Tag: Technology

Budget 2024 | Expectations for green growth and technology

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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In the wake of India’s resolute commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2070 and fostering sustainable development, the forthcoming Budget 2024 carries immense significance for the green growth and technology sector. This pivotal moment comes at the intersection of environmental responsibility and technological innovation, shaping the nation’s trajectory towards a greener and more sustainable future.

Following are some of the key expectations for this sector:

Funding for Green Initiatives: Foremost among the expectations is a substantial allocation of funds for green initiatives. Initiatives like the Green Hydrogen Mission are anticipated to receive a financial boost. This mission is pivotal, not only for reducing carbon intensity but also for lessening dependence on fossil fuel imports.

The budget is expected to articulate a financial roadmap for such initiatives, aligning economic growth with environmental stewardship. The announcement of a ₹19,744-crore outlay for the Green Hydrogen Mission in 2023, aiming to produce 5 MMT of clean hydrogen fuel by 2030, positions the country as a potential major exporter.

However, concerns linger about whether this allocation is sufficient, especially considering the projected global demand of about 530 MT of green hydrogen by 2050, reiterating if budget 2024 could be the answer to these prayers. 

Investment in Renewable Energy: Renewable energy is the linchpin for sustainable growth. Expectations are high for the budget to spotlight and support the development of renewable energy projects. The government’s focus on increasing renewable energy capacity to 500 GW by 2030 is a critical stride.

Budget 2024 is awaited to unveil further details and allocate resources to expedite this transition towards cleaner and greener energy. Projections indicate India could witness a substantial addition of 25 GW in renewable energy capacity in 2024, requiring an investment of INR 137,500 crore (approximately USD 16.5 billion), highlighting the immense potential in this space.

Support for Green Tech Innovation: In tandem with green growth, the budget is anticipated to foster innovation in green technologies. This could involve substantial funding for the development and adoption of technologies such as battery energy storage systems with an estimated market size of $3.91 billion globally in 2024, and expected to reach $15.28 billion by 2029, highlighting its massive size and scope, and inter-state transmission systems for renewable energy grid integration.

Such initiatives not only spur technological advancements but also position India as a global player in the green tech landscape. While clean-techs, Electric vehicles (EV) linked techs, renewable energy linked technologies have been supported by government rapidly, we also need to focus on a larger population through green-techs which can create larger behavioural and adaptability impact. Budget needs to create funding and platform for such initiatives too.

Green Credit Programme Strengthening: The Green Credit Programme, designed to incentivise voluntary environmental actions, is likely to receive additional support. This could involve setting clearer thresholds and benchmarks for various activities, ensuring a more consistent and transparent assessment of environmental impact.

Strengthening this program will play a crucial role in encouraging sustainable practices across sectors. According to a report by IEEFA, India’s green finance market is anticipated to hit $500 billion by 2025, driven by prevailing trends and market dynamics, which is why this growing segment needs to be addressed and recognized in the upcoming budget.

Circular Economy Initiatives: A circular economy is instrumental in minimising waste and maximising resource efficiency. The expectation from the budget is a robust allocation of resources for circular economy initiatives. According to projections, embracing a circular economy in India could yield a $624 billion annual benefit by 2050, accompanied by a 44% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Resource efficiency includes setting up waste-to-wealth plants, as discussed in our chat history, to manage organic waste and generate biogas

In essence, Budget 2024 holds the promise of catalysing India’s transition towards sustainable and green growth. By addressing these expectations and incorporating the latest research figures, the government can lay the groundwork for a future where economic progress and environmental well-being coexist harmoniously. This is the last budget by the ruling party for this term ends and eyes of the nation are eagerly awaiting the green measures that will shape India’s journey towards a more sustainable and resilient tomorrow.

