotoCorp have doubled this Navratri with high traction in the commuter segment while arch rival Bajaj Auto also reported strong sales during NavratriIn consumer electronics space LG Haier and Godrej Appliances reported high doubledigit sales growth this Navratri compared to last yearHaiers sales soared 85 per cent nearly selling out its Diwali stock of 85inch and 100inch TVs priced above Rs 25 lakh The company also sold 300350 units of 65inch TVs daily during the period LG Electronics India noted exponential growth in sales this Navratri seasonBy rationalising GST slabs and easing the tax burden on both essential and aspirational items the government fostered an environment of confident spending As a result brands and retailers reported sales growth ranging from 25 per cent to 100 per cent marking a major boost for Indias consumptiondriven economyImportantly the first half of the festive season spanning Onam Durga Puja and Dussehra accounts for 4045 per cent of total festive sales making it the largest consumption season in the country IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/navratri-sales-of-consumer-goods-surge-to-10-year-high-as-gst-cuts-boost-demand-641396.html Fri, 03 Oct 2025 18:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/centre-issues-advisory-to-states-on-cough-syrup-deaths-urges-its-rational-use-in-children-641409.html New Delhi Oct 3 Denying contamination in cough syrups that reportedly led to 11 child deaths in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan the government on Friday issued an advisory to all states and union Territories urging the rational use of such syrups in children About nine children succumbed to death in Chhindwara Madhya Pradesh and two children in Rajasthan one in Bharatpur and another in Sikar after consuming counterfeit cough syrup in Rajasthan and Madhya PradeshEven as reports cited the presence of Diethylene Glycol DEG or Ethylene Glycol EG linked with injury to kidneys the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in an official statement clarified that the cough syrups were not contaminated with the toxic chemicalsThe clarification is based on an investigation by a joint team consisting of representatives from National Centre for Disease Control NCDC National Institute of Virology NIV Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation CDSCO etcThe team collected various samples in coordination with the state authorities including samples of various cough syrupsAs per the test results none of the samples contained Diethylene Glycol DEG or Ethylene Glycol EG contaminants that are known to cause serious kidney injury The Madhya Pradesh State Food and Drug Administration SFDA also tested three samples and confirmed the absence of DEGEG the Ministry saidFurther bloodCSF samples were also tested by NIV Pune for common pathogensOne case has been found positive for Leptospirosis Samples of water entomological vectors and respiratory specimens are under further investigation by NEERI NIV Pune and other laboratories the Ministry said adding that all possible causes behind the reported cases are being investigatedIn an advisory issued to all states and union Territories the Director General of Health Services DGHS Dr Sunita Sharma urged the rational use of cough syrups in the paediatric populationCough and cold medications should not be prescribed or dispensed to children under 2 yearsMost acute cough illnesses in children are selflimiting and often resolve without pharmacological intervention said Sharma adding that cough and cold medications are generally not recommended for ages below 5 yearsIt should be used following careful clinical evaluation with close supervision and strict adherence to appropriate dosing the shortest effective duration and avoiding multiple drug combinationsThe DGHS urged the need to opt for nonpharmacological measures including adequate hydration rest and supportive measures as the firstline approachImportantly Sharma urged all healthcare facilities and clinical establishments to ensure procurement and dispensing of products manufactured under Good Manufacturing Practices and formulated with pharmaceuticalgrade excipients IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/centre-issues-advisory-to-states-on-cough-syrup-deaths-urges-its-rational-use-in-children-641409.html Fri, 03 Oct 2025 19:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/indias-medtech-sector-projected-to-touch-50-billion-by-2030-dr-jitendra-singh-641421.html New Delhi Oct 3 Indias medical technology sector is valued at around 12 billion in 2025 and is growing at nearly 20 per cent annually with projections to touch 50 billion by 2030 Dr Jitendra Singh Minister of State Independent Charge for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences said on Friday India holds the promise of emerging as a global destination for costeffective quality healthcare the minister said while inaugurating a medical exhibition at Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology SCTIMST ThiruvananthapuramThe minister hailed the institution for producing highquality medical devices at affordable prices and called for scaling up production and expanding awareness of these indigenous innovationsHe highlighted that SCTIMSTs contributions align with the Prime Ministers vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat by reducing reliance on imports Vishwabandhu Bharat by exporting devices like heart valves and MRIcompatible shunts and Viksit Bharat 2047 through revenue generation and industry partnerships in the private sectorCiting examples Dr Singh said the institute has already provided heart valves to over two lakh patients and advanced shunts to about 2000 patients while innovations like the Hemostasis Patch have proved critical in trauma and battlefield careHe noted that such achievements are often underrecognised even within leading hospitals and called for scaling up production to make them more widely availableSingh said that while SCTIMST has developed lifesaving technologies more needs to be done to ensure wider use and public awarenessHe suggested that the institute showcase its devices in central locations such as Delhi involving civil society and stakeholders so that the benefits of its work are better knownThe minister further stressed that SCTIMST represents a unique model in India by combining the Four Ts Teaching Training Treatment and Trade a concept common in some Western countries but relatively new domesticallyThe institute he said not only educates and treats but also generates economic value through manufacturingHe added that the institute can contribute to Indias emergence as a global hub for costeffective healthcare and medical tourism by 2047 IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/indias-medtech-sector-projected-to-touch-50-billion-by-2030-dr-jitendra-singh-641421.html Fri, 03 Oct 2025 20:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/pakistan-deploys-digital-technology-to-spy-on-citizens-641217.html New Delhi Oct 2 Pakistani authorities are monitoring more than 4 million citizens using advanced digital tools purchased from foreign private companies such as Chinas Geedge Network according to a recent report by Amnesty International titled Shadow of Control Censorship and Mass Surveillance in Pakistan At the core of Pakistans surveillance operation are two powerful systems the Web Monitoring System WMS 20 which acts as a national firewall that can block internet access virtual private networks VPNs and specific websites and the Lawful Intercept Management System LIMS a mass surveillance platform that allows authorities to eavesdrop on phone calls text messages internet activities and even geolocation data through domestic telecommunications providersLIMS is supported by technology primarily supplied by a German company Utimaco and an Emirati company Datafusion Utimacos LIMS enables authorities to analyse subscriber data from telecommunications companies while the processed information is accessible through Datafusions Monitoring Centre Next GenerationThe methods may have changed but Pakistan actually began surveilling its citizens decades ago In the 1990s such activities resulted in the rise and fall of governments and Pakistans surveillance has continued to grow over time according to a report in The Diplomat by Osama AhmadNighat Dad the founder and executive director of Digital Rights Foundation told The Diplomat Available research and reports suggest that Pakistan has developed significant surveillance capabilities over the past decadeIn 1997 the Supreme Court ruled that state surveillance was illegal holding it to be a breach of Article 14 of the Constitution which secures the right to privacyDespite the legal and institutional safeguards and Pakistans international commitments under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights ICCPR and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights UDHR to prevent arbitrary interference the absence of a comprehensive data protection law and regulation of surveillance technologies leaves citizens vulnerable to harassment abuse and continuous monitoring undermining the effectiveness of existing protections said DadPakistani authorities defend their breach of the digital rights of citizens citing security concerns or morality issues However there are increasing fears that these actions are primarily aimed at suppressing dissentWhen Pakistan banned X in February 2024 and users accessed the social media site through virtual private networks VPNs the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority developed a plan to regulate VPNs by requiring them to be registered The Council of Islamic Ideology declared the usage of VPNs unIslamic As an excuse the government claimed that the crackdown on VPNs came as a result of their misuse by militant groups Perhaps more relevantly X was being used at that time to organise protests by individuals associated with Pakistan TehreekeInsaf PTI the political party of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan the report statesThe authorities have also repeatedly turned their attention to TikTok which they believe promotes immorality Recently a lawmaker in the Punjab Assembly submitted a resolution to permanently ban the app on moral groundsBeyond blanket banning of social media platforms Pakistans authorities also digitally spy on Pakistanis Journalists activists and politicians are believed to be among the primary targets of mass surveillance in Pakistan the report statesAt times private video and audio recordings of opposition politicians are leaked to weaken them and gain an advantage This unethical tactic has long been prevalent in Pakistani politicsThough surveillance in Pakistan is purported to be for national security concerns it is essentially to silence dissent across the country Usama Khilji director of Bolo Bhi told The Diplomat Most of the victims of surveillance are political oppositions journalists or activists working on human rights or other critical social issuesWhile the military often faces criticism for mass surveillance and similar practices other institutions such as the judiciary and Parliament also share responsibility for this unchecked behaviour as they fail to prevent the mandated authorities from carrying out such operationsThe state institutions are equally complicit in this extensive surveillance because illegal surveillance happens without the consent of the individual and without a warrant from the court Khilji saidWhile the findings of Amnesty International are alarming they are consistent with Pakistans long history of digital repression From the blockade of X formerly Twitter to internet disruptions amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act PECA and other restrictive measures the state has repeatedly curtailed digital rights and free expression the report added IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/pakistan-deploys-digital-technology-to-spy-on-citizens-641217.html Fri, 03 Oct 2025 00:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/sensex-nifty-open-lower-over-sustained-fii-selling-641243.html Mumbai Oct 3 The Indian benchmark indices opened with mild losses on Friday due to sustained FII selling despite positive global cues and market optimism driven by the Reserve Bank of Indias dovish pause As of 920 am the Sensex was down 191 points or 024 per cent at 80792 and the Nifty declined 56 points or 023 per cent at 24780The broad cap indices Nifty Midcap 100 and Nifty Smallcap 100 inched up 022 and 014 per cent respectively Tata Steel Axis Bank Kotak Mahindra Bank Tata Motors and Asian Paints were among major gainers on the Nifty pack while losers included Max Healthcare Bajaj Finance Shriram Finance and ICICI Bank among othersAmong sectoral indices Nifty Metal the top gainer advanced 089 per cent Nifty PSU Bank up 059 per cent and Nifty Pharma up 030 per cent were other major gainers Nifty Media and Nifty FMCG were the top losers down 065 per cent and 045 per cent respectivelyAnalysts said that from a technical perspective a sustained move above 24900 could pave the way for a rally toward 25000 and 25150 The immediate support is placed at 24750 and 24600 which may act as potential entry points for long tradesThe US markets ended in the green zone overnight as Nasdaq edged up 039 per cent the SampP 500 added 006 per cent and the Dow moved up 017 per cent in the last trading sessionAsiaPacific markets mostly rose Friday tracking Wall Street gains as investors shrugged off the US government shutdown Investors are waiting to see how long the shutdown will last to assess the gravity of its economic repercussionsWhile Chinas Shanghai index added 052 per cent and Shenzhen advanced 035 per cent Japans Nikkei added 144 per cent while Hong Kongs Hang Seng Index declined 084 per cent South Koreas Kospi added 270 per centAnalysts said that the central banks bold initiatives to boost credit growth in the economy can positively sustain the momentum in the market particularly in Bank Nifty However the sustained selling by FIIs in the market is unlikely to sustain this momentumFIIs are likely to further accelerate selling since the market construct provides them the opportunity to sell aggressively Robust buying from DIIs can provide some support to the market particularly in largecap auto stocks which have strong fundamental support now they addedIn the last trading session on Wednesday foreign institutional investors FIIs sold equities worth Rs 1605 crore while domestic institutional investors DIIs were net buyers of equities worth Rs 2916 crore IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/sensex-nifty-open-lower-over-sustained-fii-selling-641243.html Fri, 03 Oct 2025 15:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/banks-to-clear-cheques-on-same-day-from-oct-4-over-rbi-guidelines-641246.html New Delhi Oct 3 Private banks including HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank have informed that they will start sameday cheque clearance from October 4 following the Reserve Bank of Indias RBI updated settlement framework for quicker and more secure payments Cheques deposited from October 4 will be cleared within a few hours on the same day under the new system Both banks have urged customers to keep adequate balances to prevent cheque bounce and to ensure all cheque details are accurately filled to avoid delays or rejectionsCustomers are also urged by the banks to use the Positive Pay System to enhance security requiring prior submission of key cheque details for verification Account holders must provide the account number cheque number date amount and beneficiary name to the bank at least 24 working hours prior to depositing cheques exceeding Rs 50000Banks will verify these details upon cheque presentation Cheques will be cleared if the information matches otherwise the request will be rejected and the drawer must resubmit the detailsCustomers are required to email cheque details to specific regional addresses Banks will send an acknowledgement message upon receipt before processingThe Cheque Truncation System CTS which sends an electronic image of the cheque and its details to the drawee bank is currently used by banks This removes the need for cheques to be physically transferred but when deposited in drop boxes or automated teller machines settlement usually takes two working daysFurther the RBI has made Positive Pay mandatory for cheques above Rs 5 lakh while it is strongly recommended for those above Rs 50000 Cheques validated under Positive Pay are also protected under the RBIs dispute resolution systemThe RBI had announced that Phase 1 of continuous clearing and settlement will begin on October 4 2025 and Phase 2 will begin on January 3 2026Customers are advised to ensure all cheque details are accurate to avoid rejection The amount in words and figures must match the date must be valid and there should be no overwriting in the payees name or amount The drawers signature must also match the banks records IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/banks-to-clear-cheques-on-same-day-from-oct-4-over-rbi-guidelines-641246.html Fri, 03 Oct 2025 16:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/whooping-cough-can-be-fatal-in-children-under-age-2-study-641248.html New Delhi Oct 3 Pertussis or whooping cough in young infants can be lifethreatening according to a study which stressed the need for maternal vaccination during pregnancy Whooping cough is a highly contagious bacterial respiratory infection that causes severe coughing fits and is often followed by a highpitched whoop sound as the person inhales It can last for months in both adults and childrenPertussis symptoms are different in infants said leading author Caitlin Li infectious diseases specialist at Ann amp Robert H Lurie Childrens Hospital of ChicagoThe characteristic whooping cough may be absent but apnoea or breathing interruption is common added Li also Assistant Professor of paediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of MedicinePertussis in infants can also present with very high white blood cell count leukocytosis which pediatricians might mistake for cancer or other noninfectious conditionsExtremely high white blood cell counts in infants should prompt strong consideration of pertussis said the researchers in a special article published in the journal Pediatrics They also strongly encourage vaccination during pregnancyGiven that infants are at high risk for complications pertussis vaccination of mothers during pregnancy is critical as it protects newborns against this potentially fatal illness Li saidWidespread vaccination is also an important tool to protect everyoneThe US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC currently recommend vaccine doses at 2 4 6 1518 months and 46 years of ageA booster dose is recommended at 1112 years with catchup at 18 years The CDC also recommends universal vaccination during pregnancy optimally between 27 and 36 weeks of gestation as the primary tool to prevent pertussisrelated deathsRapid initiation of antibiotics is recommended for all patients with confirmed or suspected pertussis If given early in the disease course this therapy may improve symptoms While later treatment is unlikely to impact symptoms it does reduce transmission the team said IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/whooping-cough-can-be-fatal-in-children-under-age-2-study-641248.html Fri, 03 Oct 2025 16:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/india-advancing-towards-inclusive-and-universal-social-protection-minister-641255.html New Delhi Oct 3 India is advancing towards inclusive and universal social protection said Union Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya even as the nation on Friday was conferred with the prestigious International Social Security Association ISSA Award 2025 for outstanding achievement in social security The triennial award recognised Indias exceptional progress in social protection systems globallyIndia is the fifth recipient of this award and the country joins the leading nations worldwide in the field of social protection coverageAddressing the World Social Security Forum WSSF 2025 in Malaysias Kuala Lumpur Mandaviya Minister for Labour and Employment and Youth Affairs highlighted Indias historic expansion in social security coverage from 19 per cent in 2015 to 643 per cent in 2025 which covers over 940 million citizens as recognised by the International Labour Organisation ILOThis award is a testament to the vision of our Prime Minister Narendra Modi and to our guiding principle of Antyodaya empowering the last person in the line that has shaped our journey towards inclusive and universal social protection Mandaviya said while receiving the award on behalf of the governmentFurther the Union Minister elaborated on the establishment of an extensive digital public infrastructure in India for efficient lastmile delivery of social security benefits with special reference to the eShram portalThe eShram portal is a National Digital Database that serves as a OneStop Solution connecting over 310 million unorganised workers with social welfare schemes through a multilingual seamless interface he stated at the premier global gathering of over 1200 social security policymakers and professionals from 163 countriesMandaviya also drew attention to the National Career Service NCS portal which is equipped with robust digital tools to bring job seekers and employers on a common platformToday NCS has an authenticated database of skilled workforce which is easily accessible for employers worldwide and is integrated with eShram This will ensure our skilled youth can access global opportunities without losing their social security benefits he saidDuring the plenary session of the Summit Mandaviya underlined the role of Indias two leading social security organisations the Employees Provident Fund Organisation EPFO and Employees State Insurance Corporation ESIC in providing a wide range of healthcare insurance and pension schemes to the nations workforceHe also spoke on the evolving role of social security in tandem with technological and labour market changesWe are strengthening our social security through comprehensive policy process and digital reforms India is leveraging technology to create new income opportunities and a social security net through a holistic approach that combines financial access skilling selfemployment and digital innovation the Minister saidIndia stands at the forefront ready to shape the future and inspire the worlds youth he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/india-advancing-towards-inclusive-and-universal-social-protection-minister-641255.html Fri, 03 Oct 2025 16:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/festive-stocking-tax-relief-and-gst-cuts-to-drive-auto-demand-in-h2fy26-september-sales-show-mixed-trend-641267.html New Delhi Oct 3 The Indian automobile industry is heading into the second half of FY26 with cautious optimism as festive stocking reduction in GST rates and income tax relief are expected to boost consumer demand a report said on Monday Meanwhile September sales data reflected a mixed trend with strong growth in twowheelers threewheelers commercial vehicles and tractors even as passenger vehicle volumes slipped on a YearonYear YoY basis Axis Securities highlightedTwo WheelerThree Wheeler 2W3W Segment Domestic twowheeler sales rose 6 per cent YoY and 18 per cent monthonmonth MoM supported by strong performances from Royal Enfield 43 per cent YoY Suzuki Motorcycle 37 per cent YoY and TVS Motor 12 per cent YoYExports remained firm rising 17 per cent YoY and 2 per cent MoM led by Bajaj Auto Hero MotoCorp RE and TVSThreewheeler sales recorded 12 per cent YoY and 6 per cent MoM growth largely driven by MampM 30 per cent YoY and TVS 60 per cent YoY the report notedPassenger Vehicles PV The PV segment saw a 5 per cent YoY decline in wholesales though sales rebounded 16 per cent MoM aided by deferred inventory clearance and GST reductionsJSW MG Motor and Tata Motors outperformed with 47 per cent and 45 per cent YoY growth respectively followed by Toyota Kirloskar 31 per cent YoY and MampM 10 per cent YoY Maruti Suzuki however slipped 6 per cent YoY while Hyundai remained flatCompanywise Tata Motors PV sales jumped 45 per cent YoY while MampMs PV division rose 10 per cent YoY Maruti Suzuki reported a 6 per cent YoY drop in domestic sales though MoM performance improved 2 per centTractors The tractor industry witnessed a sharp rebound with volumes up 50 per cent YoY and 124 per cent MoM buoyed by good monsoons and high reservoir levels MampMs tractor sales surged 50 per cent YoY and 148 per cent MoM Escorts Kubota rose 49 per cent YoY and 125 per cent MoM while VST Tillers and Tractors posted a 42 per cent YoY gain but fell 27 per cent sequentiallyCommercial Vehicles CV Domestic CV sales rose 11 per cent YoY and 19 per cent MoM Tata Motors and MampM recorded middoubledigit growth while Ashok Leyland reported a 9 per cent YoY rise Eicher Motors VECV division remained flat YoY but improved 6 per cent MoM Maruti Suzukis CV sales fell 7 per cent YoYAxis security said that it remains cautiously optimistic for H2FY26 expecting high singledigit growth in PVs and steady demand in CVs supported by festive demand GST cuts rural recovery and new model launchesTractor sales are also expected to remain buoyant aided by improved kharif harvest and reservoir conditions the domestic brokerage firm said IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/festive-stocking-tax-relief-and-gst-cuts-to-drive-auto-demand-in-h2fy26-september-sales-show-mixed-trend-641267.html Fri, 03 Oct 2025 16:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/morgan-stanley-turns-bullish-on-india-bets-on-financials-consumer-plays-industrials-641269.html New Delhi Oct 3 Morgan Stanley believes investors may be underestimating a pivotal shift in Indias growth cycle with both earnings and market peaks still ahead Reflecting this conviction the global brokerage firm has realigned its portfolio strategy to favour domestic cyclicals over defensives and exportled sectorsUnder its Gunning for Growth theme Morgan Stanley has turned overweight on financials consumer discretionary and industrials while adopting an underweight stance on energy materials utilities and healthcareThe international brokerage company emphasised that headwinds from the global slowdown and rich valuations in the second half of 2024 are now reversing setting the stage for India to deliver stronger relative performanceStructural tailwinds such as improved macro stability declining oil intensity in GDP a growing share of services exports fiscal consolidation and lower inflation volatility support the case for higher PE multiples and structurally lower real interest ratesMorgan Stanley highlighted that a favourable mix of high growth low volatility falling interest rates and low beta could drive a significant market reratingThe shift is also being reinforced by a growthoriented macro policy with recent rate and CRR cuts frontloaded government capital expenditure and sweeping GST rate reductions aimed at spurring mass consumption the global firm saidThe brokerage has expectations of positive earnings revisions another RBI rate cut within the current quarter and additional policy reforms to act as catalystsA potential IndiaUS trade deal lowering tariffs can also be seen as an upside triggerAdding to the bullish outlook Foreign Portfolio Investor FPI positioning is currently at alltime lows leaving significant room for inflows once growth recovers said Morgan StanleyThe brokerage firm cautioned that risks remain from a global growth slowdown and geopolitical tensions but maintained its view that Indias improving fundamentals and policy push provide a compelling longterm investment case IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/morgan-stanley-turns-bullish-on-india-bets-on-financials-consumer-plays-industrials-641269.html Fri, 03 Oct 2025 16:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/elon-musk-1st-person-ever-to-reach-net-worth-of-500-billion-641084.html New Delhi Oct 2 Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has become the worlds first person ever to reach a net worth of 500 billion followed by Oracles Larry Ellison at a distant second According to Forbes billionaires index Musks net worth stood at 5001 billion as of 415 pm ET 145am Thursday India timeHis feat came as Tesla shares rose over 14 per cent so far this year closing 33 per cent higher on Wednesday US time adding more than 6 billion to Musks wealthMusks AI startup xAI was valued at 75 billion as of July xAI was targeting a 200 billion valuation after a fundraise although Musk said the company was not raising capital at that timeOracle Founder Ellison was the secondrichest person on Forbes list with a net worth of about 3507 billionLast month Ellison briefly become the worlds richest person overtaking Musk following a significant increase in his wealth due to the price surge of his companys sharesFor 300 days Musk was at the top of the global wealth rankings Musk who first became the worlds richest person in 2021 regained the title last year after briefly losing it to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and LVMHs Bernard ArnaultMeanwhile Tesla has started delivering standard Model Y to its customers in India while the delivery of the Long Range variant is going to commence soonThe electric vehicle maker has announced that the new Model Y owners will be provided with a complimentary Wall Connector allowing convenient installation in their parking space for easy home chargingThe Wall Connector can be installed at customers homes or workplaces enabling them to start each day with a fully charged Tesla reducing costs per mile and eliminating trips to fuel stations Customers can also charge at Tesla Charging Stations in Mumbai and DelhiThe Model Y is available at a starting price tag of Rs 5989 lakhIn August Tesla inaugurated its first showroom in the National Capital Region NCR at the Worldmark 3 complex in Aerocity marking the electric carmakers second retail location in India after Mumbai IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/elon-musk-1st-person-ever-to-reach-net-worth-of-500-billion-641084.html Thu, 02 Oct 2025 12:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/over-349-mn-globally-at-risk-of-chikungunya-every-year-south-asia-tops-study-641090.html New Delhi Oct 2 More than 349 million people worldwide are at risk of chikungunya infections every year with South Asian countries including India Pakistan and Indonesia as well as Brazil sharing the highest burden according to a large global study on Thursday Chikungunya virus is an arbovirus transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes and causes epidemics in tropical regions with potential risk in higher latitudesThe study conducted by researchers from the London School of Hygiene amp Tropical Medicine LSHTM UK Nagasaki University in Japan and the International Vaccine Institute in Seoul South Korea showed that the burden was primarily attributed to chronic disability with significant burden among both the youngest less than 10 years old and the elderly over 60 years oldBased on existing evidence of chikungunya transmission the infectious disease model predicted 144 million people could be at risk of infections globally each year with 51 million people at risk in IndiaLikely chikungunya cases could also spread to regions not currently recording infections or considered atrisk the analysis found potentially increasing the number of people at risk each year to 349 million globally with 121 million in India revealed the findings published in BMJ Global HealthIts been widely thought that mosquitoes carrying chikungunya would be confined to subtropical or tropical continents but our analysis has found that the risk extends way beyond these regions said Hyolim Kang who led the study as part of her PhD at the LSHTMThe team used a random forest model to predict force of infection and estimate chikungunya burden at high spatial resolution 55km using covariates from climatic socioeconomic and ecological domainsFurther they used a focal scenario to estimate the observed burden lower bound and an atrisk scenario to estimate the potential burden upper bound of chikungunya transmissionIn the focal scenario the estimated disabilityadjusted life years DALYs were 096million annually at the global level India and Brazil accounted for 48 per cent of the global burden with 033million DALYs from India and 011million DALYs from BrazilSouth Asia had the largest regional share 44 per cent followed by Latin America and the Caribbean 26 per cent East Asia and the Pacific 205 per cent and SubSaharan Africa 69 per centIn the atrisk scenario the study estimated 23million DALYs annually at the global level with India Pakistan Indonesia and Brazil accounting for 51 per cent of the global burdenPrevention of the spread of this disease is important for everyone There are no specific antiviral therapies for chikungunya and treatment relies solely on supportive care Not only are infections extremely painful even the healthiest of people can be infected and left with lifelong disability Kang said IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/over-349-mn-globally-at-risk-of-chikungunya-every-year-south-asia-tops-study-641090.html Thu, 02 Oct 2025 12:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/nites-alleges-tcs-forced-2-500-employees-in-pune-to-resign-641097.html New Delhi Oct 2 The Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate NITES a forum representing IT sector staff has accused Tata Consultancy Services TCS of forcing nearly 2500 employees in Pune to resign The allegation was made in a letter written by NITES President Harpreet Singh Saluja to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis seeking immediate action to protect the affected workersAccording to NITES the Union Labour Ministry had already asked the Maharashtra labour secretary to look into the matterHowever Saluja said the situation on the ground had worsened with thousands of employees in Pune allegedly losing their jobs in recent weeksThe group claimed that many of these workers are mid to seniorlevel professionals who have spent 10 to 20 years at TCS and most are over 40 years of ageWith financial responsibilities like home loans school fees and care for ageing parents NITES said finding new jobs in the current market is extremely difficult for themThe employees forum further alleged that the terminations were being carried out in violation of the Industrial Disputes Act 1947 as the company had not given notice to the governmentIt claimed that TCS had not paid retrenchment compensation and that employees were being pressured into voluntary resignationsNITES said this crisis was not just about numbers but about families whose childrens education household stability and financial security are now at riskTCS however rejected the allegations In a statement the company said The misinformation shared here is inaccurate and purposefully mischievous Only a limited number of employees have been affected by our recent initiative to realign skills in our organisationThe company added that those impacted had been provided due care and severance benefitsIn June TCS had announced plans to cut about 2 per cent of its global workforce amounting to around 12261 jobs mainly in the middle and senior levelsCalling the situation a darkest hour for many families NITES has urged Chief Minister Fadnavis to intervene stop the alleged illegal terminations and ensure that all employees receive their rightful benefits under the law IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/nites-alleges-tcs-forced-2-500-employees-in-pune-to-resign-641097.html Thu, 02 Oct 2025 12:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/scientists-observe-parkinsons-trigger-in-human-brain-tissue-641098.html New Delhi Oct 2 Scientists have for the first time directly visualised the way Parkinsons disease gets triggered in human brain tissue Using a newly developed technique called ASAPD Advanced Sensing of Aggregates for Parkinsons Disease researchers from the University of Cambridge and University College London UK could see count and compare the protein clusters called alphasynuclein oligomers in human brain tissueOligomers have long been considered the likely culprits behind Parkinsons but until now these tiny clusters just a few nanometres long have evaded direct detection in human brain tissueUsing ASAPD with ultrasensitive fluorescence microscopy the team could for the first time detect and analyse millions of oligomers in postmortem brain tissueThis is the first time weve been able to look at oligomers directly in human brain tissue at this scale its like being able to see stars in broad daylight said Dr Rebecca Andrews who conducted the work when she was a postdoctoral researcher at Cambridges Yusuf Hamied Department of ChemistryIt opens new doors in Parkinsons research she addedSince oligomers are so small their signal is extremely weak But ASAPD maximises the signal while decreasing the background dramatically boosting sensitivity to the point where individual alphasynuclein oligomers can be observed and studiedThe team examined postmortem brain tissue samples from people with Parkinsons and compared them to healthy individuals of similar ageThe results reported in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering showed that oligomers exist in both healthy and Parkinsons brainsThe main difference between disease and healthy brains was the size of the oligomers which were larger brighter and more numerous in disease samples suggesting a direct link to the progression of ParkinsonsThe team also discovered a subclass of oligomers that appeared only in Parkinsons patients which could be the earliest visible markers of the disease potentially years before symptoms appearOligomers have been the needle in the haystack but now that we know where those needles are it could help us target specific cell types in certain regions of the brain said Professor Lucien Weiss from Polytechnique Montréal who coled the researchWeiss noted that similar technologies could be applied to other neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimers and Huntingtons IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/scientists-observe-parkinsons-trigger-in-human-brain-tissue-641098.html Thu, 02 Oct 2025 12:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/indias-electronics-component-scheme-attracts-over-rs-1-lakh-crore-ashwini-vaishnaw-641128.html New Delhi Oct 2 Union Minister for Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday announced that the government has received investment proposals worth Rs 115 lakh crore under the Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme The scheme was launched to boost domestic production of electronic components and devices in IndiaThe investment applications of more than Rs 1 lakh crore under the Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme clearly show PM Narendra Modis focus on electronics manufacturing and the trust developed by the world in India in the last 11 years This trust is resulting in investment employment and extra production he saidThe minister said the proposals have exceeded expectations in terms of investment employment and production targets compared to what was initially envisioned at the time of designing the schemeThe application window for the scheme closed on September 30 and we have received investment proposals worth Rs 115351 crore Vaishnaw saidHe added that while the government had originally projected around Rs 59000 crore of investment under this scheme the final proposals have nearly doubled that amountThe application window for the capital equipment segment of the scheme remains openThe Union Cabinet had approved the Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme in March with a budget outlay of Rs 22919 crore for six yearsThe objective of the scheme is to attract largescale investments into the electronics component manufacturing ecosystem build domestic value addition and integrate Indian companies with global value chains GVCsIt aims to create a strong component ecosystem by offering targeted incentives to Indian manufacturers across different categories of components and subassemblies enabling them to enhance scale and technological capabilitiesThe scheme initially targeted Rs 59350 crore of investment Rs 456500 crore worth of production and the creation of 91600 direct jobs along with numerous indirect employment opportunities accelerating Indias growth in the electronics manufacturing sectorElectronics and IT Secretary S Krishnan said that the proposals submitted under the scheme include commitments to generate employment for 141 lakh people significantly higher than the target of 91600 jobs IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/indias-electronics-component-scheme-attracts-over-rs-1-lakh-crore-ashwini-vaishnaw-641128.html Thu, 02 Oct 2025 15:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/northeast-joins-mainstream-in-indias-development-map-report-641156.html New Delhi Oct 2 From long being in the distant periphery the Northeast region in India has now entered the mainstream with the governments Act East policy according to a report on Thursday While rich in culture the Northeast lagged in infrastructure and economic opportunity But with the new policy it has seen significant investments across rail road air and digital connectivity India Narrative reportedThe region is being recast as a strategic hub bridging India with Southeast Asia and serving as a frontrunner of growth the report saidThe report noted that in the last 11 years railway budget allocation to the Northeast has risen fivefold totalling Rs 62477 crore with Rs 10440 crore earmarked this year aloneThis will deepen both interstate and strategic connectivity It will also provide convenience for passengers and transform local economies with a surge in growth of sectors such as bamboo horticultural produce handicrafts and tourismMost notable is the rail infrastructure the BairabiSairang railway line in Mizoram which was inaugurated at a cost of over Rs 8000 crore The railway line stretching just 51 kilometres and including 143 bridges and 45 tunnels has connected Aizawl to the national railway grid for the first time since independenceFurther the 80933 km of rural roads and 2108 bridges built under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana PMGSY have connected villages in the region to cities increasing access to hospitals schools and marketsBeyond roads and rails the government has also strengthened the regions air connectivity with the UDAN Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik scheme And with projects such as BharatNet and Digital Bharat Nidhi the Gram Panchayats have been made ready for digital connectivityWith the recent Rising Northeast Investors Summit 2025 attracting Rs 448 lakh crore in investment interest the region is also being developed as a new investment destinationWhile the achievements are remarkable the transformation poses risks such as ecological fragility social sensitivities execution gap and strategic balance said the report IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/northeast-joins-mainstream-in-indias-development-map-report-641156.html Thu, 02 Oct 2025 18:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/practising-naturopathy-yoga-true-tribute-to-mahatma-gandhi-prataprao-jadhav-641161.html New Delhi Oct 2 Practising naturopathy and yoga in our daily lives can be a true tribute to Mahatma Gandhi said Union Minister of State for Ayush Independent Charge Prataprao Jadhav on Thursday He said this on an occasion celebrating Gandhi Jayanti at the National Institute of Naturopathy NIN PuneMahatma Gandhi was a lifelong advocate of naturopathy said Jadhav while delivering the keynote address He urged citizens to adopt this system of medicine in their daily livesCalling everyone to imbibe Gandhijis timeless ideals of truth and nonviolence he added Practising naturopathy and yoga is the real tribute we can offer to the Father of the NationAs part of the ceremony the Minister also released a book based on Mahatma Gandhis thoughts Later in the day he participated in a tree plantation drive organized at NINs Yewalewadi campusMeanwhile the Ministry of Ayush concluded the Swachhata Hi Sewa 2025 campaign with a special Swachhotsav procession on the occasion of Gandhi JayantiThe march led by Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha Secretary Ministry of Ayush began from Ayush Bhawan and culminated at INA Metro Station in the national capital symbolising collective action for a cleaner India The event also included floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi Ji honouring his timeless vision of cleanliness and selfless serviceThe Swachhata Hi Sewa 2025 initiative jointly organised by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation Ministry of Jal Shakti was observed in the Ministry of Ayush from September 17 to October 2The fortnight featured targeted cleanliness drives in office premises basements parking areas and lawns conducted under the campaign Ek Din Ek Ghanta Ek Saath a Preventive Health Checkup for Safaimitras at AIIA and outreach with street food vendors to spread awareness about hygiene and waste disposal IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/practising-naturopathy-yoga-true-tribute-to-mahatma-gandhi-prataprao-jadhav-641161.html Thu, 02 Oct 2025 18:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/google-korea-pays-122-million-in-corporate-taxes-in-2024-lawmaker-641044.html Seoul Oct 1 Google Korea the local unit of US tech giant Google paid 172 billion won 122 million in corporate taxes last year a lawmaker said on Wednesday adding the amount represents only a fraction of what South Korean firms would have had to pay Google Korea paid 172 billion won in corporate taxes last year although it should have paid 6762 billion won said Rep Choi Soojin of the People Power Party citing figures based on the companys estimated sales reports Yonhap news agencyShe referred to a report by professor Jeon Seongmin of Gachon University which estimated that Google Koreas revenue in 2024 could have reached up to 113 trillion wonApplying Korean internet giant Naver Corps corporate taxtorevenue ratio of 59 percent Choi argued that Google Koreas tax liability should have been 6762 billion wonAs of last year Google Korea accounted for 312 percent of the countrys data traffic compared with Navers 49 percentHowever Google Korea reported just 3869 billion won in revenue while Naver posted 107 trillion won in sales Choi said Naver paid 3902 billion won in corporate taxes in 2024Neglecting the issue of domestic revenue minimisation and tax avoidance by global big tech companies like Google will be a major factor hindering fair competition with domestic firms Choi said In the long term this will inevitably have a negative impact on the domestic information and communications technology ecosystemMeanwhile Google said on Tuesday it will accept the South Korean governments security requirements to remove coordinates for the Korean region from its map in order to secure approval to export highprecision map data overseasWe are announcing two more measures to address any remaining national security concerns from the government Cris Turner vice president for government affairs and public policy at Google said in a press conference in SeoulFirst to provide worldclass navigation service in Korea we are strengthening our longterm partnership with local technology he saidSecond we will remove latitude and longitude coordinates for places in Korea he added noting that the Seoul government has asked Google to remove such information IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/google-korea-pays-122-million-in-corporate-taxes-in-2024-lawmaker-641044.html Wed, 01 Oct 2025 14:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/sensex-nifty-open-in-green-ahead-of-rbi-repo-rate-decision-641051.html Mumbai Oct 1 The Indian benchmark indices opened with mild gains on Wednesday as investors await the decision of the Reserve Bank of Indias RBI monetary policy decision As of 930 am the Sensex was up 144 points or 018 per cent at 80412 and the Nifty advanced 17 points or 007 per cent at 24628The broad cap indices Nifty Midcap 100 and Nifty Smallcap 100 inched up 052 and 029 per cent respectively Shriram Finance Tech Mahindra Trent and Tata Consumer Products are among the major gainers on the Nifty pack while losers include Bajaj Finance Interglobe Aviation Bajaj Finserv and SBI Life InsuranceAmong sectoral indices Nifty Media the top gainer advanced 174 per cent Nifty Pharma up 124 per cent and Nifty Realty up 130 per cent were other major gainersAnalysts said that banking stocks will be the focus of attention since a rate cut at this juncture will impact their NIMs and their stock prices A pause by the MPC will impart resilience to the banking stocks they saidAmid the continuing market weakness and decline caused by sustained selling from foreign institutional investors FIIs analysts recommended systematic investment in highquality largecap stocks emphasising that patience is essential for longterm wealth creationAccording to market experts Nifty can find support at 24550 followed by 24500 and 24450 On the higher side 24650 can be an immediate resistance followed by 24700 and 24750The US markets ended in the green zone overnight as Nasdaq edged up 031 per cent the SampP 500 added 041 per cent and the Dow moved up 018 per cent in the last trading sessionThe Asian markets were trading mixed during the morning session following gains on Wall Street as investors appeared unperturbed by a looming US government shutdownWhile Chinas Shanghai index added 052 per cent and Shenzhen advanced 035 per cent Japans Nikkei declined 117 per cent while Hong Kongs Hang Seng Index added 081 per cent South Koreas Kospi added 060 per centOn Tuesday foreign institutional investors FIIs sold equities worth Rs 2327 crore while domestic institutional investors DIIs were net buyers of equities worth Rs 5761 crore IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/sensex-nifty-open-in-green-ahead-of-rbi-repo-rate-decision-641051.html Wed, 01 Oct 2025 14:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/sensex-nifty-open-in-green-as-investors-look-for-cues-from-rbi-mpc-meet-640841.html Mumbai Sep 30 The Indian benchmark indices opened in the green zone on Tuesday as investors keep their focus on Reserve Bank of Indias RBI monetary policy decision As of 920 am the Sensex was up 301 points or 038 per cent at 80666 and the Nifty advanced 93 points or 038 per cent at 24728The broad cap indices Nifty Midcap 100 and Nifty Smallcap 100 inched up 032 and 029 per cent respectively Titan Company Asian Paints Cipla Hindalco were among the major gainers on the Nifty pack while losers include Tata Motors Tech Mahindra and Dr Reddys LabsAmong sectoral indices Nifty Consumer Durables the top gainer advanced 059 per cent Nifty Private Bank up 043 per cent and Nifty Metal up 056 per cent were other major gainers All indices except Nifty Media were in the green zoneAnalysts said that the Nifty 50 opened on a positive note in the previous session but slipped below 24650 closing in the red for the eighth straight dayreflecting sustained selling pressureFrom a technical perspective a sustained move above 24800 could pave the way for a rally toward 25000 The immediate support lies at the 24530 and 24400 zonesThe US markets ended in the green zone overnight as Nasdaq edged up 048 per cent the SampP 500 added 026 per cent and the Dow moved up 015 per cent in the last trading sessionThe Asian markets were trading mixed during the morning session as Chinas state data showed manufacturing activity contracted for a sixth straight month albeit less than market estimatesWhile Chinas Shanghai index added 044 per cent and Shenzhen advanced 042 per cent Japans Nikkei declined 005 per cent while Hong Kongs Hang Seng Index dipped 012 per cent South Koreas Kospi added 013 per centOn Monday foreign institutional investors FIIs sold equities worth Rs 2832 crore while domestic institutional investors DIIs were net buyers of equities worth Rs 3846 crore IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/sensex-nifty-open-in-green-as-investors-look-for-cues-from-rbi-mpc-meet-640841.html Tue, 30 Sep 2025 16:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/gold-reaches-record-high-poised-for-best-month-in-14-years-640847.html Mumbai Sep 30 The price of gold reached a record high on Tuesday on track for its largest monthly surge in 14 years amid concerns over a potential US government shutdown and rising expectations for further Federal Reserve rate cuts The price of yellow metal has risen 114 per cent so far in September on track for its best month since August 2011 when it rose 15 per cent boosted by safe haven demandThe price of 24carat gold 10 gram rose to a new high of Rs 115450 on Tuesday according to data published by the India Bullion and Jewellers Association IBJAUS gold futures for December delivery rose 04 per cent to 3872 US President Donald Trump and his Democratic opponents appeared to make little progress at a White House meeting aimed at heading off a government shutdown that could disrupt a wide range of services as early as WednesdayThe US Labour Department announced it will halt economic data releases including the September jobs report in the event of a partial government shutdown closing down its statistics agencyRecent economic data has bolstered expectations for additional easing by the Federal ReserveTraders are pricing in an 89 per cent likelihood of a 25basispoint cut at the upcoming Federal Reserve meeting as reported by CME Groups FedWatch toolSt Louis Federal Reserve President Alberto Musalem said he was open to further rate cuts but the Fed must be cautious and keep rates high enough to continue to lean against inflationGold has outperformed Indian equities for the fourth consecutive DiwalitoDiwali cycle continuing a trend where the yellow metal has outperformed equities in seven of the last eight yearsSilver also outperformed Indian equities for the third consecutive year driven by industrial demand from solar panel manufacturing semiconductors and electric vehiclesMeanwhile analysts say that bullion continues to receive support from robust central bank purchases and sustained inflows into ETFs The Fed Chairs cautious remarks on inflation the labour market and future rate cuts could act as a cap on bullions gainsInvestors are awaiting US data on job openings private payrolls the ISM manufacturing index and Fridays nonfarm payrolls report for insights into the economys trajectory IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/gold-reaches-record-high-poised-for-best-month-in-14-years-640847.html Tue, 30 Sep 2025 16:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/study-finds-hidden-genetic-risk-delaying-diabetes-diagnosis-in-men-640850.html New Delhi Sep 30 A common gene variant may be delaying diagnoses of type 2 diabetes in millions of men worldwide and increasing their risk of serious complications according to a study G6PD deficiency is a genetic condition that affects more than 400 million people worldwide and is especially prevalent among those with African Asian Middle Eastern and Mediterranean backgroundsIt is more common in men and usually goes undetected because it rarely causes symptoms The World Health Organization WHO recommends routine screening for G6PD deficiency in populations where it is common but it is not widely implemented in many other countriesResearchers from the University of Exeter in collaboration with Queen Mary University of London QMUL found that men with G6PD deficiency are on average diagnosed with type 2 diabetes four years later than those without the gene variant But despite this fewer than one in 50 have been diagnosed with the conditionThe study published in the journal Diabetes Care showed that men with G6PD deficiency are at a 37 per cent higher risk of developing diabetesrelated microvascular complications such as eye kidney and nerve damage compared to other men with diabetesG6PD deficiency does not cause diabetes but it makes the widely used HbA1c blood test which diagnoses and monitors diabetes appear artificially lowAs this can mislead doctors and patients resulting in delayed diabetes diagnosis and treatment the team urged the need to develop newer diagnostic methods until it is too late to prevent serious complicationsOur findings highlight the urgent need for changes to testing practices to tackle health inequalities Doctors and health policy makers need to be aware that the HbA1c test may not be accurate for people with G6PD deficiency and routine G6PD screening could help identify those at risk Addressing this issue is not only crucial for medicine but for health equity said Professor Inês Barroso from the University of ExeterThe HbA1c blood test is the international standard for managing type 2 diabetes and is used in 136 countries worldwide to diagnose diabetesHowever for people with G6PD deficiency this test may underestimate their blood sugar levels causing significant medical delays and increasing their risk of serious complications IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/study-finds-hidden-genetic-risk-delaying-diabetes-diagnosis-in-men-640850.html Tue, 30 Sep 2025 16:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/india-set-for-65-pc-average-growth-over-next-decade-morgan-stanley-640855.html New Delhi Sep 30 India is set for a 65 per cent annual growth rate for the next decade and can clock higher growth if the industrial and export sectors expand at a much faster pace US investment banking company Morgan Stanley said in a report on Tuesday The investment banking firm said that India has huge room for growth in the export sector which can be boosted through a comprehensive reform packageAnalysts had earlier reported that Indias economy is set to grow faster at 65 per cent in FY2026 GDP up from the previous expectation of 6 per cent due to GST reforms Morgan Stanley also concurred with this view saying In our base case Indias GDP will grow at this rate over the coming decade one of the fastestgrowing economies globallyMorgan Stanley cited studies that have shown that every job created by manufacturing exports creates two other jobs in related sectors like transportation and logisticsIn this context India presents a significant opportunity to enhance its export market share which currently stands at 18 per cent a figure significantly lower than its weight in terms of workingage population and GDPMorgan Stanley suggested a comprehensive reform package including accelerated buildout of public infrastructure especially for lastmile connectivityFurther it highlighted the need for a systematic approach that incentivises state governments to improve the business environment and ensure that the labour force is adequately skilledThe report acknowledged that policymakers are already making efforts but the magnitude of the jobs problem demands a need to accelerate the paceAt least 84 million people are expected to join the workforce in the coming decade even assuming that participation rates are unchangedOver the medium term one pressing issue is that AI will reduce job growth prospects particularly for the IT services sector which has been a key source of employment creation and for the domestic services sector as well it hintedThe scenario analysis suggests that an average GDP growth rate of 74 per cent will be needed to ensure a stable unemployment rate assuming participation rates stay constant the report saidIf we allow for a gradual rise in participation rate to 63 per cent an average GDP growth rate of 93 per cent is needed to ensure a stable unemployment rate it added IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/india-set-for-65-pc-average-growth-over-next-decade-morgan-stanley-640855.html Tue, 30 Sep 2025 16:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/govt-appoints-new-chiefs-for-union-bank-central-bank-of-india-640863.html New Delhi Sep 30 The government has cleared the appointment of Asheesh Pandey as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Union Bank of India and Kalyan Kumar as the new head of Central Bank of India Both appointments are for a period of three years The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the appointmentsPandey who is currently serving as Executive Director of Bank of Maharashtra will take charge as MD and CEO of Union Bank of India for a threeyear term from the date he assumes officeSimilarly Kalyan Kumar Executive Director of Punjab National Bank will step in as MD and CEO of Central Bank of India after the superannuation of incumbent MV Rao in JulyThe Financial Services Institutions Bureau FSIB had recommended Pandey and Kumar for these top positions on May 30 The bureau is headed by former Department of Personnel and Training Secretary Bhanu Pratap SharmaEarlier the government appointed Shirish Chandra Murmu as a Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India for a tenure of three yearsMurmus appointment was also approved by the Appointments Committee of the Union Cabinet and would come into effect from October 9 He will replace M Rajeshwar Rao whose extended service is set to end on October 8Currently he is serving as Executive Director at the RBI looking after the Department of SupervisionAccording to the law the RBI should have four Deputy Governors one from the commercial banking system two from within the bank and an economistThe other Deputy Governors are Swaminathan J Poonam Gupta and T Rabi SankarRao has been in the position for five years In 2020 he was appointed Deputy Governor for a threeyear term In 2023 and 2024 he was given two oneyear extensions IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/govt-appoints-new-chiefs-for-union-bank-central-bank-of-india-640863.html Tue, 30 Sep 2025 16:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/spacex-targets-11th-test-flight-of-starship-for-october-13-640864.html New Delhi Sep 30 After a resounding success of its 10th test flight of Starship SpaceX is targeting the 11th test flight for October 13 the Elon Muskled company announced on Tuesday The Starship and Super Heavy booster is scheduled to launch from the companys Starbase site in South Texas on October 13 with a launch window opening at 615 pm CT October 14 445 am ISTStarships tenth flight test took a significant step forward in developing the worlds first fully reusable launch vehicle Next up Flight 11 of Starship is targeted to launch as early as Monday October 13 SpaceX said in a post on social media platform XDuring the 11th flight the booster will launch with 24 flightproven Raptor engines Its primary test objective will be demonstrating a unique landing burn engine configuration planned to be used on the nextgeneration Super HeavyIt will attempt this while on a trajectory to an offshore landing point in the Gulf of America and will not return to the launch site for catch SpaceX said in a blog postThe primary goal of the flight test is to measure the realworld vehicle dynamics as engines shut down while transitioning between the different phasesThe Starship upper stage will target multiple inspace objectives including the deployment of eight Starlink simulators similar in size to nextgeneration Starlink satellitesThe flight test also includes several experiments and operational changes focused on enabling Starships upper stage to return to the launch site on future flightsMeanwhile Starships 10th test flight carried out in August began with Super Heavy successfully lifting off by igniting all 33 Raptor engines and ascending over the Gulf of AmericaUsing its four flaps for control the spacecraft arrived at its splashdown point in the Indian Ocean successfully executed a landing flip and completed the flight test with a landing burn and soft splashdownThis came after a series of anomalies during Flight 7 Flight 8 and Flight 9 which lifted off this year in January March and MayOn Flight 7 and Flight 8 the Ship exploded less than 10 minutes after launch while on Flight 9 it broke apart upon reentry to Earths atmosphereStanding more than 400 feet tall when fully stacked Starship is the biggest and most powerful rocket ever builtIt consists of two elements both of which are designed to be fully and rapidly reusable a booster known as Super Heavy and an upperstage spacecraft called StarshipSpaceX is developing Starship to help humanity return to the Moon and settle on MarsIt will launch the moon lander for NASAs Artemis 3 mission that aims to land astronauts on the Moon IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/spacex-targets-11th-test-flight-of-starship-for-october-13-640864.html Tue, 30 Sep 2025 16:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/man-industries-shares-plunge-over-15-pc-as-sebi-bars-top-executives-from-market-640868.html Mumbai Sep 30 Shares of Man Industries India Ltd nosedived over 16 per cent in morning trade on Tuesday after the Securities and Exchange Board of India SEBI barred the company and three of its senior executives from accessing the securities market for two years The regulator also imposed a penalty of Rs 25 lakh each on the executives for alleged misrepresentation of financial statementsThose penalised include Chairman Ramesh Mansukhani Executive Director Nikhil Mansukhani and former Executive Director and current CFO Ashok Gupta according to SEBIs orderThe market watchdog said the companys financials from FY16 to FY21 were deliberately misstated depriving investors of a fair picture of its performanceSEBI observed that Man Structural Pvt Ltd MSPL a whollyowned subsidiary was excluded from consolidation after FY15 without justification thereby suppressing grouplevel losses and liabilities while inflating profits of the parent companyCalling the penalty minimal