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  • Stocks remain top investment choice for next-gen wealthy Indians: Report

    Indian stock market opens flat, Sensex above 73,600

    Stocks remain top investment choice for next-gen wealthy Indians: ReportIANS

    Stocks are the most preferred investment option among India’s next-generation high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs), a new report said on Saturday.

    The report by Knight Frank has revealed that 23 per cent of young wealthy Indians consider stocks their priority investment, followed closely by cash at 22 per cent and property at 21 per cent.

    The trend is similar on a global level, where 22 per cent of next-gen HNWIs have chosen stocks as their primary investment, followed by property and cash.

    Cryptocurrencies and digital assets have found limited preference, with only 5 per cent of Indian HNWIs considering them a key investment choice. Globally, this figure stands slightly higher at 9 per cent. Bonds have gained the interest of 8 per cent of India’s young wealthy individuals, compared to 6.5 per cent worldwide.

    Knight Frank’s report highlights that despite the growing popularity of alternative investments like cryptocurrencies, venture capital, and art, the younger generation still prefers traditional assets.

    Stocks, property, and cash remain the most popular investment options across income groups.

    The report also sheds light on investment choices based on gender. Across the globe, men tend to favour stocks, while women lean towards property and cash investments.

    However, in India, both men and women from the next generation of wealthy individuals prefer stocks over other asset classes. Meanwhile, a recent report by Knight Frank showed that the next generation of wealthy Indians is showing a strong interest in luxury assets, with high-end cars and premium real estate emerging as their top preferences.

    Sensex, Nifty end lower as investors stay cautious

    Stocks remain top investment choice for next-gen wealthy Indians: ReportIANS

    About 46.5 per cent of next-gen HNWIs in India aspire to own a luxury car, making it the most sought-after asset.

    Luxury homes are also a major attraction, with 25.7 per cent expressing a desire to invest in high-end real estate.

    The report highlighted that real estate is the second-most preferred luxury asset among India’s young wealthy individuals.

    Apart from cars and property, art collections are another favoured investment, with 11.9 per cent showing interest in acquiring valuable artwork.

    (With inputs from IANS)

  • Record ₹1,50,000 crore in mobile exports in January FY25

    India’s mobile phone exports surged past ₹25,000 crore in January 2025 and crossed ₹1,50,000 crore in FY 2024-25 compared to the total exports of ₹22,868 crore reported in FY 2020-21, said India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA) on Tuesday.

    Production doubled

    Attributing the performance to the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, ICEA said mobile phone production in India has doubled from ₹2,20,000 crore in FY23-24 to ₹4,22,000 crore. It estimated production to reach an estimated ₹5,10,000 crore in FY24-25, further cementing India’s emergence as a global manufacturing powerhouse.

    Further, ICEA estimated mobile phone exports to exceed approximately ₹1,80,000 crore in FY24-25. This represents an approximate 40 per cent growth over the previous fiscal year, crossing ₹1,29,000 crore and an estimated over 680 per cent growth since the inception of the PLI scheme in FY 2020-21.

    Pankaj Mohindroo, Chairman of ICEA, said, “Moving forward, we will focus on nurturing competitiveness, expanding scale, and strengthening our supply chain. The next phase will involve aggressive integration with the value chain to boost domestic value addition, driving us toward achieving India’s ambitious $500 billion electronics manufacturing target and our vision of becoming the largest exporter of smartphones globally.”

    ICEA stated that smartphones could become India’s top export commodity for the first time this year, with the PLI scheme driving exports, and creating jobs.

  • Didi Krishna Kumari Receives International Peace Award

    PUNE: The Rotary Club of Nigdi, Pune, presented Didi Krishna Kumari, Head of Sadhu Vaswani Mission, with the International Peace Award for her outstanding contributions to promoting peace and harmony. The award ceremony occurred on Tuesday, March 11th, at 7:00 PM at the Elpro Auditorium, Elpro City Square, Chinchwad, Pune.

    Rtn. Suhas Dhamale, President of the Nigdi Rotary Club, welcomed the gathering and highlighted how Didi Krishna Kumari has inspired countless individuals to grow and evolve.

    DGN Rtn. Nitin Dhamale remarked that while Rotary engages in numerous humanitarian efforts, cultivating ambassadors of peace stands at the heart of its mission.

    Peace Director Rtn. Ranu Singhania then introduced Didi Krishna, describing her as someone who exemplifies both a deep Emotional Quotient (EQ) and a profound Spiritual Quotient (SQ). She spoke of Didi’s ability to inspire peace not just through words, but through the compassion she embodies.

    Then, Didi Krishna Kumari was felicitated and presented with the citation.

    In her acceptance speech, Didi humbly stated that her Masters—Sadhu Vaswani and Dada J.P. Vaswani—were the ones more deserving. She described them as ‘true prophets of peace.’

