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5G data consumption 4 times faster than 4G in India: Report

File photo.Reuters

5G users in India are using approximately 3.6 times as much mobile data traffic compared to 4G since its launch in October 2022, a report showed on Wednesday. The average monthly data traffic per user also surged by 24 per cent year-on-year in 2023, reaching 24.1 gigabytes per user per month.

The 5G device ecosystem in India is rapidly evolving, with approximately 17 per cent of active 4G devices, totalling 134 million out of 796 million, now being 5G capable.

“5G data consumption has been four times faster than 4G in India”, according to the ‘Nokia Mobile Broadband Index’ report. In 2023, users consumed 17.4 exabytes per month with a CAGR of 26 per cent over the past five years.

The launch of 5G has emerged as a significant catalyst for the growth in data usage, contributing to 15 per cent of all data traffic in 2023, the findings showed.

PLI Scheme To Help India Create A Complete Mobile Supply Chain In Next 3 Years: SamsungIANS

“What is immediately obvious is the incredible proliferation of 5G technology across India and the increasing demand for super-fast 5G data speeds,” said Tarun Chhabra, Head of Mobile Networks Business at Nokia (India).

5G traffic has shown substantial growth across all telecom circles, with metro circles leading the charge and reaching a 20 per cent share in the overall mobile data traffic.

Enhanced 5G availability and performance, coupled with the availability of a wide range of affordable devices, as well as the introduction of new data-intensive apps and services, will accelerate future 5G growth, the report showed.

The rise of 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) will also serve as a key enabler for new services in both the home and business with FWA users expected to consume an estimated 2.5 times more data than average 5G users, the report noted.

(With inputs from IANS)

March 20, 2024
Tiger Triumph- 24: India, USA to participate in bilateral tri-service training exercise

India, USA to participate in bilateral tri-service training exercise. Photo Courtesy: PIB

India and the USA will participate in a bilateral tri-service Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Exercise named Tiger Triumph – 24, from March 18 to 31, officers stated on Monday.

The exercise is scheduled on the Eastern Seaboard.

“Indian Navy Ships with integral helicopters and touchdown crafts embarked, Indian Navy plane, Indian Army personnel and automobiles and Indian Air Force plane and helicopters together with the Rapid Action Medical Team (RAMT) could be collaborating in the exercise,” learn an official assertion.

The US could be represented by US Navy Ships with embarked troops of the US Marine Corps and US Army.

What is the intention of the exercise?

The exercise is aimed toward growing interoperability for conducting HADR operations and refine Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to allow fast and clean coordination between forces of each nations, the Indian authorities stated in a press release.

The Harbour Phase is scheduled from 18 to 25 Mar, 2024. Personnel from each navies would participate in Training Visits, Subject Matter Expert Exchanges, Sports Events and Social interactions.

On completion of the Harbour Phase, the ships, with the troops embarked, would sail for the Sea Phase and undertake Maritime, Amphibious and HADR operations in accordance with injected conditions.

March 18, 2024
Miss World 2024 in India: Czech Republic’s Krystyna Pyszkova wins title

Czech Republic’s Krystyna Pyszkova wins Miss World. Photo Courtesy: Youtube video seize

Krystyna Pyszkova from the Czech Republic was topped Miss World 2024 in an extravagant ceremony in Mumbai on Saturday (March 9, 2024).

India served because the host nation after a spot of 28 years.

Yasmina Zaytoun from Lebanon secured the place of first runner-up.

The reigning Miss World, Karolina Bielawska from Poland, topped her successor on the glamorous finale.

India was represented in the pageant by 22-year-old Sini Shetty.

Mumbai-born Shetty, who was topped Femina Miss India World in 2022, didn’t handle to safe a spot in the highest 4 of the competitors.

India has claimed the distinguished title six occasions via winners resembling Reita Faria (1966), Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (1994), Diana Hayden (1997), Yukta Mookhey (1999), Priyanka Chopra Jonas (2000), and Manushi Chillar (2017).

The 71st Miss World pageant, that includes contestants from 112 international locations across the globe, passed off on the Jio World Convention Centre in BKC.

