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<keyword id="20190045" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Industry-body" source="keywords">Industry body</keyword> <keyword id="21568150" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="SME-Chamber-of-India" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="SME Chamber of India" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="SME Chamber of India">SME Chamber of India</keyword> has urged <keyword id="19956758" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Finance-Minister" source="keywords">Finance Minister</keyword> <keyword id="19916618" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nirmala-Sitharaman" source="keywords">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> to continue the 45-day <keyword id="21233021" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="MSME-payment-rule" source="keywords">MSME payment rule</keyword> for <keyword id="20008810" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="corporates" source="keywords">corporates</keyword> and other buyers. According to Section 43B(h) of the <keyword id="19936187" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Income-Tax-Act" source="keywords">Income Tax Act</keyword>, introduced through the <keyword id="19955404" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="finance" source="keywords">Finance</keyword> Act 2023, if a larger company does not pay an MSME on time -- within 45 days in case of written agreements -- it cannot deduct that expense from its taxable income, leading to potentially higher taxes. The government in last year's Budget added a new clause under Section 43B of the Income Tax Act to address the challenge of delayed payments faced by MSMEs in the country. "We are pursuing not to change the 45-day MSME payment rules imposed by the Department under the pressure of corporates or multinational companies to save the life span of the MSME sector. Section 43B(h) of the Income Tax Act reinforces the importance of timely payments by mandating that companies settle payments to MSME vendors within 45 days to qualify for deductions," SME Chamber said in a statement addressed to Sitharaman. The industry body argued that this provision serves as a powerful incentive for companies to adhere to payment timelines, thereby supporting the financial health of MSMEs. "Many MSMEs are NPA victims of corporates, who are buying from them and not dealing through the TReDs platform. Most of the corporates and multinational companies are forcefully insisting to deregister from the Udyam Portal and insisting not to deal through the TReDs platform," SME Chamber stated. The industry body also urged the finance minister to consider providing Rs 5 crore loans under the "Differential Rate of Interest" scheme for micro and <keyword id="20569966" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="small-enterprises" source="keywords">small enterprises</keyword>. It suggested changing the NPA definition from 90 days to 180 days for the MSME sector. The chamber also sought the setting up of a task force to review various issues, hurdles, grievances and difficulties faced by MSMEs for availing credit facilities and the lack of approach by the financial institutions towards enhancement of credit flow to the MSME sector.

Continue 45-day MSME payment rule: Industry body to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

<ul><li>The Indian government recently issued new guidelines for <keyword id="50285" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="vpn-service" source="Orion">VPN service</keyword> providers in the country.</li><li>The government is expected to release a new FAQ document to answer some of the questions raised in the country.</li><li>The government is expected to exempt corporate VPNs from the new guidelines.</li></ul>The Indian government recently released guidelines for companies offering virtual private network (<keyword id="201519" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="vpn" source="Orion">VPN</keyword>) services in the country, directing them to record and store the details of their users. The <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/what-is-the-impact-of-new-vpn-guidelines-on-users-and-vpn-providers/articleshow/91468069.cms">directive</a> was issued by the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), the country’s cyber watchdog. According to a report by <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/technology/corporate-vpns-neednt-maintain-logs-of-customers-cert-in/articleshow/91524674.cms">Economic Times</a>, CERT-In is expected to soon issue an FAQ document answering some of the doubts raised by users and companies. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Relief to corporates and employees in the country" comment="subhead" text="Relief to corporates and employees in the country">Relief to corporates and employees in the country</cmsannotation> In a major relief to corporates and employees in the country, the new directive will reportedly not be applicable to enterprise and corporate VPNs. According to the report, the document will reveal that the new guidelines are applicable only to those VPN service providers that offer their VPN services to the general public. Since the pandemic began, several companies have offered a work from home option to several of their employees. However, employees are required to use a VPN to connect to the corporate network. The new guidelines will reportedly exclude such VPNs so that employees are able to connect to VPNs without any issues. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Only commercial VPN providers to maintain user data" comment="subhead" text="Only commercial VPN providers to maintain user data">Only commercial VPN providers to maintain user data</cmsannotation> According to the report, the new guidelines that mandate the VPN service providers to maintain user data are applicable only to commercial VPN providers that offer their services to the general public. “For the purpose of this direction, VPN Service provider refers to an entity that provides “Internet proxy like services” through the use of VPN technologies, standard or proprietary, to general Internet subscribers/users,” CERT-In states in its document accessed by ET. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="VPN companies may exit India" comment="subhead" text="VPN companies may exit India">VPN companies may exit India</cmsannotation> Anonymity is one of the most important parts of VPNs and the new guidelines completely remove anonymity from this as CERT-In can at any time ask these service providers to furnish user data such as name, address, phone number, email and more. NordVPN has already <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/what-is-the-impact-of-new-vpn-guidelines-on-users-and-vpn-providers/articleshow/91468069.cms">expressed its reservations against the new bill</a>, saying it is committed to protecting customer privacy and is willing to remove its servers from the country if there are no other options. NordVPN isn’t the only company considering exiting the market. “PureVPN is a no-log VPN, user anonymity and security is a central priority but if that is compromised by this policy then we will have to consider our position in India,” Uzair Gadit, chief executive officer of PureVPN told Business Insider India in a statement. The FAQ document from CERT-In will clarify doubts about the new VPN guidelines. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/what-is-the-impact-of-new-vpn-guidelines-on-users-and-vpn-providers/articleshow/91468069.cms">Indian government's VPN guidelines will impact over 270 million users as VPN providers have no option but to leave the country</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/reliance-jio-is-working-on-improving-call-quality-by-integrating-5g-vonr-and-4g-volte/articleshow/91442195.cms">Reliance Jio is working on improving call quality by integrating 5G VoNR and 4G VoLTE</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/reliance-jio-results-q4-fy22-profit-revenue-subscriber-growth/articleshow/91374478.cms">Reliance Jio reports its strongest profit growth in five quarters as it offloads millions of low quality subscribers</a>

Corporate VPNs will reportedly not be affected by the new VPN guidelines in India

