Italian Police released 33 Indian labourers from slave-like working conditions in Verona. Photo Courtesy: Unsplash
The Italian police have arrested two alleged gangmasters accused of enslaving 33 Indian farm labourers in Verona province, media reports said.
The two suspects, who are also Indian nationals, are under investigation for crimes including enslavement and labour exploitation, reported ANSA news agency.
Finance police also seized assets worth 475,000 euros from the suspects, who own two agricultural sector companies with no employees on the books and are allegedly total tax evaders, the Italian news agency reported.
Police have reportedly released 33 Indian labourers from slave-like working conditions in Verona.
Labour exploitation came to light in Italy following the recent death of 31-year-old Satnam Singh.
Singh, an Indian labourer, bled to death after being abandoned by his employer when his arm was severed by a wrapping machine.
New Delhi, Delhi, India The Convergence Foundation, in collaboration with India Impact Sherpas, released their seminal report titled, ‘Systemic Impact Exemplars: Unique Approaches Towards Solving India’s Development Challenges.’ This report aims to identify and learn from organizations that have achieved significant impact by adopting the systems change approach.
These organizations-System Support Organisations (SSOs)-work in close collaboration with governments at the Centre as well as State levels, to create impact at a large scale. In addition to working with the governments and aiming for impact at the population scale, systems change involves solving the problem at the root cause; no quick fixes or band-aid solutions.
The Central and State Governments in India already spend a lot on social and economic development. In 2022-23, the cumulative social expenditure by the Central and State Governments amounted to Rs. 21.03 lakh crore, according to the Reserve Bank of India. However, despite substantial investments by the Indian government, there is still potential for accelerating progress towards achieving India’s development goals. More SSOs need to work with governments to provide technical and programmatic support for population-level impact. With this report, The Convergence Foundation and India Impact Sherpas aim to offer an actionable framework on how SSOs can work with governments to create outsized impact.
The report profiles 20 of India’s leading SSOs, shedding light on their innovative strategies and impactful initiatives. By showcasing real-world examples, the report seeks to inspire and inform other nonprofits, providing valuable insights into what works in the Indian context.
At the launch event, Vini Mahajan, Secretary, of the Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, commended the work and contributions of the 20 organizations profiled in the report. “Nonprofit organizations that have adopted the system change approach by implementing scalable pilots and working meaningfully with governments can contribute to large-scale change,” she said.
Ashish Dhawan, Founder and CEO of The Convergence Foundation, emphasized the importance of systems change in addressing the country’s complex challenges. He said, “The systems change approach is a pivotal idea that has the highest potential for transformation. We conceptualized this report to identify and learn from leading Indian organizations that have adopted systems change to inspire and inform other social purpose organizations by building evidence on what works in the Indian context.”
Highlighting the criticality of adequate financial resources to take on the country’s sticky challenges, Hari Menon, Director, India Country Office, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, said that “Systems change, anchored by government and supported by partners, holds the potential to deliver long-term transformation, enhancing the efficiency of development programs and creating lasting impacts on people’s lives. Achieving such change, however, takes time and will require philanthropists and other funders to provide committed support for organizations partnering with the government on systems change over an extended period of time.”
The report comprehensively examines various systems change practices, including
Creating demand and alignment for change
Grounding the Theory of Change in data, evidence, and research
Informing the design and implementation of policy
Designing and demonstrating scalable solutions
Investing in population-scale platforms
Strengthening institutional capacity in government
Building partner networks for scale
Creating viable markets for the underprivileged.
Each of these practices is explored in depth, providing valuable insights for organizations seeking to drive systemic impact and create meaningful change in India’s development landscape. The report serves as a comprehensive knowledge resource, intended to shape thinking on systems change. It outlines frameworks for how social purpose organizations can adopt it, and offers models on how SSOs can create disproportionate impact.
Indian Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat participates in Skydiving. Photo Courtesy: Indian Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat X page
Indian Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat celebrated World Skydiving Day by participating in the thrilling sport himself on Saturday.
The Minister described his experience of performing the high-octane act as ‘ Truly exhilarating!’.
A video has now gone viral on social media where Shekhawat could be seen getting trained in the plane from his instructor before jumping from it.
The Minister wrote on X: “On the occasion of World Skydiving Day, had the pleasure of flagging off the new skydiving aircraft and taking a tandem skydive this morning at Skyhigh—India’s only civilian skydiving drop zone at Narnaul Airstrip, Haryana.”