    Didi addressed a common misconception: “Many believe they cannot contribute to world peace as mere individuals. But what causes wars? Jealousy, selfishness. If these begin within us, so too must peace.”

    Peace is a Birthright and a way of life, said Didi Krishna.

    She shared six simple ways to cultivate peace: choose moderation, live in the present, be grateful, learn to forgive, love unconditionally, and begin each day with God, spending the first moments in silence.

    The evening concluded with a guided meditation by Didi, where attendees experienced moments of transcendental stillness.

    A 62-year-old woman, previously uninterested in meditation, said that Didi’s words had brightened her thoughts.

  • Bridging the Gap: How Explainable AI is Transforming Decision-Making

    intelligence and human understanding

    In the modern era, artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming industries, yet its complexity challenges decision transparency. Danish Khan, an AI transparency expert, examines Explainable AI (XAI) as a bridge between machine intelligence and human understanding. His insights highlight XAI’s role in fostering trust, enhancing decision-making, and ensuring ethical AI deployment across diverse sectors.

    The Rise of Explainable AI
    As AI becomes increasingly sophisticated, the need for transparency in algorithmic decision-making is more crucial than ever. Traditional machine learning models, particularly deep learning networks, often function as “black boxes,” providing little insight into their internal logic. XAI addresses this issue by making AI-driven outcomes more interpretable, enabling users to understand, trust, and effectively utilize AI insights.

    Key Approaches to AI Explainability
    The field of XAI has introduced key methodologies to enhance transparency. SHAP (SHapley Additive Explanations) assigns importance values to features, providing deep insights into AI predictions. LIME (Local Interpretable Model-Agnostic Explanations) simplifies complex models with local approximations, making predictions more interpretable. These techniques have greatly improved AI applications across various industries, fostering trust and usability.

    Enhancing Trust and Compliance in AI Systems
    A major advantage of XAI is its role in increasing user trust. Studies indicate that users are more likely to rely on AI-driven decisions when they understand the underlying logic. In regulatory environments, such as finance and healthcare, explainability is not just a convenience but a necessity. XAI frameworks help organizations comply with legal and ethical guidelines by ensuring that AI decisions are fair, unbiased, and transparent.

    Applications in Healthcare
    The healthcare industry has seen significant improvements through XAI. AI-assisted diagnostic tools, when equipped with explainability features, have shown a marked increase in accuracy and efficiency. Studies reveal that diagnostic accuracy improves by up to 28% when healthcare professionals can interpret AI-generated results. Moreover, patient trust in AI-assisted diagnoses rises when they receive clear explanations, leading to better treatment adherence.

    AI in Financial Decision-Making
    The financial sector has also benefited from XAI, particularly in risk assessment and fraud detection. Explainable AI models enable financial analysts to identify the reasoning behind credit scoring and loan approval processes. This increased transparency has resulted in fewer disputes and enhanced customer satisfaction. Moreover, XAI-powered fraud detection systems have significantly reduced false alarms while maintaining high detection accuracy.

    Impact on Manufacturing and Automation
    In manufacturing, XAI is optimizing processes by improving quality control and predictive maintenance. Factories utilizing explainable AI systems have reported a 44% reduction in defect rates and a notable improvement in production efficiency. Predictive maintenance models, when backed by transparent decision-making, allow engineers to proactively address potential failures, thereby reducing downtime and maintenance costs.

    Overcoming Ethical and Regulatory Challenges
    Ethical concerns in AI-driven decisions are rising, as biases can lead to unfair outcomes in hiring, lending, and law enforcement. XAI helps identify and reduce biases by enhancing transparency in decision-making. Organizations adopting structured XAI frameworks have significantly lowered bias-related incidents and improved compliance with ethical standards, ensuring fairer and more accountable AI systems.

    Future Directions in XAI
    As AI continues to evolve, so will the methodologies for enhancing explainability. Researchers are exploring hybrid approaches that combine multiple explanation techniques for greater accuracy and comprehensibility. Advances in natural language processing are also being integrated into XAI, enabling AI systems to provide detailed yet understandable justifications for their decisions.

    In conclusion, Explainable AI is essential for building trust, ensuring compliance, and promoting ethical decision-making in AI systems. Danish Khan emphasizes the need for transparency in AI, demonstrating how XAI is transforming intelligent automation. By bridging the gap between complex algorithms and human understanding, XAI is driving more responsible and effective AI implementations for the future.

  • RBI wins global Digital Transformation Award 2025 for rolling out digital initiatives ‘Pravaah’, ‘Sarthi’ systems

    Reserve Bank of India (RBI)

    RBI wins global Digital Transformation Award 2025IANS

    The Reserve Bank of India has won the Digital Transformation Award 2025, instituted by Central Banking, London.

