Over 5.54 Cr Entrepreneurs availed Loans under Mudra; Rs 10L Cr Sanctioned under this Scheme: Prez

More than 5.54 crore new entrepreneurs have availed loans under the Mudra scheme so far whereas credit in excess of Rs 10 lakh crore has been sanctioned under the scheme, President Ram Nath Kovind said on Friday.

In his address to the joint sitting of both houses of Parliament, the President said start-ups in India's small cities have grown at a rate of 45 to 50 per cent since 2014 whereas recognition has been accorded to 27,000 new start-ups under the StartUp India campaign across the country. He also added that India is home to the world's third-largest start-up ecosystem.

"The number of patents granted in the country has increased four times in the last five years, whereas trademark registrations have increased five-fold," said the President.

Describing the 21st century as the "Century of Knowledge", the President said the government's priority is to prepare the youth to provide leadership in this field and stressed that the youth will be at the forefront in this decade especially in research, innovation, incubation and start-ups.

"The youth are benefitting continuously from the policy decisions taken by my government in this regard," the President said.

The President in his address noted that tier-II and tier-III cities are emerging in a new role towards achieving the goal of a USD 5-trillion economy.

He lauded the progress achieved by small cities in areas related to sanitation, amenities, start-ups and other commercial activities.

"Through the Skill India Mission and National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme, along with skill development, the youth are also being provided with necessary funds for self-employment. More than 5 crore 54 lakh new entrepreneurs in the country have availed loans under the Mudra scheme. So far, credit in excess of Rs 10 lakh crore has been sanctioned under this scheme," Kovind said.

Asserting that coordination among departments and dismantling of silos are absolutely essential for successful implementation of schemes, he said new ministries have also been created to facilitate better target orientation of schemes.

"Creation of the Ministry of Skill Development and the Ministry of Jal Shakti by the government is an example of this thought process," said the President. PTI RSN

EdTech Platform Doubtnut Raises $15 Mn in Funding led by Tencent

Edu-tech platform Doubtnut on Friday said it has raised USD 15 million (about Rs 107 crore) in a funding round led by Tencent.

The series A round also saw participation from existing investors, Omidyar Network India, AET, Japan and Ankit Nagori (former Flipkart executive) along with Sequoia Capital India, a statement said.

Doubtnut, which has over 1.2 million daily users, had raised pre-series A funding in March last year led by Surge (Sequoia Capital India's programme), Waterbridge Ventures, Omidyar Network India and AET, Japan, it added.

"Doubtnut will use the funds to widen its pan-India distribution, build on its content repository to cater to a fast expanding target group, invest in strengthening its technology stack and scaling its team," it said.

Set up in October 2017 by Tanushree Nagori and Aditya Shankar, Doubtnut currently caters to K-12, IIT JEE and NEET students. It offers a multi-lingual online learning platform that uses artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies, and provides video-based solutions in response to students' queries.

Students have to send a photograph of the question they want to solve, and Doubtnut app provides a video of the solution while simultaneously suggesting other concept videos to help students learn the topic better. The app can read questions in 11 Indian languages.

The company has over 13 million monthly active users across several platforms (web, app, Youtube and Whatsapp). It said it has witnessed 30X growth in its daily active users since March 2019.

"...despite a massive growth in our user base, there is still a significant target audience that is yet to be tapped. We aim to use technology to provide a democratic, comprehensive and easily accessible education solution to all students - in the language and manner that they best understand," Doubnut co-founder Nagori said. PTI SR

Mozilla Proposes “Awakening” as the Word for 2020, Urges Internet Users to Wake up to the Reality of the Internet

The Web was a chaotic place in 2019. Mozilla, a long-term advocate of internet health, revealed its strategy for the EMG (Emerging Markets Group) market in 2020, and said it hopes the word for the Internet in 2020 is “awakening”. It called on the public to increase their awareness and stay vigilant of privacy risks and security issues in an era where commercial interests come first and big data are heavily exploited online.

Stan Leong, Vice President & General Manager of Emerging Markets, Mozilla, said, “Moving forward in 2020, we focus our efforts on three strategic pillars - internet health advocacy, talent development, and product innovation. These pillars are targeted towards drawing the attention of the industry, government, and academia to the issue of Surveillance Economy (which commoditizes personal data of internet users).”

“We aim to open local recruitment, foster innovative thinking and help local talents connect to the world. In view of the deepening harms of Surveillance Economy on online security and privacy, we are exploring product innovation opportunities. We endeavor to develop technologies that truly empower users and allow everyone to benefit from what the digital world can offer,” he added.

Driving Innovations for Addressing Surveillance Economy

For talent development, Mozilla rolls out the Dev Tech Speaker Program that provides a platform for all the contributors to Mozilla, Firefox and Open Web to exchange ideas and increase their visibility around the world.

According to 2019 Iposos-World Economic Forum report¹, only 36% respondents trust various types of organizations with how they handle personal data. Mozilla is working on three key areas—content discovery and disinformation, identity systems and data commons—and conducting user research and product development in hopes of safeguarding people’s online privacy and security as well as the health of the internet. These topics are a priority for Mozilla this year with solutions revolving around:

• Creating chain(s) of trust for content


• Transparency of user data collection and usage


• Enabling an environment that balances identity and anonymity and empowering users to control their own digital identity

Firefox Lite now a comprehensive mobile browsing platform, added with new Travel feature

Since its launch in 2018, Firefox Lite has transformed into a global multi-function mobile browsing platform. Users can compare prices across multiple sites with Smart Shopping Search, play more than 100 popular free games without installing gaming apps, and stay up to date with trending news.

Today, Firefox Lite is further augmented with the whole new Travel feature, which partners with firms including Wikimedia, KKday, and Booking.com to offer a one-stop browsing experience. Users can search for destinations and instantly get travel recommendations, guides and hotel prices. Users can also add destinations and relevant guides to their bucket list, making travel planning much easier and quicker.

Additionally, with Enhanced Tracking Protection in Private Browsing, it protects users from third-party tracking cookies. Firefox Lite is now available in 30 markets, having expanded its presence to cover more countries in EMG including India.

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Mozilla launches new version of Firefox Lite with new Travel feature

Download the latest Firefox Lite

Disclaimer: Certain features may not be available in some markets, and are subject to change without notice.

1: 2019 Iposos-World Economic Forum report: https://reurl.cc/M7Kmdm.

About Mozilla

Mozilla is a pioneer and advocate for the Open Web for more than 15 years. We create and promote open standards that enable innovation and advance the Web as a platform for all. Today, hundreds of millions of people worldwide use Mozilla Firefox to experience the Web on computers, tablets and mobile devices. For more information, visit https://mozilla-next.com/

What is the Surveillance Economy (or Surveillance Capitalism)? What impact will the Surveillance Economy have on people’s online life?

"Surveillance Capitalism describes a market-driven process where the commodity for sale is your personal data, and the capture and production of this data relies on mass surveillance of the internet. This activity is often carried out by companies that provide us with free online services, such as search engines (Google) and social media platforms (Facebook)."2

We have little real choice in our digital lives other than to acquiesce to systematic data collection and surveillance by corporations. Digital experiences are optimized to extract as much data about ourselves, our environment, and our behavior as possible while providing us with almost no opportunity to understand what data is being collected, who has access to this data, and how it’s being used to shape our behavior and opportunities.

The surveillance economy gives the watchers “unprecedented ... power… distinguished by extreme concentrations of knowledge and no democratic oversight.” (by Shoshana Zuboff). Yet these watchers are also sloppy and negligent, permitting their systems to be breached and gamed in ways that cause enormous harm to people, businesses, and society.3

Two-thirds of Indians used Online Credit and E-Payments in 2019

Online payments and digital lending are in priority for the Asians when it comes to frequently used financial services. According to the survey of fintech customers by Robocash Group, almost two-thirds of respondents in India applied for online credit and made e-payments in 2019.

Conducted in the second half of January 2020, the survey covered India, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia. The findings revealed a relatively even penetration of online financing across these markets. On average, 61% of respondents in these countries applied for online credit in 2019 at least once. The lowest usage was in the Philippines – 57%. Indonesia had 61%, while India and Vietnam – 63% and 64%, respectively. A rapidly growing consumption explains the higher figures of the latter. India and Vietnam have the lowest income per capita among the mentioned markets. Still, they tremendously outpace neighbours in terms of growth rates. That suggests more often recurring gaps in family budgets of people. At the same time, an increase in welfare helps to diminish the debt load.

