Best printers for Home

Best Mixer Grinder

Best wired Earphones

Best 43 Inch TV in India

Best Wi Fi Routers

Best Home Theatre in India

Smart Watch under 5000

Best Laptops for Education

Best Laptop for Students

India has witnessed a troubling rise in <keyword id="23342468" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="railway-derailments" source="keywords">railway derailments</keyword> and accidents in recent months, sparking widespread concern among the public and providing political ammunition to opposition parties. Among the more notable incidents was a tragic derailment in June 2023 in Odisha’s Balasore district, where over 290 passengers lost their lives and thousands were injured. This incident, which ranks among the deadliest in Indian railway history, was traced to human error. Other derailments, such as one near Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh in September 2023, further underscored the growing concerns surrounding the safety of the nation's railways. The increasing frequency of such incidents has forced the government to take decisive action to improve the railway system's safety measures and regain public confidence. <h2><keyword id="20066990" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="railway-safety" source="keywords">Railway safety</keyword> concerns</h2>In response to the mounting worries over railway safety, Railway Minister <keyword id="19904138" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ashwini-Vaishnaw" source="keywords">Ashwini Vaishnaw</keyword> has reaffirmed that the government's priority is to ensure the safety of passengers and trains. According to the minister, several advanced safety measures are being implemented to modernise and secure India's vast railway network. Central to these efforts is the <keyword id="20009803" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kavach-system" source="keywords">Kavach system</keyword>, an indigenously developed <keyword id="20171257" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="automatic-train-protection" source="keywords">Automatic Train Protection</keyword> (ATP) technology. Vaishnaw stressed that the government is accelerating the deployment of this system across the railway network, emphasising its critical role in preventing accidents. The Kavach system plays a pivotal role in enhancing safety by automatically applying brakes in situations where the train driver fails to do so, ensuring that trains operate within prescribed speed limits. It also helps in maintaining safety during adverse weather conditions, such as heavy fog. By creating an interconnected safety network through the installation of RFID tags, telecom towers, and optical fibre along the tracks, Kavach allows for real-time communication and tracking, making the railway system much safer. The government has laid out ambitious plans for the extensive rollout of Kavach across over 1,00,000 kilometres of track and more than 7,000 stations in the coming years. The Railway Minister noted that tenders have already been issued to install the system on 10,000 locomotives and 9,600 kilometres of track. This comprehensive approach aims to significantly reduce accidents across India's railway network. <h2>Beyond Kavach</h2>Beyond the deployment of Kavach, <keyword id="19909154" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Railways" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Indian Railways" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Indian Railways">Indian Railways</keyword> is also implementing several other critical safety measures aimed at preventing derailments and improving overall <keyword id="20724881" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="railway-infrastructure" source="keywords">railway infrastructure</keyword>. One key area of focus is the regular inspection and testing of tracks. In the current fiscal year, over 97,000 inspections have been conducted to ensure that tracks remain safe for operation. Additionally, advanced ultrasound testing technology is being used to check the structural integrity of rail tracks and welds. Since April, approximately 1,86,000 kilometres of track and over 1.1 million welds have been examined using ultrasound machines, helping to identify flaws that could lead to derailments. The introduction of new ultrasound machines, along with the rehabilitation of railway bridges and the construction of numerous flyovers and underpasses, further demonstrates the government's commitment to improving infrastructure. Meanwhile, <keyword id="23342471" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="fog-safety-devices" source="keywords">fog safety devices</keyword> have been installed in 5,300 locations to mitigate the risks posed by low-visibility conditions, a common cause of accidents during the winter months. Indian Railways is also prioritising the renewal of older tracks. So far, around 2,500 kilometres of track have been replaced to ensure a safer and more modern railway network. The Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO), a key body responsible for railway safety, has been conducting rigorous quality checks on track fittings and other equipment to ensure that all safety standards are adhered to. Furthermore, special attention is being given to training personnel in the use of these new technologies, particularly the Kavach system. Training programs are being conducted at the Indian Railways Institute of Signal Engineering and Telecommunications (IRISET) to familiarise staff with the system, ensuring they are well-equipped to manage and operate the advanced safety technologies being introduced. <h2>Future plans</h2>The government’s long-term strategy for railway safety involves expanding the use of Kavach to some of the busiest railway routes, including the Mumbai-Delhi and Delhi-Kolkata corridors. These corridors, covering 3,000 kilometres, will soon see the full implementation of the Kavach system, with work on another 6,000 kilometres of track slated to begin shortly thereafter. Vaishnaw expressed confidence that the latest version of Kavach would be fully deployed across the entire railway network within five to six years. While new trains will be equipped with Kavach from the outset, the existing fleet of locomotives will also be retrofitted with the system, ensuring uniform safety standards across both old and new trains. The Railway Minister pointed out that the system had already undergone rigorous trials and was found to be effective in various emergency scenarios, providing a much-needed layer of protection against accidents caused by human error. (With inputs from PTI)

