Dhruvaksh Saha &Amp; Sourabh Lele

Stories by Dhruvaksh Saha &Amp; Sourabh Lele

Markets see 70% chance BJP forming next govt

Markets see 70% chance BJP forming next govt

Rediff.com   9 Sep 2023

The key risk factors would be anti-incumbency, small vote share swings causing large impact on outcomes and the 2004 example.

Records of 320,000 patients on AYUSH Jharkhand hacked

Records of 320,000 patients on AYUSH Jharkhand hacked

Rediff.com   5 Sep 2023

CloudSEK in its report also warned that the leaked data could enable account takeovers.

Gadkari unveils prototype of world's first BS-VI-compliant flex-fuel car

Gadkari unveils prototype of world's first BS-VI-compliant flex-fuel car

Rediff.com   30 Aug 2023

Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday unveiled the prototype of the world's first Bharat Stage (BS)-VI-compliant electrified flex-fuel car, developed by Toyota Kirloskar Motor. The car, which runs on 100 per cent ethanol (E100), is based on the Toyota Innova HyCross. It can cover 40 per cent of its distance on ethanol and the remaining 60 per cent on electric, with the petrol engine shut off.

Microsoft unveils blueprint for India on AI governance

Microsoft unveils blueprint for India on AI governance

Rediff.com   25 Aug 2023

Tech giant Microsoft has unveiled a blueprint for India on artificial intelligence (AI) governance, and proposed a regulatory architecture to oversee safety protocols, according to a whitepaper released on Thursday. The whitepaper titled "Governing AI: A Blueprint for India" comes amid Microsoft raising its stakes in its artificial intelligence tool ChatGPT. The proposed AI regulatory architecture includes regulations prescribing safety and security requirements, then license deployment for permitted uses in a licensed Al data centre with post-deployment safety and security monitoring and protection.

India's first public InvIT for road, highway projects in the works

India's first public InvIT for road, highway projects in the works

Rediff.com   8 Aug 2023

After the success of the National Highways Authority of India's (NHAI's) first infrastructure investment trust (InvIT) with foreign institutional investors, the Centre is working on a proposal to launch a fresh InvIT for national highways, where domestic retail investors can hold units of the trust

Demand for IT gig workers grew 157% in H12023, says job firm Awign

Demand for IT gig workers grew 157% in H12023, says job firm Awign

Rediff.com   19 Jul 2023

At a time when the tech sector witnessed a spree of layoffs and slowdown in new hiring, IT firms have opted for temporary jobs in order to turn some their fixed costs variable. Work fulfillment platform Awign has reported a 157 per cent rise in demand for such jobs in first half of 2023. Awign says most of the demand has arisen for highly-skilled tech professionals at mid-level and senior positions with 2-7 years' experience.

Export preparedness: Tamil Nadu takes top spot, Gujarat slips to 4th

Export preparedness: Tamil Nadu takes top spot, Gujarat slips to 4th

Rediff.com   18 Jul 2023

After topping it for two consecutive years, Gujarat slipped three places on the NITI Aayog's Export Preparedness Index (EPI) for 2022, as Tamil Nadu emerged as the most export-ready state, the central think tank said in its report released on Monday. In a continuing trend, coastal states were found to have the most robust export infrastructure, which officials attributed to the integration of maritime trade into the core of their economies. Maharashtra and Karnataka retained their positions -- second and third, respectively; Haryana was ranked first among landlocked states and fifth overall.

Android probe: CCI 'protecting' Amazon, Google tells SC

Android probe: CCI 'protecting' Amazon, Google tells SC

Rediff.com   7 Jul 2023

Google, in its latest appeal to the Supreme Court, has said the Competition Commission of India (CCI) is protecting Amazon's interests after having complained that India's anti-competition body (CCI) had copied part of a European Commission ruling against it for allegedly abusing the market dominance of Android. The latest twist to the Google-CCI case comes as Google filed an appeal in the Supreme Court on June 26, against the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal's (NCLAT's) March 29 order. The tech giant's contention is that the NCLAT failed to apply the "effect analysis" part in the CCI order.

Despite its high internet user base, India has just 6% of global cybersecurity jobs

Despite its high internet user base, India has just 6% of global cybersecurity jobs

Rediff.com   22 Jun 2023

Even as cyber threats continue to rise in India - the second-largest global active internet user base - the country is currently facing a big skill gap in the cybersecurity domain and represents just six per cent of global cybersecurity jobs, finds a report. As of May 2023, the industry had about 40,000 open opportunities, indicating the growing demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals. However, the demand-supply gap stood at 30 per cent, projecting a major skill challenge in the industry, finds the study by tech staffing firm TeamLease.