“For new and adventurous Bharat, the skies too are no limit,” he said.
The first annual World Skydiving Day was celebrated on July 13, 2024.
It will repeat each year on the second Saturday in July.
The event is an initiative taken by four major skydiving associations – The US Parachute Association (USPA), the Australian Parachute Federation, British Skydiving and the Canadian Sport Parachuting Association.
Saturday, July 13,Delhi, India : MIRAI JMAC (MIRAI), a leading advisory and growth consulting firm, proudly announces a strategic partnership with Prathamus Ventures, a distinguished vertically integrated fund management company, to lead real estate investments in India. This collaboration establishes an Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) platform in India, focusing on Category 2 AIF to attract funds from Family Offices, HNIs, Super HNIs, and notably, NRI investors, contributing to India’s burgeoning real estate sector.
MIRAI also recently announced the creation of MIRAI Capital Global (MCG) with an initial corpus of US $1.5 billion, followed by MCG’s appointment of distinguished industry leaders to its investment team and advisory board. MIRAI continues to add family office capital to its LP list from Japan Sea and Middle East. US tech leaders, Funds and European family businesses are also working with MIRAI to help scale their current business in UAE creating a fulcrum for the consumption story in India SEA and MENA region.
As of the fiscal year 2021-22, the real estate sector alone contributed approximately 7.3% to the Indian GDP and is poised for significant growth in the coming decade. This partnership underscores MIRAI’s shared commitment to the real estate and infrastructure industry providing strategic partnership, growth management, human resource and investment avenues and fostering sustainable growth in the Indian real estate market.
This collaboration marks a significant stride in scaling up MIRAI’s real estate investments in India while providing essential support to partner firms looking to expand their ventures into the growing India-UAE corridor. MIRAI takes deep interest in governance and qualitative value for NRIs who are investing both personally and bringing their businesses overseas. Prathamus will closely work with MIRAI for developing new leaders in India, SEA and Middle East markets for benefits of NRI investment. The Real Estate Investment Platform is tailored for mid to large real estate developers in India poised for growth, aiming to elevate them into global brands through joint ventures with The Private Office of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Faisal Al Qassimi (RFO) in the UAE. Emphasizing growth capital, the platform fosters investment and marketing partnerships between targeted real estate developers and RFO, with a sharp focus on the India-UAE growth corridor. Additionally, the partnership will enhance the NRI sales volume of Indian developments, aligning with the Indian government’s initiatives to leverage NRI contributions for the nation’s growth trajectory.
RFO, with its rich legacy and strategic partnerships facilitated by MIRAI, is poised to explore the potential of introducing branded residences in key metropolitan areas such as Delhi NCR, Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), Pune, and Bangalore. This initiative represents a significant step for RFO into the real estate sector, in line with its vision to provide innovative, high-quality living spaces that meet the demands of modern urban lifestyles. By integrating branded residences into these vibrant urban landscapes, RFO aims to set new benchmarks for luxury living while promoting sustainable development practices and fostering dynamic communities. This strategic move reflects RFO’s unwavering commitment to excellence and its ambition to shape the future of real estate in India’s most sought-after cities.
Amb. Dunston Pereira, CEO of The Private Office of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Faisal Al Qassimi, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, shared his thoughts and stated, “The strategic partnership between MIRAI, Prathamus Ventures, and RFO marks an exciting development for the real estate investment landscape. This collaboration reaffirms our commitment to fostering sustainable growth and providing strategic investment opportunities, particularly within the India-UAE corridor. We are confident that this partnership will unlock new avenues for growth and development, contributing significantly to both the Indian and UAE economies.”
Pranav Jyoti, Managing Partner of MIRAI JMAC and CIO of The Private Office of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Faisal Al Qassimi, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “As we welcome Prathamus Ventures and Mr Ashok Kinha into our fold, we’re embarking on an exciting journey to fortify our position in the real estate and infrastructure investment arena. With the expertise of Prathamus Ventures’ specialized platform backed by a deeply networked team and strong real estate expertise, we are primed to explore untapped opportunities and diversify our investment portfolios. This collaboration speaks volumes about our dedication to innovation and delivering maximum returns for our stakeholders. Brace yourselves for the transformative prospects that lie ahead as we forge ahead with this dynamic alliance. In addition to the collaboration, the UAE JV setup would forge new avenues for our partners before, during, and post-deployment of the growth capital.”