What is India doing to address the rising number of railway derailments and accidents in the country?

<ul><li>The <keyword id="5293859" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="odisha-train-accident" source="Orion">Odisha train accident</keyword> which resulted in the death of 275 people has turned the spotlight on the <keyword id="1317735" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="kavach" source="Orion">Kavach</keyword> initiative that aims to make <keyword id="6355455" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="indian-railways" source="Orion">Indian railways</keyword> safer. </li><li>Announced in a revamped avatar in the 2022 Union Budget, the Kavach system was not rolled out on the <keyword id="6357961" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="odisha" source="Orion">Odisha</keyword> route. </li><li>Of the total route length of 1.03 lakh kilometres, only 1,455 kilometres have been brought under Kavach yet. </li></ul>The Odisha triple-train crash, which resulted in the death of 275 people and injured 1,175, has turned the focus on the Kavach initiative that aims to make Indian <keyword id="6360676" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="railways" source="Orion">railways</keyword> safer. The Kavach (translates to armour in English) system has not been rolled out on the Odisha route yet. “The Kavach system was not available on this route,” said Amitabh Sharma, Indian Railways spokesperson. The government has drawn sharp criticism from several quarters for ignoring railway safety. In a bid to prevent the incidence of accidents, the government announced in 2022 that it would start rolling out a revamped avatar of Kavach on a trial basis, initially covering 2,000 kilometres and then expanding the coverage further. However, only 1,455 kilometres of railway routes under South Central Railway have been brought under Kavach as of January 2023. The government has plans to expand it to 4,000 to 5,000 km in FY24, and has so far spent ₹17-22 crore on rolling out the system. For context, Indian Railways has a total route coverage of nearly 1.03 lakh km. Essentially, a little over 1% of Indian Railways’ route is protected by Kavach so far. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="What is Kavach?" comment="subhead" text="What is Kavach?"><keyword id="13307732" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="what-is-kavach" source="Orion">What is Kavach</keyword>?</cmsannotation> Kavach is an indigenous Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system developed by the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO), an Indian Railways department, way back in 2002. The Kavach system is designed to prevent collisions of trains – a leading cause of railway accidents in India. While there have been 58 railway accidents in the last 10 years, the Odisha accident is the deadliest. This protection system is aimed at avoiding accidents arising out of driver-related or technical errors, as well as aid drivers (loco pilots) in running the trains safely even in inclement weather conditions. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Could Kavach have helped avoid the Odisha accident?" comment="subhead" text="Could Kavach have helped avoid the Odisha accident?">Could Kavach have helped avoid the Odisha accident?</cmsannotation> Kavach was not active on the Odisha route. However, even if the system was deployed, it could not have prevented the tragedy, according to railway officials. The accident involved the Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express, the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, and a goods train. While the two passenger trains were running on parallel tracks, the Coromandel Express got derailed and hit the goods train. Its derailed carriages struck the rear carriages of the Howrah Superfast Express on the adjacent track, according to railway ministry officials. "If an obstruction comes suddenly in front of a high-moving vehicle, then no technology in the world would prevent an accident,"<a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1665270642797875200"> said</a> Jaya Varma Sinha, member of operation and business development, Railway Board. She added that the presence of iron ore in the goods train led to the higher number of casualties. According to Railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, a failure of the interlocking mechanism led to the triple-train accident. "The change that occurred during electronic interlocking caused the accident. Whoever did it and how it happened will be found out after a proper investigation," Vaihsnaw told news agency ANI. According to preliminary reports, the Coromandel Express’ loco pilot did not make an error. The train was given a signal to pass. However, it crashed into the goods train due to the failure of the interlocking mechanism putting it onto the same path as the goods train. At the time of impact, the Coromandel Express was at a speed of 128 kmph. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Railway safety in focus" comment="subhead" text="Railway safety in focus">Railway safety in focus</cmsannotation> Although officials say that the Kavach system could not have prevented the Odisha accident, it still brings railway safety into focus. According to a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), Indian Railways has failed to utilise funds earmarked for undertaking safety-related expenditure. The report adds that Indian Railways was supposed to spend ₹1 lakh crore from FY18 to FY23 on safety, at ₹20,000 crore per year. Of this, the government was supposed to pay ₹15,000 crore every year, and the rest crore was to be raised by the Indian Railways. The report states that the Railways failed to do so in every year between FY18 to FY23. With a little over 1% of Indian Railways’ total route length under Kavach and in the aftermath of the deadliest railway accident in decades, safety concerns are taking centrestage. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/rbi-mpc-likely-to-hold-repo-rate-in-june-policy-as-inflation-cools/articleshow/100760075.cms">RBI monetary policy: MPC likely to keep the pause-button pressed</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/wedding-season-drives-hero-motocorp-and-bajaj-auto-sales-in-may/articleshow/100700290.cms">Wedding bells drive two-wheeler sales in May, passenger vehicles cruise on SUVs</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/indias-gdp-forecast-raised-but-el-nino-export-contraction-threats-hover/articleshow/100693955.cms">India’s GDP forecast raised but El Nino, export contraction threats hover</a>