—The author, Nidhi Mehra, is Co-founder, Myplan8, one of India’s Green-Tech Initiator brands that integrates employee engagement, ESG initiatives, and gamification to drive climate action. The views expressed are personal.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Tech This Week: Lava Storm 5G, Xiaomi Redmi 13 Pro+, Noise Pure Pod and more

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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From Samsung unveiling the Book4 Series to Noise launching India’s first OWS Noise Pure Pod, tech lovers were in for a treat this week. Apart from that, Xiaomi has teased its fans with the all-new Note 13 Pro+. Here’s a look at the major developments in the technological world this week:

Lava unveils Storm 5G, to launch on December 28

Lava has announced the launch of its next smartphone, the Storm 5G. The smartphone is expected to launch on December 28 and will be available on Amazon and in the official Lava e-store. The budget-friendly smartphone will be powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 6080 processor. One of the highlights of the smartphone is that it features a 6.78-inch FHD+ IPS display with a 120Hz refresh rate and Widevine L1 support that cuts blur in animations. The rear camera comes with a 50 MP main sensor and an 8 MP ultrawide lens. For the front camera, it has a 16 MP shoot camera.

Xiaomi teases Note 13 Pro+

Xiaomi has teased the launch of its all-new 13 Pro series, and the first phone in the series is the Redmi Note 13 Pro+. The smartphone will come with a 6.7-inch 1.5K OLED display, along with a 120Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of up to 1,800 nits. It will also feature a 200-megapixel main sensor, an 8MP ultrawide shooter, and a 2MP macro camera. Apart from that, it will also have a 16 MP front camera.

Samsung introduces the Next Gen Book4 series

Samsung has recently unveiled the next generation Book4 series, with models including the Galaxy Book4 Ultra, Book4 Pro, and Book4 Pro 360, making it the most advanced PC lineup. The Book4 series has a new Intel Core Ultra 9 processor. This processor has a faster CPU, a high-performance GPU, and a newly integrated neural processing unit (NPU) that offers features like AI-driven tasks. It is paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 laptop GPU for a better gaming experience on the device. The laptops are expected to be rolled out on the market in January 2024.

Asus launches the Zenbook 14 OLED

Asus has launched the latest addition to its ultra-premium series of laptops, the Zenbook 14 OLED. The Zenbook 14 OLED has been powered by Intel’s latest Core Ultra processors and Intel Arc graphics. The laptop comes with up to 32 GB of RAM and up to 1 TB of storage. It also has a 14-inch 3K ASUS Lumina OLED, which has a refresh rate of 120 Hz and 600-nit peak brightness. It will run on the latest Windows 11.

Noise launches India’s first OWS Noise Pure Pod

Noise has launched India’s first Open Wireless Stereo (OWS) gadget called the Noise Pure Pods. One of the most distinct features of the newly launched Pure Pods is that they offer an immersive listening experience with balanced sound output and rest quite comfortably on the ear. It also offers up to 80 hours of playtime on full charge. The gadget is available on Flipkart and the official site of Noise for a launch price of ₹2,999.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Tech Titans Unite: Industry leaders forecast bullish future for investments in cloud, innovation, and growth

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Tech This Week: OnePlus announces first foldable smartphone, Samsung launches new Galaxy tabs and more

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The world of technology saw some major launches and announcements this week. From two tech giants — OnePlus and Oppo — entering the foldable smartphone market to Samsung introducing its all-new Galaxy Tab A9 and A9 Plus, there were some big tech launches in India in the second week of October.

Let’s take a closer look at the top tech stories that made headlines this week.

OnePlus to unveil its first foldable smartphone

Tech giant OnePlus is all set to enter the foldable smartphone market with the announcement of the launch of its all-new OnePlus Open. The smartphone will come with an elegant, lightweight, and slim design. The foldable phone will feature an imperceptible screen crease, unparalleled imaging capabilities, efficient software, and uncompromising quality. According to reports, the smartphone will be launched on October 19 in Mumbai.

Oppo launches N3 Flip in India

Chinese phone-maker Oppo has launched the newest foldable smartphone, the N3 Flip. The device is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 9200 chipset with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of ROM and features a 6.8-inch LTPO AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate screen. In terms of its camera, it has a 50-megapixel (MP) primary wide, a 32-megapixel telephoto sensor, and a 48-megapixel ultrawide sensor. The N3 Flip has been priced at Rs 94,999.

Samsung introduces Galaxy Tab A9 and A9 Plus

Samsung has unveiled the Galaxy Tab A9 and A9 Plus in the Indian market. The Tab A9 comes with an 8.7-inch LCD display with a 60Hz refresh rate. It is also powered by a MediaTek Helio G99 processor, paired with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. It is priced at Rs 12,999 for the WiFi variant and Rs 15,999 for the 5G variant. On the other hand, the A9 Plus boasts an 11-inch LCD display with a 90Hz refresh rate. It operates on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 (SM6375) processor, which offers 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The A9 Plus is priced at Rs 20,999 and Rs 22,999, respectively.

