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A US court has asked <keyword id="285457" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Antrix">Antrix</keyword> Corporation, the commercial arm of Indian Space Research Organisation, to pay compensation of USD 1.2 billion to a Bengaluru-based startup, <keyword id="406024" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Devas-Multimedia">Devas Multimedia</keyword>, for cancelling a satellite deal in 2005. As per the agreement in January 2005, Antrix agreed to build, launch and operate two satellites and to make available 70 MHz of S-band spectrum to Devas, which the latter planned to use to offer hybrid satellite and terrestrial communication services throughout India. The agreement was terminated by Antrix in February 2011. Over the next several years, Devas approached various legal avenues in India. This included the Supreme Court, which directed for a tribunal. In his order dated October 27, Judge Thomas S Zilly, US District Judge, Western District of Washington, Seattle, ruled that Antrix Corporation pay a compensation of USD 562.5 million to Devas Multimedia Corporation and the related interest rate amounting to a total of USD 1.2 billion. In its lawsuit filed in the US District Court, Western District of Washington in September 2018, Devas Multimedia said three separate international tribunals and nine different arbitrators have found the termination of the Devas-Antrix agreement to have been wrongful, with one of the tribunals describing it as "conduct 'which shocks, or at least surprises, a sense of juridical propriety,'" and another finding it to be "a clear breach of simple good faith" by India. Antrix, in November 2018, had sought the dismissal of the lawsuit citing jurisdictional issues. The court, however, asserted that it had jurisdiction over the issue, but stayed the matter for one year and asked the two to file a joint status report by April 15, 2020. On July 16, 2020, both Devas and Antrix filed the instant motion, a Joint Status Report in which they disputed whether the court should lift or extend the stay, and, if the latter, whether Antrix be required to post security. Devas, according to submissions, has argued that the US court has jurisdiction over these cases, as Antrix engages in business in this district and across the United States. Antrix and Spaceflight Industries, which is headquartered in Seattle have an agreement to provide satellite launch services using India's PSLV rocket. Antrix and RBC Signals LLC, which is headquartered in Redmond, Washington have a worldwide agreement to provide space communications services to satellite operators. Antrix in 2018 launched a satellite for Redmond, a Washington-based Planetary Resources. Antrix agreed in 2015 to launch two satellites for Colorado-based PlanetiQ. Antrix is contracted with DigitalGlobe, which has headquarters in Colorado and other locations in Florida, Virginia and Washington to procure certain satellite data, which is then distributed by the Indian Space Research Organisation's National Remote Sensing Centre. Devas said that after the initial signing of the agreement, the two companies performed in good faith for five years. Among other things, in May 2009, Dr Appanna Bhaskarnaryana, the Director of the Satellite Communications Programme Office of <keyword id="6358064" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="isro">ISRO</keyword>, spent four to five weeks in the US with Devas personnel meeting with Hughes Networks, Sirius XM SkyTerra, Qualcomm and ICO North America to understand the technologies used by, and operation of, hybrid satellite-terrestrial operators providing telecommunications services. Devas subsequently conducted experimental trials in India (attended by Antrix officials, including the company's then chairman), Chengdu and Beijing in China, and Stuttgart in Germany, which successfully demonstrated the hybrid satellite-terrestrial systems and end-user terminals that Devas had developed in conjunction with a global network of leading technology players such as Alcatel Lucent, it said. On February 25, 2011, Antrix issued a termination notice to Devas, which among other things stated that the policy decision was of the central government, acting in its sovereign capacity is the event of force majeure, which was an occurrence on February 23, 2011. "The scope and duration of the said decision cannot be anticipated. It is likely to be indefinite. It is not possible for Antrix to take any effective step to resume the obligations under the agreement," Antrix said. Devas disputed Antrix's repudiation of the agreement and sought to conduct discussions among senior management as contemplated by that agreement. In June 2011, Devas commenced arbitration proceedings under the Rules of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce. Antrix initially refused to participate in the arbitration and obtained an injunction from the Indian Supreme Court enjoining the arbitration. After one year, the Supreme Court lifted the injunction, allowing the arbitration to proceed. Thereafter, Antrix participated fully in the arbitration. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/news/kepler-estimates-there-are-at-least-300-million-potentially-habitable-planets-within-the-milky-way-galaxy/articleshow/78946863.cms">Kepler estimates there are at least 300 million potentially habitable planets within the Milky Way galaxy</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/mit-has-a-new-ai-model-that-can-detect-asymptomatic-covid-19-patients-just-by-the-using-the-sound-of-their-coughs-recorded-over-phone-calls/articleshow/78927475.cms">MIT has a new AI model that can detect asymptomatic COVID-19 patients just by the using the sound of their coughs recorded over phone calls</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/tata-communications-executive-explains-how-iot-is-expanding-beyond-manufacturing-and-which-sectors-are-showing-the-fastest-growth/articleshow/78924587.cms">EXCLUSIVE: Tata Communications’ IoT head explains how COVID is driving the next wave of Internet of Things</a>