Explained: What is Kavach? The Railways’ protective armour missing in Odisha

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday announced the <keyword id="12280048" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="pm-gati-shakti" source="Orion">PM Gati Shakti</keyword> National Master Plan aimed at making logistics connectivity seamless across the length and breadth of the country. Sitharaman described the <keyword id="11977289" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="gati-shakti" source="Orion">Gati Shakti</keyword> plan – a massive infrastructure development undertaking – to encompass the ‘engines’ of growth, namely roads, railways, mass transport, seamless multi-modal connectivity. In deference to the request from many states, the outlay of the Scheme for Financial Assistance to states has been increased from ₹10,000 crore to ₹15,000 crore. The allocation for FY23 is ₹1 lakh crore to catalyse overall investments in the economy. The 50-year interest free bonds are over and above the normal borrowings by the states. This will be used for Gati Shakti, rural road projects, town planning schemes etc. The Gati Shakti project aims to create a synergy between infrastructure and logistics, both of people and goods, and location of projects. Here are the key takeaways of the announcements under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan: <ul><li>A scheme for expressways will be formulated in 2022-23 to facilitate faster movement of people and goods.</li><li>The national highways network will be expanded by 25,000 kilometres in 2022-23, with an outlay of INR 20,000 crores via financing.</li><li>A new Unified Logistics Interface Platform will be brought in to facilitate data exchange between operators across different modes of transport, aimed at implementing a just-in-time approach for logistics management and giving access to real-time information to operators.</li><li>A new open-source mobility stack for organising seamless travel of passengers will be facilitated.</li><li>Contracts for implementation of multi-modal logistics parks at four locations will be awarded on a public-private-partnership (PPP) mode in 2022-23.</li><li>Railways will develop new products and logistics services for small farmers, and small and medium enterprises.</li><li>Railways will integrate railways and postal networks for seamless movement of parcels.</li><li>A 2,000-kilometre railway network will be brought under ‘Kavach’ for safety and capacity augmentation.</li><li>400 new-generation Vande Bharat trains with better energy efficiency and passenger riding experience will be developed and manufactured over the next three years.</li><li>100 PM Gati Shakti cargo terminals for multi-modal logistics facilities will be developed in the next three years.</li><li>‘Innovative’ financing options will be encouraged for building metro systems of appropriate type and scale.</li><li>Facilitation of multi-model connectivity options between mass urban transport and railway stations.</li><li>Standardisation of metro systems and civil structures based on Indian needs.</li><li>Parvatmala, a preferred ecologically sustainable alternative to conventional road systems in hilly areas – also known as National Ropeways Development Programme, will be undertaken in PPP mode.</li></ul>SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/union-budget-2022-speech-highlights-and-updates-from-finance-minister-nirmala-sitharaman/articleshow/89264352.cms">Budget 2022: Watch out for the highlights from Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s speech</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/minda-industries-sona-comstar-greaves-cotton-amongst-biggest-gainers-as-investors-bet-on-budget-2022-being-ev-friendly/articleshow/89264077.cms">Minda Industries, Sona Comstar, Greaves Cotton amongst biggest gainers as investors bet on Budget 2022 being EV-friendly</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/shares-of-fmcg-companies-rise-on-hopes-of-consumption-boost-for-the-sector/articleshow/89263952.cms">Britannia, Dabur, Marico surge on hopes that budget will leave people with more money to buy stuff</a>

PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan aims to bring synergy between infrastructure and logistics across the length and breadth of India

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The death of a 26-year-old EY employee has triggered a conversation about India's work culture.</li><li>The employee's family says that she was overworked — and that it reflects a wider problem.</li></ul>Fourteen-hour work days, meetings during vacations, and no overtime.To some, this may sound like a job from hell. But for many employees in India, it's just another working day.India has one of the toughest work cultures in the world. In 2022, according to the most recently available data from the <a target="_blank" href="https://ilostat.ilo.org/topics/working-time/#">International Labour Organization</a>, the average employee in India worked 46.7 hours a week, compared to about 38 in the US.Not only are employees in India working long hours, but many are also doing it under intense pressure."The pressure is very, very high," Jennifer Hephzibah, a senior HR professional in India, told Business Insider. "If you don't deliver it at a particular time, you either lose your bonus, or you lose your job. It doesn't matter what you're going through otherwise."A Boston Consulting Group <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.bcg.com/publications/2024/india-hr-revolution-building-workplaces-for-the-future&amp;sa=D&amp;source=docs&amp;ust=1727195342438866&amp;usg=AOvVaw366N6_QMHZIy6fbfnMv__Y">survey</a> of 11,000 workers in eight countries in October 2023 found that 58% of Indian respondents reported feeling burned out — the highest share of any of the countries, including the US (50%), the UK (47%), and Japan (37%).<h2 id="56dd16d5-8f41-4ab5-aad1-efb517f1a780">'Glorifying overwork'</h2>This always-on culture has come under the spotlight recently following the death of an EY employee, Anna Sebastian Perayil, in July.Peryail's father, Sebastian Perayil, told<a target="_blank" href="https://www.thenewsminute.com/news/what-action-will-ey-take-anna-sebastians-father-speaks-to-tnm"> The News Minute</a> that he believed his daughter died of a combination of health issues, including work stress and acid reflux which triggered a lack of sleep. The official cause of Perayil's death, however, remains unclear."Anna was unable to sleep on most days and couldn't eat on time," he told the publication. "After a whole night of work, she would have to wake up at 7:30 the next morning and repeat the same cycle."According to<a target="_blank" href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/maharashtra/mother-pens-letter-following-death-of-26-year-old-daughter-due-to-work-stress-urges-ey-chairman-to-reflect-on-toxic-work-culture/article68656957.ece"> The Hindu</a>, Perayil's mother emailed Rajiv Memani, the chairman at EY India, in the wake of Perayil's death, saying her daughter had collapsed four months into the job after struggling with "the workload, new environment, and long hours."She also accused EY of "glorifying overwork."EY told BI it was "taking the family's correspondence with utmost seriousness and humility" and called Perayil's death an "irreparable loss."<h2 id="0e580f7b-a1b5-40de-bcd5-4c5e1cd9f1da">A 70-hour workweek</h2>Concerns about India's workplace culture are not new.Last year, the software billionaire and Infosys founder Narayana Murthy sparked controversy after saying that young people in India should be willing to work 70 hours a week to help the country progress."India's work productivity is one of the lowest in the world," he told<a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ES8ZNSTswrs"> The Record</a>, going on to say that unless India improved several factors including its work productivity, "we will not be able to compete with those countries that have made tremendous progress.""So, therefore," he continued, "my request is that our youngsters must say: "'This is my country. I'd like to work 70 hours a week.'"The comments appear to reflect wider expectations in India, even among employers with head offices elsewhere.Kavach Khanna, a former EY analyst in India, told BI that he believed he was expected to do more work than his US colleagues."We used to talk to colleagues in the US in the same roles, and their experience was completely different from ours," Khanna said. "They would get to go for client meetings, leave the office on time, no stretched workdays, and they weren't overburdened like we were."EY did not immediately respond to a request for comment.