Among the 12-judge panel for the finale had been movie producer Sajid Nadiadwala, actors Kriti Sanon and Pooja Hegde, cricketer Harbhajan Singh, information character Rajat Sharma, social employee Amruta Fadnavis, Vineet Jain (MD of Bennett, Coleman & Co. Limited), Julia Morley (Chairperson and CEO of the Miss World Organization), Jamil Saidi (Strategic Partner & Host – Miss World India), and three former Miss Worlds, together with Chillar.

Filmmaker Karan Johar and former Miss World Megan Young co-hosted the occasion, which started with full of life performances by singers Shaan, Neha Kakkar, and Tony Kakkar.

A video message from Chopra Jonas highlighting the importance of ‘magnificence with goal’, a tagline related to the Miss World pageant, was additionally screened throughout the occasion.

The ensemble forged of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s debut internet sequence “Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar” — together with Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Sharmin Segal, and Sanjeeda Sheikh — graced the stage alongside 13 fast-track Miss World contestants, showcasing the present’s newly launched track “Sakal Ban”.

Miss World occasion includes a month-long various array of rigorous competitions unfolded, encompassing expertise showcases, sports activities challenges, and charitable initiatives. These actions had been meticulously designed to showcase the attributes that outline these contestants as brokers of constructive change.

March 10, 2024
Streaming is Seeing Phenomenal Growth in India; a Large Part of That Growth is Coming from Outside Metros – Sushant Sreeram, Country Director, Prime Video India
Excerpts from a panel dialogue at FICCI FRAMES 2024 with Sushant Sreeram, Country Director, Prime Video India

Streaming is Seeing Phenomenal Growth in India; a Large Part of That Growth is Coming from Outside Metros – Sushant Sreeram, Country Director, Prime Video India

We wish to handle clients throughout the spectrum of accessibility, affordability, language and leisure wants; clients will all the time recognize nice worth, nice choice, and comfort

Our content material investments are guided by the truth that we wish to serve clients with nice cinematic high quality storytelling

MUMBAI, India — March 6, 2024 — In a extremely partaking panel curated on the opening day of FICCI FRAMES 2024 titled ‘Reinvent: Navigating the Future of the Media and Entertainment Industry’,Sushant Sreeram, Country Director, Prime Video India delved into the dynamic panorama of the streaming business in India, exploring progress tendencies whereas highlighting Prime Video’s enterprise and content material commissioning technique.

Prime Video FICCI Frames

Moderated by Ashish Pherwani, Partner, Ernst and Young, the panel started with a keynote from Sanjay Jaju, Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. In addition to Sushant Sreeram, the panel noticed the participation of business leaders from a number of M&E sectors, together with Gaurav Dwivedi, Chief Executive Officer, Prasar Bharti, Kevin Vaz, Chair, FICCI Media and Entertainment Committee, and Chief Executive Officer – Broadcast Entertainment, Viacom 18; Sandhya Devanathan, Co-Chair FICCI Media and Entertainment Committee, and Vice President and Head, Meta India; Arjun Nohwar, Co-Chair, FICCI Media and Entertainment Committee, and General Manager – India & South Asia, Warner Bros. Discovery and Shripad Ashtekar, Chairman & Managing Director, Signpost India.

Responding to a query on key tendencies throughout SVOD, TVOD and AVOD enterprise fashions, Sushant mentioned, “Streaming is seeing phenomenal progress in India. It has, in reality, develop into a dominant use-case for web in the nation, and a massive half of that progress is coming from exterior the metros. We have about as many individuals streaming content material in India, as these watching linear TV. This is a very important inflection level for the video streaming business in India.”

He went on to share, “Another key level to notice is that there is nobody single buyer for streaming, our clients sit throughout the spectrum of accessibility, affordability, and the languages in which they like to devour leisure. Therefore, our technique for constructing options for India has all the time been to deal with “AND” options, moderately than making selections between “this” or “that”. That is precisely why Prime Video’s leisure hub – the place all of the totally different VODs come into play, continues to do extremely effectively. In reality, India is one of the frontrunners on new buyer adoption for Prime Video globally. Also, our Channels proposition, the place customers get entry to content material from standard streaming providers with add-on subscriptions, has grown effectively, with greater than 20 companions on the service. Further, our Movie Rentals service the place customers – each Prime members and people who aren’t but Prime Members, can hire motion pictures ala carte, is seeing nice client uptake throughout the nation. Mini TV, Amazon’s free ad-supported service, additionally posted regular nice progress in 2023. When we take into consideration how one can serve India, we prioritize what is essential for purchasers – nice worth, nice choice, and comfort. It is true for what we do at Amazon total and the identical holds true for Prime Video as effectively.”