The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) has given virtual private network (<keyword id="201519" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="vpn" source="Orion">VPN</keyword>) providers another three months to comply with its new rules. The new rules that were supposed to be effective from June 27 require VPN service providers along with data centres and cloud service providers, to store information such as names, email IDs, contact numbers, and IP addresses (among other things) of their customers for a period of five years. The April 28 directive from India's cyber agency sought additional compliance requirements for all VPN providers whose users are in the country. Now, the new CERT-In direction will become effective on September 25. The agency has directed data centres, virtual private server (VPS) providers, cloud service providers and VPN providers that this specific aspect of the direction will become effective on September 25. "The extension of timelines for implementation of these Cyber Security Directions of 28th April, 2022 have been urged in respect of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) for providing reasonable time for generating capacity building required for implementation of these Directions," said the CERT-In. Nearly 22 cybersecurity experts on Monday sent a joint letter to CERT-In and the Ministry of Electronics and IT, asking them to defer implementation of the contentious new Directions issued in April. "The Directions will have a negative impact on cybersecurity and privacy, and public consultation must be undertaken to ensure that the views of all stakeholders, including subject matter experts, are taken into account," the letter read. "Unchecked surveillance is a pressing concern in India -- one that is severely aggravated by the new data retention mandate in CERT-In's Directions, which impact millions of people connected in India,a said Raman Jit Singh Chima, Asia Pacific Policy Director and Senior International Counsel at Access Now, a non-profit. "Requiring service providers, including VPN providers, to log information that they may otherwise not collect, for five years or more, violates the right to privacy protected by the Indian Constitution," he added. Leading VPN service providers NordVPN, Surfshark and ExpressVPN have removed their servers from India over the new directions. CERT-In later issued a set of clarifications, stating that the rules of maintaining customer logs will not apply to enterprise and corporate VPNs. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/india-expands-its-crackdown-on-vpn-bans-its-employees-from-using-vpn-and-cloud-services/articleshow/92272901.cms">India expands its crackdown on VPN, bans its employees from using VPN and cloud services</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/government-invites-vpn-service-providers-for-discussions-after-expressvpn-and-surfshark-shut-down-servers-in-india/articleshow/92119411.cms">Government invites VPN service providers for discussions after ExpressVPN and Surfshark shut down servers in India</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/after-expressvpn-surfshark-is-shutting-down-servers-in-india-over-government-guidelines/articleshow/92073231.cms">After ExpressVPN, Surfshark is shutting down servers in India over government guidelines</a>

Virtual private network providers now have until September 25 to comply with new guidelines

<ul><li><keyword id="3521672" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="expressvpn" source="Orion">ExpressVPN</keyword> has announced that it has removed its servers from India.</li><li>This is in response to the Indian government's guidelines on storing user data.</li><li>ExpressVPN has said that users will still be able to use Indian IP addresses.</li></ul>Express<keyword id="201519" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="vpn" source="Orion">VPN</keyword>, one of the most popular virtual private network (VPN) providers, has announced removing its servers from India. This comes after the Indian government issued updated <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/what-is-the-impact-of-new-vpn-guidelines-on-users-and-vpn-providers/articleshow/91468069.cms">guidelines</a> that made it mandatory for VPN service providers to store user data for a period of five years. VPN service providers have said the guidelines issued by the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) undermine users’ right to online privacy and are against such rules. “With a recent data law introduced in India requiring all VPN providers to store user information for at least five years, ExpressVPN has made the very straightforward decision to remove our Indian-based VPN servers,” the company said in a blog post. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="ExpressVPN slams new guidelines" comment="subhead" text="ExpressVPN slams new guidelines">ExpressVPN slams new guidelines</cmsannotation> ExpressVPN has not minced its words and has claimed that the new guidelines are “overreaching” and “open up the window for potential abuse”. It has also added that the company will not participate in the “government’s attempt to limit internet freedom”. “We believe the damage done by potential misuse of this kind of law far outweighs any benefit that lawmakers claim would come from it,” the company added. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="What is the directive from the Indian government?" comment="subhead" text="What is the directive from the Indian government?">What is the directive from the Indian government?</cmsannotation> The directive issued by the government mandates VPN providers to maintain the following data as part of the know your customer (KYC) policy for a period of five years – <ul><li>Validated name of subscriber</li><li>Period of hire</li><li>IPs allotted to the subscriber</li><li>Email address, IP address and time stamp used at the time of registration.</li><li>Purpose of hiring services</li><li>Validated address and contact numbers</li><li>Ownership pattern of the subscribers</li></ul><cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Users will still be able to use Indian IP addresses" comment="subhead" text="Users will still be able to use Indian IP addresses">Users will still be able to use Indian IP addresses</cmsannotation> In relief to users, ExpressVPN has said that this will have no impact on the ability of users outside India to connect to Indian IP addresses. The company is using “virtual” Indian servers that are physically located in Singapore and the UK. The company has claimed that there will be a minimal difference and users will be able to choose from India (via Singapore) and India (via UK) servers. This will also have no impact on Indian users looking to connect to foreign servers. “As for internet users based in India, they can use ExpressVPN confident that their online traffic is not being logged or stored, and that it’s not being monitored by their government,” the company said. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="ExpressVPN may not be the only company to exit India" comment="subhead" text="ExpressVPN may not be the only company to exit India">ExpressVPN may not be the only company to exit India</cmsannotation> ExpressVPN is likely the first among many VPN service providers to exit the Indian market. Companies like NordVPN and PureVPN have already said that it is not possible to comply with the government’s guidelines that come into effect from June 27 and are contemplating removing their servers from the country. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/what-is-the-impact-of-new-vpn-guidelines-on-users-and-vpn-providers/articleshow/91468069.cms">Indian government's VPN guidelines will impact over 270 million users as VPN providers have no option but to leave the country</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/corporate-vpns-will-reportedly-not-be-affected-by-the-new-vpn-guidelines-in-india/articleshow/91534641.cms">Corporate VPNs will reportedly not be affected by the new VPN guidelines in India</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/whatsapp-will-soon-allow-you-to-edit-sent-messages-heres-how-it-will-work/articleshow/91936807.cms">WhatsApp might soon allow you to edit sent messages – here’s how it will work</a>

