News for 'Public Information Infrastructure and Innovations'

'Companies Will Be More Powerful Than Nations'

'Companies Will Be More Powerful Than Nations'

Rediff.com19 Aug 2025

'If you align your ambition with India's rise, the peak of your careers will unfold alongside the peak of India's power.'

'Nagrik Devo Bhava': Modi's message to bureaucrats

'Nagrik Devo Bhava': Modi's message to bureaucrats

Rediff.com21 Apr 2025

Citing evolving needs and aspirations of the citizens, he said that the civil service must adapt to contemporary challenges to remain relevant.

'A well-balanced and logical Budget'

'A well-balanced and logical Budget'

Rediff.com28 Feb 2013

Sam Pitroda, who holds close to 100 worldwide patents and has published and lectured widely in the US, Europe, Latin America and Asia, answered our readers' questions on the Union Budget on February 28.

Centre To Boost States' Heatwave Plans

Centre To Boost States' Heatwave Plans

Rediff.com9 Jun 2025

About 57 per cent of Indian districts, home to 76 per cent of the country's population, are currently at high to very high risk from extreme heat.

Telecom sector is undergoing transition: Pitroda

Telecom sector is undergoing transition: Pitroda

Rediff.com8 Apr 2013

Since the last few years, the telecom sector has been affected by regulatory uncertainty which has hurt the investor sentiment.

Ola Electric Hits Speed Bumps On Road to Future

Ola Electric Hits Speed Bumps On Road to Future

Rediff.com19 Jun 2025

Clearly, some of the bullishness of the early days has gone missing. Ola's market share is slipping amid rising competition from incumbents like Bajaj Auto and TVS.

India ranks 48th in global innovation index

India ranks 48th in global innovation index

Rediff.com2 Sep 2020

India has become the third most innovative lower middle-income economy in the world.

Zetwerk Manufacturing plans IPO in 15-24 months, aims to raise $500 million

Zetwerk Manufacturing plans IPO in 15-24 months, aims to raise $500 million

Rediff.com17 Mar 2025

Zetwerk Manufacturing, a $3.1 billion company in the contract manufacturing space, is planning to come up with an initial public offering within the next 15-24 months, a top company executive said on Saturday. The Bengaluru-based company aims to raise at least $500 million, targeting a valuation of around $5 billion.

Pitroda urges America Inc to be patient with India

Pitroda urges America Inc to be patient with India

Rediff.com13 Jun 2012

A coalition government doesn't lend itself to the kinds of demands US companies are making.

Pitroda is new advisor on 'Resurgent Bengal'

Pitroda is new advisor on 'Resurgent Bengal'

Rediff.com19 Jul 2011

Paribartan in West Bengal has a new-found enthusiast. Sam Pitroda, advisor to the Prime Minister on public information infrastructure and innovations, will be advisor to the new government on 'Resurgent Bengal'.

A day in the life of Sam Pitroda

A day in the life of Sam Pitroda

Rediff.com23 Mar 2011

The prime minister's advisor offers proof that the government of working -- behind the scenes.

We have to create a new India: Sam Pitroda

We have to create a new India: Sam Pitroda

Rediff.com30 May 2012

There are lot of opportunities in India to innovate. We need their talent, their emotions and we need their connections.

Can't accept FDI blindly, need safeguards: Sitharaman

Can't accept FDI blindly, need safeguards: Sitharaman

Rediff.com24 Oct 2024

India will place restrictions on foreign direct investment (FDI) in the national interest to ensure safeguards because of its location in a highly sensitive neighbourhood, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said during an interactive session at the Wharton Business School in the US on Tuesday. "I cannot blindly accept FDI simply because we need investment, unmindful of where it is coming from. "We want business, we want investment, but we also need some safeguards, because India is located in a neighbourhood that is very, very sensitive," Sitharaman said.

Shuks' Space Flight: 'A Leapfrog Moment For India'

Shuks' Space Flight: 'A Leapfrog Moment For India'

Rediff.com11 Jun 2025

'You can imagine for India what Shuks means not just to the billions of people in India but the entire Indian diaspora around the world.'

Best Business Ideas Under Rs 1 Crore

Best Business Ideas Under Rs 1 Crore

Rediff.com10 Feb 2025

India's e-commerce market alone is projected to reach $200 billion by 2026, making it a prime industry for ambitious entrepreneurs, explains rediffGURU Harsh Bharwani.

Google Cloud's ambitious India plans

Google Cloud's ambitious India plans

Rediff.com6 Oct 2024

India is among the fastest-growing markets for Google in the cloud services segment, a senior executive has said, adding that the tech giant is looking to partner companies in their business transformation through its offerings. Google Cloud India is seeing an "increased adoption" of its offerings across segments from the public sector to small and medium businesses and from startups and digital-native companies, Google Cloud India vice president and country managing director Bikram Singh Bedi told PTI.