Responding to a query on the fee of content material, Sushant spoke concerning the reality Amazon and Prime Video is invested for the long run in India. Elaborating on the identical, he mentioned, “It is essential to position this in context – our funding thesis is constructed on growing this class over a pretty lengthy interval of time. That’s the time horizon that we function with for all our investments at Amazon, and the identical holds true for Prime Video. The second is that we wish to create a class of nice cinematic storytelling and we all know that customers worth that. We realized that creating an ecosystem throughout the board, not simply the service, however creators and the technical ecosystem is an funding that is effectively made.”

He went on so as to add, “the opposite factor about our funding thesis is that we have a look at it via the lens of how we carry in clients to take pleasure in this multi-benefit proposition for Prime, which is a distinctive proposition for purchasers and Prime Video is a half of that. That modifications how clients consider what is worth for cash, and that provides us the impetus to proceed to make investments. And lastly, we wish to make all the good tales that we will, however we understand that we will’t make all of them. We’re subsequently all the time excited concerning the collaborations that we will forge, with creators, Channel companions and studios to construct out a true video leisure market. The proven fact that Prime Video has near 100 initiatives proper now in varied phases of manufacturing and growth is a clear indication that there is urge for food for nice tales in the nation!”

To wrap up the extremely partaking session, every participant was requested their Mantra for 2024, to which Sushant replied, “For us it’s nonetheless Day 1!” Day 1 is each a tradition and an working mannequin that places the shopper on the middle of every little thing Amazon does. Day 1 is about being consistently curious, nimble, and experimental.

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ABOUT PRIME VIDEO

Prime Video is a premium streaming service that provides Prime members a assortment of award-winning Amazon Originals, 1000’s of motion pictures and TV reveals—all with the benefit of discovering what they love to observe in one place.