<h2 id="c34411b0-4cf7-4ac6-b8b5-d828d78369df">Cost centers and cheap labor</h2>Huge multinational companies, such as EY, Google, Microsoft, Salesforce, and Accenture, have set up cost centers in India.These centers, also called Global Capability Centers (GCCs), manage everything from cyber security to product development. They can also manage human resources and accounting.They are cheaper to run in India due to lower labor costs, and they help companies tap into a wide and hungry pool of tech-savvy, English-speaking talent.An <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://assets.ey.com/content/dam/ey-sites/ey-com/en_in/topics/consulting/gcc/2023/06/ey-future-of-gccs-in-india-a-vision-2030.pdf">EY report in 2023 </a>projected that India is set to host at least 2,400 such centers by 2030, with a market value of more than $100 billion.An associate at the Indian office of a multinational banking and advisory firm told BI that even at his Western company, he believed Indian employees were expected to work longer and harder.He said 16- to 18-hour workdays — including some weekends — were normal in his job."A lot of multinational corporations use India as a cost center because of the cheap labor," said the associate, who wanted to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation. "Offices in other countries have boundaries and then dump their extra work on us."Jeanie Chang, an executive coach who specializes in workplace mental health, said she had noticed such a trend, too. "It definitely exists that multinational companies tend to think, 'We love that the Indians work hard, so let's keep doing that.'"Chang also noted that some Asian communities place a cultural importance on work ethic that can lend itself to exploitation."There's a word in Japanese and Korean," Chang said, "that literally means 'overworking yourself to death.' That should say something."<h2 id="799c5726-4028-4993-85d3-1175f4f96f4d">Fear of replacement</h2>So what is stopping employees from demanding change?Part of it might come down to competition. In 2022, <a target="_blank" class="" href="http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/files/file/India%20Employment%20Report%202024.pdf">according to the India Employment Report 2024</a>, India's youth made up nearly 83% of the country's total unemployed population. With <a target="_blank" href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/budget/68432023-Economic-Survey-2023-24-Complete-document">India's workforce</a> thought to number well over 500 million, each job counts.Hephzibah, the senior HR professional, said that the sheer number of available workers has contributed to a feeling that employees are expendable, and has held them back from saying no to unreasonable demands for fear of losing their jobs.Perayil's mother's email, for instance, said her daughter "did not know how to say no.""She was trying to prove herself in a new environment, and in doing so, she pushed herself beyond her limits," the email said,Hephzibah said this was especially true for younger workers, who may not have enough experience to become critical within the company yet."In the bigger companies," she said, "if you don't deliver, that's it: You're replaced."<h2 id="76d9e66d-7e50-4929-bb3f-86da08d669dd">Cultural differences</h2>Chang told BI that she's had Indian employees point out their lack of resources compared to international peers in the same company."They tell me, 'Jeanie, we don't have effective mental-health resources, but we hear the US does,'" she said.In a<a target="_blank" href="https://www.gallup.com/workplace/349484/state-of-the-global-workplace.aspx"> Gallup State of the Global Workplace report</a> published in 2024, only 14% of the roughly 2,262 Indian employees surveyed said they were thriving at their workplace, compared with 34% of the 128,278 employees surveyed globally.Hephzibah, who has worked in both Indian-owned and multinational companies, told BI that multiple colleagues had left or requested transfers outside India in recent years — mainly because of the work culture.She also found cultural differences when conducting training sessions for employees in India and the US.When implementing the Indian training schedule for one company's American employees, Hephzibah faced pushback on issues like late session timings."They said, 'We're not going to work after 6 and they could clearly call it out without feeling bad," Hephzibah said. "The problem in India is that people get scared to speak up because their jobs might be impacted."<h2 id="c1e23a63-b3a5-4dfe-9fda-a228d77f5f16">The way forward</h2>In Hephzibah's opinion, overtime and vacation policies need to be strictly enforceable in India."Outside, we're very careful to communicate that we care because they have legal backing to sue," she said. "Over here, that entire system is missing."She agreed with Chang that effecting systemic change would also be up to the leaders and middle management, and not just down to a country's laws."What is the leadership believing in? Is leadership overworking?" Chang said. "Because if they are, they're going to overwork their employees."