In general, an urgent, unexpected need remains to be the main reason to apply for fintech financing. Most often, Asians used relevant services in 2019 only once or twice for the whole year. India had the highest share of such customers – 31%. The Philippines and Vietnam followed with 28% and 27%, respectively. Indonesia had 24%. Remarkably, only one in ten respondents used online credit almost monthly, i.e. more than 10 times a year.



At the same time, e-payments and digital wallets have become an integral part of life for Asians. In 2019, the strong majority of respondents (67%) used them at least once. More than half of that number (56%) made digital payments more than twice a week. With regard to a regular monthly usage, respondents from Vietnam were most active in 2019 (63%). There followed India with 51%, where 84% belonged to people using e-wallets more than twice a week. Indonesia and the Philippines had 49% and 42%, respectively.

Finally, digital savings and investments in India, as well as in other countries, demonstrated the lowest penetration – 7% and 9%, respectively. The reason why the segment is lagging is in the fact that such services suggest serving customers earning higher incomes and saving money. At the same time, improvements in financial inclusion and financial literacy promise to advance the industry soon.

Robocash Group is an international financial group operating in the segments of consumer alternative lending and marketplace funding in Europe and Asia. The company develops robotic financial services providing micro consumer lending to customers in Russia, Kazakhstan, Spain, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam and India and operates the own EU-based p2p investment platform. The group develops products completely in-house using artificial intelligence, machine learning and data-driven technologies to provide precise and comprehensive risk management, comfort and speed for customers and efficiency for business.

Budding Engineers prepare to battle in the 5th Edition of Mitsubishi Electric Cup

Mitsubishi Electric India is gearing up for India’s biggest national-level automation competition for students. The company will be hosting its 5th edition of Mitsubishi Electric Cup after organising successful editions in the past four years. Quality education and creating a sustainable society is the prime endeavour of Mitsubishi Electric. The company is determined to bring out the best innovations and skills among the future generations.   

The competition was announced on 10th July 2019 and invited entries from all over India. Around 278 teams registered online for the competition where a maximum of two teams per institute could register for the competition. 

Like previous years, Mitsubishi Electric Cup has a fundamental theme that will serve as a base for participants to engineer their models. The theme for this year is ‘Visualizing IoT Solutions for Smart Automation’ under which students will independently prepare and present complete set of devices and models, by using Mitsubishi Electric Factory Automation products. 

The national-level automation competition has carved a niche for itself as a testing ground for budding engineers to collaborate, innovate and excel in the field of Factory Automation. The Competition continues to receive encouraging response from Engineering Colleges and Technical Institutions across the country with representation from over 16 States including 2 Union Territories across the country. In the last edition of Mitsubishi Electric Cup, the winning team ’SPARK’ from D.K.T.E Society’s Textile & Engineering Institute (Maharashtra) received prize worth Rs. 1 lakh. The second place was taken by team ‘Con-Sol-E 3.0’ from Institute of Technology, Nirma University, Ahmedabad (Gujarat), who took home prize worth Rs. 75,000 and team ‘Team Eminence’ from MKSSS’s Cummins College of Engineering for Women, Pune (Maharashtra) secured the third spot, receiving prize worth Rs. 50,000. 



The 5th edition of Mitsubishi Electric Cup gears up for a much bigger concept. Over the years, the competition has gained momentum and helped in interacting and collaborating with various colleges. Thus, covering a good mileage in size and fulfilling social purposes. Students are required to integrate Mitsubishi Electric’s Factory Automation products (including PLC, Servo, Variable Frequency Drive, Human-Machine-Interface, etc.), to build up and achieve an analogous system of smart automation. 

Following the process, an eminent panel comprising industry and academia experts have shortlisted 35 teams out of all the teams who register, based on a pre-defined selection criteria. Mitsubishi Electric Factory Automation hardware has been dispatched to these 35 teams who will prepare and present models of various industrial manufacturing processes, energy saving solutions, smart solutions for building automation etc., basis the theme. The shortlisted teams are being assisted by Mitsubishi Electric India to make the model with technical support and training, along with provision of Factory Automation equipment. Additionally, each team will be given financial support of Rs. 10,000 upon successful participation at the final event of 5th Mitsubishi Electric Cup in February 2020 and their adherence to necessary skillset.

The winning team will get a prize worth Rs. 1 lakh. The runner-up team will be awarded prize worth Rs. 75,000, while the team winning the third spot will be given prize worth Rs. 50,000 and many more prizes in different categories. All the participants will be given certificates of participation.

Mr. Hisahiro Nishimoto, Director and Division Manager, Factory Automation and Industrial Division, Mitsubishi Electric India Pvt. Ltd. said, “As a leading player in the field of Factory Automation, we, at Mitsubishi Electric believe that it is our responsibility to provide and encourage industry knowledge and practical skills among today’s students, who will be the engineers of tomorrow. Through this competition, we have been providing a platform for engineering students to display their innovation capabilities and build advanced models, guided by our technical expertise and Factory Automation Equipment. This year’s theme ‘Visualizing IoT Solutions for Smart Automation’, is in accordance with our motto to support the dissemination of new knowledge and give chance for development of new ideas in the manufacturing domain.”

About Mitsubishi Electric India:

With nearly 100 years of experience in providing reliable, high-quality products, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (TOKYO:6503) is a recognized world leader in the manufacture, marketing and sales of electrical and electronic equipment used in information processing and communications, space development and satellite communications, consumer electronics, industrial technology, energy, transportation and building equipment. Embracing the spirit of its corporate statement, Changes for the Better, and its environmental account, Eco Changes, Mitsubishi Electric endeavors to be a global, leading green company, enriching society with technology. The company recorded a revenue of 4,519.9 billion yen (US$ 40.7 billion*) in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019.

Mitsubishi Electric India Pvt. Ltd. has grown to become a company offering a wide range of innovative and high-quality products for the Indian market. This includes products and solutions for Air Conditioners, Factory Automation and Industrial Systems, Power Systems, Photovoltaic solutions, Semiconductors & Devices, Transportation Systems, and Visual & Imaging. For more information visit: http://in.mitsubishielectric.com/en/index.page

*At an exchange rate of 111 yen to the US dollar, the rate given by the Tokyo Foreign Exchange Market on March 31, 2019

About B.M.S. College of Engineering, Bengaluru: 

ABOUT BMSCE INSTITUTE

BMSCE established in the year 1946 is the first private sector initiative in engineering education in India. Over the past 73 years of its illustrious existence, the institution has produced more than 40,000 engineers/leaders who have enriched the world through their immense contribution. Started with only 03 undergraduate courses, BMSCE today offers 13 Undergraduate & 16 Postgraduate courses both in conventional and emerging areas. 14 of its Departments are recognized as Research Centers offering PhD/M.Sc (Engineering by Research) degrees in Science, Engineering and Management. More than 350 research scholars are currently pursuing their PhD Degree in BMSCE Research Centres. So far 130 PhDs have been produced through BMS Research Centres. 

India 2nd Largest Mobile Manufacturing Hub Globally: Kovind

India is making rapid strides in electronics production and has emerged as the second largest mobile phone manufacturing hub globally, President Ram Nath Kovind said on Friday.

Addressing a joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament, Kovind said the value of electronic equipment manufactured in the country has increased to Rs 4.58 lakh crore in 2018-19 from Rs 1.90 lakh crore in 2014-15.

"In 2014, there were only two companies manufacturing mobiles in India. Today, India is the second largest mobile manufacturing hub in the world," he said.

He noted that the government is promoting manufacturing of mobile phones, TVs and other electronic devices, and National Policy on Electronics has been formulated in this regard.

Over the last few years, the government has been bullish on making India a manufacturing base for the world and has set a target to promote domestic manufacturing in the entire value-chain of ESDM (electronic system design and manufacturing) to achieve a turnover of USD 400 billion (Rs 26 lakh crore) by 2025.

For mobile handset segment alone, the government, under the National Policy on Electronics 2019, had set a target of making 100 crore mobile handsets indigenously by 2025, valued at about Rs 13 lakh crore.

Out of the 100-crore mobile handset manufacturing target, 60 crore units will be for exports valued at about Rs 7 lakh crore.

According to industry body Indian Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA), mobile handset exports grew over eight-fold to Rs 11,200 crore in 2018-19 and exceeded imports for the first time.