New VPN rules: ExpressVPN removes its servers from India, other companies may pull out too

<ul><li><keyword id="12163251" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="surfshark" source="Orion">Surfshark</keyword> has announced that it is shutting down its servers in India, making it the second major <keyword id="201519" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="vpn" source="Orion">VPN</keyword> provider to do so.</li><li>This is in response to the Indian’s government’s guidelines for virtual private network (VPN) service providers.</li><li>Earlier this month, ExpressVPN had shut down its servers in the country.</li></ul>Popular VPN provider Surfshark has now announced that it is shutting down its servers in India, in response to the Indian government’s policies regarding user data retention. The Indian government had <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/it-ministry-orders-vpn-providers-to-store-user-data-for-five-years-tech-news/articleshow/91334830.cms">released guidelines</a> on April 28 directing companies offering virtual private network (VPN) services in the country to record and store the details of their users. Recording and sharing user data goes against the basic principles of VPN and companies have expressed their reservations over the new guidelines. “Surfshark proudly operates under a strict “no logs” policy, so such new requirements go against the core ethos of the company,” the company said in its official statement. “The infrastructure that Surfshark runs on has been configured in a way that respects the privacy of our users and we will not compromise our values – or our technical base,” the company added. This comes just a few days after <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/new-vpn-rules-expressvpn-removes-its-servers-from-india-other-companies-may-pull-out-too/articleshow/91959389.cms">ExpressVPN announced</a> that it had removed its servers from the country. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="What will be the impact on users?" comment="subhead" text="What will be the impact on users?">What will be the impact on users?</cmsannotation> Surfshark has said that the servers will be shut down after the new rules come into effect and users will be able to continue to use its India servers till then. The new guidelines will come into effect from June 27. Once the company’s Indian servers are shut down, users will be able to use its virtual Indian servers that are physically located in Singapore and London. This is similar to what ExpressVPN had announced earlier. Indian users will not be impacted by the new guidelines and will be able to connect to any server outside the country. Surfshark in its post has added that the new VPN guidelines will have an adverse impact on the IT sector and the privacy of users in the country. “Taking such radical action that highly impacts the privacy of millions of people living in India will most likely be counterproductive and strongly damage the sector’s growth in the country,” the company added. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/new-vpn-rules-expressvpn-removes-its-servers-from-india-other-companies-may-pull-out-too/articleshow/91959389.cms">New VPN rules: ExpressVPN removes its servers from India, other companies may pull out too</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/what-is-the-impact-of-new-vpn-guidelines-on-users-and-vpn-providers/articleshow/91468069.cms">Indian government's VPN guidelines will impact over 270 million users as VPN providers have no option but to leave the country</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/the-indian-government-may-soon-have-more-control-over-how-social-media-companies-moderate-content-and-block-users/articleshow/91959142.cms">The Indian government may soon have more control over how social media companies moderate content and block users</a>

After ExpressVPN, Surfshark is shutting down servers in India over government guidelines

<ul><li>The government has reportedly invited <keyword id="201519" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="vpn" source="Orion">VPN</keyword> service providers to discuss the new cybersecurity guidelines.</li><li>The new guidelines by the government mandate VPN service providers to record and store user data.</li><li>This comes after ExpressVPN and Surfshark announced that they are shutting down servers in <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword>.</li></ul>The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has invited virtual private network (VPN) service providers and other stakeholders such as cybersecurity experts, legal experts and tech policy groups to discuss the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/what-is-the-impact-of-new-vpn-guidelines-on-users-and-vpn-providers/articleshow/91468069.cms">cybersecurity guidelines</a> issued by the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team’s (Cert-In). The country’s cyber watchdog on April 28 had issued guidelines that mandated VPN service providers to record and store user data for a period of five years. The guidelines are scheduled to come into effect from June end. Recording and sharing user data goes against the basic principles of VPN and companies have expressed their reservations over the new guidelines. Soon after the announcement, companies like ExpressVPN, NordVPN and PureVPN among others had <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/what-is-the-impact-of-new-vpn-guidelines-on-users-and-vpn-providers/articleshow/91468069.cms">criticized</a> the guidelines, claiming that they do not record any user data. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/new-vpn-rules-expressvpn-removes-its-servers-from-india-other-companies-may-pull-out-too/articleshow/91959389.cms">ExpressVPN</a> and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/after-expressvpn-surfshark-is-shutting-down-servers-in-india-over-government-guidelines/articleshow/92073231.cms">Surfshark</a>, two popular VPN service providers have already announced that they are shutting down their servers in India over the new VPN guidelines issued by the government. According to an Economic Times <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/after-expressvpn-surfshark-is-shutting-down-servers-in-india-over-government-guidelines/articleshow/92073231.cms">report</a>, the IT ministry has invited the stakeholders to discuss the impact of the guidelines issued by Cert-In on April 28. “It is a high-level meeting in which policy heads from various companies will also be present. There will be discussions primarily on the Cert-In directives which were issued on April 28, and whether it has had an adverse impact on the startup ecosystem yet. We also expect senior officials from other ministries to be present,” a source familiar with the matter told ET. VPN service providers aren’t the only ones that are against the new guidelines. The Internet Freedom Foundation said, “The directions were released by CERT-In without any public consultation with technology and cyber security experts, which has led to the inclusion of multiple unwarranted provisions.” SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/corporate-vpns-will-reportedly-not-be-affected-by-the-new-vpn-guidelines-in-india/articleshow/91534641.cms">Corporate VPNs will reportedly not be affected by the new VPN guidelines in India</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/after-expressvpn-surfshark-is-shutting-down-servers-in-india-over-government-guidelines/articleshow/92073231.cms">After ExpressVPN, Surfshark is shutting down servers in India over government guidelines</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/sbi-cards-phonepe-google-pay-to-benefit-from-rbi-allowing-credit-cards-to-be-linked-to-upi/articleshow/92099285.cms">SBI Cards, PhonePe, Google Pay to benefit from RBI allowing credit cards to be linked to UPI, say analysts</a>