Managing Directors Ashok Kinha and Prashant of Prathamus Ventures Pvt. Ltd. also shared their excitement about the partnership, stating, “We are thrilled to partner with MIRAI JMAC to launch the AIF platform in India and offer investments through existing funds and follow-on AIFs. This initiative represents our shared vision to unlock the potential of the Indian market and deliver exceptional value to investors.”
Vinoth Beemjee, Senior Partner of MIRAI JMAC and MIRAI Capital Global, underscored the game-changing potential of this collaboration, stating, “As custodians of our narrative, I am thrilled to steer the ship alongside this pivotal partnership. With Prathamus Ventures as our steadfast ally, we envision a horizon brimming with growth and innovation. Together, we’ll explore new frontiers in real estate investment, propelling our collective journey toward unparalleled success. This collaboration signals just the dawn of an exciting chapter, and I eagerly anticipate the transformative impact we’ll forge together. Our focus on identifying the hidden gems among India’s real estate developers and investing in them through our partnership with RFO is precisely what the market demands. Moreover, it will further integrate the vast NRI population of the UAE and GCC into investing in real estate projects in India.”
The partnership between MIRAI JMAC and Prathamus Ventures represents a significant step towards enhancing investment opportunities and driving sustainable growth in the Indian real estate sector. This dynamic alliance sets the stage for innovative approaches and strategic investments that will reshape the landscape of real estate investments in India.
INDIA: On World Youth Skills Day 2024, we celebrate the innovators driving youth empowerment in India. Through pioneering initiatives in education, financial inclusion, and skill development, organizations like mPokket, Hero Vired, SMSGHM, and BMU are equipping the next generation with the tools they need to succeed in an ever-evolving world.
BMU’s Impactful Experiential Learning on World Youth Skill Day
Founded by the Hero Group, BML Munjal University (BMU) stands as a beacon of innovation and skill development in higher education. On World Youth Skill Day, BMU reaffirms its commitment to nurturing future leaders through pioneering educational initiatives. Emphasizing hands-on learning and entrepreneurial spirit, BMU equips students with practical skills essential for global competitiveness. Initiatives like ACIC-BMU empower rural women entrepreneurs, while Sankalp engages MBA students in transformative community projects nationwide. With a focus on experiential learning and holistic development, BMU continues to redefine education by fostering a dynamic environment where knowledge meets real-world application, preparing youth to excel in a rapidly evolving world.
Hero Vired – Equipping Young Learners with cutting-edge skills
Hero Vired is passionate about empowering young learners and equipping them with cutting-edge skills to be globally relevant in the fields of emerging technologies. To cope with the fast-paced industry, they focus on industry partnerships to form strong alliances with leading organizations across the Gaming, Esports, and other innovative sectors. This ensures that their programs are aligned with real-world industry requirements and provide learners with up-to-date, relevant skills. Additionally, they have incorporated the latest technological advancements into their programs. They enhance their learning modules with AI and customize learning paths for each student. This personalized approach ensures that learners become proficient with cutting-edge tools and techniques. Their program offerings emphasize skill-based learning, focusing on developing technical and soft skills.’
Sri Madhusudan Sai Global Humanitarian Mission
Sri Madhusudan Sai Global Humanitarian Mission (SMSGHM) exemplifies a pioneering approach to education, embodying the motto ‘One World One Family.’ Spearheaded by visionary humanitarian Sri Madhusudan Sai, the mission has established a completely free system of values-based education to nurture dedicated servants of society. This initiative includes the Sri Sathya Sai Loka Seva Gurukulam Group of Institutions, the Sri Sathya Sai University for Human Excellence, and the Sri Madhusudan Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, India’s first free residential private rural medical college. Through 28 educational campuses in India and one in Nigeria, SMSGHM provides free education from grade 6 to doctorate studies, emphasizing the holistic development of over 3,600 boys and girls.
Leading digital lender mPokket pioneers youth empowerment
mPokket stands out as one of India’s fastest-growing digital lending platforms, dedicated to uplifting the youth through financial empowerment and skill development. Founded by Gaurav Jalan in 2026 with a vision to bridge the credit gap among young adults, mPokket offers accessible loans via its mobile app, supporting everyday needs from educational expenses to personal finances. Beyond lending, the platform is also focusing on career advancement products reflecting mPokket’s commitment to fostering financial inclusion among India’s burgeoning youth population. Additionally, through impactful CSR initiatives, such as partnerships with Swapnopuron Welfare Society and Adhigam Bhoomi, mPokket extends its commitment to providing quality education and holistic development opportunities to underserved and underprivileged children.
