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Google's new report on <keyword id="19904566" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="artificial-intelligence" source="keywords">artificial intelligence</keyword> (AI) emphasizes responsible AI development and suggests recommendations for policymakers, companies, and civil society. The report titled "An AI Opportunity Agenda for India" outlines how artificial intelligence can drive <keyword id="19900794" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="economic-growth" source="keywords">economic growth</keyword>, social progress and global leadership for the nation. The report says India with its rapidly growing economy, outstanding tech talent, young demography and vibrant start-up ecosystem, is poised to reap the immense benefits of artificial intelligence. A comprehensive and responsible approach to AI can unlock significant economic growth and societal progress in India. "The potential economic impact of AI in India is substantial - reports estimate that at least INR 33.8 lakh crore of economic value from <keyword id="20037918" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="AI-adoption" source="keywords">AI adoption</keyword> can be achieved in India in 2030. While these achievements signify a promising beginning, unlocking the full potential of AI hinges on the strategic decisions we make today," says a Google's press release. The report suggests that to maximize the AI opportunity for India collaborative efforts are needed across government, industry, and civil society. They need to prioritise three key areas which include investments in infrastructure and innovation, building human capital and an AI-powered workforce and promoting wide adoption and universal accessibility. AI is already addressing some of the most pressing challenges like revolutionizing farming practices and improving <keyword id="20646060" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="healthcare-access" source="keywords">healthcare access</keyword>. The <keyword id="20214323" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="agriculture-sector" source="keywords">agriculture sector</keyword> is getting the benefits of AI through minimizing climate risks, optimizing productivity and sustainability, and providing access to real-time crop pricing information and early warning of potential crop threats. Many <keyword id="23569666" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="AI-powered-platforms" source="keywords">AI-powered platforms</keyword> are empowering farmers to boost crop yields and encourage sustainable practices. In the healthcare sector, AI is being used for better diagnosis, bigger access, and personalized care, especially for underserved communities. Google has partnered with <keyword id="23569667" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ARMMAN" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="ARMMAN" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="ARMMAN">ARMMAN</keyword> to use AI to identify women at risk of dropping out of their health information program, allowing for personalized interventions to improve maternal health outcomes. ARMAAN seeks to address the pervasive systemic problems underlying maternal and child mortality and morbidity in India.

AI adoption can unleash Rs 33.8 lakh crore of economic benefit to India in 2030: Google Report