Prime Video is only one of the various advantages of a Prime membership, out there for simply ₹1499/ 12 months. Amazon Prime is designed to make your life higher each single day because it supplies one of the best of procuring, financial savings, and leisure in one single membership. In India, members get Free Same-day/1-day supply on eligible gadgets, entry to unique offers, early entry to procuring occasions, unique entry to our international procuring occasion Prime Day; and limitless entry to award-winning motion pictures & TV reveals with Prime Video, limitless entry to greater than 100 million songs, ad-free and tens of millions of podcast episodes with Amazon Music, a free rotating choice of greater than 3,000 books, magazines and comics with Prime Reading, entry to month-to-month free-in sport and advantages with Prime Gaming. Prime members can even earn limitless 5% cashback on all purchases on Amazon.in utilizing the Amazon Pay ICICI Bank bank card i.e., Co-Branded Credit Card (CBCC) as in comparison with 3% for purchasers with out Prime membership. Go to www.amazon.in/prime to be taught extra about Prime.
- Included with Prime Video: Thousands of acclaimed TV reveals and films throughout languages and geographies, together with Indian movies comparable to Shershaah, Soorarai Pottru, Sardar Udham, Bawaal, Gehraiyaan, Jai Bhim, Jalsa, Shakuntala Devi, Sherni, Narappa, Sarpatta Parambarai, Kuruthi, Joji, Malik, Pippa and #HOME, together with Indian-produced Amazon Original collection like Farzi, The Family Man, Mirzapur, Dhootha, Jubilee, Dahaad, Made in Heaven, Panchayat, Jee Karda, Adhura, Four More Shots Please!, Mumbai Diaries, Suzhal – The Vortex, Sweet Kaaram Coffee, Modern Love, Paatal Lok, Bandish Bandits, Cinema Marte Dum Tak, AP Dhillon: First of a Kind, Rainbow Rishta, Wedding.con, Mission Start Ab and Amazon Original motion pictures like Maja Ma, Ammu, Mast Mein Rehne Ka, amongst others. Also included are standard international Originals like Citadel, The Lord of The Rings: The Rings of Power, Reacher, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, The Boys, Hunters, Fleabag, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Wheel of Time and lots of extra, out there for limitless streaming as half of a Prime membership. Prime Video contains content material throughout Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Punjabi, and Bengali.
- Prime Video Mobile Edition: Consumers can even take pleasure in Prime Video’s unique content material library with Prime Video Mobile Edition at ₹599 per 12 months. This single-user, mobile-only annual video plan provides everybody entry to high-quality leisure solely on their cell units. Users can sign-up for this plan by way of the Prime Video app (on Android) or web site.
- Instant Access: Prime Members can watch wherever, anytime on the Prime Video app for sensible TVs, cell units, Fire TV, Fire TV stick, Fire tablets, Apple TV, and a number of gaming units. Prime Video is additionally out there to customers via Airtel and Vodafone pre-paid and post-paid subscription plans. In the Prime Video app, Prime members can obtain episodes on their cell units and tablets and watch wherever offline at no further price.
- Enhanced experiences: Make essentially the most of each viewing with 4K Ultra HD- and High Dynamic Range (HDR)-compatible content material. Go behind the scenes of your favorite motion pictures and TV reveals with unique X-Ray entry, powered by IMDb. Save it for later with choose cell downloads for offline viewing.
- Video Entertainment Marketplace: In addition to a Prime Video subscription, clients can even buy add-on subscriptions to different streaming providers, in addition to, get rental entry to motion pictures on Prime Video.
  - Prime Video Channels: Prime Video Channels provides friction-free and handy entry to a wide selection of premium content material from a number of video streaming providers all out there at a single vacation spot – Prime Video web site and apps. Prime Members should purchase add-on subscriptions and revel in a hassle-free leisure expertise, simplified discovery, frictionless funds, and extra.
  - Rent: Consumers can take pleasure in much more motion pictures from new releases to traditional favourites, out there to hire – no Prime membership required. View titles out there by visiting primevideo.com/store. The rental vacation spot will be accessed by way of the STORE tab on primevideo.com and the Prime Video app on Android sensible telephones, smart-TVs, linked STBs, and Fire TV stick.
March 8, 2024
Investing in India: Understanding 54EC Bonds
Investors are continuously searching for out alternatives that may present safety and the potential for progress. When it involves fixed-income funding, bonds have for a very long time been the popular alternative of many. But, inside the Indian funding market there’s one explicit sort of bond that’s worthy of focus which is these of the 54EC bonds.

What are 54EC Bonds?

54EC bonds, additionally referred to additionally as Capital Gains Bonds, are an unique class of bonds that are supplied by National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and Rural Electrification Corporation (REC). They had been designed to supply people a possibility to chop down on taxes and in addition make investments in a protected funding.

Understanding the Purpose

The principal objective behind 54EC bonds is that they provide buyers a possibility to save lots of on taxes for individuals who have made long-term capital beneficial properties by means of the promoting of sure belongings, corresponding to shares or actual property. Instead of getting to pay taxes on capital beneficial properties, consumers are in a position to make investments the income into these bonds to defer tax obligation.

Key Features and Benefits
1. Tax Exemption The most notable profit for 54EC bonds is their tax-free standing they grant on capital beneficial properties which might be long-term. Through investing in the bonds prior to 6 months after the sale of an asset, buyers are in a position to delay the capital beneficial properties tax burden for a interval of as much as three years.
2. Fixed returns The bonds normally have fastened charges, which offer buyers with a gentle revenue stream in the course of the length of the bond.
3. Government-backed Securities issued from NHAI together with REC, 54EC bonds carry implicitly the assist by authorities of Indian authorities, which provides one other layer of safety portfolios of buyers.
4. Liquidity The funding is locked-in to a few years 54EC bonds will be listed on inventory exchanges, supplying buyers with liquidity in the occasion that they must withdraw previous to expiration.
5. Tax-Free Another profit is that there isn’t tax deducted on the supply (TDS) for the earnings that’s earned from these bonds.
Who Should Consider Investing?

54EC bonds are particularly interesting for individuals who not too long ago skilled capital beneficial properties on long-term foundation and are searching for methods to scale back their tax burden. In addition, these on the lookout for fixed-income alternate options with a decrease danger would possibly like these bonds.