US court asks ISRO's commercial arm to $1.2 billion compensation to Bengaluru start-up for cancelling a satellite deal

The countdown for the November 7 launch of the Indian rocket, Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-C49 (PSLV-C49), carrying the country's radar imaging satellite and nine other foreign satellites will begin on Friday. "The 26-hour countdown for the rocket launch will start tomorrow (Friday) from the first launch pad. The rocket with 10 satellites is expected to lift off at 3 p.m. on November 7 from the <keyword id="6355143" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="sriharikota">Sriharikota</keyword> rocket port," a senior official told IANS. The proposed launch will be the first space mission for the Indian Space Research Organisation (<keyword id="6358064" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="isro">ISRO</keyword>) in 2020. The nine foreign satellites are from: Lithuania (1-technology demonstrator), Luxembourg (4 maritime application satellites by Kleos Space) and the US (4-Lemur multi mission remote sensing satellites). However, the primary passenger of the 44.5 metre tall PSLV-C49 will be the Indian radar imaging satellite EOS-01 (formerly RISAT-2BR2) with synthetic aperture radar (SAR) that can shoot pictures in all weather conditions. The satellite can take pictures day and night and will be useful for surveillance as well as civilian activities. This time around, the ISRO will be using the PSLV rocket's DL variant that will have two strap-on booster motors. This rocket variant was used the first time to put into orbit Microsat R satellite on January 24, 2019. The PSLV is a four stage/engine rocket powered by solid and liquid fuels alternatively with six booster motors strapped on to the first stage to give higher thrust during the initial flight moments. S. Somanath, Director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), had told IANS earlier that three rockets were getting ready for the launch at the rocket port in Sriharikota -- the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle C49 (PSLV C49), PSLV C50 and Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV). After PSLV-C49, the next one to fly will be PSLV-C50 with the GSAT-12R satellite. It will fly from the second launch pad, he added. "We are targeting PSLV-C50 sometime in December. It needs about 30 days to get ready for another launch after one launch," Somanath had said. The other Indian satellites that are ready for launch are GISAT, Microsat-2A and GSAT-12R. The launch of the GISAT-1 satellite slated for March 5 this year was postponed due to technical reasons a day before the launch. "The GISAT-1 satellite will be carried by a GSLV rocket. The GSLV rocket was dismantled after the launch was called off. The rocket is being refurbished. The rocket's cryogenic engine has been brought down and it is being readied again," Somanath had said. According to him, the GSLV carrying GISAT-1 is expected to fly after PSLV C50. Somanath also said that the ISRO has developed a Virtual Launch Control Centre to test the rocket systems at the rocket port in Sriharikota remotely from the Thiruvananthapuram-based VSSC. "With Covid-19 pandemic prevailing, the Indian space agency in order to reduce the number of people travelling to Sriharikota, has developed a Virtual Launch Control Centre at VSSC. As a result, the testing of various rocket systems is being done at VSSC," Somnath had told IANS. The physical launch control centre is located in the building, housing the Mission Control Centre in Sriharikota and the systems there have been replicated at the VSSC in the form of a virtual launch control centre. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/banks/news/rbi-and-indian-banks-wait-as-supreme-court-adjourns-loan-moratorium-hearing-to-november-18/articleshow/79057919.cms">RBI and banks caught in the crosshairs as the Supreme Court adjourns loan moratorium hearing for a second time to November 18</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/sbi-share-price-rises-over-6-after-strong-earnings-with-analysts-pegging-it-to-be-the-first-to-recover-among-public-sector-banks/articleshow/79055329.cms">SBI rallies over 6% after strong earnings with analysts pegging it to be the first to recover among public sector banks</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/policy/foreign-policy/news/donald-trump-vs-joe-biden-us-election-result-and-relations-with-india-and-pm-modi/articleshow/79022098.cms">If Joe Biden wins, he’ll be the third US president to deal with Modi — Here’s how that could play out</a>