in comparison with its scale of operations Man Industries said the order does not impact its daytoday businessThe company is examining the order in detail and will seek appropriate legal remedies it addedAt 1146 am shares of Man Industries were trading at Rs 35830 on the NSE down 1180 per cent The stock has slipped over 19 per cent in the past five sessions and lost more than 7 per cent in the last month Despite the recent selloff the scrip remains nearly 10 per cent higher yeartodate The stock opened at 35620 falling sharply against last days closing of 40670Meanwhile the domestic stock indices turned flat after starting the session in green At around 1157 the Sensex was at 8031056 down 5438 points or 007 per cent and Nifty was trading at 2463160 down 330 points or 001 per centThe domestic equity indices opened in the green zone on Tuesday as investors kept their focus on the Reserve Bank of Indias RBI monetary policy decision IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/man-industries-shares-plunge-over-15-pc-as-sebi-bars-top-executives-from-market-640868.html Tue, 30 Sep 2025 16:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/99-pc-patients-had-at-least-one-major-risk-factor-before-first-heart-attack-or-stroke-640880.html New Delhi Sep 30 Heart attack stroke or heart failure come with warning signs in 99 per cent cases according to a large study that refuted the notion that these devastating events often strike people without warning signs The study led by Northwestern Medicine US and Yonsei University in South Korea showed people with these deadly cardiovascular diseases which remain the leading cause of death worldwide had at least one risk factor above an optimal level beforehandWe think the study shows very convincingly that exposure to one or more nonoptimal risk factors before these cardiovascular outcomes is nearly 100 per cent said senior author Dr Philip Greenland professor of cardiology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of MedicineThe goal now is to work harder on finding ways to control these modifiable risk factors rather than to get off track in pursuing other factors that are not easily treatable and not causal Greenland addedThe team selected four major cardiovascular risk factors blood pressure cholesterol blood sugar and tobacco useThe scientists analysed health data from more than 93 million Korean adults and nearly 7000 US adults who were followed for up to two decadesThe findings published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology showed that more than 99 per cent of people who developed coronary heart disease heart failure or stroke had at least one nonoptimal risk factor before their event Over 93 per cent had two or more risk factorsHigh blood pressure or hypertension was the most common culprit affecting over 95 per cent of patients in South Korea and more than 93 per cent in the USEven in women under 60 the group often assumed to be at lowest risk more than 95 per cent still had at least one nonoptimal factor before heart failure or strokeIn a secondary analysis the team also looked at clinically elevated risk factors the higher thresholds doctors often use for diagnosis blood pressure more than 14090 cholesterol more than 240 glucose more than 126 and current smokingIn such scenarios at least 90 per cent of patients still had at least one major risk factor before their first cardiac event IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/99-pc-patients-had-at-least-one-major-risk-factor-before-first-heart-attack-or-stroke-640880.html Tue, 30 Sep 2025 16:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/dots-sanchar-saathi-initiative-helps-recover-6-lakh-lost-and-stolen-mobile-handsets-640887.html New Delhi Sep 30 More than 6 lakh lost and stolen mobile handsets have been recovered on the Department of Telecommunications DoT SancharSaathi initiative the government said on Tuesday The Block Your Lost Stolen Mobile Handset facility on the citizencentric digital safety initiative has crossed a significant milestone marking a significant outcome reinforcing the citizens trust in digital governance according to Ministry of CommunicationsThis achievement underscores the governments commitment to protecting citizens digital assets and demonstrates the power of collaborative technology in combating cybercrimeThe facility on Sanchar Saathi integrates DoT Telecom Service Providers TSP and State UT police in realtime mannerBuilt on the theme of Digital by Design this facility is helping recover one phone per minute according to the governmentThe facility empowers citizens to report block trace or unblock lost stolen mobile across all Indian telecom networksReported lost stolen mobile handsets are blocked in telecom networks on pan India basis to prevent any misuseAs soon as any SIM is used with such loststolen mobile handset automated traceability is generated and alert is sent to the citizens as well as the Police Station concerned where the complaint for lost stolen mobile handset was registered according to the governmentCitizens are provided with the details of police station to be contacted in the generated traceability through SMSWith these efforts the recovery rate has shown consistent monthonmonth improvement with monthly recoveries increasing from 28115 in January 2025 to 45243 in August 2025 representing a 61 per cent increase over eight monthsThis milestone reinforces the governments vision of a secure digital ecosystem where technology serves as an enabler for citizen empowerment and safetyLaunched in May 2023 Sanchar Saathi has evolved into Indias most comprehensive digital safety platform recording over 19 crore website visits and more than 90 lakh mobile app downloads IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/dots-sanchar-saathi-initiative-helps-recover-6-lakh-lost-and-stolen-mobile-handsets-640887.html Tue, 30 Sep 2025 16:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/adani-electricity-provides-653-temporary-power-connections-to-navratri-durga-puja-pandals-640905.html Mumbai Sep 30 Adani Electricity on Wednesday said it has provided 653 temporary power connections to Navratri and Durga Puja Pandals this year In anticipation of the festive season Adani Electricity Mumbai had earlier this month simplified the process for Navratri and Durga Puja organisers to obtain temporary electricity connections for their pandalsWith a commitment to safety and efficiency the utility assures connection within 48 hours of application submissionWe are proud to share that this year we successfully provided temporary electricity connections to over 653 Durga PujaNavratri pandals across the city Adani Electricity recognises the importance of uninterrupted power supply throughout these auspicious celebrations a company spokesperson saidWe understand the importance of uninterrupted power during these celebrations Last year we successfully provided continuous electricity to over 647 Durga PujaNavratri pandals across the city This year weve strengthened our operations to ensure even faster connection releases and reliable supply the spokesperson addedEarlier this year during the Ganpati festival Adani Electricity released approximately 950 temporary connections to Ganpati Pandals and installed over 2571 floodlights at 167 Lord Ganesh idol immersion locations across 15 BMC wards ensuring a safe and joyful experience for devoteesFurther Adani Electricity also deployed a Quick Response Team with a welldefined restoration plan to address any unforeseen issues during the festivities The utility issued a safety advisory urging all pandals toThe company also issued a safety advisory urging all pandals to use wiring services only from licensed electrical contractors install mandatory Residual Current Circuit Breakers RCCBs to protect devotees and volunteers from electrical hazardsPrioritising safety reliability and ease of access to power Adani Electricity also issued dos and donts for Navratri and Durga Puja pandalsAdani Electricity urged to use standard wires and switches for the connection and allow only an authorised person to enter the meter cabinA fire extinguisher with operating knowledge is to be placed near the meter cabin The danger board needs to be fixed near the meter cabin Proper earthing at the meter cabin the company saidAdani Electricity also advised against using unauthorised extensions or direct supply making any joints in wiring putting obstacles at the entry of the meter cabin and exceeding the sanctioned load IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/adani-electricity-provides-653-temporary-power-connections-to-navratri-durga-puja-pandals-640905.html Tue, 30 Sep 2025 17:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/phonepe-mastercards-new-tap-and-pay-feature-to-enable-contactless-payments-in-india-640909.html New Delhi Sep 30 As contactless payments through smartphones gain popularity among consumers PhonePe and Mastercard have announced a collaboration to launch an exclusive feature for Mastercard cardholders in India The new feature enables Mastercard cardholders to make instore payments by simply tapping their NFCenabled smartphones at payment terminals using the PhonePe appThe collaboration is designed to offer secure and frictionless tap and pay experiences at physical retail outlets while also supporting tokenised ecommerce transactions all through NFCcapable Android smartphonesCardholders can simply save their Mastercard credit debit and prepaid cards issued in India on their smartphones and enjoy all the benefits of cardbased paymentsBy combining Mastercards global expertise in tokenisation with PhonePes vast base of 618 million registered users this launch expands access to digital payments both within India and internationally It reinforces the shared commitment of both companies to strengthening the countrys rapidly growing digital economyWere delighted to collaborate with Mastercard to bring devicebased tokenisation to millions of PhonePe users With an increased penetration of NFCenabled smartphones coupled with growing consumer preference towards usage of tap and pay using their cards this functionality marries the two seamlessly said Deep Agrawal Head of Payments at PhonePeThis elevates both convenience and security for users enabling contactless payments at physical stores and safer online transactions all within the familiar PhonePe app We view this association as yet another key step toward delivering a worldclass payment experience to PhonePe users across India and when travelling abroad Agrawal addedMastercard cardholders can now benefit from a suite of powerful features including secure tap and pay instore payments to make contactless payments at NFCenabled terminals across India and abroad using the PhonePe app on Android smartphonesIt provides safer online shopping Individuals can shop securely with Mastercard cards via the PhonePe app with each transaction tokenised and tied to your device making stolen credentials useless elsewhereSaving the card just once can enable a fast secure checkout every time backed by Mastercards global expertise in tokenisation and PhonePes intuitive user experienceMastercard has always believed in scaling innovation This collaboration with PhonePe marks a key step in broadening the reach of digital payments by expanding devicebased tokenisation empowering Mastercard cardholders exclusively to tap and pay at merchant outlets both within the country and abroad India plays a pivotal role in setting the pace of digital commerce globally and Mastercard is proud to support this momentum with solutions that make transactions smarter and safer said Ravi Datla Senior Vice President Products and Solutions South Asia MastercardUsers can securely add their credit and debit cards on the PhonePe app through a simple onetime process Once the card is tokenised and saved they can make seamless payments by selecting the card and tapping their smartphone against any PoS machine and shop onlineThe new feature will begin rolling out to Mastercard cardholders on the PhonePe app in a phased manner IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/phonepe-mastercards-new-tap-and-pay-feature-to-enable-contactless-payments-in-india-640909.html Tue, 30 Sep 2025 17:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/indias-corporate-credit-profile-demonstrates-resilience-amid-global-uncertainties-report-640920.html New Delhi Sep 30 Despite the ongoing global uncertainties including tariffrelated disruptions and geopolitical tensions the credit profile of Indian corporates has demonstrated remarkable resilience a report said on Tuesday The domesticfocussed nature of the Indian economy would likely limit the broader macro impact posed by higher US tariffsDomestic consumption is likely to receive a boost from GST rate rationalisation income tax relief transmission of rate cuts and easing food inflation particularly aiding urban demand which has seen uneven recovery thus far ICRA Ratings said in its reportThe imposition of a steep 50 per cent tariff on Indian exports to the US presents a significant challenge for exporters particularly in sectors such as cut and polished diamonds CPD textiles and seafood which are heavily reliant on the US marketIn view of these positive domestic trends ICRA has revised its GDP growth forecast for FY2026 upward by 50 basis points to 65 per cent helping to cushion the adverse effects of the US tariffs said K Ravichandran Executive Vice President and Chief Rating Officer ICRAThe potential extension of protectionist measures to the services sector remains a key monitorable If enacted the proposed HIRE Act could significantly disrupt Indias outsourcing industry given its substantial reliance on the US market he addedDuring the first half of the current fiscal year H1 FY2026 ICRA upgraded the ratings of 214 entities while downgrading 75 resulting in a robust Credit Ratio of 29 timesRating upgrades in H1 FY2026 were largely driven by entityspecific factors such as the improvement in business fundamentals strengthening of the parents credit profile and reduced project risks in sectors like power and roadsKey business drivers included market share expansion order book growth operating leverage from scale and favourable shifts in product mix and cost structures the report saidAccording to the report the 50 per cent tariffs imposed by the US on Indian exports pose a significant risk to Indias merchandise trade going forwardGiven that the US accounts for nearly 20 per cent of Indias exports and 5060 per cent of these are now vulnerable merchandise exports could contract by approximately 45 per cent YoY in FY2026 if the higher tariffs persist through March 2026Despite the external headwinds the overall impact on the Indian economy is expected to remain limited due to its domesticoriented nature with exports to the US accounting for only 2 per cent of the GDP added RavichandranDomestic private consumption which contributes 57 per cent to the GDP is poised to get a boost from the recent GST rate rationalisation which is likely to enhance affordability and stimulate household spending he said further IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/indias-corporate-credit-profile-demonstrates-resilience-amid-global-uncertainties-report-640920.html Tue, 30 Sep 2025 17:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/indian-equity-indices-end-slightly-lower-ahead-of-rbis-mpc-outcome-640936.html Mumbai Sep 30 The domestic equity indices ended the session slightly lower on Tuesday trading rangebound amid investors showing a cautious approach ahead of the RBI monetary policy outcome Sensex ended the session at 8026762 down 97 points or 012 per cent The 30share index started the session in green at 8054177 breaking a sevenday losing streak against last sessions closing of 8036494 However the index dragged in negative territory following selling in heavyweights like ITC and Tech MahindraNifty settled at 2461110 down 2380 points or 010 per centThe domestic market traded within a narrow range on the monthly expiry day as investors exercised caution ahead of the RBIs policy The market attempted to stabilise after last weeks sustained decline said analystsMarket participants are keenly awaiting the RBIs commentary for insights into future interest rate trajectories although a status quo on rates is widely expected he addedKey developments particularly regarding tariff policies and the upcoming earnings season will be crucial in shaping the markets trajectory beyond the current rangeBharti Airtel ITC Trent Bajaj FinServ Titan Reliance Tech Mahindra Reliance and LampT ended the session lower Adani Ports Tata Motors BEL Bajaj FinServ Hindustan Unilever Sun Pharma Mahindra and Mahindra and Asian Paints closed in greenThe sectoral indices continued to experience a mixed approach for the second consecutive day this week Nifty FMCG fell 235 points or 043 per cent and Nifty IT slipped 37 points or 011 per cent While Nifty Auto jumped 105 points or 040 per cent Nifty Bank escalated 174 points or 032 per cent and Nifty Fin Services settled 15 points higherThe broader market followed suit as well Nifty 100 fell 19 points Nifty Midcap 100 closed flat and Nifty Small Cap 100 jumped 14 points or 008 per centOn the monthly expiry day the Nifty index ended weak facing stiff resistance near its 100day EMA around the 24750 zone The index has been forming a lower highslower lows pattern for the past three sessions highlighting strong bearish control Unless Nifty reclaims and sustains above its 50day EMA the shortterm outlook remains negative said Vatsal Bhuva of LKP Securities IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/indian-equity-indices-end-slightly-lower-ahead-of-rbis-mpc-outcome-640936.html Tue, 30 Sep 2025 18:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/india-inc-credit-ratio-rose-to-256-times-in-h1fy26-report-640943.html New Delhi Sep 30 India Inc credit ratio rose to 256 times in the first half of this fiscal H1FY26 up from 235 times in the second half of the previous financial year The increase underscores strong broadbased resilience across sectorsIn H1FY26 upgrades improved to 15 per cent from 14 per cent seen in H2FY25 while downgrades remained steady at 6 per cent Care Edge Ratings said in its reportThe rating agency upgraded ratings for 282 firms while 110 were downgradedReaffirmations remained largely stable at 80 per cent over the past three years indicating that most ratings continued to hold strong despite a changing external environment the report statedSteady domestic demand and the governments infrastructure push sustained upgrade momentum with nearly 40 per cent of all upgrades linked to infrastructureWhile smallsized auto ancillaries and dealers chemical manufacturers small Finance Banks SFBs and NBFCs exposed to microfinance and unsecured business loans saw the highest downgrades amid pricing pressures and assetquality concernsWhile India Incs performance has improved in H1FY26 the external environment is turning more complex by the day The sharp escalation in US tariffs is reshaping trade flows and supply chains creating challenges for Indian companies and keeping private sector capex in abeyance until there is greater clarity on demand said Sachin Gupta Executive Director and Chief Rating Officer CareEdge RatingsExportheavy sectors may face margin pressures in the near term even as resilient balance sheets and steady domestic demand continue to cushion the impactThe fact that merchandise exports to the US account for just 2 per cent of Indias GDP with smartphones and generic pharmaceuticals currently outside the tariff ambit provides some buffer against immediate largescale disruption the report saidAccording to the report against this complex backdrop Indias infrastructure story continues to shine supported by policy thrust and steady investment momentum The credit ratio of the infrastructure sector jumped to 854 times in H1FY26 with Transport Infrastructure and Power leading the upgrades IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/india-inc-credit-ratio-rose-to-256-times-in-h1fy26-report-640943.html Tue, 30 Sep 2025 18:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/indias-pharma-exports-expected-to-cross-30bn-this-year-rise-sharply-by-2030-minister-640953.html New Delhi Sep 30 Indias pharma exports currently valued at nearly 278 billion are expected to cross 30 billion by the yearend said Union Minister of State Independent Charge for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh on Tuesday Singh stated that Indias domestic pharma market is 60 billion but is expected to double that is 130 billion by 2030He added that the Medtech sector will also witness growthCurrently there are around 800 medical device manufacturers in the country and Indias annual growth of the Medtech sector is 15 to 20 per cent said SinghHe was speaking at the signing of an official Memorandum of Understanding MoU between the Department of Biotechnology DBT and the Government of Uttar PradeshThe agreement executed through DBTs Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council BIRAC and the Uttar Pradesh Promote Pharma Council UPPPC is part of a centrestate partnership model to accelerate innovation entrepreneurship and investment in the pharma biotech and MedTech sectorsSuch partnerships will help advance the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 and reinforce Indias position as a provider of affordable healthcare solutions made in India made for the world the Minister saidWith Indias bioeconomy already valued at around 165 billion the government sees such centrestate partnerships as a way to accelerate Indias emergence as a global hub for accessible biopharma and MedTech solutionsThe rapid growth of Indias biotech ecosystem from about 50 startups in 2014 to more than 11000 today reflects the sectors potential to drive the countrys economic and healthcare goals Singh saidHe noted that India is now recognised as a global supplier of vaccines with more than 60 per cent of the worlds vaccines manufactured here and over 200 countries receiving Indianmade doses IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/indias-pharma-exports-expected-to-cross-30bn-this-year-rise-sharply-by-2030-minister-640953.html Tue, 30 Sep 2025 18:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/indian-pharma-exports-expected-to-cross-30bn-this-year-rise-sharply-by-2030-minister-640954.html New Delhi Sep 30 Indias pharma exports currently valued at nearly 278 billion are expected to cross 30 billion by the yearend said Union Minister of State Independent Charge for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh on Tuesday Singh stated that Indias domestic pharma market is 60 billion but is expected to double that is 130 billion by 2030He added that the Medtech sector will also witness growthCurrently there are around 800 medical device manufacturers in the country and Indias annual growth of the Medtech sector is 15 to 20 per cent said SinghHe was speaking at the signing of an official Memorandum of Understanding MoU between the Department of Biotechnology DBT and the Government of Uttar PradeshThe agreement executed through DBTs Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council BIRAC and the Uttar Pradesh Promote Pharma Council UPPPC is part of a centrestate partnership model to accelerate innovation entrepreneurship and investment in the pharma biotech and MedTech sectorsSuch partnerships will help advance the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 and reinforce Indias position as a provider of affordable healthcare solutions made in India made for the world the Minister saidWith Indias bioeconomy already valued at around 165 billion the government sees such centrestate partnerships as a way to accelerate Indias emergence as a global hub for accessible biopharma and MedTech solutionsThe rapid growth of Indias biotech ecosystem from about 50 startups in 2014 to more than 11000 today reflects the sectors potential to drive the countrys economic and healthcare goals Singh saidHe noted that India is now recognised as a global supplier of vaccines with more than 60 per cent of the worlds vaccines manufactured here and over 200 countries receiving Indianmade doses IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/indian-pharma-exports-expected-to-cross-30bn-this-year-rise-sharply-by-2030-minister-640954.html Tue, 30 Sep 2025 18:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/commerce-secretary-unveils-skill-courses-on-tea-sommeliers-tasting-640975.html New Delhi Sep 30 Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal on Tuesday launched National Council of Vocational Education and Training NCVETapproved skill courses on Tea Sommeliers and Tea Tasting Announcing the initiative on the occasion of International Tea Day Barthwal said the specialised courses by Tea Board India are aimed at skilling the youth and promoting tea literacy with the programmes proposed to be conducted at the Darjeeling Tea Research and Development Centre Tea Board India KurseongAmong the two courses are Essentials of Tea Sommeliers 60 hours covering fundamentals of tea and tea appreciation professional tea tasting techniques development of innovative tea blends and adoption of artisanal and futureforward tea practicesFundamentals of Tea Tasting 210 hours course covers factorylevel tea tasting operations conducting and managing tea tasting sessions tea blending based on tasting outcomes and implementing futureready tea manufacturing and tasting practicesOn successful completion trained professionals will contribute to sensory evaluation grading and the promotion of tea literacy factors critical to enhancing market competitiveness and consumer satisfaction said Ministry of Commerce and IndustryThe two new courses have been developed with the assistance of the Agriculture Skill Council of India ASCI an awarding body recognised by the NCVET Ministry of Skill Development amp EntrepreneurshipOn successful completion trained professionals will contribute to sensory evaluation grading and the promotion of tea literacyfactors critical to enhancing market competitiveness and consumer satisfactionThe two NCVETapproved skill courses are the firstoftheirkind courses in tea tasting designed in alignment with NEP 2020 and mark a significant step in strengthening Indias tea value chain through a skilled workforce IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/commerce-secretary-unveils-skill-courses-on-tea-sommeliers-tasting-640975.html Tue, 30 Sep 2025 19:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/lg-india-ipo-to-open-on-oct-7-parent-firm-offloads-over-10-crore-shares-640985.html New Delhi Sep 30 LG Electronics India is set to hit the primary market as its initial public offering IPO will open for subscription on October 7 The anchor book will open for a day on October 6 followed by the public subscription window between October 7 and 9 The South Koreabased promoter LG Electronics Inc will divest up to 1018 crore equity shares through an offerforsale OFS route The IPO will not include any fresh issue of sharesSince the issue is entirely an OFS the primary objective of the IPO is to facilitate the share sale by the promoter and to list the companys equity on the domestic exchangesSpecifics of the price band have not yet been decidedShare allotment is scheduled to be finalised by October 10 and the companys stock will make its trading debut on the BSE and NSE on October 14Earlier the leading home appliance maker said on Tuesday it expects to complete the initial public offering IPO of its Indian subsidiary as early as next month to secure funding for future growthIndustry sources estimate the value of LG Electronics India Ltds initial public offering IPO at approximately 18 trillion won 128 billion according to Yonhap news agencyAccording to LG Electronics the sale of a 15 per cent stake in the subsidiary as part of the IPO process had been approved by the boardIn December of last year LG Electronics filed a preliminary listing application to start the IPO process and in March SEBI granted it conditional approvalThe anticipated earnings greatly surpass the 11 trillion won in standalone cash and cash equivalents held by LG Electronics at the end of JuneThe listing of the Indian unit according to analysts like Moodys Investors Service would improve LG Electronics financial standingThe LG Electronics India issue will be the second major public offering next week coming right after Tata Capitals Rs 15512crore IPO which opens on October 6 IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/lg-india-ipo-to-open-on-oct-7-parent-firm-offloads-over-10-crore-shares-640985.html Tue, 30 Sep 2025 20:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/over-1131-lakh-health-camps-organised-under-swasth-nari-sashakt-nari-abhiyaan-govt-640991.html New Delhi Sep 30 Over 1131 lakh health camps screening and speciality camps have been held under the Swasth Nari Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaan launched recently by Prime Minister Narendra Modi the Union government said on Tuesday The camps screened more than 651 crore citizens nationwide for noncommunicable diseases such as hypertension 144 crore citizens diabetes 141 croreThe Swasth Nari Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaan marks the largest ever health outreach for women and children in India said the Ministry of Health and Family WelfareMore than 31 lakh women screened for breast cancer and over 16 lakhs for cervical cancer while oral cancer screening covered almost 58 lakh peopleMore than 5443 lakh antenatal checkups have also been conducted and almost 128 crore children received lifesaving vaccines the Ministry saidThe health camps also addressed anaemia and nutrition with more than 93 lakhs screened for anaemia and nutrition counselling sessions reaching lakhs of familiesFurther over 71 lakh citizens were screened for tuberculosis and 79 lakh for Sickle Cell Disease The camps also registered more than 344 lakh blood donors and issued more than 13 lakh new AyushmanPMJAY cardsThe health camps have hosted thousands of specialty camps providing advanced screening diagnostics counselling and treatment services to beneficiaries thereby complementing the efforts of state governments and communitylevel health workersCentral government institutes medical colleges and private organizations have cumulatively organised 20269 screening and specialty health camps benefiting more than 29 lakh citizensThe initiative which began on September 17 will continue till October 2 at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs Community Health Centres CHCs District Hospitals and other government health facilities across the country to provide womencentric preventive promotive and curative health services at the community level IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/over-1131-lakh-health-camps-organised-under-swasth-nari-sashakt-nari-abhiyaan-govt-640991.html Tue, 30 Sep 2025 20:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/climate-variability-reshaping-indian-sardines-dynamics-study-641011.html Kochi Sep 29 The boomandbust cycles of Indian Oil sardine a vital species for Keralas fisheries and Indias marine food basket are strongly tied to monsoon rainfall and oceanographic changes according to a new study by the ICARCentral Marine Fisheries Research Institute CMFRI The findings published in Current Science highlight how climate variability is reshaping sardine dynamics and call for the urgent adoption of dynamic forecasting and harvest rulesSardines often called the lifeline of Keralas fishing communities have shown dramatic fluctuations over the past decadeAfter a record catch of four lakh tonnes in 2012 landings plummeted to just 3500 tonnes in 2021In 2024 however Kerala witnessed an unusual surge of juvenile sardines averaging just 10 cm in sizeThis sudden influx led to ecological stress including mass beaching in districts such as Kozhikode and Thrissur and economic turmoil due to a collapse in market pricesThe CMFRI study which combined fisheries biology with oceanographic data from Kochi Vizhinjam and Kozhikode attributes the 2024 phenomenon to positive monsoon rainfall trendsEnhanced nutrientrich upwelling created favourable conditions for microplankton growth the key food source for sardine larvaeThis boosted larval survival rates and caused an unprecedented recruitment spikeHowever the abundance of young recruits soon created intense competition for food resulting in poorly nourished fish with lower weight gainThis situation led to severe market impacts including price crashes and suspension of juvenile fishing U Ganga Principal Scientist and lead author of the study saidThe researchers found that ecosystem productivity indicators particularly the microplankton component of chlorophylla played a more decisive role in sardine recruitment than the traditionally emphasised spawning stock biomass They also observed that marine heatwaves varying across ecoregions likely influenced sardine maturation and spawning patterns With climate change expected to intensify these fluctuations CMFRI scientists recommend the development of speciesspecific shortterm forecast models and adaptive local harvest controlsDynamic harvest strategies tailored to the highly environmentdriven sardine fishery are essential for sustaining livelihoods and ensuring food security Dr Ganga pointed outThe study underscores the need for climatesmart fishery management to protect one of Indias most crucial marine resources IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/climate-variability-reshaping-indian-sardines-dynamics-study-641011.html Tue, 30 Sep 2025 22:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/9-lakh-health-camps-organised-under-swasth-nari-sashakt-nari-36-cr-people-screened-jp-nadda-640769.html New Delhi Sep 29 Nine lakh health camps have been held across the country under the Swasth Nari Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaan said Union Health Minister JP Nadda on Monday Speaking at a media event in the national capital Nadda noted that the health camps have screened over 36 crore people for noncommunicable diseases such as hypertension diabetes and cancersThe health initiative that was launched on Prime Minister Narendra Modis birthday and will run till Gandhi Jayanti is called Swasth Nari Sashakt Nari So far 900000 health camps have been organised and each was attended by specialists Nearly 36 crore have already been screened and I believe we will cross 4 crore by October 2 Nadda saidAt the nationwide health camps citizens have been screened for hypertension diabetes breast cancer cervical cancer oral cancer and anaemiaThe camps also conducted antenatal checkups provided lifesaving vaccines to children and nutrition counselling sessions to familiesFurther the health camps also conducted screening for tuberculosis and Sickle Cell Disease registered blood donors and issued new AyushmanPMJAY cardsThe Health Minister noted that the countrys health policy has changed over the last decade and a holistic health approach has been introduced since 2014In this approach we started looking at health by incorporating prevention health promotion detection curative and palliative parts into our system Nadda saidAs part of this continued approach the government has established 179000 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs which serve as the first point of contact to connect with 140 crore citizensFurther from the very day a woman conceives ASHA workers start tracking their health checkup regimen and share the data with the state governmentHe also shared the achievements in the rate of institutional deliveriesOur institutional delivery rate has increased from 79 per cent to about 90 per cent This progress has been possible because we incentivised ASHA workers For every mother the delivery is free and the transportation to the institution and back home is provided by the government Nadda saidHe also spoke about the health initiatives launched by PM Modi such as the Fit India Movement POSHAN Abhiyan and Khelo India to promote a healthy lifestyleThe Minister also highlighted a positive change in mental health awareness and that the availability of highquality medicines has supported people in leading a normal and healthier life IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/9-lakh-health-camps-organised-under-swasth-nari-sashakt-nari-36-cr-people-screened-jp-nadda-640769.html Mon, 29 Sep 2025 17:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/indian-stock-market-opens-higher-as-rbi-mpc-begins-640739.html Mumbai Sep 29 The Indian equity indices opened higher on Monday with a rise in heavyweight stocks as the key RBI MPC meeting began to decide on the repo rate At 922 am Sensex was up 108 points or 014 per cent at 80534 and Nifty was up 30 points or 012 per cent at 24685Buying was seen in the midcap and smallcap stocks Nifty midcap 100 index was up 302 points or 054 per cent at 56680 and Nifty smallcap 100 index was up 90 points or 051 per cent at 17651Among the sectoral indices Auto IT PSU bank pharma metal realty and energy were major gainers FMCG and private bank were major losersIn the Sensex pack BEL Eternal Titan Tata Steel Trent MampM Tata Motors Infosys Sun Pharma TCS SBI and Power Grid were major gainers HUL Axis Bank LampT Maruti Suzuki Bharti Airtel ITC and HCL Tech were major losersThe threeday Reserve Bank of Indias Monetary Policy Committee MPC meeting began on Monday and was widely expected to hold its key policy rate at 550 per centAccording to analysts the monetary policy expected on October 1 is unlikely to surpriseThe present growthinflation dynamics do not warrant a rate cut Therefore the RBI is likely to hold rates while sending a dovish message to support the growth momentum in the economy they addedAlso the weakness in the broader market is likely to sustain given the valuations which continue to remain elevated Investors can slowly accumulate largecaps in automobiles banking telecom capital goods and cementWeakness in pharmaceuticals is an opportunity to buy into the segment since Indias generic exports will not be impacted by Trumps tariffs on patented and branded medicines they addedMeanwhile foreign institutional investors FIIs extended their selling streak for the fifth consecutive session on September 26 offloading equities worth Rs 5687 crore Domestic institutional investors DIIs on the other hand absorbed the selling pressure purchasing equities worth Rs 5843 crore on the same day IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/indian-stock-market-opens-higher-as-rbi-mpc-begins-640739.html Mon, 29 Sep 2025 16:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/colocation-cloud-services-build-backbone-of-indias-1-trillion-digital-economy-mission-report-640765.html New Delhi Sep 29 The colocation and cloud services segment in India is building the backbone of the nations 1 trillion digital economy mission a report said on Monday Data centres and cloud platforms form the backbone of Indias fastgrowing digital economy which is expected to reach 1460 billion by the Financial Year 2030 FY30Meanwhile colocation and cloud can deliver secure scalable infrastructure powering enterprises hyperscalers and government digital growth Equirus Capital a fullservice investment banking firm said in its reportMeanwhile the foundations of 1 trillion digital economy would be hardware infrastructure focussing on semiconductors and electronics manufacturing and the data centre and hyperscaler layer focussing on physical and cloud infrastructureAdditionally the foundational model layer with a focus on AI model development and the application layer focussing on realworld AI adoption will play crucial rolesAccording to the report India is poised for significant data centre capacity expansion driven by large investments yet demand continues to outpace supplyThe capex will likely grow from Rs 175 billion to Rs 575 billion thereby registering a growth of 23 per cent Compounded Annual Growth Rate CAGR from 2024 to 2030Despite this high supply of data centres the demand seems to outpace supplyIn the past year the supply has risen from 75 megawatt MW to 114 MW almost a 50 per cent addition then the demand has risen from 81 MW to 122 MW an increase of over 50 per cent the report notedAs per the report key factors driving growth in Indias data centre and cloud computing market are the explosion of data consumption enterprise Cloud adoption policy and regulatory support and AI and emerging tech workloadsAdani Nxtra and Sify will likely emerge as leading players in the data centre industryMore than 16GW of capacity to be added to the existing 13GW capacity with Adani Connex Nxtra and Yotta to add c860MW of capacity the report said IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/colocation-cloud-services-build-backbone-of-indias-1-trillion-digital-economy-mission-report-640765.html Mon, 29 Sep 2025 17:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/fpis-offload-rs-16-422-crore-last-week-sentiments-to-reverse-in-near-future-analysts-640649.html Mumbai Sep 28 Foreign portfolio investors FPIs offloaded Rs 16422 crore worth of Indian equities last week driven by concerns over valuations and new policy measures of US government but the sentiment is set to reverse analysts said on Sunday A 100000 fee on new H1B visa applications and high tariffs on branded drugs have raised concerns among FPIs regarding earnings pressure in Indias IT and pharmaceutical sectorsBenchmark indices experienced their steepest weekly decline in seven months due to sustained outflows with Indian equities lagging behind emerging markets by nearly 26 per cent yeartodate in dollar termsPersistent FPI selling global trade tensions and sectorspecific pressures weighed on sentiment analysts saidDr VK Vijayakumar Chief Investment Strategist Geojit Financial Services said that foreign portfolio investors have withdrawn 21 billion from India in the past year marking the largest outflow among emerging markets during this timeframeThis FPI outflow also has largely contributed to the depreciation in INR of 35 per cent against the dollar The elevated valuations in India vis a vis other markets and the tepid earnings growth are the principal reasons behind the FPI pull out he saidIn the first three months of 2025 FPIs were sellers and in the next three months they turned buyers In July August and September so far they have again turned sellersThe depreciation of Indian rupee in contrast to the appreciation of other emerging market currencies intensified the pressure he addedRecord automobile bookings reduced GST rates and cheap credit are fuelling a recovery in the automotive and white goods sectors the analyst saidHe said that this will lead to superior earnings growth which the market and FPIs will begin to discount adding that further rupee depreciation is unlikelyIt is safe to assume we are near the trough of the FPI pullout said Vijayakumar adding that earnings growth in India is expected to pick up from Q3 FY26 gathering momentum in FY27 IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/fpis-offload-rs-16-422-crore-last-week-sentiments-to-reverse-in-near-future-analysts-640649.html Sun, 28 Sep 2025 16:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/uk-pledges-15-billion-pounds-loan-guarantee-for-jaguar-land-rover-post-cyberattack-640655.html New Delhi Sep 28 The UK government has announced a 15billion pound 2 billion loan guarantee for Jaguar Land Rover JLR to stabilise its supply chain following a cyberattack that halted production for nearly a month The assistance comes amid small suppliers of the company informing that they had one week left at most before they ran out of cashTata Motors which owns Jaguar Land Rover operates three factories in the UK producing approximately 1000 vehicles daily and supporting thousands of jobs in Birmingham and LiverpoolSmaller suppliers faced critical financial strain due to the extended shutdown and a recent survey revealed that companies are reducing staff hours or making redundanciesUKs Business minister Peter Kyle said the cyberattack was not only an assault on an iconic British brand but on our worldleading automotive sector adding that the loan guarantee will help support the supply chain and protect skilled jobsThe business ministry announced that financing will be privately raised guaranteed by Britains export credit agency UK Export Finance and is expected to unlock 15 billion pounds of support for Land Rovers supply chainShares of Tata Motors fell around 498 per cent this week but rebounded 145 per cent on Friday following reports that its British subsidiary could incur a potential uninsured loss of approximately 2 billion due to the cyberattack on September 2Reportedly the impact could surpass JLRs total profit from the last fiscal year as JLR had not finalised a cyber insurance policy potentially leaving the automaker uninsured for the attackJaguar Land Rover announced it will extend factory closures until October 1The companys three UK plants in Solihull Halewood and Wolverhampton used to produce approximately 1000 cars daily with reports estimating losses of around 50 million pounds per week due to the plants being shutdown IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/uk-pledges-15-billion-pounds-loan-guarantee-for-jaguar-land-rover-post-cyberattack-640655.html Sun, 28 Sep 2025 16:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/trump-asks-microsoft-to-fire-global-affairs-head-lisa-monaco-640540.html New Delhi Sep 27 US President Donald Trump urged Microsoft Corp to dismiss its Head of Global Affairs Lisa Monaco labelling her as corrupt deranged and a menace to US national security On President Trumps social media account Truth Social he claimed that Monacos senior position at Microsoft a company with significant government contracts provides her access to sensitive information that he believes she cannot be trusted to handleTrump wrote that hes already stripped Monaco of security clearances and prohibited her from accessing federal propertiesAfter successfully manipulating Intel CEO LipBu Tan and eventually failing to cancel Jimmy Kimmel President Donald Trump has named his next target for retribution Microsoft head of global affairs Lisa Monaco said a report from VergeMonaco took the job in May at Microsoft and is since leading the companys global government engagements following a long career in public serviceShe served as the 39th deputy attorney general under former US President Joe Biden and AG Merrick Garland which seems her biggest crime in Trumps eyes the report saidIts not clear why Trump took this moment to go after Monaco but he may be just now becoming aware of her role at Microsoft the report addedThe report also hinted that Microsoft has not exactly been in Trumps crosshairs but the company recently reduced the scope of its cooperation with the Israeli military as it performs mass surveillance of Palestinian civiliansUS tech firms like Microsoft are reportedly unhappy about the recent H1B visa guidelinesMicrosoft had earlier this month advised employees with H1B and H4 visas who are currently outside the US to return immediately ahead of the September 21 deadline set by Trump when the 100000 fee on H1B visas comes into effect IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/trump-asks-microsoft-to-fire-global-affairs-head-lisa-monaco-640540.html Sat, 27 Sep 2025 17:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/health-minister-urges-working-together-to-anticipate-prevent-amp-respond-to-future-threats-640546.html New Delhi Sep 27 The Union Health Minister JP Nadda has urged Central Departments and State functionaries to work in collaboration to better anticipate prevent and respond to future threats Speaking at the second meeting of the Executive Steering Committee of the National One Health Mission NOHM he stressed the role of NOHM in recognising the interconnectedness of human animal plant and environmental healthHe also emphasised that the coordinated efforts of different Departments through NOHM are turning vision into real outcomes and called upon participants to further strengthen this collaboration and support state functionaries in the implementation of NOHM initiativesNadda appreciated the progress made in SOPs roadmaps and pathways for One Health Mission and suggested to strengthen the structures for implementationProf Ajay Sood Principal Scientific Advisor PSA emphasised that the missions primary objective is to enhance pandemic preparedness and strengthen integrated disease surveillance and control mechanisms across human animal and plant health systemsHe also stressed the importance of statelevel engagement and local ownership to ensure timely detection and response to disease outbreaksProf V K Paul Member NITI Aayog appealed to all participants to identify share and work upon the gaps in integrated disease management He also advised to focus upon wildlife surveillance generic wastewater surveillance and new approaches to tackle the emerging challenges of biosecurityDr Rajiv Bahl Secretary Department of Health Research DHR and Director General Indian Council of Medical Research ICMR provided updates on the progress since the first steering committee meeting in July 2024Notable developments include strengthening the national network of BSL3 laboratories Vishanu Yudh Abhyas a mock drill conducted in August 2024 and Syndromic surveillance projects undertaken through interdepartmental collaborationsNational One Health Mission has emerged as a transformative crosssectoral initiative placing India at the forefront of global health securityThe Mission has made significant strides in integrating human animal and environmental health systems ensuring preparedness against emerging health threats and fostering sustainable development A total of 16 different Ministries and Departments have joined the collaborative effort IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/health-minister-urges-working-together-to-anticipate-prevent-amp-respond-to-future-threats-640546.html Sat, 27 Sep 2025 17:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/uae-regulator-bars-hdfc-banks-dubai-branch-from-onboarding-new-clients-640547.html New Delhi Sep 27 HDFC Bank has informed that its branch in Dubai International Financial Centre namely DIFC branch has received a decision notice from the Dubai Financial Services Authority DFSA restricting it from onboarding or soliciting new clients Further DIFC has also been banned from soliciting onboarding or engaging in any financial promotions with any new client the HDFC Bank informed in an exchange filingAccording to the notice the DIFC branch has been prohibited from engaging in financial services for new clients including advising on financial products arranging deals in investments arranging credit and providing custody servicesThe regulator highlighted concerns regarding the branchs practices around financial services provided to customers not fully onboarded and issues linked to its onboarding processThe Bank has already initiated necessary steps to comply with the directives in the abovereferred notice and is committed to work with the DFSA in its ongoing investigation and to promptly remediate and address the DFSA concerns at the earliest the filing saidThe restrictions however do not impact existing customers or clients who were previously offered financial services but had not yet been onboarded The DFSA order will remain effective until it is amended or revoked in writingAs on September 23 2025 the DIFC Branch has 1489 customers onboarded including joint holdersThe regulatory action comes in the backdrop of a twoyearold controversy regarding the alleged misselling of highrisk Credit Suisse additional tier1 AT1 bonds Investors had accused the bank of pushing the products through its UAE operations which included advisory from DIFC officials relationship management by staff at its Dubai representative office and account booking with its Bahrain branchInvestigations were done on whether clients were properly onboarded in DIFC a jurisdiction with separate financial rules and a stricter framework for professional clients Several nonresident Indian investors incurred heavy losses and faced margin calls on leveraged positions when the AT1 bonds were written down in 2023 during Credit Suisses collapse IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/uae-regulator-bars-hdfc-banks-dubai-branch-from-onboarding-new-clients-640547.html Sat, 27 Sep 2025 17:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/mous-worth-over-rs-1-lakh-crore-signed-at-world-food-india-640556.html New Delhi Sep 27 Twentyone companies have signed memoranda of understanding MoU on the second day of World Food India 2025 bringing the total value of agreements at the event to over Rs 1 lakh crore for investments the government said on Saturday Investments worth more than Rs 25000 crore were committed by these 21 companies an official statement saidThe second day of the summit at Bharat Mandapam saw participation from global regulators industry leaders startups and policymakers with dialogues focussing on sustainability technology investment and international partnershipsThe Ministry of Food Processing Industries held 13 sessions focused on the events five pillars addressing key topics such as pet food nutraceuticals speciality foods alcoholic beverages and plantbased foodsThe day involved sessions from partners and focus states including Uttar Pradesh Gujarat Punjab Jharkhand and Bihar along with delegations from New Zealand Vietnam Japan and Russia the statement saidDiscussions were also hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare the Ministry of AYUSH the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority and the World BankAs part of the summit key governmenttogovernment meetings were held with international counterparts of Russia and Portugal to strengthen cooperation in agriculture and food processing the statement saidThe third Global Food Regulators Summit organised by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India FSSAI was also held on the sidelines focusing on a unique platform for global regulators to discuss harmonisation of food safety standards and strengthen regulatory cooperationSimultaneously the 24th India International Seafood Show hosted by the Seafood Exporters Association of India showcased the countrys growing seafood export potential and global market linkagesIndia possesses a triple strength of diversity demand and scale Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday at the World Food India 2025 eventPM Modi also underscored that this strong domestic demand gives India a competitive edge and makes it a preferred destination for investors IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/mous-worth-over-rs-1-lakh-crore-signed-at-world-food-india-640556.html Sat, 27 Sep 2025 17:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/10-000-new-medical-seats-next-step-towards-india-achieving-universal-healthcare-640557.html New Delhi Sep 27 The addition of over 10000 new medical seats by the Union Cabinet recently is another step towards India achieving universal healthcare according to an official statement on Saturday On September 24 10023 new medical seats across existing government colleges and hospitals were approved by the Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with an investment of Rs 15034 croreThe move is part of a broader vision to create 75000 additional medical seats within the next five yearsApproval of PhaseIII of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme will add significant PG and UG medical seats This will improve our healthcare system and enhance the medical education infrastructure It will ensure that every part of India has the availability of skilled doctors PM Modi said in a post on XWhile the country with a population of 14 billion has significantly expanded its medical infrastructure over the past decade the demand continues to outpace supplyTo make quality healthcare accessible to all particularly the rural tribal and hardtoreach communities the Cabinet approved an additional 5000 postgraduate and 5023 undergraduate medical seats in existing government colleges and hospitals by 202829The total investment for this expansion is Rs 15034 crore covering the period from 202526 to 202829 Of this 685 per cent amounting to Rs 1030320 crore will be funded by the Union government while the remaining Rs 473130 crore will be contributed by the states The investment per seat stands at Rs 15 crore the statement saidWith the addition of medical seats underserved communities will benefit from a skilled medical workforce particularly specialists This will also help aspiring medical students to get more opportunities to pursue a medical education in India the quality of medical education will be enhanced and will meet global standardsWith more doctors and specialists India can become a prime destination for providing affordable healthcare and boost foreign exchange It will also enable underserved rural and remote areas to get accessible healthcareNew direct and indirect jobs will be added such as for doctors faculty paramedical staff researchers administrators and support servicesIndia has the highest number of medical colleges 808 and has been expanding its medical educational infrastructure for yearsThe ripple effects will be profound enhanced medical education standards increased employment opportunities across healthcare sectors and most importantly improved health outcomes for crores of citizens who have historically lacked access to quality medical care the statement said IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/10-000-new-medical-seats-next-step-towards-india-achieving-universal-healthcare-640557.html Sat, 27 Sep 2025 17:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/india-to-power-global-hydrogen-transition-hardeep-puri-640563.html New Delhi Sep 27 Indias hydrogen era has begun as the nation targets 5 million metric tonnes MMT of green hydrogen production per year by 2030 Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri said on Saturday This led to the cost of green hydrogen dropping from 350 per kilogram kg to 3 per kg unlocking 150 billion in savings on importsThe union minister in a post on X informed that public sector units PSUs are planning to achieve a 1 MMT capacity by 2030 and tenders for 42 kilo tonnes per annum KTPA will rise to 170 KTPAPuri emphasised that India is moving forward to capture 10 per cent of the global hydrogen market under Prime Minister Narendra Modis leadership Green hydrogen projects of around 900 KTPA capacity have already been awarded to 19 companies he addedIn a separate X post the minister said India sits at the heart of the global energy equation as the worlds thirdlargest energy consumer thirdlargest crude importer and fourthlargest refinerWith 6518 million metric tonne MMT of recoverable crude oil and 11386 billion cubic meter BCM of recoverable natural gas the nation is poised to unlock hidden energy opportunities Puri saidThe nation is committed to largescale investments fiscal incentives and policy simplification to catalyse upstream activity he addedAccording to the Petroleum Minister the last decade has seen bold reforms transitioning from a new exploration licensing policy NELP to a hydrocarbon exploration and licensing policy HELP from a production sharing regime to a revenue sharing regime launching open acreage licensing policy OALP roundsThe OALP Round X was the single largest bid round with acreage offered 192 lakh sq kmOur efforts have delivered strong results Investments of Rs 14 lakh crore in exploration and production EampP have driven major progress with 578 wells drilled in FY25 ONGCs highest in 35 years and over 5000 exploratory and development wells including robust offshore programmes the minister noted IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/india-to-power-global-hydrogen-transition-hardeep-puri-640563.html Sat, 27 Sep 2025 17:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/decarbonising-indias-cooking-sector-key-to-achieve-net-zero-goal-by-2070-640564.html New Delhi Sep 27 Decarbonising Indias cooking sector is crucial to achieve net zero goal by 2070 said experts here Speaking at an event hosted by Chintan Research Foundation CRF as part of the Modern Energy Cooking Forum MECF 2025 the experts recognised the urgency particularly in the context of Indias NetZero goalIndia has been promoting the use of Liquefied Petroleum Gas LPG Piped Natural Gas PNG Biogas CBG and more recently electric cooking primarily to reduce household air pollutionHowever greenhouse gas emissions from cooking have not received due attention despite being comparable to those of the aviation and shipping sectorsDr Debajit Palit Centre Head Climate Change and Energy Transition CRF underscored the need for decarbonising the cooking sectorThe future lies in enabling a multifuel roadmap that scales renewable energybased electric cooking technologies while integrating complementary solutions such as compressed biogas blending decentralised renewables and electricity tariff reforms Palit saidDuring the session panellists emphasised that policy clarity innovative financing models and technological synergies are crucial to unlocking the potential of electric cooking in IndiaAlok Kumar Director General All India DISCOM Association and Former Power Secretary stressed that electric cooking must be integrated into Indias energy policy with tariffs reflecting grid system costsLinking this to the larger agenda of grid decarbonisation he identified three priorities for accelerating the transition towards a greener grid rapid digitalisation of grid operations through programmes like smart meter rollouts integration of overall system and network costs and integration of gridscale storage solutionsIntegration of electric cooking in Indias energy policy will provide the required vision and direction to the sector Kumar saidFurther Nidhi Sarin Director Energy Transitions Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet pointed out that integrating storage with renewable energy can enhance grid stability and open opportunities for institutional cookingShe also advocated for centralised procurement and pooling of electric cooking appliances thereby lowering costs and ensuring accessibilityCooking solutions must be customised to Indian kitchens and cultural practices Nidhi Sarin Director Energy Transitions Global Energy Alliance for People and PlanetJeevan Kumar Jethani Senior Director Ministry of New and Renewable Energy drew attention to the role of decentralised renewable energy systems in enabling rural households to adopt electric cookingHe pointed to schemes such as PMKUSUM and PM Surya Ghar as natural allies in this transition offering a costeffective and scalable pathway to clean cooking in rural areasDr Umish Srivastava Executive Director RampD Indian Oil Corporation reflected on IOCLs experience in developing Surya Nutan Indias pioneering solar cook stoveHe acknowledged the cost and behavioural barriers to adoption but also underscored that decarbonising cooking represents a lowhanging fruit achievable at a fraction of the cost compared to sectors such as aviation making it an opportunity India cannot afford to overlookDecarbonising Indias Cooking Sector can be done at a fraction of the cost compared to sectors such as aviation and shipping SrivastavaTogether the panellists insights underlined that while challenges persist the convergence of policy reforms technological innovation and decentralised solutions can transform Indias cooking sector into a cornerstone of its clean energy transitionThe panellists also released an Issue Brief titled Decarbonising Indias Cooking Sector authored by researchers from CRF and Finovista IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/decarbonising-indias-cooking-sector-key-to-achieve-net-zero-goal-by-2070-640564.html Sat, 27 Sep 2025 17:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/govts-new-logistics-plan-aids-in-supply-chain-efficiency-achieving-sustainability-goals-640565.html New Delhi Sep 27 The recently approved Integrated State and City Logistics Plan will help achieve Indias sustainability goals through the adoption of low and zeroemission vehicles and the establishment of lowemission freight zones reports have said The government launched the plan in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank ADB in eight cities across eight states which will focus on evaluating existing logistics infrastructure identifying bottlenecks and preparing a roadmap for improvementThe Centre has chosen Ludhiana Shimla Jaipur Indore Patna Visakhapatnam Bhubaneswar and Guwahati to develop integrated state and city logistics plans as part of a programme led by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade DPIIT according to reportsThe logistics planners will prioritise freight demands from local retailers and ecommerce players focusing on truck terminals urban roads and efficient lastmile delivery systemsAccording to officials these plans will later be replicated across the country to ensure seamless goods movement and stronger supply chain resilienceThe Asian Development Bank is offering technical support to align statelevel logistics strategies with city freight networks and broader mobility goalsOfficials said that the dual focus on connecting growth hubs to major trunk routes at the state level and upgrading urban freight systems at the city level will enhance supply chain efficiencySustainability measures being considered include the adoption of low and zeroemission vehicles for lastmile delivery and implementation of noisereduction measuresDPIIT highlighted the importance of automation and datadriven decisionmaking in improving operational efficiency cutting costs and ensuring transparency in freight movementThe planning for the project will take 6 to 8 months a DPIIT official had informed adding that if the plans are approved the government may seek other support from the ADB for implementation IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/govts-new-logistics-plan-aids-in-supply-chain-efficiency-achieving-sustainability-goals-640565.html Sat, 27 Sep 2025 17:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/indias-task-is-to-transform-global-south-from-rule-takers-to-rule-shapers-640570.html New Delhi Sep 27 When it comes to Global South Indias task is not to replace one hegemony with another but to build a cooperative framework where Southern producers shippers and regulators gain dignity and competitiveness a report has said adding that by blending reaction with initiative contesting unfair measures while advancing corridors in shipping warehousing finance and capacity the South can transform from ruletakers to ruleshapers When rules are matched by rails digital green and maritime the South is no longer walking someone elses path It is drawing its own mapThat is the playbook India must now carry to every platform of the Global Southfrom BRICS to IORA from BIMSTEC to the IndiaAfrica Forum Summit The time to lead is now according to the report by India NarrativeAccording to the report for India which has emerged as the most credible voice of the Global South the challenge is clearIf we merely react to these pressures we risk being boxed into lowvalue corners of the supply chain If we lead with initiative however we can turn defensive compliance into strategic competitiveness This is the playbook the South needsand India is positioned to draft it the report further statedA trade corridor is not just a shipping lane or a stretch of road It is a deliberate programme upgraded ports and railways redesigned border posts simplified digital platforms that replace paperwork and harmonised product standardsIf designed around Southern comparative advantages such corridors can unlock value chains that reflect local priorities rather than external diktats the report mentionedFrom a millets corridor connecting Eastern Africa and Western India to a green shipping microcorridor between two midsized Southern ports the outcomes are measurable faster turnaround lower freight costs reduced carbon footprintsIf production is the visible part of trade shipping and warehousing are the invisible backbone They decide whether goods reach markets competitively or languish at bottlenecks according to the reportMoreover infrastructure alone does not move goods people do That is why capacity building must be the accelerator of SouthSouth cooperationThe Global South faces a choice We can remain passive adjusting endlessly to rules written elsewhere Or we can chart our own course designing corridors systems and standards that reflect our realities and ambitions the report highlighted IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/indias-task-is-to-transform-global-south-from-rule-takers-to-rule-shapers-640570.html Sat, 27 Sep 2025 17:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/bsnls-intelligent-swadeshi-4g-network-to-connect-26-700-villages-with-high-speed-internet-640579.html New Delhi Sep 27 Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited BSNL on Saturday launched the Bharat Telecom Stack or intelligent Swadesh 4G Network which will connect over 26700 villages with highspeed internet connectivity for the first time BSNL unveiled the network which is a modern and secure solution designed and developed entirely in India in collaboration with Tata Consultancy Services TCS Centre for Development of Telematics CDOT and Tejas Networks LimitedWith this launch India becomes the fifth country in the world to have built a selfreliant indigenous telecom technology stack supporting 4G and beyondAs a mission mode program TCS spearheaded its execution by establishing data centres installing and commissioning CDOTs EPC Core Application Tejass Base Stations and Radio infrastructure over 100000 sites and leveraging TCS Cognitive Network Operations TCS CNOPSTM platform for 24x7 realtime network management TCS said in a statementOver 22 crore citizens will now have access to 4G data at affordable prices Additionally people in rural areas can now have services like digital learning smarter farming tools and 24x7 telemedicineToday we celebrate a monumental achievement for national pride The nationwide rollout of our indigenous 4G network built on the strength of collaboration with TCS Tejas Networks and CDOT is a resounding declaration of an Atmanirbhar Bharat said A Robert J Ravi CMD BSNLThis initiative draws inspiration from Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision of a digitally connected and selfreliant IndiaWe are proud that we have put India on the map of only a handful of countries to have developed a comprehensive trusted and software upgradable telecom technology stack The successful deployment at BSNL is historic and significant in ushering the benefits of a powerful data and voice network to all corners of the country said N Ganapathy Subramaniam AdvisorTelecom Strategic Initiatives at TCS and Chairman Tejas NetworksIt once again reflects TCSs commitment to building Indias digital infrastructure and continuously supporting the countrys digital aspirations Subramaniam said IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/bsnls-intelligent-swadeshi-4g-network-to-connect-26-700-villages-with-high-speed-internet-640579.html Sat, 27 Sep 2025 17:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/mumbai-ahmedabad-bullet-train-to-be-fully-operational-by-2029-ashwini-vaishnaw-640584.html New Delhi Sep 27 The MumbaiAhmedabad bullet train will be operational by 2029 and the 50km stretch of Indias first highspeed rail corridor between Surat and Bilimora in Gujarat is expected to open by 2027 Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Saturday Vaishnaw inspected the underconstruction Surat station including track installation and the first turnout According to him people will be able to cover the distance between Mumbai and Ahmedabad in two hours and seven minutes on the bullet trains against nine hours as shown on the Google MapsOverall progress of the first bullet train project is very good The first 50 km section between Surat and Bilimora will be open by 2027 By 2028 the ThaneAhmedabad section will be commissioned and by 2029 the full MumbaiAhmedabad line will open the minister saidVaishnaw highlighted the use of modern technology to ensure safety including vibration absorption mechanisms along the track and special safety features to handle high winds and earthquakesHeavy construction work at Surat station is complete with finishing and utility work ongoing alongside track linking the minister said The first turnout where tracks converge or diverge has been installed with advanced technologies including roller bearings and composite sleepersThe main line is designed for speeds up to 320 kilometres per hour while the loop line will operate at 80 kilometres per hour The services are designed such that a train will depart every half an hour during the morning and evening peak hours Once the entire network stabilises there will be a train every 10 minutes during peak hours the minister had earlier saidThe project is expected to integrate the economies of major cities along the corridor and spur regional growth similar to Japans growth story after its highspeed railThe 508 kmlong MumbaiAhmedabad highspeed rail corridor is Indias first bullet train project The minister also indicated plans for four additional bullet train corridors in other regions of the country as outlined in the BJP manifesto IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/mumbai-ahmedabad-bullet-train-to-be-fully-operational-by-2029-ashwini-vaishnaw-640584.html Sat, 27 Sep 2025 17:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/government-invites-comments-on-draft-of-indian-statistical-institute-bill-2025-640587.html New Delhi Sep 27 The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation MoSPI on Saturday said it has released the draft Indian Statistical Institute Bill 2025 for public consultation from September 25 The ministry has invited comments and suggestions from all stakeholders and the general public as part of the prelegislative consultation processAs the Indian Statistical Institute ISI approaches its centenary in 2031 the proposed draft Bill is founded upon the guiding principles including excellence effective governance autonomy and accountabilityThe ISI was founded in December 1931 and has since grown into one of Indias most prestigious academic and research institutionsIn recognition of its national contribution Parliament enacted the Indian Statistical Institute Act 1959 declaring ISI an Institution of National Importance INICurrently ISI offers undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes in statistics mathematics quantitative economics computer science library and information Science cryptology and security quality management science and operations ResearchIt also conducts research programmes diplomas and certificate coursesWith about 1200 students across its centres ISI plays a key role in advancing Indias leadership in statistical sciences and allied fieldsOver the years four Review Committees have examined the functioning of ISIThe most recent chaired by Dr RA Mashelkar in 2020 recommended major reforms to strengthen governance expand academic programmes and make ISI globally competitiveThe Committee recommended that ISI must reimagine reinvent and reposition itself to regain its leadership position and remain relevant in changing times as it reaches its centenary year in 2031To address the issue a new legislation for ISI by upscaling the existing Act to the level of other existing INI legislations is being proposed putting in place a revamped governance structure making the Board of Governance a leaner and more empowered body for policy administrative and financial matters the ministry saidThe draft Bill and the prescribed format for sending comments are available on the ministrys website Suggestions may be sent by October 24 IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/government-invites-comments-on-draft-of-indian-statistical-institute-bill-2025-640587.html Sat, 27 Sep 2025 17:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/100-day-swachh-shehar-jodi-initiative-launched-to-improve-urban-waste-management-640591.html New Delhi Sep 27 Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal launched the Swachh Shehar Jodi SSJ initiative for handholding 200 cities in urban waste management an official statement said on Saturday SSJ pairs 72 topperforming mentor cities with approximately 200 lowranking mentee cities in a structured mentorship frameworkThe SSJ initiative represents one of the largest timebound and structured mentorship frameworks in the urban waste management sector aiming to foster knowledge and experience sharing peer learning and transforming best practices in sanitation and waste management across urban India the statement saidThe SSJ initiative officially pairs the mentor with mentee cities that will get direct exposure to wellperforming cities to replicate their best practicesState urban development ministers mayors commissioners and senior officials gathered at a national event in Sonipat to sign memoranda of understanding for the sanitation and waste management program to be conducted over the next 100 daysDuring this period each mentormentee pair will collaboratively develop action plans with clearly defined milestones focusing on experience sharing and knowledge transfer the release addedSSJ is a dynamic platform for knowledgesharing mentoring and handholding The aim is clear that every mentee city should improve their swachhata outcome by learning from the best cities said S Katikithala Secretary MoHUAThe Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs will provide strategic direction and policylevel support to ensure effective implementation of the Swachh Shehar Jodi across states This is being supported under the capacity building initiative of the Swachh Bharat Mission the ministry saidNearly 300 MoUs were signed across the nation leading to the creation of a dynamic platform for knowledgesharing mentoring and handholding which will be evaluated in the Swachh Survekshan 2026 survey the release noted IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/100-day-swachh-shehar-jodi-initiative-launched-to-improve-urban-waste-management-640591.html Sat, 27 Sep 2025 17:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/mcx-gold-opens-slightly-lower-silver-rebounds-031-pc-640342.html New Delhi Sep 25 Gold on the MultiCommodity Exchange of India opened slightly lower on Thursday tracking global prices as investors awaited US economic data for guidance on the Federal Reserve policy MCX gold rate for December expiry declined Rs 122 or 011 per cent at Rs 113525 per 10 grams down from Wednesdays close of Rs 113647The MCX silver opened lower by approximately Rs 1000 per kg but rebounded quickly by 031 per cent to Rs 134415 per kg as of 915 AMThe price of 24carat gold 1 gram was at Rs 11358 at 1010 AM according to data published by the India Bullion and Jewellers Association IBJASpot gold in international markets remained near 3734 an ounce while US gold futures for December traded around 3765 as the dollar index fell approximately 01 per centMeanwhile analysts say that bullion continues to receive support from robust central bank purchases and sustained inflows into ETFs and that the MCX October gold futures may decline to Rs 112000 if global trends weakenThe Fed Chairs cautious remarks on inflation labour market and future rate cuts could act as a cap on bullions gainsThe PBoC is leveraging the Shanghai Gold Exchange to encourage central banks from friendly nations to purchase and store bullion within its borders On data front US housing numbers were reported better than expectations weighing on prices said Manav Modi Analyst Precious Metal Research Motilal Oswal Financial Services LtdTraders are waiting for cues from US economic data to gain further insights into Federal Reserve policy such as US GDP Inflation and durable goods orders data he addedAdditionally geopolitical tensions boosted demand for the safehaven metal as NATO warned Russia it would use all necessary military and nonmilitary measures to defend itself while US President Donald Trump said Ukraine could reclaim all territory held by Russia IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/mcx-gold-opens-slightly-lower-silver-rebounds-031-pc-640342.html Thu, 25 Sep 2025 20:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/tata-motors-shares-dip-3-pc-as-2-billion-loss-from-jlr-cyberattack-may-exceed-fy25-profit-640345.html New Delhi Sep 25 Shares of Tata Motors fell around 299 per cent in early trading on Thursday following reports that Jaguar Land Rover JLR its British subsidiary could incur a potential uninsured loss of approximately 2 billion due to a cyberattack that disrupted production The impact could surpass JLRs total profit from the last fiscal year said a report from The Financial TimesJLR had not finalised a cyber insurance policy brokered by Lockton potentially leaving the automaker uninsured for the attack according to multiple media reportsThe cyberattack which occurred on September 2 has forced the company to repeatedly push back its production scheduleJLR announced it will extend factory closures until October 1 while addressing global IT issues and preparing for a phased restart of operationsWe are working at pace to resolve global IT issues impacting our business We will provide an update as appropriate in due course Tata Motors said in a statement earlier this monthThe companys three UK plants in Solihull Halewood and Wolverhampton used to produce approximately 1000 cars daily with reports estimating losses of around 50 million per week due to the plants being shut downJLR is carrying out a forensic investigation into the cyberattack and has said that operations will restart gradually in a controlled mannerDuring FY25 Jaguar Land Rover contributed 72 per cent to Tata Motors total automotive revenue higher than its contribution in FY24 indicating stronger growth at JLR compared to Tatas domestic vehicle segmentMeanwhile in India Tata Motors recorded approximately 10000 car deliveries and over 25000 enquiries on the first day of Navaratri marking a strong start to the festive season Over the past year Tata Motors shares dipped Rs 30090 a decline of 3123 per cent IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/tata-motors-shares-dip-3-pc-as-2-billion-loss-from-jlr-cyberattack-may-exceed-fy25-profit-640345.html Thu, 25 Sep 2025 20:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/new-malaria-monoclonal-antibody-safe-shows-better-immune-response-640355.html New Delhi Sep 25 A new malaria monoclonal antibody is safe welltolerated and can elicit protection in people with no prior exposure to the malariacausing parasite according to a study The phase 1 randomised controlled trial of the experimental monoclonal antibody MAM01 published in the journal The Lancet Infectious Diseases showed that of the three malarianaive adults given the highest study dose none had parasites in their bloodstream up to 26 weeks laterMalarianaive refers to an individual who has never been exposed to the malaria parasite and therefore has no natural immunity to the diseaseAlthough new vaccines are available protective efficacy is not optimum Monoclonal antibodies targeting the Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein have the potential to simplify prevention said corresponding author Prof Kirsten E Lyke Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health at the University of MarylandMAM01 was well tolerated met safety targets and showed clinical proofofprinciple by eliciting protection in malarianaive adults using the controlled human malaria infection model Lyke addedAccording to data from the World Health Organization WHO malaria affected an estimated 263 million people worldwide and caused 597000 deaths in 2023 Children under the age of five are particularly vulnerable accounting for the highest proportion of malariarelated deathsFor the study the team randomly assigned 37 malarianaïve adults aged 18 to 50 years to receive a single dose of MAM01 or a placebo from August 2023 to December 2024MAM01 administration was well tolerated and no treatmentrelated serious adverse events occurred after one or two dosesAfter infection 6 of 6 participants in the control group and 18 of 22 participants in the MAM01 group had malaria parasites in their bloodBut none of the three participants in the 40 mgkg intravenous dose group developed parasitaemia Pharmacokinetic analysis showed that serum MAM01 concentrations greater than 88 microgrammL protected against malaria challenge the researchers said IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/new-malaria-monoclonal-antibody-safe-shows-better-immune-response-640355.html Thu, 25 Sep 2025 20:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/delhi-ncr-emerges-as-largest-third-party-leasing-hub-in-india-report-640358.html New Delhi Sep 25 DelhiNCR has emerged as the largest thirdparty logistics 3PL hub in the country accounting for 25 per cent of total leasing activity by the industrial and logistics IampL sector since 2021 a report said on Thursday It is closely followed by Mumbai with a 24 per cent share and Bengaluru at 16 per centThe top six cities including Chennai Kolkata and Hyderabad represented nearly 70 per cent of the total 3PL leasing activity between 2021 and in the first half this year H1 2025 CBRE said in its report3PL players handle the complete supply chain and logistics operations of their clients allowing them to focus on their core businessThese companies have positioned themselves as the largest demand drivers for the countrys logistics real estate marketAccording to the report they accounted for 4050 per cent of the sectors total leasing activity between 2021 and 2024 In H1 2025 they garnered a share of more than 30 per centDelhiNCRs strategic location robust infrastructure and thriving ecommerce sector have made it an important hub for the industrial amp logistics sector said Anshuman Magazine Chairman and CEO India SouthEast Asia Middle East and Africa CBREHowever TierII and III cities are also emerging as new growth hubs The rising consumption in these cities coupled with lower land costs is likely to encourage more 3PL firms to expand beyond metros and build localised hubs closer to centres of consumption he addedThe report noted a rising preference to remain asset light with over 60 per cent of surveyed Indiabased 3PL firms stating they would opt for a space in multitenanted buildings over the next 24 months rather than building their own facilitiesThis is followed by buildtosuit development 28 per cent and purchasing existing assets 22 per centThere is also a clear shift towards futureready warehousing solutions to support rapid business growth and competitivenessAs per the report around 76 per cent of the surveyed 3PL companies are now adopting warehouse management software in their logistics operationsFurthermore 3PL entities are also increasingly adopting technologies such as Internet of Things IoT sensors conveyor and sortation systems and GoodstoPerson picking systems reflecting a broader shift toward intelligent automated warehousesDuring 2021H1 2025 3PL firms were the primary drivers of bigbox leasing over 100000 sq ft in India in terms of value and volumeThis reflects the growing need for scalable futureready warehousing solutions to meet the surge in demand from ecommerce retail and manufacturingRam Chandnani Managing Director Leasing Services CBRE India said This strategy helps the companies to scale faster and lower their costs 3PL players want to expand rapidly to match the demand arising from the growth of ecommerce and quick commerce along with the infrastructure push from the government IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/delhi-ncr-emerges-as-largest-third-party-leasing-hub-in-india-report-640358.html Thu, 25 Sep 2025 20:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/h-1b-visa-fee-hike-to-cut-indian-it-firms-margins-by-just-10-20-bps-revenue-to-grow-2-4-pc-640359.html New Delhi Sep 25 The US governments decision to impose a 1 million fee on new H1B visas for foreign workers will likely reduce the operating margins of Indian IT services companies by only 10 to 20 basis points next fiscal year with firms likely passing some costs to clients a report said on Thursday Indias leading IT exporters with operating margins of around 22 per cent last fiscal year are expected to pass on 30 to 70 per cent of the incremental costs to customers a report from research firm Crisil Intelligence saidIndias IT services industry is expected to reel in 143145 billion this fiscal year marking a revenue growth of 24 per cent over last fiscal year followed by a year of marginal or flat growth the report saidThe US government clarified that the directive effective September 21 2025 does not apply to current H1B holders or renewals minimising its immediate effectThe reliance of IT companies on H1B visas has been decreasing over the past few years as firms expanded offshore delivery opened nearshore centres and hired locally in the USThe number of Indian employees on H1B visas working for TCS Infosys Wipro and HCL Technologies almost halved from 34507 to 17997 between 2017 and 2025 according to government dataEmployee cost accounted for 5557 per cent of sales of Indias IT companies last fiscal year while visa expenses totalled 002 per cent005 per cent of the total employee cost with H1B visa fees ranging between 2000 and 5000 per personIf the current trend in the job market prevails the new fee structure could crank up visa cost to 10 per cent of total employee cost ICRA projectedTier1 IT companies such as TCS Infosys Wipro and HCL generate 96 per cent of their revenue from international markets with the US alone accounting for 53 per centIndia remained the top recipient of remittances at 1187 billion in fiscal 2024 about 23 per cent of that coming from the US IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/h-1b-visa-fee-hike-to-cut-indian-it-firms-margins-by-just-10-20-bps-revenue-to-grow-2-4-pc-640359.html Thu, 25 Sep 2025 20:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/centres-digital-reforms-empowering-gram-panchayats-across-rural-india-640362.html New Delhi Sep 25 The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has launched a series of digital reforms ranging from AIdriven meeting records to geospatial planning and citizenfocused mobile apps to strengthen Gram Panchayats according to an official statement issued on Thursday Initiatives such as SabhaSaar an AIpowered tool for recording and summarising Gram Sabha proceedings SVAMITVA for digital land mapping and property rights eGramSwaraj for integrated online planning accounting and monitoring Meri Panchayat mobile app for citizen access to local data and Gram Manchitra for geospatial planning are transforming the way Panchayats functionThese platforms not only improve transparency and efficiency but also empower citizens to participate more actively in local governance As on August 2025 263 crore property cards have been prepared in 173 lakh villages while as of July 2025 drone surveys have been completed in 323 lakh villages the statement explainedThe success of the digital drive is reflected in the fact that 254 lakh Gram Panchayats have uploaded their Gram Panchayat Development Plan GPDP on the eGramSwaraj portal while 241 lakh Gram Panchayats have completed online transactions for 15th Finance Commission grants the statement pointed outThe Ministry launched SabhaSaar in August 2025 which is an Artificial Intelligence AI tool that creates structured minutes of meetings from the audio or video of Gram Sabha and other Panchayat gatherings Until now preparing minutes was a slow manual and often inconsistent exercise SabhaSaar changes this by producing accurate summaries in real timeIt is linked with Bhashini the National Language Translation Mission which allows it to work in 14 Indian languages This makes it accessible to communities across diverse regions With the help of SabhaSaar Gram Panchayat officials can now focus more on governance and service delivery while the tool handles the documentation work thus ensuring realtime unbiased records and greater transparency the statement saidThe SVAMITVA Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas Scheme by the Prime Minister gives rural households legal ownership papers for the homes and land they occupyUsing drones and advanced mapping tools it clearly marks property boundaries With these documents families can obtain bank loans resolve disputes and make better use of their assets while Gram Panchayats gain by improving property tax collection and enabling better resource planningThe scheme is implemented by Ministry of Panchayati Raj with support from the Survey of India with the National Informatics Centre Services Inc NICSI as the technology partner It has an approved cost of Rs 56623 crore from FY 202021 to FY 202425 with an extension up to FY 202526SVAMITVA has ended decades of reliance on revenue officials and patwaris for demarcating land ownership The programme enables villagers to map their own land with modern tools giving them authority and security Its success has drawn attention worldwide and inspired other countries to explore similar approaches the statement saidThe government launched BharatNet in October 2011 to bridge the digital divide The project aims to deliver affordable highspeed internet to every Gram PanchayatImplemented by the Ministry of Communications BharatNet seeks to empower rural communities support inclusive growth and bring villages closer to urban standards of connectivity It is not only an infrastructure project but also the backbone of Indias march towards a digital nation the statement added IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/centres-digital-reforms-empowering-gram-panchayats-across-rural-india-640362.html Thu, 25 Sep 2025 20:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/nothings-cmf-to-become-indian-brand-announces-100-million-jv-with-optiemus-to-create-1-800-jobs-640366.html New Delhi Sep 25 Smartphone maker Nothing has given its affordable subbrand CMF a big push by turning it into an independent subsidiary with India as its global base for operations research and manufacturing the company said on Thursday Alongside this move the company has announced a 100 million joint venture with Indian electronics manufacturer Optiemus Infracom LimitedThe partnership is expected to create more than 1800 jobs in India over the next three years as per the official statementWith this collaboration India will not only serve as the headquarters for CMFs manufacturing but will also play a central role in transforming the country into a global hub for smartphone production and exportsNothing has already invested over 200 million in India highlighting the countrys importance in its growth strategyCMF which was launched in 2023 has quickly made a mark in the budget smartphone and wearables segmentThe phones are priced under 200 a sweet spot in India where more than 42 per cent of all phones sold in the second quarter of 2025 fell in the 100200 price range according to IDC dataCarl Pei CEO of Nothing said the joint venture marks a significant milestone in building CMF into Indias first truly global smartphone brandIndia will play a key role in shaping the future of the global smartphone industry With our endtoend capabilities we are uniquely positioned to build CMF into a global brand and our joint venture with Optiemus is a key step in that journey he saidOptiemus which has deep expertise in electronics manufacturing will bring its engineering and production strengths to the partnershipAshok Gupta Executive Chairman of Optiemus said the collaboration reflects the growing strength of the Indian ecosystemGlobal brands choosing India to build is a testament to the vision of Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat This partnership goes beyond hightech manufacturing it will empower us to create exportready products designed in India showcasing the innovation and talent of our people to the world he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/nothings-cmf-to-become-indian-brand-announces-100-million-jv-with-optiemus-to-create-1-800-jobs-640366.html Thu, 25 Sep 2025 20:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/indias-residential-housing-sales-value-surges-to-152-lakh-crore-in-q3-2025-640371.html New Delhi Sep 25 Despite global economic uncertainties and geopolitical tensions residential demand in India has remained reasonably resilient in third quarter of the calendar year Q3 2025 with total sales value surged significant 14 per cent from around Rs 133 lakh crore in Q3 2024 to nearly 152 lakh crore in Q3 this year a report said on Thursday The development was supported by rising incomes urbanisation and aspirational homeownership sentimentHowever the sector faces headwinds in affordability costs and uneven demand across markets as it saw a 9 per cent dip in sales volumeAs many as 97080 units of homes sold across the top seven cities in Q3 2025 against 107 lakh units in Q3 2024 Anarock said in its reportAmong the top seven cities Mumbai Metropolitan Region MMR recorded the highest sales of around 30260 units followed by Pune 16620 unitsCumulatively the two western cities accounted for 48 per cent of the total sales in the top 7 cities in Q3 2025 All top cities individually recorded a dip in yearly housing sales except Chennai and Kolkata which witnessed 33 per cent and 4 per cent yearly jumps respectively said Anuj Puri Chairman Anarock GroupThese cities saw a marginal 3 per cent increase in new housing supply with approximately 96690 units launched in Q3 2025 against 93750 units in the corresponding period in 2024 Nevertheless the fact that sales remained higher than launches indicates that the demandsupply equation remains robustAmong the cities MMR topped new supply with 29565 units launched in the quarter followed by Pune with nearly 19375 unitsInterestingly while the other cities saw new supply decline annually Pune Kolkata and Chennai saw it increase by a whopping 56 per cent and 38 per cent respectively the report saidThe Rs 15 crore luxury housing category witnessed the highest new supply of 38 per cent followed by the premium Rs 80 lakhRs 15 crore segment with a 24 per cent share The midsegment Rs 4080 lakh contributed a 23 per cent share of the total new supply in the quarter while the affordable segments share was the lowest at 16 per centMeanwhile total available housing inventory saw only a marginal yearly decline in the top seven cities from around 564415 lakh units by Q3 2024end to nearly 561756 lakh units by Q3 2025endAverage residential prices in these cities collectively saw singledigit growth of 9 per cent in Q3 2025 against Q3 2024 At 24 per cent NCR recorded the highest annual growth followed by Bengaluru with a 10 per cent increaseDespite the monsoons and the perceived inauspicious shraad period housing sales in Q3 rose 1 per cent quarterly Overall the housing market is so far reasonably steady in 2025 with expectations for a festive boost ahead for which developers have several projects lined up the report said IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/indias-residential-housing-sales-value-surges-to-152-lakh-crore-in-q3-2025-640371.html Thu, 25 Sep 2025 20:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/nit-rourkelas-indigenous-cost-effective-device-to-help-tackle-heel-pain-640379.html New Delhi Sep 25 Researchers at the National Institute of Technology Rourkela NIT Rourkela have developed a lowcost and indigenous force plate that enhances gait profiling and enables better development of footwear and treatment strategies to reduce heel pain Heel pain is one of the most widespread foot ailments in adults It is often linked to overloading of the plantar fascia a band of tissue that supports the arch of the footHowever in many cases changes in the heel pad a fatty tissue under the heel can also cause the problem This issue acts as a shock absorber when we stand run or walk With too much stress the heel pad loses its cushioning ability to the foot causing pain and discomfort The condition can also be caused by aging injury obesity diabetes and illfitting shoesThe new force plate works by measuring the multiaxial ground reaction forces GRF The GRF measured from the force plates is then used to diagnose the abnormal gait patternsThe device will be useful in sports academics educational institutes hospitals and rehabilitation centers in India as it is affordable compared to the existing foreign suppliersMost neuromuscular disorders will affect the gait pattern of an individual Since gait requires precise coordination of muscle strength and balance disturbances in any of these can alter the walking pattern and the corresponding GRF said Prof A Thirugnanam from IIT RoorkeeSome common neuromuscular diseases like myopathies peripheral neuropathies neuromuscular junction disorders spasticity ataxia Parkinsons disease cerebral palsy etc can alter the GRF These abnormalities in GRF can be diagnosed using the force plate Thirugnanam addedForce plates are globally recognised as essential diagnostic tools for analysing human musculoskeletal health Due to high costs and the lack of Indian manufacturers its availability in India remains limitedThe new device can be supplied at onefourth the price of international systems making it an affordable alternative IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/nit-rourkelas-indigenous-cost-effective-device-to-help-tackle-heel-pain-640379.html Thu, 25 Sep 2025 20:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/phonepe-presents-affordable-insurance-against-firecracker-accidents-this-festive-season-640384.html New Delhi Sep 25 PhonePe has relaunched its comprehensive firecracker insurance coverage just in time for the festive season to offer absolute protection against firecrackerinduced accidents This affordable plan is available at just Rs 11 inclusive of GST and provides extensive coverage up to Rs 25000 for a span of 11 days during the festive periodThe initiative aims to provide enhanced assurance and protection to buyers so they can enjoy the festivities knowing they have financial support in the event of an accidentAs the upcoming festive season is the peak time for firecracker usage PhonePe has reintroduced the firecracker insurance plan to ensure families can celebrate with utmost peace of mindAt a nominal fee of Rs 11 buyers can avail a sum insured of up to Rs 25000 and shield their entire family including themselves their spouse and up to 2 children under a single policy The coverage is valid for 11 days beginning October 12For policies purchased after this date the coverage will be effective for 11 days from the date of purchaseThe plan has been designed to be simple transparent and easily accessible simple and transparentUsers can purchase the policy in under a minute directly on the PhonePe app and secure coverage for hospitalisation more than 24 hrs daycare treatment less than 24 hrs and accidental deathHeres how users can avail this coverage on the PhonePe appStep 1 Open the Insurance section on the PhonePe app and select Firecracker InsuranceStep 2 Select the plan details with a sum insured of Rs 25000 and a fixed premium of Rs 11 along with your plan benefitsStep 3 You will be able to view the insurers information and get a detailed breakdown of the plan benefitsStep 4 Lastly fill in the policyholders details tap Proceed to Pay to complete the process IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/phonepe-presents-affordable-insurance-against-firecracker-accidents-this-festive-season-640384.html Thu, 25 Sep 2025 20:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/adani-green-talks-2025-brings-together-young-changemakers-shaping-an-inclusive-future-640386.html Ahmedabad Sep 25 The Adani Group on Thursday hosted the fourth edition of Adani Green Talks bringing together changemakers social entrepreneurs and innovators shaping a sustainable and inclusive future The event which has grown into one of Indias most distinctive platforms for social innovation was inaugurated with a keynote address by Gautam Adani Chairman of the Adani GroupIn his address Gautam Adani reflected on how Green Talks launched just four years ago has already become a crucible for ideas with the potential to alter the course of societyHe recalled the journeys of past participants such as GenRobotics whose robots have liberated thousands from the indignity of manual scavenging Navalt which has redefined the economics of marine transport with solarelectric ferries operating at just four paisa per passenger per kilometre and Marut Drones whose Drone Didis of Kashi have transformed women into confident agrientrepreneurs under the national Namo Drone Didi programEach of these success stories he noted is proof that vision backed by perseverance can bend the mathematics of probabilityThe 2025 edition presented five pioneering entrepreneurs who shared their journeys of grit innovation and social purposeThese are Abhishek Chhazed of Recyclex which is decarbonising construction with greener building materials Akshita Sachdeva and Bonny Dave of Trestle Labs who are expanding Kibo an assistive technology platform that empowers the visually impaired Manoj Sanker of Nemocare Wellness who is developing affordable neonatal and maternal healthcare devices Jenil Gandhi and Manan Vyas of Avinya Leather who are pioneering plantbased crueltyfree vegan leather and Sowmya Balendiran of Sea6 Energy who is advancing oceanbased seaweed farming for biofuels bioplastics and fertilisersTogether they represent the breadth of Indias innovation and its capacity to address urgent global challengesThis year also marked the introduction of the Adani Green Talks Social Impact Awards chosen from hundreds of applications for their transformative solutions and the inaugural Lok Kalyan Award which was presented to Dr Krishna Ella Founder and Executive Chairman of Bharat BiotechGautam Adani conferred the honour recognising Dr Ellas contribution to global public health through indigenous vaccines including Covaxin which safeguarded millions during the Covid19 pandemicIn his acceptance Dr Ella dedicated the award to the countless scientists and innovators of India who pursue science with a social purpose noting that platforms like Green Talks inspire the next generation to dream with courageActor Vikrant Massey whose film 12th Fail has won him the National Award for Best Actor also attended the eventGautam Adani described Masseys story as symbolic of resilience and perseverance breaking through every barrier much like the young entrepreneurs celebrated on the Green Talks stageHe also announced that in partnership with NDTV Green Talks will now expand its search for changemakers into Indias Tier2 and Tier3 cities recognising that brilliance often emerges from the most unexpected corners of the countryGautam Adani expressed the ambition to eventually build Green Talks into a living platform of global collaboration where sparks from a village in Odisha or Ladakh could connect with innovators in Sao Paulo or Nairobi creating a network united not by transactions but by a shared mission to grow with goodness and leave behind a brighter more sustainable worldGreen Talks Gautam Adani emphasised is about possibility the green shoots that break through the hardest soil to announce a new chapter of freedom and hope It is an invitation to dream boldly and to participate in Indias second freedom struggle for a society free of inequality inertia and indifferenceBy nurturing ideas that accelerate progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Adani Green Talks continues to strengthen its role as a bridge between young aspirations policy and global communities turning vision into reality and ideas into action IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/adani-green-talks-2025-brings-together-young-changemakers-shaping-an-inclusive-future-640386.html Thu, 25 Sep 2025 21:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/gautam-adani-calls-upon-young-entrepreneurs-to-shape-indias-second-freedom-struggle-640389.html Ahmedabad Sep 25 Gautam Adani Chairman of the Adani Group on Thursday touched upon the role of young entrepreneurs in shaping what he called Indias second freedom struggle a fight not for independence from foreign rule but for independence in technology and social innovation that uplifts every community bridges divides and strengthens the fabric of democracy In his address at the fourth edition of Adani Green Talks hosted here Gautam Adani said we join our nations second freedom struggle freedom from inequality freedom from inertia and freedom from indifferenceAnd that freedom to dream boldly my friends is what Green Talks is all about Built on the belief that every fresh idea contains the blueprint for transformation It reminds us that growth is not linear it is unpredictable and often invisible the billionaire industrialist saidThat is until suddenly a green shoot breaks through the surface announcing a new chapter of freedom and hope And within that tender green shoot is embedded the essence of every great dream that has gone on to create history the Adani Group Chairman notedIn just three editions of Green Talks hundreds of dreams have been evaluated and 15 remarkable companies have shared their visions on the stageIn a world where nine out of ten startups fade it has been fascinating to see how many of our dreamers have already beaten the odds said Gautam AdaniHe further stated that as an entrepreneur I know firsthand what it means to dream After all it is only the dreamers who dare to leave marks that even history cannot erase But even within the many entrepreneurs I meet those that humble me the most are the social entrepreneurs They begin not in search of fortune but in search of to build a better societyGautam Adani said that the eventual objective is to make Green Talks more than a stageIt should become a living platform of collaboration where Indias innovation meets the worlds imagination A place where social startups spark ideas unite in purpose and work for the betterment of humanity It should be an ecosystem where every participant is bound not by transactions but by a shared mission to grow with goodness to leave behind a brighter more sustainable world the Adani Group Chairman emphasised IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/gautam-adani-calls-upon-young-entrepreneurs-to-shape-indias-second-freedom-struggle-640389.html Thu, 25 Sep 2025 21:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/honda-cars-india-surpasses-2-lakh-units-export-milestone-640392.html New Delhi Sep 25 Honda Cars India Ltd HCIL on Thursday said that it has achieved a significant milestone of 200000 cumulative units of export from India Honda began its export operations in India with limited units sent to neighbouring marketsThe first 50000 units were exported primarily to neighbouring South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation SAARC countries South Africa and Southern African Development Community SADC countries till 2021The next 50000 units export followed in 25 years expanding the companys reach to lefthand drive markets in the Middle East Mexico and Turkey for the Honda CityIn recent years HCIL has seen a significant jump in export volume and the next 100000 units export was achieved in 2 years driven by the demand for its midsize SUV Elevate in new markets of Japan South America and Caribbean nations it saidAchieving 200000 export units fills Honda Cars India with immense pride This milestone underscores the global recognition of our Indiamade cars It also reflects the dedication of our skilled teams and robust manufacturing capabilities Honda Cars India Ltd Vice President Marketing amp Sales Kunal Behl saidExports are an integral part of HCILs business and revenue strategy and we remain committed to strengthening this area going forward We are dedicated to the Make in India initiative serving both our domestic market and global customers he addedThe key export models notably the highly popular Honda City and the versatile Honda Elevate have been the primary contributors to this growth accounting for 78 per cent of total export volumeThe remaining 22 per cent comprises a diverse range of models including the Brio Amaze Jazz BRV Mobilio City e HEV Accord and CRVThe car manufacturer informed that it has exported vehicles to 33 countries across various regions over the years Japan accounted for the largest share at 30 per cent followed by South Africa and SADC countries at 26 per cent Mexico at 19 per cent and Turkey at 16 per centThe remaining 9 per cent share comprised countries in the Middle East the SAARC region the Caribbean and South AmericaThis achievement highlights Hondas strong manufacturing capabilities in Indian operations and commitment to delivering highquality products to its customers worldwide Honda Cars India said IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/honda-cars-india-surpasses-2-lakh-units-export-milestone-640392.html Thu, 25 Sep 2025 21:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/stock-market-ends-lower-amid-profit-booking-selling-in-it-stocks-640401.html Mumbai Sep 25 The Indian equity indices extended the bearish momentum for the fifth consecutive day on Thursday fueled by FII outflows profit booking and persistent selling in the IT sector stocks Sensex ended the session at 8115968 down 55595 points or 068 per cent The 30share index started the session under pressure at 8157431 against the last sessions closing of 8171563 amid overall selling The index dragged further to hit an intraday low at 8109289Nifty closed at 2489085 down 16605 or 066 per centIndian markets extended their losing streak for a fifth straight session as investors booked profits amid persistent FII outflows and uncertainty over USIndia trade talks which is expected to dent Q2 GDP growth an analyst saidBroadbased selling prevailed in the market with heavy selling across auto IT pharma and healthcare sectors while metals gained on the back of Chinas liquidity support and copper supply concerns the analyst addedOverall sentiment remains cautious ahead of Indias H2 FY26 borrowing and US macroeconomic data expected to be released at the end of the weekTrent PowerGrid Tata Motors TCS Asian Paints NTPC Bajaj Finance Bajaj FinServ Mahindra and Mahindra HCL Tech Eternal Titan Kotak Bank Tech Mahindra and LampT SBI and Ultratech Cement closed in negative territory from the Sensex baskets BEL Axis Bank and Bharti Airtel settled in greenSectoral indices closed in red amid persistent selling Nifty Auto fell 249 points or 092 per cent Nifty FMCG slipped 270 points or 049 per cent Nifty IT closed 445 points or 127 per cent lower Nifty Fin Services dragged 141 points or 053 per cent and Nifty Bank settled 145 points or 026 per centBroader indices followed suit as well Nifty Next 50 dipped 514 points or 075 per cent Nifty 100 slipped 174 points or 068 per cent Nifty Midcap 100 closed 368 points or 064 per cent and Nifty Small Cap 100 fell 102 points or 057 per cent IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/stock-market-ends-lower-amid-profit-booking-selling-in-it-stocks-640401.html Thu, 25 Sep 2025 21:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/dot-fiu-join-hands-to-tackle-cyber-and-financial-frauds-with-stronger-data-sharing-640408.html New Delhi Sep 25 In a big step to curb cybercrimes and financial frauds the Department of Telecommunications DoT and the Financial Intelligence UnitIndia FIUIND on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding MoU to strengthen data sharing and coordination The agreement will allow both agencies to exchange information in realtime helping to identify and act against fraudsters more quicklyThe MoU was signed by Sanjeev Kumar Sharma Deputy Director General AI amp Digital Intelligence Unit DIU DoT and Amit Mohan Govil Director FIUIND in the presence of Telecom Secretary Neeraj Mittal and Revenue Secretary Arvind ShrivastavaSpeaking at the event Mittal stressed the need for government departments to work beyond their boundariesTechnology has helped each department achieve its goals but real progress lies in developing synergies and learning from each other A joint working group can be the next step to detect shell companies and conduct deeper investigations he saidShrivastava added that this collaboration would improve the accuracy and speed of fraud detectionIt is an excellent partnership where both sides will strengthen each others systems With the use of technology I am confident this will deliver high efficiency he saidAs part of the MoU FIU will share mobile numbers linked to suspicious transactions while DoT will provide details of mobile numbers that have been disconnected due to fraudThe information will be exchanged through secure technologydriven platforms like DoTs Digital Intelligence Platform DIP and FIUs Finnex 20 portalThe partnership is expected to help prevent financial crimes by flagging risky mobile numbers before they are used in fraudulent transactionsIt will also allow banks and financial institutions to carry out stronger risk checks while processing digital paymentsIndias digital payment system has grown rapidly in recent years which has also made it a target for cyber fraudstersAccording to DoT initiatives like Sanchar Saathi have already helped block 284 crore fake mobile connectionsUsing the Financial Fraud Risk Indicator FRI system banks have been able to stop 48 lakh suspicious transactions preventing a loss of Rs 140 croreThe new agreement will also pave the way for standard procedures in data sharing and feedback systems ensuring better nationallevel fraud detection Both DoT and FIU will continue to update their strategies to deal with evolving cyber threats IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/dot-fiu-join-hands-to-tackle-cyber-and-financial-frauds-with-stronger-data-sharing-640408.html Thu, 25 Sep 2025 21:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/india-becomes-worlds-3rd-largest-tech-startup-ecosystem-with-77-bn-of-funding-in-2025-report-640409.html New Delhi Sep 25 India climbed to third position globally in terms of funding for tech startups trailing only the United States and the United Kingdom but ahead of Germany and France a report said on Thursday Funding for Indian technology startups declined 23 per cent yearonyear to 77 billion in the first nine months of 2025 a report from market intelligence platform Tracxn saidThis sector received 101 billion worth of funds in the corresponding period in 2024 and 83 billion in 2023India climbing to the third rank globally reflects the resilience and adaptability of our startup ecosystem What we are witnessing is a clear shift toward maturity with rising acquisitions steady IPO activity and continued unicorn creation providing balanced exit pathways for founders and investors said Neha Singh CoFounder of TracxnSectors such as enterprise applications retail and transportation and logistics technologies are driving longterm investor confidence and fuelling Indias digital transformation she addedSeedstage funding witnessed a total of 727 million a 39 per cent dip from the previous year Earlystage funding touched 27 billion marking a 10 per cent decline while latestage funding dropped 27 per cent to 43 billion the report saidThe count of rounds exceeding 100 million decreased to 10 from 16 last year and 15 in 2023 while the median round size doubled to 15 millionEnterprise applications topped sectoral funding with 23 billion followed by retail at 2 billion and transportation and logistics technology at 179 billion it notedIn terms of exits 110 acquisitions took place during 2025 a 15 per cent increase over 96 from the corresponding period in the previous year Enterprise applications continued to lead acquisition activity driven by demand for cloud and AI solutionsIndia added four unicorns in 2025 raising the total to 122 the report noted Bengalurubased startups continued to dominate accounting for 31 per cent of total funding followed by Delhi at 18 per cent IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/india-becomes-worlds-3rd-largest-tech-startup-ecosystem-with-77-bn-of-funding-in-2025-report-640409.html Thu, 25 Sep 2025 21:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/mental-health-to-remain-focus-of-uns-high-level-meeting-640418.html New Delhi Sep 25 World leaders are expected to deliberate on mental health care at a highlevel meeting of the UN General Assembly on Thursday The Fourth UN Highlevel Meeting on noncommunicable diseases NCDs marks a unique decennial opportunity to adopt a new ambitious and achievable political declaration on NCDs and mental health conditions towards 2030 and beyondThis is the first time that we can report more than one billion people have a mental health condition Dr Devora Kestel Director ad interim of NCDs and Mental HealthNMH at the World Health Organisation WHOOnly nine per cent of people with depression the most common mental health condition receive support Only 40 per cent of people with psychosis receive help This means that countries need to come up with more and better ways to develop services to make sure that care is available and easy to access Kestel addedEven where services do exist mental health is often inaccessible due to costs distance or lack of integration with other health supportStigma is also a significant factor dissuading those living with mental health issues from seeking helpIn addition to mental health the event will also emphasise the prevention and control of other NCDs which remain the leading causes of death and disability worldwideFor many people with NCDs like cardiovascular illnesses cancer diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases physical and mental conditions overlapMember States have decided to emphasise some issues that are common to all noncommunicable diseases but some that are very specific to mental health like child and youth mental health suicide prevention and efforts to develop services at the community level Dr Kestel notedThe UN highlevel meeting represents an opportunity to put mental health and NCDs firmly on the global agenda IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/mental-health-to-remain-focus-of-uns-high-level-meeting-640418.html Thu, 25 Sep 2025 21:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/rbi-issues-guidelines-on-authentication-mechanisms-for-digital-payment-transactions-640420.html New Delhi Sep 25 The Reserve Bank of India RBI on Thursday released draft guidelines on the authentication mechanism framework for digital payment transaction authentication that will come into effect from April 1 2026 The Central Bank said the feedback from the public has been examined and suitably incorporated in the final directionsThe directions focus on encouraging introduction of new factors of authentication by leveraging upon technological advancementsThe framework however does not call for discontinuation of SMSbased OTP as an authentication factorThe aim is also to enable issuers to adopt additional riskbased checks beyond the minimum twofactor authentication based on the fraud risk perception of the underlying transaction and facilitate interoperability and open access to technology along with delineating the responsibility of IssuersThe draft guidelines also mandate card issuers to validate AFA in nonrecurring crossborder CNP transactions whenever such a request is raised by the overseas merchant or acquirerThe RBI says that all digital payment transactions in India are required to meet the norm of two factors of authentication While no specific factor was mandated for authentication the digital payments ecosystem has primarily adopted SMSbased One Time Password OTP as the additional factorAll digital payment transactions shall be authenticated by at least two distinct factors of authentication unless exempted Issuers may at their discretion offer a choice of authentication factors to their customers in compliance with these directions according to the RBIIt shall be ensured that for digital payment transactions other than card present transactions at least one of the factors of authentication is dynamically created or proven ie the proof of possession of the factor being sent as part of the transaction is unique to that transaction The factor of authentication shall be such that compromise of one factor does not affect reliability of the other it further addedAlso system providers and system participants will offer authentication or tokenisation service that is accessible to all the applications and token requestors functioning in that operating environment for all use cases and channels or token storage mechanisms IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/rbi-issues-guidelines-on-authentication-mechanisms-for-digital-payment-transactions-640420.html Thu, 25 Sep 2025 21:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/fmcg-giants-acquire-d2c-players-to-broaden-premium-offerings-use-digital-data-report-640423.html New Delhi Sep 25 Established fastmoving consumer goods companies are increasingly acquiring directtoconsumer D2C players to expand into premium categories and leverage digital consumer insights a report said on Thursday In the past five fiscals around twothirds of the acquisitions of FMCG players have been in the D2C space a report from ratings agency Crisil Ratings saidFMCG firms gained access to differentiated products faster innovation cycles and targeted marketing through these deals while D2C brands address challenges related to scale and profitability leading to a winwin situationFMCG firms entered new premium categories and gained access to consumer insights accelerating feedback loops Prior to acquisition less than 15 per cent of the D2C companies in our sample set had managed to cross Rs 250 crore in revenue and only a third reported operating profits said Anuj Sethi Senior Director Crisil RatingsD2C companies which rose to prominence postpandemic logged a revenue growth of approximately 40 per cent compound annual growth rate until 2024 in contrast to 9 per cent growth for established FMCG playersThe premium positioning of D2C companies priced 15 to 45 times higher than established alternatives drove this growthThe acquisitions have now strengthened the business profiles of traditional FMCG players by providing them with entry into niche product categories the report notedAround 60 per cent of acquisitions occurred in personal care while the remainder were in food and beverages the report notedAbout 85 per cent of the acquisitions were undertaken to enter niche and premium segments with around 35 per cent in the health and wellness segment said Aditya Jhaver Director Crisil RatingsAcquisitions have not impacted balance sheets as the average deal value was below 5 per cent of acquirers net worth the report noted IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/fmcg-giants-acquire-d2c-players-to-broaden-premium-offerings-use-digital-data-report-640423.html Thu, 25 Sep 2025 21:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/ab-pm-jay-turns-7-moving-toward-a-healthier-india-where-no-one-is-left-behind-says-nadda-640088.html New Delhi Sep 23 The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana AB PMJAY has redefined healthcare in India and is now moving towards a healthier India where no one is left behind said Union Health Minister JP Nadda on Tuesday on the seventh anniversary of AB PMJAY Launched on September 23 2018 AB PMJAY is the worlds largest health insurance scheme providing accessible and affordable healthcare to the common manThe AB PMJAY provides health cover of Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation to approximately 55 crore beneficiaries This corresponds to 1237 crore families constituting the economically vulnerable bottom 40 per cent of Indias populationToday marks seven successful years of Ayushman Bharat PMJAY the worlds largest governmentfunded health assurance scheme launched under the visionary leadership of PM Narendra Modi Nadda shared in a post on XReaching over 55 crore beneficiaries it now provides universal health coverage for every citizen above 70 regardless of socioeconomic status This scheme has been a true friend to families providing support during their most vulnerable times he addedThe health insurance scheme has been key in reducing OutofPocket Expenditure OOPE through increased social security and primary health spendingTill June more than 984 crore hospital admissions worth over Rs 140 lakh crore have been authorised under the flagship AB PMJAY scheme as per Health Ministry dataFurther a total of 31466 hospitals have been empanelled under the scheme across the country out of which 14194 are private hospitals till June More than 41 crore Ayushman Cards have also been created across the countryA Swasth Bharat is key to achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat With over 18 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs nationwide the initiative has redefined healthcare bridging disparities and providing millions with safe reliable and dignified access to medical services Nadda saidHe credited the success of Ayushman Bharat to the united efforts of the government healthcare providers and citizens Together we move toward a healthier India where no one is left behindAs we celebrate seven years of Ayushman Bharat our aim is a future where every Indian regardless of income or geography has equal access to highquality health care The task is immense but our resolve is firm Nadda saidIn the years ahead Ayushman Bharat will remain a symbol of PM Narendra Modis vision the governments commitment and the nations determination to protect the health of its people he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/ab-pm-jay-turns-7-moving-toward-a-healthier-india-where-no-one-is-left-behind-says-nadda-640088.html Tue, 23 Sep 2025 12:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/gst-cut-on-renewable-energy-to-save-rs-115-trillion-by-2030-pralhad-joshi-640090.html New Delhi Sep 23 The reduction of Goods and Services Tax GST on the renewable energy value chain from 12 per cent to 5 per cent will save up to Rs 115 trillion by 2030 Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi has said The savings will be essential to reaching the nations goal of 500 gigawatts GW of installed renewable energy RE capacity by 2030 Joshi stated during a media eventIndia has already added 252 GW of this and an additional 248 GW is anticipated to be installed over the next five yearsThis GST cut will result in savings of approximately Rs 1 to 15 trillion This will be the biggest advantage the minister saidThe Ministry of New and Renewable Energy MNRE projects that the tax cut will lower project costs and increase consumer access to clean electricityA utilityscale solar projects capital cost which was previously approximately Rs 354 crore per MW will now be reduced by Rs 2025 lakh per MW This results in cost savings of more than Rs 100 crore for a 500 MW solar park increasing tariff competitivenessA 3 kW rooftop solar system will cost between Rs 9000 and Rs 10500 per household which will encourage adoption under the governments PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli YojanaThe Centre is also creating a detailed plan to create an ecosystem for solar manufacturing that is selfsufficient encompassing polysilicon wafers and ingotsJoshi suggested using programs like Production Linked Incentive PLI or Viability Gap Funding VGF to promote domestic manufacturingIn addition to modules and cells MNRE is working to add wafers and ingots to the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers ALMMALMM List III for wafers would be implemented starting in June 2028 according to a draft amendment provided that at least three separate manufacturing facilities with