The President, in his address on Friday, said technology is playing a major role in bringing cities and villages closer.

"So far, more than 1.25 lakh Gram Panchayats have been connected with high speed broadband under the BharatNet scheme," he said.

In 2014, there were 60,000 Common Service Centres in rural areas, a number that has now increased to more than 3.65 lakh. "This has provided employment to more than 12 lakh villagers. Through these centres, the government is delivering more than 45 services in rural areas," he said.

Asserting that digital technology is the foundation of the Industrial Revolution 'Industry 4.0', he said the government has focussed on digital access, digital inclusion and digital empowerment in an "unparalleled manner" through the Digital India Programme.

"It is a matter of pride for the country that digital systems developed in India during the last five years have been a source of inspiration for several countries of the world," he said.

Kovind said more than 121 crore people in the country have Aadhaar cards and about 60 crore people possess RuPay cards.

"A record value of Rs 2 lakh crore has been transacted through UPI in December 2019," he said adding the government has also launched a new version of the BHIM App.

The government has linked about 450 schemes to Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) by using the `JAM Trinity' of Jan-Dhan, Aadhaar and Mobile.

He said over Rs 9 lakh crore has been directly transferred to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries through DBT in the last five years. "By plugging the leakages, my Government has saved about Rs 1.70 lakh crore from going into the wrong hands," he added.

Plagiarism in Scientific Writing: Effective Ways to Avoid It

People who have chosen the path of science are very intelligent, patient, and enthusiastic. Unfortunately, students inevitably face certain problems during the study. Plagiarism is one of them. They have no right to plagiarize their texts. This would mean they don’t use their own new approaches, but simply steal the ideas of other scientists.

Oftentimes, students don’t even realize that they plagiarize somebody else. They may miss a vital point, forget some rules of quoting and referencing, are inattentive, etc. Thus, many youngsters prefer to use the assistance of professional writers because they cite according to rules and make perfect reference lists. Buying research papers online, you sufficiently increase your chances to enjoy success.

They are commonly written without plagiarism if you use a reputable paper writing service online. Nevertheless, you can avoid plagiarism and create 100% authentic custom-written papers on your own with the help of professional academic writers. We’ll show several great ways to achieve that goal.

Understand the Issue of Plagiarism

The first step to success is to understand what plagiarism means. Plagiarism is the situation when a writer tries to use somebody else’s words and results of studies as his/her own. To support your own theories, you’re obliged to use the words of other authors. However, their works must be correctly cited and paraphrased. Thus, you recognize somebody else’s contribution but don’t violate the copyright.

Be Aware of the Writing Format

The second obvious measure is to understand the writing format. There are such types like APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, Vancouver, AMA, Turabian, and others. You may be assigned any of them, and each has its own peculiarities. Although there are some similarities, you should be aware of differences that may be slight. Always follow the guidelines of the assigned format.

Add Some Slight Value

Don’t try to implement all the information sources you find in your project. Add the value of your own. Use several sources as the background. In the meanwhile, pay more attention to your own insights. Reveal them to your readers and notify them that you’re a witty and knowledgeable scientist. Besides, you won’t deal with too many quotations because most of the text will be related only to your own ideas and suggestions.

Provide Original Ideas

One of the greatest ways to avoid plagiarism is to generate your own new and original ideas. If you use too many works of other authors, you face two complications. Firstly, it signifies that you may not actually don’t know what you’re talking about. Secondly, you’ll have to face multiple citations and references that increase the probability you’ll make mistakes.

Therefore, focus on the implementation of your own unique concepts. It’s a winning combination. Thus, you’ll show that you really understand what your topic discloses and that you have your own opinion about this matter. Besides, you’ll avoid facing multiple citations and references.

Be Careful with the Reference Page

Scientific writing consists of different sections, and one of them is called the Reference Page. You ought to mention all the information sources you’ve used in your project right there. Most students compose it after the project is written. They use logic because references go after the main text. Nonetheless, they are mistaken this time. It’s better to compose a reference list simultaneously with your writing. The reason is quite simple. Researchers may miss some vital passage, which has to be quoted. As a result, they unconsciously plagiarize other authors.

Therefore, we recommend writing, citing, and referencing at the same time. Get different notebooks, which will be devoted to different peculiarities. Thus, you should start separate notebooks or digital files for:

• Writing;


• Gathering information;


• Citing;


• Making references.

Use a Plagiarism Checker

Don’t forget to use a good plagiarism checker. This is one of the smartest and most helpful inventions for students. A plagiarism-checking application scans your text and surfs the Internet to find any matches. It compares your text to other scientific papers similar to yours. Thus, you’ll receive quick results to be sure that you haven’t repeated some other works. Use several plagiarism checkers to receive dependable results.

Practice

The final prompt is the most obvious and effective. Practice writing, citing, and referencing. Take into account all the possibilities and steadily improve your writing. Begin with small and simple essays you can find online for free. Quote from 3 to 4 sources to see whether you are correct. Make the necessary notes if you make mistakes and don’t repeat them again. Afterward, write longer essays or more complicated assignments. Steadily add more information sources, which must be cited. Such practice greatly enhances quotation skills.

Try to memorize our prompts. They are really effective and help to avoid plagiarism in your scientific papers. Thus, you won’t lose important grades making wrong references or citing incorrectly. Everything can be properly tackled if you know how to do that.

Why Online Gambling Startups Fail and How to Succeed

E-commerce can be a brutal yet rewarding industry. Online gambling is one of them and has been reported to generate millions of dollars each year. This factor alone stands to be the biggest motivator for online casino establishments. 

However, the online gaming market is still one of the most difficult sectors to crack, more than any other regulated and established industry. Studies show that at least 85 percent of startups fail in the first two years. In this write-up, we tell you why most of them fail and how you can be the industry leader.

Acquiring a B2C Business Model

Before the launch of a startup, most casino operators fail to factor in customer acquisition costs. You must begin by working into this plan before starting your online business. 

Understand that if the cost of attracting and retaining a player exceeds that of the revenue generated, you may end up losing your money. Every online bookie must accurately model their customer acquisition metrics. 

You must exploit an unfair house advantage to attract new players. Figure out how to attract and retain them at a lower cost than your competitors. Even with the low cost, you need to determine how you will financially benefit from each client.

In this highly regulated and competitive industry, online casino startups must get their product designs right, build a technology platform that operates each product at scale, and get it right in the market to survive. Spend enough time finding a stable technology partner who can guard your vision. There is a wide variety of online casino operators out there, study, learn and come up with a solid brand.   

Capital

Most online casinos fail because they ignore the need to complete all required checks and balances. Any ambitious undertaking such as the start of a new casino must focus on wowing the crowds. It means that you need to have sufficient cash to create the perfect gambling environment. 

A startup must invest to ensure that it sustains itself through the establishment and growth phases. Seed capital and other financing can be acquired in many ways. One of the most effective ways of earning revenue for a startup is through affiliate marketing.

Be sure to have a staggered investment regimen to ensure that your startup navigates tough times and stays profitable.  

Adapting to the Market Needs

How well you satisfy your customers will translate to the performance of your startup. Begin by performing careful market analysis on player preferences to stand a better chance of success. 

Offer an extensive range of different games, including bingo games, baccarat, poker, progressive slots, video slots, blackjack games, among others. In the planning stages, delve into the possible entry points to understand the opportunities and demand. 

Uniqueness

You can only build a unique and robust brand by giving exclusive offers. This can be actualized through the implementation of technology for scalability and compliance with your business model. Setting yourself apart from the crowd means constant improvement and innovation. 

Every bookmaker and iGaming operator must adopt certain strategies to stay unique. As long as your product is unique, you can still venture into the saturated market and succeed.  

Need for Customer Support

A unique selling proposition (USP) defines your uniqueness in the market. In that case, most bookies present themselves as “the haven of slots”, “home for the biggest bonus”, among others, to be heard more than their competitors. 

Although these are key differentiators, understand that there is a variety in almost every casino. Your software provider should determine your games and jackpots. Note; even with the advent of browser-based portals which present a greater variety, you will still need to give proprietary software to be heard over your competition. 

Design and usability are highly crucial, but there is more to retention and conversion than just acquisition. The reason most iGaming sites fail is because they overlook customer support. A bookie can only act as an acquisition tool by offering stable customer support services. 

