News for 'digital access'

AI cannot substitute judicial conscience: CJI Surya Kant

AI cannot substitute judicial conscience: CJI Surya Kant

Rediff.com27 Aug 2026

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant stated that while artificial intelligence (AI) can augment judicial reasoning, it cannot substitute judicial conscience, and a permanent apex body is proposed to supervise AI adoption and accountability within the judiciary.

Tata Motors' CV arm shifts focus to services, digital biz for growth

Tata Motors' CV arm shifts focus to services, digital biz for growth

Rediff.com8 Jun 2026

Tata Motors' commercial vehicle business is increasingly focusing on parts, services, connected-vehicle platforms, and digital businesses to drive growth and reduce dependence on cyclical vehicle sales, as outlined in its FY26 annual report.

Chief Justice Kant Calls For Proactive Tech Role In Legal Education

Chief Justice Kant Calls For Proactive Tech Role In Legal Education

Rediff.com16 Aug 2026

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant urged national law universities to proactively lead the integration of technology into the legal system, rather than merely reacting to changes. Speaking at a conclave, he stressed the importance of incorporating academic integrity and responsible AI use into the curriculum, rejecting outright bans on generative AI. The CJI highlighted that law schools must prepare graduates to critically engage with technological tools, ensuring justice, fairness, and human judgment remain central to the evolving legal landscape.

FCNR(B) funds find a runway ahead of festival season-led credit demand

FCNR(B) funds find a runway ahead of festival season-led credit demand

Rediff.com25 Sep 2026

RBI Deputy Governor Rohit Jain highlighted that banks are well-positioned to deploy $133 billion mobilised through FCNR(B) deposits, especially with strong credit demand ahead of the festival season, while also stressing the importance of robust technology governance and cyber defences in the financial sector.

How AI Is Poised To Transform Indian Healthcare

How AI Is Poised To Transform Indian Healthcare

Rediff.com8 Sep 2026

A report by Bain & Company and HealthQuad identifies remote patient monitoring, OT/ICU optimisation, and chronic disease management as key opportunities for Artificial Intelligence in Indian healthcare. The report highlights a shift from experimental AI to real-world applications, driven by government initiatives, increasing EMR adoption, and a robust startup ecosystem. AI's autonomous capabilities are rapidly advancing while costs decrease, creating significant growth potential for providers and startups.

UAPA charges not dropped against Van Dyke, others: Sources

UAPA charges not dropped against Van Dyke, others: Sources

Rediff.com9 Sep 2026

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has confirmed that terror charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) against seven foreign nationals, including one American and six Ukrainians, have not been dropped and the probe is ongoing. The agency filed a chargesheet under the Immigration and Foreigners Act (IFA) to prevent the accused from becoming eligible for default bail, while explicitly stating that the UAPA investigation continues. The foreign nationals were arrested for allegedly entering India illegally from Myanmar.

Government To Expand Digital Food Subsidy Programme

Government To Expand Digital Food Subsidy Programme

Rediff.com3 May 2026

The government plans to expand its central bank digital currency (CBDC)-based food subsidy programme to Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman and Diu by June, following its implementation on a pilot basis in Gujarat and Puducherry, official sources said.

Rajasthan Police Issue Advisory on Digital Census Cyber Scams

Rajasthan Police Issue Advisory on Digital Census Cyber Scams

Rediff.com16 Apr 2026

Rajasthan Police have issued an advisory warning citizens about potential cyber fraud attempts disguised as part of the ongoing digital census. Scammers may use various methods, including fake calls, messages, and in-person visits, to steal personal and financial information.

Centre deploys tool to prevent fertiliser shortage

Centre deploys tool to prevent fertiliser shortage

Rediff.com31 Aug 2026

India's fertiliser ministry has introduced a new analytical tool and a national-to-retail dashboard to monitor fertiliser dispatches, movement, and inventories in real time, aiming to prevent localised shortages and ensure equitable access for farmers.

India Rejects US Influence Claims Over UPI MDR Policy

India Rejects US Influence Claims Over UPI MDR Policy

Rediff.com17 Sep 2026

The Finance Ministry has dismissed allegations of US pressure influencing the 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on select UPI transactions. It clarified that NPCI guidelines prioritise RuPay credit cards on UPI and do not favour international cards. The ministry also asserted that the MDR, applicable to person-to-merchant transactions above Rs 2,000, is unlikely to increase cash transactions or cause inflation, with measures in place to prevent burdening consumers.