a combined 15 GW capacity are in place IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/gst-cut-on-renewable-energy-to-save-rs-115-trillion-by-2030-pralhad-joshi-640090.html Tue, 23 Sep 2025 12:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/gst-reforms-to-boost-operating-profit-of-cement-companies-by-rs-100-150-per-mt-in-fy26-640106.html New Delhi Sep 23 The reduction in Goods and Services Tax GST will boost the operating profit of cement companies by Rs 100150 per metric tonne MT a report said on Tuesday The government move will also reduce overall construction expenses in rural housing by 081 per cent boosting volumes and supporting enhanced capacity additionBacked by the healthy cement demand average cement realisation exfactory price excluding GST is expected to rise by 35 per cent in FY26 even as the input prices are expected to remain rangebound credit rating agency ICRA said in its reportFurther Operating Profit Before Interest Taxes Depreciation and Amortisation OPBIDTA is likely to improve by 1218 per cent to Rs 900950MT in FY2026 it addedCement volumes increased by 85 per cent in 5 months of FY26 due to strong demand from the housing and infrastructure segments despite the early onset of the monsoons in a few regionsCement prices have increased by 74 per cent in the first five months of the current fiscal on a yearonyear YoY basis with major hikes in the northern and eastern regionsThe trajectory of input prices especially for pet coke and freight is linked to global crude which remains exposed to geopolitical dynamicsWith the recent GST rate cut from 28 per cent to 18 per cent expected to be passed on to customers and the average retail price of cement currently ranging between Rs 350360 per bag consumers are projected to benefit by Rs 2628 per bag the report saidAccording to the report in FY25 the OPBIDTAMT had declined by 16 per cent YoY due to weak realisations especially during H1 FY2025 because of extended monsoon and impact on Government capex amid the General ElectionsOverall the credit profile of large cement producers is expected to remain stable driven by a healthy growth in operating income expected improvement in operating margins and comfortable leverage metricsThe industry has witnessed consolidation in recent years and the performance of larger players is expected to outperform compared to that of midsize players in the medium termICRA estimates green power to account for 4345 per cent of the total power mix by March 2026 compared to around 35 per cent as of March 2023 for the cement companies in ICRAs sample set said Anupama Reddy Vice President and CoGroup Head Corporate Ratings ICRAThe major cement players in the country aim to reduce their emissions by 1517 per cent over the next 810 years by increasing the share of blended cement which uses less clinker and consequently less fuel boosting the share of green power consumption through a mix of solar wind and waste heat recovery system WHRS capacities Reddy added IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/gst-reforms-to-boost-operating-profit-of-cement-companies-by-rs-100-150-per-mt-in-fy26-640106.html Tue, 23 Sep 2025 13:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/more-than-76-lakh-women-children-participate-in-swasth-nari-sashakt-parivar-abhiyaan-640107.html New Delhi Sep 23 More than 76 lakh women and children have participated in the Swasth Nari Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaan the government has said The Swasth Nari Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaan launched on September 17 continues to witness overwhelming participation across India with lakhs of women children and families benefitting from comprehensive health servicesTill September 20 over 283 lakh health camps screening and speciality camps have been held under the Abhiyaan registering a footfall of more than 76 lakh citizens nationwide the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare saidAt the nationwide health camps more than 37 lakh citizens have been screened for hypertension and 35 lakh for diabetes over 9 lakh women have been screened for breast cancer and more than 47 lakh for cervical cancer Oral cancer screening has covered more than 16 lakh peopleMore than 18 lakh antenatal checkups have been conducted while over 51 lakh children received lifesaving vaccinesOver 15 lakhs have been screened for anaemia and nutrition counselling sessions have reached lakhs of familiesThe health camps also conducted screening for tuberculosis over 22 lakh citizens and Sickle Cell Disease 23 lakh More than 16 lakh blood donors registered while 47 lakh new AyushmanPMJAY cards were issuedCentral government institutes medical colleges and private organisations cumulatively organised 3410 screening and specialty health camps benefiting more than 58 lakh citizensThe Abhiyaan is being celebrated as a Jan Andolan across states and UTsIn Delhi mega health camps were set up at Safdarjung Hospital CGHS RK Puram and Ayushman Arogya Mandirs which offered TB NCD mental health and maternal screeningIn Gujarat camps in Dahod Kutch and Navsari provided cancer screening and NCD care directly benefiting over 42000 women while in Jammu and Kashmir mega health camps in Srinagar and RS Pura saw large community participation under Sewa PakhwadaThe campaign which will run till October 2 aims to ensure healthy women a strong family and a resilient nation IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/more-than-76-lakh-women-children-participate-in-swasth-nari-sashakt-parivar-abhiyaan-640107.html Tue, 23 Sep 2025 13:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/we-will-make-our-nation-proud-sridhar-vembu-after-ashwini-vaishnaw-opts-for-zoho-640114.html New Delhi Sep 23 Zohos Chief Scientist and Cofounder Sridhar Vembu has said that the companys engineers will continue to make the nation proud after Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that he is shifting to Zohos homegrown platform for documents spreadsheets and presentations Reacting to Vaishnaws post on X Vembu wrote Thank you Sir this is a huge morale boost for our engineers who have worked hard for over two decades to build our product suite We will make you proud and make our nation proud Jai HindEarlier Vaishnaw had said he is moving to Zoho to support the call for Swadeshi I am moving to Zoho our own Swadeshi platform for documents spreadsheets amp presentations I urge all to join PM Narendra Modis call for Swadeshi by adopting indigenous products amp services he postedThe ministers statement comes after Prime Minister Modi in his letter to citizens urged people to buy MadeinIndia products during the festive season as part of the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047PM Modi had stressed that every purchase of local goods helps families artisans and workers while creating job opportunities for youthEvery time you buy a product made by our artisans workers and industries you are helping families earn their living and creating job opportunities for our youth the Prime Minister had said while also encouraging traders to promote local goodsThe Prime Minister also linked the appeal with the recent GST Bachat Utsav introduced under Next Generation GST reforms which is aimed at reducing household expenses simplifying business processes and supporting growth for farmers women traders MSMEs and othersZoho a software major with a strong focus on building indigenous technology solutions has often been highlighted as a successful example of Indias capability in creating globalstandard productsVaishnaws announcement to adopt Zoho reflects the governments larger push for selfreliance and greater use of indigenous platforms IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/we-will-make-our-nation-proud-sridhar-vembu-after-ashwini-vaishnaw-opts-for-zoho-640114.html Tue, 23 Sep 2025 14:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/ayurveda-gaining-global-recognition-as-system-of-holistic-healthcare-prataprao-jadhav-640140.html New Delhi Sep 23 Ayurveda is gaining global recognition as a system of holistic healthcare said Prataprao Jadhav Union Minister of State Independent Charge for Ayush on Tuesday The Ministry of Ayush celebrated the 10th National Ayurveda Day celebrations at the AllIndia Institute of Ayurveda AIIA GoaThe celebrations marked a significant milestone in the Ministrys continuous efforts to promote ayurveda as a holistic system of health and wellbeing rooted in sustainability and natural livingJadhav in his keynote address spoke about the growing global recognition of ayurveda as a system of holistic healthcareThe decision to fix 23rd September as the permanent date for Ayurveda Day is historic and aligns with the autumnal equinox a symbol of balance in nature which lies at the heart of ayurvedic philosophy he saidThis years theme Ayurveda for People and Planet reflects the Ministrys commitment to positioning ayurveda not only as a healthcare science but also as a framework for planetary health and sustainability the MoS addedSpeaking on the occasion Ashok Gajapathi Raju Governor of Goa highlighted the remarkable global growth of ayurveda stating that in less than a decade Ayurveda Day has evolved from a national observance into a global health movementOver 150 countries now celebrate the day recognising ayurveda not just as an alternative therapy but as a comprehensive healthcare system Raju saidRaju praised this years theme as timely and relevant to the United Nations Sustainable Development GoalsChief Minister of Goa Dr Pramod Sawant emphasised the contemporary relevance of ayurveda in tackling rising lifestylerelated disorders such as obesity diabetes and stressThe timetested concepts of Dinacharya daily routine and Ritucharya seasonal regimen provide sustainable models for preventive healthcare he saidFurther referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modis concern over the growing prevalence of obesity Sawant said Ayurveda offers simple yet powerful tools such as detoxification balanced diet herbal medicines and yoga for promoting longterm wellness IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/ayurveda-gaining-global-recognition-as-system-of-holistic-healthcare-prataprao-jadhav-640140.html Tue, 23 Sep 2025 16:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/icici-bank-to-clear-cheques-on-same-day-from-oct-4-640142.html New Delhi Sep 23 ICICI Bank has announced a major change to its cheque settlement process aimed at reducing delays and improving customer convenience From October 4 cheques submitted across the bank branches will be cleared and credited to accounts within one working day according to the banks official website The action is consistent with the Reserve Bank of Indias RBI new cheque clearing system which aims to expedite settlements The previous batchbased procedure will be replaced by the new framework which will clear cheque within hours of submissionThe Cheque Truncation System CTS which sends an electronic image of the check and its details to the drawee bank is currently used by banks This removes the need for cheques to be physically transferred but when deposited in drop boxes or automated teller machines settlement usually takes two working daysAdditionally ICICI Bank has emphasised the significance of its Positive Pay feature which gives highvalue cheques an additional degree of securityTo avoid fraud customers can electronically preconfirm important details before writing cheques for more than Rs 50000 For cheques totaling more than Rs 5 lakh the positive pay feature is mandatory otherwise the cheques will be returned The RBIs dispute resolution process will only apply to cheques that have been verified under Positive PayThe RBI declared in its August 2025 directive that batch clearing would give way to continuous clearing and settlement Phase 1 will begin on October 4 2025 and Phase 2 will begin on January 3 2026 cheques presentations will be permitted starting on October 4 during a single daily session from 1000 am to 400 pmCustomers are advised to ensure all cheque details are accurate to avoid rejection The amount in words and figures must match the date must be valid and there should be no overwriting in the payees name or amount The drawers signature must also match the banks records IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/icici-bank-to-clear-cheques-on-same-day-from-oct-4-640142.html Tue, 23 Sep 2025 16:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/stock-market-settles-flat-auto-and-financial-services-stock-gain-640154.html Mumbai Sep 23 The domestic equity indices settled flat on Tuesday amid persistent selling in IT stocks amid buying in the auto and financial services sectors Sensex ended the session at 8210210 down 5787 points or 007 per cent The 30share index started the session flat at 8214737 against last sessions closing of 8215997 The index remained rangebound amid selling in IT and FMCG stocksNifty closed at 2516950 down 3285 points or 013 per centThe markets experienced significant volatility on the Nifty indexs weekly expiry day The Nifty formed a high wave candlestick pattern on the daily chart indicating a consolidation phase marked by trader indecision and a lack of clear directional conviction an analyst saidThe index has strong psychological support at the 25000 level and as long as it holds above this mark a pullback towards the 2530025400 zone remains likely the analyst addedTech Mahindra Trent Ultratech Cement Hindustan Unilever Asian Paint Eternal ITC Bharti Airtel HCL Tech Sun Pharma and HDFC Bank were the top losers While Axis Bank Bajaj Finance Maruti SBI Kotak Bank Tata Steel NTPC Tata Motors Mahindra and Mahindra and PowerGrid settled higherSectoral indices experienced a mixed approach Nifty Bank rose 225 points or 041 per cent Nifty Fin Services ended the session 31 points or 012 per cent higher and Nifty Auto surged 167 points or 062 per cent Meanwhile Nifty FMCG fell 725 points or 129 per cent and Nifty IT slipped 251 points or 071 per centThe broader indices followed the trend as well Nifty Smallcap 100 dipped 97 points or 053 per cent Nifty Midcap 100 fell 202 points or 035 per cent and Nifty 100 ended the session 48 points or 019 per centThe domestic equity market traded rangebound and ended flat indicating the continuation of the consolidation Broader sentiment stayed cautious with small and midcap stocks lagging the benchmarks Sectorwise autos metals and financials gained on signs of robust festive demand postGST cuts while FMCG and realty stocks came under pressure from profit booking according to an market analyst IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/stock-market-settles-flat-auto-and-financial-services-stock-gain-640154.html Tue, 23 Sep 2025 16:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/paracetamols-link-to-autism-not-supported-by-strong-scientific-evidence-experts-640158.html New Delhi Sep 23 There is no strong scientific evidence to prove that paracetamol is linked to autism said health experts on Tuesday after US President Donald Trump linked the painkiller to the neurodevelopmental condition Autism also known as autism spectrum disorder is a condition characterised by differences or difficulties in social communication and interactionSpeaking at a White House event on Monday Trump called on motherstobe to tough it out rather than take acetaminophen also known as paracetamol the main ingredient in TylenolPresident Trumps suggestion that acetaminophen Tylenol use during pregnancy may cause autism is not supported by strong scientific evidence Dr Manish Narang DirectorProfessor Department of Pediatrics University College of Medical Sciences and Guru Teg Bahadur GTB Hospital Delhi told IANSExisting studies are limited and inconsistent and do not establish a causal link major medical and research organisations warn that such claims can unnecessarily alarm parents while clinical guidance continues to recommend discussing painmanagement choices with a clinician he addedAcetaminophen is the most commonly used overthecounter medication taken during pregnancy withmore than 50 per cent of pregnant women using the medicine worldwide It is widely used for headaches pain or fever by pregnant womenIt has been recommended by regulatory and clinical agencies as safe to use in pregnancyBut Trump noted that taking Tylenol is not good while also urging pregnant women to fight like hell not to take it He added that only an extremely high fever could justify its useEven as Trumps statement raised health concerns among pregnant women Dr Soumya Swaminathan a paediatrician and former World Health Organization WHO Chief Scientist said paracetamol is a proven safe drug and there is no need to panic about its useSpeaking to the media she also cited the lack of proven scientific evidence on paracetamols association with autismThe American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has long cited acetaminophen as one of the safest painkillers during pregnancyDr Steven Fleischman also shared with the media that more often than not treating fever during pregnancy may cause more adverse effectsDr Abha Majumdar Senior Consultant Obstetrics and Gynaecology at a citybased hospital stated that people must not stop using treatment out of fear but we also need to be mindful about limiting potential harm and riskVery frequent and prolonged use of crocin during pregnancy could raise a potential risk but untreated maternal fever or pain can also pose a risk to the pregnancy and child development So it is important to treat fevers or conditions that are leading to pain because they could also cause risk to the baby Majumdar saidIf pain relief is necessary one must think of using the lowest effective dose and duration for crocin to alleviate these conditions the expert said IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/paracetamols-link-to-autism-not-supported-by-strong-scientific-evidence-experts-640158.html Tue, 23 Sep 2025 17:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/headcount-of-indias-internet-subscribers-crosses-1-002-million-during-apriljune-640173.html New Delhi Sept 23 India is one of the fastestgrowing digital nations in the world with internet connectivity playing a crucial role in its progress This momentum is reflected in the staggering 100285 1002 bn million internet subscribers reported during AprilJune 2025 highlighting the scale and impact of Indias digital revolution according to an official statement issued on Tuesday In line with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 satellite internet is emerging as a key enabler of digital connectivity extending reliable access to remote and underserved regions while strengthening critical applications in defence and disaster responseRural internet penetration stands at approximately 46 subscribers per 100 population highlighting the need for satellite internet to bridge the digital divide the statement saidIndias broadband reach is steadily expanding through highthroughput satellites HTS developed by ISRO which use advanced spotbeam technology to provide faster speeds and higher capacity India has a fleet of 19 operational communication satellites among which GSAT19 GSAT29 GSAT11 and GSATN2 are specifically geared towards boosting Indias broadband servicesThese satellites are designed to enhance internet connectivity in underserved areas support inflight communication defence networks and disaster management Together they form the backbone of satellitebased broadband infrastructure in India complementing groundbased networks like BharatNetIndias satellite communication Satcom ecosystem is undergoing a transformative shift Traditionally dependent on the Geostationary Satellite GSAT of the Indian Space Research Organisation ISRO and other satellite operators series the sector is now witnessing more active private participation and the adoption of nextgeneration Low Earth Orbit LEO and Medium Earth Orbit MEO satellite systems The rollout of space sector reforms has enabled private sector participation in space activities India is moving towards LEO and MEObased satellite internet services to deliver faster and more reliable broadband services nationwide as a key driver of Digital India the statement explainedOver 10 satellite operators including the licensed Starlink have entered India with the private sector allowed up to 100 per cent FDIHowever internet penetration remains limited in certain regions of the country underscoring the need for satellite internet to complement existing networksSatellite internet refers to the internet service provided through satellites placed in Geostationary Orbits GSO or NonGeostationary Orbits NGSOFor realising the Digital India vision of a digitally inclusive nation satellite internet is an emerging technology with the potential to provide connectivity from space to any location This makes it particularly valuable for remote villages hilly terrains border areas and islands where terrestrial internet services are either difficult to reach or economically unviableThrough the power of space technology India is reinforcing its strategic autonomy and leadership in spacebased communications ensuring that the benefits of connectivity reach every citizen From operationalising HTS to enabling private participation in satellite communications the country is steadily bridging its digital divide the statement added IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/headcount-of-indias-internet-subscribers-crosses-1-002-million-during-apriljune-640173.html Tue, 23 Sep 2025 18:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/mp-launches-ai-chatbot-suman-sakhi-to-empower-womens-health-access-640179.html Bhopal Sep 23 In a significant step toward digital healthcare the Madhya Pradesh government has launched SUMAN SAKHI an artificial intelligencepowered chatbot aimed at improving access to womens health information The initiative falls under Prime Minister Narendra Modis Safe Motherhood Campaign and is being hailed as a major success in the states public health strategyDeveloped by the National Health Mission NHM in collaboration with the Madhya Pradesh State Electronics Development Corporation MPSeDC the chatbot is designed to provide roundtheclock assistance in HindiIt offers pregnant women vital information on antenatal care highrisk conditions and government health and welfare schemesThis is a very significant initiative in Madhya Pradesh Through SUMAN SAKHI our sisters will be able to get timely and accurate health information said Kailash Vijayvargiya Urban Development Minister and government spokespersonThe chatbot is accessible directly via WhatsApp a platform widely used across Madhya PradeshOfficials say this choice was deliberate aiming to reduce barriers to adoption by eliminating the need for separate applications or technical knowhowIn its first phase SUMAN SAKHI will respond to queries related to maternal health and pregnancy Future updates will expand its scope to include other health and social welfare programmes for womenThe rollout will begin in select districts with gradual expansion planned across the stateThe minister Vijayvargiya further emphasised the chatbots role in bridging the information gap It will act as a support system for women in need of guidance on health schemes and pregnancyrelated careThe launch aligns with the states Swasth Nari Sashakt Parivar campaign reinforcing its commitment to womens health and family welfareAuthorities said that SUMAN SAKHI is among the first AIbased digital tools for womens health introduced at the state level in IndiaBy embedding AI into a familiar messaging platform the government hopes to reach women who may not otherwise have regular access to healthcare providers especially in rural and underserved areas IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/mp-launches-ai-chatbot-suman-sakhi-to-empower-womens-health-access-640179.html Tue, 23 Sep 2025 18:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/nearly-73-pc-rural-households-expect-income-growth-by-next-year-report-640188.html New Delhi Sep 23 Nearly 73 per cent of households in rural areas expect their income to grow by next year according to a report The report is based on a bimonthly survey conducted by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development Nabard in SeptemberWhile this represents a rise from the 702 per cent of respondents expecting their income to rise a year ago it slightly declined from 747 per cent in July this yearIt is possible that Trump tariffrelated risks for the farm and nonfarm exports and the associated impact on rural income and employment might have dampened the sentiments of rural households expressed through this survey revealed the Nabard surveyFurther just 18 per cent of households reported a decrease in income over the last year in September It is the lowest level recorded since the survey began in September 2024 In comparison nearly 24 per cent of rural households reported a fall in income last yearHowever about 45 per cent of rural households reported stagnation in income the highest in all seven surveys conducted over the past yearIn September consumption among rural households also saw an increase more than 76 per cent In comparison in September 2024 more than 80 per cent of respondents had reported higher consumptionWhile the consumptionled buoyancy in the rural economy continues there is some slackening of momentum in recent months partly reflecting the impact of severe floods and landslides in a few states including Himachal Pradesh and Punjab Nabard saidA major part of the survey was completed before the announcement of the GST reduction on September 3 2025 Therefore household responses do not reflect the expected positive impact of the measure on consumption the report said IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/nearly-73-pc-rural-households-expect-income-growth-by-next-year-report-640188.html Tue, 23 Sep 2025 19:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/agnikul-launches-indias-first-additive-manufacturing-hub-for-rockets-640191.html New Delhi Sep 23 Taking a step forward towards an Atmanirbhar Bharat in space technology domestic spacetech player Agnikul Cosmos has launched the firstofitskind additive manufacturing facility The Large Format Additive Metal Manufacturing LFAMM Unit is dedicated to aerospace and rocket systems It will for the first time in India enable 3D printing of aerospace and rocket components up to one metre in heightThe facility inaugurated by Dr V Narayanan Secretary Department of Space amp Chairman of ISRO and Prof V Kamakoti Director of IIT Madras among others introduces a fully integrated ecosystem covering design simulation printing postprocessing and finishing It will enhance quality reliability and supply chain resilience while lowering the cost of building for space by 50 per centInaugurated our new endtoend Large Format Additive Metal Manufacturing LFAMM Unit a step forward towards an Atmanirbhar Bharat in space technology Agnikul shared in a post on social media platform XThis facility houses Indias largest 3D metal printer for large spacetech systems an indigenous depowdering machine designed and built inhouse for repeatable post processing and a lot more it addedWith the LFAMM Unit Agnikul can now deliver fully finished flightready hardware within a few daysAgnikul was started with the goal of making space available to everyone One way to do that is to build capability that allows us to advance rocket manufacturing with precision while also focusing on quality said Srinath Ravichandran cofounder and chief executive officer of Agnikul CosmosBy developing not just printing capacity but also fullscale machines inhouse we are equipping ourselves to build space transportation systems faster bringing us one step closer to taking Agnikuls innovations and our customers to space he addedIn 2024 Agnikul also launched the worlds first rocket with a singlepiece threedimensional 3D printed engineThe rocket Agnibaan SOrTeD SubOrbital Technological Demonstrator is also Indias first semicryogenic enginepowered rocket launch that was completely designed and manufactured indigenouslyThe IIT Madras incubatee holds a US patent for singlepiece 3Dprinted rocket engines IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/agnikul-launches-indias-first-additive-manufacturing-hub-for-rockets-640191.html Tue, 23 Sep 2025 19:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/new-niti-aayog-report-delves-deeper-into-indias-innovation-story-640194.html New Delhi Sep 23 NITI Aayog on Tuesday a landmark report capturing Indias remarkable journey in science technology and innovation providing a detailed assessment of the countrys achievements challenges and opportunities to strengthen its position as a global innovation hub The report provides a holistic view of Indias innovation ecosystem encompassing national and state initiatives industry and grassroots innovations startups universityindustrygovernment collaborations and Indias positioning in global innovation rankings It also identifies systemic challenges and lays out a forwardlooking roadmap that includes scaling successful models fostering deep technology innovation strengthening knowledge creation enhancing global integration and building innovation capacity across states At the launch of the report titled Pathways to Progress Analysis and Insights into Indias Innovation Story Dr Deepak Bagla Mission Director Atal Innovation Mission AIM elaborated on the transformative role of AIM in nurturing entrepreneurial talent fostering innovation at scale and creating a vibrant startup culture across the countryDr VK Saraswat Member NITI Aayog emphasised the strategic importance of science technology and innovation in shaping Indias development trajectory He noted that the report provides critical evidencebased insights that can guide policymaking strengthen institutional linkages and enhance collaboration between academia industry and governmentUnion Minister Dr Jitendra Singh emphasised that innovation in India is pervasive and not confined to frontier technologies alone He highlighted the governments initiatives to advance research promote technology development and facilitate the commercialization of innovations across all sectors He also underscored the importance of inclusive and contextdriven innovation that addresses realworld challenges while strengthening Indias overall capacity to compete globally and drive sustainable equitable growth said NITI AayogEducation Minister Dharmendra Pradhan underscored Indias progress in building a robust innovation ecosystem and stressed the importance of positioning Bharat as a global brand of excellence in knowledge science and technology He called for harnessing Indias youth talent and institutional strengths to drive innovation that is both scalable and inclusive IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/new-niti-aayog-report-delves-deeper-into-indias-innovation-story-640194.html Tue, 23 Sep 2025 19:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/trump-administration-proposes-to-scrap-h-1b-lottery-system-floats-new-rules-640217.html Washington Sep 23 Days after US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation to significantly curtail the H1B visa programme the US Department of Homeland Security DHS has proposed to amend its regulations governing the process The DHS proposal seeks to scrap the existing lottery system and implement a weighted selection process that would generally favour the allocation of H1B visas to higherskilled and higherpaid aliens while maintaining the opportunity for employers to secure H1B workers at all wage levelsThe initiative will be opened for a 30day public comment periodThe H1B programme capped at 85000 new visas annually allowed US companies to hire skilled foreign workers in fields like technology and engineering through a random lottery systemLast week Trump signed a proclamation to crack down on H1B visas announcing a 100000 fee for each new applicationThe proclamation caused immense confusion over the weekend as it seemed to suggest that it would impact the current H1B visa holders who may face hurdles in returning to the United StatesThe White House issued a clarification to IANS on Saturday saying that this is a onetime fee that applies only to new visas and not renewals or current visa holdersThis is a onetime fee that applies only to the petition It ONLY applies to new visas not renewals or current visa holders It will first apply in the upcoming lottery cycle a White House official told IANSA White House spokesperson also clarified to IANS that the policy would discourage companies from spamming the systemPresident Trump promised to put American workers first and this commonsense action does just that by discouraging companies from spamming the system and driving down wages It also gives certainty to American businesses who actually want to bring highskilled workers to our great country but have been trampled on by abuses of the system White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers saidSigning the proclamation at the White House on Friday Trump said the incentive is to hire American workersThe new proposal was announced as two senior Ministers External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal met Trump administration officials in New York on MondayAfter his meeting with Jaishankar US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that India is of critical value to his country and welcomed its ongoing interaction in tradeJaishankar posted on X Our conversation covered a range of bilateral and international issues of current concern Agreed on the importance of sustained engagement to progress on priority areasCommerce and Industry Minister Goyal also met US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on Monday in New York to negotiate the first tranche of a trade agreement between the two sidesSources told IANS that the meeting focused on addressing key sticking points and both sides remain hopeful of reaching an interim understanding soon IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/trump-administration-proposes-to-scrap-h-1b-lottery-system-floats-new-rules-640217.html Tue, 23 Sep 2025 22:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/stock-market-opens-marginally-lower-nifty-it-down-268-pc-639854.html Mumbai Sep 22 The Indian benchmark indices opened marginally lower on Friday despite positive global cues with IT stocks leading losses owing to some concerns over the new US H1B visa rules As of 926 am the Sensex was down 189 points or 023 per cent at 82772 and the Nifty was down 40 points or 016 per cent at 25286 Sensex and Nifty had opened with dips of 040 per cent and 033 per cent respectively but later cut down on the lossesIT giants such as Tata Consultancy Services TCS Infosys Wipro HCL Technologies Tech Mahindra and Coforge slipped in the morning tradeThe US government has clarified that visa holders returning to the country are exempt from the new 100000 fee which provided marginal relief to Indian IT companiesWhite House said the visa fee would be a onetime payment applicable only to new applications from the next lottery cycle MarchApril 2026 and not on renewalsThe broad cap indices Nifty Midcap 100 dipped 005 per cent and the Nifty Smallcap 100 lost 012 per centThe losers were Tech Mahindra TCS Tata Motors Apollo Hospitals and Dr Reddys LabsAmong sectoral indices Nifty IT the top loser lost 268 per cent Nifty Pharma down 045 per cent and Nifty Healthcare down 033 per cent also weighed down on the indices All other sectoral indices were trading with marginal gainsThe Nifty index has held firmly above the 25300 mark closing at 25327 in the previous session It continues to trade above its key moving averagesthe 20day 50day and 200day EMAsreaffirming the broader bullish undertoneAnalysts predicted that sentiment will remain positive as long as the index remains above these averages Immediate resistance is placed at 25500 followed by the 25600 and 25850 zones The support lies at 25150 and 25000 zonesThey said that the market is likely to exhibit mixed behaviour with the IT sector being affected by the H1B visa issue and domestic consumption themes responding positively to the potential increase in consumption from lower GST rates kicking in from todayAccording to them the present low interest rate regime will aid the consumption boost and will also facilitate an increase in credit demand boosting the profitability of financialsAsiaPacific markets mostly rose on Monday tracking Wall Streets gains from Friday and boosted by Chinas key lending rate decision that kept key rates unchangedIn the US markets Nasdaq has added 072 per cent the SampP 500 edged up 049 per cent and the Dow inched up 037 per cent in the last trading sessionMost of the Asian markets were trading in the green during the morning session While Chinas Shanghai index edged up 007 per cent and Shenzhen advanced 017 per cent Japans Nikkei added 145 per cent while Hong Kongs Hang Seng Index lost 082 per cent South Koreas Kospi added 106 per centOn Friday foreign institutional investors FIIs purchased equities worth Rs 390 crore while domestic institutional investors DIIs were net buyers of equities worth Rs 2105 crore IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/stock-market-opens-marginally-lower-nifty-it-down-268-pc-639854.html Mon, 22 Sep 2025 10:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/domestic-investors-buy-record-rs-53-lakh-crore-worth-equities-in-2025-to-date-beat-2024-total-639863.html New Delhi Sep 22 Even with a quarter remaining in 2025 domestic institutional investors have net bought a record Rs 53 lakh crore of equities surpassing the fullyear total of Rs 522 lakh crore in 2024 according to the stock exchange data Mutual funds were the largest driver of this buying spree purchasing Rs 365 lakh crore aided by monthly SIP inflows of more than Rs 25000 crore while their cash holdings remained elevated at Rs 198 lakh crore in AugustInsurance companies and pension funds added more than Rs 1 lakh crore with the remainder coming from portfolio managers alternative funds banks and other institutionsBut analysts suggest that early signs of slowdown in momentum are emerging as market returns stagnate and global headwinds weigh on sentimentDespite robust inflows from DIIs Indian equities have lagged global peers with the Sensex having gained just 2 per cent and the Nifty 4 per cent in 2025 in dollar terms compared with doubledigit advances in major Asian and Western marketsMarket onlookers doubt the sustainability of mutual fund inflows even as equity fund inflows were Rs 33430 crore in August and Rs 42702 crore in JulyThey took cues from rising redemptions from smallcap and thematic funds as investors booked profits and diverted money into real estate Further GST rationalisation and festive spending such as home renovation could put pressure on household savings limiting fresh allocations to equities as Indias consumption cycle enters a highgrowth phaseMeanwhile foreign institutional investors FIIs remained net sellers dumping Rs 180443 crore so far in 2025 after selling Rs 121 lakh crore last yearHowever FIIs have been consistently buying through the primary market even while selling through the exchanges and they have bought Rs 1559 crore worth of equities in SeptemberAs lacklustre earnings stretched valuations and uncertainty over US tariffs act as headwinds analysts feel that there is a high likelihood of above 15 per cent growth in corporate earnings in FY27 leading to a turnaround in FPI sentiments IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/domestic-investors-buy-record-rs-53-lakh-crore-worth-equities-in-2025-to-date-beat-2024-total-639863.html Mon, 22 Sep 2025 10:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/indias-real-estate-investment-landscape-remains-resilient-in-h1-2025-attracting-3-billion-639892.html New Delhi Sep 22 India continues to stand out as a promising country within the Asia Pacifics APAC real estate investment landscape attracting significant capital inflows of 30 billion in the first half of 2025 H1 2025 a report said on Monday Foreign investments stood at 16 billion accounting for around 52 per cent of the investment in the sector during H1While the investment declined YearonYear YoY overall investor interest remained intact The foreign capital continued to dominate overall investments meanwhile domestic capital deployment gained significant traction surging 53 per cent YoY Colliers said in a reportAround 48 per cent of the real estate investments during H1 2025 came from domestic investorsIndia continues to stand out as a promising country within the Asia Pacifics real estate investment landscape Foreign investments remained strong at 16 billion and accounted for around 52 per cent of the institutional investments in India during H1 2025 said Badal Yagnik Chief Executive Officer Colliers IndiaInterestingly APAC investors accounted for over onethird of the foreign inflows into the country in the first half of the year reiterating Indias strategic importance in crossborder capital flows he addedWith strong demand for highquality spaces overhauling and simplification of GST regulations and anticipation of elevated consumption levels in the upcoming festive season institutional investors are confident about their India exposureReal estate investments in 2025 are likely to end on a high note with core assets like residential and office continuing to demonstrate high traction Yagnik saidResidential and office assets together drove over half of the investment inflows in H1 2025 with residential assets leading at 08 billionWithin the office segment institutional investors are increasingly acquiring developmental assets by partnering with local developersInvestments in earlystage activities like land acquisition and construction have also picked up a significant pace in recent timesAdditionally mixeduse and retail assets too saw a notable surge together accounting for more than 30 per cent of the real estate investments in India during H1 2025 up from 7 per cent share during the corresponding period in 2024 the report saidIndias prominence in the Asia Pacific region continues to grow driven by strong demand traction across real estate asset classes Investor confidence is reflected in its recent rise to fourth place in terms of crossborder capital deployment in land and development sites up from seventh position in the previous quarter said Vimal Nadar National Director amp Head of Research Colliers India IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/indias-real-estate-investment-landscape-remains-resilient-in-h1-2025-attracting-3-billion-639892.html Mon, 22 Sep 2025 13:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/lower-gst-rates-to-boost-hospitality-transport-and-cultural-sectors-639895.html New Delhi Sep 22 The revamped GST rates implemented from Monday will make the countrys tourism sector more affordable enhance public transport use and support artisans and cultural industries the government said Early this month the GST Council reduced the GST on hotels less than Rs 7500day from 12 per cent to 5 per cent without ITC GST on buses with a seating capacity of over 10 persons was brought down to 18 per cent from 28 per cent Similarly the GST on art and cultural goods was also reduced from 12 per cent to 5 per centThe reductions will strengthen the domestic tourism ecosystem promote cultural heritage and encourage investment in related sectors an official statement saidUnder the leadership of PM Modi these reforms align with the vision of sustainable and inclusive growth fostering job creation and investment in hospitality transport and traditional crafts while also accelerating the postpandemic recovery of Indias tourism sector it addedThe lower GST rates on hotels are expected to make hotel stays more affordable for middleclass and budget travellers It also aligns with Indias hospitality tax structure with international tourism destinations becoming more attractive for foreign touristsThe move is also expected to boost weekend travel pilgrimage circuits heritage tourism and ecotourism as well as encourage investment in new midsegment hotels homestays and guesthouses creating jobs and improving infrastructureThe revamped GST on buses cuts the upfront cost of buses and minibuses making them more accessible for fleet operators schools corporates tour providers and state transport undertakingsIt will help bring down ticket fares especially in semiurban and rural routes and encourage a shift from private vehicles to sharedpublic transport reducing congestion and pollutionIt will also support fleet expansion and modernisation improving comfort and safety standards in public transportFurther the GST reduction on art and cultural goods which applies to statues statuettes original engravings prints lithographs ornamental articles stone art ware and stone inlay work will provide direct support to artisans craftsmen and sculptorsThe move will also help preserve living traditions of temple art folk expression miniature painting printmaking and stone craftsmanship and promote Indian culture and craftsmanship globally integrating heritage economy with modern markets the government saidThese GST reductions reflect a strategic effort by the government to boost Indias tourism and cultural sectors by enhancing affordability supporting traditional artisans and encouraging sustainable transport the official statement saidBy fostering greater accessibility and preserving cultural heritage these measures are poised to generate significant economic growth create jobs and promote Indias image globally as a vibrant and inclusive destination it added IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/lower-gst-rates-to-boost-hospitality-transport-and-cultural-sectors-639895.html Mon, 22 Sep 2025 13:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/global-payments-revenue-to-reach-24-trillion-by-2029-report-639901.html New Delhi Sep 22 Global payments revenue is projected to grow to 24 trillion by 2029 according to a new report on Monday The report by Boston Consulting Group BCG showed that realtime AccounttoAccount A2A payments are gaining critical mass with Indias UPI now powering over 19 billion transactions monthlyWhile growth is expected to moderate to 4 per cent annually over the next five years the industry is undergoing a foundational reset as agentic AI digital currencies and fintech business models are beginning to shape the next wave of expansionPayments are no longer just about moving money it is about shaping the very fabric of commerce and financial sovereignty Realtime A2A digital currencies and agentic AI are expected to redefine how trillions flow not just within borders but across borders Those who act decisively now will set the pace for the industrys next chapter said Vivek Mandhata Managing Director amp Partner BCGThis is a turning point for the industry Traditional growth levers are losing force but new drivers including agentic systems programmable money and fintech innovation are rapidly coming into focus The players that align to these shifts now will lead the next decade added Inderpreet Batra BCG Managing Director and Senior Partner and Global Head of the firms Payments and Fintech segmentThe findings showed that after growing at 88 per cent annually since 2019 revenue expansion is expected to ease to 4 per cent annuallyTransactionbased revenues remain strong while deposit margin tailwinds slacken The report noted agentic AI is set to influence over 1 trillion in ecommerce spendingStablecoins reached 26 trillion in volume although realworld payments account for only 1 per cent of that total The market remains heavily concentrated in facilitating crypto tradingFurther payment fintechs generated 176 billion in revenue in 2024 and are growing at 23 per cent annually Paymentsfocused fintechs have attracted over 135 billion in equity funding over the past 25 years and now make up 45 per cent of total fintech revenueRealtime A2A payment volumes rose 40 per cent globally in 2024 These systems now account for around a quarter of digital retail payments worldwide even exceeding 50 per cent of transactions in selected markets like India and BrazilWere entering an era where growth and complexity go hand in hand said Markus Ampenberger BCG Managing Director and PartnerThe next winners in payments wont just be fast adopters of technology They will be the firms that deeply integrate new capabilities into business and operating models and customer value propositions IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/global-payments-revenue-to-reach-24-trillion-by-2029-report-639901.html Mon, 22 Sep 2025 14:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/indias-logistics-sector-to-triple-to-rs-120-trillion-by-2035-report-639916.html New Delhi Sep 22 Indias logistics sector is set to grow nearly threefold to around Rs 120 trillion over the next decade a new report said on Monday The growth will be driven by a wave of infrastructure investments government reforms and the formalization of the industry according to a report by Omniscience CapitalThe report highlights that Indias GDP is expected to rise from 42 trillion in 2025 to 10 trillion by 2035 with industry and agriculture contributing 4 trillion to this growthSince logistics costs account for about 30 per cent of Indias agriindustry GDP the logistics market is projected to touch 12 trillion or roughly Rs 120 trillion by 2035Ashwini Shami President and Chief Portfolio Manager at Omniscience Capital said the sector is on the verge of a multidecade boom supported by record public spending and reformsGovernment initiatives such as the National Infrastructure Pipeline PM Gati Shakti and the National Logistics Policy directly address the sectors inefficiencies he saidMeanwhile digitalisation and the Goods and Services Tax GST are accelerating the formalisation of the largely fragmented logistics industry he addedAccording to the report the governments infrastructure spending has already increased from 21 per cent of GDP in 2021 to 31 per cent in 2025 and is expected to touch 5 per cent by 2030Massive investments in roads railways and dedicated freight corridors along with projects like the IndiaMiddle EastEurope Economic Corridor IMEEC are expected to cut costs reduce transit time and strengthen Indias role in global tradeThe sectors growth will also be supported by rising manufacturing output under Make in India and ProductionLinked Incentive schemesAt the same time digitisation through platforms like the Unified Logistics Interface Platform eway bills and RFIDenabled tracking has improved efficiencyPolicies such as GST 20 and the National Logistics Policy are expected to formalise up to 60 per cent of the industry by 2035 compared to the current unorganised base of around 80 per cent IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/indias-logistics-sector-to-triple-to-rs-120-trillion-by-2035-report-639916.html Mon, 22 Sep 2025 15:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/10th-ayurveda-day-to-showcase-indias-commitment-to-holistic-healthcare-639921.html New Delhi Sep 22 The 10th Ayurveda day will showcase Indias commitment to holistic healthcare and reaffirm its role in global health said the Ministry of Ayush on Monday The 10th Ayurveda Day will be celebrated on September 23 nationwideAt a press event in Goa the Ministry highlighted the significance of ayurveda its contributions to holistic health and the special events planned to mark the milestone celebrationThe theme ayurveda for people ayurveda for planet underscores personal health global wellbeing ecological balance and sustainable development said Professor Vaidya Pradeep Kumar Prajapati Director All India Institute of Ayurveda AIIA GoaThe 10th Ayurveda Day is an opportunity to take Ayurveda to every individual and reaffirm its role in global health he addedProf Prajapati further urged citizens physicians researchers students and policymakers to actively participate in this national campaignCalling it a peoples movement he underlined the need to blend ayurvedas ancient wisdom with modern research and evidence bringing it to the forefront of global healthcareAyurveda day reflects a decadelong journey of health balance and global recognition said Prof Dr Sujata Kadam Dean AIIA Goa while underlining ayurvedas role as a bridge between tradition and science individuals and society and humanity and natureShe also highlighted the contributions of AIIA Goa as a 250bed hospital with 22 OPD services daily benefitting more than 800 patients including international visitors and emerging as a leading centre for education research and patient careEstablished in 2022 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi the AIIA Goa acts as a premier centre for ayurvedic education research and healthcare It has been designated as the nodal agency for hosting the national celebrations of the 10th Ayurveda Day this yearSince its inauguration the institute has made remarkable progress in patient care and medical facilities and is also promoting medical value travel and health tourism IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/10th-ayurveda-day-to-showcase-indias-commitment-to-holistic-healthcare-639921.html Mon, 22 Sep 2025 15:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/worldwide-spending-on-ai-is-expected-to-be-nearly-15-trillion-in-2025-report-639935.html New Delhi Sep 22 Worldwide spending on artificial intelligence AI is expected to be nearly 15 trillion in 2025 up nearly 50 per cent up from 987904 in 2024 a report said on Monday Further the overall global AI spending is likely to top 2 trillion in 2026 led by AI integration into products such as smartphones and PCs as well as infrastructure according to a business and technology insights company Gartner Inc reportMirroring last years spending graph generative AI integration in smartphones would lead the spending at 298189 this year as well followed by AI services 282556 AIoptimised servers 267534 AI processing semiconductor 209192 AI application software 172029 and AI infrastructure Software 126177The forecast assumes continued investment in AI infrastructure expansion as major hyperscalers continue to increase investments in data centres with AIoptimised hardware and GPUs to scale their services said JohnDavid Lovelock Distinguished VP Analyst at GartnerThe AI investment landscape is also expanding beyond traditional US tech giants including Chinese companies and new AI cloud providers Furthermore venture capital investment in AI providers is providing additional tailwinds for AI spending he addedAccording to the report the AI spending would reach 202 trillion in 2026 following a similar growth trajectoryIn 2026 spending on Generative AI integration in smartphones is likely to be at 393297 Meanwhile the spending on AI Services would reach 324669 and for AIoptimised servers it would go around 329528Similarly AI processing semiconductor 267934 AI application software 269703 and AI infrastructure software 229885 will also put weight in spending on AIThe other segments attracting AI spending would be AI PCs by ARM and x86 AIoptimised IaaS and GenAI ModelsGartner providers equip tech leaders and their teams with rolebased best practices industry insights and strategic views into emerging trends and market changes to achieve their missioncritical priorities and build the successful organisations of tomorrow IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/worldwide-spending-on-ai-is-expected-to-be-nearly-15-trillion-in-2025-report-639935.html Mon, 22 Sep 2025 16:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/atal-community-innovation-centres-grassroot-visionaries-shaping-self-reliant-india-niti-aayog-639962.html New Delhi Sep 22 The Atal Innovation Missions AIM Community Innovator Fellows CIFs are grassroot visionaries that are shaping up a selfreliant India said Niti Aayog on Monday The AIM marked the graduation of its fifth cohort It has so far supported a total of 100 CIFsThe Atal Community Innovation Centres are not merely incubators of ideas they are transformative ecosystems that empower local innovators to turn their vision into reality driving sustainable development and societal progress said Dr Deepak Bagla Mission Director AIM Niti AayogBagla celebrated the CIF programme for its remarkable impact noting its role in empowering innovators who serve as role models for their communities and society at largeThe Community Innovator Fellows are the torchbearers of change exemplifying resilience creativity and an indomitable spirit Their innovations are not just solutions they are a testament to the power of grassroots ingenuity in shaping a selfreliant and prosperous India he saidThe Community Innovator Fellows programme a cornerstone of AIMs Atal Community Innovation Centres ACICs is dedicated to empowering innovators in unserved and underserved regions of the nation This initiative underscores AIMs resolute commitment to nurturing entrepreneurial spirit and driving societal progress through localized innovation by building a selfreliant nationDr Bagla highlighted the pivotal role of ACICs in catalysing innovation at the grassroots level particularly in Tier 2 and Tier 3 citiesHe emphasised that these centres serve as beacons of hope fostering solutions that address pressing challenges in critical sectors such as healthcare education agriculture and financial servicesThe Atal Innovation Mission a flagship initiative by NITI Aayog remains steadfast in its mission to foster a vibrant ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurship across IndiaThe graduation of the fifth cohort of CIF stands as a testament to AIMs vision of empowering every citizen to contribute to a sustainable and inclusive future IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/atal-community-innovation-centres-grassroot-visionaries-shaping-self-reliant-india-niti-aayog-639962.html Mon, 22 Sep 2025 17:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/how-undernutrition-raises-obesity-and-diabetes-risk-639971.html New Delhi Sep 22 While undernutrition is generally associated with a lack of proper nutrition health experts on Monday contended it is also an increasing risk factor for obesity and diabetes According to UNICEF in 2025 the global prevalence of obesity among schoolage children and adolescents exceeded underweight for the first timeThis dramatic shift in the face of malnutrition jeopardises the health and future potential of children communities and nationsThe UN agencys Child Nutrition Report revealed how unhealthy food environments are contributing to the worldwide surge in overweight and obesity in children and adolescentsWhen we think of undernutrition we usually picture thin children or adults who havent grown properly But in todays world undernutrition can also lead to obesity People from poorer backgrounds with less awareness often end up buying cheap foods and drinks that are high in sugar and fat but low in nutrition Dr Rajeev Jayadevan Chairman Scientific Committee IMA Cochin told IANSSugary soft drinks for example are heavily advertised by celebrities and sold cheaply yet they fuel obesity and diabetes Unlike relatively educated individuals who might consume water and a balanced diet complete with protein fibre fruits and vegetables these individuals opt for sugary sugarsweetened beverages caloriedense oilfried snacks and packaged foods which are relatively cheap he addedThe expert noted that undernourished mothers give birth to children who are prone to obesity as they grow up into adulthood especially when food becomes abundantThis can be seen in a recent study published in the journal Cell Metabolism where Indian researchers looked at a rat model of undernutrition over 50 generations closely mimicking human populations in developing countriesThe undernourished rats had higher circulating insulin and lower vitamin B12 and folate levels compared to control ratsThe findings revealed that undernourished rats display metabolic abnormalities associated with epigenetic changes which are not reversed following unrestricted access to normal chow in two subsequent generationsIn India the paradox of undernutrition heightening the risk of obesity and diabetes is often explained through the concept of the double burden of malnutrition Dr Sanjeev Galande Dean School of Natural Sciences Shiv Nadar University DelhiNCR one of the authors of the paper told IANSGalande explained that earlylife undernutrition conditions the body to conserve energy store fat efficiently and develop lower muscle mass leading to longterm metabolic changesWhen such individuals are later exposed to caloriedense diets and sedentary lifestyles now increasingly prevalent in India they face a significantly higher risk of obesity type 2 diabetes and other noncommunicable diseases he addedThe experts also cited a lack of exercise and a sedentary lifestyle in raising the risk of obesity among these people which can be further compounded by smoking and alcohol useWith both obesity and diabetes increasing the experts called for more action to strengthen the accessibility of nutritious affordable food and to tackle the marketing of unhealthy foods IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/how-undernutrition-raises-obesity-and-diabetes-risk-639971.html Mon, 22 Sep 2025 18:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/why-integrating-perinatal-mental-health-in-national-programmes-is-important-639984.html New Delhi Sep 22 There is an urgent need to integrate perinatal maternal mental health into national programmes to help fight postpartum depression anxiety and other such conditions among new mothers said health experts on Monday According to the World Health Organization WHO worldwide about 10 per cent of pregnant women and 13 per cent of women who have just given birth experience a mental disorder primarily depressionIndia has more than 25 million births per year but most women with mental health problems during pregnancy and one year after birth the perinatal period go undetected and untreated especially in rural areasA recent systematic review among perinatal women in India found that the prevalence rates for perinatal depression ranged from 1424 per cent in communitybased studies while some metaanalyses reported a pooled estimate of around 22 per cent for postpartum depressionAlthough maternal mortality in India has reduced by over 50 per cent since the early 2000s to 97 deaths per 100000 maternal suicide constitutes an increasing proportion of maternal deaths A recent report in Kerala estimated that maternal suicide accounted for nearly one in five maternal deaths in 2020There is an urgent need to integrate perinatal maternal mental health into national programmes in India said Prof Rajesh Sagar AIIMSSpeaking at an expert consultation on perinatal mental health in the national capital the expert raised concerns over the lack of a dedicated initiative to support new mothers facing mental health issuesWhile womens mental health is mentioned in policies such as the National Mental Health Policy 2014 the Mental Health Care Act 2017 and others there is no dedicated programme or screening mechanism in place Sagar saidThe experts including Prof Prabha Chandra from NIMHANS highlighted gaps in training for doctors nurses and ASHAs the lack of culturally relevant tools and the stigma that prevents women from seeking psychological help even when screened positiveThey called for statespecific strategies collaboration across states capacity building and mandatory historytaking during antenatal careIt is critical to ensure that perinatal mental health is not seen as a standalone as this might increase the stigma and discrimination that women with perinatal mental health problems face rather it should be included within the routine antenatal and postnatal care that pregnant and lactating women receive thus making it sustainable said Dr YK Sandhya Program Lead Mental Health The George Institute for Global Health India IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/why-integrating-perinatal-mental-health-in-national-programmes-is-important-639984.html Mon, 22 Sep 2025 19:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/stalin-launches-chennai-one-app-unifying-citys-transport-services-on-a-single-platform-639996.html Chennai Sep 22 Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Monday launched Chennai One Indias first fully integrated public transport mobile application that brings together all modes of urban transport in the metropolitan city on a single digital platform The launch took place at the Secretariat during the second meeting of the Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority CUMTA chaired by the Chief MinisterThe session also approved a comprehensive 25year transport master plan for the Chennai metropolitan area aimed at ensuring seamless mobility for its fastgrowing populationThe Chennai One app available on both iOS and Android platforms allows commuters to plan and pay for their entire journey across buses suburban trains metro rail autorickshaws and taxisIn what is being described as a gamechanger for urban mobility in India passengers can purchase tickets digitally using UPI or bank cards and use a single QR code to travel across multiple modes of transportBeyond digital ticketing the app also provides realtime tracking of buses and suburban trains helping commuters manage their schedules more effectivelyTo make the service more inclusive the platform supports multiple Indian languages including Tamil English Telugu and Kannada ensuring accessibility for the citys diverse populationOfficials said the apps integrated approach is designed to reduce the hassles of switching between different transport providers long queues at counters and the need for multiple ticketsBy streamlining services the state government hopes to encourage greater use of public transport thereby easing congestion on Chennais busy roads and reducing carbon emissionsChief Minister Stalin unveiling the app said the initiative marked a