Doing so can create a positive reputation, increase value, win over more players, and boost the retention rate. Going the extra mile of giving quick responses, responding clearly, and having friendly staff can give you good publicity. 

As the online gaming industry continues to expand, startups need to offer more to stay longer in the market. The betting environment is rapidly evolving, especially due to the advancements of technology. 

This is a move which has led to battles against betting companies looking to win the bigger share of the market. In 2020, anyone taking advantage of technology and offering unique gaming services can expect a great return in their investment.    

Big Social Media Cos may be Asked to Maintain Database of Active Mobile Number of Users

The information technology (IT) ministry has proposed that significant social media companies should maintain a database of active mobile numbers of all their users for verification purpose under a revised set of rules, according to a source.

The proposal -- aimed at tackling issues related to anonymity of users in the fast-growing social media space -- has been mooted for the first time as part of the amendments likely to be made to the existing IT intermediary rules, the source said.

Social media companies with more than 50 lakh users in India will be categorised as significant social media intermediaries. These companies will also have to comply with stricter obligations, including traceability of users, under the revised rules, the source said.

The ministry has sent a draft of the revised rules to the law ministry for vetting.

According to the source, the revised rules also seeks to draw a distinction between obligations and requirements of 'significant social media companies' as well as all other intermediaries and platforms.

Significant social media intermediaries should do verification and maintain a database of active mobile numbers of all their users, the source told PTI.

By putting in such a requirement, the IT intermediary rules would also be in sync with provisions in the Personal Data Protection Bill. The latter has a provision for verification of social media users, although on a voluntary basis.

"If you look at issues like traceability or anonymity on social media platforms, the problem is that it is largely confined to significant social media players and not all kinds of intermediaries.

"So, it has been proposed that there will be some rules that will apply to all platforms and some extra obligations only for significant social media intermediaries," the source said.

Original draft of the IT rules did not mention about any requirement for maintaining active mobile numbers of all users by significant social media companies.

The original draft said that intermediaries would be required to deploy technology-based automated tools for pro-actively identifying and removing or disabling public access to unlawful information or content while the proposed changes may now restrict the need for automated tools for detecting child sexual abuse material.

The changes proposed by the government in the IT Intermediary Guidelines (Amendment) Rules, are also expected to help increase the accountability of big social media companies in the backdrop of spread of fake news through such platforms.

The original draft of proposed amendments to the rules was put in the public domain in December 2018 for comments from stakeholders. Later, there were multiple rounds of discussions within the IT ministry on revising the rules. PTI MBI RAM

Pine Labs Launches Paper POS, a Merged QR Product to Accept Payments via UPI and Bharat QR Apps

Pine Labs, one of Asia's leading merchant commerce platforms, today announced the launch of Pine Labs Paper POS for its merchants. Pine Labs Paper POS is an all-in-one solution for accepting multiple forms of Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and Bharat QR payments through a single merged static QR at the point of sale. Merchants can use Pine Labs Paper POS to accept payments across different kinds of UPI and Bharat QR payments, including those from Amazon Pay, Google Pay, PayZapp, PhonePe, YONO, among others. Using the Pine Labs countertop POS machines - Plutus and Plutus Smart - merchants can print a customer chargeslip, thus, immediately confirming the transaction.

"We, at Pine Labs, are constantly striving to develop innovative technology solutions to cater to the requirements of our diverse merchant base and their customers. Paper POS is our latest innovation, and will accelerate the growth of electronic payments acceptance in the country. It will not only be a one-stop solution for acceptance of all payments through UPI and Bharat QR, it will also save transaction cost," said Venkat Paruchuri, Chief Product Officer, Pine Labs.

Paper POS is low-cost, easy to implement and ensures safe payment transactions. It is simple to install and helps merchants to declutter the billing counter as well as contain long customer queues. Paper POS also offers a range of other benefits to the merchants like detailed insights on the transactions as well as reconciliation of all transactions, including Paper POS transactions at one place on myPlutus web (TRM) or on the myPlutus app. The merchants can also receive instant notifications for transactions on the myPlutus app. The Paper POS sticker can also be customized with the merchant name / store name and the merchant logo on the QR sticker.

The steps for accepting payments using Paper POS are simple. To begin with, the customer scans the QR on Pine Labs Paper POS using any UPI / Bharat QR app. The customer will then enter the amount on his app. In the third step, the customer will enter UPI/ Bharat QR credentials on the app to authorise the transaction. Upon successful confirmation, the merchants with Pine Labs POS terminals can print the chargeslip for Paper POS transactions.

About Pine Labs

Pine Labs is one of Asia's leading merchant commerce platforms. Its unique cloud-based platform enables it to offer a wide range of payment acceptance and merchant commerce solutions. Pine Labs' stored value platform offers issuing, processing and distributing digital gift cards for corporate customers. Its customer base includes prominent large, mid-sized and small merchants across India, South East Asia and the Middle East. Pine Labs is incorporated in Singapore. Its key investors are Sequoia India, Actis Capital, Temasek, PayPal, Sofina and Mastercard. To know more, please visit www.pinelabs.com

Apple, Broadcom to Pay $1.1 Bn for Infringing 4 Wi-Fi Technology Patents

A Los Angeles jury has ordered Apple and Broadcom to pay USD 1.1 billion to a university in California for infringing on four Wi-Fi technology patents.

Apple was ordered to pay USD 837 million and Broadcom must pay USD 270 million to the California Institute of Technology, in what is thought to be one of the largest patent verdicts ever. The court pronounced the verdict on Wednesday.

Caltech, as the university located near Los Angeles is known, had sued both tech giants in 2016, alleging that Apple products including iPhones, iPads and Apple Watches used Broadcom components that infringed on Caltech patents related to wireless data transmissions.

Both Apple and Broadcom indicated they planned to appeal the verdict.

"Caltech appreciates the jury's thoughtful attention throughout the trial," the university said in a statement to AFP. "We are pleased the jury found that Apple and Broadcom infringed Caltech patents.

"As a nonprofit institution of higher education, Caltech is committed to protecting its intellectual property in furtherance of its mission to expand human knowledge and benefit society through research integrated with education."

In court documents, Apple and Broadcom had said that Caltech's claims "are based solely on the incorporation of allegedly infringing Broadcom chips in Apple's iPhone, Mac, and other devices."

"Broadcom manufactures the accused chips, while Apple is merely an indirect downstream party whose products incorporate the accused chips," according to court filings.

"Accordingly, the claims that Caltech has against Apple depend on establishing that the accused Broadcom chips infringe the patents and that the patents-in-suit are not invalid," it stated.

Broadcom was the main target of the lawsuit but Apple was also named as it is one of Broadcom's biggest customers. (AFP)

Govt Takes Over Process of Issuing, Managing IMEI for Mobile Phones in India

The Department of Telecom has taken over the process to issue and manage IMEI allocation for mobile phones in India from the private body MSAI.

The IMEI number - a unique 15-digit serial number of mobile devices - is allocated by global industry body GSMA and organisations authorised by it. When a mobile phone is lost, the victim is required to mention the IMEI number of the handset for tracking.

The Department of Telecom (DoT) had issued a standard operating procedure in May 2015 to prohibit import of mobile phones with duplicate, fake and non-genuine international mobile equipment identity.

The process was being managed by Mobile Standard Alliance of India (MSAI), erstwhile reporting body of GSMA in India.

"The government has decided to replace the MSAI operated system and hence a new system, Indian Counterfeited Device Restriction (ICDR) system, has been developed by the Centre for Development of Telematics - R&D unit of DoT for implementing the SOP, " the DoT said in a letter dated January 28, 2020 to industry bodies and concerned government departments.

The new system has been operationalised on pilot basis on the web portal of Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR). The CEIR is being used to block all services on stolen or lost mobile phones on any network even if the SIM card is removed or the IMEI number of the handset is changed. PTI PRS

How to Leverage Your POS Data

Your point of sale system is capable of collecting and analyzing a significant amount of data. While cash registers can only oversee transactions, more advanced systems keep track of your sales, different customers, tax information, inventory, employee hours, and more. 

In the past, you compiled such data and created your own reports on a quarterly or monthly basis. These reports gave you a comprehensive look at your business so that you could take a step back and decide how to go forward. 

Creating these reports was a tedious task, though, and it left lots of room for error. You also wanted to make projections about the future, but sometimes the numbers weren’t clear enough. 