Countdown for India's first launch of 2020 with its radar imaging satellite onboard begins on Friday

<keyword id="6358064" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="isro">ISRO</keyword> is scheduled to launch its Venus mission in 2025 and France will participate in it, French space agency CNES said on Wednesday. The VIRAL (Venus Infrared Atmospheric Gases Linker) instrument co-developed with the Russian federal space agency Roscosmos and the LATMOS atmospheres, environments and space observations laboratory attached to the French national scientific research centre CNRS has been selected by the ISRO after a request for proposals, it said in a statement. ISRO chairman K Sivan and CNES president Jean-Yves Le Gall held talks and reviewed the areas driving cooperation between France and India in space. "In the domain of space exploration, France will be taking part in ISRO's mission to Venus, scheduled to launch in 2025. CNES will coordinate and prepare the French contribution, the first time a French payload will be flown on an Indian exploration mission," CNES said in a statement. However, there was no comment from ISRO. After the Mars Orbiter Mission (<keyword id="1506013" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="mangalyaan">Mangalyaan</keyword>) and Moon missions Chandrayaan-1 and 2, ISRO has set its eyes on Venus for carrying out its inter-planetary mission. France and India share a robust collaboration in arena of the space. It is one of the three nations with whom India collaborates in the strategic sectors of nuclear, space and defence -- the other two being the US and Russia. In March 2018, the two countries also issued a 'Joint Vision for Space Cooperation'. India and France are also working on ISRO's human space mission <keyword id="6797456" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Gaganyaan">Gaganyaan</keyword> project, which aims to send three Indians to space by 2022. Since September 2018, CNES and ISRO have set up a working group focused on cooperation in the field of human spaceflight, the French agency said. "The two nations are pooling their expertise, notably in the domains of space medicine, astronaut health monitoring and life support. Initial exchanges have concentrated on training for India's flight physicians and technical teams and the supply of CNES flight systems," it added. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/babri-masjid-demolition-case-cbi-special-court-acquits-all-accused-judge-says-demolition-was-not-pre-planned/articleshow/78401534.cms">Babri Masjid demolition case: CBI Special Court acquits all accused, judge says ‘demolition was not pre-planned’</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/rbi-records-its-largest-ever-current-account-surplus-but-thats-not-necessarily-a-good-thing/articleshow/78403696.cms">RBI records its largest-ever current account surplus — but that’s not necessarily a good thing</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/enterprise/news/airtel-launches-new-cybersecurity-product-with-cisco-radware-vmware-and-forcepoint-for-enterprises-it-took-100-crore-and-over-a-year-to-set-up/articleshow/78403006.cms">Airtel launches new cybersecurity product with CISCO, Radware, VMware, and Forcepoint for enterprises — it took ₹100 crore and over a year to set up</a>

