The Supreme Court observed on Tuesday it is more concerned about the risk factors than anything else when it comes to the conditional approval granted by the Centre for environmental release of genetically modified (GM) mustard. On October 25 last year, the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) under the Union environment ministry had approved the environmental release of transgenic mustard hybrid DMH-11 and the parental lines containing barnase, barstar and bar genes so they can be used for developing new hybrids. The apex court is hearing separate pleas by activist Aruna Rodrigues and NGO 'Gene Campaign' seeking a moratorium on the release of any genetically modified organisms (GMOs) into the environment pending a comprehensive, transparent and rigorous bio-safety protocol in the public domain conducted by agencies of independent expert bodies the results of which are made public.
The Comptroller and Auditor General of India on Monday reported multiple irregularities in the accounts of units under the IT and telecom ministries, including purchases of hardware and software worth Rs 890 crore by NICSI in contravention of rules. In its audit report for financial years 2017-18 and 2018-19, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has flagged anomalies in the decision taken by state-run telecom firm BSNL, C-DoT, the Department of Posts, ITI Limited and CDAC that had adverse financial implications. "NICSI procured hardware and software costing Rs 890.34 crore through the 'Strategic Alliance' route in contravention of General Financial Rules, 2005 and departmental instructions and thus failed to ensure transparency and competitiveness in the procurement process," according to the CAG report tabled in Lok Sabha on Monday.
As Google evaluates its response to two recent penalties slapped by the Competition Commission of India (CCI), here is a look at the app economy. Apps are bread and butter for mobile operating systems. India ranks second in the number of mobile downloads, with nearly 27 billion downloads in 2021, according to Deloitte. Accounting for 11.6 per cent of global app downloads, the Indian smartphone user spends over 4 hours a day on apps.
Leading auto maker Bajaj Auto on Monday said its technology ExhausTEC, which help improve performance of a two-wheeler, has been granted a patent by the Munich-headquartered European Patent Office.
Indian start-ups raised issues, such as blockages in international wire transfers, disruptions due to threshold limits on withdrawals, lack of communication from US agencies, and the need for preferential access to credit, in a meeting with the government over the fallout of Silicon Valley Bank's collapse. Rajeev Chandrasekhar, minister of state for electronics and information technology, held a virtual meeting with over 450 members from start-ups, venture capitalists, and investors who have been directly affected by the closure of SVB. He assured them that the IT ministry would put together a list of suggestions and give it to the finance minister on behalf of start-ups.
Indians spent more on foreign investments during the past 12 months than they have since at least 2012.
The recent migration of marquee investments from Maharashtra to Gujarat seems to have rekindled the Marathi manoos sentiment.
'We are receiving a steady stream of interest from well-established foreign universities.'
The MoD panel had submitted its report in March 2015, weeks before Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India would procure 36 jets.
Tata Group-owned Air India has informed the Centre that aircraft lessors wish to set up their special purpose vehicles (SPVs) outside India since they aren't enthused about the Indian 'legal structure' and are loath to take risks. Indian airlines have a combined fleet of about 700 planes; over 85 per cent are on lease. A majority of lessors are based in Ireland due to its attractive tax policy, light-touch regulations, and swift legal system.
The government on Tuesday said it will allow setting up of world-class foreign universities in Gandhinagar's GIFT City, free from domestic regulations, to facilitate availability of skilled manpower in the financial services space. In addition, an international arbitration centre will be set up in the GIFT City for timely settlement of disputes under international jurisprudence, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said while presenting the Union Budget for 2022-23. The centre could be on the lines of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre, or the London Commercial Arbitration Centre.
The Gujarat International Finance Tec-City project in near-coma It was once seen as Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's reply to then counterpart Vilasrao Deshmukh's plans for a finance city in Mumbai.
The government has been in discussions to promote such international financial services centres within India as alternatives to places like Singapore.
It will be the first time that Israel will launch a satellite aboard an Indian rocket.
Sonata has signed an agreement with TUI AG, Europe's leading tourism and shipping group, for acquiring majority stake in its 100 per cent subsidiary, TUI InfoTec.
GIFT city has two components of development - domestic financial centre and international financial services centre.
Coruscant Tec, one of India's mobile solutions and content firms, has entered into an exclusive tie-up with Airtel to bring to its users M F Husain paintings on mobile phones.
The new exchange will also help global companies raise finance from other overseas investors.
Delhi Metro, Yamuna-expressway and Tata Power's Mundra ultra mega power project in Gujarat are among the six ventures that have figured in the list of world's most innovative, impactful infrastructure projects prepared by international accounting firm KPMG.
The project will see remote management of all the utilities from a single city command.
Some of projects, especially in infrastructure, have seen quite a few unexpected delays.
Trading in other derivative products in currency, commodities expected to begin soon.
Blackberry is hoping that the pricing and the physical QWERTY keypad can turn out to be the peculiar traits to revive its fortunes in India.
The criteria for allowing companies to avail of this provision will include profitability, networth, paid-up capital, and turnover.
Dempo Sports Club on Saturday announced a slew of initiatives aimed at further professionalising its operations and becoming a football powerhouse.
The use of technology is today indispensible in anti-terror and anti-crime scenarios. However, its misuse is what bothers its critics, writes Vicky Nanjappa
'Initially, Gift City was just another real estate project, but all that changed with Modi moving to New Delhi,' notes Tamal Bandyopadhyay.
The Indian cricket board (BCCI) does not think the ball-tracking technology used in the Decision Review System (DRS) is reliable enough and has maintained opposition to its mandatory use.
The much-awaited hotline between the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao finally became operational on Thursday, thereby setting up a direct communication between the leaders.
In an interview with George Joseph in Kochi, G-Tec chief executive officer Binu Sankar says the prosopsals are expected to be included in the new IT investment policy.
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In a major initiative, the government is set to approve on Thursday a new policy to boost manufacturing by reducing compliance cost for the industry and making the labour laws flexible.
Quantum cryptography is based on the principle that you cannot make measurements of a quantum system without disturbing it.
GIFT is a financial centre almost entirely devoid of bankers and, indeed, of people.
Grey market deals, which are viewed as a sign of market prosperity by investors, are done on the expectation that the shares will outperform the IPO process when they list on the market.
New Formula One team Virgin Racing have been given permission to change their car's undersized fuel tank.
The government may relax the Telecom Engineering Centre's recently finalised spectrum allocation criterion, the minimum subscriber limits that entitle mobile service operators to additional spectrum, radio frequencies that enable mobile communications.
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi was the Chief Guest at the event.