Reports that your POS system generates can help you do the same thing, but they can go much more in-depth and provide you with a daily or even real-time look at your business’s overall picture. They can also offer recommendations, suggestions, and help you notice patterns. While the system can communicate information to you, it’s ultimately your choice what you do with it. Here are a few ways you can leverage your POS system effectively: 

Understand your customers better

You should never invade your customers’ privacy and ask them to share too much. What you can do is look at the basic data: how often do they come in, and what do they usually buy? What are your customers’ demographics? Are you catering to them appropriately? Your customers may appreciate your factoring in their preferences whenever they enter your store. 

If customers willingly give you email addresses, you can ask if they’d like to be included in email marketing campaigns. You can use your POS system to create personalized product recommendations and customized promotions. If your system notes a trend amongst customers, you can create a general campaign that will appeal to their collective behaviors. 

Manage inventory more efficiently

Managing inventory manually is a daunting and frustrating task. There’s a great deal of room for error here, and it’s a headache to keep track of everything on a spreadsheet. You might already use inventory management software, but your operations will flow much smoother if it’s integrated into your point of sale system. 

The kind of data your POS platform will collect includes the number of products sold, how much you have recently ordered, where in the supply chain products are, how much of anything is currently on-site, items’ specific locations, and more. 

You can leverage this information to manage your storage room or warehouse more efficiently. Customers will never be disappointed that you are short on something, but you also won’t waste money storing excess product that isn’t selling well. 

With a POS system, you and your employees won’t have to run back and forth between the sales floor and the backroom to check if specific products are available—all you need to do is search for it on the mobile database. This way, you won’t keep customers waiting, and you’ll have real-time information about what’s going on in your business. 

Handling returns

On a related note, your POS system keeps track of returns and refunds (and updates inventory automatically to reflect changes). You can use this information to determine why customers are bringing things back: are the products damaged, or falsely advertised? You can then give a refund directly through the system. 

Staff appropriately 

Your POS software will also be able to tell you what your busiest times of day are. For instance, a coffee shop might see a burst of activity in the early mornings and later in the afternoons. You can use this data to make sure you are staffed appropriately. When do you need more or fewer employees on-site? 

Track sales patterns 

You created a business strategy when you first opened, but it is unlikely that it hasn’t changed over time. It’s essential to adjust your plan when you realize what works and what doesn’t. What are your most popular items? Which products are not selling as well as you expected them too? With data points like these from your POS system, you can amend your strategy according to the numbers. 

For example, are you noticing a trend that you hadn’t predicted? That’s okay; your POS system can suggest ways to adapt. Perhaps you need to shift your hours of operation, staff more people on particular days, or rearrange products on the sales floor. When you have detailed insight into your business, you can make better data-driven decisions. 

Your POS system can tell you a great deal and make suggestions, but what you do with said information is up to you. How would you like to leverage POS system data? 

 

RBI imposes Rs 1 Cr Penatly on HDFC Bank for Non-Compliance with KYC Norms

The Reserve Bank of India has imposed a penalty of Rs 1 crore on HDFC Bank for non-compliance with Know Your Customer (KYC) norms, the central bank said on Wednesday.

The RBI in a release said that supervisory evaluation of the bank (2016-17) revealed that the HDFC Bank had "failed to exercise ongoing due diligence" with regards to 39 current accounts opened by its customers for bidding in Initial Public Offer.

"It was observed that the transactions effected in these current accounts were disproportionate to the declared income and profile of the customers," it said.

The RBI had issued a notice to the bank to show cause as to why penalty should not be imposed for non-compliance with the direction.

After considering the reply received from the bank and oral submissions made in the personal hearing, the RBI came to the conclusion that imposition of monetary penalty was warranted, the release said.

It further said the action is based on the deficiencies in regulatory compliance and "is not intended" to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the bank with its customers. PTI NKD CS

Why is Delhi A Perfect Location for Your Startup [Opinion]

The biggest beneficiary after opening up of Indian economy has been the startup culture in the country. While Bengaluru and Hyderabad have been the early birds to have cottoned on to the startup eco-system, it is Delhi and the NCR which has rapidly joined the bandwagon and experienced exponential growth riding on several factors working in its favour, one being options for liberal startup loan in Delhi. 

What makes for a sustainable startup destination?

Any sustainable startup destination should offer abundant logistics of infrastructure, efficient transport system, customer demand, growing market, ample funding options, easy access to raw materials and quick product dispersal, skilled, enterprising workforce and finally, bright mentorship with future growth potential. All these factors have eminently worked in favour of Delhi and NCR. 

Factors making Delhi fertile for startups:

Statistics emerging in recent times does reflect the potential of the region. NCR which comprises of Delhi, NOIDA and Gurgaon is home to around 9000 startups of which almost 1300 are retail startups. It is the highest in the country, according to a report by Tracxn Technologies. Delhi and NCR have built their unique startup ecosystem to foster diverse verticals beyond traditional technology to foray into consumer and financial services. 

Startup business areas in Delhi:

For any business to thrive, an appropriate loan is a lifeline that boosts its growth and expansion. The principal industries that are driving the startup revolution in Delhi are:

• E-Commerce


• Medical Device


• Real Estate


• Food Processing


• Hotel and Tourism 


• Interior Decoration


• Healthcare

The most significant advantage with Delhi is that it is very well connected with the catchment cities in the neighbouring states with a huge market catering to the growth of startups. The vibrant ecosystem has helped Delhi, and NCR garner almost 25% of foreign investments assisting the sector in taking giant strides. The trend is rising, and there are ample funding options in Delhi to feed the growth pattern witnessed over the last decade. 

Startup fund options:

It is a challenge for any new startup entrepreneur to raise funds for the enterprise to succeed. Funds being critical to a business venture; there are several options to the business owner to explore. Among the primary options are:

• Looking for bank loans that have products like a small business loan in Delhi.


• A small business loan through NBFC and Fintech


• Crowdfunding


• Looking for angel investors and venture capitalists. 

The top two are useful means by which startup owners can aim to fund business operations. But the documentation being stringent and cumbersome in banks, many entrepreneurs find it daunting to seek business loans from them. On the other hand, Fintechs offer customized products with minimal hassle and documentation to make it worthwhile for startup loans.

Salient features of business loan in Delhi:

The very nature of the business in its infancy makes small business loans from Fintech the most viable option. The features that make it truly attractive are:

• Flexible and liberal in requirements and documents.


• Transparent transactions without any hidden cost.


• Competitive interest rate. 


• Quick turnaround time with the disbursal of the loan in 72 hours.


• Unsecured collateral-free loans. 


• Easy repayment terms. 

Eligibility criteria for startup loan in Delhi:

Eligibility for startup loans varies from lender to lender. While some are stringent, Fintechs have a unique approach towards the eligibility norms for a small business loan in Delhi. Among the key factors involved are:

• The establishment must be operational for at least six months.


• The quarterly turnover should be more than Rs.90K.


• The nature of business should not be blacklisted for SBA loans.


• The location of the business should not be in a restricted area.


• Ownership of the business can be Proprietorship, Partnership, Private Limited Company or a Limited Liability Company. 


• The business should not belong to NGO, Charitable Institution or a Trust. 

Documents required for startup loan in Delhi:

The crucial aspect of any business loan is its documentation. The procedure prescribed in banks acts as a deterrent to many aspiring borrowers. Contrarily Fintechs confine to the essential bare minimum, making it amply suitable for a startup owner. The necessary documents required for the loan are: 

• KYC Documents of the owner and the business which includes PAN and Aadhaar cards. 


• Business registration certificate along with other mandatory registrations and compliances. 


• Copies of Memorandum of Association and Articles, Partnership Deed. 


• Bank account statement for the previous six months.


• Income proof and any other document as determined by the lender. 

Interest rate and other charges for a business loan in Delhi:

The cost of funds is a significant concern for any borrower and startup loan in Delhi is no exception. It is imperative that the owner checks for the cost element before committing on a business loan. Let us check out what all is involved that determines the cost of funds.

Fee and Charges of Startup Loan in Delhi
Interest Rate	1% to 2% per month
Processing Fee	1% to 2% of the loan amount recovered along with disbursal
Pre-payment Fee	Nil
Tenor	Maximum 36 months
Loan amount	Rs. 50000 to Rs. 2 crore
Security	Nil
Repayment method	EMI and Fortnightly

The rate of applicable interest is dependent on various parameters ultimately impacting the cost of funds. Primary factors reckoned for determination of the relevant interest are:

• Amount of Loan


• Loan tenor


• CIBIL Score


• Age of the enterprise.