Search and rescue operations after the Nepal landslide. Photo courtesy: X/@NepaliArmyHQ
At least 65 people, including seven Indian nationals, are believed to be missing after two buses were swept away by a landslide in Nepal and pushed into a swollen river today, according to media reports.
The two buses carrying 65 passengers went missing in the Trishuli River in the landslides at Simaltal area along the Narayanghat-Mugling road in Chitwan district, reported myRepublica news portal, quoting officials.
Chief District Officer of Chitwan, Indradev Yadav, confirmed the incident. According to Yadav, the Kathmandu-bound Angel Deluxe bus and the Gaur-bound Ganpati Deluxe bus, coming from Kathmandu, met with the accident around 3.30am today — 24 people were onboard the bus travelling to Kathmandu; and 41 on the bus travelling to Gaur, police said.
Three of the passengers on the Ganpati Deluxe bus managed to escape after jumping out of the vehicle, The Kathmandu Post reported.
The buses were swept away in the Trishuli River. A few passengers managed to jump out. Photo courtesy: X/@NepaliArmyHQ
Details have been received of 21 passengers travelling from Birgunj to Kathmandu on the Angel Deluxe bus. According to the latest information, police have said that there were seven Indian nationals among the passengers on this bus, myRepublica reported.
Yadav said that the rescue workers had started clearing the landslide debris.
Expressing grief over the disappearance of the bus in the Trishuli River, Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ issued directives for immediate search and rescue operations.
आषाढ २८ गते चितवन जिल्ला, भरतपुर-२९ नारायणगढ-मुग्लिन सडक खण्डको सिमलतालमा यात्रु बाहक बसहरू पहिरोमा परेको खबर प्राप्त हुनसाथ चितवनस्थित नेपाली सेनाका गोताखोर सहित फौज खटिई अन्य सुरक्षा निकाय लगायत स्थानीयको सहयोगमा उद्धार कार्य जारी राखेको छ ।#NepaliArmy#NAinSearchNRescueOpspic.twitter.com/85jXUcsksm
“I am deeply saddened by the loss of nearly five dozen passengers and the loss of property due to floods and landslides in different parts of the country when a bus was washed away by a landslide on the Narayangadh-Muglin road section. I direct all agencies of the government, including the home administration, to search and effectively rescue the passengers,” Prachanda posted on X.
Nepal Police and Armed Police Force personnel were heading towards the incident sites for rescue operations, said Superintendent of Police Bhawesh Rimal.
Debris from landslides at various places obstructed traffic on the Narayanghat-Mugling road section.
In a separate incident, at least 11 people died in landslides and floods triggered by incessant rain in the Kaski district yesterday.
More than 1,800 people have lost their lives in a decade due to monsoon disasters. During this period, about 400 people went missing and more than 1,500 people were injured in these disasters.
Captain Anshuman Singh’s wife Smriti Singh and mother Manju Singh recently received the posthumous Kirti Chakra from Indian President Droupadi Murmu. Photo Courtesy: PIB
Parents of Captain Anshuman Singh, who died in a fire incident in Siachen in July 2023, have asked the government to consider changes in the Indian Army’s ‘next of kin’ (NOK) policy. As per the policy, financial assistance is provided to the family members in case of an Army personnel’s death.
According to reports, after a cadet or officer joins the Indian Army, his parents or guardians’ names are then recorded in the NOK but after the cadet or officer gets married, under Army rules, the name of the person’s spouse is recorded as the person’s next of kin instead of the parents.
Singh received the posthumous Kirti Chakra, the country’s second-highest peacetime gallantry award.
Indian Army Captain Anshuman Singh died last year in a fire tragedy in Siachen Photo Courtesy: TANISHK SENGAR X page
Singh’s parents Ravi Pratap Singh and Manju Singh said their daughter-in-law has left their home and received most of the entitlements following the death of their son.
Ravi Pratap Singh said the only thing he has is the photo of their son.
“The criteria of the NOK is not correct. It should be changed. I have spoken to Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh over the issue,” he told TV9 Bharatvarsh.