RBI recognises FACE as fintech SRO

RBI recognises FACE as fintech SRO

Rediff.com29 Aug 2024

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has recognised the Fintech Association for Consumer Empowerment (FACE) as a self-regulatory organisation (SRO) in the fintech sector, the central bank announced on Wednesday. The banking regulator received three applications for fintech SRO. Of the remaining two applications, one has been returned by the RBI with a provision for resubmission after meeting specific requirements, while the third application is still under examination, said Governor Shaktikanta Das at the Global Fintech Fest in Mumbai.

India saw remarkable transformation in 10 yrs: UNGA chief

India saw remarkable transformation in 10 yrs: UNGA chief

Rediff.com2 Feb 2025

UN General Assembly President Philemon Yang will visit India from February 4 to 8, his first official trip as President of the 79th session. Yang highlighted India's "remarkable transformation" over the past decade, particularly in digital and technological innovation, and plans to see how these advancements have reached the grassroots level during his visit. He also praised India's contributions to peacekeeping, humanitarian efforts, and its voice for the Global South.

RBI set to launch UPI-like unified lending platform

RBI set to launch UPI-like unified lending platform

Rediff.com27 Aug 2024

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will launch the Unified Lending Interface (ULI) nationwide in due course, aiming to transform India's lending sector, similar to how the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) revolutionised the payments ecosystem, Governor Shaktikanta Das said on Monday.

How IMD became global weather leader in 150 years

How IMD became global weather leader in 150 years

Rediff.com13 Jan 2025

From a few rain gauges in 1875 to rivalling the world's best weather agencies, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has weathered its way to becoming a global leader in forecasting.

'Coming Months Could Be Eventful For Markets'

'Coming Months Could Be Eventful For Markets'

Rediff.com15 Jan 2025

'The shifts in US involvement in global conflicts and geopolitical alliances could introduce uncertainties.'

Rs 11K crore IPO in sight, Swiggy projects quick commerce as the future

Rs 11K crore IPO in sight, Swiggy projects quick commerce as the future

Rediff.com4 Nov 2024

On the cusp of launching its Rs 11,327 crore initial public offering (IPO) next week, food and grocery delivery major Swiggy believes quick commerce to be its future growth engine and anticipates that it will outpace its core food delivery business over the next five years. Currently, the quick commerce business of Swiggy - backed by Prosus and SoftBank - is 40 per cent of the size of its food delivery revenues.

Borrowers will soon be able to switch to fixed-rate regime: RBI

Borrowers will soon be able to switch to fixed-rate regime: RBI

Rediff.com10 Aug 2023

The Reserve Bank on Thursday said it will come out with a framework allowing borrowers to switch to fixed interest rate from floating interest rate, a move that would provide relief to borrowers of home, auto and other loans reeling under the impact of high interest rate. Unveiling the bi-monthly monetary policy, Reserve Bank Governor Shaktikanta Das said under the framework, to be put in place shortly, the lenders will have to clearly communicate with the borrowers about tenor and EMI. "The supervisory reviews undertaken by the Reserve Bank and the feedback and references from members of public have revealed several instances of unreasonable elongation of tenor of floating rate loans by lenders without proper consent and communication to the borrowers," he said.

The Menace Of Illegal Constructions

The Menace Of Illegal Constructions

Rediff.com25 Oct 2024

As we brace for unprecedented rates of urbanisation, it is crucial to ensure that illegal constructions and unauthorised land use are curbed, asserts Amit Kapoor.

How Government Is Making Use Of AI

How Government Is Making Use Of AI

Rediff.com9 Oct 2024

The National Informatics Centre uses AI to automate document analysis and detect fraud in government departments.

For 'Make in India', first 'Innovate in India'

For 'Make in India', first 'Innovate in India'

Rediff.com7 May 2015

The 'Make in India' vision cannot survive in the long-term without concrete measures to build a concurrent 'Create in India' movement.

'Want To Take Everybody's Ideas To Space'

'Want To Take Everybody's Ideas To Space'

Rediff.com8 Jan 2025

'To access our satellite, you don't need any IQ test, you don't need to write an examination.' 'You can be a Class 1 student, an engineering student, a 60-year-old person, anybody can access our satellite.'

Nations must ensure cryptocurrency does not end in wrong hands: PM

Nations must ensure cryptocurrency does not end in wrong hands: PM

Rediff.com18 Nov 2021

Modi cautioning that cryptocurrency can spoil the youth.

To push green mobility, 10K e-buses to be deployed in 169 cities

To push green mobility, 10K e-buses to be deployed in 169 cities

Rediff.com16 Aug 2023

Seeking to enhance green mobility, the Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the 'PM-eBus Sewa' scheme under which 10,000 electric buses will be provided to 169 cities under the public-private partnership (PPP) model.