Government invites VPN service providers for discussions after ExpressVPN and Surfshark shut down servers in India

Leading virtual private network (<keyword id="201519" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="vpn" source="Orion">VPN</keyword>) service provider <keyword id="2893495" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="nordvpn" source="Orion">NordVPN</keyword> on Tuesday announced a new feature called <keyword id="14250059" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="meshnet" source="Orion">Meshnet</keyword> that allows users to connect directly to other devices instead of routing their traffic through a VPN server. With Meshnet enabled, users on holiday can route their traffic through a laptop left at home, allowing them to browse the internet with their own IP address. "Whereas a traditional NordVPN connection redirects your internet traffic through servers, Meshnet lets you create your own NordVPN server, made up of only your own or your friends' devices, regardless of their location. All that's needed is a NordVPN subscription," said Vykintas Maknickas, product strategist at NordVPN. Whereas a regular NordVPN service routes your internet traffic through VPN servers, Meshnet lets you create your own NordVPN server through your own or your friends' devices, no matter where they are in the world. With Meshnet, users can send or receive files from their family members, friends, or colleagues with ease and no longer need to host their work projects on a server. Meshnet works as a virtual Local Area Network (LAN), so users can play multiplayer games with their friends without needing any LAN cables. To utilise Meshnet, users need to update their NordVPN app and make sure they are connected via the NordLynx protocol, then just turn it on in the NordVPN app and link up to 10 personal or and 50 external devices. NordVPN last week announced it will remove servers from India over a recent cybersecurity directive from the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In). Panama-based NordVPN joins Surfshark and ExpressVPN in removing its servers from the country over the April 28 directive from India's cyber agency that seeks additional compliance requirements for all VPN providers whose users are in the country. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/india-expands-its-crackdown-on-vpn-bans-its-employees-from-using-vpn-and-cloud-services/articleshow/92272901.cms">India expands its crackdown on VPN, bans its employees from using VPN and cloud services</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/government-invites-vpn-service-providers-for-discussions-after-expressvpn-and-surfshark-shut-down-servers-in-india/articleshow/92119411.cms">Government invites VPN service providers for discussions after ExpressVPN and Surfshark shut down servers in India</a>