major step toward building a modern commuterfriendly ChennaiWith Chennai One we are pioneering a model of urban mobility that reflects inclusivity efficiency and sustainability Our goal is to make public transport the preferred choice of every citizen he saidTransport experts welcomed the development noting that integrated ticketing and realtime updates had long been a demand of urban commutersThe 25year transport plan approved alongside the app launch will cover infrastructure upgrades expansion of metro and suburban networks and improved lastmile connectivity With Chennai One the city has set a new benchmark in digital public transport integration putting Chennai at the forefront of Indias urban mobility transformation IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/stalin-launches-chennai-one-app-unifying-citys-transport-services-on-a-single-platform-639996.html Mon, 22 Sep 2025 20:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/adani-group-shares-extend-rally-add-rs-17-lakh-crore-in-market-value-in-two-sessions-639999.html New Delhi Sep 22 Shares of Adani Group companies continued their upward momentum on Monday rising sharply for the second straight session after the Securities and Exchange Board of India SEBI gave the conglomerate a clean chit in the Hindenburg shortselling case The Adani Groups total market capitalisation has increased by Rs 17 lakh crore in just two days after the prolonged rally surpassing the Rs 15 lakh crore markAfter hitting the 20 per cent upper circuit during the session Adani Power led the rally and closed at Rs 170 In just two trading days the stock has gained almost 35 per cent after undergoing a 15 splitAdani Total Gas saw a nearly 20 per cent increase to close at Rs 781 bringing its twoday gain to roughly 27 per cent Additionally Adani Green Energy saw a nearly 12 per cent increase on Monday giving investors a 17 per cent return over two sessionsAdani Enterprises gained 398 per cent to close at Rs 2624 marking a nearly 10 per cent increase over the same period while Adani Energy Solutions rose 652 per cent to Rs 934 up more than 11 per cent in two daysAdani Ports increased 120 per cent to Rs 1445 bringing its twoday gain to about 3 per cent A significant cement subsidiary of the group Ambuja Cement also increased by 130 per cent to Rs 590 or roughly 25 per cent in two sessionsMeanwhile the Indian benchmark indices ended in negative territory after a volatile sessionThe IT stocks dragged the market in the early trade after the US administration announced 100000 fee for new H1B visas However the market rebounded quickly buoyed by GST reforms that came into effect from MondayThe Sensex ended the session at 8215997 down 46626 points or 056 per cent while Nifty closed at 2520235 down 12470 points or 049 per cent IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/adani-group-shares-extend-rally-add-rs-17-lakh-crore-in-market-value-in-two-sessions-639999.html Mon, 22 Sep 2025 20:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/gst-rate-cuts-375-items-to-get-cheaper-from-tomorrow-639755.html New Delhi Sep 21 From automobiles and electronics to food items and medicines as many as 375 goods and services will become cheaper from Monday September 22 as the new GST framework comes into effect The major rate rationalisation approved by the GST Council earlier this year reduces the tax structure from four slabs to just two 5 per cent and 18 per centA special 40 per cent rate will apply on a select list of luxury and sin goodsFinance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had described the reform as a Diwali gift for consumers saying the move will not only lower costs for the middle class but also make business operations smoother under GSTThis reform is not just about rationalising rates It is also about ease of living and structural reforms We have reduced slabs to just two and addressed issues related to compensation cess FM Sitharaman had saidEveryday food items such as milkbased beverages biscuits butter cereals dry fruits fruit juices ghee ice cream jam ketchup namkeen paneer pastry sausages and tender coconut water will now attract lower GSTDailyuse goods like shampoos soaps hair oil shaving cream talcum powder and face creams will also see price reductionsElectronics such as ACs washing machines TVs and dishwashers will become cheaper while GST on several medicines and medical devices has been cut to 5 per centThe government has directed pharma companies to revise their MRPs and pass on the benefits to consumersIn the services sector GST has been reduced for salons barbers gyms fitness centres and yoga servicesFor homebuyers the tax on cement has been slashed from 28 per cent to 18 per cent which is expected to make housing more affordableBig brands have already started passing on the benefits Hindustan Unilever has announced cuts across products such as Dove shampoo Lifebuoy soaps Horlicks and Kissan JamDairy giant Amul has reduced prices on over 700 products including butter ghee paneer cheese ice creams and bakery itemsThe Indian Railways has also cut prices of Rail Neer bottled water with a 1litre bottle now priced at Rs 14 instead of Rs 15The automobile sector will be one of the biggest beneficiaries with small hatchbacks now taxed at 18 per cent instead of 28 per cent and without any compensation cessCompanies like Maruti Suzuki India Tata Motors and Hyundai India have announced major price cuts on popular hatchbacks ranging from Rs 70000 to over Rs 13 lakh effective from September 22 IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/gst-rate-cuts-375-items-to-get-cheaper-from-tomorrow-639755.html Sun, 21 Sep 2025 14:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/ciis-model-state-gcc-policy-aims-to-create-millions-of-high-quality-jobs-across-india-director-general-639768.html New Delhi Sep 21 The Confederation of Indian Industry CII on Sunday released its Model State Policy on Global Capability Centres GCCs offering a comprehensive roadmap for states to attract support and scale the next generation of global enterprise hubs The policy aims to create millions of highquality jobs expand innovation ecosystems beyond metropolitan areas and strengthen Indias position as a global destination for knowledge and digital servicesCII Director General Chandrajit Banerjee said the rapid growth of GCCs over the past two decades has been a key driver of Indias economic journeyTo sustain leadership and deepen our integration into global value chains states must adopt clear competitive and innovationoriented policies This model policy provides a ready framework to guide states accelerate GCC growth beyond the metros and generate highquality employment he saidCurrently nearly 95 per cent of Indias 1800plus GCCs are concentrated in six Tier1 citiesThe CII policy seeks to change this by enabling Tier2 and Tier3 cities to become attractive destinations for global enterprisesIt provides actionable measures across infrastructure development fiscal incentives regulatory frameworks digital infrastructure talent development and sustainability allowing states to create seamless resilient and globally competitive GCC ecosystemsThe policy proposes the establishment of statelevel Facilitation Cells as single points of contact for investors along with targeted fiscal and regulatory incentives such as tax holidays customs duty exemptions for imported RampD equipment and viability gap funding for integrated infrastructure projectsIt also encourages investment in digital infrastructure including AIML computing support and edge data centres to ensure emerging hubs operate at global standardsIn addition the policy recommends collaboration between GCCs startups and research institutions to drive innovation in technologies like quantum computing ESGaligned solutions and enterprise softwareGreen infrastructure smart mobility affordable housing and civic amenities are highlighted as key factors to make statelevel hubs attractive for professionals and their familiesData security and IP facilitation frameworks tailored to local conditions are also emphasised to support dataintensive GCCsBanerjee said the model policy is designed to make GCC growth geographically inclusiveStates that act early and decisively will benefit from highquality employment stronger innovation ecosystems and deeper integration into global value chains Banerjee statedCII is ready to partner with states to operationalise these recommendations through task forces investment promotion campaigns and skill development initiatives he addedThe CII estimates that a wellexecuted GCC strategy across India could contribute nearly 200 billion in direct economic value by 2030 IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/ciis-model-state-gcc-policy-aims-to-create-millions-of-high-quality-jobs-across-india-director-general-639768.html Sun, 21 Sep 2025 16:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/kabul-residents-complain-of-challenges-faced-due-to-reduced-internet-speed-639773.html Kabul Sep 21 Several people in Kabul have complained about reduced internet speed and the challenges caused by this after fibre optic services stopped working in 10 provinces of Afghanistan Kabul residents said that the reduction in internet speed affected their work Wajid an employee at a pharmaceutical company in the capital city said 90 per cent of his work relies on the internet However the drop in internet service speed has caused difficulties for him Afghanistanbased Tolo News reportedWe need fast internet because sometimes when we send a location it doesnt go through or get delivered This creates a lot of problems for us in the office he saidSeveral other residents in Kabul said that disruptions in internet service have negatively affected their online education program personal and worklinked communicationShams questioned how they can progress in marketing if internet access is better He said If we have highspeed internet we can progress in marketing and in areas where internet access is better and we can help our country move forwardAnother resident Saleem Rahini said Since our lessons were progressing through the internet slides WhatsApp and YouTube now with the internet weakening our access to these resources has decreased significantlyResidents of Kabul raised complaints after fibre optic services were suspended in 10 provinces of Afghanistan Balkh Kandahar Herat Helmand Nangarhar Laghman Badakhshan Takhar Kunduz and Baghlan over the past week Tolo News reportedFibre optic internet was suspended in over 10 provinces of Afghanistan after the Talibans order Abdul Hadi Qane a social activist in Herat stated We expect that no restrictions will be imposed on internet access If any programs are to be implemented in this regard they should be designed in a way that minimises harm to the publicResidents of Balkh province said that internet disruption has negatively affected their business educational and social activities One resident of Balkh said Cutting off home internet can have serious negative impacts on all aspects of life A major portion of public services such as the issuance of ID cards passports and the banking system depends on the internet IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/kabul-residents-complain-of-challenges-faced-due-to-reduced-internet-speed-639773.html Sun, 21 Sep 2025 16:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/hm-amit-shah-to-inaugurate-startup-conclave-2025-in-gandhinagar-on-sep-23-639830.html Gandhinagar Sep 21 Union Home Minister Amit Shah will inaugurate the Startup Conclave 2025 at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar on Tuesday The twoday event organised by the Gujarat governments Education department will see the participation of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and the State Higher and Technical Education Minister Rushikesh Patel at the opening ceremonyBringing together the countrys most dynamic voices in innovation entrepreneurship and investment the conclave will feature more than 1000 startups 5000 innovators 100 industry mentors 50 plus venture funds and leading policymakers on a single platformSpread across September 23 to 24 the event aims to set a new benchmark for Indias startup ecosystem by bridging the gap between earlystage ventures and top investorsA highlight of the conclave will be investor pitching sessions where more than 50 shortlisted startups will present their ideas across multiple parallel tracks before Indias leading venture capitalistsThese sessions are expected to unlock funding opportunities worth Rs 250 crore building on the success of the Startup Conclave 2023Ahead of the event investors interest has already resulted in letters of intent and financial commitments of Rs 150 crore for promising startupsThe conclave will also showcase 170 startups from 20 states including those selected by Startup India Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology MeitY and innovations for defence excellence iDEXExhibitions will span critical sectors such as defence aerospace healthcare clean energy agritech deep tech and social impact innovations underlining Indias entrepreneurial drive towards Atmanirbhar BharatThe thematic pavilions will highlight Gujarats strengths in electric vehicles semiconductors augmented realityvirtual reality fintech green hydrogen drones and space technologiesThe opening session will feature the release of a Startup Conclave Coffee Table Book NEP2020 Dashboard and Indian Knowledge System CompendiumThe state government will also facilitate the signing of 50 MoUs between startups investors and financial institutions alongside the distribution of funding cheques and Letters of Intent to selected venturesIn addition to exhibitions and B2B networking opportunities the conclave will host plenary sessions and roundtable conferences on key themes such as emerging opportunities in sunrise sectors the journey of Indias unicorns the role of womenled startups and the impact of digital transformationA special Unicorn Roundtable chaired by Minister Rushikesh Patel will bring together unicorn founders policymakers and investors to shape the future of Indias innovation economyThe Startup exhibition a central attraction of the conclave will offer startups direct access to policymakers industry leaders investors and mentorsExperts from platforms such as iDEX Startup India MeitY Startup Hub Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre INSPACe Gujarat Venture Finance Limited and Gujarat International Finance TecCity GIFT City will participate offering B2B mentorship gotomarket strategies and investor linkages IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/hm-amit-shah-to-inaugurate-startup-conclave-2025-in-gandhinagar-on-sep-23-639830.html Sun, 21 Sep 2025 22:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/poco-festive-madness-battery-kings-under-rs-30-000-unleashed-this-big-billion-days-639737.html New Delhi Sep 21 This festive season power meets performance as POCO brings you a lineup of smartphones that redefine battery innovation and endurance Designed to keep up with your nonstop lifestyle these devices combine cuttingedge performance longlasting power and unbeatable festive discounts Whether its gaming marathons allday streaming or nonstop social scrolling these flagshipgrade smartphones ensure you never run out of charge or speed making them the ultimate picks under Rs 30000 this Flipkart Big Billion DaysPOCO M7 5GThe POCO M7 5G stands out with its massive 5160mAh battery supported by 33W inbox charging ensuring reliable power that easily lasts up to 15 days on moderate useAlongside its impressive endurance it packs up to 12GB RAM including 6GB Turbo RAM the powerful Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chipset a 50MP Sony camera and a large 688 HD display making it the segments fastest 5G smartphone built for both performance and longevityThe POCO M7 5G originally launched at Rs 10499 will now be available at an exciting 17 per cent discount for just Rs 8499POCO M7 Plus 5GThe POCO M7 Plus 5G is a powerhouse packing the largestinsegment 7000mAh battery with 18W reverse charging that keeps you going for days without worry It features a massive 69 FHD display with up to 144Hz refresh rate for a smooth immersive experience and is now available in a new 4GB RAM variant due to strong consumer demandThe M7 Plus also delivers reliable performance and versatile cameras making it a wellrounded choice for power usersOriginally priced at Rs 12999 the smartphone will be up for grabs at an irresistible 15 per cent discount bringing the price down to just Rs 10999POCO X7 Pro 5GAt the heart of the POCO X7 Pro is its massive 6550mAh Silicon Carbon battery designed to deliver allday endurance while keeping the phone slim and lightweight In realworld usage it easily provides up to 9 hours of screen time and with 90W fast charging it powers back to 100 per cent in just 45 minutesComplementing this powerhouse battery is the MediaTek Dimensity 8400 Ultra chipset which helps the X7 Pro clock an impressive 17M Antutu score making it the segments most powerful smartphone for heavyduty usersOriginally priced at Rs 27999 the smartphone is now available at just Rs 19999 a massive 29 per cent discountPOCO F7 5GBuilt for performance seekers the POCO F7 5G combines flagshiplevel power with Indias largest 7550mAh siliconcarbon battery and the cuttingedge Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 processor Its massive cell is almost impossible to drain in a day even heavy testing barely dents the chargeAnd when its time to top up 90W fast charging takes it from 0 to 100 per cent in just about 85 minutes With an AnTuTu score crossing 21 million the F7 5G delivers unmatched endurance and seamless performance making it the ultimate choice for users who demand moreLaunched at Rs 31999 the POCO F7 5G is now available for just Rs 28999 a 9 per cent discountWith unmatched endurance performance cuttingedge innovation and festivefirst pricing POCO is ensuring Indias young techsavvy generation has more reasons to celebrate this Big Billion DaysPOCO is fueling excitement among Indias young techsavvy consumers and ensuring that the 2025 Big Billion Days Sale is one to rememberFlipKart Link httpswwwflipkartcompocobbdintrigue2025atstorePOCO C71 Airtel Edition Launched at Rs 6499 now available at Rs 5599 with a 14 per cent discountPOCO C71 Priced at Rs 6499 now at Rs 6299 after a 3 per cent discountPOCO C75 Originally Rs 8499 now available for Rs 7399 at a 13 per cent discountPOCO M7 5G Airtel Edition Launched at Rs 10499 now just Rs 7799 with a massive 26 per cent discountPOCO M7 5G Priced at Rs 10499 now at Rs 8499 with a 19 per cent discountPOCO M7 Plus 5G From Rs 12999 now available at Rs 10999 after a 15 per cent discountPOCO M7 Pro 5G Launched at Rs 14999 now priced at Rs 11499 with a 23 per cent discountPOCO X7 5G Originally Rs 21999 now down to Rs 14499 with a massive 34 per cent discountPOCO X7 Pro 5G From Rs 27999 now just Rs 19999 with a 29 per cent discountPOCO F7 5G Launched at Rs 31999 now available for Rs 28999 at a 9 per cent discount IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/poco-festive-madness-battery-kings-under-rs-30-000-unleashed-this-big-billion-days-639737.html Sun, 21 Sep 2025 12:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/sugary-drinks-may-worsen-colorectal-cancer-study-639560.html New Delhi Sep 20 US researchers have found that the glucosefructose mix found in sugary drinks directly fuels the spread in cases of advanced colorectal cancer To meet nutritional needs many patients with cancer are encouraged to have nutritional supplement drinks and concentrated juices that contain high glucose and fructose contentA team from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center studied how sugary drinks may affect latestage colorectal cancerOur findings highlight that daily diet matters not only for cancer risk but also for how the disease progresses once it has developed said Jihye Yun Assistant Professor of Genetics at the varsityUsing laboratory cancer models they compared the effects of the glucosefructose mix found in most sugary drinks with those of glucose or fructose aloneOnly the sugar mix made cancer cells more mobile leading to faster spread to the liver the most common site of colorectal cancer metastasisThe sugar mix activated an enzyme called sorbitol dehydrogenase SORD which boosts glucose metabolism and triggers the cholesterol pathway ultimately driving metastasisThis is the same pathway targeted by statins common heart drugs that inhibit cholesterol productionBlocking SORD slowed metastasis even with the sugar mix present These findings published in the Nature Metabolism journal suggest that targeting SORD could also offer an opportunity to block metastasisSugar has long been indirectly linked to an increase in cancer risk through obesityA previous study by Yuns lab showed that even moderate intake of sugary drinks directly fueled tumour growth in earlystage colorectal cancer independent of obesityFurther Yun explained it may be worthwhile to consider revisions to current dietary recommendations to reduce sugary drink consumption in cancer patientsWhile these findings need further investigation they suggest that reducing sugary drinks targeting SORD or repurposing statins may benefit patients with colorectal cancer Yu said IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/sugary-drinks-may-worsen-colorectal-cancer-study-639560.html Sat, 20 Sep 2025 10:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/us-tech-firms-urge-h-1b-visa-workers-to-return-before-sunday-deadline-639570.html New Delhi Sep 20 US tech films like Microsoft have advised employees with H1B and H4 visas who are currently outside the United States to return immediately ahead of the September 21 deadline set by President Donald Trump when the 100000 fee on H1B visa comes into effect The US administration has imposed a 100000 annual fee on each visa The new rule will take effect on September 21 and remain in force for 12 months the US President saidAccording to reports companies like Microsoft and JPMorgan have instructed H1B workers currently in the US to continue their employment in the country for the foreseeable future and avoid international travel until further guidanceMicrosoft has also reportedly recommended H4 visa holders to remain in the US We strongly recommend H1B and H4 visa holders return to the US tomorrow before the deadline according to the companyThere was no official statement yet from either Microsoft or JPMorganPresident Trump expects the revised feebased visa programme to generate over 100 billion for the US Treasury designated for national debt reduction and tax cuts Critics however argued that the new fee hinders talent mobility and stifles innovationApproximately 71 per cent of H1B visa holders are from India primarily working for technology companies including Infosys Wipro Cognisant and Tata Consultancy ServicesShares of major IT services firms including USlisted Indian companies dropped by 2 per cent to 5 per cent following the announcementWith visas typically valid for three years and renewable up to six the new 100000 annual fee could make it expensive for companies to retain Indian professionals especially given the decadeslong wait for Green CardsThe H1B programme allows US companies to hire skilled foreign workers in fields like technology and engineering IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/us-tech-firms-urge-h-1b-visa-workers-to-return-before-sunday-deadline-639570.html Sat, 20 Sep 2025 11:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/mauritius-it-minister-lauds-indias-c-dot-lab-urges-deeper-bilateral-collaboration-639577.html New Delhi Sep 20 Mauritiuss Minister for Information Technology Communication and Innovation Dr Avinash Ramtohul who visited the Centre for Development of Telematics CDOT here has urged the need for deeper collaboration between the two countries in emergency alerting and telecom innovation the Ministry of Communications said The minister commended the centres disastermanagement and cybersecurity initiatives Ramtohul assessed CDOTs Early Warning System and Cell Broadcast solution and commented on its implementation nationwide to notify citizens including fishing communities of impending natural hazardsCDOTs cybersecurity stack includes a realtime Security Operations Centre Quantum Key Distribution PostQuantum Cryptography and SAMVADa a secure chat and calling application the Ministry saidCDOT CEO Dr Rajkumar Upadhyay introduced the Mauritius delegation to diverse telecom product portfoliossolutions in the areas of key applications such as Disaster management solution using ITU CAP protocol and Cell Broadcast solutionThe CEO also demonstrated new telecom innovations including 4G and 5G core and RAN networks switching and routing platformsThe solution is highly beneficial and would help in saving the lives of citizens including the fishermen community This engagement has set the stage for deeper forwardlooking collaboration in emergency alerting and telecom innovation Ramtohul saidHe also appreciated the RampD efforts of CDOTs research community and stressed the need for a larger collaboration for the development of futuristic and cuttingedge telecom solutions for mutual benefitsCDOT the RampD arm of the Department of Telecommunications has led Indias rural connectivity efforts and is currently exploring 6G use cases the Ministry notedOver the past four decades CDoT has been at the forefront of Indias telecom revolution bringing connectivity to rural areas powering the ambitious BharatNet NOFN project and delivering cuttingedge solutions in cyber security disaster management 4G5G next generation networks AI Network Management Systems IoTM2M applications among others IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/mauritius-it-minister-lauds-indias-c-dot-lab-urges-deeper-bilateral-collaboration-639577.html Sat, 20 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/india-aims-to-double-seafood-exports-to-15-billion-by-2030-639603.html New Delhi Sep 20 India has emerged as a global leader in seafood exports currently supplying to 132 countries and the nation has set an aim to double its exports to 15 billion by 2030 a report said on Saturday India has shipped 1698170 tonnes of seafood worth Rs 6240845 crore 745 billion during 202425 as against exports of 1781602 tonnes in 202324 worth Rs 6052389 crore 738 billion reflecting the sectors strong resilience despite global trade fluctuationsThe fisheries sector also supports the livelihood of more than 30 million fishers and fish farmers highlighting its crucial role in the nations economy Seafood Exporters Association of India SEAI said in a report ahead of SEAIs India International Seafood Show 2025The 24th edition of the India International Seafood Show Asias premier seafood trade fair will be held from September 25 to 28 at Bharat Mandapam hereThis years edition will be part of World Food India 2025 the Government of Indias flagship global food innovation event that celebrates Indias culinary heritage and fosters partnerships across the food value chainIISS showcases the tremendous growth of Indias seafood export sector As we mark our golden jubilee this event will help us strengthen our global position and expand into new markets said SEAI President Pawan KumarSEAI SecretaryGeneral KN Raghavan added Our motto Sustainably Harvested Humanely Sourced reflects our deep commitment to ethical sourcing and responsible aquaculture practicesIISS2025 will be a platform to address challenges such as skill development sustainability and innovation he said furtherIISS2025 will feature over 260 stalls technical sessions and roundtables bringing together participants from more than 15 countries Including major markets such as the United States the European Union Vietnam the UAE Germany Belgium Japan China and others SEAI stated in the report IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/india-aims-to-double-seafood-exports-to-15-billion-by-2030-639603.html Sat, 20 Sep 2025 13:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/centre-enables-gst-grievance-redressal-on-national-consumer-helpline-639604.html New Delhi Sep 20 The Department of Consumer Affairs on Saturday launched a dedicated GST grievance category on the National Consumer Helpline to address queries and complaints related to the GST 20 reforms The National Consumer Helpline can be accessed at the tollfree number 1915 or online in 16 Indian languages and in English functioning as a single prelitigation point of access for consumers across the country to register grievances at the prelitigation stageConsumers can also register GSTrelated complaints through the Integrated Grievance Redressal Mechanism INGRAM portal covering key sectors such as automobiles banking consumer durables ecommerce and fastmoving consumer goods The GST reforms will take effect from September 22To address the expected consumer queries and complaints on National Consumer Helpline following the implementation of revised GST charges rates and exemptions a dedicated category has been enabled on the INGRAM portal the Ministry of Consumer Affairs Food amp Public Distribution saidOn September 11 officials from the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs conducted an inaugural training session to equip National Consumer Helpline counsellors to handle GSTrelated queries and grievances effectivelyConsumer complaint data and insights will be shared with affected companies the CBIC and other authorities to enable prompt action under relevant laws enhance GST compliance and support a participatory governance model the Ministry saidThe omnichannel platform supports multiple registrations via WhatsApp SMS email a dedicated app web portal and the Umang app the ministry saidThe technological transformation of the National Consumer Helpline has significantly boosted its callhandling capacity the government informed Call volumes grew from 12553 in December 2015 to 155138 in December 2024Similarly the average number of complaints registered per month has surged from 37062 in 2017 to 170585 in 2025Around 65 per cent of grievances are now filed digitally Each complaint is assigned a unique docket number for transparent tracking and resolution the ministry noted IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/centre-enables-gst-grievance-redressal-on-national-consumer-helpline-639604.html Sat, 20 Sep 2025 13:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/last-solar-eclipse-of-2025-to-grace-skies-on-sunday-night-639610.html New Delhi Sep 20 After witnessing a Total Lunar Eclipse or Blood Moon skygazers across the globe are in for a treat today as the last solar eclipse of 2025 will grace the skies on Sunday night The last solar eclipse of 2025 scheduled for September 21 will be partial and will not be visible from India People living in parts of Australia Antarctica the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean may be able to witness the celestial eventA solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly between the Sun and Earth and the Moon casts a shadow on the Earth and blocks sunlight completely But during a partial eclipse only 85 per cent of the Sun will be obscured in some places by the MoonIn a partial eclipse Earths shadow appears very dark on the side of the Moon facing Earth What people see from Earth during a partial lunar eclipse depends on how the Sun Earth and Moon alignThe event will begin at 1059 pm IST on Sunday night reach its peak at 111 am IST early on Monday and end at 323 am ISTThe year 2025 had four eclipses two partial solar eclipses and two total lunar eclipses The partial eclipse on Sunday night is the second and last eclipse of 2025It will also occur a day before the autumnal equinox or the official start of fall in the northern hemisphere marked on September 22Astronomically this is the time when the Sun finds itself exactly above the equatorOn this day Earth isnt tilted toward or away from the Sun and both day and night are almost exactly 12 hours with a few small exceptionsMeanwhile the next solar eclipse is slated for February 17 and August 12 2026 While these will again not be visible from India the country will get to witness a solar eclipse in August 2027 IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/last-solar-eclipse-of-2025-to-grace-skies-on-sunday-night-639610.html Sat, 20 Sep 2025 14:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/h-1b-visa-fee-hike-govt-assessing-the-situation-with-nasscom-639611.html New Delhi Sep 20 The government and the IT industrys apex body Nasscom are assessing the fallout of the US administrations decision to impose a 100000 annual fee on H1B visas from September 21 According to government sources New Delhi is in touch with the Indian Embassy in Washington DC and is also holding consultations with the leading tech industry body Nasscom hereThe new H1B costs are expected to affect the US companies the most as these rely heavily on Indians for specialised and highskilled tech rolesAccording to experts this may also trigger a new wave of global capability centres GCCs in India to meet the shortage of talent in the US after the new visa fee ruleIndians hold the highest number of H1B visas followed by ChinaMeanwhile GCCs are preparing for a talent expansion in India with 48 per cent of GCCs planning to increase their workforce beyond 2024 levelsFinance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said this week that India today hosts nearly half of the worlds Global Capability Centres GCC which are now at the forefront of innovation RampD and leadership creationGCCs will consolidate Indias leadership in innovation and job creation and with the right policies infrastructure and skilling this sector can define our journey to Viksit Bharat 2047 she said while addressing the Special Ministerial Plenary and Report Back at the CII GCC Business SummitThe USbased companies have traditionally accounted for nearly 70 per cent of total GCC absorption since 2021 In recent years GCCs from the UK EMEA and APAC regions have also expanded their footprint steadily strengthening their presence in IndiaIndia has approximately 1700 GCCs with a projection to reach over 2100 by 20292030According to CP Gurnani Cofounder and Chief Executive Officer AIonOS over the past several years the Indian IT firms have significantly reduced their reliance on the H1B visa with filings dropping by over 50 per centThis shift is a result of our ongoing strategy to hire more locally invest in automation and enhance our global delivery models While visa fees may change the impact on our business will be minimal as weve already adapted to this evolving landscape he mentioned IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/h-1b-visa-fee-hike-govt-assessing-the-situation-with-nasscom-639611.html Sat, 20 Sep 2025 14:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/apple-to-clock-record-sales-in-india-during-festive-season-with-28-pc-growth-analysts-639624.html New Delhi Sep 20 US tech giant Apple is set to achieve its highest festivesales count in India with analysts forecasting a 28 per cent yearonyear sales increase in 2025 owing to the early success of the iPhone 17 series Counterpoint research forecasted record growth in sales owing to an aggressive n1 strategy during the festive season and the 17 series performed better than the 16 seriesAnalysts said that the first week of sales for the iPhone 17 series is 19 per cent higher than the iPhone 16 seriesApple is effectively capitalising on the premiumisation trend in India said Research Director at Counterpoint Research Tarun PathakPro and Pro Max models are experiencing the highest demands with stockouts reported across various channels and the Cosmic Orange variant being particularly popular Pathak saidUpgrading the base variant to 256GB along with cashback offers and up to 24month EMIs enhances its value significantly he saidThe new iPhone 17 Air despite a higher price is gaining stronger traction than last years Plus model Pathak addedFurther the initial demand is outpacing supply and securing inventory especially for the 17 Pro models is a challenge for retailersPrabhu Ram VP Industry Research Group IRG CMR said that Apple is on track to cross 45 million shipments this festive quarter with the new iPhone Air poised to generate fresh tractionHe also said that prebookings for the iPhone 17 line are surpassing last years figures positioning Apple for continued momentum through DiwaliApple launched iPhone 17 on September 9 featuring the new Centre Stage front camera a 48MP Fusion Main camera with an optical quality 2x Telephoto and a new 48MP Fusion UltraWide camera that captures expansive scenes and macro photography in more detailThe 63inch Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion is bigger and brighter the company claimed With the new Ceramic Shield 2 the front cover is reported to be tougher with 3x better scratch resistance than the previous generation and reduced glare The phone is powered by the latestgeneration A19 chip for higher performance and longevity IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/apple-to-clock-record-sales-in-india-during-festive-season-with-28-pc-growth-analysts-639624.html Sat, 20 Sep 2025 15:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/study-unlocks-secrets-of-ancient-life-through-fossil-feces-639631.html Sydney Sep 20 An Australianled study used prehistoric feces to uncover how molecular fossilization occurs revealing new insights into what ancient animals ate the world they lived in and what happened after they died The study published in the journal Geobiology examined 300millionyearold fossilized droppings or coprolites mostly from the Mazon Creek fossil site in the United States according to a statement released Friday by Australias Curtin UniversityThe coprolites were already known to contain cholesterol derivatives which is strong evidence of a meatbased diet but the new research explored how those delicate molecular traces were preserved and survived the ravages of timeUsually soft tissues are fossilised due to phosphate minerals but scientists from Australia the United States Sweden and Germany found molecules were preserved thanks to tiny grains of iron carbonate scattered throughout the fossil acting like microscopic time capsulesFossils dont just preserve the shapes of longextinct creatures they can also hold chemical traces of life said study lead Madison Tripp adjunct research fellow at Curtins School of Earth and Planetary Sciences Xinhua news agency reportedIts a bit like discovering a treasure chest in this instance phosphate but the real gold is stashed in the pebbles nearby Tripp said adding the findings deepen scientists understanding of molecular preservation crucial to gaining insights into the ancient worldCarbonate minerals have been quietly preserving biological information throughout Earths history said Curtin University Professor Kliti Grice adding expanded analysis of diverse fossils spanning different species environments and eras confirmed consistent mineralmolecule preservation patternsUnderstanding which minerals best preserve ancient biomolecules lets scientists target fossil searches more effectively focusing on conditions that increase the chances of finding molecular clues about ancient life Grice saidResearchers said the findings could help build richer pictures of past ecosystems including diets interactions and decomposition processesIt brings prehistoric worlds to life in molecular detail Grice said IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/study-unlocks-secrets-of-ancient-life-through-fossil-feces-639631.html Sat, 20 Sep 2025 16:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/epfo-makes-pf-transfer-easier-annexure-k-now-available-online-639634.html New Delhi Sep 20 The Employees Provident Fund Organisation EPFO has introduced a significant change that will make it easier for professionals to transfer their provident fund balance when switching jobs Members can now download Annexure K a crucial document needed for PF transfers straight from the EPFO Member Portal according to a circular released earlier this week by the Union Labour MinistryUntil now employees could only access Annexure K upon request and it was only shared between PF offices which frequently caused delays and inconvenience By giving members immediate online access to the document the reform seeks to improve convenience and transparencyBecause it includes detailed information about an employees provident fund account including member information the PF balance with interest full service history job details and joining and exit dates Annexure K is essential for the PF transfer processWhen an employee changes jobs this transfer certificate guarantees that their pension service and PF accumulations are correctly transferred to a new accountAccording to the Labour Ministry the new rule will guarantee a smoother transfer process enable employees to check the status of their transfer applications online and confirm the accuracy of their PF balance and service period in the new accountBy logging into the EPFO member portal going to the online services section selecting Track Claim Status and then selecting the option to download Annexure K in PDF format employees can obtain the documentSteps to download Annexure K Log in to the EPFO member portal using your details go to Online Services select Track Claim Status and click on Download Annexure KEarlier Union Minister for Labour and Employment Dr Mansukh Mandaviya also introduced a new facility called Passbook Lite which will enable members to easily check their passbook and related summarised view of their contributions withdrawals and balance in a simple and convenient format through the member portal itself without having to go to the passbook portalAs part of the changes made to guarantee that members receive effective transparent and userfriendly services the EPFO has added a new feature called Passbook Lite to its member portalBy offering all essential services including passbook access with a single login this initiative is anticipated to enhance the user experience However members can still use the current Passbook Portal to view all of the passbook details including a graphical display IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/epfo-makes-pf-transfer-easier-annexure-k-now-available-online-639634.html Sat, 20 Sep 2025 17:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/fossilised-faeces-help-bring-prehistoric-worlds-to-life-study-reveals-639639.html Sydney Sep 20 An Australianled study used prehistoric feces to uncover how molecular fossilization occurs revealing new insights into what ancient animals ate the world they lived in and what happened after they died The study published in the journal Geobiology examined 300millionyearold fossilized droppings or coprolites mostly from the Mazon Creek fossil site in the United States according to a statement released Friday by Australias Curtin University The coprolites were already known to contain cholesterol derivatives which is strong evidence of a meatbased diet but the new research explored how those delicate molecular traces were preserved and survived the ravages of timeUsually soft tissues are fossilised due to phosphate minerals but scientists from Australia the United States Sweden and Germany found molecules were preserved thanks to tiny grains of iron carbonate scattered throughout the fossil acting like microscopic time capsulesStudy lead Madison Tripp an Adjunct Research Fellow at Curtins School of Earth and Planetary Sciences said the findings add a new dimension to how scientists understand molecular preservation which is crucial to gaining insights into the ancient worldFossils dont just preserve the shapes of longextinct creatures they can also hold chemical traces of life Tripp saidBut how those delicate molecules survive for hundreds of millions of years has long been a mystery since phosphate minerals help preserve the fossils shape and structure we might have expected these to also help preserve molecules but we found instead that it was the iron carbonate that shielded the molecular traces insideIts a bit like discovering a treasure chest in this instance phosphate but the real gold is stashed in the pebbles nearbyCarbonate minerals have been quietly preserving biological information throughout Earths history said Curtin University Professor Kliti Grice adding expanded analysis of diverse fossils spanning different species environments and eras confirmed consistent mineralmolecule preservation patternsTo determine whether this mineralmolecule association was unique to the Mazon Creek site researchers expanded the analysis to include a diverse range of fossils spanning different species environments and time periodsFounding Director of Curtins WAOrganic and Isotope Geochemistry Centre and ARC Laureate Fellow Professor Kliti Grice said this revealed the findings were consistent across the samplesThis isnt just a oneoff or a lucky find its a pattern we are starting to see repeated which tells us carbonate minerals have been quietly preserving biological information throughout Earths history Professor Grice saidUnderstanding which minerals are most likely to preserve ancient biomolecules means we can be far more targeted in our fossil searchesRather than relying on chance we can look for specific conditions that give us the best shot at uncovering molecular clues about ancient lifeProfessor Grice said by revealing how biomolecules are preserved scientists were gaining powerful new tools to reconstruct the world hundreds of millions of years agoThis helps us build a much richer picture of past ecosystems not just what animals looked like but how they lived interacted and decomposed Professor Grice saidIt brings prehistoric worlds to life in molecular detail he was quoted as saying in a statement released by Curtin University IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/fossilised-faeces-help-bring-prehistoric-worlds-to-life-study-reveals-639639.html Sat, 20 Sep 2025 17:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/repression-in-china-both-a-political-imperative-and-a-profitable-business-report-639645.html New Delhi Sep 20 Leaked documents from two Chinese firms infrastructure builder Geedge Networks and AI company GoLaxy have revealed how repression in China is both a political imperative and a profitable business illustrating that the country is not only perfecting digital authoritarianism at home but also packaging it for export according to a report in The Diplomat The leaked internal files from Geedge Networks laid bare how Geedge sold itself as a cybersecurity company while actually building censorship and surveillance infrastructure the report mentionedGoLaxy was exposed when researchers at Vanderbilt University uncovered nearly 400 pages of internal planning documents It is a Beijingbased company that has emerged as a major player in deploying AI tools that monitor influence and manipulate narratives onlineTogether these leaks have provided an unprecedented window into the mechanics of Chinas censorship and propaganda apparatus the report addedIt further stated that the products they sell differ though they complement each other within the larger control systemGeedge is an infrastructure builder Its flagship product the Tiangou Secure Gateway is essentially a turnkey firewall in a box It performs deep packet inspection blocks VPNs and other circumvention tools fingerprints devices analyzes metadata and even offers prototype reputationbased access controls according to the reportGoLaxy systems ingest opensource social media data map relationships among political actors and influencers and use artificial intelligence to generate content for orchestrated campaignsDashboards allow operators to monitor discourse around sensitive topics Taiwan Hong Kong Xinjiang US politics and plan interventions by seeding narratives or amplifying favoured voices Where Geedge builds the pipes for information control GoLaxy provides the tools to flood those pipes with content aligned to government priorities the Diplomat report explainedGeedge has even reached abroad marketing its Great Firewall in a box to regimes that want Chinesestyle control Reports show deployments in Kazakhstan Pakistan Ethiopia and MyanmarUnlike Geedge GoLaxy does not yet appear to export its tools widely to foreign regimes instead it focuses on strengthening the CCPs domestic propaganda system and building the capacity for global influence campaigns said the reportThe report further stated that these client patterns reveal how both firms embody the partystates dual strategy to perfect control at home and to promote its model abroadBoth companies also maintain close ties to the Chinese Academy of Sciences CAS Chinas premier research institution This makes clear that China has turned repression into an export industry the report stressed IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/repression-in-china-both-a-political-imperative-and-a-profitable-business-report-639645.html Sat, 20 Sep 2025 17:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/all-efforts-to-promote-make-in-india-start-yielding-robust-results-piyush-goyal-639667.html New Delhi Sep 20 All the efforts that were taken to promote the Make In India programme have started yielding stronger results Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Saturday The minister while addressing an event on Celebrating 10 Years of Make in India said that we are all in the mission mode to make it easier to do business in India to promote manufacturing in India and to support trade and industry business and commerce including international tradeGoyal stated that by doing so we can see faster growth in the country indicating the recent GDP growth rate in the first quarter of this fiscal yearAnybody in the room would imagine we would grow 78 per cent in this first quarter It beat all economists expectations and well continue to beat them right up to 2047 the minister highlightedThe commerce minister underlined that its a race to make India a 3032 trillion economy when we celebrate 100 years of independenceHitting out at previous governments Goyal said that in the past once the roads were clogged then the infrastructure was built once the ports were overburdened then new ports were built and once airports ran out of capacity then we started planning a new airportNow Jewar international airport in UP is coming up next month whereas we still have capacity in the New Delhi airport We are anticipating growth the minister told the gatheringBy the end of this month the new airport in Mumbai will start opening up a plethora of opportunities for the state of Maharashtra and for that whole region he addedThe minister highlighted the outcome of his recent twoday visit to the UAEWe just came back many of us in this room were in the UAE for the last two days 1819 September where more than 75 industry leaders across the sectors textiles marine fisheries pharmaceuticals leather goods all of them converged Goyal saidHe said it was a fruitful event and the excitement in the Gulf region for India particularly in the UAE was palpableI really can see a lot of potential in that initiative in that region We have crossed a 100 billion bilateral trade between the UAE and India after the FTA Goyal notedIn the HighLevel Task Force on Investments we have reset our target that in the next three to four years where we will do 100 billion of nonoil nonprecious metal trade with the UAE he informedThe minister said that the Bharat Mart is coming up by early 2027 which will give MSMEs an opportunity to showcase their products have a warehousing facility and have quick logistics from there to be able to supply across the globe IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/all-efforts-to-promote-make-in-india-start-yielding-robust-results-piyush-goyal-639667.html Sat, 20 Sep 2025 18:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/all-efforts-to-promote-make-in-india-started-yielding-results-piyush-goyal-639668.html New Delhi Sep 20 All the efforts that were taken to promote the Make In India programme have started yielding results Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Saturday The minister while addressing an event on Celebrating 10 Years of Make in India said that we are all in mission mode to make it easier to do business in India to promote manufacturing in India to support trade and industry business and commerce including international tradeGoyal stated that by doing so we can see faster growth in the country indicating the recent GDP growth rate in the first quarter of this fiscal yearAnybody in the room would imagine we would grow 78 per cent in this first quarter It beat all economists expectations and well continue to beat them right up to 2047 the minister highlightedThe commerce minister underlined that its a race to make India a 3032 trillion economy when we celebrate 100 years of IndependenceHitting out at previous governments Goyal said in the past once the roads were clogged then the infrastructure was built once the ports were overburdened then new ports were built and once airports ran out of capacity then we started planning a new airportNow Jewar is coming up next month whereas we still have capacity in the New Delhi airport We are anticipating growth the minister statedBy the end of this month the new airport in Mumbai will start opening up a plethora of opportunities for the state of Maharashtra and for that whole region he addedThe minister highlighted the outcome of his recent twoday visit to the UAEWe just came back many of us in this room were in the UAE for the last two days September 1819 where more than 75 industry leaders across the sectors textiles marine fisheries pharmaceuticals leather goods all of them converged Goyal saidHe said that it was a fruitful event and the excitement in the Gulf region for India particularly in the UAE was palpableI really can see a lot of potential in that initiative in that region We have crossed a 100 billion bilateral trade between the UAE and India after the FTA Goyal notedAnd in this visit to the HighLevel Task Force on Investments we have reset our target that in the next three to four years we will do 100 billion of nonoil nonprecious metal trade with the UAE he saidThe minister informed that the Bharat Mart is coming up by early 2027 which will give MSMEs an opportunity to showcase their products have a warehousing facility and have quick logistics from there to be able to supply across the globe IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/all-efforts-to-promote-make-in-india-started-yielding-results-piyush-goyal-639668.html Sat, 20 Sep 2025 18:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/nearly-85-pc-of-oral-problems-are-preventable-experts-639671.html New Delhi Sep 20 With proper awareness and technology nearly 85 per cent of oral problems are preventable said health experts on Saturday Speaking at the threeday 35th Annual Conference of the Indian Society for Dental Research ISDR held here over 30 national and international keynote speakers emphasised the need for researchdriven collaboration across oral and craniofacial sciencesOral diseases may not always be lifethreatening but they silently erode the quality of life Nearly 85 per cent of oral problems are preventable if addressed through awareness preventive research and the use of affordable technologies Prof Dr Mahesh Verma Vice Chancellor Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University GGSIPU told IANSOur challenge is big Millions across rural and urban India either cannot access or cannot afford dental care Technology and innovation must bridge this gap Today as lifestyles change and the standard of living rises wellness cannot be achieved without oral health added Verma organising Chairman of the conferenceHe also urged the need to give attention to oral health in the national health agendaVerma said that dental research can be conducted in 36 categories including regenerative therapies revitalising dead tissues material sciences and public health approachesThe experts also noted how alcohol begins to silently erode oral health from the very first sipDr Aswini YB from the Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences stated that although it is commonly known that alcohol is harmful to the liver and body the damage begins much earlier right inside the mouthOur mouth has a delicate protective lining called the mucosa Alcohol dries it out almost instantly This dryness weakens the lining triggers painful blisters and makes the mouth far more vulnerable to infections Aswini saidAlcohol also reduces the flow of saliva the mouths natural cleansing system Without enough saliva harmful bacteria thrive infections spread faster and over time the risk of developing oral cancer increases the doctor addedAshwini also issued a stark warning about mixing alcohol with tobaccoThis deadly combination multiplies the risk of serious oral diseases including cancers Unfortunately its a habit far too common especially in India the dentist saidOther experts at the conference urged the public to recognise early warning signs such as persistent mouth dryness sores or discomfort and to take them seriously They stressed that protecting oral health is not just about brushing twice a day but also about making smarter lifestyle choicesThe threeday conclave has drawn more than 600 delegates including 150 international participants from 20 countries IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/nearly-85-pc-of-oral-problems-are-preventable-experts-639671.html Sat, 20 Sep 2025 18:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/link-between-vascular-disease-dementia-risk-overlooked-study-639678.html New Delhi Sep 20 Vascular dementia cognitive impairment caused by disease in the brains small blood vessels is a widespread problem but it has not been as thoroughly studied as Alzheimers disease in which abnormal plaques and protein tangles are deposited in neural tissue according to researchers The team at the University of New Mexico developed a new model for characterising and categorising different forms of vascular dementia to better understand the various forms of the disease and find effective treatmentsConditions like hypertension atherosclerosis and diabetes have been linked to vascular dementia but other contributing causes including the recent discovery of significant quantities of nano and microplastics in human brains remain poorly understood said Elaine Bearer Professor at the varsityWe have been flying blind The various vascular pathologies have not been comprehensively defined so we havent known what were treating And we didnt know that nano and microplastics were in the picture because we couldnt see them she addedIn the study published in the American Journal of Pathology Bearer and team identified 10 different disease processes that contribute to vascularbased brain injury typically by causing oxygen or nutrient deficiency leakage of blood serum and inflammation or decreased waste elimination These cause tiny strokes that harm neuronsShe listed new and existing experimental techniques including special stains and novel microscopy to detect themMeanwhile a fresh area of concern is the unknown health consequences of nanoand microplastics in the brain Bearer saidNanoplastics in the brain represent a new player on the field of brain pathology she saidAll our current thinking about Alzheimers disease and other dementias needs to be revised in light of this discoveryWhat Im finding is that theres a lot more plastic in demented people than in normal subjects she said It seems to correlate with the degree and type of dementiaThe quantity of plastics was also associated with higher levels of inflammation she said IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/link-between-vascular-disease-dementia-risk-overlooked-study-639678.html Sat, 20 Sep 2025 19:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/nanotech-ai-robotics-shaping-up-healthcare-as-much-as-space-exploration-isro-chairman-639683.html New Delhi Sep 20 Advanced technologies such as nanotechnology Artificial Intelligence and robotics are playing a similar role in shaping healthcare and space exploration said ISRO chairman Dr V Narayanan Speaking at the IADR Asia Pacific Regional amp 35th ISDR Annual Conference 2025 here he elucidated ISROs advancement in the field of spaceNarayanan Chairman Space Commission and Secretary Department of Space ISRO also spoke of Indias rise on the global stage and the importance of scientific convergenceIndia has put itself firmly on the global map Chandrayaan made us the only country to achieve a successful soft landing Engineering and medicine cannot remain apart he saidNanotechnology AI and robotics are transforming healthcare as much as they are shaping space exploration he addedThe noted cryogenic engineer and rocket scientist shared about his hobby of reading medical books He also urged for a collaboration between ISRO and medical institutes to boost innovationReading medical books has always been my hobby and I strongly believe that collaboration between ISRO and medical institutes will take innovation further Narayanan saidThe expert also lauded medical science for increasing longevity among humansToday Indias literacy has reached 79 per cent and the average healthy lifespan of Indians has increased because of medical progress We have made significant advances across all fields he addedAt the event Prof Abhijat Sheth Chairman National Medical Commission emphasised the need to strengthen the foundations of medical educationTwo critical areas often overlooked in medical training are clinical research and communication These must be made an integral part of the basic curriculum Sheth saidEmbedding them early will help nurture a culture of research innovation and discovery he addedThe threeday conclave drew more than 600 delegates including 150 international participants from 20 countries IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/nanotech-ai-robotics-shaping-up-healthcare-as-much-as-space-exploration-isro-chairman-639683.html Sat, 20 Sep 2025 20:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/india-eu-partnership-to-bolster-global-stability-639492.html New Delhi Sep 19 The new EUIndia Strategic Agenda unveiled in September aims to strengthen mutual prosperity security and global stability as the world navigates shifting geopolitical realities With the current realignment of global power a rising India is seen by Europe as a vital partner for diversifying supply chains mitigating security threats and fostering an open rulesbased international order In turn the EU as Indias largest trading partner provides access to advanced technologies investments and stable markets according to an article in India NarrativeExpansion of security ties is a top priority The agenda outlines cooperation in crisis management maritime security particularly in the Indian Ocean cyber defence intelligence sharing and counterterrorismThe new agenda was jointly announced by the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU High Representative Kaja Kallas following intensive dialogue between the Commission and the Indian government Ratification by all 27 EU member states is required with formal adoption scheduled at the EUIndia Summit in early 2026The FTA negotiations are targeted to conclude by the end of 2025 though complex issues remain Ongoing work includes setting up new dialogues on space cooperation mobility and cyber issuesThe agenda strengthens Indias global standing as a key interlocutor for Europe balancing Indias relations with Russia and China For the EU it signifies deeper Asian engagement beyond traditional partners the article statesThe launch of negotiations for a Security of Information Agreement will facilitate classified information exchange There will also be enhanced engagement in the IndoPacific with joint responses to hybrid threats and a focus on countering malign activitiesBesides India is invited to participate in EU defence initiatives including the Permanent Structured Cooperation PESCO mechanism and a new EUIndia Security and Defence Partnership modelled on those with Japan and South KoreaOn the economic front tariff removal regulatory harmonisation and investment facilitation are set to expand bilateral commerce innovation and industrial collaboration especially in hightech and green sectorsA centrepiece is finalising a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement FTAaiming to become the worlds largest such deal The FTA negotiations which have intensified in 2025 seek to lower tariffs improve market access for services and products harmonise standards and secure sustainable development commitmentsAddressing nontariff barriers and regulatory cooperation are core objectives while the EU also encourages investment in strategic sectors infrastructure and innovation with joint business forums and startup initiatives the article added IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/india-eu-partnership-to-bolster-global-stability-639492.html Fri, 19 Sep 2025 21:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/india-envoy-in-mongolia-highlights-itecs-role-in-fostering-global-cooperation-639494.html Ulaanbaatar Sep 19 The Indian Embassy in Mongolia celebrated the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation ITEC Day recently marking the 61st anniversary of the ITEC Scholarship Programme During the event Indias Ambassador to Mongolia Atul Malhari Gotsurve highlighted the important role played by ITEC in fostering global cooperation He noted that the ITEC is a demand driven programme that offers fullyfunded training courses in various sectors including IT finance governance and defence enabling professional to enhanced their skills and contribution to their countries developmentThe Embassy on Friday stated that the event honoured the enduring partnership between India and Mongolia Established on 15th September 1964 