Amid questions on the depleting <keyword id="20776807" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="loan-to-deposit-ratio" source="keywords">loan-to-deposit ratio</keyword> in <keyword id="19895091" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-banks" source="keywords">Indian banks</keyword>, a recent report by <keyword id="19896146" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Motilal-Oswal" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Motilal Oswal" meta.hostid="269" meta.entityid="Motilal Oswal">Motilal Oswal</keyword> suggests that the loan-to-deposit (LD) ratio is likely to subside on its own in the coming months. The debate on loan-to-deposit ratio (LD), particularly concerning sluggish <keyword id="19998084" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="deposit-growth" source="keywords">deposit growth</keyword> and potential risks to <keyword id="20089808" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="financial-stability" source="keywords">financial stability</keyword> is raised by even the finance minister and the <keyword id="20151998" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="RBI-governor" source="keywords">RBI governor</keyword>. However, the report notes that on closer examination, the situation may not be as alarming as it seems. As of 9th August, 2024 the Indian <keyword id="19964544" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="banking-sector" source="keywords">banking sector</keyword>'s loan-to-deposit (LD) ratio stood at 77.2 %, which is slightly below its recent peak of 78.2 % on 22nd March 2024, and its all-time high of 78.8 % in September 2013. The report stated that typically a rising LD ratio is indicative of a tightness in the banking sector, potentially indicating overheating. A lower LD indicates that the bank is aggressive in its credit disbursement practises, which could be risky. It highlighted that an analysis of the sector's transactions with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) through the liquidity adjustment facility (LAF), along with recent trends in the weighted average call rate (WACR), suggests that the current rise in the LD ratio does not indicate tightness, which is why there is no immediate cause of concern. In fact, the report added that the concern over weak deposit growth may be overstated. Historical data show that bank deposits grew at an average rate of 9.5 % during the pre-COVID period (January 2015 to February 2020) and 10.4 % in the post-COVID period (March 2020 to August 2024). Earlier, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also urged state-run banks to enhance deposit mobilization through attractive offers and focusing on Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. Loan-to-deposit ratio pegs the total deposits received by the bank against the loans it has offered. It helps in understanding how liquid the bank is. The loan-to-deposit ratio (LDR) is a financial metric that compares a bank's total loans to its total deposits. It's used to assess a bank's liquidity and credit risk, and to inform lending and deposit-taking decisions The report said while the exact measures are unclear, the deposit growth could potentially be increased by making other asset classes less attractive through taxation or interest rates, or by boosting fiscal spending to increase net credit to the government. In its forecast, the report noted that private banks will witness a moderation in their <keyword id="19998083" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="credit-growth" source="keywords">credit growth</keyword>, while public sector banks will maintain a healthy credit growth rate. "Our analysis suggests that deposit growth could be raised by either making other asset classes unattractive (through taxation and/or interest rate) or increasing the growth in net credit to the government by pushing fiscal spending higher" the report added. Alternatively, policymakers might consider curtailing loan growth to lower the LD ratio. However, this could slow deposit growth, particularly if corporate credit growth remains weak. Encouraging savers to shift investments from other assets to bank deposits could also be an option, but this carries risks of overreach and potential damage to economic confidence. Das had also flagged the excessive growth, or froth developing in the personal loan space. Notably, while credit growth in unsecured personal loans like credit cards continues to decline, it remains elevated at 23.3% as of June 2024. However, this is a significant reduction from 34.2% witnessed in November 2023. As fiscal spending increases, bank credit to the government is likely to grow, which should elevate deposits and broad money supply. The report said "However, the extent of foreign capital inflows and the RBI's policy for managing these inflows remain uncertain". Last month, RBI governor Shaktikanta Das had also addressed this issue in the 50th meeting of MPC (Monetary Policy Committee). Per him, deposit mobilisation has been lagging credit growth for some time now. This may potentially expose the system to structural liquidity issues. "While there could be a debate regarding ‘deposits funding loans’ vis-à-vis ‘loans funding deposits’, the current regulatory concern stems from the fact that there could be structural changes happening which banks need to recognise and, accordingly, devise their strategies. Households and consumers who traditionally leaned on banks for parking or investing their savings are increasingly turning to capital markets and other financial intermediaries", Das said. Per him, while bank deposits continue to remain dominant as a percentage of financial assets owned by households, their share has been declining consistently, since households are now increasingly allocating their savings to mutual funds, insurance funds, pension funds and other avenues.

Loan-to-deposit ratio will subside on its own in coming months, notes Motilal Oswal report

President Droupadi Murmu, on Friday visited an exhibition to showcase space technologies and achievements, at Bharat Mandapam, on the maiden <keyword id="22301946" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="National-Space-Day" source="keywords">National Space Day</keyword>. Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh and <keyword id="19915124" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ISRO" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="ISRO" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="ISRO">ISRO</keyword> Chairman S Somanath were also present. <keyword id="19939985" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="President-Murmu" source="keywords">President Murmu</keyword> extended her greetings on the occasion of the first National Space Day and welcomed the decision to celebrate Space Day on the day <keyword id="19990220" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chandrayaan" source="keywords">Chandrayaan</keyword> landed on the <keyword id="19899207" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="moon" source="keywords">Moon</keyword>. "It was a glorious moment for all the Indians when ISRO's Chandrayaan landed on the moon. I saw the live telecast of that moment, I was so proud that day like other Indians. To celebrate National Space Day on this occasion is a commendable step. I congratulate all of you on the first National Space Day. ISRO has achieved many feats since its inception". She also expressed her happiness with the student's participation in the event "Happy to see students' participation in this event." Highlighting the significance of <keyword id="19929542" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="space-exploration" source="keywords">space exploration</keyword>, she added "Space exploration has extended human's ability and help complete the imagination of humankind. Space exploration is exciting and challenging at the same time. Health, transportation, environment, energy, security and information technology are benefitted due to the growth in the <keyword id="20242397" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="space-sector" source="keywords">space sector</keyword>". The president termed the growth of the ISRO as extraordinary, "The growth of <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="India" source="keywords">India</keyword>'s space sector is extraordinary, be it Mangalyan mission that was accomplished through minimum resources or launching more than 100 satellites at a time. we have achieved many such feats". She also praised the introduction of private players in the space sector in the country, "Introducing of the private sector in Indian has led to the formation of many <keyword id="22829456" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="space-start-ups" source="keywords">space start-ups</keyword> in India. This has allowed the youths of India to explore the space sector". Expressing her happiness about ISRO's plan to make <keyword id="20793131" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="space-mission" source="keywords">space mission</keyword> debris-free she said "I am happy that India is moving towards making India's space mission debris-free by 2030". India celebrated its first-ever National Space Day on Friday on the theme "Touching Lives While Touching the Moon: India's Space Saga". On 23 August 2023, India achieved a historic milestone when the Chandrayaan-3 lander completed a soft landing on the moon. This remarkable accomplishment made India the 4th country to accomplish this feat and the 1st to land on the lunar South Pole. In recognition of this achievement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has declared August 23 as National Space Day.