Accel's 11-Year Bet on RentoMojo Pays Off with Strong IPO Debut

Accel's 11-Year Bet on RentoMojo Pays Off with Strong IPO Debut

Rediff.com21 Sep 2026

Accel's early investment in RentoMojo, a furniture and appliance rental platform, has paid off handsomely with the company's strong debut on the stock exchanges, listing nearly 19 per cent above its issue price after a significantly oversubscribed IPO.

STAGE Pioneers AI Filmmaking With Sir Chhotu Ram Biopic

STAGE Pioneers AI Filmmaking With Sir Chhotu Ram Biopic

Rediff.com18 Sep 2026

Regional OTT platform STAGE is set to release India's first AI-made biopic on farmer leader Sir Chhotu Ram. The project leverages artificial intelligence for various aspects of filmmaking, from visualisation to character generation, aiming to reduce production costs and expand storytelling possibilities for underserved cultures and languages.

How Cloud And AI Can Propel India's Economic Growth

How Cloud And AI Can Propel India's Economic Growth

Rediff.com7 Sep 2026

Arundhati Bhattacharyya, Salesforce President and CEO for South Asia, highlighted how cloud and AI are democratising capabilities, offering India a unique opportunity to leapfrog in the technology revolution. Speaking at the IMC Chamber of Commerce, she emphasised that AI will create more jobs by addressing unmet business demands and could significantly boost India's GDP, with NITI Aayog estimating a USD 500-600 billion addition by 2035. She urged Indian businesses to transform using technology, focus on data, redesign work, and invest in skills, stressing that AI is not just for large corporations.

Karnataka Launches Tathyakosh.in To Centralise India's Public Data

Karnataka Launches Tathyakosh.in To Centralise India's Public Data

Rediff.com12 Aug 2026

The ACSEL Technology Forum, a Karnataka government Centre of Excellence in AI, has launched Tathyakosh.in, a digital public good designed to make India's extensive public data more accessible. This platform consolidates over 1.5 million datasets from 458 sources, addressing the challenge of fragmented data discovery across various government and research portals. It aims to benefit researchers, startups, and technology teams in sectors like healthcare, agriculture, and financial inclusion by providing a structured and discoverable data infrastructure.

India Will Become A Leader In Applied AI: Nilekani

India Will Become A Leader In Applied AI: Nilekani

Rediff.com7 Aug 2026

'Applying AI to change the lives of Indians and at population scale -- just like we did with DPI [digital public infrastructure] -- is really where it's going to go.'

Banks will take 3-4 months to deploy FCNR(B) flows: Setty

Banks will take 3-4 months to deploy FCNR(B) flows: Setty

Rediff.com11 Sep 2026

State Bank of India Chairman C S Setty stated that banks will take three to four months to deploy the significant funds mobilised through foreign currency non-resident (bank), or FCNR(B), deposits, which is unlikely to cause "abnormal lending". He also highlighted the need for agentic artificial intelligence (AI) costs to fall sharply for its widespread deployment in India, envisioning its role in transforming banking from fraud detection to personalised financial assistance.

ECs differed with CEC over centralised voter verification

ECs differed with CEC over centralised voter verification

Rediff.com23 Sep 2026

India's Election Commission's centralised voter database systems, ERONET and ECINet, are under scrutiny following concerns raised by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi regarding the centralisation of electoral rolls and control available to state election officials. The article explains how these systems work and why they are currently in the news.

OpenAI, Anthropic Urge AI Slowdown; But Will It Happen?

OpenAI, Anthropic Urge AI Slowdown; But Will It Happen?

Rediff.com22 Sep 2026

'You cannot stop these models from getting better. There is competitive and business pressure and if the US stops then maybe China will go ahead.'

BRICS Summit 2026 Focuses On Practical Outcomes

BRICS Summit 2026 Focuses On Practical Outcomes

Rediff.com14 Sep 2026

The highlight of the successful BRICS Summit was its ability to deliver a joint statement that all members, including Iran and the United Arab Emirates, embroiled in the war in West Asia, signed.