ISRO to carry first-ever French payload abroad Venus mission scheduled for 2025

The static test of first stage solid motor (SS1) of <keyword id="6358064" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="isro">ISRO</keyword>'s <keyword id="6117656" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Small-Satellite-Launch-Vehicle">Small Satellite Launch Vehicle</keyword> (<keyword id="6864059" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="SSLV">SSLV</keyword>) -- a new-generation compact rocket -- was not successful, according to sources in ISRO. "Oscillation was noticed after 60 seconds into the test and nozzle was blown out near the bucket flange where it's attached with the motor at around 95 seconds", sources in the Bengaluru-headquartered <keyword id="498463" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Space-Agency">space agency</keyword> said. It was supposed to be tested for a total duration of about 110 seconds, officials said. The <keyword id="116095" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Space-Research-Organisation">Indian Space Research Organisation</keyword> had targeted to launch the first development flight of SSLV (D1) in April and may now in all probability have to revise this schedule. "SSLV First stage is a new solid motor...new design. New motor has to be static tested on the ground to prove its performance. If it is successful, one more of the same configuration is tested again for acceptance. If both are successful, no more ground test is required and third motor of the same configuration will be accepted for flight", an ISRO official said. SS2 and SS3 motors, igniters and SS2 flex nozzle assembly, liquid propulsion-based VTM (Velocity Trimming Module) thrusters, propellant tanks and propulsion components had already been realised by ISRO and made ready for the maiden orbital test flight. "We have to identify the root cause of the failure and modify the design", the official said on the unsuccessful testing at Sriharikota spaceport in Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh, about 100 kms north of Chennai, last week. Asked how long it may take for ISRO to complete the two static tests, the official said: "Maybe six months". SSLV is two metres in diameter and 34 meters in length with a lift-off weight of about 120 tons. ISRO has over the years realised five generations of launch vehicles -- SLV-3, ASLV, <keyword id="6395832" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="PSLV">PSLV</keyword>, GSLV and GSLV-MkIII. The space agency had earlier said the SSLV is going to be a new member of the launch vehicle family. It is intended to cater to emerging global small satellite launch service market. "We are flying an earth observation satellite (EOS-02) on board the the first development flight of SSLV", ISRO Chairman and Secretary in the <keyword id="245720" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Department-of-Space">Department of Space</keyword>, K Sivan said last month. SSLV has been designed to meet "launch on demand" requirements in a cost-effective manner for small satellites in a dedicated and ride share mode. It is a three-stage all solid vehicle with a capability to launch up to 500 kg satellite mass into 500 km low earth orbit (LEO) and 300 kg to Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO). By comparison, PSLV -- the workhorse of ISRO -- can take up to 1,750 kg payload into SSO of 600 km altitude. With lower per kg launch cost, the mini launcher will have multiple satellite mounting options for nano, micro and small satellites. Sivan had earlier termed the SSLV an innovative vehicle, which can be assembled in just 72 hours. "Instead of 60 days (for building a PSLV), it (SSLV) will be assembled in three days; instead of 600 people (needed to build a PSLV), it (SSLV) will be done by six people", he had said. Chairman and Managing Director of ISRO's commercial arm, NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), G Narayanan, recently said: "the world over there is a big boom for small launch vehicles and that's why we are focusing on that". The US-based satellite ride share and mission management provider, <keyword id="696288" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="spaceflight">Spaceflight</keyword> Inc., has already purchased the first commercial launch of the SSLV (SSLV-D2) from NSIL for launch from the <keyword id="6356967" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="satish-dhawan-space-centre">Satish Dhawan Space Centre</keyword> in Sriharikota. Spaceflight had said at the time that it has already sold out the entire manifest (launch) for this secured SSLV-D2 launch, with spacecraft from an undisclosed U.S.-based satellite constellation customer. This undisclosed customer is reportedly Seattle-based BlackSky Global, which will launch four earth observation satellites on board SSLV-D2 in the ride share mission arranged Spaceflight. "Were taking advantage of the growth in the small satellite market to deliver more launch options with the mini-launcher", a senior NSIL official said. "The SSLV is the much-needed solution to fill the gap in the portfolio of small launch vehicles," Curt Blake, CEO and President of Spaceflight, had said. "SSLV is designed for the launch-on-demand concept with very quick turn-around capability in between launches. SSLV is perfectly suited for launching multiple micro satellites at a time and supports multiple orbital drop-offs", Blake had said. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/oneplus-9-pro-oneplus-9-and-oneplus-watch-to-launch-in-india-today-how-to-watch-live-stream-price-features-and-more/articleshow/81644503.cms">OnePlus 9 Pro, OnePlus 9 and OnePlus Watch to launch in India today – How to watch live stream, price, features and more</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/how-to-check-allotment-status-of-suryoday-small-finance-bank-ipo-online/articleshow/81647204.cms">Suryoday Small Finance Bank IPO allotment live – how to check allotment, listing date and more</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/supreme-court-orders-to-pause-all-cases-against-netflix-amazon-prime-and-others-in-high-courts-across-india/articleshow/81647182.cms">Supreme Court orders to pause all cases against Netflix, Amazon Prime and others in High Courts across India</a>

Static test of first stage solid motor of India's mini rocket SSLV unsuccessful, says sources in ISRO