NordVPN announces Meshnet, allowing users to directly connect to other devices

<ul><li><keyword id="201519" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="vpn" source="Orion">VPN</keyword> adds an extra layer of privacy for users, allowing users to access foreign websites and securely transfer sensitive business information.</li><li>In <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword>, many cybersecurity companies providing VPN services have shut down their physical servers due to a government mandate to store users' personal data for five years.</li><li>Protect yourself online and stream without restriction with these VPN service providers.</li></ul>Virtual private networks (VPNs) add an extra layer of privacy for users, allowing users to access foreign websites and securely transfer sensitive business information. Business VPNs also offer features like managing multiple user accounts and blocking certain content to protect data. However, in India, many cybersecurity companies providing VPN services have <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/nordvpn-to-shut-down-its-servers-in-india-by-june-26-2022/articleshow/92229519.cms#:~:text=On%20Tuesday%2C%20the%20company%20spokesperson,the%20shutdown%20within%20the%20app.">shut down</a> their physical servers due to a government mandate to store users' personal data for five years. VPN service providers were asked by the CERT-In, a part of the Indian Department of Information Technology, to store information like names, email IDs, contact numbers, and IP addresses. This decision has not been well-received by most VPN service providers, who argue that complying with the regulation would compromise the privacy they offer to Indian consumers. Nevertheless, VPN companies assure their Indian users that their operations will continue. They have announced plans to introduce virtual servers in countries like Singapore and London to ensure Indian users can still access their VPN services and secure their online activities despite the new data law. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="What is a VPN?" comment="subhead" text="What is a VPN?">What is a VPN?</cmsannotation> A VPN, or virtual private network, is a crucial tool for online privacy. It safeguards and conceals your internet activity by encrypting the data from your device and routing it through a secure server in a location of your choice. This allows you to appear to be accessing online services from that specific country or place, which can help unblock censored or restricted content like TikTok or the US Netflix library. But that's not all - because your data is encrypted, even the government won't be able to see what you're doing online, ensuring maximum privacy and security. While VPNs are legal in most countries worldwide, it's important to note that a few countries have restrictions or bans on their use, such as China, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Oman, Russia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates. However, even in countries where VPNs are legal, it's crucial to remember that engaging in illegal activities like torrenting copyrighted material, buying prohibited goods, or hacking is still illegal, even if you're using a VPN. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="How to choose the best India VPN?" comment="subhead" text="How to choose the best India VPN?">How to choose the best India VPN?</cmsannotation> Selecting the right <keyword id="13882790" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="vpn-in-india" source="Orion">VPN in India</keyword> can take time due to the many available providers. It's essential to conduct thorough research before buying a subscription. Here are some key factors we suggest considering. Trustworthiness Most importantly, look for an established VPN provider with a proven track record and a transparent privacy policy that ensures your data will not be logged or collected. It's a bonus if the policy has been independently verified through third-party audits. A simple <keyword id="6355629" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="google" source="Orion">Google</keyword> search can reveal a lot about a VPN's reputation, and a reputable VPN should not have any significant security breaches or customer data leaks in its history. Speed and security Additionally, ensure the VPN you choose uses robust encryption to safeguard your data and offers fast and reliable services for smooth and lag-free streaming. Network size and diversity A wide selection of servers and server locations is beneficial for two reasons. Firstly, it means you'll have more bandwidth available and won't experience slow speeds due to overcrowded servers. Secondly, it reduces the chances of getting detected by streaming services that block VPNs, as services like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and others often flag IP addresses with heavy traffic loads. Independently audited no-logs policy Given the active monitoring of online activities by the Indian government, it's crucial to choose a VPN that has a strict no-logs policy. This means they do not collect private information, including personally identifiable data, ensuring your privacy remains intact. Customer support Regardless of which VPN you choose, it's important to be realistic and anticipate potential connection issues. Therefore, having easy access to a responsible and reliable support team should be a priority on your ‘must-have’ list when evaluating VPN providers. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="The best VPNs for India" comment="subhead" text="The best VPNs for India">The best VPNs for India</cmsannotation> <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="ExpressVPN" comment="subhead" text="ExpressVPN">ExpressVPN</cmsannotation> Server/s in India: Yes (virtual) Number of servers: 3,000+ Server locations: 160 Maximum devices supported: 5 24/7 live chat support: Yes ExpressVPN is one of the best VPN providers that has set up secure virtual locations to bypass logging requirements in India. It has an extensive physical network covering countries around India. With obfuscated servers, ExpressVPN ensures that your traffic remains undetectable even under strict restrictions. It offers its own Lightway and OpenVPN protocols, has a verified no-logging policy, and provides 24/7 customer support via email or live chat. ExpressVPN also offers easy-to-use applications for major platforms and has a track record of unlocking streaming services like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and more. It's also proven effective for watching sports and cricket from other countries, including accessing Hotstar content outside of India. <a href="https://www.expressvpn.com/?irclickid=WVu0GyXRbxyNWzg24Q3Y3QHdUkAQZxyBqWNoRY0&amp;shareid=&amp;irgwc=1">Try here</a> <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Surfshark" comment="subhead" text="Surfshark">Surfshark</cmsannotation> Server/s in India: Yes (virtual) Number of servers: 3,200+ Server locations: 100+ Maximum devices supported: Unlimited 24/7 live chat support: Yes Surfshark is a rising star in the VPN world with a clean and user-friendly interface and affordable pricing, making it the top choice for budget-conscious users. It offers a wide range of features, including AES-256 encryption, multiple protocols, DNS protection, split tunneling, and even a Double VPN hop for extra security. While there have been some reported issues with the kill switch on Windows, they are rare and extreme situations. Like ExpressVPN, Surfshark also uses virtual servers to protect users' privacy, allowing for secure local browsing or access to its 3,200+ international servers. It has dedicated anti-censorship features, such as its ‘Camouflage mode’ obfuscation technology and "No Borders" option that connects to servers performing well under network restrictions. <a href="https://surfshark.com/deals?coupon=surfsharkdeal&amp;transaction_id=102e83020fa8dac49a959c16259b8a&amp;offer_id=61&amp;affiliate_id=1691&amp;source=hawk&amp;aff_sub=&amp;i=&amp;utm_source=Affiliates&amp;utm_medium=1691&amp;utm_campaign=affiliate&amp;recurring_goal_id=50">Try here</a> <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="ProtonVPN" comment="subhead" text="ProtonVPN">ProtonVPN</cmsannotation> Server/s in India: Yes (Smart Routing) Number of servers: 1,800+ Server locations: 85+ Maximum devices supported: 10 24/7 live chat support: No ProtonVPN, based in Switzerland, offers a sleek interface, impeccable performance, and plenty of nifty features. It has a free VPN option with unlimited bandwidth, making it a great choice for VPN beginners, and its free coverage has recently expanded to over 100 servers from the previous 29. While ProtonVPN has shut off its physical servers in India, users can still access an Indian IP by choosing one of its Smart Routing servers in Singapore. Upgrading to the Plus plan allows users to connect through Secure Core servers located in Switzerland, Iceland, and Sweden, adding an extra layer of security to their traffic. <a href="https://protonvpn.com/">Try here</a> <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="NordVPN" comment="subhead" text="NordVPN"><keyword id="2893495" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="nordvpn" source="Orion">NordVPN</keyword></cmsannotation> Server/s in India: No Number of servers: 5,600+ Server locations: 80+ Maximum devices supported: 6 24/7 live chat support: Yes NordVPN earns high praise for several reasons. It is ideal for streamers, easy to use, and offers clients and apps for a wide range of platforms, along with a massive network of over 5,600 servers. Despite recently terminating operations in India, NordVPN assures customers that it can meet their needs without resorting to fake locations, unlike some competitors. One of NordVPN's standout features is its extra layer of security options. In addition to standard protocols and 256-bit AES encryption, it offers Double VPN, which routes traffic through encrypted servers twice, and Onion Over VPN, which sends data through the secure Onion network. Furthermore, NordVPN undergoes an annual independent audit by PricewaterhouseCoopers to verify its strict no-logging policy, making it one of the most secure VPN services available. <a href="https://nordvpn.com/special/?utm_medium=affiliate&amp;utm_term=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.techradar.com%2Fvpn%2Fbest-india-vpn&amp;utm_content&amp;utm_campaign=off564&amp;utm_source=aff3013">Try here</a> <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="CyberGhost" comment="subhead" text="CyberGhost">CyberGhost</cmsannotation> Server/s in India: Yes (virtual) Number of servers: 9,200+ Server locations: 115 Maximum devices supported: 7 24/7 live chat support: Yes CyberGhost offers an extensive range of over 9,200 international servers, including virtual locations for users in India who want to browse locally while maintaining their privacy. The option of Romanian-based NoSpy servers adds an extra layer of security, albeit at an additional cost. CyberGhost's apps are user-friendly and come with convenient features such as the Smart Rules panel, which allows users to connect automatically to their preferred server upon launching the app. Although CyberGhost's peak speeds have slightly decreased in recent testing, it still outperforms competitors like ExpressVPN and ProtonVPN with impressive speeds of up to 730Mbps using the WireGuard protocol. While it may have some limitations in terms of unblocking UK Netflix and Disney Plus, it still easily bypasses restrictions to grant access to the US catalog of Netflix. <a href="https://www.cyberghostvpn.com/en_US/offer/best?media_source=google_brand&amp;campaign=18137720579&amp;adgroup=139059196294&amp;keyword=cyberghost&amp;matchtype=e&amp;conversionpoint=&amp;channel=&amp;extension=&amp;brand=ppc&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjw0ZiiBhBKEiwA4PT9zwXOAVKk4CldK2shEWbIldB9NGZ2fqGHGlkb-734J5xIc1IxUb1HexoC1TYQAvD_BwE">Try here</a> SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/bard-to-magi-googles-latest-weapon-in-the-battle-for-search-supremacy/articleshow/99576251.cms">From Bard to Magi: Google's latest weapon in the battle for search supremacy</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/ai-generated-images-and-videos-a-game-changer-or-a-threat-to-authenticity/articleshow/99560443.cms">AI-generated images and videos: A game-changer or a threat to authenticity?</a>