Conclusion

In a rustic corresponding to India in which tax planning is a vital aspect of monetary administration, 54EC bonds function an efficient instrument for buyers. They provide tax benefits, in addition to assured returns and safety they’re an interesting funding choice. But, as with every funding, you could look at your targets in phrases of monetary and your danger tolerance previous to committing cash.

It is all the time advisable to talk with a monetary skilled to search out out if 54EC bonds are in line together with your total technique for investing and monetary targets. If you are taking your time and make cautious planning, these bonds may very well be an important a part of bettering your funding portfolio and fulfilling your long-term monetary targets.
Neel Achary
February 27, 2024
Global Indian International School, Noida Celebrates ‘Incredible India’

Delhi NCR: GIIS Noida just lately celebrated its annual day with nice pomp and present. The theme for this yr’s celebration was Incredible India, showcasing the wealthy variety and vibrant tradition of the nation. Students from pre-primary to eighth grade participated in varied performances and cultural actions, mesmerizing the viewers with their expertise and enthusiasm.

The occasion was a visible deal with for all of the attendees, as the scholars fantastically depicted the completely different sides of India by way of dance, music, and drama. From conventional people dances to trendy interpretations of Indian artwork kinds, the performances actually captured the essence of the nation.

The esteemed chief company on the occasion have been Ms. Nalini Asthana and Ms. Kamlini Asthana, each Padma Sri Awardees from the Benaras Gharana of Kathak dance. Joining them was Dr. Priyadarshan Lakhawat, the Director of Academics NCHMCT beneath the Ministry of Tourism, and Colonel Abhishek Misra, an officer within the Indian Army commissioned from OTA, Chennai, Ms.Rajni Sekhri Sibal, Secretary Fisheries Govt. of India, Dr. Anshu Raina, MBBS, MD, HOD- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Together, these esteemed company introduced a novel mix of expertise, expertise, and honor to the occasion, making it a very memorable and distinguished affair.

The principal of GIIS Noida, Mr. Ganesh Sharma, expressed his pleasure and satisfaction in seeing the scholars showcase their expertise and creativity on stage, he added “The Annual Day celebration was a testomony to the unimaginable expertise, exhausting work, and dedication of our college students. I’m immensely pleased with each considered one of them for showcasing the various and vibrant tradition of our unimaginable India.”

The total two-day celebration was divided into 4 lovely themes, every depicting the wealthy cultural heritage and variety of unimaginable India. The first theme, “Abhinn Bharat Harmony in Diversity,” showcased the unity and concord among the many various communities of India. The second theme, “Taj Mahal ka Tender,” highlighted the beautiful magnificence and grandeur of the enduring Taj Mahal. The third theme, “Bharat Darshan: Aladdin’s magical carpet trip,” took the viewers on a whimsical journey by way of the enchanting landscapes and landmarks of India. Finally, the fourth theme, “India – The Shades of Time,” explored the historic evolution and cultural transformation of India over the centuries.

Through these themes, the celebration actually captured the essence and spirit of unimaginable India. Overall, the annual day celebration at GIIS Noida was a convincing success, leaving everybody in awe of the sweetness and variety of ‘Incredible India’.

February 19, 2024
Honor brings X smartphone series to India, launches smartwatch, earbuds

Honor X series debuts with X9b smartphone launch in India; new watch, earbuds launched tooIBT

Global technology company Honor on Thursday announced the launch of its X Series line-up with the introduction of Honor X9b smartphone in India. The company also launched a smartwatch and earbuds.

The 6.78-inch Honor X9b 5G will be available for Rs 25,999 from February 16, with some exciting offers which brings down the effective price down to Rs 22,999, the company said in a statement.

Additionally, the company said it is giving a complimentary charger worth Rs 699 free of cost as an introductory offer.

“HTech takes great pride in delivering the highest-quality smartphone experiences to customers. The Honor X9b is designed from the ground up to solve user pain points and meet the high expectations of customers,” said Madhav Sheth, CEO of HTech.

The company also announced Honor Choice Watch for Rs 6,499 with an introductory discount of Rs 500, starting February 24, along with a Choice Earbuds X5 for Rs 1,999 (starting February 16).