<ul><li>The <keyword id="3457213" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="internet-freedom-foundation">Internet Freedom Foundation</keyword> (IFF) wants Twitter to explain why it removed Prashant Bushan’s controversial tweets even though no legal request was issued to that effect. </li><li>According to the internet rights body, Twitter’s ‘proactively’ removal amounts to an impediment of the right to free speech and freedom of expression.</li><li>For Twitter, removing Bhushan’s tweet led to an acquittal from the case.</li></ul>Twitter may have wrangled itself free from the clutches of India’s <keyword id="6354977" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Supreme-Court">Supreme Court</keyword> by removing activist and lawyer <keyword id="6368850" type="DEFINITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="prashant-bhushan">Prashant Bhushan</keyword>’s tweets from the social networking platform, but there are others who believe that the social networking giant has some explaining to do. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="77649463" title="Prashant Bhushan rejects Supreme Court's offer to delay sentence but is given two to three days to reconsider statement" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> The Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF), an internet rights body, has written to Twitter questioning its move to ‘proactively’ remove Bhushan’s tweets from the platform without any directive being issued to that effect by the courts. That too before any decision was made on whether Bhushan is ‘guilty of contempt’. "Twitter is committed to defending and protecting freedom of expression in India and around the globe. Nonetheless, Twitter endeavors at all times to comply with local law and Twitter’s action in this case is consistent with local legal standard," the social networking platform said with respect to IFF's letter. Removing the tweets led to the Supreme Court acquitting Twitter from Bhushan’s case ruling that, “The intention of <keyword id="749437" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Twitter-India">Twitter India</keyword> would not be considered against the court.” <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="77107560" title="Tweets criticising India's Supreme Court get tagged as 'hate speech' and incur the judge's wrath ⁠— Twitter caught in the crossfire" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> Others see it as an abuse of power. “By proactively censoring online content in the absence of any direction from a court mandating the same, Twitter’s actions in the case against Bhushan have set a dangerous precedent for free speech,” said <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Gow1p29T-4_ODJJBKvG47L1NZ78dAlwRMNGNzf1rHJA/viewform?edit_requested=true">IFF’s letter to Twitter.</a> Twitter jumps the gun The Twitter feud in India stems from two tweets that Bhushan put out criticising the Chief Justice of India, Ashok Bhushan, and the Indian judiciary. Twitter was called upon to explain why the tweets were not taken down. Defending Twitter India, senior advocate Sajan Poovayya, explained that necessary instructions need to be given to Twitter for them to take down the tweet. He added that the proper authority to address the issue lies with Twitter’s global office in California — not India. “The issuance of notice by the Supreme Court does not amount to a determination of illegality in any way,” explains IFF’s letter. However, before the second hearing, the tweets disappeared from the platform and was replaced with the message, “This Tweet from @pbhushan1 has been withheld in response to a legal demand.” This even as IFF asserts that no legal demand was filed. “The removal of the actual tweets from Twitter’s platform does not serve any purpose except erasure of the historical record, especially in the absence of a clear and specific judicial direction requiring the same,” says the advocacy group’s letter. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="77539437" title="Supreme Court wields the ‘iron hand’ in holding Prashant Bhushan guilty for tweets critical of judiciary and chief justice" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> The letter is led by Bhushan’s lawyer, Dushyant Dave and has a 100 signatories so far. According to the social network's latest Transparency Report, India already ranks fifth-highest in terms of removal requests globally after Japan, Russia, Turkey, and South Korea. Updated: Earlier version did not include Twitter's comment on IFF's letter. Countries ahead of India in terms of removal requests also was not included. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/google-eyes-indias-sharechat-as-microsoft-goes-after-tiktok-in-the-us-heres-why-it-makes-sense/articleshow/77667345.cms">Google eyes India’s ShareChat as Microsoft goes after TikTok in the US — here’s why it makes sense</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/gmail-down-users-report-being-unable-to-send-emails-and-attach-files/articleshow/77648762.cms">Gmail is working again — Google fixes issue without explaining what went wrong</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/news/isro-chandrayaan-2-identifies-craters-that-may-have-water-after-mapping-4-million-square-kilometres-of-the-moon-in-its-first-year/slidelist/77667105.cms">ISRO’s Chandrayaan 2 identifies craters that may have water after mapping 4 million square kilometres of the Moon in its first year</a>

