News for 'Innovation and Economic Research'

Hurrah For These Women Achievers!

Hurrah For These Women Achievers!

Rediff.com22 Feb 2024

More and more women are making their presence felt in jobs related to sciences, technology, and engineering across organisations.

NASA, ISRO to send joint space missions

NASA, ISRO to send joint space missions

Rediff.com22 Jun 2023

"On space, we will be able to announce that India is signing the Artemis Accords, which advance a common vision for space exploration for the benefit of all humankind," a senior administration official said hours before the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joe Biden in the Oval Office.

India's Big Guns Firing On Capex Front

India's Big Guns Firing On Capex Front

Rediff.com13 Feb 2024

'Interim Budget has ignited the entrepreneurial spirit.'

Solar scheme: 1 cr families to save Rs 18K cr a year, says FM

Solar scheme: 1 cr families to save Rs 18K cr a year, says FM

Rediff.com1 Feb 2024

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday said Pradhanmantri Suryodaya Yojana will enable one crore families to get up to 300 units of free electricity monthly and help them save up to Rs 18,000 annually. "There is provision of Rs 10,000 crore for rooftop solar (scheme) in the Budget," said finance secretary T V Somanathan in press conference on Budget later in the day. Earlier in the day Sitharaman in her interim Budget speech said through rooftop solarisation, one crore households will be enabled to obtain up to 300 units of free electricity each month.

ISRO, NASA in talks to place Indian on ISS next year

ISRO, NASA in talks to place Indian on ISS next year

Rediff.com8 Sep 2023

India and the US on Friday said they have started talks to put in place a strategic framework for human space flight by year-end as they plan to send an Indian astronaut to the International Space Station in 2024.

Despite odds, economists confident of India growth story: WEF study

Despite odds, economists confident of India growth story: WEF study

Rediff.com15 Sep 2023

Most economists expect the global economy to weaken in the coming year amid political and financial volatility, but a large majority of over 90 per cent are confident of moderate or strong growth in South Asia, notably India, a survey showed on Friday. At the same time, the outlook for China has dimmed following signs of deflationary pressures and fragility in the country's real estate market, the World Economic Forum's latest 'Chief Economists Outlook' report said. As the world grapples with political and financial volatility, almost six in 10 believe the global economic outlook will undermine progress towards meeting the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with 74 per cent saying geopolitical tensions will have the same effect.

Dr M S Swaminathan, who made India self-sufficient in food, passes away

Dr M S Swaminathan, who made India self-sufficient in food, passes away

Rediff.com29 Sep 2023

Renowned agricultural scientist M S Swaminathan and the driving force behind the nation's 'Green Revolution,' passed away in Chennai on Thursday.

India, Lanka to find 'innovative' solution to fishermen issue

India, Lanka to find 'innovative' solution to fishermen issue

Rediff.com5 Feb 2016

The two countries also signed memoranda of understanding in education and health sectors after visiting External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Lankan counterpart Mangala Samaraweera co-chaired the 9th Indo-Lanka Joint Commission meeting in Colombo.

Interim Budget 2024-25: Funds to boost reach on fintech industry wishlist

Interim Budget 2024-25: Funds to boost reach on fintech industry wishlist

Rediff.com8 Jan 2024

Indian fintechs and associated entities are hoping that the Union Budget 2024 will provide a boost and empower firms to extend their reach beyond Tier-II regions, with an emphasis on supporting enterprises led by women. The fintech industry, which has witnessed regulatory reforms over the last year, expects the Budget, scheduled to be presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1, will further encourage financial inclusion, empower micro-small-medium enterprises (MSMEs) with lending solutions, and push for upskilling initiatives for the country's young workforce.

TERI offers innovative solutions in UP village

TERI offers innovative solutions in UP village

Rediff.com6 Sep 2013

The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) led by Nobel laureate R K Pachauri on Wednesday has commissioned a solar micro-grid connection (SMG) in Tanda village of Jagdishpur block (about 80 km from Lucknow) in Rahul Gandhi's Amethi parliamentary constituency.

Modi meets Bill Gates; discusses climate change

Modi meets Bill Gates; discusses climate change

Rediff.com2 Nov 2021

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday met Microsoft co-founder and billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates on the sidelines of the climate summit here and discussed ways to further sustainable development, steps to mitigate climate change and vaccine research. The meeting between Modi and the American business magnate, whose foundation is focusing on fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, took place after the former launched the Initiative for the Resilient Island States (IRIS) for developing infrastructure of small island nations. Prime Minister Modi expressed appreciation for the work being done by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in India, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.

Govt plans to make India self-reliant in edible oils

Govt plans to make India self-reliant in edible oils

Rediff.com1 Feb 2024

The government will formulate a strategy to make India self-reliant in edible oils by boosting domestic output of oilseeds and launch a comprehensive programme to support dairy farmers, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced on Thursday. India imports a large quantity of edible oils to meet the domestic demand. During the 2022-23 marketing year (November-October), the country imported nearly 165 lakh tonnes of cooking oils, valuing a whopping Rs 1.38 lakh crore.

Can India Be A Developed Nation By 2047?