the ITEC Programme is a flagship initiative of the Government of India focused on technical assistance and human resource development for developing countries The programme operates on the philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutubakam the world is one family and is testament to Indias longstanding tradition of sharing its knowledge and expertiseThe ITEC Day celebration brought together around 250270 people including prominent alumni of the ITEC programme Mongolian government officials and dignitaries from various sectors in the countryThe Chief Guest of the event HE Mr Damdinnyam Gongor Minister of Industry amp Mineral Resources Government of Mongolia an ITEC Alumni appreciated and expressed his heartfelt gratitude for ITEC programme in enhancing and sharing valuable skills for working professional across key sectors of Mongolias state ministriesdepartments He also thanked Government of India for the support given in building the Oil Refinery Project at Dornogibi which will enhance the energy security of Mongolia the Embassy highlightedDuring the event several ITEC alumni shared their experiences on how the training programmes have positively impacted their careers and provided them with valuable insights about Indias culture and societyN Enkhbayar 3rd President of Mongolia A Bayar Speaker of Citizens Representative Council of Ulaanbaatar City O Nyamdavaa former Ambassador of Mongolia to India and Kh Chinbat President of the IndiaMongolia Alumni Association were also present during the eventSince its inception the ITEC Programme has been instrumental in strengthening bilateral relations and promoting SouthSouth cooperation The programme offers over 15000 fully funded training slots annually across a diverse range of discipline with course conducted at more than 100 premier institution in India with active participation from more than 160 countries Over 3500 professionals from Mongolia have benefited from these initiatives till now Every year 200 scholarship slots are available for Mongolian nationals the Embassy statedThe ITEC programme embodies Indias commitment to supporting the aspirations of its partners focusing on model of cooperation that is voluntary free of conditionalities and aligned with the priorities of the recipient countries It continues to be a powerful symbol of friendship and shared progress between India and Mongolia it added IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/india-envoy-in-mongolia-highlights-itecs-role-in-fostering-global-cooperation-639494.html Fri, 19 Sep 2025 21:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/customer-inquiries-surge-15-20-pc-post-maruti-suzuki-announcing-rate-cut-report-639502.html New Delhi Aug 19 Customer enquiries for cars have increased significantly by 1520 per cent across segments after Maruti Suzuki India MSIL announced passing on the full benefits of GST 20 a report said on Friday Dealers have been witnessing a surge in enquiries in both online and walkin and especially for entrylevel cars like K10 Celerio Spresso and Wagon R in Tier1 cities HSBC Global Investment said in its reportAccording to the report the share of firsttime buyers has increased by 57 per cent in total bookings so farThe premium hatchback segment Swift Baleno and others is also seeing a decent uptickThe report highlighted that the passenger vehicle PV segment is now expected to grow by double digits YoY during the upcoming festive season compared to single digits before the GST cut announcementMSIL announced steep price cuts on its entrylevel portfolio more than the impact of the GST cutMSIL took a price cut of 1121 per cent on its entrylevel portfolio 911 per cent on premium hatchbacks and up to 8 per cent on Brezza more than the impact of the GST cut 358 per cent the report notedMaruti Suzuki announced a reduction in car prices across its portfolio on Thursday allowing customers to fully benefit from the recent drop in the GST rates on carsEntrylevel models will see the biggest reductions with the Alto K10 and SPresso seeing price reductions of up to Rs 107 lakh and Rs 129 lakh respectivelySignificant savings of between Rs 71300 and Rs 129 lakh will also be available for other hatchbacks including the Celerio WagonR and IgnisThe cost of small SUVs will also decreaseThe GST Council approved the 5 and 18 per cent tax structure scrapping the earlier four slab 512181nd 28 per centBy primarily setting GST rates at 18 per cent for small cars and 40 per cent for larger or luxury vehicles this reform streamlines the tax structure and does away with the previous compensation cess EVs are still under a favourable 5 per cent GST rate IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/customer-inquiries-surge-15-20-pc-post-maruti-suzuki-announcing-rate-cut-report-639502.html Fri, 19 Sep 2025 22:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/ncds-mental-health-silent-killers-more-cost-effective-solutions-imperative-who-chief-639331.html New Delhi Sep 18 Noncommunicable diseases NCDs such as diabetes hypertension and cancers as well as mental health conditions like anxiety and depression are a silent killer World Health Organisation WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Thursday He urged countries to strengthen costeffective solutions to tackle the rising burden of NCDs and mental healthNoncommunicable diseases and mental health conditions are silent killers robbing us of lives and innovation said GhebreyesusIn a new report titled Saving lives spending less the WHO revealed that an additional investment of just 3 per person annually in tackling NCDs could yield economic benefits of up to 1 trillion by 2030Interestingly the report showed 82 per cent of countries achieved reductions in NCD mortality between 2010 and 2019However the rate of progress slowed significantly 60 per cent across most regions with some countries even experiencing a resurgence in NCDrelated deathsNCDs are responsible for most global deaths while more than one billion people live with mental health conditions Alarmingly nearly 75 per cent of deaths related to NCDs and mental health conditions occur in low and middleincome countries accounting for 32 million lives lost each yearWe have the tools to save lives and reduce suffering Countries like Denmark South Korea and Moldova are leading the way while others are stalling Investing in the fight against NCDs isnt just smart economics its an urgent necessity for thriving societies the WHO DirectorGeneral saidWithout urgent and sustained action to tackle the conditions millions more lives will be lost prematurelyThe solutions to tackle NCDs and promote mental health and wellbeing are both affordable and highly costeffective the report saidThe WHO urged actions by governments against powerful industries whose products contribute to disease These include tobacco alcohol and ultraprocessed food companies who frequently attempt to block weaken or delay lifesaving policies ranging from health taxes to marketing restrictions aimed at protecting childrenIt is unacceptable that commercial interests are profiting from increasing deaths and disease said Dr Etienne Krug Director of WHOs Department of Health Determinants Promotion and PreventionGovernments must put people before profits and ensure evidencebased policy is not derailed by corporate pressure Krug said IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/ncds-mental-health-silent-killers-more-cost-effective-solutions-imperative-who-chief-639331.html Fri, 19 Sep 2025 00:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/sensex-nifty-open-marginally-lower-amid-mixed-global-cues-639362.html Mumbai Sep 19 The Indian benchmark indices opened marginally lower on Friday with IT stocks leading the losses in early trade As of 926 am Sensex was down 241 points or 029 per cent at 82772 and Nifty was down 63 points or 025 per cent at 25360The US Federal Reserve resumed interest rates cut cycle by reducing rates by 25 basis points but the outlook on further easing in the months ahead failed to meet the investors dovish expectations while markets awaited more cues into US policy path according to analystsNifty Midcap 100 inched up by 016 per cent and the Nifty Small cap 100 lost 004 per centHero MotoCorp Shriram Finance Maruti Suzuki NTPC Tech Mahindra were among major gainers on Nifty while losers were ICICI Bank Bajaj Finance Tata Consumer and Titan CompanyAmong sectoral indices Nifty IT the top loser lost 040 per cent Nifty FMCG and Nifty Private bank also weighed down on the indices Except Nifty Realty and PSU Bank all other sectoral indices were trading in the red or with marginal gainsThe Nifty50 held firmly above the 25400 mark in the previous session signalling investor confidence with upside momentum intactAnalysts said that while buying interest is visible at lower levels the 2550025600 zone remains a stiff hurdle on the upside On the downside support is placed at 2530025100 for any minor pullbackMarket is on an uptrend and is well positioned to set new records soon Fundamentals technicals and sentiments are favourable for a steady uptrend Earnings are likely to improve from Q3 onwards Technically short covering is happening and can accelerate said Dr VK Vijayakumar Chief Investment Strategist Geojit Investments LimitedFrom the market sentiment perspective a USIndia trade deal without the penal tariff and a lower reciprocal tariff is likely he addedMajor US indices made gains overnight as the Nasdaq added 094 per cent the SampP 500 edged up 048 per cent and the Dow inched up 027 per centMost of the Asian markets were trading in the green during the morning session While Chinas Shanghai index dipped 012 per cent and Shenzhen advanced 023 per cent Japans Nikkei edged up 077 per cent while Hong Kongs Hang Seng Index moved up 012 per cent South Koreas Kospi lost 046 per centOn Thursday foreign institutional investors FIIs purchased equities worth Rs 366 crore while domestic institutional investors DIIs were net buyers of equities worth Rs 3326 crore IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/sensex-nifty-open-marginally-lower-amid-mixed-global-cues-639362.html Fri, 19 Sep 2025 10:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/adani-power-a-turnaround-in-indias-corporate-history-says-morgan-stanley-with-29-pc-stock-upside-639366.html Mumbai Sep 19 Shares of Adani Power Ltd APL surged in the morning trade on Friday after global brokerage Morgan Stanley initiated Overweight on the company with a target price of Rs 818 projecting an upside of 29 per cent from its previous closing price The brokerage said in a note that Adani Power is a good illustration of turnaround in Indias corporate history with resolution on most regulatory issues and multiple valueaccretive acquisitionsAPL will deliver strong earnings growth driven by timely completion of projects and more PPA wins medium term Initiate at OW Overweight and Top Pick said the brokerageNew coal power purchase agreements PPAs should improve investor confidence in earnings power Morgan Stanley addedIt also forecast that the companys capacity and earnings before interest taxes depreciation and amortisation EBITDA will rise 25 times and 3 times by the financial year 2033 respectivelyWe believe coal holds the key to Indias energy security with nuclear being a driver in the next decade India is looking to add 80GW of coal by F32 there is currently a large power purchase agreement PPA pipeline of 20GW according to the noteThe stock was trading about 78 per cent up in the morning trade Shares of Adani Power ended the previous session 05 per cent upAdani Ports is Indias largest independent power producer and secondlargest power producer after NTPC with 8 per cent share in both coal and generationWe forecast its market share to reach 15 per cent by F32e with a 419GW portfolio 25x vs F25 APL has seen favourable resolution of most regulatory issues and has a strong balance sheet F25 net debtEBITDA 15x We expect 6065 per cent of its US27 billion capex for a 237GW addition to be met through internal accruals said the brokerageIncrementally timely project completions land acquired boiler turbinegenerator orders placed construction execution by Adani Group and lower external debt combined with PPAs getting signed would drive earningsWe see upside to our estimates if APLs merchant portfolio declines from 20 per cent currently and profitability in recently acquired 29GW power plants improves the brokerage note said IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/adani-power-a-turnaround-in-indias-corporate-history-says-morgan-stanley-with-29-pc-stock-upside-639366.html Fri, 19 Sep 2025 10:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/poshan-maah-initiative-significantly-advanced-indias-fight-against-malnutrition-govt-639394.html New Delhi Sep 19 The Poshan Maah initiative under the Poshan Abhiyaan has significantly advanced Indias fight against malnutrition the Union government said Launched in March 2018 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Rajasthans Jhunjhunu Poshan Abhiyaan is a flagship multiministerial convergence mission designed to place nutrition at the forefront of Indias national development agendaThe Poshan Maah initiative has played a key role in building a healthier and stronger nation through nutrition reducing stunting among childrenThe National Family Health Survey NFHS5 201921 reports reduced stunting among children under five from 384 per cent to 355 per cent As per the NFHS5 report underweight prevalence in children dropped from 358 per cent to 321 per centThe Poshan Maah initiative a cornerstone of the Poshan Abhiyaan has significantly advanced Indias fight against malnutrition by promoting dietary diversity community engagement and technologydriven solutions the government saidPoshan Maah empowers communities and schools to foster sustainable nutritional practices for a healthier stronger nation it addedOn Wednesday PM Modi launched the 8th Rashtriya Poshan Maah along with the Swasth Nari Sashakt Parivar Abhiyan aligning strongly with his vision of Sashakt Nari and Suposhit BharatThis years edition highlights innovative and inclusive approaches to address malnutrition and promote sustainable health It aims to create awareness on obesity by reducing sugar and oil consumption to build a healthier IndiaObesity is becoming a big problem for our country In the coming years every third person will be a victim to it We must save ourselves from obesity Therefore I would like to give you a small suggestion use 10 per cent less oil in cooking PM Modi said during his Independence Day speech in AugustThe Poshan Maah will focus on early childhood care and education ECCEPoshan Bhi Padhai Bhi PBPBFurther with the EK Ped Maa Ke Naam initiative it aims to integrate environmental sustainability with nutrition awareness encouraging tree plantation and ecofriendly practices to support longterm health and wellbeingThe campaign also aims to enhance feeding practices for children under two years to improve nutrition outcomes emphasising optimal breastfeeding and complementary feeding In addition it will promote active male participation in nutrition awareness and caregiving roles to foster shared responsibility in family and community healthPoshan Maah is a nationwide initiative to promote nutrition and healthy living and everyone can play a vital role in making it a success by educating the community planting nutrition gardens and promoting kitchen gardens supporting Anganwadi Centres and ASHA Workers by volunteering at local Anganwadi centres IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/poshan-maah-initiative-significantly-advanced-indias-fight-against-malnutrition-govt-639394.html Fri, 19 Sep 2025 12:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/india-is-largest-flexible-office-market-in-asia-pacific-report-639399.html New Delhi Sep 19 India is the largest flexible workspace market in the AsiaPacific region APAC with 797 million square feet MSF of stock across top 8 cities as of the Q2 2025 a report said on Friday It is expected to reach 85 MSF by yearend and surpass 100 MSF by 2026 Cushman and Wakefield said in its report on FridayThis growth has been matched by surging demandAccording to the report flex demand has risen nearly sixfold since 2020 fuelled by occupiers prioritising shorter commitments managed solutions and speedtomarket strategiesIn 2024 alone flexible space accounted for 15 per cent of total new office leasing confirming its mainstream adoptionOperator expansion has also accelerated sharplyOver the past three years 20222024 flexible workspace providers leased 335 MSF equivalent to more than 5 lakh seatsAnnual operator takeup has tripled in just five years from 43 MSF in 2020 to 154 MSF in 2024 firmly establishing flexible workspace as a core workplace solution rather than an alternate option the report statedFlexibility and agility are driving Indias flex space story and this trend is set to accelerate as firms actively seek businessready offices to rapidly scale or adjust headcount as neededThe bulk of this demand is coming from international enterprises which accounted for 72 per cent of flex seat absorption in 2024 while startups took up 28 per cent the report notedThe significant influx of Global Capability Centres and other new companies entering India is accelerating this shift further solidifying flexible workspaces as the preferred model for companies seeking speed resilience and growth in a dynamic marketThe managed officeenterprise model now dominates accounting for 7080 per cent of demand postCOVID well ahead of traditional coworkingAccording to the report the bulk of this stock remains concentrated in the top 8 cities with Bengaluru leading the charge holding 30 per cent of the national flex inventory followed by DelhiNCR Pune and HyderabadBengaluru also leads the demand accounting for an average of onethird of annual enterprise transactions in the countryBeyond these leading Metros occupiers are increasingly expanding to TierII cities such as Chandigarh Jaipur Kochi Trivandrum Coimbatore Visakhapatnam and Bhubaneswar to tap into new talent pools and capitalise on lower operating costsIndia stands out for the strength and maturity of its flexible workspace marketScoring a perfect 100 on Cushman and Wakefields maturity index India has outpaced its global peers with wellestablished office markets including the United Kingdom at 98 per cent France at 97 per cent the United States at 81 per cent and both Japan and Singapore at 77 per cent respectively the report highlighted IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/india-is-largest-flexible-office-market-in-asia-pacific-report-639399.html Fri, 19 Sep 2025 12:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/iphone-17-pre-bookings-in-india-surpass-iphone-16-levels-report-639401.html New Delhi Sep 19 Prebookings for Apples iPhone 17 series in India have surpassed those of the iPhone 16 during the launch period with the new series projected to account for 1520 per cent of sales as per industry sources The prebooking numbers for iPhone 17 indicate a potentially strong Diwali quarter for Apple according to analysts despite supply constraints of iPhone 17 Pro modelsThe data indicated that total iPhone shipments in India are expected to surpass 5 million units in the JulySeptember period in 2025 Apple shipped approximately 4 million iPhones in Q3 2024 with new models accounting for 10 per cent of salesAnalysts said that demand for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max is particularly high creating the possibility of supply shortages in the early weeks of launch Basemodel preorders for the upgraded 256 GB storage have surged with Cosmic Orange being the most soughtafter colourThe base variant has been upgraded to 256GB making it a better value proposition compared to last years launch they saidiPhone 17 series will be available for purchase in India starting today Apples latest lineup starts at Rs 82900 for the iPhone 17 256GB The new iPhone Air a slimmer model begins at Rs 119900 while the iPhone 17 Pro 256GB is priced at Rs 134900 At the top end the iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB comes in at Rs 149900Retailers indicate that base models will be widely available while Pro and Pro Max allocations are significantly limited comprising only about 10 per cent of typical deliveries This scarcity is leading to blackmarket premiums of 1020 per centAnalysts noted that the iPhone 16 was Indias highestselling model in H1 2025 driving 9650 per cent growth in the premium smartphone segmentApple has recently opened two new stores in Bengaluru and Pune as part of its retail expansion in India anticipating it to be the next key market In Apples largest overseas market China sales grew by only 44 per cent in the June quarter following two years of declinesIndia is also becoming central to Apples manufacturing plans with one in every five iPhones now being produced in the country IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/iphone-17-pre-bookings-in-india-surpass-iphone-16-levels-report-639401.html Fri, 19 Sep 2025 12:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/indias-smartphone-market-grows-2-pc-in-1h25-report-639408.html New Delhi Sep 19 Indias smartphone market grew by 2 per cent yearonyear YoY in the first half of 2025 with 60 million units shipped a new report said on Friday Apple emerged as the fastestgrowing brand with a strong 35 per cent jump in shipments according to data compiled by International Data Corporation IDCThe report said that premium smartphones priced above Rs 50000 played a big role in driving growth while the midrange segment of Rs 1000020000 remained the largest in terms of overall volumesRegionally the northern states led the market with 33 per cent share while the southern region grew the fastest the report saidSmaller Tier4 cities including Mysore and Shimla also recorded strong doubledigit growth showing rising demand beyond metros and big townsMeanwhile another report by CyberMedia Research CMR said Indias premium smartphone market is set to grow by 18 per cent in sales and 24 per cent in value during the upcoming festive seasonWithin this superpremium devices in the Rs 50000100000 category are expected to grow 15 per cent while the uberpremium segment priced above Rs 100000 could see a massive 167 per cent surgeAccording to Prabhu Ram VPIndustry Research Group at CMR aspirational buyers especially Gen Z and millennials are driving the premium segment as they seek powerful devices that match their digital lifestylesWith increasing accessibility and affordability initiatives more consumers are now looking to buy the latest premium devices he saidSamsung Apple and OPPO led the premium smartphone market in July with 28 per cent 23 per cent and 11 per cent share respectivelyApple backed by its latest iPhone 17 series and steady demand for older iPhones is well placed for a strong festive season the report addedConsumers are also giving more importance to chipsets that power smartphones Features such as seamless multitasking highend gaming advanced cameras and AIdriven experiences are becoming top priorities for buyersAnalysts said that while overall smartphone market growth remains modest strong demand in the premium segment and intensifying competition among brands will give Indian buyers more options this festive season IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/indias-smartphone-market-grows-2-pc-in-1h25-report-639408.html Fri, 19 Sep 2025 14:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/softbanks-vision-fund-to-lay-off-20-pc-of-its-workforce-to-focus-on-ai-639412.html New Delhi Sep 19 Japanese investment giant SoftBank Group Corps Vision Fund is laying off approximately 20 per cent of its workforce as founder Masayoshi Son shifts the 100 billion funds focus towards artificial intelligence Over 50 of Vision Funds 282 employees are expected to be laid off due to job cuts according to multiple reports The company spokesperson said that the decision aligns with the organisations longterm strategy to focus on significant investments in AI and breakthrough technologiesMasayoshi Sons AI plans include an investment of around 30 billion in OpenAI and a 65 billion deal to acquire chip designer Ampere Computing which faces regulatory scrutiny SoftBank has so far invested roughly 10 billion in OpenAIIt has partnered with OpenAI and Oracle on a proposed 500 billion Stargate initiative to establish US AI data centres and is considering a 1 trillion AI industrial park with TSMCThe Vision Fund launched in 2017 had a workforce of 474 at its peak in March 2020 SoftBank has reduced its assets and cut its workforce by 40 per cent to secure funding for sizable AI investments as it felt unnecessary to have an army of investment advisers to oversee fresh or existing dealsLast month Softbank signed a securities purchase agreement under which SoftBank will make a 2 billion investment in Intel Both companies said that they have deepened their commitment to investing in advanced technology and semiconductor innovation in the United StatesMasayoshi said that the strategic investment reflected the companys belief that advanced semiconductor manufacturing and supply will further expand in the United States with Intel playing a critical roleUnder the terms of the agreement SoftBank will pay 23 per share of Intel common stock SoftBanks investment in Intel builds upon its longterm vision of enabling the AI revolution by accelerating access to advanced technologies that support digital transformation cloud computing and nextgeneration infrastructure IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/softbanks-vision-fund-to-lay-off-20-pc-of-its-workforce-to-focus-on-ai-639412.html Fri, 19 Sep 2025 14:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/mission-saksham-anganwadi-poshan-20-to-boost-nutrition-of-children-amp-pregnant-women-pmo-639413.html New Delhi Sep 19 Government initiatives Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 20 aim to strengthen the nutrition of children adolescent girls and pregnant women said the Prime Ministers Office PMO on Friday In a post shared on the social media platform X the PMO lauded a media article by Union Minister for Women and Child Development Annapurna Devi on the integrated nutrition support programme undertaken by the Ministry of Women and Child DevelopmentThe programme seeks to address the challenges of malnutrition in children adolescent girls pregnant women and lactating mothers through a strategic shift in nutrition content and delivery and by the creation of a convergent ecosystem to develop and promote practices that nurture health wellness and immunityMission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 20 is a major initiative taken to improve the nutrition of children adolescent girls and pregnant mothers the PMO said in the postThrough this millions of beneficiaries are receiving help via the vast network of Anganwadi centers spread across the country How this scheme of the Ministry of Women and Child Development is shaping the future of our millions of children Union Minister Annapurna Devi ji has explained in detail in this article the post addedIn the article Devi underscored the efforts of the 14 lakh Anganwadi centers spread across the country providing services to nearly 10 crore beneficiariesThis article highlights the fact that through Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 20 the Ministry of Women and Child Development is developing an integrated mechanism to improve the nutritional outcomes of children adolescent girls pregnant women and lactating mothers Devi saidThe centerpiece of this campaign is the vast network of 14 lakh Anganwadi centres spread across the country which is providing services to nearly 10 crore beneficiaries The Ministry of Women and Child Development working on the principle of one meal at a time is nourishing Indias future through the health and nutrition of over eight crore children she addedPoshan 20 aims to contribute to human capital development of the country address challenges of malnutrition promote nutrition awareness and good eating habits for sustainable health and wellbeing and address nutritionrelated deficiencies through key strategies IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/mission-saksham-anganwadi-poshan-20-to-boost-nutrition-of-children-amp-pregnant-women-pmo-639413.html Fri, 19 Sep 2025 14:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/gst-reforms-suzuki-motorcycle-slashes-two-wheeler-prices-by-up-to-rs-18-000-639422.html New Delhi Sep 19 Passing on the full benefit of Goods and Services Tax GST reforms Suzuki Motorcycle India on Friday announced to cut prices on its twowheeler range by up to Rs 18000 from September 22 According to the twowheeler subsidiary of Suzuki Motor Corporation the Gixxer SF 250 model would see the highest price cut of Rs 18024 in the exshowroom price followed by VStrom SX Rs 17982 Gixxer 250 Rs 16525 and Gixxer RS 11520Among the scooter range the Burgman Street Ex will become Rs 9798 cheaper the Burgman Street price will go down by Rs 8373 the Avenis will have a price reduction of Rs 7823 and the Access price has been reduced by Rs 8523The twowheeler manufacturer said that the GST 20 reforms will make Suzuki twowheelers and spare parts more affordable and accessible across the countryRecently the union government announced GST 20 which reduced indirect tax rates from 28 per cent to 18 per cent on all twowheelers up to 350cc and on all auto componentsThe reforms have been introduced to rationalise taxation and provide direct benefits to consumersIn line with this initiative SMIPL has undertaken a comprehensive revision of its price structure across all variants of its scooters and motorcyclesAlongside twowheelers the reduced GST on spare parts and accessories will directly translate into lower maintenance costs collectively enhancing the overall ownership value for Suzuki customers the company saidOur customers are always at the core of everything we do We welcome the Government of Indias GST 20 reforms which are a progressive step towards making mobility more affordable for the masses In keeping with our customerfirst approach we pass on the complete benefit of these reforms on both our twowheelers and spare parts reducing the purchase as well as maintenance costs said Deepak Mutreja VicePresident Sales and Marketing Suzuki Motorcycle India Pvt LtdComing just ahead of the festive season this move is expected to further uplift customer sentiment make our product range even more attractive and give a strong push to demand in the twowheeler marketThe new prices will come into effect from September 22 IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/gst-reforms-suzuki-motorcycle-slashes-two-wheeler-prices-by-up-to-rs-18-000-639422.html Fri, 19 Sep 2025 14:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/mumbai-tops-indias-data-centre-capacity-surpassing-4-gw-milestone-report-639430.html New Delhi Sep 19 Mumbai has emerged as Indias data centre capital accounting for 40 per cent of the nations total capacity and 44 per cent of live IT capacity a report said on Friday In the first half of 2025 Mumbais capacity jumped 143 per cent to exceed the 4 GW milestone comprising 591 MW operational 185 MW under construction and 32 GW in the pipeline according to a report from real estate services firm Knight FrankThis growth builds on Indias data centre market surpassing 10GW in H2 2024 supported by 14GW live and 400MW under construction the report addedWith 976 MW of takeup over six months the citys vacancy rate at data centres is at 54 per cent less than half Indias overall vacancy of 123 per cent Twothirds of underconstruction space is already preleased to companiesThree live Mumbai sites can support hyperscale deployments above 25 MW and just one offers more than 10 MW available Hence the fragmented market of smaller 1 MW2 MW facilities has encouraged global players and joint ventures to plan highcapacity campuses such as NTTs 500 MW NAV2 project and BlackstonePanchshil Realtys 500 MW AI facilityHyderabad Indias secondlargest datacentre market at 21 GW is positioning itself for hyperscale growth with over 500 MW in new capacity via two major projects the report notedWith over 3GW of capacity in the pipeline and strong policy support for green data centre parks Mumbai is attracting sustained global investment said Shishir Baijal Chairman and Managing Director Knight Frank IndiaIts robust subsea cable connectivity scalable power infrastructure proximity to enterprise hubs and progressive state policies make it South Asias gateway for cloud AI and enterprise workloads he addedMumbai has firmly established itself as the epicentre of Indias digital infrastructure growth While other metros like Chennai Hyderabad and Bengaluru are gaining traction none match Mumbais scale speed and ability to serve as South Asias gateway for cloud AI and enterprise workloads IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/mumbai-tops-indias-data-centre-capacity-surpassing-4-gw-milestone-report-639430.html Fri, 19 Sep 2025 15:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/ayurveda-offers-sustainable-healthcare-for-humans-and-environment-prataprao-jadhav-639431.html New Delhi Sep 19 Ayurveda offers a sustainable healthcare solution for both humans and the environment said Prataprao Jadhav Union Minister of State Independent Charge for Ayush on Friday Speaking at the curtain raiser for Ayurveda Day 2025 at the National Media Centre NMC organised by the Ministry of Ayush Jadhav highlighted key initiatives planned for the 10th Ayurveda Day It will be celebrated on September 23 at the All India Institute of Ayurveda AIIA GoaThe Minister underlined Ayurvedas potential as a holistic evidencebased and environmentally sustainable healthcare systemAyurveda is more than a medical science it is a way of life that harmonises individuals with their environment Jadhav saidReferring to the first allIndia NSSO survey on Ayush the MoS emphasised Ayurvedas widespread acceptance across both rural and urban India where it remains the most practiced system of treatmentJadhav informed that the government has taken a historic step by notifying September 23 as the fixed annual date for Ayurveda Day thereby giving it a universal calendar identityThe theme this year is Ayurveda for People amp PlanetIt reflects Indias commitment to advancing Ayurveda as a sustainable integrative solution for global health and environmental wellbeing Jadhav saidThe Minister also announced a series of peoplecentric initiatives by the Ministry of Ayush to mark Ayurveda Day 2025These include awareness campaigns such as Little Steps to Wellness for students Lead the Mislead to counter false advertisements Ayurveda Aahara for Obesity along with programmes on Ayurveda for plant and veterinary healthTracing the journey of Ayurveda Day since its inception in 2016 Jadhav recalled that the 2024 edition witnessed participation from more than 150 countriesHe further informed that investments worth Rs 12850 crore have strengthened Ayurvedas role in holistic healthcare in the country IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/ayurveda-offers-sustainable-healthcare-for-humans-and-environment-prataprao-jadhav-639431.html Fri, 19 Sep 2025 15:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/blue-economy-is-central-to-indias-growth-pm-modi-639438.html New Delhi Sep 19 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday highlighted that the Blue Economy is central to Indias growth combining prosperity sustainability and national strength Initiatives like Sagarmala Deep Ocean Mission and Harit Sagar Guidelines to harness ocean resources are empowering communities driving innovation and strengthening Indias leadership in global ocean governance PM Modi statedThe Prime Minister was responding on X to a post by Union Minister of State Dr Jitendra Singh who wrote the articleThe article states that with a revised coastline stretching now over 11098 kms and a vast Exclusive Economic Zone spanning 24 square million kms India is exceptionally wellplaced to build a 100 billion growth engine through a sustainable use of ocean resources creating jobs supporting coastal communities protecting marine ecosystems and strengthening our global maritime presenceWe are now in Blue Economy 20 focusing just not on traditional sectors but also the emerging Highpotential areas that will define our future growth For example the Deep Ocean Mission is helping our scientists explore the deep sea using the Matsya submersible Aiming to find strategic resources and create new technologies for the future The Sagarmala Programme is modernising our ports to make our trade more efficient and our business more competitive For our coastal communities the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana PMMSY is a flagship scheme to bring a blue revolution to our fisheries sector Singh saidBut our vision goes far beyond this It empowers people and protects our planet It includes creation of new opportunities for the empowerment of women by encouraging them to lead in sustainable fields like seaweed farming and ecofriendly tourism providing them new income streams and a greater voice in their communities he addedThe PMMSY scheme completed five years of its launch on September 10 2020 as a landmark initiative that has ushered in the Blue Revolution in Indias fisheries sector with the country becoming the second largest fish producer in the worldThe scheme has enabled India to achieve record fish production of 195 lakh tonnes in 202425 a sharp rise from 14164 lakh tonnes in 201920 contributing nearly 8 per cent of global fish productionIndias fisheries exports have shown robust growth increasing from Rs 4666285 crore in 201920 to Rs 6052489 crore in 202324 strengthening the countrys position in the global seafood marketPMMSY has also succeeded in creating 58 lakh employment opportunities as of December 2024 surpassing the target of 55 lakh It has also led to the empowerment of 99018 women through an outlay of Rs 406196 crore sanctioned from 202021 to 202425 the statement saidThe scheme has been working towards making the fisheries sector ecologically healthy economically viable and socially inclusive by addressing critical gaps in production and productivity quality technology infusion and postharvest infrastructurePMMSY promotes womens participation in fisheries by providing up to 60 per cent of total project cost as financial assistance up to Rs 15 crore per project under beneficiaryoriented activities and the entrepreneur model IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/blue-economy-is-central-to-indias-growth-pm-modi-639438.html Fri, 19 Sep 2025 15:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/gst-reforms-will-not-pose-major-fiscal-burden-on-government-report-639446.html New Delhi Sep 19 The recent Goods and Services Tax GST rationalisation will not have a significant fiscal burden on the government a Crisil report has said The government has estimated a net loss of an annualised Rs 48000 crore in revenue in the short term on account of GST reformsTotal GST collections in the previous fiscal were Rs 106 lakh crore hence the loss does not seem significant according to a Crisil Ratings reportCiting the method of recalibration of the tax rates the report emphasised that the move to reduce rates will unlikely to pose a major pressure on the government revenueAs of fiscal 2024 the majority 7075 per cent of GST revenue came from the 18 per cent slab Only 56 per cent was from the 12 per cent slab and 1315 per cent from the 28 per cent slab the report notedReducing the tax rates of items from 12 per cent may not render a significant revenue lossMeanwhile tax rates are unchanged on several fastgrowing services such as mobile tariff chargesNew services such as ecommerce delivery were also brought under GST and are taxed at 18 per cent and some increase in disposable incomes due to benefits on other mass consumption items could further drive up their demand and tax collections the report highlightedDifferentiated taxes between lower and highervalue items within a category can also help mitigate the fiscal impact the report highlightedFor instance the rate was hiked for highervalue items of clothing and twowheelers even as taxes on lowervalue items were loweredPremium demand from upperincome segments could remain intact supporting revenue the report statedAdditionally GST simplification from four to two slabs can bring more goods and services under the formal net which could gradually support tax buoyancy over the medium termWhile their impact on consumption depends on the speed and the extent to which the GST cuts are passed to consumer prices tax cuts on essentials can increase purchasing power creating a broader boost for consumption gradually the report notedAlongside there are other macro tailwinds for consumption this fiscal such as low inflation easing borrowing costs the governments incometax relief announced at the start of this year and healthy agricultureThe new GST rates will come into force on September 22 and play out over the second half of this fiscal IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/gst-reforms-will-not-pose-major-fiscal-burden-on-government-report-639446.html Fri, 19 Sep 2025 16:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/new-study-shows-how-malaria-parasite-damages-brain-639455.html New Delhi Sep 19 Researchers have identified how the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum affects the brain an advance that may help develop potential therapeutics that could help prevent or even reverse the damage Cerebral malaria kills one out of five children who suffer from it and also causes longterm disabilities in half of the survivorsMalaria is caused by the parasite Plasmodium falciparum which reproduces in our red blood cells and then breaks out of them to continue infecting new cellsOnce the parasite makes it to the bloodbrain barrier BBB a structure that protects the brain from harmful substances it can damage it causing severe complicationsTo understand its effects researchers from the European Molecular Biology Laboratory EMBL in Barcelona Spain created a labgrown BBB to show how the parasite damages itYou have to imagine the BBB as a system of tightly sealed pipes that prevent leaks The malaria parasite is capable of developing cracks in those pipes and creating a leak that starts dripping infected fluid into the brain causing swelling and making the disease irreversible said Livia Piatti postdoctoral student at EMBLThe labgrown infection model of the human BBB included the key cellular players endothelial cells that line the blood vessels supporting pericytes and astrocytes which are starshaped brain cells all arranged in a 3D structure with flowing fluidThe miniature BBBonachip 3DBBB was exposed to the parasite at its most explosive stage the moment it bursts out of red blood cells in a process called egressThe findings published in the journal Nature Communications indicated that the barrier had become more permeableIn addition analysis of gene expression at the singlecell level showed that cells were producing less of the proteins that keep the BBB sealed and more of the molecules that cause inflammationFurther the researchers successfully tested an approved drug Ruxolitinib on their 3DBBB model with results suggesting that it could be effective for deadly cases of malariaBy helping calm the inflammation in the blood vessels of the brain the drug reduced the leakiness of the BBB they said IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/new-study-shows-how-malaria-parasite-damages-brain-639455.html Fri, 19 Sep 2025 17:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/dsci-siemens-launch-ot-cyber-security-lab-to-strengthen-indias-critical-infrastructure-639472.html New Delhi Sep 19 Industry body Data Security Council of India DSCI and Siemens Limited inaugurated an Operational Technology OT Cyber Security Lab at the Nasscom campus in Noida on Friday The initiative aims to strengthen cybersecurity of national infrastructure and as serve as an innovation platform for startups providing access to technology equipmentIt will provide expertise necessary to develop and test their cybersecurity solutions in realworld OT scenarios in a safe and controlled environment an official statement saidThe lab is envisioned as hub for training awareness and skill development by providing handson exposure to professionals across critical sectors on OT cybersecurity practicesThis testbed is equipped to allow the latest tests including defenseindepth for OT environments the release saidIt also offers handson training and promotes collaboration among government academia and private sector stakeholdersKK Singh Joint Secretary Ministry of Electronics and IT inaugurated the facilityand said that securing OT environments is vital for national security He urged startups and researchers to utilise the lab to enhance defences for critical infrastructureVinayak Godse CEO DSCI announced that the lab will serve as an extension of the National Centre of Excellence a joint initiative between MeitY and DSCIThe lab will facilitate collaboration between government agencies academia industry and startups involved in critical infrastructure he addedSuprakash Chaudhuri Head of Digital Industries Siemens Limited stressed that rapid digitalisation led to the convergence of IT and OT exposing the systems to new vulnerabilitiesThe lab will help empower industries in India to build resilient and Cybersecure operations he addedIndias digital forensics market is projected to skyrocket at a compound annual growth rate CAGR of nearly 40 per cent to reach Rs 11829 crore 139 billion by FY 202930 more than triple the global average of 11 per cent IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/dsci-siemens-launch-ot-cyber-security-lab-to-strengthen-indias-critical-infrastructure-639472.html Fri, 19 Sep 2025 18:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/google-picks-20-indian-startups-for-ai-accelerator-programme-639478.html New Delhi Sep 19 US tech giant Google on Friday announced the latest cohort of its free threemonth AI accelerator programme a group of 20 startups selected from over 1600 applicants in the country The programme titled Google for Startups Accelerator AI First in India began this week and aims to scale AIdriven solutions across healthcare finance climate education and more The programme is designed for AI First startups between Seed to Series A based in India that are building core AI products applications or foundational models a release from the company saidThe support for founders includes Google Cloud infrastructure and access to cuttingedge Gemini models with technical mentorship and gotomarket strategiesAt Google we see startups as our cocreators in building the future of AI with scalable impactful and responsible AI solutions that will set new standards for the industry said Darren Mowry VP Global Startups Google CloudThe strategic focus of this cohort is aligned with the IndiaAI Mission said Abhishek Singh Additional Secretary MeitY and CEO IndiaAI MissionAmong the cohort are startups which offer a fullstack agentic platform where AI creates AI a healthtech startup offering a webcambased autism screening toolThe program pairs founders with Google engineers and industry mentors to tackle scaling challenges refine product roadmaps and ensure ethical AI deploymentThe new cohorts strategic focus directly aligns with the IndiaAI Missions startup pillar with 45 per cent of the program dedicated towards leveraging Agentic AI Multimodal AI solutions account for 30 per cent of the programme curriculum with the remaining 25 per cent dedicated to foundational models and Responsible AIIndias generative AI ecosystem has grown 37fold over the past year making it the worlds secondlargest GenAI startup hub the company said in the release IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/google-picks-20-indian-startups-for-ai-accelerator-programme-639478.html Fri, 19 Sep 2025 19:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/hydrogen-offers-immense-potential-for-space-missions-transport-clean-energy-isro-chairman-639479.html Bengaluru Sep 19 Hydrogen is set to play a transformative role in Indias space missions transportation and clean energy future said Dr V Narayanan Chairman ISRO on Friday Speaking at a National Workshop on Hydrogen Fuel Technologies and Future Trends at Alliance University Bengaluru in association with the Indian Institute of Science he highlighted the applications of hydrogen in engines and turbines beyond rocketsNarayanan also pointed out Indias advancements in hydrogen technology and the global need to use clean fuelThe world today faces twin challenges the growing demand for energy and the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions In this context hydrogen one of the greenest and cleanest fuels available to us is a beacon of hope It remains key in many of our breakthroughs at ISRO the ISRO chief saidHe noted the successful launch of the GSLV Mk III rocket marking its 100th successful mission in JanuaryIt was powered by a cryogenic stage using liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen a technology once denied to India but now mastered by the country Last year we demonstrated a 100watt oxygenbased fuel cell in space with a 20kilowatt version under testing Narayanan saidBeyond rockets hydrogen has applications in aircraft trains automobiles and fuel cells he addedHe noted how in 201011 ISRO and Tata Motors collaborated to build a hydrogen fuel cellpowered bus which was safely tested despite concerns proving our confidence in the technologyIn June 2025 five hydrogenpowered buses began commercial operations Companies like BHEL and NTPC are now working on hydrogen systems and gas turbine engines Narayanan saidHe also cautioned against ignoring safety risks as hydrogen flames are colourless and dangerous and stressed the urgent need for better hydrogen sensors to millisecondlevel detectionOn the achievements of ISRO in cryogenic engines Narayanan stated that we now have three cryogenic propulsion systems flyingDr Vijay Kumar Saraswat Chairman CIIS and Member NITI Aayog reinforced the call for a robust hydrogen economyIndia must accelerate its journey towards a hydrogen economy if we are to achieve our netzero ambitions Hydrogen offers immense potential across mobility industrial heating and energy generation he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/hydrogen-offers-immense-potential-for-space-missions-transport-clean-energy-isro-chairman-639479.html Fri, 19 Sep 2025 19:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/adani-shares-rally-as-investors-gain-rs-46-000-crore-in-a-single-day-639480.html Mumbai Sep 19 The shares of Adani Group companies staged a strong rally on Friday after market regulator the Securities and Exchange Board of India SEBI gave the conglomerate a clean chit in the Hindenburg case adding over Rs 46000 crore to investors wealth in a single day With this the groups combined market capitalisation jumped to Rs 138 lakh crore marking a major turnaround in sentiment nearly 33 months after the controversy first eruptedThe rally was led by Adani Power which surged 1342 per cent to close at Rs 71610 followed by Adani Total Gas which gained 755 per cent to end at Rs 65280Adani Enterprises Ltd advanced 525 per cent to Rs 2528 while Adani Green Energy climbed 548 per cent to Rs 103250Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone also followed suit and closed higher by 115 per cent at Rs 1429The surge came after SEBI dismissed Hindenburg Researchs allegations ruling that the transactions involving Milestone Tradelinks Rehvar Infrastructure and Adicorp Enterprises did not amount to violations of market regulationsThe regulator clarified that these deals did not fall under relatedparty transactions and complied with listing and disclosure normsReacting to the verdict Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani said on social media platform X that SEBIs detailed probe had reaffirmed what the company had always maintained that Hindenburgs claims were baselessAfter an exhaustive investigation SEBI has reaffirmed what we have always maintained that the Hindenburg claims were baseless Gautam Adani wroteWe deeply feel the pain of the investors who lost money because of this fraudulent and motivated report Those who spread false narratives owe the nation an apology the billionaire industrialist addedHe emphasised that transparency and integrity had been the Groups core values and called for accountability from those who spread misinformationTransparency and integrity have always defined the Adani Group Gautam Adani statedOur commitment to Indias institutions to Indias people and to nation building remains unwavering Adani Group Chairman addedA Supreme Courtappointed expert panel had also earlier found no prima facie evidence of wrongdoing IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/adani-shares-rally-as-investors-gain-rs-46-000-crore-in-a-single-day-639480.html Fri, 19 Sep 2025 19:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/hindustan-copper-ltd-oil-india-join-hands-to-explore-critical-and-strategic-minerals-639484.html New Delhi Sep 19 In a significant development Oil India Limited and Hindustan Copper Limited HCL on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding MoU to cooperate and collaborate for exploration and development of critical and strategic minerals including Copper and associated minerals The move is aimed at strengthening Indias selfreliance in critical and strategic mineral sourcingHindustan Copper Limited a Miniratna PSU under the Ministry of Mines is engaged in mining production processing and marketing of copper and related products The company is currently focused on mining and beneficiation of copper ore and the sale of copper concentrateOil India a Maharatna PSU under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas is a premier integrated oil and gas company with proven expertise in exploration development production and transportation of crude oil and natural gas Recognizing the growing importance of critical minerals OIL has diversified into this sector to complement its core energy portfolioThe MoU was signed and exchanged in the presence of Sanjiv Kumar Singh Chairman and Managing Director of HCL and Dr Ranjit Rath Chairman and Managing Director of Oil India and senior officials of both the companiesThe collaboration between HCL and OIL represents a crucial milestone in Indias pursuit of mineral security Aligned with the objectives of the government of Indias National Critical Mineral Mission this partnership will play a pivotal role in securing strategic mineral resources essential for the nations energy security industrial growth and technological advancement said Ministry of Mines in a statementEarlier this month the Union Cabinet approved a Rs 1500 crore incentive scheme under the National Critical Mineral Mission NCMM to boost Indias recycling capacity for critical minerals from secondary sources such as ewaste lithiumion battery scrap and endoflife vehicle partsBy fostering both new and existing recyclers the initiative aims to build 270 kilo tonnes annual recycling capacity produce 40 kilo tonnes of critical minerals attract around Rs 8000 crore in investments and generate nearly 70000 jobs a strategic step to strengthen supply chain resilience and reduce import dependency according to the governmentCritical minerals are fast becoming the oil of the 21st century scarce strategic and fiercely contested They are the building blocks of a modern economy IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/hindustan-copper-ltd-oil-india-join-hands-to-explore-critical-and-strategic-minerals-639484.html Fri, 19 Sep 2025 19:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/one-in-10blood-cancers-in-kids-driven-by-radiation-exposure-to-medical-imaging-study-639485.html New Delhi Sep 19 While medical imaging can be lifesaving an alarming study showed that one in 10 blood cancers in children is driven by exposure to radiation from medical imaging Medical imaging saves lives by enabling timely diagnosis and effective treatment but it also exposes patients to ionising radiation a known carcinogen particularly through computed tomography CTResearchers from the University of California San Francisco and Davis examined data from nearly four million children and estimated that some 3000 cancers in all may be attributable to radiation exposure from medical imagingThe risk increased proportionally based on the cumulative amount of radiation the children received revealed by the study appearing in The New England Journal of MedicineChildren are particularly vulnerable to radiationinduced cancer due to their heightened radiosensitivity and longer life expectancy said Rebecca SmithBindman radiologist and professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at UCSFThe findings underscore the critical need to carefully evaluate and minimise radiation exposure during paediatric imagingThis involves ensuring that imaging is performed only when it provides essential information for the childs care and in cases such as CT scans using the lowest possible radiation doses said SmithBindmanThe researchers cautioned that doctors and parents should avoid excessive radiation doses and minimise exposure when clinically feasibleThe study used a retrospective cohort design looking back at the complete imaging histories of 37 million children who were born between 1996 and 2016Investigators found a significant relationship between cumulative radiation dose and the risk of a hematologic malignancy which includes tumours affecting the blood bone marrow lymph and lymphatic systemFor children who underwent a head CT the researchers attributed about a quarter of the childrens subsequent hematologic malignancies to radiation exposureFor those who had radiographs by contrast they estimated that only a small fraction of the childrens subsequent cancers were associated with radiation exposureGetting one or two head CTs was associated with a 18fold increased risk of a cancer diagnosis and this rose to 35 times for children who received more scans and were therefore exposed to more radiationLymphoid malignancies accounted for 793 per cent while myeloid malignancies and acute leukemia together accounted for 155 per cent About 58 per cent of cancers occurred in males and about half were diagnosed in children under 5 IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/one-in-10blood-cancers-in-kids-driven-by-radiation-exposure-to-medical-imaging-study-639485.html Fri, 19 Sep 2025 19:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/climate-change-may-up-health-risks-exceed-15-trn-productivity-loss-by-2050-report-639244.html Geneva Sep 18 The rise in global temperatures is likely to cause severe health risks and result in the loss of more than 15 trillion in productivity according to a new report from the World Economic Forum on Thursday The loss will be borne mainly by sectors such as food and agriculture the built environment health and healthcareThe report published ahead of the World Economic Forums Sustainable Development Impact Meetings 2025 arrived as preparations intensify for COP30 in Belém BrazilThe findings highlight that adapting to extreme heat infectious diseases and other health risks accelerating due to climate change is now a strategic business imperativeWe are entering an era in which protecting worker health is proving essential to business continuity and longterm resilience said Eric White Head of Climate Resilience World Economic ForumEvery year we delay embedding resilience into business decisions the risks to human health and productivity climb and the costs of adaptation rise White addedSharing sectorspecific vulnerabilities the report showed that in food and agriculture climate health impacts could lead to 740 billion in lost output triggering serious consequences for global food securityIn the built environment sector climate health impacts are projected to result in productivity losses of 570 billionFurther the health and healthcare sector stands to lose 200 billion in productivity due to workforce climate health illness while rising climatedriven disease rates among the wider population could compound demand pressuresThe insurance industry meanwhile is projected to experience a sharp rise in climate health claimsThe report developed in collaboration with Boston Consulting Group BCG urged companies to act now to protect workforce health build operational resilience and safeguard productivity before the costs of climate adaptation become unmanageableIt showed that investing early in climate health adaptation can benefit beyond risk mitigation unlocking new opportunities for innovation and growth while meeting emerging market needsThis includes developing climateresilient crops that protect food systems heatstable medications that expand medicine availability cooling technologies that keep construction workers safe and new insurance models protecting communities against climate health shocks the report said IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/climate-change-may-up-health-risks-exceed-15-trn-productivity-loss-by-2050-report-639244.html Thu, 18 Sep 2025 16:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/govt-focusing-on-raising-share-of-natural-gas-in-indias-energy-mix-639246.html New Delhi Sep 18 The government plans to accelerate the use of piped natural gas PNG complementing renewables through gasbased power and scaling opportunities in CBG hydrogen and LNG mobility Addressing the ASSOCHAM India Gas Infrastructure Conference Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board PNGRB Secretary Anjan Kumar Mishra said With industry collaboration and policy support we can raise the share of natural gas in Indias energy mix well beyond 15 per cent and make clean affordable energy a reality for every householdLauding the sectors achievements in promoting the ease of doing business including efforts to transition households from LPG to PNG he noted the progress made in laying the groundwork in rural areas and stressed the importance of scaling access and boosting power generation through natural gas A collective commitment is required to build a resilient futureready gas infrastructure aligned with Indias vision for sustainable growth and carbon neutrality he addedMishra said that over the past few years the government has laid the foundation authorising more than 300 geographical areas advancing rural access and fostering ease of doing businessASSOCHAM Task Force on Hydrocarbons CoChairman amp Pipeline Infrastructure Limited MD Akhil Mehrotra emphasised the need for a faster rollout of city gas networks supported by a robust gas to power strategy He called for greater integration of renewables expanded energy storage solutions and a strong mobility ecosystem to drive adoptionIndraprastha Gas Ltds Director Commercial Mohit Bhatia emphasised that the nations vision to achieve a 15 per cent share of natural gas in the energy mix by 2030 is not merely an aspirational figure but a collective mission anchored in actionHighlighting the transformative role of the City Gas Distribution CGD sector he underlined how every new pipeline CNG station and household connection brings the country closer to cleaner air healthier communities and globally competitive industriesBhatia reflected on the growing strength of the global LNG landscape where India has already emerged as the fourthlargest importer and outlined how expanded regasification capacity innovative solutions like SSLNG hubs and transparent gas exchanges will shape the future Stressing natural gas as the bridge fuel for decarbonization he spoke of its pivotal role in reducing industrial emissions modernising logistics and balancing renewable power IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/govt-focusing-on-raising-share-of-natural-gas-in-indias-energy-mix-639246.html Thu, 18 Sep 2025 16:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/millionaire-indian-households-jump-90-pc-to-87-lakh-mumbai-leads-report-639265.html New Delhi Sep 18 Indias millionaire households with net worth over Rs 85 crore surged 90 per cent in number to 871 lakh in 2025 up from 458 lakh in 2021 a report said on Thursday Mumbai is the countrys millionaire capital with 142 lakh wealthy households followed by Delhi with 68200 and Bengaluru with 31600 said a report jointly authored by MercedesBenz and Hurun India Maharashtra leads states with 178 lakh millionaire families backed by a 55 per cent jump in Gross State Domestic Product GSDPThe MBHX a composite measure of MercedesBenz sales new billionaire entrants Sensex performance and GDP has surged nearly 200 per cent signalling resilient wealth creation despite global uncertainties the report notedThe survey revealed that millionaire Indians prefer digital payments with 35 per cent using UPI apps and view stocks real estate and gold as their main investment optionsA recent survey showed that Indias highnetworth HNW families can help the country become a 5 trillion economy by utilising their capital for social impact using impact investing and blended financing techniquesMany HNW families continue to operate in silos and exhibit low retention in impact investing the report from wealth advisory firm Waterfield Advisors and NPO organisation Impact Investors Council IIC saidOf the 316 HNW families who entered impact investing in 2021 just 64 remain active in 2024 the report said Recent surveys showed that the top 1 per cent of Indias wealthiest citizens have parked 60 per cent of their money in real estate and goldThis segment holds 116 trillion in total wealth and 70 per cent of Indias financial assets the report said Indias total household wealth is estimated at 196 trillion out of which 116 trillion or 59 per cent is held by this wealthy segment of the populationThe countrys economy continued its strong momentum in the first quarter of 