Twitter's decision to 'proactively' remove Prashant Bhushan's tweets opposed by internet rights body

<ul><li><keyword id="7681538" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tech-Mahindra-CFO">Tech Mahindra CFO</keyword> <keyword id="388883" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Manoj-Bhat">Manoj Bhat</keyword> is happy with the budget but feels more could have been done to address the needs of the IT services industry specifically.</li><li>Taxation, for instance, could have been simplified to ease the cost of doing business across multiple geographies.</li><li>Since the IT services industry has been a huge job creator in India, it would also have been helpful if there were more incentives for employment generation.</li></ul>India’s latest budget did acknowledge the role of technology in economic revival. For instance, the government plans to introduce e-courts for faster resolution of disputes. It also earmarked ₹1,500 crore to dole our financial incentives for digital transactions. However, what the IT services players in India, like <keyword id="43217" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tech-Mahindra">Tech Mahindra</keyword>, HCL Technologies, Infosys, Wipro and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), wanted to see was some relief on taxes and incentives for job creation. “I think the government has come up with a budget that is investment oriented. In a lot of ways that ticks a lot of the boxes. But, specifically for IT services, there’s nothing there,” Tech Mahindra CFO, Manoj Bhat told Business Insider in an exclusive interview. Taxation is getting more complicated world over The industry lobby, NASSCOM, hoped for some clarity on the tax framework with more employees working from home — a trend that many companies plan to stick to in some form or the other in the long run. “As companies like us become larger and operate in so many countries, helping us work through some easier tax situations esp in international context whether its around transfer pricing or some of the other laws that are coming through would have been nice,” said Bhat. Transfer pricing relates to the prices charged by different entities — located in different jurisdictions — for goods and services. The tax rules related to transfer pricing are complex. Governments, in India and abroad, are becoming increasingly proactive in scrutinising transfer pricing policies and practices. The IT services industries is a big job creator At a time when the Indian economy needs a demand boost, Tech Mahindra’s CFO also believes that the budget could have done with adding some incentives for job creation. “That’s something they should consider perhaps in terms of continuing some of the benefits that were offered in the past few years that are no longer there,” said Bhat. In the past, the sector has been a huge boon for creating new opportunities and helping the economy grow. NASSCOM estimates that the $200 billion industry created over 200,000 new jobs in 2019 — a year that saw massive unemployment in India. “We require WFH to be enabled in SEZs (Special Economic Zones on a long-term basis. Since this requires movement of duty-free goods like laptops etc outside the SEZs, the Finance Ministry should provide the requisite clarifications under Customs and GST,” said NASSCOM in their pre-budget expectations. Even though bigger players can do without the incentives, smaller and upcoming IT companies would have welcomed the relief. The demand for talent is also on the rise as businesses that were once hesitant about going digital are bringing up their timelines to ensure that their customers can still reach them even if stepping out of the house isn’t an option. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/markets/news/india-becomes-the-first-asian-country-allow-small-investors-to-directly-lend-to-the-government/articleshow/80701417.cms">India becomes the first Asian country to allow small investors to directly lend to the government</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/news/isro-will-transform-in-2021-as-india-pumps-big-money-to-draw-in-startups-for-the-second-space-age/articleshow/80683054.cms">ISRO will transform in 2021 as India pumps big money to draw in startups for the 'second space age'</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/news/new-citizenship-law-pulls-india-down-in-the-democracy-rankings-and-2021-is-not-looking-better/articleshow/80671194.cms">New citizenship law pulls India down in the democracy rankings — and 2021 is not looking better</a>

INTERVIEW: Two things on Tech Mahindra CFO’s wishlist for the Budget 2021-22 that were left unaddressed