The best VPNs to safeguard your online privacy and security in India

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], July 15 (ANI): <keyword id="19906966" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ashok-Leyland" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Ashok Leyland" meta.hostid="265" meta.entityid="Ashok Leyland">Ashok Leyland</keyword> has announced that the company has secured the single largest fully built bus order from the <keyword id="20577309" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Maharashtra-State-Road-Transport-Corporation" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation" meta.hostid="265" meta.entityid="Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation">Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation</keyword> (<keyword id="20276774" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="MSRTC" source="keywords">MSRTC</keyword>) for 2,104 units of Viking passenger buses. According to a press release, the total consideration for this order is approximately Rs 981.45 Crores. The execution period for this contract spans from August 2024 to August 2025. MSRTC operates a fleet of over 15,000 buses. With this substantial order, Ashok Leyland buses will now dominate its fleet. These modern, fully built buses will comply with the latest Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR) standards and feature AIS 153 compliant bodies. The order, awarded by the domestic entity MSRTC, is for the supply of BSVI OBD II Diesel Fuel Type Fully Built Passenger Buses. MSRTC, one of India's largest state transport undertakings, operates a fleet of over 15,000 buses. With this substantial order, Ashok Leyland buses will now dominate its fleet. These modern, fully built buses will comply with the latest Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR) standards and feature AIS 153 compliant bodies. They will also be equipped with the proven iGEN6 BS VI OBD II technology, boasting a 197 HP H-Series Engine and Rear Air Suspension, among other advanced features. The buses will be manufactured at Ashok Leyland's exclusive bus body plants using state-of-the-art technology, ensuring enhanced safety, improved comfort, and a lower total cost of ownership for MSRTC. Shenu Agarwal, Managing Director and CEO of Ashok Leyland, expressed his excitement about the continued partnership with MSRTC. He stated, "We are excited to continue our long-standing partnership with the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC). This new order underscores our dedication to producing highly efficient and technologically advanced products, driving the growth of public transportation in the country." He added, "Our deep understanding of our customers and our ability to quickly respond to their needs is what sets us apart." Echoing this sentiment, Sanjeev Kumar, President of Medium and Heavy Commercial Vehicles (M&amp;HCV) at Ashok Leyland, remarked, "We are thrilled to have received this order from MSRTC. The order win emphasizes the confidence and trust our customers have in our products. Specifically tailored to meet the unique requirements of Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation, our buses stand as a testament to the reliability, durability, and robustness of our products." He added, " We are proud to offer MSRTC and the people of Maharashtra a modern fleet that ensures superior comfort and the highest standards of safety. This order reflects the trust that our customers place on Ashok Leyland." As one of the top five largest bus manufacturers globally, Ashok Leyland's recent order further consolidates its position in both the Indian and global bus markets.

Ashok Leyland bags single largest order of 2,104 fully built buses from Maharashtra government

The <keyword id="6355040" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="gst-council" source="Orion">GST Council</keyword> is likely to introduce an 18 per cent tax rate on corporate guarantees extended by parent companies to their subsidiary firms for getting loans from banks, according to reliable sources. The issue was taken up by the <keyword id="6354679" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="gst" source="Orion">GST</keyword> Council's law committee during various meetings held recently. The law committee is of the view that extending a corporate guarantee is a related party transaction that is considered as a supply. The logic is that since supplies come in the 18 per cent GST bracket, this should also be applicable to corporate guarantees. The law committee has recommended adopting valuation rules in line with safe harbour rules under the <keyword id="6370810" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="income-tax-act" source="Orion">Income Tax Act</keyword> for providing corporate guarantees. Under these rules, in eligible international transactions, the minimum acceptable commission/fee is 1 per cent of the amount guaranteed. Therefore, it was proposed that there is a need to consider adopting the same in the case of related party transactions under GST as well. The final decision will be taken at the GST Council meeting on Saturday. A corporate guarantee is an arrangement among group companies by which a parent company agrees to act as a guarantor for a subsidiary company while securing credit facilities from a bank. These arrangements are executed either without any consideration or with a nominal commission on the loan amount. The GST Council is also expected to take up the issue on whether this 18 per cent GST should be levied on personal guarantee, as well given by promoters/directors for loans given by banks to a company. In the case of a personal guarantee, the law committee cited the <keyword id="6354335" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="reserve-bank-of-india" source="Orion">Reserve Bank of India</keyword>'s mandate which states that no consideration by way of commission, brokerage fees, or any other form could be paid to the director by the company, directly or indirectly, in lieu of providing a personal guarantee to the bank for borrowing credit limits. This appears to suggest that the 18 per cent GST is not strictly applicable in cases of personal guarantees.

GST Council likely to levy 18% tax rate on corporate guarantees for loans

In a major relief for some third-party digital payments players, the <keyword id="6383340" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="national-payments-corporation-of-india" source="Orion">National Payments Corporation of India</keyword> (NPCI) on Friday said it is extending the Unified Payments Interface (<keyword id="6358921" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="upi" source="Orion">UPI</keyword>) volume cap rules deadline till December 31, 2024. The NPCI initially planned to enforce the UPI market cap rules in January 2021, but delayed it several times. "In view of significant potential of digital payments and the need for multi-fold penetration from its current state, it is imperative that other existing and new players (Banks and Non-Banks) shall scale-up their consumer outreach for the growth of UPI and achieve overall market equilibrium," the NPCI said in a circular. Taking into account the present usage and future potential of UPI, and other relevant factors, "the timelines for compliance of existing third-party app providers (TPAPs) who are exceeding the volume cap, is extended by two (2) years till December 31, 2024 to comply with," said the NPCI. UPI transaction value for November was recorded at Rs 11.90 lakh crore while the transaction count was 7.3 billion. According to the NPCI, UPI processed 7.3 billion transactions worth Rs 12.11 lakh crore in October, riding on festive sales. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/rupee-at-80-against-the-usd-a-possibility-say-analysts-as-us-fed-hints-at-slower-rate-hikes/articleshow/95940818.cms">Rupee may hit 80/$ aided by trifecta of softer rates, cooling crude and stronger macros, say analysts</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/globalbees-to-cred-and-two-adani-group-companies-companies-which-command-high-valuations-with-low-revenues/articleshow/95929044.cms">The curious case of companies which command high valuations with low revenues</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/maruti-suzuki-announces-price-hike-from-january-2023/articleshow/95941950.cms">Maruti Suzuki cars will get costlier from January 2023</a>