202526 Q1 FY26 with GDP growing 78 per cent compared to 65 per cent in the same period last year IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/millionaire-indian-households-jump-90-pc-to-87-lakh-mumbai-leads-report-639265.html Thu, 18 Sep 2025 17:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/smartphone-exports-see-55-pc-jump-over-330-million-devices-a-year-being-manufactured-in-india-639268.html New Delhi Sep 18 Smartphone exports surpassed Rs 1 lakh crore in just the first five months of FY 202526 a 55 per cent jump over the same period last year and over 330 million mobile phones a year are being manufactured in India and on average there are about a billion mobile phones in use an official statement said on Thursday In Q2 2025 India overtook China to become the top smartphone exporter to the United States The overall picture is also bright for instance Indias mobile phone manufacturing sector has generated over 12 lakh jobs over the past decade uplifting families and strengthening Indias socioeconomic fabric according to the official statementIndias smartphone market is evolving rapidly with consumer preferences increasingly leaning toward 5G adoption and premium features According to market research 5G smartphone shipments surged to 82 per cent of total shipments last year reflecting a remarkable 49 per cent YoY growth Midrange devices priced between Rs 10000Rs 13000 continue to see strong demand expanding the base for highperformance yet affordable smartphonesAt the same time the premium segment above Rs 25000 witnessed robust growth posting a 26 per cent YoY increase as consumers embrace highperformance devices as lifestyle statements This dynamic demonstrates Indias market adaptability with growth spanning across premium midrange and value segments catering to a diverse and increasingly techsavvy consumer baseAccording to Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Indias journey in electronics manufacturing has evolved through distinct phases beginning with finished goods progressing to subassemblies and now entering the critical phase of deep component manufacturing The sector is steadily advancing into this third phase which marks a significant leap in value addition selfreliance and ecosystem depth Total production of electronics has increased from Rs 19 lakh crore in 201415 to Rs 113 lakh crore in 202425Mobiles have been the crowning accomplishment of the electronics manufacturing sector boom Production of mobile phones has soared from Rs 18000 crore in 201415 to Rs 545 lakh crore in 202425 a 28fold riseIndia is the secondlargest mobile phone manufacturer globally with over 300 manufacturing facilities Tamil Nadu has over 47 manufacturing units of electronics supported under various schemes of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology MeitY as per the official statement IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/smartphone-exports-see-55-pc-jump-over-330-million-devices-a-year-being-manufactured-in-india-639268.html Thu, 18 Sep 2025 18:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/gst-reforms-to-reduce-counterfeit-goods-trade-ficci-cascade-chairman-639274.html New Delhi Sep 18 The GST reforms will lead to a reduction in the trade of counterfeit goods in the country FICCI CASCADE Chairman Anil Rajput said on Thursday Speaking to IANS at an event in the national capital Rajput said FICCI CASCADE organises its annual flagship conference MASCRADE every year which is a movement against smuggling and counterfeiting activitiesHe further said that smuggling and counterfeit goods trade harm the economy and we need to sensitise everyone involved be it policymakers industry or consumersWhen asked about GST 20 Rajput said that it is a transformative reformOne of the reasons for the trade of counterfeit goods is high taxes Therefore the government has reduced the taxes with the GST reform This will help us reduce the trade of counterfeit goods in several sectors Rajput notedThe GST 20 reforms will reduce household tax burdens support MSMEs and combat illicit tradeAccording to a report by FICCI CASCADE and Thought Arbitrage Research Institute TARI the number of items taxed at 5 per cent rose from 54 categories under GST 10 to 149 reducing the effective GST incidence for rural families from 603 per cent to 427 per cent and for urban households from 638 per cent to 438 per centFor businesses especially MSMEs GST 20 introduces rationalised rates that address distortions caused by the inverted duty structure Sectors critical for rural employment and manufacturingsuch as tractors farm machinery fertilizers textiles handicrafts auto components and construction inputsare now subject to lower more rational rates the report saidThis change unlocks blocked input tax credits freeing up working capital and enhancing competitiveness Digitalfirst compliance measures including riskbased assessments automated realtime refunds and quicker dispute resolution through the newly established GST Appellate Tribunal GSTAT will aid formalisation of the economyThe report said that moderating the standard slab to 18 per cent and shifting essentials to the 5 per cent bracket reduces price gaps that encourage smuggling and counterfeiting thereby aiding in the formalisation of the economyShortterm revenue losses are anticipated but the doubling of indirect tax collections and growth in taxpayers under GST 10 indicate potential longterm fiscal benefits it notedNoting that the 40 per cent slab for demerit goods particularly tobacco risks perpetuating illicit markets FICCI CASCADE urged that a balanced approach to demerit taxation is essential to disincentivise smuggling IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/gst-reforms-to-reduce-counterfeit-goods-trade-ficci-cascade-chairman-639274.html Thu, 18 Sep 2025 18:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/know-all-about-brain-eating-amoeba-infection-that-claimed-19-lives-in-kerala-639278.html New Delhi Sep 18 Exposure to contaminated water is a major reason for infection from a braineating amoeba that has claimed the lives of 19 people including children as young as three years old in Kerala said doctors calling for avoiding swimming in lakes and other water bodies Amoebic meningitisis a rare but fatal central nervous system infection caused by freeliving amoebae Naegleria fowleri also known as the braineating amoeba found in freshwater lakes and riversKerala has recorded 61 confirmed cases of the brain infection and 19 deaths among patients ranging from a threemonthold infant to a 91yearoldThe amoebiosis or amoebic meningitis is a rare disease which is very difficult to diagnose It is one of the Acute Encephalitis Syndrome AES where the diagnosis is very difficult There are no dedicated diagnostic techniques used almost all over the world to detect the condition Dr TS Anish Professor and nodal officer Kerala One Health Centre for Nipah Research and Resilience in Kozhikode Government Medical College told IANSHowever the Nipah outbreak led to the development of a dedicated system that can diagnose as many AES cases as possible It demonstrated an increase in the cases of amoebic meningitis the expert saidHe blamed global warming and climate change for the rise in the number of infectionsThermophilic organisms will definitely grow when the temperature of water bodies increases And there are pollution issues in our water bodies Anish saidThe expert also informed that the death rate due to the disease is low in Kerala it is one of the lowest rates in amoebic meningitis reported all over the worldAmoebic meningitis caused by Naegleria fowleri amoeba has a global death rate of somewhere around 97 to 98 per cent Any type of amoebic meningitis has a high death rate maybe up to 60 to 70 per cent but in Kerala it is almost only 20 per cent That may be because of the early detection Anish saidNeurologist Dr Anshu Rohatgi from a leading citybased hospital linked the outbreak of the disease to rapid urbanisation swimming in water which has not been disinfected or not been chlorinatedThis Naegleria fowleri amoeba enters through the nasal spaces nasal airways and it goes into the brain and it causes an amoebic meningoencephalitis he saidAccording to the health experts the condition is completely treatable and curable if detected earlyThis meningoencephalitis if it is not treated has a 100 per cent fatality But in Kerala because there is a high index of suspicion more and more cases are being diagnosed early added RohatgiRohatgi noted that the important point in identifying the infection is to do a lumbar puncture or a CSF Cerebrospinal Fluid examination a medical procedure in which a needle is inserted into the spinal canalFurther Anish said that the disease is not that rare but it is very rarely diagnosed in most parts of IndiaHe cited a study conducted at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research PGIMER in Chandigarh between 2014 and 2022 which investigated amoebic meningitis in a sample of 156 patients with suspected meningoencephalitisFreeliving amoebae FLA were detected by PCR in 11 of the 156 patient samplesAnish explained that people with a history of CSF rhinorrhoea where fluid that normally surrounds the brain leaks through the nose could be vulnerable to the disease People who underwent some surgical procedures in the brain or skull could also be at riskThe experts noted that the infection does not spread from person to person Swallowing water containing the amoeba does not lead to it either They urged people to avoid swimming in ponds or in rivers that are likely to be polluted They also suggested avoiding rinsing the nostrils with water which is not boiled IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/know-all-about-brain-eating-amoeba-infection-that-claimed-19-lives-in-kerala-639278.html Thu, 18 Sep 2025 18:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/online-gaming-acts-rules-to-come-into-effect-from-oct-1-minister-639312.html New Delhi Sep 18 Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday said that the rules under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Games Act 2025 will take effect on October 1 After the bill was passed by the Parliament the government resumed talks with stakeholders such as banks gaming companies and other organisations the minister said Vaishnaw said that the government had been in talks with industry stakeholders for almost three years He emphasised that the government is willing to give additional time if the industry requests it and mentioned that a final round of consultations will take place before implementation startsFor almost everything we do our government believes in a highly consultative process he statedThe act which was notified on August 22 outlaws online realmoney games in India whether they are categorised as skill or chance gamesIt is now illegal to offer or take part in such games and there is no bailA major change from previous regulations which were primarily influenced by state laws and court rulings that distinguished skillbased games from gambling the legislation was introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 20 and passed in two daysEarlier on Thursday the Minister at a preevent of the AI Impact Summit 2026 announced that the government will establish over 500 data labs nationwide as part of the India AI Mission to increase artificial intelligence AI talent and infrastructureHe said the initiative is part of the larger IndiaAI mission and eight new companies including Tech Mahindra Fractal Analytics and IIT Bombay consortium Bharatgen have been selected to build large language models LLMsUnder the IndiaAI mission the government has allocated Rs 9886 crore to an IIT Bombayled consortium to build a 1 trillion parameter LLM In LLMs that extract linguistic relations and patterns from training data internal variables are called parametersThe IndiaAI Mission is the Centres initiative to develop autonomous AI capabilities through sectorspecific AI applications sovereign LLMs GPUs and capacity projects 10300 crore was approved earlier this year IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/online-gaming-acts-rules-to-come-into-effect-from-oct-1-minister-639312.html Thu, 18 Sep 2025 23:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/sensex-nifty-make-strong-gains-amid-positive-cues-after-us-fed-rate-cut-639147.html Mumbai Sep 18 The Indian benchmark indices opened higher on Thursday on the back of positive global cues as the US Federal Reserve eased rates by 25 bps As of 924 am the Sensex was up 347 points or 042 per cent at 83041 and the Nifty was up 89 points or 035 per cent at 25419The Federal Reserve resumed interest rates cut cycle by reducing rates by 25 basis points to a target range of 40425 per cent citing shifting risk dynamics in the economy Fed officials projected two additional rate cuts this year forecasting rates to reach 350375 per cent by the end of 2025The rate cuts were anticipated as concerns intensified over weak labour market data and high inflationThe broad cap indices Nifty Midcap 100 inched up by 008 per cent and the Nifty Small cap 100 jumped 068 per centTech Mahindra 110 per cent ICICI Bank TCS Bajaj Finserv Trent were among major gainers on the Nifty while losers were Hindalco Bajaj Finance Apollo Hospitals SBI and SBI Life InsuranceAmong sectoral indices Nifty IT the top gainer jumped 15 per cent Nifty Realty up 066 per cent and Nifty Pharma up 037 per cent were the other notable gainers Except metal all other sectoral indices were trading in the greenThe Nifty 50 held firmly above the 25300 mark in the previous session reinforcing psychological strength and signaling investor comfort at higher levelsAnalysts said that the index now shows potential upside momentum with resistance expected around the 2540025500 zone The support remains intact at 2500024900 zonesSince the labour market is cooling and the GDP growth projection for 2025 is only 16 per cent perhaps two more cuts are possible this year said VK Vijayakumar Chief Investment Strategist Geojit Investments LimitedThe ongoing rally in the Indian market is driven by expectations of earnings revival and a positive outcome from the IndiaUS trade negotiations he addedAsiaPacific markets were largely in the green zone after US President Donald Trump said that the USChina trade negotiations are progressing well Major US indices declined modestly overnight as the Nasdaq dipped 033 per cent the SampP 500 lost 010 per cent and the Dow inched up 057 per centMost of the Asian markets made strong gains during the morning session While Chinas Shanghai index advanced 041 per cent and Shenzhen jumped 109 per cent Japans Nikkei edged up 109 per cent while Hong Kongs Hang Seng Index dipped 008 per cent South Koreas Kospi added 1 per centOn Wednesday foreign institutional investors FIIs net sold equities worth Rs 1124 crore while domestic institutional investors DIIs were net buyers of equities worth Rs 2293 crore IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/sensex-nifty-make-strong-gains-amid-positive-cues-after-us-fed-rate-cut-639147.html Thu, 18 Sep 2025 10:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/combined-value-of-listed-firms-on-bse-hits-11-month-high-at-rs-465-lakh-crore-639156.html Mumbai Sep 18 The combined value of all Bombay Stock Exchangelisted companies has crossed Rs 465 lakh crore marking its highest level in 11 months This surge was fuelled by a widespread rally and renewed optimism regarding the resumption of IndiaUS trade talks and the US Fed rate cut The figure is currently just 27 per cent shy of the alltime peak recorded on September 27 2024 with nearly Rs 20 lakh crore added since the beginning of SeptemberPotential easing by the Reserve Bank of India RBI in October also boosted investor sentiments as domestic inflation showed signs of softeningBenchmark indices Sensex and Nifty rose around 35 per cent this month closing the gap to record highs seen on September 26 2024Stateowned firms played a huge role in the recent rally driving the BSE PSU Index up by 75 per cent even as the BSE 500 gained 5 per cent BSE Auto rose by 9 per cent BSE Bankex up 68 per cent BSE Metal added 81 per cent and Oil amp Gas went up 45 per centMidcap and smallcap stocks also showed strong performance with the BSE MidCap index rising 47 per cent and SmallCap edging up by 6 per centAnalysts said that the Indian stock market is unlikely to be impacted by the US Fed decision They said that the ongoing rally in the market is driven by expectations of earnings revival of Indian corporatesAccording to market watchers there is a high likelihood of above 15 per cent growth in corporate earnings in FY27 due to GST reforms leading to a turnaround in FPI sentimentsHowever others maintain that valuations remain high but earnings momentum is set to improve driven by banks NBFCs and the consumption sectorsMeanwhile the Nifty 50 held firmly above the 25300 mark in the previous session reinforcing psychological strength and signalling investor comfort at higher levelsAnalysts said that the index now shows potential upside momentum with resistance expected around the 2540025500 zone The support remains intact at 2500024900 zones IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/combined-value-of-listed-firms-on-bse-hits-11-month-high-at-rs-465-lakh-crore-639156.html Thu, 18 Sep 2025 11:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/centre-to-help-itis-become-ai-driven-training-centres-fm-sitharaman-639180.html New Delhi Sep 18 The Union government plans to transform Industrial Training Institutes ITIs across the country into Artificial Intelligence AIdriven training centres Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Thursday Addressing the Indian Foundation for Quality Managements IFQM second annual symposium in the national capital Sitharaman said that the government has been focussed on skilling and upskilling for the last two to three years and has made provisions for it in the annual budgetsShe noted that as the ITIs were not adding to the rapidly changing production environment the central government launched a hubandspoke model to upgrade themSo if these ITIs were to adopt the hub and spoke model within the state we will be able to provide them the entire money required for upgrading these places for AIdriven training centres the FM saidThe government has identified some institutes of excellence such as the IITs or the Indian Institute of Science for setting up institutions of excellence for AIrelated RampD and also training she addedFM Sitharaman explained that the budget aimed to ensure that AIdriven skills are given to youngsters at the ground level even if they are school dropouts or pass outs or had finished some kind of a qualification and have some degree but today want to acquire the AIrelated skillsAll such people will be entertained in the ITIbased formulation that will come up These hubs will provide handson AI training to students she said adding that many states are keen to develop the modelPointing out the need to urgently upskill Indias youth to make them ready for quick and direct employment after completing their education the finance minister sought the private sectors participation in itHow to bridge the human resource insufficiencies not adequately trained not the kind of degree I want The rounding off of the personalities is missing The degree is there but the individual is not groomed adequately enough to be a part of the large multinationals or Indian companies that you are talking about That element has to be done by all of us I would want private sector participation together with the government in readying youth to be fit for quick and direct employment Sitharaman said IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/centre-to-help-itis-become-ai-driven-training-centres-fm-sitharaman-639180.html Thu, 18 Sep 2025 12:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/scientists-find-brain-mechanism-behind-infant-parent-bonding-639188.html New Delhi Sep 17 Israeli researchers have discovered that the protein oxytocin plays a key role in how young brains respond to parental separation helping shape emotional development from a very early age Researchers from the Weizmann Institute of Science developed a noninvasive method to silence specific brain cells in mouse pups without disturbing their natural behaviour Xinhua news agency reportedUsing this technology the team uncovered how oxytocin activity in the brain influences the way pups cope with being separated from their mothersOxytocin is often called the love hormone because it helps promote social bonding While most studies have focused on adults the new research shows that oxytocin also affects the emotional behaviour of young animalsDuring temporary separation from their mothers mouse pups with an active oxytocin system adapted more easily and cried less Pups whose oxytocin system was turned off did not adapt They continued emitting distress calls at the same rate until reunited with their mothersIn the study published in the journal Science the researchers also found that oxytocin influences how pups behave after reunion Those with active oxytocin systems called more frequently and showed a unique pattern of vocalisations that signaled a need for closeness followed by calmnessThe team also discovered early differences between females and malesFemale pups were more affected by changes in oxytocin activity suggesting that emotional development may begin to diverge between the sexes earlier than previously thought the researchers saidThe researchers noted that the study provides a new understanding of how early life experiences and brain chemistry shape future emotional and social behaviourIt may also offer clues for future research into conditions such as autism where these developmental processes may go off track according to the study IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/scientists-find-brain-mechanism-behind-infant-parent-bonding-639188.html Thu, 18 Sep 2025 12:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/lupin-receives-us-fda-approval-for-its-generic-cancer-drug-639192.html New Delhi Sep 18 Indian pharma major Lupin announced that the US Food and Drug Administration has approved its abbreviated new drug application for Lenalidomide capsules in strengths of 25 mg to 25 mg for cancer patients Lenalidomide has been approved for treatment of adult patients with multiple myeloma a deadly blood cancer when used with dexamethasone as maintenance therapy after autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation the company said in an exchange filingIt is also indicated for transfusiondependent anaemia in low or intermediate1risk myelodysplastic syndromes linked to a deletion 5q abnormalityLenalidomide capsules are a generic version of Revlimid capsules developed by American multinational BristolMyers Squibb CompanyThe product will be manufactured at Lupins Pithampur facility in Madhya Pradesh the statement addedLupin announced that its generic product will provide a costeffective alternative to RevlimidLenalidomide capsules 25 mg 5 mg 10 mg 15 mg 20 mg and 25 mg RLD Revlimid had estimated annual sales of 7511 million in the US the company saidLupin headquartered in Mumbai operates as a global pharmaceutical company in more than 100 markets and focuses on branded and generic formulations complex generics biotechnology products and active pharmaceutical ingredientsThe company has 15 manufacturing sites and seven research centres globally with over 24000 employeesLupin had recently also received the US administrations approval for Minzoya a generic contraceptive tabletThe drug remains a generic equivalent of Balcoltra developed by USbased Avion Pharmaceuticals LLC Minzoya will also be manufactured at Lupins Pithampur facilityMeanwhile Lupins shares on Thursday dipped marginally to Rs 203050 down Rs 070 or 003 per cent from the previous days closeOver the past five trading days the stock has been down Rs 530 or 026 per cent Over the past month the pharma giants shares have gained Rs 6230 or 317 per cent IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/lupin-receives-us-fda-approval-for-its-generic-cancer-drug-639192.html Thu, 18 Sep 2025 13:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/maternity-breaks-workplace-bias-drive-gender-pay-gap-in-india-report-639202.html New Delhi Sep 18 Nearly half of jobseekers 45 per cent believe that Indias gender pay gap exceeds 20 per cent with maternityrelated career breaks and workplace bias cited as the top drivers a survey report said on Thursday According to a Naukri survey across 80 industries 51 per cent of professionals identified maternity breaks as the primary cause of pay disparity between gendersAround 27 per cent pointed to workplace bias the way women are perceived at workThe views of respondents were strongest in IT 56 per cent pharma 55 per cent and automobiles 53 per cent sectorsProfessionals with 510 years of experience 54 per cent and those with 1015 years 53 per cent reported the most pronounced impact of career breaks the report saidHalf of all surveyed professionals flagged IT as the industry with the widest gender pay gapSectors like aviation 57 per cent education 52 per cent far outpaced real estate 21 per cent FMCG 18 per cent and banking 12 per cent in terms of pay gap perceptions Traditional industries such as Oil amp Gas and Retail offered a more positive outlookThe perception of the gender pay gap was particularly strong among younger professionals freshers and midlevel professionals identifying IT as the biggest offender the report saidTechnology hubs Hyderabad 59 per cent and Bengaluru 58 per cent topped concerns about IT pay inequitiesThe survey found that senior professionals view the gender pay gap more starkly Nearly half of respondents with 1015 years 46 per cent and 15 years 47 per cent of experience said the gap remains above 20 per centProfessionals overwhelmingly responded that performanceled promotions could bridge the pay gap Biasfree and transparent hiring 27 per cent and transparent pay practices 21 per cent were also widely endorsed particularly in city clusters like Noida and Gurgaon where calls for pay transparency were the strongest IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/maternity-breaks-workplace-bias-drive-gender-pay-gap-in-india-report-639202.html Thu, 18 Sep 2025 14:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/public-sector-insurers-post-15-pc-premium-growth-at-rs-6-496-crore-in-aug-report-639203.html New Delhi Sep 18 Indias public sector general insurers maintained their faster growth rate for the eleventh consecutive month in August registering a 15 per cent yearonyear growth in premium at Rs 6496 crore a report said on Thursday The public sector insurers premium amount stood at Rs 56495 crore in the same month a year earlier Aug 2024The growth is largely driven by renewals in the fire engineering health and motor thirdparty segments CareEdge ratings said in its reportHowever the switch to the 1n rule due to GST reforms has affected overall headline growthThe nonlife insurance sector continued to experience a slowdown in premium growth till the month with total collections reaching Rs 249530 crore a modest 16 per cent rise YoY compared to a 42 per cent increase in August 2024At the same time private nonlife insurers including SAHI or standalone health insurers retained their dominant 70 per cent market share in August 2024 and August 2025 up from 68 per cent in August 2023On an annual basis private insurers continued to hold the majority share at 648 per cent as of August 2025 although this is slightly lower than the 664 per cent share reported a year agoMeanwhile the share of public sector insurers increased to 352 per cent from 336 per cent in August 2024The report highlighted that health insurance remains the largest segment within the nonlife insurance industry It has recorded a 143 per cent growth in premium from Rs 8038 crore in August 2024 to Rs 91837 crore in August this yearThe group health segment grew the fastest in yeartodate YTD FY26 driven by policy renewals and premium hikes amid rising medical inflationHowever growth moderated to 100 per cent down from 167 per cent in the same period last year Retail health insurance growth moderated to 85 per cent in YTD FY26 down from the 183 per cent pace seen in YTD FY25 IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/public-sector-insurers-post-15-pc-premium-growth-at-rs-6-496-crore-in-aug-report-639203.html Thu, 18 Sep 2025 14:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/type-5-diabetes-why-the-malnutrition-related-conditionneeds-to-be-formally-recognised-639204.html New Delhi Sep 18 Formally recognising Type5 diabetes a lesserknown malnutritionrelated form of diabetes can help develop diagnostic criteria and aid in effective management of the condition affecting an estimated six million people in India and 25 million worldwide global experts outlined in a new article published in The Lancet Global Health journal on Thursday Type5 diabetes is a type of diabetes that typically affects lean and malnourished teenagers and young adults in low and middleincome countries It is estimated to affect 20 to 25 million people worldwide mainly in Asia and AfricaIt is more common in lowresource settings and in regions with a higher prevalence of undernutrition An individual with a history of intrauterine undernutrition followed by persistent undernutrition in adulthood is postulated to be at high risk of type 5 diabetes Meredith Hawkins Professor of Medicine at the Global Diabetes Institute at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York US told IANSIt is estimated that approximately about 6 million people in India have type 5 diabetes given 101 million people with diabetes in India with about 6 per cent of those with diabetes being underweight she addedThe condition now known as type 5 diabetes has been reported in many low and middleincome countries LMICs including India Bangladesh Sri Lanka Ethiopia Rwanda Uganda Nigeria and Indonesia over the past 70 years This led the World Health Organization to classify this condition as malnutritionrelated diabetes mellitus in 1985 however this classification was removed in 1999As a result research and funding opportunities became limited which later also caused confusion and inconsistency in diagnostic reportsEstablishing formal recognition with standardised diagnostic criteria wouldhelp bring clarity and consistency to how the disease is defined across different healthcare settings It would also increase awareness among clinicians leading to improved screening and diagnosis especially in individuals who might currently be misclassified as having Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes A structured and evidencebased definition is crucial for the accurate identification and effective management of type 5 diabetes Hawkins saidWhat are the symptoms of Type 5 diabetesHawkins explained that Type 5 diabetes primarily affects individuals under the age of 30 from lower socioeconomic backgrounds particularly in regions with a high prevalence of chronic undernutritionThese individuals typically present with a body mass index BMI below 185 kgm² in contrast to those with type 2 diabetes who are often overweight or obeseClinically patients with type 5 diabetes show symptoms similar to both type 1 and type 2 diabetes including excessive urination polyuria increased hunger polyphagia and excessive thirst polydipsia However the clinical presentation of type 5 diabetes differs from types 1 and 2 diabetes in that patients with type 5 diabetes may exhibit signs of severe undernutrition and dehydration such as sunken eyes stunting wasting pallor and fatigue the noted researcher saidIn addition unlike type 1 diabetes individuals with type 5 diabetes do not have a history of diabetic ketoacidosis characterised by rapid and deep breathing with acetone breath nausea and vomitingBiochemically these patients are insulin sensitive unlike those with type 2 diabetes who are more commonly insulin resistant Their serum insulin levels are lower than those seen in type 2 diabetes but higher than in type 1 diabetes The islet cell antibodies commonly present in type 1 diabetes are also absent in type 5 diabetes Hawkins told IANSNotably type 5 diabetes is often very poorly controlled so patients commonly have severe hyperglycaemia which in addition to vitamin deficiency may lead to complications such as peripheral neuropathyIf individuals with type 5 diabetes are misdiagnosed as type 1 diabetes and are prescribed large doses of insulin they can be at high risk of severe hypoglycaemia due to high insulin doses in addition to preexisting food insecurity On the other hand if these individuals are misdiagnosed as type 2 diabetes and are prescribed medications such as GLP1 agonists resultant weight loss can be detrimental to them as they are already undernourished More research is needed to understand the longterm complications of type 5 diabetes Hawkins saidWith the formal recognition a diagnostic criterion will be developed for type 5 diabetes which can then be applied to diverse populations It will also help develop recommendations for managing type 5 diabetes tailored for use in various healthcare settingsRachel V Thomas can be contacted at Racheltiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/type-5-diabetes-why-the-malnutrition-related-conditionneeds-to-be-formally-recognised-639204.html Thu, 18 Sep 2025 14:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/indias-contribution-to-global-gdp-growth-to-reach-9-pc-by-2035-govt-official-639218.html Mumbai Sep 18 Indias dominance in the global economy is rapidly increasing and the countrys share in global GDP growth will increase to 9 per cent by 2035 up from 65 per cent in 2024 M Nagaraju Secretary Department of Financial Services Ministry of Finance said on Thursday Addressing the gathering at the annual infrastructure conclave 2025 organised by the National Bank for Financial Infrastructure and Development NABFID here M Nagaraju said that even in an environment of global uncertainty the countrys economy is progressing rapidly and remains the fastestgrowing economy in the worldHe further said that the countrys economy has been growing at an average annual growth rate of 8 per cent for the past four years and the most recent quarterly GDP growth was 78 per cent the highest in the last five quartersAccording to the Secretary Indias external sector is also performing well and the current account deficit in the last quarter was only 05 per cent of the GDPThe countrys net services exports are also growing rapidly and due to all these strong factors the country can become a developed nation by 2047 the 100th anniversary of IndependenceThis macroeconomic success story sets a solid foundation for our infrastructure ambitions It tells the world that Indias growth is not only resilient but also driven by reforms and prudent policies making us a key engine of global growth and a potential leader in shaping the postpandemic global economic order he notedComplementing the economys strength Indian banking and the financial sector have emerged as pillars of resilienceIn fiscal year 202425 public sector banks have outpaced private sector banks in credit growth This has never happened before in more than a decadeAdditionally NonPerforming Assets NPAs have fallen below one per cent and the capital adequacy ratio is also above regulatory standards indicating that Indias banking sector is in strong shapeOverall these trends point to a strong adequately capitalised financial system that is wellpositioned to meet the aspirations of a developed India IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/indias-contribution-to-global-gdp-growth-to-reach-9-pc-by-2035-govt-official-639218.html Thu, 18 Sep 2025 15:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/data-of-nearly-3-million-lotte-card-customers-leaked-639220.html Seoul Sep 18 Lotte Card Co the countrys fifthlargest card issuer said on Thursday that personal data of some 3 million customers has been leaked in a hacking incident last month but there has yet to be any report of improper use Lotte Card said the leaked data estimated at 200 gigabytes included identification numbers internal identification numbers and connecting informationThe leaked data also included card verification codes card numbers and card validity period of some 280000 customers critical information that may expose their owners to credit card fraud according to the company reports Yonhap news agencyLotte Card CEO Cho Jwajin issued a public apology and announced response measures including full compensation for any reported damage caused by improper use of stolen dataLeaked data was created in the online settlement process via online servers between July 22 and August 27 Cho saidThe CEO stressed that leaked data cannot be improperly used for offline settlements Additional identification processes are necessary for online settlements so improper card uses are difficult with only breached dataEarlier this month Lotte Card with some 96 million members disclosed a cyber breach Since then the financial watchdog and the card company have been struggling to gauge the damage caused by the hackingLotte Cards data breach is the latest in a series of massive cyber breach cases in the financial sector Earlier Seoul Guarantee Insurance had suffered a similar hacking incidentLotte Cards cybersecurity lapse also came as Financial Supervisory Service Gov Lee Chanjin has been calling on financial firms to beef up their cybersecurity and better safeguard customersMeanwhile the science ministry here has launched an official probe into a purported attempt to sell personal data allegedly leaked from South Koreas top mobile carrier SK Telecom Co The move came after a global hacking group Scattered Lapsus posted on its Telegram channel that it would sell SK Telecoms client data for US10000 adding that 42 South Koreans had already made contactThe government also recently launched a probe against No 2 mobile carrier KT Corp which reported a total of 278 cases of unauthorized mobile payments worth 170 million won 122000 raising concerns over a possible leak of customer data IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/data-of-nearly-3-million-lotte-card-customers-leaked-639220.html Thu, 18 Sep 2025 15:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/gst-20-gives-booster-shot-to-textiles-logistics-sectors-639222.html New Delhi Sep 18 The rationalisation of Goods and Services Tax under GST 20 marks a significant reform aimed at removing structural anomalies reducing costs and boosting demand in the textile and logistics industries both of which are vital for domestic growth employment and export competitiveness according to an official statement on Thursday By aligning tax rates across the value chain the GST reform ensures affordability for consumers sustains jobs in labourintensive sectors and enhances Indias ability to compete globally In the textile sector the rationalisation strengthens the entire value chain from fibre to garment by reducing distortions improving garment affordability reviving retail demand and supporting export competitiveness the statement explainedThe reduction in GST will lead to making apparel more affordable for middle and lowincome households which will stimulating domestic demand with significant impact in small towns and rural regionsGST on readymade garments up to Rs 2500 per piece is now 5 per cent making apparel more affordable and boosting domestic demandGST on manmade fibres and yarns cut from 12 per cent and 18 per cent to 5 per cent removes inverted duty structure and strengthens Small and Medium Enterprises while the reduction in GST on carpets and other textile floor coverings from 12 per cent to 5 per cent will enhance global competitiveness according to the statementSimilarly cut in GST on commercial goods vehicles from 28 per cent to 18 per cent will bring down logistics costs and support exportsThe GST reforms also extend to the transport sector which plays a crucial role in reducing logistics costs and supporting industrial growth Trucks and delivery vans which carry nearly 6570 per cent of Indias goods traffic benefit significantly from tax rationalisation Cheaper freight movement reduced cost per tonnekm benefits the transport of textile FMCG and ecommerce deliveriesThe cascading effect of lower logistics cost helps reduce overall price pressures and bring down inflation Besides lower logistics costs make Indian textiles more competitive abroadThe GST rationalisation across textiles and logistics sectors is a decisive step towards strengthening Indias manufacturing base improving affordability and boosting exports By reducing structural anomalies and easing cost pressures these reforms directly benefit consumers small businesses and exporters alike They reinforce the vision of a globally competitive India powered by resilient supply chains and a thriving textile sector the statement added IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/gst-20-gives-booster-shot-to-textiles-logistics-sectors-639222.html Thu, 18 Sep 2025 15:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/indian-pharma-companies-revenue-to-grow-7-9-pc-in-fy26-amidst-us-market-risks-report-639225.html New Delhi Sep 18 The Indian pharmaceutical sector is expected to achieve 79 per cent revenue growth in FY 2026 driven by strong domestic and European demand despite a significant slowdown in its US market a report said on Thursday Ratings agency ICRA in a report said that global headwinds and regulatory uncertainties cast a shadow over its largest export market in the US but 810 per cent growth is expected in the domestic market with 1012 per cent growth in EuropeThe operating profit margins of the companies are expected to remain resilient at 2425 per cent in FY26 broadly in line with 246 per cent in FY25 aided by favourable raw material prices improved operating leverage and a rising share of specialty productsUS revenues are anticipated to moderate with YoY growth slowing 35 per cent from nearly 10 per cent in FY 2025 the report saidICRAs sample set companies recorded 103 per cent YoY growth in Q1 FY26 driven by market share gains in chronic therapies new product introductions and regular price hikes despite subdued volume growth for branded generics partly due to rising genericisation said Kinjal Shah Senior Vice President amp CoGroup Head ICRAICRA maintained a stable outlook on the sector due to its steady revenue growth and earnings trajectory underpinned by healthy balance sheets strong liquidity and robust operating profit margins OPMThe ratings agency said that domestic drug sales are boosted by sales force expansion improved productivity of medical representatives deeper rural distribution new product launches and recent GST exemptions on lifesaving drugsResearch and development RampD spending is projected to remain steady at 67 per cent of revenues with companies increasingly focusing on complex molecules and specialty products over generics IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/indian-pharma-companies-revenue-to-grow-7-9-pc-in-fy26-amidst-us-market-risks-report-639225.html Thu, 18 Sep 2025 15:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/govt-bond-yields-may-dip-10-bps-by-november-amid-stable-inflation-oil-prices-638980.html New Delhi Sep 17 Benchmark Indian bond yields are expected to ease slightly over the next three months driven by favourable inflation data and stable oil prices a report said on Wednesday The 10year government bond yield which stood at 659 per cent on August 31 is expected to inch down to the 642 per cent652 per cent range by the end of September and to 638 per cent648 per cent by November end said the report from research firm Crisil IntelligenceState development loan yields are expected to ease from 723 per cent to the 715 per cent725 per cent range by November while 10year corporate bond yields may fall from 719 per cent to the 708 per cent718 per cent rangeCrisil reported that benign oil prices are offsetting the effects of geopolitical risks and a slowdown in global growth Key factors influencing yields are the upcoming US Federal Open Market Committee decision domestic market liquidity averaging Rs 284 lakh crore in August ongoing USIndia trade negotiations and volatile foreign capital inflowsBetween July 1 and September 8 Foreign Institutional Investors sold Indian equities totalling Rs 102 lakh crore with Rs 7800 crore sold in the first six sessions of SeptemberThere is a low likelihood of the Monetary Policy Committee MPC of the Reserve Bank of India RBI cutting the repo rate in its October meeting as the Central Bank has announced a pause and indicated any further intervention would be datadependent the report saidActual fiscal impact will be smaller than expected due to recent Goods and Services Tax GST rationalisation it addedIndias Q1 GDP growth reached 78 per cent and the governments decision to simplify the GST structure is set to release about Rs 50000 crore into the economy boosting domestic consumptionSBI Capital Markets had recently said that fiscal stress in the US and the UK is adding complexity to global trade tensions with rising debt burdens pushing bond yield curves steeper IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/govt-bond-yields-may-dip-10-bps-by-november-amid-stable-inflation-oil-prices-638980.html Wed, 17 Sep 2025 14:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/pm-modi-should-continue-to-serve-when-independent-india-turns-100-mukesh-ambani-638988.html New Delhi Sep 17 Prime Minister Narendra Modi should continue to serve when independent India turns 100 said industrialist Mukesh Ambani while extending wishes on PMs 75th birthday on Wednesday Mukesh Ambani the Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries and Reliance Retail lauded PM Modi for working tirelessly to transform India into a global superpowerIt is not a coincidence that Modi Jis Amrit Mahotsav is coming in Bharats Amrit Kaal It is my deepest wish that Modi Ji should continue to serve India when independent India turns 100 he addedAmbani said that PM Modis efforts are working to turn India into a global superpowerI have never seen a leader who worked so tirelessly for a better future for India and Indians Ambani saidHe first transformed Gujarat into an economic powerhouse Now he is transforming the whole of India into a global superpower I join all my 145 crore fellow Indians in wishing our Prime Minister a happy birthday and praying for his continuous good health Jai Shri Krishna Jai Hind he addedEarlier Kotak Mahindra Bank director Uday Kotak lauded PM Modis habit of learning from global best practices and adapting them for India to lead the country towards a developed nationCalling every interaction with the Prime Minister an experience filled with learning and inspiration Kotak said what impressed him most about PM Modi was the way he blends vision with execution and curiosity with humilityBharti Enterprises Founder and Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal hailed the forwardthinking technologyfirst approach of the Prime Minister which has laid a strong foundation to use technology for inclusive progressAccording to Kumar Mangalam Birla Chairman of the Aditya Birla Group PM Modi always wants to know how the economy is doing and what should be done to get the private sector to invest moreHe is also a very keen listener so if he asks you a question he will very patiently listen to what you have to say absorb it Birla saidPM Modis 75th birthday is being celebrated with nationwide events and the launch of health welfare and development programmes It has become a national moment of celebration marked by a wave of greetings and tributes from political leaders across the country IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/pm-modi-should-continue-to-serve-when-independent-india-turns-100-mukesh-ambani-638988.html Wed, 17 Sep 2025 15:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/mobikwik-fraud-triggers-demand-for-deeper-probe-into-fintech-platforms-638998.html New Delhi Sep 17 A major fraud of around Rs 40 crore has raised serious concerns about the safety of fintech platforms after Gurugram Police arrested six people for exploiting a technical glitch in the MobiKwik app The incident has triggered calls for a deeper investigation into why such glitches are frequently occurring putting millions of users at riskAccording to police the glitch in the MobiKwik app allowed transactions to be recorded as successful even when users had insufficient balances in their bank accounts or wallets or when incorrect passwords were enteredThe accused allegedly misused this flaw to transfer money to their bank accounts causing heavy losses of around Rs 40 croreIndustry experts said the MobiKwik case is not an isolated one In August Policybazaar Insurance Brokers Private Limited also lodged a complaint with Gurugram Police after fraudsters impersonated its employees forged documents and misused the companys ID cards and email IDs to cheat customersIn that case at least 11 customers were duped into paying amounts ranging from Rs 8510 to Rs 35000 with the total fraud amounting to Rs 208 lakhExperts warn that repeated cases of such technical flaws and fraudulent activities in fintech platforms could undermine consumer trustThey have urged regulatory bodies and government agencies like the ED and CBI to carry out a thorough probe into why these vulnerabilities continue to surface and whether there are deeper systemic risks involvedIn Mobikwik case police officials said that about 2500 bank accounts were linked to the fraud all of which have now been frozenNearly Rs 8 crore has already been recovered The six accused identified as Rehan Mohammad Sakil Wakar Yunus Wasim Akram Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Ansar were arrested from Gurgaon and sent to judicial custody after being produced in courtThe fraud came to light after MobiKwik filed a complaint with Gurugram Police on September 13 The company had detected suspicious transactions during an internal audit a day earlierInvestigations revealed that some merchants registered on the platform along with unknown individuals misused the flaw to get funds credited despite failed transactionsThis resulted in wrongful gains for the accused and losses for the company The police have registered a case under Sections 3184 cheating of a valuable security and 314 dishonest misappropriation of property of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita BNS Officers said the probe is still on and more people involved may be identified as the investigation progressesIn an exchange filing the company said that they are undertaking all possible and necessary efforts to recover the amount However since the police investigation and recovery efforts have just started its not yet possible to ascertain the impactThe company is taking aggressive collection efforts while pursuing legal course of action to recover the full amount over a period of time it added IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/mobikwik-fraud-triggers-demand-for-deeper-probe-into-fintech-platforms-638998.html Wed, 17 Sep 2025 15:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/indias-domestic-consumption-gst-reforms-cushion-us-tariff-impact-report-639002.html New Delhi Sep 17 The potential impact of US tariffs has been cushioned by Indias strong domestic fundamentals robust domestic consumption and GST 20 reforms a report said on Wednesday GST reforms and frontloading of rate cuts by RBI will be supportive of Indias equity market growth and would help cushion it from external shocks the report from Bank of Baroda saidSensex grew by 665 billion in market capitalisation during 2025 despite the US tariff on Indian imports Markets have accounted for tariff uncertainty and are now focussing on underlying economic fundamentals the analysts saidThe report noted that India was among the four countries alongside Hong Kong Brazil and China that gave positive returns from January to April period after US President Trump started announcing tariffsFrom January to April US indices Dow Jones and SampP 500 recorded losses wiping out 61 trillion in market valueGlobal stock markets rebounded sharply in mid2025 it noted A 90day tariff pause announced in April along with US trade agreements with the UK Japan Indonesia and Vietnam and a truce with China led to a rebound in the market from April to SeptemberApart from the US most of the member countries of trade agreements along with Hong Kong China and Thailand posted doubledigit growthThe Dows market capitalisation increased by 2 trillion yeartodate while the SampP 500 gained 49 trillion Chinas Shanghai Composite rose by 16 trillion while Japans Nikkei gained 7564 billionGlobal head of equity strategy at Jefferies Christopher Wood on Tuesday said that domestic mutual fund inflows have shielded Indian equities from a decline of 2030 per cent this year amidst persistent selling by foreign portfolio investors FPIAugust marked the 25th consecutive month of net inflows from domestic investors with 376 billion invested in equities in the first five months of FY26 IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/indias-domestic-consumption-gst-reforms-cushion-us-tariff-impact-report-639002.html Wed, 17 Sep 2025 15:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/india-to-remain-worlds-fastest-growing-major-economy-despite-global-uncertainty-639014.html New Delhi Sep 17 Amid global market volatility Indias growth is resilient and the country remains the worlds fastestgrowing major economy with its GDP forecast to continue growing 65 per cent this fiscal FY26 SampP Global said on Wednesday The positive outlook is being framed by the interplay of the nations domestic buffers and external challengesIndias growth performance with that of advanced economies shows that while past external shocks have caused shortterm challenges for India they have not derailed the countrys longterm growth trajectory SampP Global said in its reportMoreover the country has managed to enhance its growth advantage over developed countries by pursuing economic reforms infrastructure development and process improvementsAccording to the report the nation is likely to encourage more participation in global trade which offers increasing gains in economic growth capital attraction and to generation of employment opportunitiesIts strategy has become increasingly integrated and the economy needs reforming especially in terms of centre state and bureaucratic alignmentAt the same time the private credit industry is also poised for strong growth driven by a significant financing gap left by traditional lenders and strengthened by domestic insolvency frameworksAdditionally the aim to localise the nuclear value chain and use its vast thorium reserves to enhance domestic capacity building and technology transfer will pave the path for growth aheadThe report also highlighted Indias potential to increase its share of the global shipbuilding market over the next decadeWhile the countrys ambitions are well defined India needs a clear strategy to become a topfive shipbuilding nation by 2047 a challenging journey from less than 1 per cent global market share today the report notedIndias digital landscape is undergoing an unprecedented transformation which is driving significant investments in digital infrastructure such as data centres and supporting the expanding digital economyThe nation is expected to become the secondlargest market for data centers electricity demand in the AsiaPacific region over the next two years surpassing Japan and Australia the report stated IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/india-to-remain-worlds-fastest-growing-major-economy-despite-global-uncertainty-639014.html Wed, 17 Sep 2025 16:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/icmr-researchers-develop-new-approach-to-tackle-fungal-pathogens-639020.html New Delhi Sep 17 A team of researchers from the Indian Council of Medical Research ICMR has developed a oneofakind approach to fight the fungal pathogen called Candida albicans CAL Candida albicans is the primary cause of systemic candidiasis a major global health threat with a high mortality rate up to 636 per cent in severe casesThe researchers including those from Wadhwani School of Data Science and AI WSAI and Indian Institute of Technology IIT Madras developed a multidisciplinary approach to identify some of the critical metabolic pathways that can be targeted to modulate the virulence of the pathogenThe team combined largescale computational modelling and experimental validation to identify unknown critical metabolic vulnerabilities in CALUnlike other studies the oneofakind integrated hostfungal metabolic model combined the CAL model iRV781 with the human metabolic model Recon3D said corresponding author and principal investigator Dr Susan Thomas from ICMRNIRRCH MumbaiThis allowed the researchers to simulate how CAL metabolism responds during a host infection identify and reveal hidden metabolic vulnerabilities not evident in laboratory cultures and highlight the role of arginine metabolism in CAL pathogenicity Thomas explainedThe groundbreaking novel research is vital for diversifying and improving antifungal drugs to bypass resistance Further it aims to improve patient survival reduce mortality and lower treatment costs added Prof Karthik Raman Faculty IBSE WSAI IIT MadrasThe findings published in the reputed peerreviewed journal Cell Communication and Signaling also underline Indias growing strength in interdisciplinary research and its potential to contribute solutionsCandida albicans is a species of fungus yeast that normally lives in the human body as part of the normal microbiota It is commonly found in the mouth throat gut vagina and on the skin without causing harm in healthy individualsIt causes Systemic candidiasis a severe invasive fungal infection caused by Candida species most often Candida albicans that spreads beyond the mouth skin or genital area into the bloodstream and internal organsThe annual incidence of invasive candidiasis in India is about 470000 or 34100000 population Globally about 1565000 people have a Candida bloodstream infection or invasive candidiasis each year with 995000 deaths 636 per cent IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/icmr-researchers-develop-new-approach-to-tackle-fungal-pathogens-639020.html Wed, 17 Sep 2025 16:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/stock-market-continues-positive-momentum-ahead-of-fed-rate-cut-bank-stocks-jump-639028.html Mumbai Sep 17 Continuing the previous sessions gaining momentum the Indian equities ended the session on a positive note on Wednesday amid buying in heavyweights like SBI BEL and Maruti Suzuki The market remained steady as investors remained cautiously optimistic following prolonged discussions between India and the United States on tariffrelated issuesSensex ended the session at 8269371 up 313 points or 038 per cent The 30share index opened with a decent gapup at 8250640 against the last sessions closing of 8238069 The index extended the early gain a bit to hit an intraday high at 8274195 following buying in heavyweightsNifty closed at 2533025 up 9115 points or 036 per centMarkets edged higher in a subdued session on Wednesday reflecting a positive yet cautious undertone After a firm start the Nifty index traded in a narrow range throughout the day before settling at the 2533025 level said Ajit Mishra of Religare BrokingSectoral performance was mixed with IT banking and auto emerging as the top gainers while metals FMCG and pharma witnessed profittakingDespite the rangebound move underlying sentiment remains supported by optimism around policy reforms and robust domestic flows However persistent FII selling and caution ahead of the US Fed policy outcome capped the momentum he addedSBI BEL Kotak Bank Maruti Trent Tech Mahindra TCS Mahindra and Mahindra Tata Motors Infosys Asian Paints Sun Pharma and LampT were the top gainers from the Sensex basket While Bajaj FinServ Titan ITC Tata Steel and Hindustan Unilever settled lowerThe majority of sectoral indices escalated amid a mixed approach Nifty Fin Services jumped 68 points or 026 per cent Nifty Bank moved 345 points or 063 per cent Nifty Auto surged 148 points or 055 per cent and Nifty IT ended the session 235 points or 065 per cent higher Nifty FMCG fellBroader indices remained buoyed due to value buying in smallcap stocks Nifty Small Cap 100 moved 124 points or 068 per cent Nifty 100 jumped 8690 points or 034 per cent and Nifty Midcap 100 closed 49 points higher IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/stock-market-continues-positive-momentum-ahead-of-fed-rate-cut-bank-stocks-jump-639028.html Wed, 17 Sep 2025 17:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/indias-it-services-firms-to-grow-6-7-pc-in-fy27-in-ai-era-report-639032.html New Delhi Sep 17 The Indian IT services firms are expected to witness 56 per cent revenue growth next fiscal FY27 which could mean 810 per cent growth in the volume of work a report said on Wednesday Indias IT firms are poised to benefit from a strong US macroeconomic backdrop as their top American clients reported one of their strongest quarters in many years the report from HSBC Global Investment Research saidAnalysts at the research firm expected this momentum to lift corporate confidence and spur higher technology spending through 2025 offsetting some of the deflationary effects of artificial intelligence adoptionAs AI agents are evolving into multiagent systems prompting potential redesigns of enterprise software architectures and infrastructure the shift could create new opportunities for Indian IT firms the report saidFurther the report cited industry estimates that suggested that AI could reduce the value of IT services by 810 per cent over the next three to four years as contracts renew translating into an annual impact of up to 34 per cent in 202527However Indian IT companies said they have so far compensated for this through higher project volumes from customers and hence total revenues continue to growIn 2026 we believe there will be a push and pull between this deflationary impact and macrotailwind HSBC saidThe firm dismissed concerns over Agentic AI or advanced multiagent systems that can potentially kill the software industry and impact IT services in the long term While hyperscalers are capturing a growing share of enterprise tech budgets HSBC argued that a complete shift away from services is unlikelyIndias largest IT services firm Tata Consultancy Services TCS in August announced a wage revision for around 80 per cent of its workforce largely covering mid to juniorlevel employees The move came even as the company is preparing to lay off about 12000 staff or 2 per cent of its workforce in 2025 IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/indias-it-services-firms-to-grow-6-7-pc-in-fy27-in-ai-era-report-639032.html Wed, 17 Sep 2025 17:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/hyundai-india-inks-wage-agreement-with-employees-union-639055.html Chennai Sep 17 Hyundai Motor India on Wednesday informed that it has signed a wage settlement agreement with the United Union of Hyundai Employees UUHE for the period of 20242027 As per the agreement the revised allinclusive compensation package sets a new benchmark in the automotive industry The package includes an industrybest salary increase of Rs 31000 per month structured over three years in the ratio of 55 25 and 20 per centYoungmyung Park Function Head People Strategy Hyundai Motor India Limited HMIL stated At Hyundai our people are the cornerstone of our success This agreement built on mutual trust respect and constructive dialogue reflects our shared commitment to fostering a progressive workplace culture that prioritises employee welfare and supports longterm organisational growthThe longterm wage settlement will be effective from April 1 2024 through March 31 2027In addition to the salary increase agreed between the company and the union HMIL continues to lead the industry in employee welfare including bestinclass health coverage and advanced wellness programs the company said in a statementThe announcement in India came amid wagerelated unrest at Hyundais South Korean home baseEarlier this month in the US as part of President Donald Trumps crackdown on illegal migrants officials raided a Hyundaioperated EV battery plant in GeorgiaFollowing this they arrested approximately 475 people primarily South Korean nationalsThe UUHE which was founded in 2011 is the official representative organisation for HMIL employeesUUHEs continued dedication to promoting employee rights welfare and positive interactions with the firms management is demonstrated by the 1981 employees it represents as of August 31 2025 90 per cent of whom are technicians or workersMeanwhile Hyundai India shares ended the session in the green surging 182 per cent or Rs 4730 to settle at 265040 In the last five sessions the scrip rose nearly 6 per cent and in a month it jumped over 9 per cent IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/hyundai-india-inks-wage-agreement-with-employees-union-639055.html Wed, 17 Sep 2025 18:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/changing-weather-conditions-driving-h3n2-cases-in-delhi-ncr-experts-639078.html New Delhi Sep 17 Changing weather conditions are driving influenza A strain H3N2 cases in DelhiNCR said health experts on Wednesday City doctors have reported a sharp increase in viral illness in DelhiNCRH3N2 is a seasonal flu that circulates in humans and mutates over timeChildren older adults and pregnant women are most vulnerable to the disease It also causes more severe symptoms in highrisk populations such as those with weakened immune systems and patients with asthma COPD cardiovascular disease or diabetesCases of influenza due to H3N2 are rising Major symptoms include fever cough sore throat myalgia muscle pain Animesh Ray Additional