The application process of a startup loan in Delhi:

Most lenders now offer a digital platform for submission of the loan application. While in the case of banks, it may be termed as an expression of interest for formalities to be completed in brick and mortar offices, in Fintech, it is entirely online. The entire process can be accomplished in a few simple steps:

• Submit application with all details online.


• Upload requisite documents.


• Await evaluation and offer.


• Acceptance, approval and disbursal of loan to the credit of the account.

Bottom Line:

There is no denying the emergence of Delhi and NCR as the startup capital of India with a well defined and stable ecosystem in place. Sheer evidence of its predominance in attracting investments and its growing trend is enough evidence that the phenomenon is going to flourish further.  

The New Paradigm of Machinery and Software

Various industries have embraced different machinery as well as software to enable the smooth running of operations from the national to local levels. The diverse nature of works is quite inseparable from machinery.

Machinery and software development have led to successful specialized usage of new thoughts and technological advancements. These significant advancements get recognized from their creation, research, and implementation. For technological advancements to gain ground there ought to be social capital and reciprocal resources. It thus leads to a whole new difference in the Imaginate limit within the social order. 

Digital era

Machine technology is the new norm, and manufacturers ought to get prepared as they adapt to the digital age. Working with machine technology specialist is a great way to ensure people get information concerning savvy technology. It's a time to embrace the fantastic mixture of machine and human capacities.

Competitive advantage

For you to gain the upper hand in a wrestle with the big sharks in business there's a need to have a competitive advantage. You ought to keep your business operations, administrations as well as items pertinent to your customer's needs. It's essential to be aware of the economic changes at all times. It at one point, you need machinery attention, including maintenance, its time to get machinery and software specialists to assist you.

Digitalization

One of the most significant remarkable territories in the various industries advancements is the digitization catchphrase. The idea gets used to measure the development of any enterprise with each passing day. Digitization gets used to seek advancements and improvement of service delivery in this fast-paced life. It's also a chance to offer better and innovative experiences among clients at all times.

Financial growth

Machinery growth and development gets categorized as a significant wellspring of business development. Economic growth is inevitable as there's an expansion of various market estimation of different items as well as enterprises. In a matter of time, everyone wants a share in the latest software there is to make their life easier. As a result, they have to pay to get premium services of given software. Thus, the GDP gets to increase over time, and it somewhat contributes positively to economic development.

Any enterprise that embraces new machinery advancements becomes successful progressively. Machinery and software implementation is a chance to find a better approach to flourish in the current ever-changing markets. It’s a new era where technology is the epitome of each development and changing force in various industries. 

Industries are seeking automation as well as additive manufacturing. Having smart manufacturing factories in the new future that everyone ought to embrace. You ought to seek guidance from machinery and software specialists to enable you to become successful via machinery technology, innovation, as well as thought leadership, among others. When one seeks to reevaluate their development goals, they stand to stay relevant within the industry in the changing economy. It’s time to embrace the future as with successful innovation; your client will always be a happy lot. The manufacturing future is getting brighter by the day, and one ought to become conversant with machine tech and software.

WNS Launches Blockchain-based VeriChain to Transform Risk Syndication in Insurance

WNS (Holdings) Limited (NYSE: WNS), a leading provider of global Business Process Management (BPM) services, today announced the launch of its blockchain-enabled risk syndication solution, WNS VeriChain. Powered by IBM Hyperledger, the solution addresses complexities and challenges in the syndicated insurance market.

Underpinned by deep domain expertise in the Insurance and Re-insurance industry, WNS’ VeriChain leverages decentralized ledger technology to enable specialty insurers to execute secure transactions in a multi-party ecosystem. It offers a “single view of truth” for all stakeholders in the syndicate including brokers, carriers, and customers, helping drive increased transparency and cooperation thus overcoming disputes and eliminating the need for post facto reconciliations. WNS VeriChain offers end-to-end digitization enabling brokers and carriers improve efficiency and profitability, while enhancing the end-customer experience.

“At WNS, we are focused on leveraging emerging technologies like Blockchain to offer state-of-the-art digital solutions that address critical business challenges faced by our clients. WNS will continue to make strategic investments in new-age technologies with a goal of “co-creating” solutions designed to help our clients transform their businesses and create competitive advantage in their respective markets,” said Keshav R. Murugesh, Group CEO, WNS.

WNS is a trusted partner to more than 30 insurance and re-insurance clients, providing end-to-end solutions across the entire insurance value chain. We are conceptualizing and developing state-of-the-art, innovative business models helping disrupt today’s insurance industry. Our digital solutions powered by deep domain expertise, technology and automation, and advanced analytics are helping clients drive true business transformation.

About WNS

WNS (Holdings) Limited (NYSE: WNS) is a leading Business Process Management (BPM) company. WNS combines deep industry knowledge with technology, analytics and process expertise to co-create innovative, digitally led transformational solutions with over 350 clients across various industries. WNS delivers an entire spectrum of BPM solutions including industry-specific offerings, customer interaction services, finance and accounting, human resources, procurement, and research and analytics to re-imagine the digital future of businesses. As of December 31, 2019, WNS had 44,011 professionals across 60 delivery centers worldwide including facilities in China, Costa Rica, India, the Philippines, Poland, Romania, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

~ BusinessWire India

NGT Asks CPCB to Submit Fresh Report on Compliance of Plastic Rules by Amazon, Flipkart

The NGT asked the Central Pollution Control Board on Wednesday to submit a fresh report on Amazon and Flipkart's compliance of plastic waste management rules, a day after the CPCB said the e-commerce giants need to collect the waste generated due to packaging of their products.

Hearing a plea filed by a 16-year-old boy to stop Amazon and Fli pkart from excessive plastic use in packaging, the National Green Tribunal said it is for the regulator CPCB to enforce the rules.

Advocate Balendu Shekhar, appearing for CPCB, told the bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel about the non-compliance of plastic waste management rules by the e-commere giants, saying the e-commerce firms need to fulfil their extended producer responsibility under the rules.

They use excessive plastics for packaging but have not registered with CPCB, Shekhar said, adding the companies should obtain registration as brand owner after submitting relevant documents.

Advocate Sanjay Upadhyay, appearing for Amazon, told the green tribunal they will comply with all formalities on extended producer responsibility by June 30.

The bench, however, asked them to approach the CPCB and posted the matter for hearing on April 22.

On Tuesday, the CPCB told the NGT that as per provisions 9(2) of the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, "Primary responsibility for collection of used multi-layered plastic sachet or pouches or packaging is of producers, importers and brand owners who introduce the products in the market.

"Amazon Retail India Private Limited and Flipkart Private limited are involved in packaging and selling of other companies' products and thus introducing plastic packaging in the market. They need to fulfil their extended producer responsibility under PWM Rules and should obtain registration as brand owner after submitting proper documents," CPCB said.

Aditya Dubey, the petitioner in the case through advocate Divya Prakash Pande, has pleaded the NGT to direct Amazon and Flipkart to stop excessive use of plastic in packaging.

Responding to the plea, Amazon India said it has been "relentlessly" working to reduce single-use plastic in its supply chain and is committed to eliminating its usage in their buildings by June 2020.

"Towards this, we have introduced 'paper cushions', which have completely replaced plastic dunnage across our fulfilment centres in India. We also ensure that packaging material in the form of corrugate boxes and paper cushions contains as high as 100% recycled content and is also fully recyclable. To reduce packaging waste and use of plastic, 'Packaging Free Shipment' (PFS) has now expanded to 20 cities within a year," an Amazon India spokesperson said Tuesday.

Flipkart said it has been "constantly striving to find eco-friendly alternatives for plastic packaging which is resilient and keeps the product safe during transit".

"The company firmly believes in the principle of 'business with a purpose' and we are aware of our responsibility towards the environment," a Flipkart spokesperson said.

Dubey's plea has contended that the companies deliver items in cardboard boxes, which are too large when compared to the size of the items being delivered.

The plea has also said that though the home-delivery service of e-commerce companies have been very useful for consumers, they have given rise to serious environmental challenges. Once goods are delivered, the plastic waste is thrown away in garbage and it ends up at landfill sites, it said.