"A glorious moment for all Indians when Chandrayaan landed on moon" says President Murmu on National Space Day

Prime Minister <keyword id="19895781" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="narendra-modi" source="keywords">Narendra Modi</keyword> urged CEOs of US majors to take advantage of India's growth story as the country is making all efforts to become the third largest economy of the world in his third term. India is currently the fifth largest economy of the world after the US, China, Germany and Japan with a GDP of around USD 3.9 trillion. India has been the fastest growing large economies of the world with GDP growth rate of over 7 per cent for the last three consecutive years. Addressing CEOs of the large US tech firms on Sunday, Modi said India will make every effort to become the third largest economy in the world in his third term (2024-29). Companies should take advantage of India's growth story for collaboration and innovation by co-developing, co-designing, and co-producing in India for the world, harnessing the opportunities from the country's economic and technological growth, he said. Assuring the business leaders of India's deep commitment to the protection of intellectual property and to fostering tech innovation, Modi highlighted the economic transformation happening in the country, particularly in electronics and information technology manufacturing and semiconductors. Modi asserted that his government was committed to making India a "global hub of <keyword id="20073013" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="semiconductor-manufacturing" source="keywords">semiconductor manufacturing</keyword>". The meeting took place at the Lotte <keyword id="19904497" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="New-York" source="keywords">New York</keyword> Palace Hotel on Sunday during the second leg of Modi's three-day US visit. It saw the participation of CEOs of 15 major US-based firms working on cutting-edge technologies such as AI, quantum computing and semiconductors. "Had a fruitful roundtable with tech CEOs in New York, discussing aspects relating to technology, innovation and more. Also highlighted the strides made by India in this field. I am glad to see immense optimism towards India," Modi said in a post on X. During the conference, Modi said technology collaboration and efforts such as the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (ICET) lie at the core of the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, according to a Ministry of External Affairs press release. Organised by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) School of Engineering, the CEOs of top US tech firms, including Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayena, Accenture CEO Julie Sweet and NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang attended the meeting. Others who participated in the roundtable included AMD CEO Lisa Su, HP Inc. CEO Enrique Lores, IBM CEO Arvind Krishna, Dr Noubar Afeyan, Chairman of Moderna, and Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg. Modi also talked about India's BIO E3 (biotechnology for environment, economy and employment) policy to develop the country into a biotech powerhouse and on the topic of AI, noted that India's policy is to promote AI for all, underpinned by its ethical and responsible use. The CEOs appreciated India's growing prominence as a global technology hub, driven by its innovation-friendly policies and flourishing market opportunities. They also expressed strong interest in investing and collaborating with India, agreeing that investing in startups would be a synergistic opportunity to innovate and develop newer technologies in the country. Others who attended the conference included Biogen Inc CEO Chris Viehbacher, CEO of Bristol Myers Squibb, Chris Boerner, Eli Lilly and Company CEO David A. Ricks, LAM Research CEO Tim Archer, GlobalFoundries CEO Thomas Caulfield, and the CEO of Kyndryl, Martin Schroeter. "Further cementing technology and business connect. PM @narendramodi interacted with the top tech leaders and CEOs of USA, in a Roundtable hosted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology School of Engineering, in New York today. PM emphasised India's growth prospects and discussed initiatives to foster collaborations and innovation across diverse sectors," the official account of the MEA said in a post on X. The prime minister had a separate meeting with Krishna P Singh, CEO of Holtec International, which is into nuclear and solar power generation. They discussed Holtec's plan for expanding manufacturing in India and advancing energy cooperation, PMO India said in a post on X. Earlier on Sunday, Modi addressed the <keyword id="20115166" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-diaspora" source="keywords">Indian diaspora</keyword> at the packed Nassau Veterans Coliseum on Long Island in New York. He also held bilateral meetings with world leaders at the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session here. Modi reached New York on Saturday after attending the Quad Leaders' Summit hosted by President Joe Biden in Wilmington, Delaware. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="113516805" title="Why is Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting the US this weekend?" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>