The company said that all the three products will be available across Amazon.in, brand website www.explorehonor.com and retail stores.

Honor X series debuts with X9b smartphone launch in India; new watch, earbuds launched tooIBT

The Honor X9b smartphone has industry-first, ultra-bounce 360-degree anti-drop display and houses a 5800mAh battery.

“With Amazon Pay Later, early buyers enjoy hassle-free credit within minutes, enabling 12 months of no-cost installments without the need for a credit card. We are excited to offer the HONOR X9b on India’s most preferred and trusted online marketplace, starting at Rs 2,167 per month,” said Ranjit Babu, Director, Wireless and Home Entertainment, Amazon India.

The phone runs the latest Android 13-based MagicOS 7.2 Advanced Operating system. It comes in 2 colours – Sunrise Orange and Midnight Black.

HONOR X9b is powered by the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 Mobile Platform, and comes with Qualcomm Kryo CPU and Qualcomm Adreno GPU, which are up to 40 per cent and 35 per cent faster than their predecessors, respectively, and delivers greater AI processing performance.

With 16GB total storage, including 8GB RAM Turbo and an eXtra 8GB, the HONOR X9b guarantees smooth performance and extensive storage for an enhanced user experience.

The smartphone features a triple camera system — a 108MP Lossless Capture Camera, a 5MP Ultra-Wide Camera, and a 2MP Macro Camera.

February 15, 2024
First ‘designed in India’ AI-enabled education tablet launched; here’s what it offers

1st ‘designed in India’ AI-enabled education tablet launchedIANS

Not-for-profit EPIC Foundation on Tuesday launched the first designed in India, Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled, indigenously manufactured education tablet.

Designed by VVDN Technologies in collaboration with MediaTek India and CoRover.ai, the tablets come embedded with unique features of repairability and upgradability to address the pressing concerns of the digital divide and the accumulation of electronic refuse in India.

“It is a matter of great pride that we are launching an India-designed, India-inspired education tablet which will be of great use to a vast majority of students. It will inspire the youth to take up the mantra of design and making things in India, for India and for the world,” said S Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, at the launch of the tablet.

“Aligned with our overarching goal of elevating Indian electronics to real Atmanirbharta, we want to build products in such a way that the components are easily replaceable and upgradable,” added Dr. Ajai Chowdhry, Chairman EPIC Foundation.

The new product will address two critical aspects of education and social empowerment: drive demand for ‘Indian, repairable, sustainable’ electronics products and brands in high impact/high-volume categories; and remove financial and logistical obstacles that prevent schools from obtaining repairable, high impact devices and increase life of the product.

“Repair expenses surpassing the cost of purchasing a new device, the production of substandard goods and obsolescence strategies are not only pressing concerns of today but also exacerbate the escalating problem of electronic waste. Our repairable product will enable many jobs all over India for repair engineers,” Chowdhry noted.

Artificial intelligenceIANS

Aimed at playing an active enabler of digital learning, the education tablet is first of its kind to come integrated with the BharatGPT virtual assistant and will highlight AI/ML based inter-lingual translation for Indian languages (Voice-2-Voice, Text-2-Text etc) to support language diversity of India and inclusion of differently abled fellow citizens.

“In the electronics sector, while we have large targets of increasing the overall exports from the country, which is undoubtedly important — when exports go up, the imports also go up simply because the value addition which happens in the country is still limited, and a significant portion is imported, assembled and then re-exported or used for domestic consumption,” Krishnan said.

He noted that “increasing value addition in the electronics sector is key and thereby the need for increasing the share of electronic component production in India.”

“These are MeitY’s next goals, riding on the success of the large-scale electronics PLI which is the most successful PLI programme that the Government of India has run in recent times” Krishnan said.

(With inputs from IANS)

February 13, 2024
India Energy Week 2024 reflects “India with the world and India for the world” sentiment, says PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi talking at the India Energy Week 2024 on its inaugural day. Photo courtesy: PIB

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the India Energy Week (IEW) 2024 in Goa in the present day, and in his opening speech, outlined the nationwide financial trajectory, aligned with the worldwide purpose of sustainable development.