"Single-use plastic has emerged as one of the biggest environmental challenges for our planet. It is cheap, useful, ubiquitous and very deadly," the petition has said. PTI PKS PKS

India’s Biggest Rural Technical Festival to be held at RGUKT, Basar on Jan 31st, Feb. 1st & 2nd

National Level India’s Biggest Rural Technical Festival titled “Antahpragnya 2020" to be held at RGUKT (Rajiv Gandhi University of Knowledge and Technologies (RGUKT)), the temple city of Basar, 180 km from Hyderabad, the state capital of Telangana from January 31st 2020 to February 2nd 2020. 

Disclosing this in a press note issued, Dr. A. Ashok, IAS, Vice-Chancellor of RGUKT, said it comprises of technical, literary, entrepreneurial, fun, cultural activities. 

RGUKT is the first ICT based University in Telangana for rural meritorious students. The main aim of Antahpragna 2020, says Dr. Ashok, is to spot and encourage rural tech innovators.

The theme of the biggest ever National Rural Technical Festival is to ‘spot and encourage rural tech innovators’, Dr Ashok added. 

Antahpragnya, the Rural Technical Fest is very unique. Some of the best brainy students study in rural areas will participate. We need to nurture these innovative brains by creating an ecosystem. This platform can be used by them to apply technology to simple human tasks and create some of the finest and most eco-friendly products and equipment shared Mr. Swapnil Jangale, Convenor.

A total of 300 plus prototype working models created by 4000 rural ignited minds from the RGUKT varsity and outside are presented as part of the program, while 200 different colourful events will be organized. Nearly 50000 people from nearby places and other colleges are expected to witness the Three Day National Level India’s Biggest Rural Technical Festival added Mr. Haribabu, Co-Convenor. 

Thousands of Students belonging to reputed colleges across the length and breadth of India are taking part in the event.

Some of the events include  Virtual Reality, Hologram, Robo Race, Development of Ideal Village Project; Robo Soccer, Sci-Fest(a National Science Fair), Campus Farming Competition etc and others. 

Under Techies for Karshak, Campus Farming Competition, a novel competition which is unheard of before will be held. This is a competition between the branches, PUC1 and PUC2 in implementing innovative ideas and improving the yield of the crop. One acre of land near the football ground in the campus is levelled, cleaned and made it ready for farming. The land is divided into 9 equal parts each for the branches. The participants were given away Spinach seeds and asked to grow that crop. This is a competition between all branches for the championship THE AGRI CHAMPIONSHIP. The champions are decided and judged by the farmers who come to the event.

Students to spend a day with the farmers in a nearby locality, film their entire day, interview them at the end on their problems and solutions they look for. The winners will be adjudged for the most creative and accurate documentary inform A. Sandeep, R. Jyothsna, MSVN Sai and Keerthana, the coordinators of the event.

Robo Race is an innovative event planned. In this fast-growing world, being faster means everything, whether it is a running race or a race of learning skills. Giving this concept a new twist, RGUKT is organizing Robo Race, wherein the students design the fastest robot and take part in the battle. 'Be the fastest or nothing else'. The faster you run the sooner you are done. Racing is great mania which one must sacrifice everything without reticence, without hesitation.

A smooth race never made a skilful racer and to take care of that we bring you the dirt arena, because, 'a little dirt never hurt'. So come with your robots to the dirt track and race it as you stole it, says Ajay, Pavan Kalyan, Tagore Charith, the Robo Race team. The goal of this event to design a manual or wireless Robot which can complete the track, full of hurdles. Each team will have four participants. 

Robo Soccer to present soccer with an entirely new dimension. The participants will bring out the hidden RONALDO, MESSI in them... participants will have lots of fun and thrill, share B. Sachin Kumar and M. Pavan Kalyan. 

There are many amazing Virtual Reality and Holographic events and many exciting games panned to attract the audience. Hundreds of designs of posters are made by students of RGUKT promoting Design in India, Made in India said Vikranth, Harish, Venkatesh, Anupriya, Tilak of designing team.

Another interesting activity is the development of IDEAL VILLAGE. This project deals with the development of the village as an ideal village. We define an ideal village as a bundle of technical devices which are delivered to its residence effectively and efficiently. “Ideal Village” is that modern energy access acts as a catalyst for development in an environment that in turns support further improvement in energy access. We focus on technology which uses improved resources, for a happy and technical society. We are making an ideal village by taking smart decisions using smart technology. It is completely based on the old tradition of livelihood fused with technology.

Some interesting models ID Verification Using QR Code; Automatic Door Open and Close; Smart Bell; Water Monitoring System; Smart Light and Fan; CC Cameras; Smart BIN; Self Erasing Board System; Face recognition System For Hostel Rooms developed by students are part of the Smart RGUKT will showcase the models. 

The team of ANTAHPRAGNYA in collaboration with SSERD(Society for Space Education, Research and Development) have come up with an intriguing way to reach out to young minds by using a distinct method of learning focused on Space Science. It is aimed at creating awareness about the exciting career in the space but also provides the right platform for identifying such brilliance and to support them to achieve their dreams through hands-on activities. And also facilitate their learning of the most important skills like Innovation, Critical thinking, Leadership and Team Management, Creativity, communication skills through Astro Space Camp. According to the team Vinod, Mallesh, Neeraj, working on this project, students will get exposure on Space Science, get Career Guidance in Aerospace Domain, they can get prepared for Space Revolution and they learn Critical and Analytical thinking.

SCI-FEST, a The National Science Fair will be held for students of Secondary High School and Intermediate Colleges, to refine and showcase their ‘Knowledge of today’s science which becomes Technology of tomorrow’. The participants work around 1. Agricultural Technologies; 2. Water Management; 3. Energy Generating Technologies, 4. Best from waste, 5. Green Energy, 6. Bio-Fertilizers, 7. Road Safety and Fire accidents, 8. Technologies for women protection, 9. Pollution Control Methods, 10. Traffic Management shares P.Akhil and S.Kiranmai.

Q’riocity is another activity aimed at testing the team’s IQ, General Knowledge and Coding at various levels.

Brogrammers is an intradepartmental event. The participants are not only tested on their coding skills but also the flexibility of their bond. Overall Brogrammers is an event of fun and tech stuff put together.

Codoholic is an intradepartmental event. It provides a team to experience what standard coding is all about. Teams battle out for the title of “Best Coders of the Department"

Trinayana the Gala Cultural Nights is aimed at bringing out the artistic, cultural, intellectual and creative skills of students into the limelight. 

Smart City Lab IGLUS Centre of Excellence (ICE) Inaugurated at GIFT City, Gandhinagar

• An initiative by GIFTCL in association with EPFL, Switzerland and Nirma University , the IGLUS-Centre of Excellence (ICE)- A Smart City Lab, will be incubated at GIFT City and operated by department of Planning  of GIFTCL. 


• The Smart City Lab will facilitate sharing of knowledge and global best practices about smart city initiatives around the world

IGLUS Centre of Excellence (ICE) –  A Smart City Lab was inaugurated at GIFT City . The centre, which has been instated by GIFTCL in association with École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) and Nirma University, will act as a platform for exchange of knowledge and global best practices about smart city initiatives around the world. As GIFT City is India’s first operational Smart city, ICE will also act as a common hub for global experts and practitioners in the field of sustainable urban planning.

Shri Tapan Ray, MD & Group CEO GIFT City , Prof. Finger Matthias - Swiss Post Chair at EPFL, Dr. Anup K Singh -Director General Nirma University, signed a MoU to initiate the process for incubating ICE at GIFT City. 

Speaking about the development, Shri Tapan Ray, MD & Group CEO GIFT City, said, “We are delighted to have the IGLUS-Centre of Excellence at GIFT city. Along with EPFL and Nirma University, we will work towards enhancing the sharing of knowledge and best global practices about Smart City. As India’s first operational Smart City, it is imperative to have a common platform setup in GIFT City to further strengthen the implementation of smart and sustainable urban planning in the context of developing nations."

Apart from providing platform for exchange of ideas and best practices on smart cities between parties of ICE, the centre will connect experts from its global network, provide Smart City consultancy services and organize joint events/conferences/ workshops and regional trainings on the smart city topics.

Sharing his thoughts on the centre, Prof. Finger Matthias - Swiss Post Chair at EPFL, said, “IGLUS has long been looking for a competent partner to put smart city concepts into practice, and we have found in GIFT City together with Nirma University. We look forward to learning from the concrete experiences so as to refine our thinking and approaches for the benefit of GIFT City, other smart cities in India and the world". 