Can India Be A Developed Nation By 2047?

Rediff.com6 Jan 2024

One hopes in his next term, Narendra Modi will take up the mission of inculcating respect for following rules in Indians as a mission. Therein lies the chance for India to become a developed country, asserts Colonel Anil A Athale (retd).

DU to drop Pak poet Mohammed Iqbal who penned 'saare jahan se achha'

DU to drop Pak poet Mohammed Iqbal who penned 'saare jahan se achha'

Rediff.com27 May 2023

The university's academic council in a meeting on Friday had passed a motion for the removal of the chapter titled Modern Indian Political Thought.

Brain Drain 2.0 Is Taking Place In India

Brain Drain 2.0 Is Taking Place In India

Rediff.com28 Sep 2023

The migration of domestically developed intellectual property to foreign corporations within India reflects an anomaly in the demand pattern of the country's job market, points out Kanika Datta.

World lauds ISRO for Chandrayaan-3's success

World lauds ISRO for Chandrayaan-3's success

Rediff.com23 Aug 2023

India scripted history as the ambitious third Moon mission of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) touched down on the Moon's south pole, propelling the country to an exclusive club of four and making it the first nation to land on the uncharted surface.

Modi, Biden discuss N-energy, 6G and AI; vow to 'deepen, diversity' defence ties

Modi, Biden discuss N-energy, 6G and AI; vow to 'deepen, diversity' defence ties

Rediff.com9 Sep 2023

In a post on X, Modi said, "Happy to have welcomed @POTUS @JoeBiden to 7, Lok Kalyan Marg. Our meeting was very productive."

Waiting In The Wings: The Creator Economy

Waiting In The Wings: The Creator Economy

Rediff.com14 Dec 2023

...current industry models will soon fade out, notes Ajit Balakrishnan.

Modi raises temple attacks, pro-Khalistan activities with Australian PM

Modi raises temple attacks, pro-Khalistan activities with Australian PM

Rediff.com10 Mar 2023

The matter came up for discussion during their wide-ranging dialogue that was aimed at expanding overall ties.

Rahul Bajaj, World's Favourite Indian

Rahul Bajaj, World's Favourite Indian

Rediff.com12 Apr 2022

'Rahul inspired Indian industry with an ethos, an ethos of being more confident, more independent, more thorough, more competitive, more generous, more public-spirited, and more national and more international all at once,' remembers Naushad Forbes.

Will AI Reduce Working Hours?

Will AI Reduce Working Hours?

Rediff.com24 Nov 2023

In 1930, John Maynard Keynes predicted that by 2030 technology would be so advanced that three hours of work per day would suffice. Has AI brought about the transformation that Keynes predicted, asks Atanu Biswas.

IIT Madras raises Rs 231 cr in funding from alumni, firms, donors in FY23

IIT Madras raises Rs 231 cr in funding from alumni, firms, donors in FY23

Rediff.com20 Jun 2023

Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) said on Monday that it had raised the highest-ever corpus of annual funds for the institution, garnering Rs 231 crore from alumni, industry and individual donors for 2022-23 (FY23). Its funding increased 76 per cent year-on-year (YoY) compared to Rs 131 crore in FY22, according to data shared by the institute. The number of donors contributing more than Rs 1 crore increased 64 per cent YoY.

Modi raises H-1B visas issue with Biden: Foreign Secretary Shringla

Modi raises H-1B visas issue with Biden: Foreign Secretary Shringla

Rediff.com25 Sep 2021

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his first-ever in-person meeting with President Joe Biden raised a number of issues involving the Indian community in America, including access for Indian professionals in the US and speaking about the H-1B visas, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla has said.

Sitharaman walks the tech talk with AI, data governance, digilocker in Budget

Sitharaman walks the tech talk with AI, data governance, digilocker in Budget

Rediff.com1 Feb 2023

The Union Budget on Wednesday outlined several initiatives to drive India's technology agenda and boost digital infrastructure, including new centres of excellence for artificial intelligence, National Data Governance Policy, and Entity DigiLocker.

Subhas Chandra Bose was 1st PM of undivided India: Rajnath Singh

Subhas Chandra Bose was 1st PM of undivided India: Rajnath Singh

Rediff.com12 Nov 2022

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose had formed this government and taken oath as prime minister on October 21, 1943."

Draft Digital Bill to be available for public by Dec-end

Draft Digital Bill to be available for public by Dec-end

Rediff.com8 Dec 2022

After the draft data protection bill, the government is now all set to bring another key legislation -- Digital India Bill -- that will be made available for public consultation by the month-end, Minister of State for IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar said on Thursday. The Digital India Bill, which will replace the 22-year old Information Technology (IT) Act, will be contemporary and a modern piece of legislation, the Minister promised. The proposed bill, alongside the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Bill whose draft was released recently, will contribute to the evolving framework which is light on regulation, safeguards consumer rights and catalyses innovation, the minister said while speaking at CII Global Economic Policy Summit 2022.

Has India's 'Bad Bank' Worked Or Not?

Has India's 'Bad Bank' Worked Or Not?