With the creation of the Indian National Committee for Space Research (now ISRO) in 1962, India has been an active patron to mankind’s space efforts. From Aryabhata to Chandrayaan-2, India has launched 113 satellites, including the <keyword id="6374683" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="First">first</keyword> privately built and funded satellite ExceedSat-1 which was launched from USA, as a part of <keyword id="6355315" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="elon-musk">Elon Musk</keyword>’s Space X project Falcon-9. Up until 2016, India’s space activities have been the exclusive domain of the State, however, the launch of the <keyword id="4835931" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="IRNSS-1H">IRNSS-1H</keyword> in 2017 was the herald of a new era in India’s Space endeavours. The IRNSS-1H marked the beginning of privatisation in this area by being the first Indian satellite, to be designed in collaboration with the private parties. In the following year, the ExseedSat-1 was to become the first privately funded and built satellite launched in collaboration with the private Space X project. Interestingly, up until now, all missions have been conducted for purposes of research, reconnaissance as well as for augmenting communication systems since there was a substantial State monopoly. With the recent announcement of the creation of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre or IN-SPACe by the Government of India as part of its atma nirbhar Bharat scheme, which aims at providing a “level playing field” and a supportive regulatory regime to allow Indian private enterprises to grow and carve their own niche in the so-called “fast-growing global space sector”, India has in fact shown an inclination to capitalise on the US strategy of opening up the avidly touted space “sector” to private participation. While the initiative sounds exhilarating and will definitely go a long way in defining India’s image as an emerging global technology powerhouse, it is extremely difficult to fathom why private players, would be willing to readily come forward and invest billions, by confining their activities for research purposes alone, without any expectation of commercial gains or simply, return on their investment. This is so because, matters concerning space and space exploration are subject of a special branch of customary international law, that are mainly centred around five treaties and eleven agreements. The most significant of these is the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies or the Outer Space Treaty (OST) which India ratified in 1967, and which specifically lays down under Article I that outer space and space exploration including that on the moon and other celestial bodies, are to be carried out solely for, and in the interest of all countries, and that they are the province of all mankind. Article II restricts claims of sovereignty and national appropriation by any means whatsoever, Article VI places international responsibility on all activities carried on by governmental or by non-governmental entities, as well as mandates authorization and continuing supervision by the appropriate State Party. While there is considerable debate surrounding the applicability of the OST especially Article VI to private parties, since the US Supreme Court ‘s ruling in Medellin v Texas (2008) which held that Article VI is not self-executing in nature, regard must be had to the fact that these are domestic Court rulings and the fact that Space law is part of Customary International law which is affirmed by decades of State practise, cannot be denied, and neither can the fact that it is settled principle of international law that a State cannot, under the excuse of changes in domestic law, including subsequent Court rulings, renege from treaty obligations once ratified. In effect, the OST places strict checks upon the objectives behind exploring this uncharted territory by State and Non-State actors, far less allowing the possibility of even claiming rights of any kind. Moreover, it is no secret that private corporations operate predominantly with the object of individual gains and unless driven by the zeal to serve mankind and share profits with all countries, chances are that the investments made by private parties will have little to nil returns, far less any substantive protection. Also, the marked absence of a designated “Space Police” to patrol and check exploitative behaviour arising out of private activities owing to the presence of Article IV makes any form of substantive protection offered by States to private equity outside the Kármán line, ineffective. These are some of the many challenges apart from concerns regarding contamination of space including <keyword id="943402" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Space-Debris">space debris</keyword>, that will require extensive deliberations by the Indian Government unless it wants to face a fusillade of criticisms as well as expose itself to the risk of multiple treaty breach claims and possible sanctions from UN as well as its member States. Therefore, unless carefully planned and executed in collaboration with other State actors and under a highly controlled yet a pragmatic regime, that can ensure a balance between the needs of private investment and obligations posed by the OST, India’s space ambitions for the moment appear to be anachronistic and as surrealistic as the flying ambitions of Icarus and Daedalus. (This article was written by Nilanjan Sen, who is an experienced lawyer, specialising in International Law and Arbitration. His views are personal.) SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/coovid-vaccine-from-oxford-serum-institute-and-astrazeneca-shows-promising-immune-response/articleshow/77069321.cms">The COVID-19 vaccine from Oxford and AstraZeneca shows 'promising' results in early human trials</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/entertainment/news/dil-bechara-kissing-booth-2-and-other-movies-you-can-watch-on-netflix-amazon-prime-disneyhotstar-this-week/slidelist/77142498.cms">Dil Bechara, Kissing Booth 2 and other movies you can watch on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+Hotstar this week</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/work-from-home-effect-these-companies-are-shelling-out-for-employees-power-bills-internet-cost-and-more/articleshow/77139229.cms">WFH effect – These companies are paying for employees' power bills, internet cost and more</a>

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