Author: Bhakti Narayanan

India’s entry into 5G technology has significantly boosted mobile download speeds, propelling the nation to the 47th position in the Speedtest Global Index, ahead of countries like Japan, the UK, and Brazil, according to Ookla. India’s speed performance has increased 3.59 times since the introduction of 5G, marking it as a remarkable advancement. In this global ranking, India surpassed not only its neighboring countries but also some G20 nations, such as Mexico, Turkey, the UK, Japan, Brazil, and South Africa. The introduction of 5G technology by operators like Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel has led to a substantial increase in…

From April to September 2023, a total freight loading of 758.20 million tonnes (MT) was achieved, marking a significant increase of approximately 21.52 MT compared to the previous year when it was 736.68 MT. This boost in freight loading also resulted in higher revenue for the Railways, with earnings reaching Rs. 81,697 crore (US$ 9.81 billion) in contrast to the previous year’s Rs. 78,991 crore (US$ 9.49 billion), indicating a rise of around Rs. 2,706 crore (US$ 235.23 million) during the same period compared to the previous year. In September 2023, the Railways witnessed an originating freight loading of 123.53…

During the 118th Annual Session of the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI), Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Mr. Amit Shah, highlighted India’s aspirations for the future. He mentioned that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set the goal for India to become the top-ranked country in all sectors by the time the nation celebrates its 100 years of independence in 2047. He referred to this period as the “Amrit Kaal” or the era of unprecedented growth. The theme of this year’s event is “Emerging India: This Is the Right Time, the Golden Era of Remarkable Progress.” Mr.…

Sarath Ranganathan, a distinguished Indian-origin professor specializing in respiratory medicine and renowned as a clinician scientist on the international stage, has assumed the prestigious position of the head of the Melbourne Medical School at the University of Melbourne. Reflecting on this appointment, Professor Jane Gunn, the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Health Sciences at the University of Melbourne, expressed her delight in welcoming Professor Ranganathan to this significant role. She highlighted his previous leadership roles within the faculty, which encompassed holding the Stevenson chair in Paediatrics and serving as the head of the Department of Paediatrics, a…

Union Minister Piyush Goyal chaired the 7th meeting of the Mission Steering Group for the National Technical Textiles Mission. During this meeting, 18 R&D projects valued at Rs. 46.74 crore (US$ 5.62 million) received approval. These projects span various categories, including Geotech, Protech, Indutech, Sustainable Textiles, Sportech, Smart E-Textiles, and Meditech. Goyal emphasized the need for proactive industry engagement to bolster India’s indigenous development of technical textiles. The minister also discussed the status of various components of the National Technical Textiles Mission, including the review of sanctioned R&D products, R&D projects in Mission mode, the formation of a committee for…

Cybersecurity company BlueVoyant has added technology executive Amit Jasuja to its executive leadership team as Chief Product Officer. Jasuja, based in Sydney, Australia, joins to strengthen BlueVoyant’s commitment to enhancing customer value and ensuring future growth. CEO James Rosenthal expressed excitement about Jasuja’s appointment, highlighting how it underscores their dedication to delivering top-notch cybersecurity solutions and positioning for sustained growth. With more than three decades of security leadership experience, Amit Jasuja significantly enriches BlueVoyant’s strategic product direction. His primary objective is to consolidate the product lines, aiming for a larger share of the cybersecurity market. Jasuja’s extensive experience spans across…

According to a report based on data from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), Person-to-Merchant (P2M) transactions in India are projected to constitute 75% of all United Payments Interface (UPI) transactions by 2025. Currently, 56.1% of UPI transactions are P2M transactions. Global payments service provider Worldline’s “India Digital Payments Report for H1 2023” revealed that UPI transactions in India increased by 62% in the first half of 2023 compared to the same period in 2018, largely driven by P2M transactions. Between January and June 2023, there were 51.91 billion UPI transactions, with 29.15 billion being P2M payments, accounting for…

A study conducted by Nielsen Media India on behalf of Amazon India reveals that consumers across India are feeling optimistic about online shopping for the upcoming festive season, with one in two planning to increase their spending compared to the previous year. The report indicates that a significant 81% of consumers intend to shop online during the festive season, and more than 75% trust e-commerce platforms for genuine products and convenient shopping. The core expectations of consumers include a broad product selection, competitive pricing, easy returns, and exchanges. Manish Tiwary, Country Manager India – Consumer Business at Amazon India, expressed…

The highly anticipated film “Animal” has been generating significant buzz, particularly for its intense action sequences. A teaser featuring Ranbir Kapoor engaging in a fierce battle with thugs has already earned praise from action enthusiasts. To add to the excitement, the film’s creators have been unveiling character posters that introduce intriguing figures from the world of gangster warfare. Following the poster of Anil Kapoor as Ranbir’s father, the next character poster unveiled belongs to Bobby Deol, who plays the role of the antagonist in this underworld tale. Released on September 26, the poster showcases Bobby Deol in a sharp and…

India’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was reaffirmed during the G20 summit, where these goals were emphasized as a top priority. India’s progress toward the SDGs was lauded as an inspiring example of determination and innovation. India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, highlighted this commitment during the ‘India Roundtable’ held alongside the UN General Assembly. She noted that while global progress on the SDGs has been slow, India has made strides, especially in reducing poverty, staying on track to achieve SDG 1 before 2030. The G20 summit placed significant emphasis on the SDGs, marking a…