“In our case, our daughter-in-law does not stay with us anymore. The marriage lasted for five months and they did not have a child. We only have a photo of our son which is hanging on the wall. We have nothing else,” he said.
The deceased soldier’s wife Smriti Singh and mother Manju Singh recently received the posthumous Kirti Chakra from President Droupadi Murmu.
Ravi Pratap Singh said Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has said he will raise the issue with Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
“I don’t want parents to suffer like us in future,” Manju Singh told the news channel.
Captain Anshuman Singh was posted with the 26 Punjab as a medical officer in the Siachen Glacier area.
There is a 19 per cent decline in Indian Americans supporting incumbent President Joe Biden between the last election of 2020 and the 2024 election cycle, according to a bi-annual Asian American Voter Survey (AAVS), the longest-running survey of Asian-American voters, released yesterday.
Conducted by Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote); AAPI Data; Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC); and AARP, the survey reveals that 46 per cent of Indian Americans intend to vote for Biden this year, as against 65 per cent in 2020.
The drop of 19 per cent is the largest among all the Asian-American ethnic communities. According to the survey — it was conducted before the June 27 presidential debate between Biden and his Republican challenger Donald Trump — 46 per cent Asian Americans are likely to vote for Biden, down 8 percentage points since 2020, while 31 per cent are likely to vote for Trump, gaining 1 point since 2020.
However, Trump has gained just 2 per cent in favourability rating (28 per cent in 2020 to 30 per cent in 2024), despite the 19 per cent drop in Biden’s support from Indian Americans.
Donald Trump at a July event in New Jersey. Photo courtesy: Instagram/realdonaldtrump
Asian Americans have been a rapidly-growing group of eligible voters in the United States over the past two decades, growing by 15 per cent in the past four years alone, and turning out in record numbers in every federal election since 2016.
In 2020, a surge in the number of Asian-American voters, especially those voting for the very first time, in battleground states was crucial to Biden’s victory.
The sharp decline in Indian-American voters’ support for Biden might be crucial, given that the community has a sizeable presence in many battleground states.
According to the survey, Biden has 55 per cent favourability rating among Indian Americans, while Trump has a favourability rating of 35 per cent. Interestingly, both Biden and Trump have the same 42 per cent unfavourability rating among Indian Americans.
I said I would be the most pro-union president in American history.
Well, guess what? I am—because I believe that when labor does well, everybody does better. pic.twitter.com/QvCD5s5mFX
Kamala Harris, who is the first Indian American and the first woman to be elected as the vice-president, has a favourability rating of 54 per cent and an unfavourability rating of 38 per cent.
Former South Carolina governor and US ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, has a favourability rating of just 33 per cent and an unfavourability rating of 46 per cent. Interestingly, 11 per cent said they had not heard of Haley.
“Asian Americans are rapidly diversifying the American electorate and it is critical for us to update our understanding of what motivates them and informs their voting choices,” said Karthick Ramakrishnan, Executive Director of AAPI Data.
“We see ongoing evidence of dynamism within the Asian-American electorate, including on matters pertaining to presidential vote choice and party preferences on key issues ranging from inflation to healthcare and immigration,” Ramakrishnan said in a statement.
Two companies’ bank accounts used by the Singapore scammers received more than USD 583,000 and USD 480,000 from victims in the United States. Representative photo courtesy: Pixabay/Maklay62
Two Indian-origin Singaporean men were sentenced to jail for scamming victims in the United States through at least 50 companies. Two of these Singapore-registered companies received USD 1.063 million (SGD 1.43 million) of scam victims’ money into their bank accounts, and the money was then routed to bank accounts in China and the United Arab Emirates.
Ishan Sharma, 34, was sentenced to four weeks’ jail. He pleaded guilty to two charges under the Companies Act after instigating his friend Kandhiban Letchumanansamy, 36, into not exercising reasonable diligence when the latter was a director at both firms, The Straits Times reported.
Kandhiban was sentenced to a week’s jail. He pleaded guilty to one charge under the same Act after he failed to exercise any supervision over the companies’ affairs.
Court documents did not state how the offences came to light, according to the newsreport.
Stressing that Sharma was the “directing mind” behind these arrangements, Deputy Public Prosecutor Matthew Choo told the court that the offender earned SGD 12,000 in total for his offences linked to the two companies, which received more than USD 1 million from scam victims.
At the time of the offences between 2019 and 2020, Sharma was a chartered accountant.