NPCI defers UPI market cap rules till Dec 31, 2024

A sixth-grade social science textbook that I read described India as a piece of fabric, with countless threads coloured in a myriad of majestic shades, woven together. This metaphor holds exceptionally well when put into the context of our <keyword id="22706215" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="handloom-industry" source="keywords">handloom industry</keyword>. India has a rich history of handlooms and weaving cultures. The culture of handlooms is so intricately woven into Indian culture, that there are whole towns dedicated to the same: <keyword id="248532" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chanderi" source="Orion">Chanderi</keyword> in Madhya Pradesh to Pochampally in Telangana and a dozen more! Unfortunately, the handloom industry in India is dying. The struggle is multi-faceted, ranging from a declining workforce to fierce competition from <keyword id="20496028" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="power-looms" source="keywords">power looms</keyword>. Hence, five years ago, August 7 was proclaimed <keyword id="22677698" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="National-Handloom-Day" source="keywords">National Handloom Day</keyword> in response to this crisis and to heighten public awareness. This date holds special historical significance, commemorating the initiation of the Swadeshi Movement in 1905—a pivotal act of defiance against British colonial rule. <h2>When did this industry come into existence?</h2>According to archaeological findings, the origins of handloom in the Indian subcontinent may be traced back to the Indus Valley Civilization. The Mughal Empire was known to support and patronise <keyword id="20258864" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="weavers" source="keywords">weavers</keyword>. The support from the royal patrons resulted in the invention of new textiles such as ‘Mulmul’ and ‘Banarasi Brocade’ among others. This era witnessed a heightened worldwide demand for Indian textiles. In the 17th century, India produced 25% of the world’s textiles, with Bengal accounting for more than 50% of textiles and 80% of silks imported by the Dutch from Asia. <h2>What led to the decline of the <keyword id="19934660" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Indian-handloom" source="keywords">Indian handloom</keyword>?</h2>The East India Company's entry fuelled the industry's initial decline, which started in the 1830s. The weavers were obliged to sell only to the British, and that too at exceedingly cheap prices, virtually putting them out of business. On the other hand, Indian cloth was taxed excessively to promote machine-made British clothing. The Industrial Revolution in Britain strengthened their indigenous textile industry, giving rise to new markets for cheaper textiles. In India, the collapse of the Mughal aristocracies meant no access to royal patronage. As a result, textiles like Khadi and muslin had little demand in the market. Circling back to the present, the industry is facing both similar and new challenges. Fabrics made on power looms are cheaper and faster to produce, in comparison to handloom fabrics. The industry is largely unorganised, and the wages are shockingly low. 67% of <keyword id="22706216" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="handloom-workers" source="keywords">handloom workers</keyword> are earning less than the minimum wage every month. Faced with economic challenges, the older artisans are thus forced to encourage the newer generation to choose an alternative career path. This migration of the workforce from a traditional sector is evident from the fall in the number of weavers less than 35 years of age- from 26.13 lakh in 2009-10 to 16.07 lakh in 2019-20. The majority of weavers do not have access to banking facilities, let alone institutional credit. Furthermore, if one manages to accumulate credit, there is a mismatch between the supply and demand forces due to the lack of awareness about handwoven textiles in the current generation. <h2>Initiatives for revival</h2>The cultural significance of the Indian handloom isn’t just limited to its beauty and extravagance, but it extends to our independence struggle as well. The Swadeshi movement immortalised the charkha and advocated for the use of indigenous goods. Following independence, the Indian government took many measures to revive the handloom industry. In 1953, India’s Parliament approved the Khadi and Other Handloom Industries Development Act. In 1955, the All India Handloom Fabrics Marketing Cooperative Society was formed to promote the sale of fabrics produced by handloom cooperatives across India. The National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP) aimed to provide financial assistance for marketing and production. The Handloom Weavers’ Comprehensive Welfare Scheme offers health and life insurance to weavers, to ensure social security. The organisation commenced a fortnight-long exhibition, “VIRAASAT” dedicated to celebrating the 10th National Handloom Day began at Handloom Haat in Janpath, New Delhi on Saturday, 3rd August 2024, and will conclude on 16th August 2024. The Handloom Mark scheme was introduced to authenticate handloom products, thus enabling weavers to gain better market access and ensuring that consumers get genuine products. Moreover, the India Trade Portal also mentions that the GOI plans to provide financial assistance of Rs. 30 crore to at least 10,000 handlooms. Various state governments also regularly conduct handloom expos and fairs, providing platforms for weavers to showcase and sell their products directly to consumers. <h2>Contemporary Brands and their love for Indian handloom</h2>Modern, popular designers such as <keyword id="8264" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sabyasachi" source="Orion">Sabyasachi</keyword> and <keyword id="21493890" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ritu-kumar" source="keywords">Ritu Kumar</keyword> are known to work closely with weavers and have been doing their part by bringing worldwide attention to the handloom industries. Recently, <keyword id="1472101" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ajrakh" source="Orion">Ajrakh</keyword> was brought into the limelight when Alia Bhatt wore a custom Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla Ajrakh saree to Joy Awards in Riyadh. However, it’s not just the fashion moguls who are working towards the revival of this industry. Contemporary indie brands are partnering with local weavers, and creating awareness about their work. The emergence of such indie brands and their association with local artisans is beneficial for both entities. For instance, Joskai Studio derives its name from ‘Joskai’, a woven piece of cloth worn as a part of the traditional costume of the Tiwa community of Assam. They work with artisans in northeast India, specifically from the weaving village of Saualkuchi in Assam. Rouka by Sreejith Jeevan is a Kerala-based brand that works strictly with weavers from Kerala, specifically Chendamangalam and Kuthampally. <h2>Employment and Exports</h2>According to the Indian Trade Portal, the Indian handloom sector is the country’s second-largest employer after agriculture in rural areas. The Handloom Census 2019-20 mentions that the industry employs about 35,22,512 workers across the country, with women forming 77.29% of the workforce. India is the second largest exporter of handloom products in the world, with exports valued at $ 353.9 million in 2017- 18, as per EXIM bank's working papers. The major handloom export centres are Karur, Panipat, Varanasi and Kannur where handloom products like bed linen, table linen, toilet linen, floor coverings, and embroidered textile materials and curtains etc. are produced for export markets. During April 2021-February 2022, India exported handloom products worth 1693 crore, as per Indian Trade Portal. Indian silk scarves also form a sizable chunk of total handloom exports, in addition to home textiles like carpets, rugs and mats, which constitute over 13.6% of India’s total handloom exports. <h2>The Path Forward</h2>The mere existence of organisations and allocation of funds isn’t enough to sustain the legacy of India’s rich handloom industry. Big corporations working with local weavers ensure employment but don't protect them from exploitation and meagre wages, leaving them vulnerable. The people in power ought to come up with strategies that ensure the trickle-down effect of the schemes and funds. The new generation of buyers has a greater purchasing power than the one before them. Marketing focused on bringing Indian handloom practices into the limelight can do wonders in this case.