BOULT Sterling smartwatch launched in India

BOULT, known for its audio devices, has launched the all-new Sterling smartwatch in India. The sportive luxury timepiece comes with a 1.52-inch HD-screen display and a stainless steel design. It also has some advanced health monitoring tools like SpO2, blood oxygen, blood pressure, and heart rate monitors. The all-new smartwatch is priced at Rs 1,599.

HONOR launches Watch 4 Pro

HONOR, which is a popular brand known for its innovative devices, has launched its latest smartwatch, HONOR Watch 4 Pro. The high-tech watch has a 1.5-inch LTPO AMOLED display with always-on display (AOD) capability, which provides a clean and colourful display for simple reading. The elegant stainless steel frame contributes to the design’s sophistication, making it appropriate for both casual and formal situations. One of the most unique features of the watch is that it comes with eSIM support and LTE connectivity.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Charcha ‘23 promises to create a thriving, tech-first livelihoods ecosystem

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Charcha ‘23, The/Nudge Institute’s fourth livelihoods summit held over two days in August, brought together over 800-plus stakeholders and market leaders in the development and technology sectors to close the distance between society, government, and markets and spark collective, decisive action towards ending poverty by the time India celebrates 100 years of its Independence.

The/Nudge Institute went into organising charcha ‘23, a G20|Startup20 endeavor, with one vision — that convenings can build the belief that daunting goals like ending poverty can be achieved when everyone is in it together.

Over two days, that belief only grew stronger with civil society, policymakers, changemakers, philanthropists, academicians, entrepreneurs, investors, and technology leaders discussing pathways to create resilient livelihood opportunities for all Indians.

Livelihoods focus

Over two days, the gathering of over 130 speakers and 750 livelihood professionals focused on how the joint efforts of stakeholders can accelerate the pace at which India’s poor find pathways to sustainable livelihoods and improved quality of life.

“For India to achieve its dream of being the leader in innovation, it is important that all the stakeholders ranging from policy, academia, industry, and government come together to enable upskilling and innovation,” said Satish Reddy, Chairman of Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, during a session. “We need to collectively create an atmosphere and environment for industry to flourish through policy and industry-academia collaboration. This will ultimately leverage the great population potential and opportunity that India possesses,” he added.

Tech for good

At charcha ’23, 40 teams took part in a 24-hour hackathon curated by Google. The aim? To solve problems faced by small and marginal farmers. The hackathon was won by team Agriheros from Hyderabad, for their idea of bridging the gap between academia and agri-tech through deep tech learning.

Another track, aptly named ‘Deshruption’, spotlighted women-led organizations that are creating economic opportunities in financing and skilling. This series centered the discussion on the role of Artificial Intelligence in creating livelihoods, and the potential of adapting regional languages to upskill and reskill the informal workforce.

Agri innovations

A panel on Agri Innovations and Safeguarding Rural Livelihoods, held with Reliance Foundation, sparked a discussion between industry experts and practitioners on education, skill development, and entrepreneurship.

charcha ’23 also showcased The/Nudge Institute’s Agri-IKIGAI Report, which introduced an integrated approach for a sustainable agricultural future that uses technology, innovation, and environmental consciousness to help smallholder farmers increase their income while also having a positive climate impact.

Better together

A common thread ran through all discussions at charcha ‘23, following the tone set by chief guest Padma Shri Dr Abhay Bang, the founder & chairman of SEARCH, who opened the convening by saying, “Poverty is not uni-dimensional; it’s multi-dimensional. It’s not just income-related, but also encompasses the empowerment gained through opening windows of knowledge, giving responsibility, and autonomy to women and families.”

Leaders across sectors agreed the path ahead would require collaborative action and technology adoption; and that the need of the hour was outcome-oriented skilling of the youth. They spoke on what is needed to bolster social innovation and entrepreneurship, and what should be done to translate these discussions into tangible actions on the ground — through strategic partnerships and establishing thriving ecosystems that promote progress.