Rail Accidents Surged By 37% In 2022-2023

Rail Accidents Surged By 37% In 2022-2023

Rediff.com   13 Jun 2023

In 2021, the Railways boasted of a historic feat -- no passenger deaths in train accidents in two years. However, the derailment of the Bikaner-Guwahati Express in 2022 brought the Railways back to its forgetful past.

Interested in working with OpenAI? Please feel free to email Sam Altman

Interested in working with OpenAI? Please feel free to email Sam Altman

Rediff.com   9 Jun 2023

If you are interested in working with OpenAI, feel free to email Sam Altman. In a free-wheeling fireside chat with university students on Thursday in Delhi, the CEO of OpenAI and his team seemed eager to welcome bright young IT practitioners of India into the OpenAI work space. Asked about the steep degree requirements for applying to tech giants such as Microsoft and Google, Altman said that his company was open to hiring undergraduates and even college drop-outs.

Hackers target YouTube channels of journalist, comedian

Hackers target YouTube channels of journalist, comedian

Rediff.com   6 Jun 2023

Possible phishing attack targets high-profile channels run by Barkha Dutt and Tanmay Bhatt.

Sittwe Port: India's Move Against China

Sittwe Port: India's Move Against China

Rediff.com   20 May 2023

The project, the agreement for which was signed way back in 2009, had been gaining strategic relevance over the years as India-China ties took a hit.

Railways Realising Its Paperless Dreams

Railways Realising Its Paperless Dreams

Rediff.com   17 May 2023

'Currently, 81 per cent of all reserved tickets are booked through e-ticketing.'

To avoid 2022 crisis, Indian Railways ferries more coal for electricity

To avoid 2022 crisis, Indian Railways ferries more coal for electricity

Rediff.com   15 May 2023

As Indian Railways looks to avert the crisis like last summer, preparations are under way to stock up coal at thermal power plants. Much like February and March, thermal coal movement in April was 5 per cent higher than the previous year, data from the Ministry of Railways shows. While India prepares for a hot summer this year, 48.23 million tonnes (mt) of coal for thermal power plants was ferried by Indian Railways in April. The national transporter also moved about 500,000 tonnes--18.4 per cent-- more imported coal for power plants this April than it had done last year.

IT mid-caps stick to steady growth amid uncertain macros

IT mid-caps stick to steady growth amid uncertain macros

Rediff.com   8 May 2023

With the Big Four information technology services players having disappointed the Street, the focus is on mid-cap IT players who seem to have met expectations, according to analyst reports and management commentary on the demand environment.

Cognizant rejig to cost $400 mn over 2 years, to lay off 3,500 employees

Cognizant rejig to cost $400 mn over 2 years, to lay off 3,500 employees

Rediff.com   5 May 2023

Nasdaq-listed information technology (IT) services firm Cognizant will incur the cost of $400 million over two years as it sets to restructure its operations amid sluggish growth rates. Its NextGen Program aims at simplifying the operating model, optimising corporate functions, and consolidating and realigning office space to reflect a post-pandemic hybrid work environment. As part of this structural shift, Cognizant will eliminate 80,000 seats, or 11 million square feet of real estate in large cities in India.

Infosys headcount reduces in fourth quarter of FY23 even as attrition slows

Infosys headcount reduces in fourth quarter of FY23 even as attrition slows

Rediff.com   14 Apr 2023

With revenue growth impacted and uncertainty deepening in major markets, India's second largest IT services firm, Infosys, saw a net reduction in its headcount in the fourth quarter of financial year 2022-23 (Q4FY23). Infosys' workforce saw a net reduction of 3,611 employees, bringing its total headcount to 343,234. This was also the first time in many years that the company did not provide a hiring target for the next fiscal.

'No second thoughts on Great Nicobar Port'

'No second thoughts on Great Nicobar Port'

Rediff.com   11 Apr 2023

'An area of land has already been earmarked for their protected habitation.' 'There are also steps being taken to take care of the coral zone and mangroves.'

Indian start-ups may take legal route against Google in-app billing

Indian start-ups may take legal route against Google in-app billing

Rediff.com   10 Apr 2023

Scrutiny of Google's code of conduct in the Indian Android ecosystem is far from over with several start-ups preparing to appeal against the company's revised policies of service fee on in-app purchases and subscriptions, according to sources in the know. This comes days after the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) granted partial relief to the tech giant, reversing four of the 10 key non-monetary directives that would have forced Google to allow uninstalling of its pre-installed apps on Android devices. Paytm, BharatMatrimony, and ShareChat are among the start-ups that are likely to file grievances against the tech major for alleged non-compliance with the Competition Commission of India's (CCI's) cease-and-desist order on Play Store policies.