    The RBI has been selected for the award for rolling out digital initiatives, including Pravaah and Sarthi systems, that have reduced the use of paper-based submissions to transform its internal and external processes.

    Central Banking, in a press statement said that the two initiatives have been key to this work.

    Sarthi, the Hindi word for ‘charioteer,’ digitised all the RBI’s internal workflows. It went live in January 2023, helping employees to store and share documents securely, improving record management and increasing the options for data analysis through reports and dashboards.

    A second stage of the digital transformation process launched in May 2024 as Pravaah, which means ‘smooth flow’ in Hindi, created a digitised means for external users to submit regulatory applications to the RBI.

    Documents submitted and processed through the Pravaah portal are then plugged into the Sarthi database, where they can be handled digitally across the RBI’s offices, with centralised cyber security systems and digital tracking.

    It also said that the successful adoption of Sarthi is partly due to the team’s work in putting in place the necessary support structures.

    INDIA-ECONOMY-RATE

    RBI wins global Digital Transformation Award 2025PUNIT PARANJPE/AFP/Getty Images

    The IT team engaged in a lengthy collaborative process with staff to understand their needs before building the system, and appointed senior ‘nodal officers’ from each department to champion the upgrade.

    The online Sarthi Pathshala (‘school’) helps users become familiar with the system, and the Pathshala was rolled out alongside extensive in-person training. Additionally, Sarthi mitras (‘friends’) are people in each RBI office who know the system well and can help colleagues with any issues.

    The RBI announced that it has been selected for the award in a post on X.

    “RBI was awarded and recognised for its initiatives, including Pravaah and Sarthi systems, that have been developed by in-house developer team. The awards committee noted how these digital initiatives have reduced use of paper-based submissions thus transforming RBI’s internal and external processes,” the RBI said.

    (With inputs from IANS)

  • G. S. McKinney’s New Book Times Reckoning

    G. S. McKinney’s New Book Times Reckoning

    New York, NY, March 14, 2025 — Fulton Books author G. S. McKinney, a loving husband and father who began a career of commercial truck driving following his time in the US Navy, has completed his most recent book “Times Reckoning”: a compelling novel that enters around one man’s journey to save his reputation, his company, and ultimately, the world.

    “Follow the story of Gregory McAllister, successful business owner and devoted family man,” writes McKinney. “When his company is infiltrated, creating the catalyst for a global catastrophe, he joins forces with governmental agencies. Together, their worldwide journey encounters twists and turns as facts and information take the lead. Gregory is on the verge of professional ruin and experiences personal tragedy while his employees, friends, and even family begin turning away from him. By proving his own innocence, he is able to restore his reputation, save his company, and help prevent a global catastrophe.”

  • Airtel Customer Day – NRI News

    PUNE: In celebration of its annual “Customer Day,” Airtel ROM mobilized its workforce of over 7,100 employees on Wednesday to spend the day in the field, collecting firsthand feedback from customers, retailers, and various stakeholders. This tradition sees all Airtel staff leave their offices each year on this date to interact directly with customers nationwide, highlighting the company’s dedication to service excellence and ensuring customer satisfaction.

  • Revision in expiry dates of Zinc & Copper Options contracts expiring on 24 March 2025

    Due to a trading holiday on 31 March 2025 (Eid-Ul-Fitr), the expiry dates for Zinc and Copper Options contracts have been revised.

    Zinc Options expiry date revised to Fri, 21 Mar ’25 from Mon, 24 Mar ’25.
    Copper Options expiry date revised to Fri, 21 Mar ’25 from Mon, 24 Mar ’25.

    Note: The Market Watch Screen will continue to show 24 Mar ’25 as the expiry date, but trading will end on 21 Mar ’25.

    To learn more, refer to the MCX circular.

    Please refer to the table to check the revised expiry dates for Futures & Options contracts:

  • How the future of work will rely on innovation

    Over the years, myriad technological and cultural innovations have changed how we work. With AI, automation and hybrid work arrangements now the norm, the future of work is here today. As such, many businesses and organizations are seeking solutions that keep them on the cutting edge. That’s because success in any industry often depends on innovation at all levels, from branding and marketing to operations and management.

    From digital and interactive displays to content management software, these tools accelerate innovation by expanding user capabilities, inspiring new approaches and enhancing existing ones.

    Innovation in the hybrid office

    As more organizations ask employees to return to the office, they may still be at home one or two days a week. According to talent solutions and business consulting firm Robert Half, employees like remote work, with nearly half of 2025 job-seekers looking for a hybrid role and more than a quarter saying they’d like to be fully remote.

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    Business leaders are responding to this desire for flexibility by looking for innovative technology solutions that support a hybrid environment. Most hybrid work strategies aim to keep employees connected, ensure effective collaboration and maintain existing organizational culture — all of which are proven competitive advantages.