Manipuri musician's death: Accused had issued prior threats

Manipuri musician's death: Accused had issued prior threats

Rediff.com9 Sep 2026

Manipuri musician Chongtham Vikram Singh, who died after a brutal assault in Delhi, had previously been threatened by the same accused individuals, according to the police FIR.

Terror handlers turn to porn sites to evade surveillance in J-K

Terror handlers turn to porn sites to evade surveillance in J-K

Rediff.com30 Aug 2026

Security agencies have uncovered a new operational tactic by terror groups and Pakistan's ISI, who are now using pornography websites and niche encrypted applications to communicate secretly and recruit in Jammu and Kashmir. These platforms, including Tor-based apps and privacy-focused messengers, help them evade surveillance, posing significant challenges for intelligence efforts.

RBI launches UPI tap-to-pay, multi-currency forex on Bharat Connect

RBI launches UPI tap-to-pay, multi-currency forex on Bharat Connect

Rediff.com11 Sep 2026

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has introduced new features for India's digital payment ecosystem, including UPI tap-to-pay for PIN-less transactions up to 5,000 and multi-currency capabilities for forex on Bharat Connect, supporting Euro, British Pound, and other major currencies.

Paramotor Digital Tech Files For IPO Under Sebi's Pre-Filing Route

Paramotor Digital Tech Files For IPO Under Sebi's Pre-Filing Route

Rediff.com17 May 2026

Fintech and enterprise technology firm Paramotor Digital Technology Ltd has confidentially filed draft papers with markets regulator Sebi for an initial public offering (IPO). The company submitted its draft papers under Sebi's pre-filing route, which allows issuers to keep details related to the issue size and other key information confidential until a later stage.

Microsoft India President On AI's Future And Investment In The Nation

Microsoft India President On AI's Future And Investment In The Nation

Rediff.com21 Sep 2026

Microsoft India and South Asia President, Puneet Chandok, discusses the company's strong belief in human-centric AI development, significant investments in India's cloud and AI infrastructure, and the country's pivotal role as an AI market, talent hub, and technology builder. He highlights AI's impact on jobs and the need for responsible innovation.

Major Financial Institutions Expand Reach And Offerings

Major Financial Institutions Expand Reach And Offerings

Rediff.com17 Aug 2026

Axis Bank has opened 50 new branches across India, while Abakkus Mutual Fund has surpassed Rs 10,000 crore in AUM. YES Bank launched a new credit card for women, and J&K Bank partnered with HDFC Life to enhance its insurance offerings, showcasing significant growth and strategic developments in the Indian financial sector.

India Must Diversify Services Exports For Sustainable Growth

India Must Diversify Services Exports For Sustainable Growth

Rediff.com9 Sep 2026

Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal highlighted the critical need for India to diversify its services exports beyond the dominant IT/ITeS and professional services sectors. Speaking at the Global Fintech Fest 2026, he emphasised the vast potential in the global financial services market, where India currently holds a small share, and stressed how fintech solutions, like UPI, can drive growth, reduce remittance costs, and support MSME trade finance, ultimately leading to sustainable economic expansion.

Delhi Government Collaborates With EkStep Foundation To Make Administrative Data AI-Ready

Delhi Government Collaborates With EkStep Foundation To Make Administrative Data AI-Ready

Rediff.com25 Aug 2026

The Delhi government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with EkStep Foundation to transform its administrative data into an AI-ready format. This initiative aims to improve governance, enhance public service delivery, and enable proactive, evidence-based decision-making by leveraging artificial intelligence.

CPI(M) Slams Proposed UPI Charges As Breach Of Public Trust

CPI(M) Slams Proposed UPI Charges As Breach Of Public Trust

Rediff.com6 Aug 2026

The CPI(M) has strongly opposed the Union government's proposal to levy charges on UPI transactions, calling it a "breach of public trust" and demanding the immediate withdrawal of the legislation. The party highlighted that the government had previously promoted UPI as a free public utility, encouraging widespread adoption, and now seeks to monetise this infrastructure. They also linked this move to a broader trend of increasing banking charges.

Population Foundation of India Urges Inclusive Approach to Digital Census

Population Foundation of India Urges Inclusive Approach to Digital Census

Rediff.com2 Apr 2026

Population Foundation of India welcomes the digitisation of the Census but emphasises the need for inclusivity, data security, and addressing the under-reporting of women's contributions.