Fabric of a nation: Sustaining India's handloom legacy in modern times

<ul><li>US lawmakers urge FTC to stop hundreds of VPN providers’ abusive and deceptive data practices.</li><li>According to US lawmakers, VPN providers exploit, mislead, and take advantage of unwitting consumers.</li><li>Earlier, VPN service providers NordVPN, <keyword id="12163251" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="surfshark" source="Orion">Surfshark</keyword>, and ExpressVPN removed their servers from <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword>.</li></ul>After India, US lawmakers have now asked the Lina Khan-led Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to address abusive and deceptive data practices by hundreds of companies providing individuals with <keyword id="412962" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="virtual-private-network" source="Orion">Virtual Private Network</keyword> (VPN) services. A VPN is an online service that gives users more security when connecting to the Internet. However, said the lawmakers, the consumer VPN industry is rife with deceptive advertising and abusive data practices. The letter by Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) describes several abusive practices in the consumer VPN industry, including promoting false and misleading claims about their services, selling user data, and providing user activity logs to law enforcement, despite promises of 'total anonymity,' and a lack of oversight of the industry in general. "We urge you to use your authority to take enforcement actions against the problematic actors in the consumer VPN industry, focusing particularly on those that engage in deceptive advertising and data collection practices," they said. The lawmakers added that the VPN industry is extremely opaque, and many VPN providers exploit, mislead, and take advantage of unwitting consumers. In India, a directive from the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) has also sought additional compliance requirements for all VPN providers whose users are in the country. The new rules, to be effective from September 25, require VPN service providers, along with data centers and cloud service providers, to store information such as names, email IDs, contact numbers, and IP addresses (among other things) of their customers for five years. Leading VPN service providers NordVPN, Surfshark and ExpressVPN have removed their servers from India over the new directions. The US lawmakers said it is extremely difficult for someone to decipher which VPN service to trust, especially for those in crises. "There are hundreds, if not thousands, of VPN services available to download, yet there is a lack of practical tools or independent research to audit VPN providers' security claims," the letter read. Many popular VPN services also spread inaccurate information on their websites. In December 2021, Consumer Reports (CR) found that 75 per cent of leading VPN providers misrepresented their products and technology or made hyperbolic claims about the protection they provide users on their websites, such as advertising a 'military-grade encryption' which doesn't exist. Advocacy groups have also found that leading VPN services intentionally misrepresent the functionality of their product and fail to provide adequate security to their users. "VPN services have also been exposed for collecting, and, in some cases, abusing, user data. In 2020 it was revealed that a leading analytics firm used personal data from over 35 million people who had downloaded one of their 20 VPN and ad-blocking apps to power their analytics platform without consent," the letter said. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/indias-president-election-news-updates-and-result/articleshow/92947791.cms">Murmu vs Sinha: Voting begins to elect the next President of India</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/indias-duty-cuts-on-edible-oil-will-offset-rupee-fall-but-it-will-widen-gap-between-healthy-and-unhealthy-choices/articleshow/92947936.cms">India’s duty cuts on edible oil will offset rupee fall but it will widen gap between healthy and unhealthy choices</a>

You Searched For "india corporate vpn rules" and got 13 results

Continue 45-day MSME payment rule: Industry body to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

PTI

Corporate VPNs will reportedly not be affected by the new VPN guidelines in India

Sourabh Jain

Virtual private network providers now have until September 25 to comply with new guidelines

IANS

New VPN rules: ExpressVPN removes its servers from India, other companies may pull out too

Sourabh Jain

After ExpressVPN, Surfshark is shutting down servers in India over government guidelines

Sourabh Jain

Government invites VPN service providers for discussions after ExpressVPN and Surfshark shut down servers in India

Sourabh Jain

NordVPN announces Meshnet, allowing users to directly connect to other devices

IANS

The best VPNs to safeguard your online privacy and security in India

Rahul Verma

Ashok Leyland bags single largest order of 2,104 fully built buses from Maharashtra government

ANI

GST Council likely to levy 18% tax rate on corporate guarantees for loans

IANS

NPCI defers UPI market cap rules till Dec 31, 2024

IANS

Fabric of a nation: Sustaining India's handloom legacy in modern times

Prerna Tyagi

After India, US could be the next country to crack down on VPN service providers for deceptive data practices

IANS

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