PM Modi invites US CEOs to take a 'byte' out of India's growing technology sector

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday announced a cut in customs duty on minerals such as lithium, copper and cobalt, which are critical for nuclear energy, renewable and other sectors, to give a fillip to the energy transition. In her budget speech in Lok Sabha, Sitharaman recalled that in the interim budget she had announced a strategy to sustain high and more resource-efficient economic growth, along with energy security in terms of availability, accessibility and affordability. "We will bring out a policy document on appropriate energy transition pathways that balances the imperatives of employment, growth and environmental sustainability," she said. Noting that minerals such as lithium, copper, cobalt and rare earth elements are critical for sectors like nuclear energy, <keyword id="19895602" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="renewable-energy" source="keywords">renewable energy</keyword>, space, defence, telecommunications, and high-tech electronics, she proposed to fully exempt customs duties on 25 critical minerals and reduce BCD (basic customs duty) on two of them. This will provide a major fillip to the processing and refining of such minerals and help secure their availability for these strategic and important sectors, she said. She stated that energy transition is critical in the fight against climate change. To support energy transition, she proposed to expand the list of exempted capital goods for use in the manufacture of solar cells and panels in the country. Further, she stated that in view of sufficient domestic manufacturing capacity of solar glass and tinned copper interconnect, I propose not to extend the exemption of customs duties provided to them. Noting that steel and copper are important raw materials and to reduce their cost of production, she proposed to remove the BCD on ferro nickel and blister copper. "I am also continuing with nil BCD on ferrous scrap and nickel cathode and concessional BCD of 2.5 per cent on copper scrap," she said. About the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, which was rolled out earlier this year, he informed the House that in line with the announcement in the interim budget, PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana has been launched to install rooftop solar plants to enable 1 crore households obtain free electricity up to 300 units every month. The scheme has generated remarkable response with more than 1.28 crore registrations and 14 lakh applications, and we will further encourage it, he stated. She further stated that a policy for promoting pumped storage projects will be brought out for electricity storage and facilitating smooth integration of the growing share of renewable energy with its variable &amp; intermittent nature in the overall energy mix. She stated that nuclear energy is expected to form a very significant part of the energy mix for Viksit Bharat. Towards that pursuit, our government will partner with the private sector for setting up Bharat Small Reactors; research &amp; development of Bharat Small Modular Reactor and research &amp; development of newer technologies for nuclear energy, she informed the House. The R&amp;D funding announced in the interim budget will be made available for this sector, she added. The development of indigenous technology for Advanced Ultra Super Critical (AUSC) <keyword id="20421620" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="thermal-power" source="keywords">thermal power</keyword> plants with much higher efficiency has been completed, she informed the House. A joint venture between NTPC and BHEL will set up a full-scale 800 MW commercial plant using AUSC technology and the government will provide the required fiscal support, she added. Moving forward, the development of indigenous capacity for the production of high-grade steel and other advanced metallurgy materials for these plants will result in strong spin-off benefits for the economy, she pointed out. A roadmap for moving the 'hard to abate' industries from 'energy efficiency' targets to 'emission targets' will be formulated, she stated adding that appropriate regulations for the transition of these industries from the current 'Perform, Achieve and Trade' mode to 'Indian Carbon Market' mode will be put in place. She further stated that an investment-grade energy audit of traditional micro and small industries in 60 clusters, including brass and ceramic, will be facilitated. Financial support will be provided for shifting them to cleaner forms of energy and implementation of energy efficiency measures. The scheme will be replicated in another 100 clusters in the next phase, she stated. Gaurav Kedia, Chairman, Indian Biogas Association said that the <keyword id="19908389" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Union-Budget" source="keywords">Union Budget</keyword> 2024 has unveiled a roadmap towards a sustainable and resilient India, with agriculture and energy security at its core. It is anticipated that these initiatives will catalyze the growth of the biogas industry, leading to increased rural employment, reduced carbon emissions, and improved soil health, he stated. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/budget-2024-25-changes-to-tax-slabs-increased-standard-deduction-and-other-changes-to-direct-taxation/articleshow/111951205.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/budget-2024-25-changes-to-tax-slabs-increased-standard-deduction-and-other-changes-to-direct-taxation/articleshow/111951205.cms" target="_blank">Budget 2024-25 – Changes to tax slabs, increased standard deduction and other changes to direct taxation</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/expectations-from-union-budget-2024-25-how-will-this-budget-impact-you/articleshow/111946291.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/expectations-from-union-budget-2024-25-how-will-this-budget-impact-you/articleshow/111946291.cms" target="_blank">Union Budget 2024-25: How will this budget impact you?</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/budget-2024-record-allocation-of-rs-1-48-lakh-crore-for-education-employment-and-skilling/articleshow/111951228.cms">Budget 2024: Record allocation of Rs 1.48 lakh crore for education, employment and skilling!</a>