    In short, today’s office must:

    • Be vividly versatile with technologies that enable personalized productivity, so employees can work seamlessly in the office, at home or wherever their work takes them.
    • Defy expectations of modern work with intentionally designed office spaces that ensure employees’ health and safety while minimizing distractions and enhancing productivity and communication.
    • Upscale collaboration with intuitive, immersive experiences and technology investments that bridge the gap between in-person and virtual participants, so meetings run smoothly, ideas and insights are shared freely, and participation is frictionless.

    More than 60% of executives surveyed by the World Economic Forum said that broadening digital access is most likely to help transform their organizations. That makes digital displays, such as Samsung Interactive Display WAF and QPD Series, invaluable tools of progress and innovation, creating critical connection points that power new ways to pursue and achieve goals. As digital transformations accelerate this year and beyond, these displays will be more important than ever.

    A new digital outlook

    Samsung smart displays offer a clear vision of the future of hybrid work. WAF Series — which comes in 65-inch, 75-inch and 86-inch models — offers users a familiar and intuitive user experience, thanks to its Android operating system.

    More important are the new opportunities for engagement, education and collaboration. With the WAF, users can share multiple screens and host up to 40 touchpoints simultaneously, encouraging brainstorming, collaboration and discussion. An Annotation On feature lets users take notes anywhere on the screen with the click of a button. Samsung WAF also comes with AI tools, such as Circle to Search with Google, allowing for quick searches of words and images. Users can also transcribe recorded presentations or training sessions and generate summaries for easy access and review later.

    For the ultimate viewing experience, look to the QPD Series, which breaks new ground in design and usability. This starts with its ultra-wide, 105-inch screen that creates an immersive meeting environment and supports frictionless participation, be it in person, online or hybrid. This is enhanced further by 5K resolution and a smart calibration feature that brings logos and visuals to life with precise, vibrant colors. The nonglare panels also ensure whatever is on the screen can be seen from every angle at any time of day.

    Adding to the collaborative powers of QPD is Smart View, which enables up to 10 attendees to share their screens wirelessly — and comfortably, thanks to the 21:9 aspect ratio of the vast digital canvas. Further refinement comes with the unit’s built-in professional modes for specialized industries, including filmmaking and medicine.

    Making the most of displays requires a robust content management system, such as Samsung VXT. This cloud-based digital signage solution makes it easy to create, update, broadcast and manage content that appears on the screens. Plus, you can do this from any location and device, allowing users to get ahead and update displays with company announcements, performance dashboards or employee recognition slides when they are not being used in meetings. With VXT PIRS App, you can utilize additional solutions tailored to your specific needs, such as Seenspire, which offers 200+ license-cleared content feeds, PIRS Art, which offers access to a wide range of art content, or Link My POS, which is a POS-integrated menu board. You can also use VXT on the WAF to display emergency notifications in a corporate setting. This way, employees can receive consistent, relevant information when and where it’s needed most.

    Driving innovation

    Success often hinges on leading the conversation rather than following it. This necessitates innovative thinking and technology to turn ideas into reality and answer, “What is the future of work?” That’s where Samsung steps in, offering the screens, monitors, displays and management systems necessary to improve the hybrid work environment and put your organization back in the vanguard.

    Discover how interactive displays foster collaboration and success in the workplace. And learn about creating high-impact visuals indoor and out with this guide to direct view LED technology.

  • Consistent unveils advanced 4G linkage cameras for next-gen surveillance – CRN

    Consistent unveils advanced 4G linkage cameras for next-gen surveillance – CRN

    Consistent Infosystems has launched its latest security solutions—the 4G Solar Linkage Mini Pan-Tilt Camera (CT-CM-6 MLPT) and the 4G Linkage Mini Pan-Tilt, ATC Camera (CT-CM-4 MLPT). These advanced cameras offer high-resolution imaging, AI-driven monitoring, and seamless mobile connectivity for enhanced surveillance.

    Designed for both residential and commercial applications, the cameras integrate AI-powered motion detection, two-way audio, and mobile app monitoring. The CT-CM-6 MLPT model features dual 3MP cameras, a built-in solar panel, and battery for uninterrupted outdoor operation, while the CT-CM-4 MLPT offers dual 2MP cameras with an expanded field of view. Both models support up to 256GB SD card storage, are IP66-rated for durability, and include a 10X digital zoom for detailed imaging.

    Yogesh Agrawal, CEO & Co-Founder of Consistent Infosystems, highlighted the company’s commitment to innovation, stating, “Our new 4G Linkage Cameras provide cutting-edge security, seamless connectivity, and real-time monitoring to ensure peace of mind.”

    Available through Consistent Infosystems’ distribution network and online marketplaces, the CT-CM-6 MLPT is priced at ₹10,999, while the CT-CM-4 MLPT is available for ₹7,999. With these latest offerings, Consistent Infosystems continues to redefine modern security solutions.