Rediff.com26 Sep 2023

The target was for banks to sell Rs 2 trillion worth of non-performing assets to NARCL, the so-called 'bad bank, by 2021-2022. Only 10 per cent of this has been executed.

Subramanian Swamy is first foreign visitor to meet Lanka's Rajapaksas

Subramanian Swamy is first foreign visitor to meet Lanka's Rajapaksas

Rediff.com29 Sep 2022

Swamy, a close friend of the Rajapaksa family, also met with Gotabaya's brother Mahinda Rajapaksa on Wednesday evening and attended the Navratri pooja at his residence.

What Will Modi's Scientific Advisor Do?

What Will Modi's Scientific Advisor Do?

Rediff.com13 May 2022

Dr Ajay Kumar Sood will have to complete a task his predecessor started: Getting the government to sign off on a new Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy on which work was begun in 2020.

IMF says India is likely to contribute more than 16% of global growth

IMF says India is likely to contribute more than 16% of global growth

Rediff.com19 Dec 2023

Growing at a robust rate due to economic reforms in key sectors like digitisation and infrastructure, India has emerged as a star performer and is projected to contribute more than 16 per cent of the global growth, the International Monetary Fund said on Monday. "What we have been observing for quite some time now is that India has been growing at a very robust rate. "It's one of the star performers when it comes to real growth when you look at peer countries.

Govt announces liberalisation of policies governing geo-spatial data

Govt announces liberalisation of policies governing geo-spatial data

Rediff.com15 Feb 2021

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the liberalisation of policies governing the acquisition and production of geospatial data is a "massive step in government's vision for an Aatmanirbhar Bharat". The reform will benefit country's farmers, start-ups, private sector, public sector and research institutions to drive innovations and build scalable solutions, he said.

Modi's 2-day K'taka visit from Monday, to attend Yoga Day event in Mysore

Modi's 2-day K'taka visit from Monday, to attend Yoga Day event in Mysore

Rediff.com19 Jun 2022

The PMO said mass yoga demonstrations will be organised at 75 iconic locations across the country under the leadership of 75 Union ministers, with Modi attending the exercise at Mysore.

'Avoid Pausing SIPs'

'Avoid Pausing SIPs'

Rediff.com5 Apr 2023

'Continue with your SIPs to get the benefit of lower average prices in this challenging market environment.'

Is India's economy crashing?

Is India's economy crashing?

Rediff.com3 Jan 2020

'Defence funding is channelled to State-owned research organisations where scientists are merely bureaucrats holding meetings and sending out minutes of meetings and press releases, but have long ago stopped any innovative work.' 'Unless this tragedy is fixed, India's chances to create world-conquering and job-creating new industries are slim,' says Ajit Balakrishnan.

Modi calls for 'repair and prepare' as India emerges from pandemic

Modi calls for 'repair and prepare' as India emerges from pandemic

Rediff.com16 Jun 2021

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday called for focus on 'repair and prepare' as the nation emerges out of a devastating pandemic. "Over the past year, we have witnessed a lot of disruption in different sectors. Much of it is still there. Yet, disruption does not have to mean despair," he said at VivaTech Summit. "Instead, we must keep the focus on the twin foundations of repair and prepare," he said referring to the need to augment healthcare infrastructure in the country as well as prop up the economy.

Where's The Economy Headed In 2023?

Where's The Economy Headed In 2023?

Rediff.com2 Jan 2023

'The pipeline of new industrial projects is the best I've seen in the last 10 years, and it looks solid enough to sustain for at least a few quarters,' points out Naushad Forbes, adding, 'It is only when we get back to the same labour force participation we saw before Covid that the economy will have truly recovered.'

India-Australia relations enter T-20 mode, says Modi on strengthening ties

India-Australia relations enter T-20 mode, says Modi on strengthening ties

Rediff.com24 May 2023

Modi and Albanese also reiterated their shared ambition for an early conclusion of the ambitious Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) that is expected to significantly expand bilateral trade ties.

Meet Asha, the robotic nurse

Meet Asha, the robotic nurse

Rediff.com17 Dec 2020

'Imagine taking care of a patient who is infected with Covid. A human nurse is unable to do that due to fear of infection. The robot can do that task, while it is controlled or supervised by the human nurse. So the robot becomes an extension of the nurse.'

'We are looking at flying an Indian into space'

'We are looking at flying an Indian into space'

Rediff.com8 Dec 2023

'It's vital that over the next 10 years, that India, the US and the Artemis Accords family of nations come together to ensure that we not only return humanity to the moon, but that we build the technology that will allow us stay there permanently.' 'And then go on to Mars.'

Google executive warns against sharing of citizen data

Google executive warns against sharing of citizen data

Rediff.com23 Jun 2022

Google's chief privacy officer, Keith Enright, has warned policymakers that frequent and large-scale sharing of citizen data, even if anonymized, can damage users' privacy. Pointing to research that shows data sets lose their anonymity if shared consistently over time, he said: "I would encourage policymakers and companies to be extremely circumspect while proceeding in that direction." Anonymization is a technique that removes or modifies personally identifiable information, resulting in data that cannot be associated with any one individual.