FM cuts customs duty on minerals critical for energy transition

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Tom Greiner, Accenture's lead for health and public-service tech, helps clients improve their IT.</li><li>Greiner opened up about the evolution of cloud technology and generative AI in the public sector.</li></ul>Tom Greiner joined <a target="_blank" href="https://www.accenture.com/us-en">Accenture</a>, an international <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/top-business-execs-trending-insights-ai-worker-well-being-roundtable-2024-9">leader in information-technology services and consulting</a>, in 1988 as a director of technology in the company's federal-services division. He spent 34 years in that role, which allowed him to work with a wide variety of public-sector clients.He has hands-on experience managing complex projects like US-VISIT, a system deployed by the Department of Homeland Security to handle biometric-data collection at border crossings.In 2022, Greiner became the senior managing director of Accenture's division for health and public-service technology. Using his experience with implementing technologies for US federal services, he helps clients in the commercial public sector and health employ complex information technology, including cloud tools and generative artificial intelligence.Greiner spoke with Business Insider about digital transformations in the public sector and how they might evolve.The following has been edited for clarity and length.Let's talk about cloud technology. Can you explain what hybrid cloud means and its significance in the public sector?Many of our clients still reside in their on-premise data center, or they use a private cloud, which is somebody else's data center but not located that far away.However, we've seen more clients start to embrace the cloud. COVID was an accelerator for that. Dollars and cents is also a driver. There's a need to treat the taxpayer dollar respectfully. Using the cloud for things like backup and recovery or storing system and security logs is much cheaper.As more clients have built digital-facing capabilities to interact with citizens, they've seen that that build is typically done in some sort of cloud variant. Many of them, aside from federal, are focused on a single cloud provider.But in federal, we see many multicloud and hybrid-cloud environments. They'll have data sitting in a data center. They also have some in a thoughtful hybrid-cloud environment, leveraging the cloud for certain tasks but not everything.A few agencies are 100% cloud. They're even dabbling with polycloud, meaning one workload is hitting multiple clouds within the workload. Generative AI is also an accelerator there. We're seeing clients dabble in different foundation models that sit in different clouds.What concerns do stakeholders typically raise when implementing the cloud in the public sector?In Europe, there's a data-sovereignty concern. Where's the data? Where are the people who are touching the data? Where are the people who have access to the data center?In the United States, and in state and local organizations, clients want to know not only if the cloud is secure but also how a cloud service will secure their workload.Clients are asking for a managed SOCKS service and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sc/how-businesses-should-respond-to-ransomware-attacks-2021-3">active threat hunting</a>. Depending on the nature of the data, we've had clients ask for what we call moving-target defense. We can set up a cloud environment, and it will run for four or six hours. Then, we shut it down and set it up somewhere else. If an adversary gets into the environment, their ability to understand it is more limited.How does government regulation impact the public sector's use of the cloud differently from the private sector?There's still confusion in Europe because countries have their own opinions on what the General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR, should mean, and there's not a uniform point of view on what is right to meet the specifications.Each country is coming up with their own interpretation, and sometimes they're looking to the first mover for guidance. So if Germany went first, another country will look at that and decide, yes, that's good enough or no, we want more.Getting back to the United States, I think a helpful move was the establishment of a minimum set of federal security requirements through the National Institute of Standards and Technology. It's a commonly understood standard that commercial entities look toward.I think the last couple of federal administrations have wound down their emphasis on the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nist.gov/cyberframework">NIST Cybersecurity Framework</a> as something they need to keep current, and that was a surprise. The implication is that security, like beauty, is left open to the eye of the beholder, and individual variances are increasing friction and cost in the market a bit.A lot of industries would be a fan of the administration again stamping the NIST Cybersecurity Framework as the go-to for being good enough to do business with the US federal government.What's the current demand for AI, particularly generative AI, in the public sector?For AI in general, I'd say it's high and has been for a number of years. With generative AI, I think there's both optimism and caution. 2023 was a year of small experiments and exploration. In 2024, we needed to think about it institutionally.We've worked with states and localities on setting up Centers of Excellence to understand different models, provide coaching on responsible AI, and exchange best practices and reusable capabilities across agencies.Cloud went through a similar process, and I think lessons were learned that are now applied to generative AI. Cloud started as a bit of a free-for-all, and then common infrastructures and security capabilities came later. With generative AI, organizations are trying to solve citizens' problems but also to start with direction on how to do it in a fair and equitable way.Can you provide examples of how generative AI is deployed in the public sector?We completed a program with the District of Columbia Department of Health that created a chatbot for citizens and staff to ask questions about services and program qualifications. That was our first implementation of Amazon Web Services' Bedrock using <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/retrieval-augmented-generation-making-ai-language-models-better-2024-5">a retrieval-augmented-generation solution</a>.We uploaded their documents and website information into a closed model to guide citizens' questions. RAG is common now, and in the last three months, we've added knowledge graphs for better contextualization and correlation of documents.Generally, I'm still seeing one-off use cases. It's about experimentation, and not about an organization-wide fundamental change. The public sector doesn't have the competitive pressure that commercial does to reinvent, as it's sort of a monopolistic entity by design.However, budgets are tight. If public-sector organizations can free up staff from mundane activities, that's important. It's big in public health, for example, where there's a nursing shortage across the globe. Helping someone coming in for a surgery to ask all the questions they would want to ask in a conversational sort of way could probably off-load 80% of the patient prep and free up a nurse for other tasks.Are general attitudes toward generative AI receptive or cautious in the public sector?I'm seeing that people are encouraged. That's because agencies are picking off use cases where they're confident they can deliver immediate value and build positive momentum. They're going for quick, easy wins, the parts of the job that people hate to do.It works best in organizations with a responsible AI framework in place or that are working with providers that bring that as part of what they do. However, it's still the Wild West, so many organizations can do what they want, and use whoever they want, and get whatever results they're going to get. I suspect we'll see a mixed bag.Still, I think there'll be enough success that AI will continue to permeate and cross-pollinate across states and localities.