Meta may lose legal immunity after govt calls it service provider

Meta may lose legal immunity after govt calls it service provider

Rediff.com16 Sep 2026

Government sources state that Meta, due to its algorithmic amplification of content, can no longer be considered a "simple intermediary" but rather a "service provider," implying greater responsibility and potential loss of legal immunity. This shift comes as Meta commits to directly reporting child abuse content to Indian law enforcement, amidst increasing government scrutiny over harmful online content and algorithmic bias.

For Rs 2, E-Eye Can Check If Water Is Safe

For Rs 2, E-Eye Can Check If Water Is Safe

Rediff.com18 Aug 2026

E-Eye, which cost about Rs 3,500 to develop, can test a sample for around Rs 2, making it particularly suitable for field-level water quality monitoring in areas where access to sophisticated laboratories is limited.

Hollywood Star Brad Pitt Weighs In On AI's Impact On Filmmaking

Hollywood Star Brad Pitt Weighs In On AI's Impact On Filmmaking

Rediff.com11 Aug 2026

Hollywood actor Brad Pitt believes artificial intelligence could be a boon for mid-budget filmmaking by making visual effects more accessible. However, he expresses caution regarding AI's use in replicating actors' performances and raises concerns about body scanning and digital likeness ownership. Pitt also shared his thoughts on AI-generated music and his upcoming film projects.

Why Bank Frauds Keep Rising

Why Bank Frauds Keep Rising

Rediff.com7 Aug 2026

'It's not about individuals operating the mule accounts being more or less skilled. Instead, 'lower-level' refers to the role the individual account plays in the broader mule network.'

How To Pick The Right Broker

How To Pick The Right Broker

Rediff.com15 Sep 2026

Investors opening new brokerage accounts must choose a broker suited to their style.

How AI Is Revolutionising Forest Protection In India

How AI Is Revolutionising Forest Protection In India

Rediff.com9 Sep 2026

The Haldwani forest division has launched India's first AI-based forest acoustic surveillance system. This innovative technology uses AI, acoustic sensors, and long-range wireless communication to detect illegal logging, poaching, and other suspicious activities in real-time, even in remote areas. Powered by solar energy, the system provides continuous monitoring, significantly enhancing forest protection, wildlife conservation, and biodiversity monitoring efforts.

Students paid Rs 2-5 lakh for access to NEET paper: CBI

Students paid Rs 2-5 lakh for access to NEET paper: CBI

Rediff.com14 May 2026

The CBI's investigation into the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak has revealed that the leaked question paper allegedly reached Rajasthan through an accused, with students paying significant sums for access. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities questioning individuals and tracing the money trail.

FIR quashed, HC orders man's details deleted over right to be forgotten

FIR quashed, HC orders man's details deleted over right to be forgotten

Rediff.com14 Jul 2026

The Bombay High Court has ruled that the fundamental right to privacy includes the right to be forgotten. This decision came after a man sought to have his name and details removed from court records following the quashing of an FIR against him, arguing that public access to such information prejudiced his career and caused personal stigma. The court emphasised balancing public access to information with an individual's right to privacy.

Xi by his side, Modi warns against 'weaponisation of tech'

Xi by his side, Modi warns against 'weaponisation of tech'

Rediff.com14 Sep 2026

Prime Minister Narendra Modi cautioned against the 'weaponisation' of technology and critical minerals at the BRICS summit, advocating for cooperation to foster shared prosperity. Concurrently, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced plans for an open-source AI ecosystem for BRICS nations, positioning Beijing as a key technology partner amid global AI competition.

How Vizag Is Set To Anchor India's AI-Driven Digital Future

How Vizag Is Set To Anchor India's AI-Driven Digital Future

Rediff.com28 Apr 2026

Adani Group Director Jeet Adani and Bharti Enterprises Vice Chairman Rakesh Bharti Mittal highlighted the importance of infrastructure, energy, and connectivity in shaping India's AI ecosystem, emphasising Visakhapatnam's potential as a major digital gateway.

NCERT, CBSE Face Major Staff Shortages

NCERT, CBSE Face Major Staff Shortages

Rediff.com15 Aug 2026

A parliamentary panel flagged staffing shortages at NCERT and CBSE, inadequate education spending, falling enrolment and poor internet connectivity in government schools.