Speaking about the initiative Dr. Anup K Singh -Director General Nirma University, said, “This initiative will greatly benefit all the institutes and particularly Nirma university. It will help in carrying out research in the field of sustainable cities and urban design framework for our faculty and students. There will be opportunities for short courses and carry out consultancy all over the world through a multidisciplinary team.”

The centre will focus on topics, such as sustainable built environment, innovative governance, management, finance, social and informal sector, transportation, infrastructure, real estate and town planning. 

GIFT City - Gujarat International Finance Tec City Co Ltd (GIFTCL), a Government of Gujarat promoted company, is developing India’s first operational greenfield smart city in the name of Gift City, in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. GIFT City is catering to the domestic & international financial sector along with residential, institutional facilities and allied activities. First of its kind; State of the Art infrastructure services are operationalized in the city. It is an internationally benchmarked Global Financial Hub to cater to the requirements of service industry with thrust on exports.

Planning, Architecture and Environment Department (PA&E) of GIFTCL is responsible for planning, regulating and assisting in operations of GIFT city area through independent urban development authority (GIFT UDA) assisted by strong team of experts from Urban Planning, Urban Design, GIS application, Environmental Sustainability, Infrastructure Planning, Transportation Planning and Architects.

IGLUS- EPFL - Innovative Governance of Large Urban System (IGLUS), is an action research platform of École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland with an Executive Master’s Program, periodical publications, and massive open online courses (MOOCs). It aims at training city mangers in matter of Urban Infrastructure Governance by way of unique inter disciplinary approach. Its main goal is to increase efficiency, resilient and sustainability of Urban Systems. It is done by way of two-week action learning module in various cities across the world.  IGLUS is an initiative of EPFL, Switzerland which is consistently ranking among the world’s top 20 universities in Engineering and Technologies. 

Institute of Architecture and Planning, Nirma University - The Institute of Architecture and Planning, Nirma University, is an upcoming Institute paving the way for young architects and planners for a professional career. Nirma University is a NAAC graded-A, highest

ranked university in Gujarat and has many disciplines. Besides Architecture and Planning, University offers various other disciplines i.e. all branches of engineering, management, law, pharmacy, science, commerce, and department of design.  Institute of Architecture and Planning, Nirma University has a course curriculum which assures robust foundation to the students who become future professionals in the fields of architecture and planning. To enhance research and enrich its educational programmes, the Institute has several MoU’s with leading national and international institutes/universities. The Institute regularly organises expert lectures, workshops and events related to architecture and planning and allied fields. The Institute has resourceful urban experts. 

Reliance Industries approaches NHAI for Waste Plastic-to-Road Technology

Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance industries has approached National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for offering its 'waste plastic-to-road' technology that uses end-of-life plastic for road construction.

The company has already piloted few projects and has constructed nearly 40 km road by mixing 50 tonne of end-of-life plastic waste with bitumen at it's Nagothane manufacturing site in Raigad district.

"It took us some 14-18 months to develop this mechanism where we can use the end-of-life waste plastic like packaging of snacks and flimsy polyethylene bags, among others, in road construction.

"We are in talks with the NHAI to share our experience and to help the use of end-of-life plastic for road construction," company's COO Petrochemicals Business Vipul Shah told reporters.

Along with NHAI, RIL is also in talks with state governments and local bodies across the country for offering its technology, he said.

Explaining the benefits of the usage of this waste plastic, Shah said, "it not only ensures sustainable utilisation of plastic but is also financially viable".

Our experience showed that 1 km of road uses 1 mt of waste plastic and can save nearly Rs 1 lakh as it can be utilised as a substitute to bitumen to the extent of 8-10 per cent. So, roughly we saved Rs 40 lakh. Besides, this plastic also enhances the quality of roads, he said.

He said the roads made using this plastic were completed in two months and sustained the torrential rains of last year without any erosion.

"NHAI is expected to construct 10,000 km of roads with average four lanes in FY2021, which is around 40,000 km of roads that can use nearly 40,000 mt of waste plastics. Besides, other state authorities and local bodies are expected to construct 23,000 km of around four lane roads.

"This is a good 86,000 mt of waste plastic," RIL Head business development sustainable solutions KRS Narayan said.

He however added that the biggest challenge in this process is collection and segregation of this waste plastic, a process know-how that we can offer.

"We have still not decided about the commercial model for this. Going forward, we may consider developing products that could be used directly in road construction. But this will happen once we see the market for this business," Shah added. PTI PSK

TiE Mumbai Announces its Hall of Fame - Excellence in Entrepreneurship & Enablers of the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

9 awardees chosen after a rigorous selection process
• Ratan N. Tata honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award

The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) Mumbai, is in its second year of initiating a "Hall of Fame" series that is aimed at recognizing outstanding Entrepreneurs, Investors, Investment Bankers, Corporates, Public Sector & Government change agents who have contributed tremendously to the development of the Economy and the Ecosystem in India and Globally. These recognitions are given to high achievers, impactful value creators, marquee individuals and institutions who have brought about positive change through innovation, disrupted the norms and are wealth creators.

The “Hall of Fame” awardees were recognized at the 11th edition of TiECon Mumbai, which was held today 28th January 2020 at NCPA, Nariman Point, Mumbai. The Chief Guest for this year's prestigious "TiE Mumbai's Hall of Fame" was Shri Narayana Murthy, Founder Infosys who is a veteran Industry leader and a strong proponent of the Entrepreneurial landscape in India.

This year, TiE Mumbai had the privilege of honoring Sri Ratan N. Tata with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding contribution that spans across years of focus and dedication.

Atul Nishar, President, TiE Mumbai said, “Sri Ratan Tata's lasting legacy is the highest standards of ethics and integrity that will guide entrepreneurs in their journey for decades to come. The awardees of the Hall of fame have shown exemplary courage, passion and foresight in being disrupters who have created wealth and opportunities for thousands.”

About the Awardees

This year's Hall of Fame 2020 inductees includes the following illustrious Entrepreneurs, Investors and Achievers of the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem -

1. Outstanding Indian Entrepreneur: Ashish Hemrajani - CEO & Co-founder, Bigtree Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.


2. Outstanding Entrepreneur B2B e-Commerce: Amod Malviya, Sujeet Kumar, Vaibhav Gupta - Co-founders, Udaan


3. Outstanding Entrepreneur Deep Tech: Sneh Vaswani - Co-founder & CEO, Miko


4. Outstanding Entrepreneur Fashion & Life Style: Anita Dongre - Founder, House Of Anita Dongre


5. Outstanding Serial Entrepreneur & Angel Investor: Anupam Mittal - Founder & CEO, People Group


6. Outstanding Social Change Agent: Vineet Rai - Founder Chairman, Aavishkaar Group


7. Outstanding Value Creating Institution: NPCI - Dilip Asbe, MD & CEO


8. Outstanding Angel Investor: Sanjay Mehta - Founder & Partner, 100X.VC


9. Outstanding Institutionalized Angel Investors: Venture Catalyst - Dr. Apoorv Sharma, Anuj Golecha, Anil Jain, Gaurav Jain

TiECon Mumbai is the largest Entrepreneurial Leadership Conclave that takes place once a year in Mumbai. TiECon Mumbai 2020 will focus on how start-ups are going to drive the future by changing how we use and consume goods and services, interact with technology and deploy them to solve pressing problems. The innovation driven by start-ups may make many current businesses redundant and create opportunities for new ones. TiECon Mumbai 2020 will spotlight all of this, and more.

The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE), was founded in 1992 in Silicon Valley by a group of successful entrepreneurs, corporate executives, and senior professionals with roots in the Indus region. Since 1992. TiE has been supporting entrepreneurs by offering education, mentorship, networking and funding opportunities. The mission of TiE is to foster entrepreneurship globally through the 5 pillars of TiE: mentoring, networking and education, funding and incubation. Dedicated to the virtuous cycle of wealth creation and giving back to the community. TiE's focus area is to generate enable the next generation of entrepreneurs. There are currently 11,000 members, including over 2,500 charter members in 60 chapters across 17 countries. TiE's mission is to foster entrepreneurship globally through mentoring, networking, and education. Dedicated to the virtuous cycle of wealth creation and giving back to the community, TiE's focus is on generating and nurturing our next generation of entrepreneurs.