Shivani Shinde And Sourabh Lele

Stories by Shivani Shinde And Sourabh Lele

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.

Nasscom portal to bridge job scout-seeker gap

Nasscom portal to bridge job scout-seeker gap

Rediff.com   23 Aug 2023

The National Association of Software Services Companies (Nasscom) on Tuesday launched the Talent Connect portal to bridge the gap between recruiters and digitally skilled and certified candidates. The portal, which has been in the work for the last 28 months has 100,000 candidates and companies such as Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Tech Mahindra and Salesforce recruiting from it. The platform, for the first time, is also making an attempt to bridge the gap of skill-based talent to employers, rather than the current practice of academic focused talent base.

Why TCS Picked Krithivasan As CEO

Why TCS Picked Krithivasan As CEO

Rediff.com   22 Aug 2023

Krithi Krithivasan is the kind of person one might look to when the need is to calm things down and put things back on track.

Are IT Companies Avoiding Placement Season?

Are IT Companies Avoiding Placement Season?

Rediff.com   7 Aug 2023

'Companies are coming to the campuses, and we have companies booking their slots for the placement season, but the overall number of companies signing is low, and the hiring numbers are also lower.'

Is The Tide Changing For Byju's?

Is The Tide Changing For Byju's?

Rediff.com   3 Aug 2023

'They have got the advisory council, a CEO has been appointed finally, and they have made some headway on the term loan B.'

'We need a remarkable turnaround'

'We need a remarkable turnaround'

Rediff.com   31 Jul 2023

'We have not seen too many large deals compared to last quarter.'

More misses than hits hint at uncertain times for IT services companies

More misses than hits hint at uncertain times for IT services companies

Rediff.com   24 Jul 2023

The first-quarter performance of top IT services players, as well as mid-cap firms, has been subdued, reflecting macro uncertainties. The numbers of the top four firms show several misses, hinting at difficult times ahead. One mismatch is the total contract value (TCV) signed by the firms and the revenue growth registered.

IT stocks log biggest gain in nearly three years as growth worries ebb

IT stocks log biggest gain in nearly three years as growth worries ebb

Rediff.com   22 Jul 2023

The gauge for the performance of informational technology (IT) stocks soared nearly 5 per cent-most in nearly three years-as growth worries eased following a robust order book posted by bellwether Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). The Nifty IT index rose 4.5 per cent to close at 30,945. This was the biggest single-day gain since September 14, 2020. Industry titan TCS' shares rose 5 per cent to Rs 3,509.

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.

Macro uncertainties may keep IT hiring in slow lane this fiscal year

Macro uncertainties may keep IT hiring in slow lane this fiscal year

Rediff.com   17 Jul 2023

India's information technology (IT) sector will witness subdued hiring in 2023-24 as macro uncertainties impact demand environment, with clients either taking a pause on spend or stopping discretionary spend, say human resource experts. To begin with, unlike earlier years, the three large IT players TCS, HCLTech, and Wipro have not provided any new hiring targets for the financial year. And Wipro has said that its hiring target will depend on the demand environment.

Byju's CEO speaks to shareholders, firm to set up board advisory committee

Byju's CEO speaks to shareholders, firm to set up board advisory committee

Rediff.com   7 Jul 2023

Byju Raveendran, CEO and founder of the eponymous edtech giant, has told shareholders that the company will set up a board advisory committee (BAC). This was part of a discussion on July 4 with shareholders at an emergency general meeting (EGM). Raveendran also said that in the next EGM in three weeks will give details about BAC's members and composition.

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.

Byju Raveendran talks 'struggles', not layoffs

Byju Raveendran talks 'struggles', not layoffs

Rediff.com   30 Jun 2023

After assuring shareholders that Byju's is on a strong footing, Chief Executive Officer Byju Raveendran, after much delay, spoke to employees in a townhall session. In his first-ever address to employees since problems began at Byju's, Raveendran spoke about the resignation of auditors and board members, the Term Loan B dispute, and the future of educational technology (edtech). Raveendran also asked his team to 'rise above the noise' and work with resilience and determination.

Tata Comm to acquire NYSE-listed Kaleyra for $100 mn in all-cash deal

Tata Comm to acquire NYSE-listed Kaleyra for $100 mn in all-cash deal

Rediff.com   29 Jun 2023

Tata Communications on Wednesday announced that it would acquire NYSE-listed Kaleyra, a global omnichannel integrated communication services provider with a set of proprietary platforms offering targeted personalisation through messaging, video, push notification, e-mails and voice-based services, and chatbots. The acquisition is an all cash deal. Tata Communications has agreed to acquire Kaleyra at a price per share of $7.25, for a total consideration to Kaleyra shareholders of approximately $100 million, besides the assumption of all outstanding debt.

8 'gazelles' demoted to 'cheetahs', 19 out of Hurun Unicorn Index 2023

8 'gazelles' demoted to 'cheetahs', 19 out of Hurun Unicorn Index 2023

Rediff.com   28 Jun 2023

With the number of start-ups reaching the unicorn level falling drastically in 2023, the Hurun Unicorn Index said it has demoted eight gazelles - start-ups that were founded in 2000 and have the potential to go to unicorn in three years - to cheetahs.

Why TCS' mega deal with Transamerica came to an end

Why TCS' mega deal with Transamerica came to an end

Rediff.com   24 Jun 2023

India's largest IT services player Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) saw its $2 billion, 10-year deal with Transamerica Life Insurance Company come to an end even before the period was over. Transamerica is the subsidiary of American arm of Dutch insurer Aegon NV. This is not the first time such a long-term deal has been called off. Earlier this year, UK's National Employment Savings Trust (NEST), ended a $1.8-billion deal with French IT services player Atos.

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.

Byju's sacks 1,000 more; count jumps to 3,500

Byju's sacks 1,000 more; count jumps to 3,500

Rediff.com   20 Jun 2023

India's largest edtech firm Byju's will fire 1,000 employees in a fresh round of layoffs across departments. With the latest round, total job cuts at the company have mounted to around 3,500. According to sources, fresh job cuts are an attempt by the company to improve its finances and work towards a path to profitability.

Margins remain a pain point for organised FMCG supply-chain companies

Margins remain a pain point for organised FMCG supply-chain companies

Rediff.com   16 Jun 2023

Jiomart B2B is the latest among organised supply-chain companies to bite the bullet, shutting down its warehouses, and asking its employees to leave. Why are companies finding it difficult to sustain the supply-chain business? Experts point out that gross margins in supplying fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs) are very low.

Edtech giant Byju's likely to lay off 1,000 more employees

Edtech giant Byju's likely to lay off 1,000 more employees

Rediff.com   9 Jun 2023

With debt woes and a legal case in the US courts, educational technology (edtech) giant Byju's is expected to be laying off more employees, according to media reports. According to The Morning Context report, Byju's intends to lay off 1,000 employees. This number, however, could not be confirmed by Business Standard independently. A spokesperson for the company declined to comment on the reports.