Celebrating the event’s success, Jerold Chagas Pereira, Senior Director of The/Nudge Forum, said, “charcha ‘23 has reinforced our belief in convening as a powerful mechanism to spotlight, learn from and recognise important work being done by participants and leaders from civil society, government and markets. Beyond charcha, The/Nudge Forum’s mandate remains to attract talent, capital and enable policies necessary for expanding and strengthening the social development ecosystem.”

charcha ‘23 was made possible by partners Google, LinkedIn, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Reliance Foundation, KPMG, GAME, Generation India, ACT Grants, Tata Steel Foundation, The Bridgespan Group, and the Indian School of Business (ISB): i-venture, Hyderabad. Click here for more details

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Financial sector thriving, driving growth despite COVID-19 and digital disruption: PwC India’s Gayathri Parthasarathy

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Gayathri Parthasarathy, Partner and Leader of Financial Services at PwC India, stated that the banking sector plays a huge role in India’s growth objectives as it has been highly resilient in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenges and has shown strong profitability in recent quarters.

Parthasarathy made this statement while talking about the current state and prospects of the financial sector in India during a PwC CEO Dialogues hosted by CNBC-TV18 which also had Zarin Daruwala of Standard Chartered Bank, Govind Singh of Utkarsh Small Finance Bank, Rajiv Sabharwal of Tata Capital, Ashwini Kumar Tewari of SBI, Prashant Kumar of YES Bank, J Venkatramu of India Post Payments Bank, Kaushik Shaparia of Deutsche Bank India, and Sanjeev Krishan of PwC in India.

According to Parthasarathy, credit growth from 2022 to 2023 has been high at 15 percent and the NPA gross or net ratio has been coming down for all scheduled commercial banks. “Digital transformation is happening all over the country and the banking sector. Innovations in payments such as UPI and UPI lite are leading to disruptive technologies that can help banks grow,” she said.

“To reach the last mile, credit inclusivity needs to come in for the bottom of the pyramid. Rural entrepreneurship needs to thrive for India’s growth to be fundamentally higher. A well-defined strategy for India and Bharat can come up through the usage of technology and data.”

She also stressed the importance of talent development and upskilling in the banking sector. She said that the talent of today may not be needed tomorrow as the sector undergoes rapid changes due to technology, customer expectations, and regulations. She said that the banking sector needs to invest in reskilling and retraining its workforce to equip them with the skills and competencies required for the future.

She also mentioned sustainability as a key factor for the banking sector. She said that while other sectors are focusing on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) aspects, the banking sector needs to come up with an integrated strategy on ESG and how it can align its business goals with social responsibility and profitability goals.

Parthasarathy concluded by saying that she is optimistic about the future of the banking sector in India and that PwC India is committed to helping its clients navigate the challenges and opportunities ahead.

Also Read: All economic indicators show India may have growth higher than 6.5% in FY23-24, says Rajiv Sabharwal of Tata Capital

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Explained | Quant investing and use of technology in selecting stocks

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Quant investing is booming in India. Be it the portfolio managers looking after funds in Indian stocks or global hedge funds, they are all expanding. The adoption among Indian discretionary managers is also encouraging. They are using technology in different capacities. All this has helped retail investors, who now have quant-based mutual funds in their portfolios.

Understating quant investing

Quantitative or quant investing is also known as systematic or rule-based investing.

As per Vivek Sharma, Director (Strategy) and Head of Investments at Gulaq, a part of Estee Advisors, “The idea behind this is that the rules are pre-decided based on which stocks are selected and weights are decided. All decisions are based on rules, be it entry, exit or capital allocated to each stock. The advantage is that computers are able to churn huge amounts of data in no time and also the biases that might affect a human are not there.”

ALSO READ | Sebi considering performance-based fees for mutual funds: Will investors benefit

The rules can be decided depending on risk and what investors want from the portfolio.

For example, if someone wants to invest in equity but does not want the portfolio to be too volatile, they can invest using low volatility.

“On the other hand, someone who wants to invest only in undervalued stocks can invest using rules which quantifies value investing,” Sharma said while talking to CNBC-TV18.com.

Indian investors and alternative data sources

Portfolio managers these days have very few options in terms of good quality alternate data. Even if it is available, the universe is limited to Nifty 50 or Nifty 100 stocks only.

Therefore, Sharma, feels that the use of alternate data in developed markets is quite common. Further, there is huge potential when it comes to alternate data in India in the next few years.