Professor Department of Internal Medicine AIIMS told IANSThe expert noted that the condition is usually mild but can turn severe in people with other conditionsThough most cases are mild yet those with comorbidities like kidney problems diabetes heart diseases lung diseases may have complications in the form of pneumonia lung failure etc Ray saidAccording to a survey of over 11000 households by social community platform LocalCircles 69 per cent reported at least one member displaying symptoms such as fever cough sore throat and respiratory distressThe cases are rising because of changing weather conditions and lack of vaccination Dr Atul Gogia senior consultant medicine at the leading citybased hospital told IANSThe symptoms are similar to seasonal flu in the form of cough cold running nose and can involve the lungs leading to pneumonia he addedIn children the symptoms may include nausea vomiting or diarrhoea Many patients have also reported fever lasting over 57 days with cough persisting even after other signs subsideThe experts advised proper hand washing the use of masks and vaccination to prevent H3N2 They also suggested getting annual vaccinations avoiding close contact with sick people and isolating those who are ill IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/changing-weather-conditions-driving-h3n2-cases-in-delhi-ncr-experts-639078.html Wed, 17 Sep 2025 19:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/soon-a-simple-mouth-swab-may-enable-tuberculosis-screening-study-639081.html New Delhi Sep 17 From the currently used sputum testing soon tuberculosis screening can be done via a simple tongue swab according to a study The potential breakthrough using an enhanced CRISPRbased technology could allow easier communitybased screenings for the worlds deadliest infectious disease said researchers from Tulane University in the USLead author Zhen Huang an assistant professor at Tulanes School of Medicine said developing a viable tuberculosis tongue swab test could transform testing in lowresource communitiesTongue swabs are painless easy to collect and dont require trained medical staff Huang said That opens the door to largescale screeningsCurrent TB tests rely on sputum mucus collected from the lungs and lower respiratory systemCollecting sputum is not only difficult but is also unfeasible in about 25 per cent of symptomatic cases and nearly 90 per cent of asymptomatic cases a gap which contributes to an estimated 4 million tuberculosis cases going undiagnosed annuallyThe study published in the journal Nature Communications worked to address that gap by refining a previously developed CRISPRbased assay to better detect TB in samples with very low levels of bacteria such as stool spinal fluid and tongue swabsThe new CRISPR method called the ActCRISPRTB increased amplification and detection of genetic signals from TB bacteria DNA and offered a rapid streamlined approach that can return a diagnosis in under an hourClinical testing showed markedly enhanced detection of TB in tongue swabs over traditional testing 74 per cent compared to 56 per centThe test also showed high sensitivity in detecting TB in respiratory 93 per cent pediatric stool 83 per cent and adult spinal fluid samples 93 per centWith children HIV patients and those with extrapulmonary TB unable to produce sputum the research marks a significant step forward toward offering effective diagnoses via a variety of samples IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/soon-a-simple-mouth-swab-may-enable-tuberculosis-screening-study-639081.html Wed, 17 Sep 2025 19:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/govt-notifies-national-policy-on-geothermal-energy-to-achieve-net-zero-goal-639108.html New Delhi Sep 17 The government has notified the National Policy on Geothermal Energy 2025 reinforcing its commitment towards achieving the ambitious 2070 Net Zero Goal and strengthening the countrys energy security through diversified renewable energy sources India with its untapped geothermal resources is poised to leverage this clean and reliable energy source for power generation and directuse applications such as district heating agriculture aquaculture and space cooling and heating via Ground Source Heat Pumps GSHPs The newly unveiled policy provides a comprehensive framework to promote exploration development and utilisation of geothermal energy in India according to a statement issued by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy MNREThe new policy encourages research interministerial collaboration and adoption of global best practices for geothermal energy development Regulatory and stewardship responsibilities for geothermal energy will rest with the ministryIt targets integration of geothermal energy with Indias Net Zero 2070 and renewable energy objectives with a focus on electricity generation space heatingcooling agriculture greenhouses cold storage tourism and desalinationThe policy aims to promote RampD of advanced systems such as hybrid geothermalsolar plants retrofitting abandoned oil wells and EnhancedAdvanced Geothermal Systems EGSAGS It lays emphasis on local innovation joint ventures and repurposing existing oil and gas infrastructureThe policy also provides for collaboration with international geothermal bodies and pioneering nations as well as collaboration with state governments oil and gas companies and research institutions for building a robust publicprivate ecosystem for the longterm development of the geothermal sectorBesides it promotes knowledge sharing and human resource development in the sectorAs a first step towards the exploration of geothermal energy the ministry has sanctioned five projects in the sector These include both pilot initiatives and resource assessment projects aimed at exploring the viability and potential of geothermal energy in IndiaThe Ministry of New and Renewable Energy further stated that it will continue to monitor the progress while providing a conducive environment for developers industries and research institutions to actively participate in Indias clean energy transition IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/govt-notifies-national-policy-on-geothermal-energy-to-achieve-net-zero-goal-639108.html Wed, 17 Sep 2025 23:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/telanganas-new-education-policy-to-help-students-compete-with-the-world-cm-639113.html Hyderabad Sep 17 Telanganas new education policy will be a blend of language basic knowledge and skills to enable students to compete with the world Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy said on Wednesday At a review meeting the Chief Minister said that the new policy is being designed to suit the ground reality studies and future needs He said the policy should be a beacon of the countrys education in future He observed that the current education system lacks important elements of language basic knowledge and skills and the new policy will have these elements so that students can compete globally The new education policy will also be included in the TelanganaRising Vision Document2047 which is to be released on December 9 this year The CM instructed the educationists to form subcommittees according to their interests and prepare the best documentHe stated that the government has decided to overhaul the entire education sector in the state Stating that there is no land and funds for distribution among the poor to eradicate poverty he said that the only weapon to root out poverty is quality education for the needy Recalling that Indias first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru recognised the importance of education and established higher educational institutions like universities and IITs in the country CM Revanth Reddy expressed concern that the existing education system was not generating talented persons to grab the opportunities created in the country and across the world after the introduction of the economic liberalisation policies He noted that a large number of our youth are excelling in the software sector due to the advent of engineering colleges However not more than 10 per cent of the lakhs of students passing out as engineers are getting jobs The main reason according to him is a lack of sufficient skillsHe voiced concern that despite allocating huge funds to the education sector the number of students in government schools is decreasing day by day Private schools are offering education from nursery LKG and UKG while the education in government schools starts from Class 1 Those who admit their children to private schools for nursery are not ready to shift to the government schools Parents are admitting their children to private schools because the students are given adequate attention The Chief Minister also reminded that the state government recruited teachers soon after coming to power to maintain a healthy teacherstudent ratio in government schools Promotions and transfer of teachers were also taken up to ensure the teaching staff focus on delivering quality education to the students Reiterating that the government is ready to spend money on education liberally CM Revanth Reddy said that the government has decided to set up a special Education Corporation and spend the funds to improve infrastructure and educational standards IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/telanganas-new-education-policy-to-help-students-compete-with-the-world-cm-639113.html Wed, 17 Sep 2025 23:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/sensex-nifty-open-higher-on-hopes-of-fed-rate-cut-thaw-in-india-us-ties-638911.html Mumbai Sep 17 The Indian benchmark indices opened higher on Wednesday buoyed by hopes of a Fed rate cut tonight and positive cues around the renewed IndiaUS trade negotiations As of 928 am the Sensex was up 151 points or 018 per cent at 82532 and the Nifty was up 58 points or 023 per cent at 25297The broad cap indices outperformed benchmark indices as Nifty Midcap 100 inched up by 028 per cent and the Nifty Small cap 100 moved up 060 per centTata Consumer Products up 265 per cent Tata Motors Trent NTPC and ONGC were among major gainers on the Nifty while losers were Bajaj Finance Cipla ICICI Bank and Tech MahindraAmong sectoral indices Nifty IT the top gainer jumped 091 per cent Nifty Realty up 052 per cent and Nifty Oil and gas up 043 per cent were the other notable gainers All sectors except Nifty Metal down 007 per cent and Nifty Pharma were trading in the greenTechnically Nifty is positioned above its key nearterm averages Analysts said that the immediate support for the Nifty has now shifted up to the 25000 level and the 2542025500 zones could offer resistanceMarkets are pricing in a 25basispoint cut at the conclusion of the twoday Federal Open Market Committee FOMC meeting on Wednesday responding to labour market deterioration shown in recent economic dataTraders will also scrutinise the accompanying statement and officials economic projections for guidance on the rate outlookA US trade representative delegation led by Chief Negotiator Brendan Lynch met with Indian Commerce Department officials on Tuesday to advance discussions on the IndiaUS Bilateral Trade Agreement BTAThe talks were described as positive and forwardlooking with both sides agreeing to intensify efforts toward early conclusion of a mutually beneficial trade dealMajor US indices declined modestly overnight as the Nasdaq dipped 008 per cent the SampP 500 lost 013 per cent and the Dow slipped 027 per centMost of the Asian markets made strong gains during the morning session While Chinas Shanghai index advanced 041 per cent and Shenzhen jumped 102 per cent Japans Nikkei edged up 023 per cent while Hong Kongs Hang Seng Index inched up 123 per cent South Koreas Kospi dipped 094 per centOn Tuesday foreign institutional investors FIIs purchased equities worth Rs 308 crore while domestic institutional investors DIIs were net buyers of equities worth Rs 1518 crore IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/sensex-nifty-open-higher-on-hopes-of-fed-rate-cut-thaw-in-india-us-ties-638911.html Wed, 17 Sep 2025 10:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/30-lakh-join-pm-vishwakarma-scheme-in-2-years-47-lakh-loans-worth-rs-41-188-crore-approved-638921.html New Delhi Sep 17 Around 30 lakh artisans and craftsmen have been registered under the PM Vishwakarma Scheme in two years and for the support in business development more than 47 lakh loans worth Rs 41188 crore have been approved the government has informed Nearly 26 lakh artisans and craftsmen have completed skill verification where 86 per cent of them completed their basic training too Raajmistri Mason is the most registered trade under the schemeThe PM Vishwakarma Scheme has emerged as a transformative initiative of the government that has supported traditional artisans and empowered themTo directly equip the skilled worker with the necessary equipment and encourage the promotion of modern technologies more than 23 lakhs evouchers have been issued as a toolkit incentive according to the governmentThe PM Vishwakarma Scheme was launched on September 17 2023 on the occasion of Vishwakarma Day with a financial outlay of Rs 13000 crores starting from FY 202324 to FY 202728The Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Kaushal Samman Yojana was launched to uplift the lives of these artisans and craftsperson by enhancing their skills and increasing the reach of their products and servicesIt aims to provide endtoend holistic support to artisans and craftspeople for their respective trades It emphasises encouraging the trades in rural and urban areas with special attention to women empowerment and marginalised or underserved groups like the Scheduled Castes Scheduled Tribes OBCs Specially Abled Transgenders residents of NER states Island Territories and Hilly AreasTo expand the reach in every district District Project Management Units DPMUs have been appointed in almost all the districts The role of DPMUs is to generate awareness about the scheme benefits and also inform the Vishwakarmas about training dates batch timings location of training centres stakeholder coordination and regularly monitoring the training centres to ensure adherence and compliance with the training guidelinesThe total number of DPMUs appointed under the scheme is 497 as of July 2025 who are covering 618 districts of the countryWith the support of ministries and DPMUs the scheme focuses on achieving the goal of recognising artisans as Vishwakarmas providing them with skill training modern tools and easy access to collateralfree credit along with incentives for digital transactions It also focuses on brand promotion and market linkages enabling artisans to enhance productivity quality and growth opportunitiesThe scheme brings small artisans under one umbrella and empowers them with recognition The initiative also focuses on financial support skill upgradation and connects them with global markets With this initiatives ageold traditions can thrive in a competitive world while preserving their traditional art and knowledge IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/30-lakh-join-pm-vishwakarma-scheme-in-2-years-47-lakh-loans-worth-rs-41-188-crore-approved-638921.html Wed, 17 Sep 2025 11:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/isro-will-invite-companies-specialising-in-on-orbit-servicing-and-refueling-tech-chairman-638936.html Bengaluru Sep 17 The Indian Space Research Organisation ISRO will invite companies specialising in onorbit servicing and Refueling tech OOSR said Chairman Dr V Narayanan on Wednesday He was speaking at the inauguration of the new RampD facility of OrbitAID Aerospace Indias first spacetech startup in the field of OOSR hereThe facility spanning 6500 sq ft in Bengaluru with an investment of over 2 million aims to extend the lifetime refueling services to current and upcoming satellitesCongratulating the OrbitAID team on their achievement Narayanan emphasised the importance of developing technologies such as docking and refueling interfaces and the significance of providing services such as life extension for satellites in shaping the future of Indias space ecosystemISRO has recently opened up to private players in the space ecosystem and in the upcoming missions the space organisation will also invite companies specialising in OnOrbit Servicing and Refueling OOSR technologies to work with it he addedOrbitAIDs new RampD facility is Indias largest commercial and one of the worlds biggest for Rendezvous Proximity Operations and Docking RPOD infrastructure for servicing and refueling operationsThe facility consists of a highend control room for operating the RPOD facility a class 10000 cleanroom and fuel transfer facilities for assembling and integrating its satellitesOrbitAIDs new RampD center also represents a significant step in Indias journey towards space sustainability at a global stage after the success of ISROs SPADeX missionIn January with the successful docking of the satellites of the SpaDEX mission India became the fourth nation to achieve space docking technologyThe new facility begins a new story in OrbitAIDs journey in making India the champion of space sustainability at a global stage With this new development and our TRL 7 docking and refueling interface SIDRP we are positioned to provide life extension services for the current and upcoming satellites in both Indian and global markets said Sakthikumar Ramachandran Founder amp CEO OrbitAIDOrbitAID which raised initial funding earlier this year from Unicorn India Ventures is also planning to expand its footprint in Tamil Nadu where the company will establish a manufacturing facility to build Indias first private propellant handling and satellite servicing hub to build a circular economy for the global space tech ecosystemThe company will strengthen collaborations with local universities startups and global partners IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/isro-will-invite-companies-specialising-in-on-orbit-servicing-and-refueling-tech-chairman-638936.html Wed, 17 Sep 2025 11:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/indias-office-space-leasing-by-gccs-set-to-grow-15-20-pc-in-2-years-report-638951.html Mumbai Sep 17 Global Capability Centres GCCs acted as the major driver of Indias commercial real estate sector with leasing projected to grow by 1520 per cent over the next two years said a report on Wednesday GCCs are projected to lease 6065 million square feet of Grade A office space by 2027 according to a report by real estate services firm ColliersThese centres have leased around 100 million square feet in Indias top seven cities since 2021 accounting for 36 per cent of total office demand Leasing activity by global corporates is expected to touch 28 million square feet by 2025 nearly doubling the 2021 figure the report saidFurther the share of GCCs in overall office leasing which had dipped to less than 30 per cent in 2022 has rebounded sharply to nearly 40 per cent in 2025 it addedCapability centres in India are steadily evolving into innovationdriven domainspecialised and technologically integrated centres and are likely to drive over 40 per cent of Indias office space demand said Arpit Mehrotra Managing Director Office Services Colliers IndiaTechnology firms accounted for 37 per cent of GCC demand leading the chart while the banking financial services and engineering sectors are expanding rapidly projected to contribute 4050 per cent of future leasingWithin GCCs the share of engineering and manufacturing occupiers has risen from 11 per cent to 17 per cent driven by growing RampD and product engineering needsBengaluru and Hyderabad accounted for 60 per cent of GCC activity since 2021 Chennai has experienced a 53fold surge in GCC leasing this year from 2021 levelFlex spaces too are likely to gain traction as GCCs seek greater scalability and agility in their workplace portfolios At the same time Tier II cities are likely to see a steady uptick in GCC activity supported by cost arbitrage infrastructure development and talent availability said Vimal Nadar National Director and Head of Research Colliers IndiaThe USbased companies have traditionally accounted for nearly 70 per cent of total GCC absorption since 2021 In recent years GCCs from the UK EMEA and APAC regions have also expanded their footprint steadily strengthening their presence in India IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/indias-office-space-leasing-by-gccs-set-to-grow-15-20-pc-in-2-years-report-638951.html Wed, 17 Sep 2025 12:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/india-emerging-as-global-leader-on-green-path-to-growth-638973.html New Delhi Sep 17 India is rapidly emerging as a global leader in sustainable development as it is not just following the global climate agenda but developing its own positive approach to a green future as a pathway to economic prosperity and a strong nation By combining strong political leadership a thriving private sector and a deeply rooted philosophical connection to nature India is proving that a green future is not only possible but also a direct route to prosperity and power according to an article by Erik Solheim in India NarrativeThis transformation is driven by a powerful combination of factors strong political will a vibrant business sector and an engaged civil society Far from being a burden this green shift is seen as a pathway to economic prosperity and national strength a message framed not around the fear of climate change but the promise of a brighter more prosperous future the article statesIt also points out that India has been unfairly accused of hindering international climate talks and blamed for a crisis it contributed very little to The reality is that the per capita emissions of the United States are currently 25 times higher than Indias This disparity highlights the arrogance of those who point fingers at India while ignoring their own historical and current responsibilitiesThe article highlights that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reframed the climate debate Instead of focusing on the dire consequences of climate change like droughts or floods his message is one of opportunity He speaks of a future where every Indian is lifted out of poverty a thriving middle class emerges and India takes its rightful place as a powerful nation on the world stage Crucially this vision is anchored in green technologies solar wind electric cars and other renewables This positive aspirational message resonates far more deeply than one built on fear and sacrificeIt states that this shift in messaging is a lesson the world should learn from It turns climate action from a negative problemfocused agenda into a positive inspiring one The absence of a significant climate denial movement in India unlike in many Western countries further strengthens this approachThe article underlines the success that India has achieved in setting up solar wind and hydro power projects to fight climate changeIndias green progress is not just a topdown mandate its a nationwide movement with remarkable success stories unfolding across different statesIt mentions Gujarat as a frontrunner with an ambitious goal of generating 100 GW of solar energy by 2030 This alone would make it one of the largest renewable energy economies in the world if it were a separate nation Tamil Nadu is making strides in restoring its windmills and has embarked on a largescale mangrove restoration project while Madhya Pradesh hosts some of the countrys most innovative green projects This includes a 150 MW floating solar plant on the Omkareshwar dam in Khandwa and Indias first solar village SanchiBesides Andhra Pradesh like Gujarat is a leader in solar energy generation with significant capacity installed and Uttar Pradesh is focusing on hydro and pumped storage and has made strides in greening its agriculture sectorThe article also points out that the deeprooted connection between Indian philosophy and nature plays a significant role in this green transformation The ancient Hindu philosophy of Dharma venerates the environment viewing humans as an integral part of nature rather than superior to itThis contrasts sharply with some Western traditions which historically have viewed humans as being above nature free to exploit it for their own ends the article addsErik Solheim the author of the article is a wellknown global leader on environment and development as well as an experienced peace negotiator He served as Norwegian minister of Environment and International Development from 20052012 IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/india-emerging-as-global-leader-on-green-path-to-growth-638973.html Wed, 17 Sep 2025 14:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/sensex-nifty-open-higher-as-india-us-trade-talks-set-to-resume-638731.html Mumbai Sep 16 The Indian benchmark indices opened higher on Tuesday amid mixed global cues as US Chief Negotiator Brendan Lynch arrived in India to resume trade negotiations between the two nations As of 925 am the Sensex was up 184 points or 023 per cent at 81970 and the Nifty was up 47 points or 019 per cent at 25117The broadcap indices outperformed benchmark indices as Nifty Midcap 100 inched up by 026 per cent and the Nifty Small cap 100 moved up 070 per centKotak Mahindra Axis Bank and Hero Motocorp were the top gainers on NSE Nifty 50 index Titan Company SBI Life Insurance Asian Paints and Tata Consumer Products weighed on the Nifty 50 indexAmong sectoral indices Nifty Media the top gainer jumped 108 per cent Nifty Auto up 065 per cent and Nifty Oil and gas up 057 per cent were the other major gainers Except Nifty FMCG and Nifty PSU Bank which were marginally down all other indices were in the greenAnalysts said that from a technical standpoint a sustained move above the 25160 level could pave the way for a rally toward 25250 and 25500 zones The immediate support lies at 25000 and 24900 zonesThe bold reforms both fiscal and monetary implemented this year have started yielding results and is likely to gather momentum in near future An IndiaUS trade agreement without the penal tariffs can be a shot in the arm for markets said VK Vijayakumar Chief Investment Strategist Geojit Investments LimitedMajor US indices ended firmly in the green zone overnight as the Nasdaq rose 094 per cent the SampP 500 gained 047 per cent and the Dow advanced 011 per centMost of the Asian markets made strong gains during the morning session While Chinas Shanghai index dipped 01 per cent and Shenzhen inched down 026 per cent Japans Nikkei rose 054 per cent while Hong Kongs Hang Seng Index inched up 007 per cent South Koreas Kospi inched up 12 per centThe US markets are pricing in a 964 per cent probability of a 25basispoint rate cut on September 17 with additional cuts expected through yearendOn Monday foreign institutional investors FIIs sold equities worth Rs 1268 crore while domestic institutional investors DIIs were net buyers of equities worth Rs 1933 crore IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/sensex-nifty-open-higher-as-india-us-trade-talks-set-to-resume-638731.html Tue, 16 Sep 2025 10:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/high-intensity-exercise-resistance-training-may-help-fight-cancer-study-638749.html New Delhi Sep 16 Both resistance training RT and highintensity interval training HIIT produced sufficient levels of myokines to help in the fight against cancer according to a study While RT uses external force like weights to build muscle and strength HIIT uses short intense bursts of exercise followed by brief recovery periods to improve cardiovascular fitness and enduranceResearchers from Edith Cowan University ECU found that cancer survivors who followed either resistance training or HIIT had reduced the growth of these breast cancer cells in vitro by 22 per cent and 25 per cent respectivelyThis suggests both types of exercise may help slow cancer cell growth said Francesco Bettariga from the varsityAlthough there was no major difference between the effects of RT and HIIT interestingly with HIIT the reduction in cancer cell growth was linked to an increase in lean muscle and a decrease in body fat after 12 weeks of training Bettariga addedThe team stated that different types of exercise have different impacts on the body with resistance training able to substantially improve muscle strength and mass while HIIT can stimulate cardiorespiratory fitness and reduce fat massIts very important to find out if different types of exercise cause different effects on myokines and their potential cancer suppressive effects Bettariga saidMyokines are a protein produced by muscles during exercise which haveanticancer effectsThe team followed breast cancer survivors through a 12week training programme to investigate how resistance training and HIIT each affect the growth of breast cancer cells in lab tests using blood samples from breast cancer survivorsThe results showed that both groups of participants had higher levels of myokines at the end of the 12week programme than at the beginning which means regardless of the exercise you do you can gain benefit Bettariga said IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/high-intensity-exercise-resistance-training-may-help-fight-cancer-study-638749.html Tue, 16 Sep 2025 11:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/cbic-eases-procedures-for-provisional-assessments-of-imports-and-exports-638757.html New Delhi Sep 16 The latest amendments in customs rules on provisional assessments of imports and exports will aid revenue protection trade facilitation and bring closure to longpending cases industry experts said on Tuesday The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs CBIC has issued the Customs Finalisation of Provisional Assessment Regulations 2025 aimed at enhancing speed certainty and transparency in customs administration The new regulations lay down specific timelines for completing provisional assessmentsIndustry experts expect the move to alleviate persistent bottlenecks in trade and customs administrationThe Customs Finalisation of Provisional Assessment Regulations 2025 mark a longawaited move towards certainty and efficiency in customs administration By introducing clear timelines CBIC has addressed a pain point that has long burdened both trade and authorities said Manoj Mishra Partner and Tax Controversy Management Leader Grant Thornton BharatBusinesses will experience faster release of blocked working capital lower compliance costs and improved predictability in supply chains he saidMishra however added that the true test will be in implementation especially in matters tied to Special Valuation Branch proceedings DRI investigations or prolonged litigationTimely finalisation while safeguarding the assessees right to present submissions will be critical If executed in the intended spirit these regulations can balance revenue protection with trade facilitation bringing closure to longpending cases and building greater trust between industry and administration he further saidUnder the new rules importers and exporters must provide required documents within 15 days of requisition with a possible extension of up to two months Customs officers are required to complete enquiries within 14 months The finalisation of provisional assessments is to be completed within two years from the date of provisional assessment except in cases involving appeals stay orders or international information requests the notification saidThe new framework permits voluntary duty payments in the provisional assessment phase which shall be adjusted against the duty finally assessed at the time of finalisationInterest obligations and penalties up to Rs 25000 apply for noncompliance Additionally procedures for refunds duty recovery and bond cancellations have been detailed to streamline processes IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/cbic-eases-procedures-for-provisional-assessments-of-imports-and-exports-638757.html Tue, 16 Sep 2025 12:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/manufacturing-services-sector-lead-robust-gdp-growth-in-q1-report-638774.html New Delhi Sep 16 The robust GDP growth in the first quarter Q1 FY26 at 78 per cent which was well above the estimate of 66 per cent was led by a sharp growth in the manufacturing sector and strong momentum in the services sector a report said on Tuesday All three heads within the services Trade Hotels Transport and Commerce and Broadcasting Services 86 per cent as compared to the estimated 6 per cent Financial Real Estate and Professional Services 95 per cent in Q1FY26 as compared to 78 per cent in Q4FY25 and Public Administration and Defence 98 per cent as compared to 87 per cent performed well CareEdge Ratings said in its reportWhile the healthy momentum in the services sector was somewhat reflected by highfrequency indicators like strong growth in central revenue expenditure healthy services exports growth in eway bill collection and cargo traffic the overall growth for this sector turned out higher than expectedWithin the industry the manufacturing sector posted higher growth 77 per cent as compared to 48 per cent likely supported by improving domestic consumption and the frontloading of imports by developed economies ahead of higher tariff implementationThis sharp rise in manufacturing is a positive developmentHowever the gains in manufacturing were partly offset by a sharp contraction in mining 31 per cent compared to 25 per cent and a moderation in utilities 05 per cent as compared to 54 per cent which capped the overall industrial growth The early onset of the monsoon weighed on mining activity the report statedContrary to expectations agricultural growth moderated in Q1 FY26 37 per cent as compared to 54 per cent However a good monsoon along with robust Kharif sowing should support agricultural growth going forwardOverall Gross Value Added GVA growth stood at 76 per cent for Q1 FY26The positive gap between GDP and GVA was in line with expectations as growth in indirect taxes outpaced the growth in subsidies the report noted IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/manufacturing-services-sector-lead-robust-gdp-growth-in-q1-report-638774.html Tue, 16 Sep 2025 13:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/govt-initiatives-help-oil-companies-thrive-in-unfavorable-global-environment-report-638780.html New Delhi Sep 16 The Indian governments decisive initiatives have helped oil marketing companies OMCs thrive in a volatile global environment a report said on Tuesday In the last six months Indian oil marketing companies have witnessed volatility in refining margins potential risk on the US urging India to reduce its intake of Russian oil and depreciation of the Indian currency against the US dollarThe Indian government has been backing OMCs by supporting decisions even in August 2025 India imported 13 million barrels per day which are in the best commercial interests of these companies and also promising to pay LPG underrecovery incurred in FY24 HSBC Global Investment Research said in a reportAll this resulted in OMC stocks surging by 1423 per cent as compared to the NIFTY50 up 12 per cent in the last six monthsCombined refining and marketing RampM margins have been the hallmark of this steady performanceWhile refining margins expanded in the interim and then contracted and Indian currency depreciation ate away some of the marketing margins combined margins have stood steady at 2225 barrel which are much higher than our and the streets fullyear estimates the report mentionedThis leaves a comfortable margin of safety for these companies which historically have been associated with highly volatile earningsOur HSBC global team forecasts a big surplus in oil from Q4 CY25 onward with a downside risk to HSBCs Brent oil forecast of 65 per barrel for 2026 This provides further cushioning to estimates the report notedMoreover auto fuel demand continues to maintain momentum despite weakness in ATF In August 2025 auto fuel demand maintained momentum growing 26 per cent yearonyear YoYGasoline demand grew a strong 55 per cent YoY while diesel demand grew 12 per cent YoY ATF demand is negative for a second consecutive month at 29 per cent after 23 per cent in JulyWith recent trends in air traffic improving we expect the decline also to reverse the global investment firm saidOMCs will continue to add new outlets which grew 8 per cent YoY in July 2025 At the same time they have added EV outlets which now account for 30 per cent of their total outletsAccording to the report OMCs have to fund large capital expenditure plans which gives us comfort that the government is unlikely to take away a large part of their margins by tweaking dutiesAlso a downside risk in oil prices provides further support to earnings said the report IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/govt-initiatives-help-oil-companies-thrive-in-unfavorable-global-environment-report-638780.html Tue, 16 Sep 2025 13:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/jaguar-land-rover-extends-production-halt-until-sep-24-after-cybersecurity-breach-638787.html New Delhi Sep 16 Tataowned British luxury carmaker Jaguar Land Rover JLR on Tuesday said that it has extended its pause in production until September 24 after being hit by a cybersecurity incident earlier this month The company said that its global operations remain disrupted as investigations into the breach continueIn a statement JLR said it has informed its employees suppliers and partners about the decision to keep production suspended until Wednesday September 24Today we have informed colleagues suppliers and partners that we have extended the current pause in our production until Wednesday September 24 the company saidThe carmaker explained that it is still carrying out a forensic investigation into the cyberattack and is carefully planning different stages of a controlled restart of its operationsWe are very sorry for the continued disruption this incident is causing and we will continue to provide updates as the investigation progresses the company saidThe disruption comes at a challenging time for JLR The automaker has already been struggling with declining profits due to rising costs linked to US tariffsThe cyberattack has added further strain by halting production at a time when the company is working to strengthen its businessJaguar Land Rover had signed a fiveyear contract worth 800 million with Tata Consultancy Services in 2023 to provide cybersecurity and IT supportThe deal was part of JLRs strategy to accelerate digital transformation across its operations Despite these efforts the current breach has caused a significant setbackIndustry analysts say the prolonged suspension could affect JLRs supply chain and sales targets especially in key marketsFor now the company is focusing on restoring its systems securely and ensuring its operations return to normal as quickly as possible IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/jaguar-land-rover-extends-production-halt-until-sep-24-after-cybersecurity-breach-638787.html Tue, 16 Sep 2025 14:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/jaguar-land-rover-extends-production-halt-until-sep-24-over-cybersecurity-breach-638788.html New Delhi Sep 16 Tataowned British luxury carmaker Jaguar Land Rover JLR on Tuesday said that it has extended its pause in production until September 24 after being hit by a cybersecurity incident earlier this month The company said that its global operations remain disrupted as investigations into the breach continueIn a statement JLR said it has informed its employees suppliers and partners about the decision to keep production suspended until Wednesday September 24Today we have informed colleagues suppliers and partners that we have extended the current pause in our production until Wednesday September 24 the company saidThe carmaker explained that it is still carrying out a forensic investigation into the cyberattack and is carefully planning different stages of a controlled restart of its operationsWe are very sorry for the continued disruption this incident is causing and we will continue to provide updates as the investigation progresses the company saidThe disruption comes at a challenging time for JLR The automaker has already been struggling with declining profits due to rising costs linked to US tariffsThe cyberattack has added further strain by halting production at a time when the company is working to strengthen its businessJaguar Land Rover had signed a fiveyear contract worth 800 million with Tata Consultancy Services in 2023 to provide cybersecurity and IT supportThe deal was part of JLRs strategy to accelerate digital transformation across its operations Despite these efforts the current breach has caused a significant setbackIndustry analysts say the prolonged suspension could affect JLRs supply chain and sales targets especially in key marketsFor now the company is focusing on restoring its systems securely and ensuring its operations return to normal as quickly as possible IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/jaguar-land-rover-extends-production-halt-until-sep-24-over-cybersecurity-breach-638788.html Tue, 16 Sep 2025 14:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/-indias-fitness-tech-sector-raises-989-million-to-date-report-638791.html New Delhi Sep 16 Indias fitness tech sector has raised 989 million across 203 equity rounds till date underscoring its steady expansion despite current cautious funding activity a report said on Tuesday The fitness tech ecosystem currently comprises more than 600 active startups of which 96 have secured equity fundingOver the last decade 20162025 YTD annual funding grew from 242 million in 2016 to a record 3879 million in 2021 before moderating to 483 million in 2024 Meanwhile 2021 marked the most funded year Tracxn said in a reportIn terms of topfunded startups to date Cultfit remains the most funded startup in the sector with 6666 million followed by HealthifyMe with 1453 million while Ultrahuman has secured 549 million in fundingThe sector has recorded four mega funding rounds of over 100M to date all raised by Cultfit These include a 180M Series F in 2021 a 1105M Series D in 2020 a 120M Series D in 2019 and a 120M Series C in 2018Indias Fitness Tech ecosystem is entering a phase of steady maturity shaped by a combination of rising health awareness supportive policy initiatives and rapid digital adoption Investors continue to see strong longterm potential here even as funding in recent years has been more measured said Neha Singh CoFounder of TracxnGeographically Bengaluru led the funding landscape in Indias Fitness Tech sector securing 8976 million in total funding to date Mumbai followed as the secondlargest hub with 332M led by FitCircle RESET Tech and AlphaCoachThe sector spans wearables connected gym equipment fitness apps and AIpowered platforms offering personalised workouts nutrition tracking and health monitoringThe fitness tech sector has recorded 12 acquisitions to date reflecting growing consolidation in the ecosystemNotable deals include Johnson Health Techs acquisition of Schwinn Fitness in 2024 MyAvas acquisition by Bonatra in 2023 and Zyogas acquisition by Appointy in 2023 the report said IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/-indias-fitness-tech-sector-raises-989-million-to-date-report-638791.html Tue, 16 Sep 2025 14:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/high-net-worth-families-can-help-india-become-5-trillion-economy-faster-report-638792.html New Delhi Sep 16 Indias highnetworth HNW families can help the country become a 5 trillion economy by utilising their capital for social goals using impact investing and blended financing techniques a report said on Tuesday Impact investing means generating returns by investing in businesses that make a positive social impact Blended finance is a technique where wealthy individuals mix their money in social business initiatives that receive grants or government funds to reduce riskMany HNW families continue to operate in silos and exhibit low retention in impact investing according to the report from wealth advisory firm Waterfield Advisors and NPO organisation Impact Investors Council IICHNW family participation in impact investing is rising but retention is weak Of the 316 HNW families who entered in 2021 just 64 remain active in 2024 the report saidWhile public funding remains the dominant source of social sector expenditure a significant financing gap persists and is expected to widen further in the coming years the report addedHNW families are uniquely positioned to fill this gap by investing in highimpact enterprises in sectors like health education agriculture livelihood climate financial inclusion and affordable housing it notedThis report is a call to move from oneoff experiments to sustained convictionled strategies that can help close Indias social financing gap said Soumya Rajan Founder and CEO of Waterfield AdvisorsWhen discussions turn into conviction and then to action family wealth can truly catalyse systemic change and power Indias 5 trillion journey added Girish Aivalli CEO Impact Investors Council IICThe countrys economy continued its strong momentum in the first quarter of 202526 Q1 FY26 with GDP growing 78 per cent compared to 65 per cent in the same period last year IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/high-net-worth-families-can-help-india-become-5-trillion-economy-faster-report-638792.html Tue, 16 Sep 2025 14:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/phonepes-indus-appstore-now-on-10-crore-devices-638797.html Bengaluru Sep 16 Indus Appstore Indias Android app marketplace announced that it has hit the 10crore device mark The app stores localised feature allowing users to discover apps in 12 Indian languages along with English is one of the key factors to its success About 40 per cent of users navigate the app store in a regional language with Hindi Marathi Tamil and Gujarati being the most popular languagesThe app store has a significant presence in states like Uttar Pradesh Bihar and Maharashtra with Karnataka and Telangana following close behind as key user hubsIts a proud moment for all of us to cross the 10crore milestone and it is an important step in our journey of building a horizontal app store for India We will continue to offer our users a seamless safe and rich app selection experience that makes Indus Appstore not only a destination for apps but a platform where users can discover apps that are right for them said Priya M Narasimhan Chief Business Officer Indus AppstoreWe will also continue to support the developer ecosystem by offering a levelplaying field that allows them to distribute and reach the right users with features built for the Indian regional and cultural context she addedFurther the Indus Appstores lifetime user base showed that Indias young population is a key driver of its successGenZ aged 1827 comprised 337 per cent of the user base and when combined with GenY aged 2744 it accounted for nearly 935 per cent of users under the age of 45The core Indus Appstore users in a tier3 location are generally males between 28 and 44 years old More than 70per cent of users belong to tier3 regions demonstrating strong rural and smallcity penetrationIndus Appstore also hosts several app categories with social media apps being the most popular nationwide followed by communication entertainment and finance apps IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/phonepes-indus-appstore-now-on-10-crore-devices-638797.html Tue, 16 Sep 2025 14:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/gst-rejig-a-major-push-towards-advancing-indias-climate-goals-centre-638800.html New Delhi Sep 16 In a significant development the GST rationalisation is set to provide a major push towards advancing Indias climate goals by making renewable energy waste management biodegradable products and green mobility more affordable and within reach the government said on Tuesday Moreover by cutting costs encouraging domestic manufacturing and supporting sustainable industries these changes will accelerate the adoption of clean energy and pollution control solutions it saidTo begin with GST on solar and wind devices has been reduced from 12 per cent to 5 per cent This includes solar cookers biogas plants solar powerbased devices solar power generators windmills windoperated electricity generator WOEG wastetoenergy plantsdevices solar lanternssolar lamps ocean wavestidal waves energy devicesplants and photovoltaic cells whether or not assembled in modules or made up into panelsThe reduction in GST will directly decrease the capital costs of solar panels PV cells wind turbines and related devices This reduction will enhance the viability of solar and wind projects leading to lower tariffs for end consumersThe GST rate cuts will bolster domestic manufacturing by supporting Indias solar cell and module manufacturing ecosystem under PLI schemes making domestic products more competitive against imports This will make solar pumps more affordable reducing irrigation costs and providing support to farmers according to the governmentThe installed capacity of solar energy in India has increased more than 42 times from 282 GW in 2014 to 11954 GW as of July 31 2025India has progressively continued the decoupling of economic growth from greenhouse gas emissions The emission intensity of Indias gross domestic product GDP has reduced by 36 per cent between 2005 and 2020Similarly GST on services provided by a common effluent treatment plant CETP has been reduced from 12 per cent to 5 per centReducing taxes on CETPs will motivate industries to use centralised waste treatment methods resulting in a pollutionfree environment and supporting sustainable development in industrial areas This will assist municipal corporations in implementing clean energy solutions for managing waste The GST cuts will create green jobs in areas like waste segregation plant operations and maintenance the government highlightedReduced GST on biodegradable bags from 18 per cent to 5 per cent makes them more affordable encouraging consumers and retailers to move away from singleuse plastics and thereby helping to decrease plastic pollutionThis supports Indias adherence to the Plastic Waste Management Rules 2022 and reinforces the ban on singleuse plastics It will promote investment in research and development and the expansion of biopolymers starchbased and compostable materials said the governmentAs many biodegradable bag producers are small and medium enterprises or startups the lower GST facilitates their market entry and increases demand it added IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/gst-rejig-a-major-push-towards-advancing-indias-climate-goals-centre-638800.html Tue, 16 Sep 2025 15:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/google-lays-off-over-200-ai-contractors-report-638802.html New Delhi Sep 16 Tech giant Google has reportedly laid off more than 200 contractors working on its artificial intelligence projects including Gemini and AI Overviews The move has raised concerns over job security low pay and possible retaliation against unionisation effortsAccording to a report by WIRED the layoffs took place in at least two separate rounds last month and were carried out with little or no prior warning Several contractors said they were suddenly cut off from their workI was just cut off said Andrew Lauzon a contractor who reportedly received an email on August 15 informing him that his contract had endedLauzon who joined Hitachiowned GlobalLogic in March 2024 had been working on training Googles Gemini chatbot and other AI toolsI asked for a reason and they said rampdown on the project whatever that means How are we supposed to feel secure in this employment when we know we could go at any moment he addedThe contractors many of whom reportedly hold advanced degrees such as masters and PhDs were part of a group known as super ratersThey were responsible for refining AIgenerated responses and making them sound more natural and accurateWorkers told WIRED that their role was critical in shaping Googles AI products including the AI Overviews feature that summarises search resultsWe as raters play an incredibly vital role said Alex a generalist rater employed by GlobalLogicThe engineers are not going to have the time to finetune and get the feedback they need for the bot Were like the lifeguards on the beach were there to make sure nothing bad happens Alex addedGoogle has reportedly denied direct responsibility for the job cuts stressing that the affected individuals were employed by GlobalLogic or its subcontractorsThese individuals are employees of GlobalLogic or their subcontractors not Alphabet Google spokesperson Courtenay Mencini was quoted as sayingAs the employers GlobalLogic and their subcontractors are responsible for the employment and working conditions of their employees Mencini addedThe reported layoffs come at a time when Google is investing heavily in AI to keep pace with competitors like OpenAI and Microsoft IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/google-lays-off-over-200-ai-contractors-report-638802.html Tue, 16 Sep 2025 15:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/medtech-sector-key-pillar-of-health-transformation-in-india-jp-nadda-638810.html New Delhi Sep 16 The MedTech sector is a key pillar of health transformation in India said Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda on Tuesday Addressing the inaugural session of the 11th Asia Pacific MedTech Forum APACMed 2025 via a video message he highlighted the importance of the MedTech sector for accessible affordable healthcare and innovationThe MedTech sector is a key pillar of health transformation in India The sectors broad scope encompasses diagnostics advanced devices digital health and AIdriven solutions all contributing to making healthcare more accessible efficient and affordable for every citizen Nadda saidHe stated that the sector has become a trusted provider of highquality healthcare supported by the governments focus on access innovation and infrastructure developmentUnion Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel highlighted several major government initiatives undertaken to strengthen Indias MedTech and medical devices sectorThese include a new scheme for supporting component manufacturing development of common infrastructure branding and conducting critical market and clinical studiesIndia is emerging as not only a highvolume manufacturer but also a highvalue player in the global MedTech market The next leap will come from collaborations and I invite all stakeholders to join India in cocreating solutions that will serve both our 14 billion citizens and the broader healthcare needs of emerging markets said PatelThe medical technology sector is being recognised as a sunrise sector she addedShe also emphasised the governments investorfriendly policies including 100 per cent FDI in medical devices the establishment of an Export Promotion Council and the formation of a National Medical Devices Promotion Council to improve ease of doing business and broaden export opportunitiesFurther Dr Vinod K Paul Member Health NITI Aayog outlined the series of transformative measures undertaken by the government in recent years to boost innovation RampD affordability and domestic manufacturing in the medical devices sectorHe highlighted the National Medical Devices Policy 2023 as a landmark step that sets out a comprehensive framework for holistic sectoral growth This is complemented by the Policy on RampD and Innovation in the PharmaMedTech sector the development of Medical Devices Parks modeled on the Andhra MedTech Zone a Productivity Linked Incentive PLI Scheme and the launch of the Promotion of Research and Innovation in the PharmaMedTech Sector PRIP popularly known as the BRICS schemeThe twoday forum being held from 1617 September brought together senior policymakers global industry leaders regulators and healthcare experts from more than 10 countries across the Asia Pacific region to align strategies for shaping Indias MedTech roadmap in line with the Prime Ministers Healthcare Vision 2030 and Viksit Bharat 2047 IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/medtech-sector-key-pillar-of-health-transformation-in-india-jp-nadda-638810.html Tue, 16 Sep 2025 16:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/automatic-sirens-in-andhra-villages-to-protect-people-from-lightning-floods-638823.html Amaravati Sep 16 Andhra Pradesh government is installing automatic sirens at village secretariats to protect citizens from lightning and floods a top official said on Tuesday A pilot project in one village has already shown excellent results with sirens operating through ISRO satellite support even without mobile signals Secretary Real Time Governance RTGS Katamneni Bhaskar saidEach system costs around Rs 2 lakh Statewide implementation would cost about Rs 340 crore but in the first phase vulnerable villages will be prioritised at a cost of Rs 1015 crore he said asking the district Collectors to monitor and support this initiativeAddressing the District Collectors on the second day of the Collectors Conference Bhaskar said that the state government is enhancing disaster preparedness and governance efficiency through RTGS Aware 20 advanced data systems and innovation hubsHe urged the district Collectors to fully utilise these cuttingedge tools to improve governance at the district levelThrough RTGS Aware 20 citizens are being continuously alerted about disasters cyclones lightning and weather changes Forecasts down to the mandal level including lightning strikes heavy rainfall and reservoir inflows are being provided in real timeHe said that a dedicated RTGS Aware website has been launched already widely used by private transport and logistics firms to plan operations He urged district administrations to leverage this system for greater local impactBhaskar informed that all districtlevel RTGS centres will be completed by the end of October Collectors were asked to personally review progress and ensure the timely completion of construction worksA centralised Data Lake with over 6 petabytes of data from government departments has been created linked to a realtime Data Lens dashboard This tool enables Collectors to access districtlevel data instantly eliminating duplication of efforts He instructed that no new data silos be created at the district level and that existing data must be integrated with the central systemTo make governance information accessible RTGS has developed an AIenabled single search bar with over 80 lakh government documents including GOs Citizens can access information from any department through this tool which also features voicebased interaction Collectors were directed to create awareness among the public on its usageThe state aims to achieve full mobile connectivity across tribal and remote areas within six months Bhaskar said steps are underway to immediately address connectivity gaps by constructing new mobile towers in underserved areasCollectors were also asked to give special attention to the Ratan Tata Innovation Hub being established at Amaravati Visakhapatnam Vijayawada Tirupati Anantapur and Rajahmundry These hubs will promote 20000 startups and generate nearly one lakh employment opportunities for the states youthRTGS is not just a monitoring mechanism it is a peoples tool for disaster preparedness governance transparency and futureready innovation District Collectors must ensure its full utilisation to bring visible results to citizens Bhaskar said IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/automatic-sirens-in-andhra-villages-to-protect-people-from-lightning-floods-638823.html Tue, 16 Sep 2025 17:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/pakistans-digital-economy-plunges-into-deep-crisis-as-online-financial-frauds-soar-638830.html New Delhi Sep 16 Pakistans digital economy has plunged into a deep crisis of cyber scams data breaches and online financial fraud with scammers leveraging online banking platforms and deceptive investment schemes to cheat unsuspecting users according to a report The scale of the problem is staggering Between 2020 and 2024 the Federal Investigation Agency FIA received over 722000 cybercrime complaints Yet fewer than 10 per cent were formally investigated and a mere 152 cases led to convictions In 2024 alone more than 13000 complaints of online financial fraud resulted in 1212 arrests but only 17 verdicts were delivered These figures reveal not just inefficiency but a systemic collapse in justice and deterrence according to the report in Islam Khabar by Khaalid HanifThe financial sector continues to absorb the shock In Q1 2024 the State Bank of Pakistan SBP imposed fines exceeding PKR 776 million on eight major banks for lapses in antimoney laundering customer due diligence and fraud risk protocols The Banking Mohtasib resolved nearly 28000 digital fraud complaints in 2024 with PKR 165 billion in restitution Yet these recoveries are dwarfed by the scale of unrecovered losses and the erosion of consumer confidence said the reportThe report further states that digital fraud has evolved into organised industrialscale crime In July 2025 the National Cybercrime Investigation Agency NCCIA dismantled a massive Ponzi scheme operating out of a Faisalabad call center arresting 149 suspects including foreign nationals Meanwhile the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan SECP flagged 141 illegal lending apps exploiting platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp many of which reappear under new names even after regulatory takedownsIt cites the Pakistan Cybersecurity Councils 2024 report which highlights that over 60 per cent of Pakistani companies fail to implement basic cybersecurity protocols such as encryption and multifactor authentication International institutions have taken noteDespite legislative efforts including the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act PECA 2016 the National Cybersecurity Policy 2021 and the establishment of the Digital Rights Protection Authority DRPA in 2025 Pakistans response remains fragmented Jurisdictional overlaps and turf wars between the FIA and NCCIA have created confusion over investigative primacy further weakening enforcementWith only 350 cybercrime investigators in the country handling over 160000 cases each officer has to handle an average of 6000 complaints annually Some provinces have just two digital locators and five forensic vehicles The judiciary too is illequipped lacking technical training specialised benches and clarity on digital evidence interpretation The result is a justice system unable to keep pace with the complexity and volume of cybercrime the report statesPakistans digital infrastructure is equally vulnerable The PTAs Cybersecurity Report 202425 recorded a 17 per cent rise in attacks on critical systems with phishing incidents surging by 173 per cent globally and mirrored domestically While the CTDISR2025 introduced commendable security protocols compliance remains uneven and largely confined to major telecom operators Sectoral CERTs for banking and government are still embryonic and incident response remains underresourced the report added IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/pakistans-digital-economy-plunges-into-deep-crisis-as-online-financial-frauds-soar-638830.html Tue, 16 Sep 2025 17:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tech/s-korea-launches-probe-into-purported-attempt-to-sell-sk-telecom-client-data-638832.html Seoul Sep 16 The science ministry said on Tuesday it has launched an official probe into a purported attempt to sell personal data allegedly leaked from South Koreas top mobile carrier SK Telecom Co The move came after a global hacking group Scattered Lapsus posted on its Telegram channel that it would sell SK Telecoms client data for US10000 adding that 42 South Koreans had already made contact reports Yonhap news agencyAfter being aware that a global hacking group has seized SK Telecoms client data and is seeking to sell it we requested the mobile carrier to submit related materials and plan to check the facts through onsite inspections the Ministry of Science and ICT saidThe group claimed the data includes customers IDs names phone numbers emails addresses and birth datesThe group also threatened SK Telecom saying it must engage in negotiations or all of the 27 million users data would be releasedThe company reported in April that private data of its entire user base may have been leaked in a cyberattack on its network serversThe government also recently launched a probe against No 2 mobile carrier KT Corp which reported a total of 278 cases of unauthorized mobile payments worth 170 million won 122000 raising concerns over a possible leak of customer dataThe publics concern over the recent series of data breaches is growing an official from the ministry said We plan to quickly check facts regarding related allegations and open the result to the public transparentlySK Telecom meanwhile said the batch of client data that the hacking group claims to be selling has never been leaked suggesting the attempted sale is very likely a scamAfter analysing sample data website screenshots and file transfer protocol screens posted on the dark web we concluded that all of the information is fake and the website does not exist within our companys system an SK Telecom official saidThe 100 GB worth of data as claimed by the hackers was never leaked the official addedCiting a report submitted by the Korea Internet amp Security Agency Rep Choi Soojin of the main opposition People Power Party said the hacking group also put the source code for SK Telecoms internal software up for sale for 250000The hacking group maintained it has programmes to intercept text messages and track phone calls in real time as well while SK Telecom denied such claims IANS https://dailyworld.in/tech/s-korea-launches-probe-into-purported-attempt-to-sell-sk-telecom-client-data-638832.html Tue, 16 Sep 2025 17:43:00 +0530