In 2017, he found out that Kandhiban was unemployed and offered the older man a job at a firm called Karmic Circle, with a monthly salary of SGD 500. As part of the arrangement, Kandhiban had to be listed as a director of incorporated companies. He agreed to the deal.
DPP Choo said, “Kandhiban knew that he was meant to be a ‘silent director’ and would have nothing to do with the operations or activities of the companies.”
Due to his arrangement with Sharma on being a ‘silent director’, Kandhiban became the listed director of more than 50 companies between 2019 and 2020.
Sometime before June 2019, a man known as Aashish Nanda introduced Sharma to Indian national Rahul Batra, the court heard.
Nanda also told Sharma that Batra wanted to incorporate a company in Singapore.
Sharma then corresponded with Batra twice over the phone, before he proceeded with the incorporation of Quartz Resources.
“Ishan (Sharma) and Kandhiban only met Rahul (Batra) in person in June 2019 after the incorporation of Quartz Resources, where Rahul paid (Sharma) SGD 6,000 in cash for the services rendered and for the opening of Quartz Resources’ corporate accounts,” said the prosecutor.
Kandhiban then signed an agreement with Batra to be a nominee director of Quartz Resources. The agreement included a clause stating that Kandhiban should not be involved in the firm’s management and operations.
Quartz Resources was incorporated on June 7, 2019, and Sharma’s home was listed as its registered office address. Kandhiban and Batra were listed as its directors, while Sharma was listed as its secretary.
Later that month, three corporate bank accounts were opened under Quartz Resources’ name, with Batra as their sole signatory.
The DPP said that Kandhiban did not have access to the bank statements, did not request the statements, and did not review the transactions performed through the accounts.
Two of Quartz Resources’ bank accounts later received more than USD 583,000 from five scam victims.
Sharma and Kandhiban went on to commit similar offences linked to Kiora Worldwide, which was incorporated on November 3, 2019.
For this case, the court heard that some time before November 2019, Aashish Nanda introduced Sharma to another Indian national, identified as Suchit Wadhawan.
Sharma met Wadhawan in person only in November 2019, after the incorporation of Kiora Worldwide. The Indian national paid him SGD 6,000 in cash for items, including services rendered.
Kandhiban and Wadhawan were listed as the directors of Kiora Worldwide, while Sharma was listed as its secretary.
Two of Kiora Worldwide’s bank accounts later received nearly USD 480,000 from three scam victims.
The money received in the bank accounts belonging to Kiora Worldwide and Quartz Resources were remitted to accounts belonging to other companies in countries including China and the UAE. The scam proceeds were not recovered.
About 73 per cent of Indian organisations plan to harness generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) within the next 12 months to enhance security measures and align IT objectives with broader business goals, a new reportsaid on Monday.
However, only 8 per cent of organisations showed high confidence in effectively implementing GenAI technologies, according to the exposure management company Tenable.
“Despite the rise of AI, many Indian businesses are still developing their technology maturity and often lack the resources or skills needed to properly create, train, and implement AI, as well as maintain high standards of data governance,” said Nigel Ng, Senior VP, Tenable APJ.
The report surveyed 826 IT and cybersecurity professionals, including 52 Indian respondents conducted in October 2023.
Moreover, the report identified two major challenges hindering Indian organisations from utilising or optimising AI technologies — a lack of technological maturity (71 per cent) and uncertainty about the applicability of AI within their operations (54 per cent).
An aspect of concern highlighted by the report was the perception of GenAI as a greater security threat than an opportunity among 40 per cent of Indian organisations.
AI TECH GROWING FASTINTERNET
Internal misuse of GenAI emerged as a major concern, with 67 per cent expressing worry about potential misuse within their organisations. Additionally, 60 per cent said that providing sensitive data to open-source GenAI puts them at risk of intellectual property theft.
Despite facing significant challenges in adopting AI technologies, cybersecurity and IT leaders in India were optimistic about the potential benefits of GenAI.
Around 31 per cent believe GenAI can enhance preventive threat response, 42 per cent think it can automate security measures, and 40 per cent feel it can improve actionability, according to the report.
“The future holds great promise in leveraging GenAI’s evolutionary capabilities for preventive cybersecurity measures. This shift moves the needle on merging IT and security objectives and places importance on prioritising AI governance and using the technology responsibly,” Ng said.