ML and AI in investment

Both machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) are being extensively used in investing and trading strategies. “Their use ranges from portfolio construction, market regime estimation to efficient execution strategies,” Sharma added.

ALSO READ | 54% millennial investors join mutual funds in FY19-FY23, SIP contributions stand at 29%

Shift from traditional stock picking to systematic strategies

Both traditional investing and quant investing have their own pros and cons. Investors don’t necessarily need to look at only one of them.

According to Sharma, investors should have both kinds of strategies in their portfolio.

“Quant strategies tend to be uncorrelated to discretionary strategies and hence can help diversify portfolios if used along with discretionary strategies. The investment management industry is expected to grow at a good pace over the next 10 years because of the rising interest and capacity of retail investors to invest in equity. India is also going to follow the general global trend where we see that growth in quant investing is much more than the growth in discretionary investing,” he told CNBC-TV18.com.

ALSO READ | Investing in mutual funds: What to avoid and how to set goals

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Top EU official pushes for greater India cooperation on green energy transition, technology

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Citing strategic interests by supplier countries like Russia and China, a top EU official urged European nations to go for greater cooperation with India in green energy transition and technology, which was inclusive and socially just.

Josep Borrell, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, called for a long-term partnership with India in coordination with the G7 countries and highlighted the need for affordable and alternative ways of producing energy, emphasizing that the transition must be socially just in order to be successful. 

“We are determined to make the green energy transition inclusive and socially just. The transition has to be just or it will not happen. If it is not just, [there] will be so much political resistance – both at home and abroad – that it will fail. So, let’s provide cheaper, affordable, alternative ways of producing energy,” he said.

He called for increased energy cooperation between the EU and India on solar energy, green hydrogen, and offshore green energy, and stressed the importance of outreach towards the private sector in both regions. He suggested that a long-term partnership between the EU and India, in coordination with the G7 countries, could be mutually beneficial.

“We were dependent by 40% of from gas imports from Russia, and for some member states by 100%. We have learned that the supplier can have strategic intentions and that the nature of the regime of the supplier matters. We have had to take important steps in order to free ourselves from these dependencies – and we succeeded,” he said.

“And I think that in this geopolitical setting, [there] is an even greater potential for increasing our energy cooperation – EU-India cooperation – on solar [energy], green hydrogen, [and] offshore green energy. Intensifying outreach towards the private sector in both India and the European Union will be key.”

“This will be mutually beneficial and a long-term partnership with India in coordination with the G7 countries,” he said.

Borrell also highlighted the rise of non-US companies in the technological race and emphasised the importance of collaboration with India in critical raw materials and digital initiatives.

He mentioned four companies that are becoming the masters of the technological future, namely Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSMC) from Taiwan, SML from the Netherlands, BYD and CATL from China and stated that these companies are critical for the production of semiconductors, which are necessary for many devices and machines. Taiwan and South Korea will dominate the industry of semiconductors, he noted.

Borrell pointed out that the European Union imports 85% of all semiconductors that it uses, making access to and control of critical raw materials key in the future.

He also mentioned the need for materials like lithium, cobalt, and rare earth for batteries and magnets for turbines for the green transition, which are physically located in a limited number of countries.

Borrell stressed the interest in deepening collaboration with India in a number of ongoing digital initiatives to deliver tangible results.

The call for collaboration comes as the EU and India look to strengthen their strategic partnership and engage in discussions on a wide range of issues, including digital transformation and green transition. The EU has also announced plans to increase its strategic autonomy in the field of technology and to reduce its dependence on other countries.

Also read: India-EU FTA would be a ‘game changer,’ EAM Jaishankar says, launches sustainability conclave

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Lockheed Martin, Accenture, TikTok: These tech firms are hiring amid global layoff spree

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Several experts have warned about a global economic slowdown in 2023 following the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing war in Ukraine. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), the global employment growth rate is expected to slow down to 1 percent this year compared to 2 percent in 2022.

Several big tech companies are rethinking their staffing needs, instituting hiring freezes, rescinding offers and cutting jobs. On January 20, Google’s parent Alphabet Inc announced it was laying off 12,000 employees. Not just Alphabet Inc, tech giants like Amazon, Microsoft, Meta Platforms Inc and Twitter have carried out layoffs due to macroeconomic conditions and the possibility of a future recession.