A tech leader at Accenture shares how AI and cloud tools in the public sector can evolve with regulation: 'It's still the Wild West'

Digital transformations have made an appreciable impact on society. Whether it's conspicuous guidance or subtle suggestion, technology influences our everyday decisions. Think about it: You landed on this very page because an algorithm willed it — via a social platform, a search result, or some other digital conduit.Digital transformations have made an appreciable impact on society. Whether it's conspicuous guidance or subtle suggestion, technology influences our everyday decisions. Think about it: You landed on this very page because an algorithm willed it — via a social platform, a search result, or some other digital conduit.This extensive development of information technology has disrupted just about every industry you can think of. It's gaining even more momentum with the help of innovations such as artificial intelligence, cloud tech, extended reality, and additive manufacturing. Business Insider's ongoing series "Build IT" takes a deep dive into the technologies that are driving change across sectors, including banking, farming, fashion, music, sports, and more.Read the stories ahead to learn how experts are using tech tools to improve companies of all sizes and create a world where IT and digital innovations have resounding authority. <h2>Credits</h2>Series Editor: Brea Cubit Story Editors: Brea Cubit, Stephanie Hallett, Lily Katzman, Monica Melton, Mark Yarm Story Reporters: Érica Carnevalli, Shayna Conde, Nicholas Fearn, Jake Hall, Leila Jordan, Christine MacIntyre, Ngozi Nwanji, Amanda Paule, Bella Sayegh, Matthew S. Smith, Madeline Stone, Ellen Thomas, Diana Umana, Sabina Wex Illustrator: Glenn Harvey Design and Development: Annie Fu, Alyssa Powell, Taylor Tyson Social Audience Producers and Editors: Julianne Han, Daria Yazmiene Executive Editor, Special Projects: Julia Hood

Build IT explores digital transformations that are developing information technology across industries