Driving residence the impression that IEW 2024 would make, PM Modi stated, “The India Energy Week occasion is not only India’s occasion however a mirrored image of ‘India with the world and India for the world’ sentiment.”

This was, in a method, a reference to the “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (The world is one household)” imaginative and prescient that Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, and additionally Housing and Urban Affairs, had alluded to earlier than the begin of IEW 2024.

Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri talking at the India Energy Week 2024. Photo courtesy: PIB

Expanding scope of the vitality sector in India’s development story

In his tackle on the inaugural day of the occasion, which runs from February 6 to 9, Modi famous that India Energy Week 2024 was happening at a big time interval, when India’s GDP development fee crossed 7.5 per cent in the first six months of the monetary 12 months, larger than the international development estimate.

“Economic consultants round the world consider that India will quickly develop into the third largest economic system in the world,” stated the prime minister, and emphasised upon the increasing scope of the vitality sector in India’s development story.

International delegates at the India Energy Week 2024. Photo courtesy: PIB

In his speech, Modi touched upon a few of the salient options of the Indian vitality sector and its large potential:
- India is the world’s third largest vitality, oil and LPG shopper.
- It is the fourth largest LNG importer and refiner.
- The nation is the world’s fourth largest car market.
- There is a rising demand for electrical autos in the nation.
- The nation’s vitality demand is predicted to double by 2045.
- Out of the INR 11 billion (USD 132 million) pledged for infrastructure in the current Budget, a considerable half will go to the vitality sector.
- Production of home gasoline is rising on account of the authorities’s reforms and funding of about USD 67 billion is deliberate in the subsequent 5-6 years.
Also in his speech, the prime minister spoke of the efforts to make gas inexpensive. He stated that regardless of opposed international elements, India was amongst the few nations the place petrol costs had come down and 100 per cent electrical energy protection was achieved by electrifying tens of hundreds of thousands of homes.

“India is not only assembly its wants however can be figuring out the international course”, added PM Modi.

Transition to sustainable and renewable gas

Since the transition to sustainable and renewable gas is the want of the hour throughout the world, there’s a sturdy concentrate on this facet at IEW 2024.

Modi drew upon India’s historical traditions, the place the sustainable round economic system was represented in the idea of reuse. He famous that the similar was relevant to the vitality sector.

He stated that this perception was symbolised by the Global BioFuel Alliance, which introduced collectively governments, organisations, and industries from throughout the world on a single platform.

Initiated throughout the G20 Summit held in India final 12 months, the Alliance has acquired widespread help — the prime minister stated that 22 nations and 12 worldwide organisations had come on board to encourage the use of biofuels in the world, whereas additionally creating financial alternatives price USD 500 billion.

Ethanol mixing is one in all the key options of India’s transfer in the direction of sustainable vitality. “The authorities has set a goal of 20 per cent ethanol mixing in petrol by 2025,” he informed the viewers.

Recalling the initiation of 20 per cent ethanol mixing in additional than 80 shops throughout India Energy Week final 12 months, Modi knowledgeable that the variety of retailers had now elevated to 9,000.

PM Modi takes a walkthrough, with Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, at the India Energy Week 2024. Photo courtesy: PIB

Developing rural India by means of Waste-to-Wealth Management mannequin

Outlining the authorities’s dedication to remodeling rural economies by means of the Waste-to-Wealth Management mannequin, the prime minister introduced, “We are working in the direction of the set up of 5,000 Compressed Biogas Plants in India.”

Addressing international environmental issues, PM Modi remarked, “Despite being residence to 17 per cent of the world’s inhabitants, India’s carbon emission share is barely 4 per cent.”

He added, “We are dedicated to additional bettering our vitality combine by specializing in the growth of environmentally delicate vitality sources.” The prime minister reiterated India’s purpose to attain Net Zero Emissions by 2070.

His speech additionally coated the launch of a significant mission aimed toward putting in Solar Rooftop Panels in 10 million properties throughout India, and the progress made in the inexperienced hydrogen sector by means of the National Green Hydrogen Mission.

Walkthrough at IEW 2024 and roundtable with CEOs and consultants

On the inaugural day of IEW 2024, the prime minister additionally held a roundtable with international oil and gasoline CEOs and different consultants.