Bill Gates lauds Digital India initiatives

Bill Gates lauds Digital India initiatives

Rediff.com1 Mar 2023

India's sprawling digital public infrastructure received a glowing endorsement from billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates on Wednesday as he praised the country's "great" digital network, reliable and low-cost connectivity, and said this will be the cheapest 5G market. Under the G20 presidency of India, a session on 'Building resilient and inclusive economies- the Promise of Digital Public Infrastructure' was held on Wednesday in New Delhi, where the Microsoft co-founder spoke of India's digital identity Aadhaar, its payment infrastructure, and rapid strides that the country has taken in bringing more people into formal banking system. "India in particular, by laying the groundwork for digital public infrastucture starting with identity system, allows people to build on top of that.

India's growth journey will shape world's future: Chandrasekaran

India's growth journey will shape world's future: Chandrasekaran

Rediff.com25 Aug 2023

India is well positioned to lead the global transitions of digital and artificial intelligence, energy, value supply chains, and the country's growth journey will shape the world's future, B20 India chair N Chandrasekaran said on Friday. In his address to the B20 Summit India 2023, Chandrasekaran, who is also the chairman of Tata Sons, asserted that India stands as a beacon of growth and positively stands out in the global economy, which is facing strong headwinds, tightest rate cycle in decades and record levels of public debt. "The world is currently navigating through three important fundamental transitions.

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.

The Power of Assured Indian Innovation

The Power of Assured Indian Innovation

Rediff.com25 May 2018

Can we make high speed 4G Internet available at 10 cents per GB, and make all voice calls free of cost -- that too in a large and diverse country like India? Can we make high-quality but simple breast cancer screening available to every woman, that too at the extremely affordable cost of $1 per scan? Can we make a portable, high-tech ECG machine which can provide reports immediately and that too at the cost of 8 cents a test? Can we make an eye imaging device that is portable, non-invasive and costs 3 times less that conventional devices? Can we make a robust test for mosquito-borne dengue, which can detect the disease on day 1, and that too at the cost of $2 per test? Amazingly, says Dr R A Mashelkar, the eminent scientist, all this has been achieved in India, not only by using technological innovation but also non-technological innovation.

How India's young innovators do well by doing good

How India's young innovators do well by doing good

Rediff.com25 May 2018

'Let me talk about young Indian startups with their hearts in the right place and how they are proving that innovations that represent 'affordable excellence' -- breaking the myth that 'affordability' and 'excellence' cannot go together -- is indeed possible!' says Dr R A Mashelkar, the eminent scientist, in this fascinating feature.

Pitroda on how Modi's Digital India dream can actually become true

Pitroda on how Modi's Digital India dream can actually become true

Rediff.com3 Oct 2016

If you really want to benefit from Digital India, you have to first change your mindset, says Sam Pitroda

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.

Banks wrote off NPAs over 10 lakh crore in last 5 financial years: FM

Banks wrote off NPAs over 10 lakh crore in last 5 financial years: FM

Rediff.com13 Dec 2022

Banks have written off bad loans worth Rs 10,09,511 crore during the last five financial years, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman informed Parliament on Tuesday. The non-performing assets (NPAs), including those in respect of which full provisioning has been made on completion of four years, are removed from the balance sheet of the bank concerned by way of write-off, she said in a reply to Rajya Sabha. "Banks write off NPAs as part of their regular exercise to clean up their balance sheet, avail tax benefit and optimise capital, in accordance with RBI guidelines and policy approved by their boards.

Amid spike in Covid cases, India boosts health infrastructure

Amid spike in Covid cases, India boosts health infrastructure

Rediff.com28 Mar 2020

Even though the Health Ministry and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) have been insisting that there is 'no solid evidence' of community transmission so far, the government has started scaling up health infrastructure to deal with any situation.

We attempt to be an informed, adaptive regulator: Rajan

We attempt to be an informed, adaptive regulator: Rajan

Rediff.com11 Apr 2016

The Governor said RBI does not limit itself too much when there is uncertainty.

AWS to invest $4.4 bn in India by 2030 through new Hyderabad region service

AWS to invest $4.4 bn in India by 2030 through new Hyderabad region service

Rediff.com23 Nov 2022

Amazon Web Services (AWS) will invest nearly $4.4 billion (Rs 36,000 crore) in India by 2030 and support more than 48,000 jobs externally through a new regional service launched on Tuesday, said the on-demand Cloud computing company. AWS Asia Pacific (Hyderabad) is the company's second infrastructure region in India, six years after it opened its first Cloud region in Mumbai in 2016. The Hyderabad region will give customers access to AWS technologies for data analytics, security, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.