<ul><li>For 71% of <keyword id="1565074" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="indian-jobseekers" source="Orion">Indian jobseekers</keyword>, work flexibility is the most crucial parameter. when evaluating a job opportunity.</li><li>80% of the informal employees want better <keyword id="417908" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="medical-benefits" source="Orion">medical benefits</keyword>.</li><li>Jobseekers want to know the salary range before applying for a role and want to hear back from recruiters in a timely manner.</li></ul> The aspirations of the Indian workforce - especially the millennials and the GenZs - have changed dramatically after the Covid-19 pandemic. Indian jobseekers are now prioritising work flexibility, work modes and job location much more when evaluating a job opportunity. Moreover, the <keyword id="1120419" type="General" weightage="60" keywordseo="informal-sector" source="Orion">informal sector</keyword> wants the gap with the formal sector bridged when it comes to health benefits. A recent Indeed India survey of 1,810 individuals – consisting of 561 employers and 1,249 jobseekers – revealed that most jobseekers prefer to work in a hybrid setting, where they can work from home some days and from the office on other days. Larger organisations are more likely to offer the desired flexibility, with 51% of employers stating that they do. For as many as 71% of Indian jobseekers, work flexibility takes the top spot. This includes the ability to work from home, set your own hours, and take breaks as needed. For those going to the office, the importance of factoring in the proximity of the job location to their office space has increased. "Streamlining processes, building aspirations and empathetic consideration can really empower jobseekers and unlock a diverse pool of talent. Hence, employers who want to attract and retain top talent need to be aware of these preferences and be willing to adapt,” says Sashi Kumar, head of sales, Indeed India. In addition to flexibility, jobseekers also value clarity and communication during the job search process. They want to know the salary range before applying for a role, and they want to hear back from recruiters in a timely manner. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Quess Corp report sees informal sector aspire" text="Quess Corp report sees informal sector aspire">Quess Corp report sees informal sector aspire</cmsannotation> Another survey conducted by Quess Corp found that 80% of the informal employees expect their employers to provide them with the security of ESI (employees’ state insurance) and other medical benefits. Moreover, the aspiration to transition from informal employment to the formal sector is higher for women. "With high aspirations regarding skilling, social security, and healthcare benefits, India's informal economy is as aspirational to benefit from EPFO, ESIC, and other social security benefits as their formal counterparts. Our current laws enable coverage of such social security benefits only for organisations that have above 10 or 20 employees. This leaves behind a huge class of citizens that are not benefited by these laws," says Lohit Bhatia, president of workforce management, Quess Corp. EPFO refers to the Employees Provident Fund Organisation. These findings suggest that there is a growing demand for formal employment in India, and that technology is playing a role in helping people make the transition. Moreover, work structures may never go back to a fully work-from-office structure as the demand for a hybrid culture has seeped in deep after the pandemic showed that work was possible without leaving the comforts of your home.

India votes for a hybrid work culture, better medical benefits for the informal sector

<ul><li>India's real GDP grew at around 8.2% in real terms in Fy24: Economic Survey </li><li>Retail inflation dipped to 5.4% in FY24, notes Economic Survey</li><li>Unemployment dipped to 3.2% in FY24</li></ul><keyword id="19912360" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Finance-Minister-Nirmala-Sitharaman" source="keywords">Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> is set to present the union budget on 23rd July, at 11 am. The budget session is scheduled to last between 22nd July and 12th August. This will be <keyword id="19956941" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="FM-Sitharaman" source="keywords">FM Sitharaman</keyword>'s seventh consecutive budget presentation under the third term of <keyword id="20205025" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bhartiya-Janata-Party" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Bhartiya Janata Party" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Bhartiya Janata Party">Bhartiya Janata Party</keyword> (BJP). All budget-related documents will be available at indiabudget.gov.in. You can watch the presentation live on Doordarshan, Sansad TV, and also on various official government YouTube channels. With this budget, Sitharaman will only precede former PM <keyword id="20342248" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Morarji-Desai" source="keywords">Morarji Desai</keyword>, who has presented the highest number of budget (10) till date, followed by <keyword id="22330828" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="P-Chidambaram" source="keywords">P. Chidambaram</keyword> with 9 budgets, and Pranab Mukherjee, who has 8 budgets to his credit. In her recent address in parliament, Sitharaman noted that significant social and economic decisions will be a highlight of this budget. Notably, she concluded <keyword id="901788" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="pre-budget-consultations" source="Orion">pre-budget consultations</keyword>, which began on June 19th, on July 5th, where she met 20 invitees across 10 groups, including representatives from agriculture, skill development, finance and banking, energy, <keyword id="17408" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Infrastructure" source="Orion">infrastructure</keyword> sector and more. <h2>Key expectations from Budget 2024</h2>Experts note that this budget will mainly focus on improving consumption, and boosting <keyword id="174143" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="infrastructure-development" source="Orion">infrastructure development</keyword>. Per reports, the government is also mulling raising the threshold of standard deduction under income tax regimes from the present Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh. Additionally, to boost healthcare accessibility for the underserved in the country, the government is also contemplating to double the annual coverage offered under the <keyword id="20097876" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ayushman-Bharat-health-insurance-scheme" source="keywords">Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme</keyword> from the present Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh over the next 3 years, along with also covering individuals aged over 70. Mr. Tashwinder Singh, CEO &amp; MD, Niyogin Fintech Limited, which offers credit to MSMEs, noted that upcoming regulatory changes should focus on simplifying compliance, taxation policies that encourage entrepreneurship, and incentivise innovations that drive R&amp;D investments. "We hope that the government takes measures to support the lending industry through access to capital and affordable interest rates, enabling entrepreneurs to realize their vision. Furthermore, we look forward to relaxed norms for NBFCs, allowing them to contribute more substantially to the economy. These measures will collectively propel India's economic growth, boost job creation, and position the Indian fintech industry as a strong contender in innovation and entrepreneurship", he continues. As for bolstering green infrastructure and clean energy production, Ms Aditi Balbir, Co-founder, EcoRatings notes that the 2024 union budget should prioritize investments in sustainable infrastructure projects and clean energy solutions, as 70% of greenhouse gas emissions stem from energy, industry, and buildings. "This will create a future-proof foundation for economic growth and help in achieving net-zero targets. Infrastructure is crucial in addressing climate change and meeting diverse societal needs. A transformative overhaul of our current and future infrastructure assets is essential. The budget should introduce financial incentives, such as lower interest rates on loans and dedicated grants, for companies committed to ESG compliance. This will create a clear link between sustainability efforts and economic benefits", she continued. <h2>Focus on Agri-credit, Real Estate in Budget 2024</h2>The government could also raise the target for agricultural loans disbursed during the year by up to 25%, setting the target at Rs 25 lakh crore. The government will also have to revamp the MSP (minimum support price) system in this space, focusing on challenges such as narrow coverage, dipping export competitiveness, discouraging private investment in this space and more. Another area that demands significant attention is real estate. Shubhi Jain, Principal Partner &amp; Head of CRM, Square Yards anticipates significant reforms in the upcoming budget under the new government. Securing industry status will unlock a plethora of legal and administrative benefits, along with much-needed tax incentives. "Also, while government’s focus on affordable housing under PMAY is commendable, recalibrating strategies in light of escalating construction costs is imperative for sustained inclusiveness and effectiveness. Moreover, enhanced tax reliefs and increased deductions on home loans, currently capped at INR 2 lakhs, are pivotal in stimulating demand and supporting prospective buyers", she says. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111946291" title="Union Budget 2024-25 key highlights: Assistance for Nalanda's development as a tourist center" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div><h2>Short-term outlook positive, notes Economic Survey </h2>FM Sitharaman presented the Economic Survey 2023-24 in the parliament today, ahead of the budget. The survey noted that the Indian economy had managed to recover and expand in an orderly fashion post the pandemic, with the real GDP growing by 8.2% in FY24. Going ahead, prospects for continued strong growth in FY25 remain robust. India also managed to bring down its current account deficit (0.7% of GDP in FY24), while projecting a 7%+ growth rate in the medium term. On the employment front, the survey noted that AI might moderate India's services export growth by as much as 0.3 to 0.4 percentage points annually over the course of the next decade. As such, greater emphasis and focus is needed on areas like blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, Internet of Things, cybersecurity, cloud computing, big data analytics, augmented reality, virtual reality, 3D printing, and web and mobile development. The Indian labour market indicators have significantly improved over the past 6 years, with unemployment rates dipping to 3.2% in 2022-23. However, even as net payroll additions to EPFO have doubled over the last 5 years, signaling a healthy formal employment market, job creation and increasing women participation in workforce remain key areas of concern. For all updates and latest information related to the budget, don't forget to follow <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Budget Insider</a>! SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/union-budget-2024-live-updates-finance-minister-nirmala-sitharaman-key-announcements-23-july/liveblog/111942008.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Union Budget 2024 Live Updates: FM Sitharaman announces internships for 10 million youth in 500 top companies</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/loan-limit-under-mudra-scheme-to-be-doubled-to-20-lakh-sitharaman/articleshow/111950024.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Loan limit under MUDRA scheme to be doubled to ₹20 lakh: Sitharaman</a>

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