He went for a walkthrough at the occasion venue, accompanied by minister Puri and a number of officers. Modi was briefed on varied vitality options being displayed at totally different components of the venue.

Great reward for Goa, the host state of IEW 2024

Modi had begun his speech in the present day with a welcome word for everybody current and with reward for “the energetic state of Goa”. Goa, he stated, was identified for its spirit of hospitality, pure magnificence, and tradition.

“Goa is touching new heights of growth,” stated the prime minister, underlining that it was the excellent vacation spot for a dialogue on a sustainable future and sensitivity in the direction of the surroundings.
February 6, 2024
Four artists create immersive digital projects with Apple devices at ‘India Art Fair 2024’

Four artists create immersive digital projects with Apple devices at ‘India Art Fair 2024’Apple

Four multidisciplinary artists have created immersive digital projects with iPad Pro and MacBook Pro, and conducted ‘Today at Apple’ sessions at the ‘India Art Fair 2024.’

Artists Ameya Shinde, Aaron “Myles” Pereira, Sadhna Prasad, and Dhruv Jani will showcase artworks created on iPad Pro and MacBook Pro at the event from February 1-4.

The theme for this year is “Forces of Nature,” and Pereira and Shinde’s response is titled ‘Ornithoscope’.

Built entirely on MacBook Pro and iPad Pro, the immersive audiovisual experience lets the audience explore changes in India’s avian biodiversity over the last 15 years, Apple said in a statement.

Pereira is a product engineer at Animal Factory, while Shinde works as a designer at Studio BigFat one floor above. They are both digital artists in residence at the India Art Fair 2024, along with Jani and Prasad.

“I love sketching at exhibitions, studios — even the zoo!” said Shinde, who considers Apple Pencil and iPad Pro to be essential travelling companions. “My favourite part of the day is the morning commute on the local train. That’s when I’m most inspired to draw.”

Mumbai is both the muse and the canvas. “Growing up, I always loved hearing birdsong. But with the decline in the bird population, you hear it less and less,” said Pereira.

2022 iPad ProApple

Shinde added: “We want to draw attention to the fact that our natural world is getting quieter all the time.”

Their installation is deceptively simple to look at — an iPad Pro and projection screen surrounded by six speakers. Once the viewer chooses a state or union territory to explore, the speakers produce surround sound of corresponding bird sounds from that region.

The entire software for the installation is built in Max MSP, a programming language that enables him to enhance the sound and generate visuals based on the audience’s interactions, according to Apple.

Writer and artist Jani’s video game installation takes them miles below Earth’s crust.

Titled ‘It Takes A Long Time To Grow A Mountain,’ the game sends players on a subterranean quest to discover the seed that spawned the Western Ghats mountain range. Players must descend through a substratum embedded with poetry, fables, and musings on language and landscape, designed and programmed on MacBook Pro with M3 Max.

“The project takes its name from a local myth about a man who seeks water for the parched land,” explained Jani. “His search awakens the gods sleeping deep below the earth. As they hunch awake, the Western Ghats spring up into existence, and the man is cursed to become a tiny seed for his transgressions.”

Jani is the founder of Studio Oleomingus, the award-winning game and arts practice studio that he runs with creative coder Sushant Chakraborty.

Prasad aims to anchor audiences firmly in the present. “My project is called ‘I’ll Be Back,” said says Prasad, a muralist and illustrator. “I want my audience to visit the world I create, and then come back and make a difference.”

Prasad is using Procreate and Procreate Dreams on iPad Pro to create a large-scale mural. It shows two worlds: One is the result of unsustainable living, and the other is the outcome if humanity reforms its ways. The artist is working with the Artivive app to turn the mural into an interactive augmented reality (AR) experience for the audience.

“Procreate on iPad Pro with Apple Pencil changed my life. The smoothness and the functionality make it perfect for an artist,” said Prasad.

‘Today at Apple’ is a unique global programme offering free sessions that assist customers in unleashing their creativity and making the most of their devices.

Hosted at Apple Store locations all over the world, including Apple BKC and Apple Saket, the educational and inspirational sessions range from basics and how-to lessons, to using professional-grade programmes.

February 1, 2024