However, there are still some tech firms which are hiring in various tech roles.

Harsh Jain, CEO of online fantasy platform Dream11, tweeted in November that his company was hiring techies. As many as 20 tech firms are hiring for tech roles, job site Indeed said.

Also Read:Sundar Pichai says sorry as Google parent Alphabet begins firing 12,000 workers globally

Let us take a look at some of the tech firms that are hiring for tech roles:

Deloitte, which provides audit, consulting, tax, and advisory services to its clients, is planning to fill thousands of vacancies.

PwC, which offers various professional business services, including accounting, human resources consulting, auditing, and strategy management, is among the Big Four professional services firms which includes KPMG, Deloitte and Ernst & Young. It is also hiring in several roles.

TikTok is one of the world’s most famous apps for short-form mobile videos. TikTok encourages everyone to be content creators and express their creativity through their videos. It has openings in tech roles.

Lockheed Martin, the world’s leading security and aerospace company, is hiring in tech roles. This company is known to manufacture cutting-edge fighter jets like F-35 and F-22.

Accenture provides its clients with strategy and consulting technology and operations, and interactive services. They have openings for those willing to work at one of the world’s largest independent technology services providers.

Also Read:Twitter layoffs: More job cuts likely, employee count may slip below 2,000, says report

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Google for India: Sundar Pichai speaks on India’s need for a balanced and open internet

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Google CEO Sundar Pichai on Monday took to the stage at the company’s annual Google for India event in New Delhi, during which they announced their plan for the country going forward. This was the first Google for India event since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking at the event via livestream, Pichai stressed on the importance of an open and fair internet if India aims to be an export-based economy.

India has a 700 million-strong internet userbase, Google India Chief Sanjay Gupta said, adding that the country is on track to bringing a billion Indians online by 2025. He added that the country is one of the leading developers of mobile apps globally.

Pichai lauded India’s startup ecosystem and said its sophistication was improving. “Startups in India are (growing) on a noticeable scale,” Pichai said.

As of September 7, 2022, India is home to 107 unicorns collectively worth more than $340 billion. A November report by Morningstar suggested that 10 percent of all new unicorns are born in India.

Also read: 10% of all new unicorns are born in India: Morningstar PitchBook India Unicorn 25 Index

Furthermore, Pichai said Google will invest more in women-led start-ups from its India Digitization Fund. He called upon the government to boost startups and help them scale across the country through favourable policies. The comments by Pichai come in the backdrop of India pushing hard on regulation such as the IT rules amendments and the draft data protection bill.

Pichai was joined by Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw, who said that the Digital India mission has helped develop India Stack over the last eight years.

“The UPI (Unified Payments Interface) payment system has been phenomenally successful,” Vaishnaw said, adding that transactions worth 55 percent of the country’s GDP are carried out through UPI.

Pichai praised the nation’s digital payment system and referenced UPI in other countries across the world as an example of “incredibly opportunity”.

Also read: Google for India: From million-dollar grants to partnerships in digitisation and AI, here are the top heads

Google plans on taking its UPI-based Google Pay feature and its flood forecasting feature to many other countries, cementing India’s role as a trailblazer in upcoming technological development.

Speaking to the future of the country, Vaishnaw predicted that Artificial Intelligence (AI) will play a “very big role” in India’s tech story. This developing technology could make a difference in multiple fields and sectors, the minister said.

Excited about its several possibilities, Pichai agreed with the minister and said that AI will, over time, touch every sector. “Our key mission is to make Google universally accessible, using AI to scale up languages,” Pichai said.

The company launched Project Vaani, an initiative which aims to collect speech data from 773 districts in India to make information available in nearly 1,000 languages. They also promised a million dollar grant to IIT Madras for India’s first ever Responsible AI centre.

Also read: How insurance industry is adopting chatbots and conversational messaging

Pichai warned, however, that with great power comes great responsibility. “Due to the incredible scale at which tech is progressing in the country, we need to establish responsible regulations and create an innovative framework. It needs to continue developing while balancing the safeguarding of its people,” he said.

“India has a leadership role to play here, given the scale,” Pichai said. “The balancing act is important for India.”

Also read: MeitY extends deadline for public comment on revised draft of data protection bill to Jan 2

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow