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<ul><li>The Indian government has been shutting down internet services in select parts of the country amid protests against the <keyword id="6564012" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="citizenship-amendment-act">Citizenship Amendment Act</keyword> (CAA).</li><li>The internet shutdowns have led an outcry from human activists that such measures aren’t coming down through the ‘right channels’.</li><li>The accelerated pace and expanse of the internet shutdowns also has China citing India as ‘setting an example’.</li><li>Businesses aren’t immune to the effects either as many online retailers rescheduled orders or reported a dip in sales.</li></ul>Amid the protests, violence and discord over India’s newly formed Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), authorities have been shutting down access to the internet in selected areas to control the situation. When the internet isn’t being shut down, it’s at least being slowed down — known as throttling. Human rights activists claim that the order did not come down the ‘right channels’ making the entire exercise ‘illegal’. 
 <div type="image" title="protest2_edited" msid="72931875" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Throngs of anti-CAA protests outside the Red Fort in New Delhi&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>



 It can only be ordered by a competent authority like Union home secretary or state home secretary, but this order was not issued by them," technology lawyer Mishi Choudhary told <a href="https://telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/delhi-internet-shutdown-did-not-come-via-right-channel-digital-right-activists/72897911">ET</a>. And, this is <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/internet-shutdowns-in-india-have-skyrocketed-but-now-the-indian-government-wants-that-to-stop/articleshow/67178243.cms">not the first time</a> that the government is being accused of using <keyword id="991379" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Internet-shutdown">internet shutdown</keyword> as a ‘quick fix’ solution for ‘potentially’ volatile situations. 
 <div type="image" title="protest6_edited" msid="72931857" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Phone with postpaid connections finally get network access in Kashmir on 14 October 2019 after 71 days of an internet shutdown&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>



 In fact, India has turned so infamous for it during the last few months that China — known for its strict surveillance of online activity — is citing India as an example. India’s internet shutdown shows normal practice for sovereign countries," said an editorial by Qing Qiu in <a href="http://en.people.cn/n3/2019/1217/c90000-9641267.html">People’s Daily</a> — China’s largest newspaper and a controlled entity of the country’s ruling party. Internet shutdown capital of the world The government is allowed to sanction an internet shutdown in the case of a public emergency under the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules, 2017. The problem is that internet shutdowns have become so common in India that it now has a reputation for being the ‘<a href="https://www.livemint.com/mint-lounge/features/inside-the-internet-shutdown-capital-of-the-world-11575644823381.html">internet shutdown capital of the world</a>’. Kashmiris had to endure a four-month-long shutdown while the networks in Assam and parts of West Bengal were sporadically cut and activated. 
 <div type="image" title="protest7_edited" msid="72931888" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Parts of Kashmir remain under curfew and internet black out&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>



 Since 2012, the internet has been shut down in India a total of 375 times and most of them have occurred during the last two years — 134 in 2018 and 103 in 2019. It means that shutting down the internet in a state of emergency should be standard practice for sovereign countries," according to the <a href="http://en.people.cn/n3/2019/1217/c90000-9641267.html">People’s Daily</a> editorial. Impact of internet shutdowns The damage of an internet shutdown isn’t restricted to missing messages on WhatsApp or an update on Instagram either. Although, Prime Minister Narendra Modi did ironically try and send out a tweet his ‘brothers and sisters in Assam’ when it was under an internet blackout. 
	<div type="twitter" handle="narendramodi" handlename="Narendra Modi" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1134082549041393672/QbihPzrL_normal.png" favoritecount="77241" retweetcount="15350" status="I want to assure my brothers and sisters of Assam that they have nothing to worry after the passing of #CAB. I wa… https://t.co/VPsj5t5opd" createdat="1576124902000" id="1204981291730341888"></div>



 Internet shutdowns are affecting businesses as well. Between 2012 to 2017, they cost the economy nearly $3 billion, according to an estimate by the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (<a href="https://www.newindianexpress.com/business/2018/apr/26/internet-shutdown-cost-indian-economy-usd-3-billion-from-2012-17-study-1806393.html">ICRIER</a>). This time around, food delivery apps like Zomato, Uber Eats and Swiggy saw their <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/cabs-to-food-e-biz-hit-by-internet-shutdown/articleshow/72920805.cms">volumes dip by 10 to 20%</a> in Delhi. Grofers, an online grocery delivery service, had to reschedule 20,000 to 25,000 of its orders in Lucknow. 
 <div type="image" title="protest1_edited" msid="72931915" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Traffic comes to half as roads get blocked by anti-CAA protestors in New Delhi&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>



 In addition the effect on businesses, this might not be the best time for the Indian government to be exercising its power in such a way with the Personal Data Protection Bill underway. The bill is currently under discussion by a joint committee after being tabled in the Parliament in its last session. There are concerns that it has too many loopholes that will give the government access to user data in the name of ‘national security’ or a ‘public emergency’ — the very same reason used to justify the many internet shutdowns across the country. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/internet-shutdowns-in-india-have-skyrocketed-but-now-the-indian-government-wants-that-to-stop/articleshow/67178243.cms">Internet shutdowns in India have skyrocketed — but now the Indian government wants that to stop</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/All-the-countries-where-someone-managed-to-shut-down-the-entire-internet-160and-why-they-did-it/articleshow/70009168.cms">All the countries where someone managed to shut down the entire internet - and why they did it</a> <a href="http://businessinsider.in/india-accounted-for-most-number-of-intentional-internet-shutdowns-in-south-asia-2017-18-unesco/articleshow/64189016.cms">India accounted for most number of intentional internet shutdowns in South Asia 2017-18: UNESCO</a>

Indian government shut off the Internet over a 100 times in 2019 — and China is lovin' it

<ul><li><keyword id="15491" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Airtel">Airtel</keyword> and <keyword id="15492" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Vodafone">Vodafone</keyword> said that they are following a government directive to shut down internet services.</li><li>Over 13 metro stations have been shut in the National Capital.</li></ul>Telecom operators Airtel, Vodafone are shutting down mobile internet services in several parts of Delhi. This is as the city is gearing up for a large-scale protest against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Customers took to Twitter to complain about interrupted services. The official handles from Airtel and Vodafone responded and confirmed that they are following a government directive to shut down the services. According to IANS, the Delhi Police wrote to the cell phone operators including Airtel, Jio, MTNL, BSNL, and Vodafone Idea to stop all communication services in many parts of the national capital. 
	
	<div type="twitter" handle="BiIndia" handlename="Business Insider India🇮🇳" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/897791968561856513/lSAPr7ui_normal.jpg" favoritecount="7" retweetcount="0" status="@Airtel_Presence .@VodafoneIN also tweets to a user saying &quot;there is a planned outage scheduled as per government d… https://t.co/eCp7Xq2Pw7" createdat="1576740039000" id="1207561366292189184"></div>





 
	
	<div type="twitter" handle="BiIndia" handlename="Business Insider India🇮🇳" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/897791968561856513/lSAPr7ui_normal.jpg" favoritecount="7" retweetcount="2" status="In a tweet reply, @Airtel_Presence says as per instructions from government authorities, voice, internet and SMS se… https://t.co/ujyrlI7Gh8" createdat="1576739370000" id="1207558558310486016"></div>





 According to an IANS report, services have been shut in these areas of Central Delhi – Central district, Walled city area, Mandi House, Selampur, Zafarabad, Shaeenbagh, Jamia Nagar, and Mustafabad. Ironically, today the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejrwal launched a WiFi scheme. “We regret that on a day when the Delhi government had to launch the #WiFiScheme, internet services have been suspended in some parts of Delhi,” said Kejriwal. Central Delhi has come to a halt as several protests are planned in the area. Over 13 metro stations have been shut, while commuters at Gurgaon-Delhi border were stuck in a massive traffic jam. “Metro services from Jama Masjid to Kashmere Gate remained sealed as security forces put barricades to prevent protestors from reaching the Red Fort on Thursday,” said an IANS report. However, protestors are known to be marching towards the Red Fort defying a Section 144 order in the area. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/caa-protests-traffic-snarls-in-national-capital-delhi-gurgaon-border-chokes-with-vehicles/articleshow/72882208.cms">CAA protests: Traffic snarls in national capital, Delhi-Gurgaon border chokes with vehicles</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/india/news/anti-caa-protest-prohibitory-orders-imposed-near-red-fort/articleshow/72880821.cms">Delhi police impose Section 144 at Red Fort ahead of a protest</a>

Airtel, Vodafone shut down internet services in several parts of Delhi

New Delhi, <keyword id="3658" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="India">India</keyword> suffered the <keyword id="10551009" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="longest-internet-shutdowns">longest internet shutdowns</keyword> in 2020 for the second year running globally, bearing the biggest economic impact of $2.8 billion and 8,927 hours lost, affecting 10.3 million users in <keyword id="54821" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="total">total</keyword>, a <keyword id="3747284" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="new-report">new report</keyword> from the UK-based privacy and security research firm Top10VPN has revealed. As in <keyword id="2908075" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="previous-years">previous years</keyword>, India continued to restrict internet access more than any <keyword id="4941263" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="other-country">other country</keyword> -- over 75 times in 2020. "The majority of these short blackouts were highly-targeted, affecting groups of villages or individual city districts and so were not included in this report, which focuses on larger region-wide shutdowns. The true economic cost is therefore likely to be even higher than the $2.8 billion we have calculated," the researchers informed. In Kashmir, authorities lifted restrictions in March 2020 after imposing in August 2019. "However, after the restrictions were lifted authorities continued to severely throttle internet speeds, with citizens only able to access 2G connections," it mentioned. In India, internet blackouts lasted for 1,655 hours while bandwidth throttling resulted in 7,272 hours lost. "India and Myanmar were responsible for the longest shutdowns for the second year running, with restrictions originally imposed in 2019 continuing throughout 2020," the report mentioned. Chad again restricted access to Whats<keyword id="235499" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="APP">App</keyword> after they blocked the app for more than a year in 2018/19. "Combined, these countries experienced a total 64% increase in the number of hours of restrictions in 2020, despite the global public health emergency". Globally, the internet shutdowns cost the world economy, already devastated by the Covid-19 pandemic, a further $4 billion. This, however, represents a 50% decrease in impact compared to $8.05 billion in 2019. Nearly 268 million people were affected by major disruptions in 2020 globally, up 3% year-on-year. According to the report, 93 major shutdowns took place in 21 countries in 2020 and the total duration of major disruptions around the world was 27,165 hours, up 49% from the previous year. Globally, internet blackouts resulted in 10,693 hours lost and internet throttling in 10,920 hours lost. Social media shutdowns resulted in 5,552 hours lost, the report said. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/oneplus-fitness-band-india-launch-date-price-and-everything-you-need-to-know/articleshow/80129498.cms">OnePlus Band India launch date, price and everything you need to know</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/whatsapp-will-stop-working-if-you-do-not-agree-to-its-new-terms-and-privacy-policies/articleshow/80127866.cms">WhatsApp will stop working if you do not agree to its new terms and privacy policies</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/toyota-fortuner-suv-2021-launched-in-india-with-new-price-design-and-features-check-details-here/articleshow/80129932.cms">Toyota Fortuner 2021 launched at a starting price of ₹29.98 lakh — here’s all you need to know from looks to specification and features</a>

India suffered longest internet shutdowns in 2020 globally for the second consecutive year

<keyword id="1965749" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Internet-businesses">Internet businesses</keyword> in India seem to have reached a tipping point, going by the kind of <keyword id="6357097" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="venture-capital">venture capital</keyword> <keyword id="6362476" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="investments">investments</keyword> we have seen in the current financial year, starting from April 2013. Overall <keyword id="1664180" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Digital-commerce">digital commerce</keyword> has flourished worldwide throughout the calendar year and is expected to reach well over $1 trillion by the end of CY2013 (ending in December), according to MarketResearch. On the other hand, the <keyword id="35621" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="e-commerce">e-commerce</keyword> market in India is growing at an average of 34% since 2009 and is expected to reach $13 billion by year-end, according to the recent KPMG-IAMAI (<keyword id="128625" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Internet-and-Mobile-Association-of-India">Internet and Mobile Association of India</keyword>) report e-Commerce Rhetoric, Reality and Opportunity. The e-tail sector is expected to grow at 59% a year and will account for one in every two e-commerce <keyword id="96567" type="COUNTRY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Transactions">transactions</keyword> by 2016, the report says. 
 
But the India story does not look too promising as a spate of consolidations and shutdowns took place – mostly due to lack of funds. In fact, an estimated 70-80% of e-commerce companies are in dire need of funds, as per the KPMG-IAMAI report. The fund crunch had hit the Indian firms hard and around 136 e-commerce start-ups had to shut shop between November 2012 and April 2013, says the news site NextBigWhat.com. 
 According to <keyword id="1981" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Rahul-Khanna">Rahul Khanna</keyword>, managing director of <keyword id="218907" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Canaan-Partners-India">Canaan Partners India</keyword>, e-commerce in India requires very deep pockets and follow-on rounds are extremely crucial for growth. Unless companies can abide by this fundamental rule, they could be shutting down or another surge in <keyword id="73277" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="mergers-and-acquisitions">mergers and acquisitions</keyword> could happen. 
 However, some big-ticket investments from April onwards tend to indicate revival of investors’ confidence in Indian Internet companies. For a change, not all of the <keyword id="6357455" type="EVENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="Funding">funding</keyword> has gone into typical B2C e-tailers. <keyword id="1990186" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Digital-ad-network">Digital ad network</keyword> <keyword id="169308" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Komli-Media">Komli Media</keyword>, data security solutions provider <keyword id="136146" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Druva-Software">Druva Software</keyword> and classifieds firm <keyword id="830092" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Zomato">Zomato</keyword> have also raised significant funding from local and global investors during the first three quarters (April-December) of the current financial year. Till November end, investments worth $635 million have flowed into India’s e-commerce sector, spread across 40 transactions, according to research firm Venture Intelligence. This pinpoints a sharp rise in total deal value from 2012, which saw transactions worth $433 million. 
 Does it mean VCs (or <keyword id="46876" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="PE">PE</keyword> investors, in some cases) investing in Indian initiatives now have bigger <keyword id="170907" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="risk-appetite">risk appetite</keyword>? Or are they now mature enough to grow past the merchandise-oriented e-com investment culture? Well, not exactly. Since 2011, equity investors put in almost $1.2 billion into online product retail, says Venture Intelligence. And a large chunk of this funding went into just one company – <keyword id="6354742" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Flipkart">Flipkart</keyword>.com. Most of the <keyword id="47361" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="VC">VC</keyword> players are still playing safe and putting money into biggest Indian e-tailers like Flipkart, <keyword id="541988" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="SnapDeal">Snapdeal</keyword> and <keyword id="679005" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Homeshop18">HomeShop18</keyword>. However, niche e-com players like Healthkart, LensKart and BabyOye have also raised $10-14 million in <keyword id="1042660" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="equity-financing">equity financing</keyword> this year. Here is a quick look at the 6 top-funded <keyword id="1990175" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Digital-businesses">digital businesses</keyword> of the year. 
 
1. Flipkart – tops the funding list: Six-year-old Flipkart, often touted as India’s <keyword id="18635" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Amazon">Amazon</keyword>, has topped the funding list till date and amassed around $550 million. In 2013, the Bangalore-based company raised $360 million in Series E, spread over two tranches, from a slew of investors including <keyword id="144381" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Accel-Partners">Accel Partners</keyword>, <keyword id="526777" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Tiger-Global">Tiger Global</keyword>, <keyword id="6356837" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Naspers">Naspers</keyword> of South Africa, <keyword id="1200999" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Iconiq-Capital">Iconiq Capital</keyword>, Belgium’s <keyword id="1898010" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sofina">Sofina</keyword>, US-based <keyword id="390562" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Morgan-Stanley-Investment-Management">Morgan Stanley Investment Management</keyword>, <keyword id="1990201" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Dragoneer-Investment-Group">Dragoneer Investment Group</keyword> and <keyword id="1623313" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Vulcan-Capital">Vulcan Capital</keyword> (founded by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen). 
 
The second tranche of $160 million valued Flipkart at over $1.6 billion, according to an Economic Times report. This is similar to its <keyword id="51393" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="valuation">valuation</keyword> in July when it raised the first tranche of $200 million. Interestingly, Flipkart is worth more than the total market cap of all 15 <keyword id="1990203" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Listed-retail-companies">listed retail companies</keyword>, including Future Retail, Shoppers Stop, etc. Among brand-led firms, Flipkart’s valuation is comparable with heavyweights such as P&amp;G India and Tata Global Beverages. The company may opt for an <keyword id="6354763" type="EVENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="IPO">IPO</keyword> in a year, according to media reports. 
 Interestingly, <keyword id="1990166" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Flipkart-India-Pvt-Ltd">Flipkart India Pvt Ltd</keyword>, the wholesale business of India’s largest e-tailer Flipkart, reported a loss of Rs.281.7 crore in the year ended March 2013, compared to its loss of Rs 109.9 crore in the previous year. This is because the company has upped its spending significantly in a bid to increase its revenues, the same model followed by Amazon in the US. Flipkart’s revenues jumped fivefold to more than Rs 1,180 crore from Rs 204.8 crore in the previous year, but one wonders if the company can survive the fast and furious cash-burning (in spite of heavy funding) required to grab market share. 
 
2. Snapdeal – a growth story growing stronger: The Snapdeal story is almost similar. The online marketplace raised about $50 million in April this year from <keyword id="6357395" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="eBay">eBay</keyword>, Japan’s <keyword id="1634214" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Recruit-Co">Recruit Co</keyword>, <keyword id="131553" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Intel-Capital">Intel Capital</keyword>, <keyword id="1148513" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Saama-Capital">Saama Capital</keyword>, <keyword id="1990205" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="ru-Net-Ventures">ru-Net Ventures</keyword>, <keyword id="290936" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bessemer-Venture-Partners">Bessemer Venture Partners</keyword>, <keyword id="175881" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Nexus-Venture-Partners">Nexus Venture Partners</keyword> and <keyword id="590403" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Indo-US-Venture-Partners">Indo-US Venture Partners</keyword> (now <keyword id="1397792" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kalaari-Capital">Kalaari Capital</keyword>). It is the first investment in India by Recruit, a $10 billion classifieds and human resources company. <keyword id="1179258" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Venky-Harinarayan">Venky Harinarayan</keyword> and <keyword id="726659" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Anand-Rajaraman">Anand Rajaraman</keyword>, who co-founded the US-based Internet company <keyword id="124959" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="Junglee">Junglee</keyword> that was bought over by Amazon in 1998, are also investors in the latest round, according to ET. The Delhi-based firm raised the money in two tranches, taking its total <keyword id="60356" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="fundraising">fundraising</keyword> to $103 million. Snapdeal has been valued at $600 million and is reportedly looking at a US listing in 1-2 years. 
 
3. HomeShop18 – on a roll: HomeShop18, the <keyword id="1990206" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Multimedia-retail-arm">multimedia retail arm</keyword> of <keyword id="1553596" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Network-18-Media-and-Investments">Network 18 Media and Investments</keyword> Ltd, got a follow-on round of $14 million in October this year from Korean firm <keyword id="1990167" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="GS-Home-Shopping-Inc-">GS Home Shopping Inc.</keyword>, as well as <keyword id="320882" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Network-18">Network 18</keyword> and <keyword id="154791" type="POSITION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Hedge-fund-manager">hedge fund manager</keyword> <keyword id="1913242" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="OCP-Asia">OCP Asia</keyword>. The latest transaction values HomeShop18 at $360 million. Earlier in April, the company raised a $30 million round from OCP Asia and Network18. <keyword id="161314" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="SAIF-Partners">SAIF Partners</keyword> is also an existing investor into the company. HomeShop18 has reportedly filed for an IPO on <keyword id="6357328" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="NASDAQ">NASDAQ</keyword>, hoping to raise around $100 million. 
 
4. Zomato – no speed limit here: This online &amp; mobile platform for <keyword id="1981663" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="restaurant-listing">restaurant listing</keyword>, search and review secured a Series D round of $37 million in November 2013 from <keyword id="122716" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sequoia-Capital">Sequoia Capital</keyword> and existing investor <keyword id="80004" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Info-Edge">Info Edge</keyword>, making it one of the largest investments in the <keyword id="6386251" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Consumer-Internet">consumer Internet</keyword> space till date. BSE-listed Info Edge, which owns the portal Naukri.com and other Internet businesses, is the biggest shareholder in Zomato and owns 50.1% stake on a fully converted and diluted basis. Gurgaon-based Zomato Media was set up in 2008 and raised a total of $53 million till date. The latest funding gave it an approximate valuation of $160 million. Zomato is now present in 40 cities across 11 countries and provides in-depth information about 197,000-plus restaurants. 
 Interestingly, online food ordering and table booking service <keyword id="1941832" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Justeat-in">JustEat.in</keyword> (originally started as <keyword id="1990211" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Hungry-Zone">Hungry Zone</keyword> in 2006 but was later acquired by UK-based <keyword id="1980313" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Justeat">JustEat</keyword>) recently raised an undisclosed sum from global investment firm <keyword id="1990169" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Axon-Partners-Group">Axon Partners Group</keyword> and <keyword id="34499" type="POSITION" weightage="100" keywordseo="private-equity">private equity</keyword> firm <keyword id="1990170" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Forum-Synergies-India">Forum Synergies India</keyword>. 
 
5. Komli Media – eyeing expansion: Mumbai-headquartered digital advertising firm Komli Media recently raised $30 million in a fifth round of funding, again from a clutch of investors including the <keyword id="139987" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="private-equity-fund">private equity fund</keyword> <keyword id="6580209" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Peepul-Capital">Peepul Capital</keyword> and existing investors <keyword id="260133" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Norwest-Venture-Partners">Norwest Venture Partners</keyword>, Nexus Venture Partners, <keyword id="309606" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Helion-Venture-Partners">Helion Venture Partners</keyword> and <keyword id="198743" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Draper-Fisher-Jurvetson">Draper Fisher Jurvetson</keyword>. With this round, Komli has now secured over $90 million in private equity <keyword id="47916" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="invest">invest</keyword>ment. The company will use the funds to strengthen its position in the Asia-Pacific and invest further in technology, especially in data analytics, among other things. Since 2011, Komli has bought six companies. It now employs over 400 people and has 18 offices in India, Australia, New Zealand, South-east Asia, the Middle East, Hong Kong and North America. 
 
6. Druva Software – getting big: <keyword id="1990212" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Data-protection-software">Data protection software</keyword> provider Druva raised a third round funding of $25 million from <keyword id="6357722" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="silicon-valley">Silicon Valley</keyword> investment firm <keyword id="297685" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Tenaya-Capital">Tenaya Capital</keyword> and existing investors <keyword id="270604" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sequoia">Sequoia</keyword> Capital and Nexus Venture Partners. With this round, the company has received a total of $42 million in venture funding. Druva had secured $5 million from Sequoia back in 2010 and another $12 million from Nexus in 2011. The new funding will support continued R&amp;D, expanded global sales and marketing with focus on Belgium, Luxembourg, Australia and Singapore, and expansion of its cloud infrastructure to support new deployments by large enterprises. The latest deal values the five-year-old firm at around $120 million. 
 Druva’s flagship is its <keyword id="861914" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="InSync">inSync</keyword> platform, an integrated suite of endpoint data protection and governance solutions for enterprises. As of now, the company has 2,100 customers and protects 1.7 million endpoints across 76 countries. It has offices in Pune, California, the UK and Singapore, and boasts a client list including the <keyword id="57857" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="US-army">US Army</keyword>, <keyword id="6360409" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="NASA">NASA</keyword>, <keyword id="114355" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Nikon">Nikon</keyword>, <keyword id="6358918" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Deloitte">Deloitte</keyword>, <keyword id="53186" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="PwC">PwC</keyword> and <keyword id="107096" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Tesla">Tesla</keyword>, and universities such as <keyword id="33081" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Stanford">Stanford</keyword> and <keyword id="115229" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Berkeley">Berkeley</keyword>, among others.

These 6 Digital
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<ul><li>The abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35A of constitution which gave Kashmir a special status severely hit tourism in the valley. </li><li>As of August 2019, as many as 144,500 jobs have been lost in Kashmir’s tourism and handicrafts sector, according to the <keyword id="1002837" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kashmir-Chamber-of-Commerce-and-Industry">Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry</keyword> (KCCI). </li><li>Tourism accounts for almost 7% of the state’s <keyword id="6354971" type="DEFINITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="gross-domestic-product">gross domestic product</keyword> (GDP). </li><li>Yet another challenge is the internet blockage. The internet shutdown led to over 2,600 tour operators delaying plans for any promotional campaigns, <keyword id="8667284" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="manzoor-ahmad-pakhtoon">Manzoor Ahmad Pakhtoon</keyword>, the president of J&amp;K Tourism Alliance told Forbes. </li></ul>The Narendra Modi government in New Delhi has repeatedly insisted that the situation in Kashmir has been ‘normal’ despite the suspension Article 370 and Article 35A of the Constitution, which gave the state a special status. But data shows that the bundhs and the internet blackout has brought the economy to a grinding halt leading, and half a million people lost their jobs in the process. As of August 2019, as many as 144,500 jobs have been lost in Kashmir’s tourism and handicrafts sector, according to the<a href="https://www.indiaspend.com/144500-jobs-affected-as-tourism-takes-a-hit-in-kashmir/"> Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI)</a>. While the overall job loss in the commercial space stood at 496,000. Much of the damage is in the tourism sector, which makes up for almost 7% of the state’s gross domestic product (GDP). “The back of Kashmir’s tourism sector has been broken because of the situation emerging after August 5, 2019: Tourism is in a shambles while artisans and weavers are jobless,” IndiaSpend <a href="https://www.indiaspend.com/144500-jobs-affected-as-tourism-takes-a-hit-in-kashmir/">reported</a> citing <keyword id="159634" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Abdul-Majeed">Abdul Majeed</keyword>, vice president of KCCI. 2018 vs 2019 In fact, the number of travellers in Kashmir — including those on an <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/the-india-pakistan-border-in-kashmir-is-simmering-again-thousands-of-amarnath-pilgrims-have-been-sent-back/articleshow/70500904.cms">Amarnath Yatra</a> — plunged to a decade low in 2019. Almost 500,000 tourists visited the valley last year — including 32,985 foreigners. And most of them left before the government revoked its autonomous status. The August to December period witnessed a slump of 86%, as per the tourism department. Yet another challenge to it is the internet blockage, which has impacted communication in the area. The internet shutdown led to over 2,600 tour operators delaying plans for promotional campaigns, Manzoor Ahmad Pakhtoon, the president of J&amp;K Tourism Alliance<a href="http://www.forbesindia.com/article/special/kashmir039s-tourism-sector-faces-losses-over-rs-9000-cr-14-lakh-people-lose-jobs/57275/1"> told </a>Forbes. “The campaigns begin in November for the winter and spring season. Even now, when winter is at its peak, adventure sports in <keyword id="108228" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Gulmarg">Gulmarg</keyword> have no takers,” he had said. “Doing trade without favourable conditions and the internet is unimaginable in the present-day world. In one fell swoop, irreversible damage has been caused to the state’s economy; not a single sector has been spared,” Majeed added. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/news/kashmirs-5-month-internet-blackout-is-the-longest-ever-imposed-in-a-democracy-and-its-stifling-local-workers/articleshow/73197027.cms">Kashmir's 5-month internet blackout is the longest ever imposed in a democracy - and it's stifling local workers</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/indias-top-court-has-declared-the-record-breaking-159-day-long-kashmir-internet-blackout-illegal/articleshow/73188504.cms">India's top court has declared the record-breaking 159-day-long Kashmir internet blackout illegal</a>

The new ‘normal’ in Kashmir has cost nearly half a million jobs — bundhs and internet blackout are breaking businesses

New Delhi, Apr 24 () Over 40 global rights groups, part of a campaign #KeepItOn, on Friday demanded the restoration of 4G services in Jammu and Kashmir, saying the absence of high-speed internet is hampering works of doctors, journalists and others amid the COVID-19 lockdown. In an open letter signed by organisations like Access Now, Committee to Protect Journalists, Internet without borders, Human Rights Watch said that the absence of 4G internet has particularly hindered the work of health professionals who are on the front-lines combating this global pandemic. "Doctors in Jammu and Kashmir are struggling to access important information, often waiting hours to download and access information such as guidelines for intensive care management of the virus and best practices recommended by the WHO. The restriction of high-speed internet access has also impeded the work of human rights defenders, journalists and other actors working in the region," the letter said. The coalition these groups which opposes internet shutdown in any part of the world said that the access to information and the free-flow of communications, including for the media, is more crucial than ever in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, which continues to claim thousands of lives globally, especially given the novelty of the virus and lack of a vaccine. It said that the people are relying on the internet and digital communication platforms to access life-saving information provided by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other public health experts. "Access to accurate information is indispensable in tackling the spread of COVID-19 and it must, therefore, be the priority of every government. The internet is also playing a crucial role during the pandemic in allowing people to carry out important activities while they avoid public spaces since gathering facilitates the spread of the virus," it said. The total number of cases in Jammu and Kashmir has risen to 454. While 57 ases are from the Jammu division, 397 are from the Kashmir division, according to officials. There are 340 active COVID-19 cases in Jammu and Kashmir. A total of 109 patients have recovered and five have died due to coronavirus, they added. The government in March had restored 2G mobile services in Jammu and Kashmir. However, 4G serivces are yet to be restored., "Access to the internet is also essential for human rights defenders, activists, and journalists to carry out their work of bringing important information to the doorsteps of the people," the letter said. According to the coalition, there have been 213 shutdowns globally in 2019 and the number of countries imposing shutdown increased to 33 in 2019 from 25 in 2018. India topped the list of countries with 121 internet shutdowns. It was followed by Venezuela with 12 internet shudowns, 11 in Yemen, 8 in Iraq, 6 in Algeria and 4 in Ethiopia. The #KeepItOn campaign is being run by rights groups to fight internet shutdowns globally. PRS MKJ

Lockdown: Global rights groups demand restoration of 4G services in J&K

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="6354616" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Twitter">Twitter</keyword> suspended 500 accounts in <keyword id="3658" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="India">India</keyword> and said the Indian government issued takedown requests.</li><li>The social media site temporarily complied but has since restored some of the accounts. </li><li>This is happening as <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword>'s government cracks down on farmer protests.</li></ul>Twitter is looking down the barrel of a political disaster in India.In a <a href="https://blog.twitter.com/en_in/topics/company/2020/twitters-response-indian-government.html">blog post</a> published Wednesday, the social media company said it has suspended 500 accounts in India who were "engaging in clear examples of platform manipulation and spam." It also said it blocked "certain terms" from appearing in its trending section, but did not say what these terms were. Twitter also revealed it's been getting messages from India's government.The company said: "Over the course of the last 10 days, Twitter has been served with several separate blocking orders by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act."It continued: "Out of these, two were emergency blocking orders that we temporarily complied with but subsequently restored access to the content in a manner that we believe was consistent with Indian law. After we communicated this to MeitY, we were served with a non-compliance notice."Twitter said it has at least semi-complied with the government's demands. In the blog it said has taken action against "more than 500" of the accounts flagged to it by the MeitY, including suspensions. It did not clarify how many suspensions it upheld as a result of the order.The MeitY tweeted on Wednesday saying Twitter had requested a meeting with the government prior to publishing the blog post. "Upon the request of Twitter seeking a meeting with the Govt., the Secretary IT was to engage with senior management of Twitter. In this light a blog post published prior to this engagement is unusual. Govt. will share its response soon," it said in a <a href="https://twitter.com/GoI_MeitY/status/1359412111634386948">statement</a>.Read more: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-silicon-valley-banished-donald-trump-in-48-hours-2021-1?r=ih-sub">How Silicon Valley banished Donald Trump in 48 hours</a>Last week, Twitter suspended the accounts for numerous high-profile journalists and publications in India, a decision it <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/02/01/twitter-restricts-over-a-dozen-high-profile-accounts-in-india-following-legal-demand/">quietly reversed after they were inaccessible for roughly 12 hours</a>. The platform received considerable backlash from commentators saying it had assisted the Indian government in quashing freedom of speech.Narendra Modi's government reacted to Twitter restoring the accounts by <a href="https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/pranavdixit/india-threatens-twitter-jail">threatening its Indian employees with jail time</a>.The backdrop for the government's demands are <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/indian-farmer-strike-largest-protest-history-us-world-pay-attention-2020-12">ongoing protests from millions of farmers</a> over three agricultural reform bills the government passed in September. Although the protests have been going on since August, the Indian government has started cracking down on protesters, and in late January ordered <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-55872480">an internet shutdown in New Delhi</a>.<div type="image" title="Narendra Modi.JPG" height="2000" width="2666" msid="80790086" hostid="261"></div>"The Indian government is no stranger to clamping down on <keyword id="122741" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="freedom-of-expression">freedom of expression</keyword> and stifling the free flow of information online. It has implemented <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/government-internet-blackouts-human-rights-india-kashmir-coronavirus-2021-1">more internet shutdowns than anywhere else in the world</a> and repeatedly restricts citizens' access to the internet during politically significant moments," Samuel Woodhams, a researcher at digital rights organization Top10VPN, told Insider."There's no doubt social media platforms are in a difficult position, particularly given the threat of fines and potential imprisonment if they don't follow the government's orders. However, it remains their duty to do everything in their power to defend freedom of expression online," he added.

Twitter faces a political disaster in India, where it's taking heat from both the government and protesters over the suspension of accounts

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="3658" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="India">India</keyword>'s government has slammed Western celebrities for backing the <keyword id="45092" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="farmers">farmers</keyword> protesting in New Delhi.</li><li>Farmers say the government's proposed reforms to agricultural laws will leave them poorer.</li><li>Pro-government crowds burned photos of Rihanna and Greta Thunberg on Thursday.</li></ul>The Indian government has launched an attack on Western celebrities, with some supporters burning their photos, for publicly supporting mass protests by farmers.In late November 2020, some 300,000 farmers marched on New Delhi and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/india-closed-farmers-occupy-cities-in-revolt-against-market-reforms-2020-12">set up camp to protest a planned reform of agriculture laws</a> that they say will see them lose their income.Many have joined them - with the crowd size <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/indian-farmer-strike-largest-protest-history-us-world-pay-attention-2020-12">reaching 250 million</a> at its peak - and the farmers remain unmoving.This week, the farmers' cause was taken up by several US and European celebrities, prompting anger from the government and its supporters."The temptation of sensationalist social media hashtags and comments, especially when resorted to by celebrities and others, is neither accurate nor responsible," India's external affairs ministry <a href="https://mea.gov.in/press-releases.htm?dtl/33456/Press_Statement_on_recent_comments_by_foreign_individuals_and_entities_on_the_farmers_protests">said in a statement Wednesday.</a><div type="image" title="Indian Farmers Protests" height="1744" width="3488" msid="80722099" hostid="261"></div>The comments came hours after celebrities including the climate activist Greta Thunberg, singer Rihanna, and author Meena Harris - who is also the niece of US Vice President Kamala Harris - expressed support for the farmers."We stand in solidarity with farmers protests in India," Thunberg <a href="https://twitter.com/GretaThunberg/status/1357054451769606147">tweeted</a> Tuesday. The next day, Thunberg tweeted <a href="https://twitter.com/GretaThunberg/status/1357054451769606147">a "toolkit"</a> for supporting the farmers, including how to sign petitions and which hashtags to use.<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/rihanna-tweets-about-farmers-protests-in-india-faces-vicious-trolling-on-twitter/articleshow/80664477.cms">Rihanna</a> on Tuesday tweeted an article about the protest, writing: "Why aren't we talking about this?!"The same day, Meena Harris <a href="https://twitter.com/meenaharris/status/1356747965713371138?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1356747965713371138%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.businessinsider.com%2Findia-government-attack-us-celebrities-backing-farmer-protests-burn-effigies-2021-221-2">tweeted</a>: "We ALL should be outraged by India's internet shutdowns and paramilitary violence against farmer protesters."Harris was referring to the government's <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2021/02/01/asia/india-internet-cut-farmers-intl-hnk/index.html">decision last Sunday to once again shut down the internet</a> around New Delhi amid the protests.On Thursday, pro-government protesters in New Delhi also burned photos of Thunberg, Rihanna, and Harris, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/04/greta-thunberg-effigies-burned-in-delhi-after-tweets-on-farmers-protests">The Guardian reported</a>.Harris <a href="https://twitter.com/meenaharris/status/1357376550803369986">tweeted</a> in response to a photo of her likeness being burned: "I spoke out in support of human rights for Indian farmers, and look at the response."The NBA player Kyle Kuzma has also <a href="https://twitter.com/kylekuzma/status/1357009721090138112">tweeted</a> about the protests, while the NFL player JuJu Smith Schuster <a href="https://twitter.com/TeamJuJu/status/1357048037302960129">tweeted</a> that he had donated $10,000 to help the farmer obtain medical supplies.A number of Indian celebrities have also publicly supported their government, with the <a href="https://theprint.in/india/after-rihanna-greta-thunberg-support-farm-protests-kangana-calls-farmers-terrorists/597806/">actress Kangana Ranaut</a>, describing the farmers as terrorists, and the Indian cricket player Pragyan Ojha <a href="https://twitter.com/pragyanojha/status/1356697584291639296">tweeting to Rihanna</a>: "We don't need an outsider poking her nose in our internal matters!"Read more: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-campaign-against-republicans-voted-for-impeachment-2021-2">Trump is plotting a campaign revenge tour targeting GOP defectors after Senate impeachment trial</a><h2>Why are the protests happening?</h2>The Indian government wants to liberalize the agriculture industry - in which 40% of Indians work - and deregulate crop pricing.Farmers' unions say the proposed laws <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/27/world/asia/india-farmer-protest.html">would make them poorer</a> and leave them exposed to exploitation from large corporations. They also say <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/were-farmers-consulted-before-farm-laws-no-record-says-rti-response-2345287">they were not consulted</a> about the new plans.The demonstrations <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/25/world/asia/india-farmers-protests-delhi.html">have often turned violent</a>, with <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-55899754">the police erecting barbed wire barricades</a> and <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/police-use-barbed-wire-spikes-trenches-to-cut-off-protest-sites/article33734304.ece">digging trenches</a> around parts of New Delhi.On January 27, a number of farmers broke into the city's historic Red Fort, and the government called the military eject them. Three hundred police officers were also injured in the city that day, <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-55817628">the BBC added</a>.Some farmers <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/india-farmers-protest-law-suicide-epidemic-2021-1">have also said that the proposed laws are worsening the suicide epidemic</a> sweeping their industry, as Insider reported last month.The farmers' efforts have had some impact, but how the fight will end remains unclear.Late last month, India's Supreme Court ruled to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/12/world/asia/india-farmers-protest-court-law.html">suspend the new laws</a> from being imposed last month, but farmer are <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-55615482">refusing to back down</a> until the laws are completely repealed - a move that the government has already vowed not to do.

The Indian government and its supporters are attacking Western celebrities for supporting the farmers' protests

<ul><li>India slipped two places to come in at the 53rd position on the Democracy Index 2020 as compared to last year.</li><li>The dip in its score has largely been attributed to mishandling of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).</li><li>“The increasing influence of religion under the Modi premiership, whose policies have fomented anti-Muslim feeling and religious strife, has damaged the political fabric of the country,” said the report by The Economist Intelligence Unit.</li></ul>India is the world’s largest democracy but its 1.38 billion citizens do not seem to be enjoying many freedoms. According to the latest report by the Economist Intelligence Unit, the South Asian giant fell another two spots to 53rd position in the Democracy Index 2020. The primary reason for the massive fall was <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/nrc-npr-and-caa-are-not-the-same-know-the-differences/articleshow/72963691.cms">the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act </a>(CAA) that came into being in January 2020. India versus rest of South Asia While being categorized as a ‘flawed democracy’, at first glance, India fares better than its neighboring countries. However, while India has been falling in the ranks, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Pakistan have improved marginally in 2020. Even those countries which saw a fall in scores, none were as massive as India’s drop. <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none; width: 468pt; table-layout: fixed;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Country </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Change in Democracy Index score from 2019 to 2020 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">India </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">-0.29 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Bhutan </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">+0.41 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Bangladesh </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">+0.11 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Pakistan </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">+0.06 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">China </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">+0.01 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Afghanistan </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">No change </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Nepal </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">-0.06 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Sri Lanka </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">-0.13 </td></tr></tbody></table> India’s ranking has been falling and it may get worse <div type="image" title="India democracy ranking" msid="80671295" hostid="261"></div> The Economist Intelligence Unit calls it ‘democratic backsliding’ under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The instances of high handedness by the state have only increased. For instance, stand-up comedian Munawar Farooqui was <a href="https://www.news18.com/news/buzz/comedian-munawar-faruqui-in-jail-for-22-days-for-joke-on-hindu-gods-a-timeline-of-events-3320342.html">arrested</a> for a joke that he didn’t even crack. Not to mention the heavy language used by the judiciary while denying him bail. The judiciary’s sensitivity was seen yet again when lawyer and activist Prashant Bhushan was brought under the scanner for <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/prashant-bhushan-files-fresh-plea-in-supreme-court-seeking-review-contempt-case-punishment/articleshow/78422984.cms">tweets criticizing the government. </a> Access to the internet was <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/internet-access-in-jammu-and-kashmir-isnt-about-the-right-to-freedom-its-about-the-right-to-life-according-to-lawyers/articleshow/75708351.cms">blocked in Kashmir</a> for 213 days — two-thirds of a full year — after Article 370 of the Constitution was scrapped by the Modi government. Even today, internet shutdowns are being used to stifle the farmers' protest against India’s new farm laws along the borders of New Delhi. Creators of shows like <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/entertainment/news/tandav-controversy-fir-filed-against-the-shows-director-and-amazon-india-head-of-content-in-up/articleshow/80329036.cms">Tandav</a>, Sacred Games, and others have been dragged to court after being accused of hurting religious sentiments. Most recently, the Uttarakhand Director General of Police Ashok Kumar <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/uttarakhand-anti-national-posts-to-hit-passport-clearance-101612289325781.html">stated</a> that the state police will track people posting ‘anti-national’ and ‘anti-social’ posts on social media to be taken into consideration when verifying passport and arms. <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none; width: 468pt; table-layout: fixed;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Type of democracy </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Number of countries </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Percentage of countries </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Percentage of world population </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Full democracies (E.g. Canada) </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">23 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">13.8% </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">8.4% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Flawed democracies (E.g. The US) </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">52 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">31.1% </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">41% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Hybrid regimes (E.g. Myanmar) </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">35 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">21% </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">15% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Authoritarian regimes (E.g. China) </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">57 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">34.1% </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">35.6% </td></tr></tbody></table> The issue with the new citizenship law The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) allows persecuted minorities who are, by religion, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian from ⁠— from neighbouring countries namely Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan — eligible for Indian citizenship. The fundamental argument against this bill is that religion was never a criteria and should never be. When critics questioned why persecuted Muslims were left out of the Act, the government said that in the three countries specified, Muslims are the majority and not persecuted. However, many debaters have pointed out that Muslims are a minority in Nepal and Sri Lanka, and the amendment excludes them. What’s worse, the government had planned to execute the National Registrar of Citizens, which would identify the undocumented and illegal migrants. However, if any non-Muslim gets caught without papers, he could be reinstated under the CAA. But a Muslim does not have the safety net that other communities have. The fear of many Muslims, who have been living in India for decades or generations, losing their state led to the widespread protests going into 2020. It took a riot in Delhi and the pandemic thereafter to bring the protests to an end. India scores well for its electoral process but takes a hit in political culture <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none; width: 468pt; table-layout: fixed;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Metric </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">India’s score </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Electoral process and pluralism </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">8.67 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Functioning of government </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">7.14 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Political participation </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">6.67 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Political culture </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">5 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Civil liberties </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">5.59 </td></tr></tbody></table> SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/no-covid-cess-but-agri-infra-cess-will-hike-prices-of-fuel-imported-alcohol/slidelist/80629471.cms">No COVID-cess but agri infra cess will hike prices of fuel, imported alcohol</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/indias-health-budget-sees-a-137-jump-in-2021/slidelist/80626468.cms">India’s health budget sees a 137% jump in 2021</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/india-budget-2021-updates-and-highlights-from-nirmala-sitharaman-speech/articleshow/80624564.cms">Union Budget 2021 highlights: Pensioners over 75 years need not file IT returns, says FM</a>

New citizenship law pulls India down in the democracy rankings — and 2021 is not looking better

New Delhi, May 10 () Data network solutions provider Sterlite Technologies is hopeful that its global production capacity will reach near pre-COVID levels by May-end if calibrated moves to reopen economies and businesses proceed as per expectation, according to Group CEO Anand Agarwal. The company, which designs and deploys high-capacity converged fibre and wireless networks, said export shipments from India have commenced to Europe, Middle East and Latin America. With a portfolio ranging from optical fibre and cables, network design, and deployment and network software, Pune-based Sterlite Technologies positions itself as integrated solutions provider for global data networks, with optical preform, fibre and cable manufacturing facilities in India, Italy, China and Brazil. "We are operating at 60-65 per cent of our global production capacity...I foresee we should be back to operating globally at pre-COVID levels of capacity by end of May, unless something unexpected comes up. We are going by expectation that things will keep opening up," Agarwal told . The company has put in place rigorous measures to ensure that staff on duty at its units adhere to social distancing norms and come in staggered shifts. "Manufacturing is one part of business but there are many people who work on projects, then also in our software business. So people who are in software business continue to largely work from home. "People on projects between the ones that are required to be on sites, where we have got permission in green and orange zones, are there...again from supervision, design and planning, we have balanced it out so that work continues but at the same time we don't crowd the location," he said. Before the pandemic struck, the company was operating fibre business at 30 million fibre kilometres annual capacity and cable business at 18 million annual capacity. The manufacturing units in India produce preform, fibre and cable, while China unit focuses on fibre, and Italy and Brazil units on cable. The factory shutdowns due to the global coronavirus pandemic impacted different geographies at varying points of time. "Broadly everywhere we had two weeks' period where it was almost fully shutdown, but in most places because it qualifies under essential services, manufacturing started for supplying products for networks that had broken down or networks which needed capacities...and then gradually moved onto business which were like pending orders," Agarwal said. He asserted that the shifts on data demand and higher utilisation of network are here to stay. "Previously, people were focused on downloads but with the current situation most of the workflows have moved to internet. This is only way of staying connected, and demand is 30-40 per cent higher," he said. In India, economic and business activities are slowly restarting outside containment zones, and partial movement has resumed within states in the third phase of lockdown. The government has announced an extension of nationwide lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic till May 17, and issued new guidelines permitting different sets of relaxations in green, red, and orange zones, thus paving the way for a staggered exit while reopening the economy. As on Sunday, the death toll due to coronavirus pandemic stood at 2,109, while the cases have risen to 62,939 in the country. MBI RVK

Sterlite Technologies says its global manufacturing capacity may reach pre-COVID levels by May-end

<ul><li><keyword id="94964" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="20" keywordseo="Dabangg">Dabangg</keyword> 3 featuring <keyword id="6354583" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="salman-khan">Salman Khan</keyword> and Sonakshi Sinha, earned ₹73 crore on its first weekend after release. </li><li>Film analyst believe the movie could have earned ₹85 crore if not for the CAA protests. </li><li>Moreover, the film — that gives a sneak peak of about Chulbul’s secret — hasn’t received good reviews. </li></ul><keyword id="143" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bollywood">Bollywood</keyword> superstar Salman Khan is known to pick and choose the timing of his movie releases and this time around, he might have gotten it wrong. While his much-awaited Dabangg 3 earned ₹73 crore on its first weekend, it could have been better. Film analysts believe that the movie could have earned ₹85 crore had it been a normal weekend <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/caa-protests-traffic-snarls-in-national-capital-delhi-gurgaon-border-chokes-with-vehicles/articleshow/72882208.cms">without the CAA protests. </a> “There has probably been some stabilization of the law and order issues as some places have grown more than others as they managed more screenings but still the film would have lost a reasonable amount of business. The Delhi / UP circuit is still heavily affected,” repored Boxoffice India. The recently passed Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) triggered protests, leading to clashes between police and protestors. In most cases, it lead to imposition of Section 144, internet and metro shutdowns and massive traffic jams. 
	
	
	
	
	<div type="twitter" handle="taran_adarsh" handlename="taran adarsh" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1440352704/profile_pic_taran_normal.jpg" favoritecount="10190" retweetcount="1244" status="#Dabangg3 stays in the same range on Day 2... Few circuits up, few down... Protests hit biz hard... Loses approx ₹… https://t.co/964eUYTeHt" createdat="1577004310000" id="1208669796629221376"></div>











 Yet, the movie itself is raking in the moolah. It registered the fourth best weekend ever in 2019 after War, Bharat and <keyword id="4397147" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Saaho">Saaho</keyword> (Hindi). On the third day of release, its collections grew by 30% growth registering ₹29 crore in net earnings. It collected ₹24.5 crore on the first day of its release and ₹22 crore on the second day. The Christmas holidays on the horizon may bring a lot more people into the theatres. The film is released in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada. The Prabhudeva directorial also stars Sonakshi Sinha and Mahesh Manjrekar's daughter Saiee Manjrekar also makes her debut in it . The film also features Kannada superstar Kichcha Sudeep in as the villain. Good profits, bad story This is the third installment of the much loved character Chulbul Pandey, a role that catapulted him to a star reviving his then flailing career in 2010. The movie takes viewers back to reveal a secret making it a prequel of sorts. However, the Khan magic might have faded this time, as critics remained unimpressed. They labelled it a “disaster”. “Watching Dabangg 3 it’s clear that the law of diminishing returns has caught up with this franchise. There is just no polite way to say this – the new film is an excruciating, exhausting bore,” <a href="https://www.news18.com/news/movies/dabangg-3-movie-review-salman-khan-film-is-an-excruciating-exhausting-bore-2431593.html">wrote </a>film critic Rajeev Masand. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/advertising/brands/news/pepsi-gets-a-54-year-old-star-salman-khan-to-target-millennials/articleshow/72453762.cms">Pepsi gets a 54-year-old star, Salman Khan to target millennials</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/caa-internet-shutdowns-make-india-example-for-china/articleshow/72931761.cms">Indian government shut off the Internet over a 100 times in 2019 — and China is lovin' it</a>

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Indian government shut off the Internet over a 100 times in 2019 — and China is lovin' it

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New citizenship law pulls India down in the democracy rankings — and 2021 is not looking better

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