The death of a young EY employee is raising questions over India's 'always-on' work culture

<ul><li>The <keyword id="857141" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="loan-amount" source="Orion">loan amount</keyword> can range between ₹10,000 to ₹30,000. </li><li>The entire <keyword id="6360217" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="loan" source="Orion">loan</keyword> process, including disbursement and collection, is conducted digitally through the app. </li><li>In FY23, the company reported that 34% of <keyword id="602834" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="loan-repayments" source="Orion">loan repayments</keyword> were conducted through <keyword id="3160615" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="digital-channels" source="Orion">digital channels</keyword>. </li></ul>Muthoot Microfin Limited on Monday launched a new service called 'Suvidha Loan' aimed at providing customers with instant access to funds. This service allows customers to apply for a loan amount ranging from ₹10,000 to ₹30,000, and receive the funds within 30 minutes of application. The entire process is facilitated through the Mahila Mitra App, which is the company's mobile application platform designed for its customers. With the introduction of this service, Muthoot Microfin aims to empower its customers with quick and hassle-free access to much-needed funds. Says Sadaf Sayeed, chief executive officer, Muthoot Microfin, “Muthoot Microfin has conceptualised Suvidha Loan to empower microfinance customers, strengthening our commitment towards digital inclusion of rural India. This enables customers to borrow at her discretion and convenience without being dependent on a loan officer or joint liability group.” The Suvidha Loan incorporates secure document execution methods like virtual signatures, OTP verification, and geo-coordinate confirmation, ensuring a seamless process, the company says. Customers can choose flexible repayment options, including monthly or weekly instalments, to suit individual needs and preferences. The entire loan process, including disbursement and collection, is conducted digitally through the app, eliminating the need for paper-based transactions and minimising manual intervention. Sayeed adds that with the use of the company’s Mahila Mitra app and credit scorecard, together with integrated household-level credit bureau, digital KYC (know-your-customer), and penny-drop verification, “we can analyse a customer on 40 different parameters in a matter of minutes. We can decide on a loan within 15 minutes and disburse it in 30 minutes.” At present, Muthoot Microfin has a customer base of 13 lakh individuals who use the Mahila Mitra App to manage their loans and access digital services. In FY23, the company reported that 34% of loan repayments were conducted through digital channels, which were encouraged through incentivised payback schemes. The introduction of Suvidha Loans aligns with the company's vision to empower customers by leveraging digital infrastructure and services, further enhancing their convenience and accessibility. The Mahila Mitra app was launched in May 2020, to enable customers to instantly overview their loan details, and learn more about their transactions. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/travel/news/lgbtq-plus-travel-safety-concern-rises-in-india-as-per-booking-com-survey/articleshow/100767027.cms">More than 60% LGBTQ+ cancelled travel plans in India last year with over 90% fearing for their safety</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/indian-railways-kavach-which-aims-to-prevent-railway-accidents-explained/articleshow/100767568.cms">Explained: What is Kavach? The Railways’ protective armour missing in Odisha</a>

Speedy, small loan market sees Muthoot Microfin make an entry

<ul><li>Apple announced a slew of updates to iOS, iPadOS and watchOS at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). </li><li>The new operating system updates include new features focused around communication, sharing and smarter input, among other things. </li><li>Apple has dropped support for several <keyword id="57315" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="iphones" source="Orion">iPhones</keyword> and <keyword id="130116" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ipads" source="Orion">iPads</keyword>, here’s the full list. </li></ul>Apple announced a slew of updates to iOS, iPadOS and watchOS at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2023 on Monday, bringing a range of new features and improvements. The new operating system updates include new features focused around communication, sharing and smarter input, among others. However, as is usual with major software updates, Apple has dropped support for several iPhones and iPads. Apple’s new <keyword id="6903543" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ios-17" source="Orion">iOS 17</keyword> system requirements lists that iPhones need to be powered by at least the A12 Bionic chipset or later. This means that all iPhones older than the iPhone 8, 8 Plus and the iPhone X are no longer supported and will not get iOS 17 or any new features. As for iPads, those with A12 Bionic chipset, or Apple M1 and M2 chipset are all supported. The iPad 6th generation with the A10 chipset is the only exception – it will still get the iPadOS 17 update. On the other hand, Apple has also dropped support for iPads launched before 2018. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Unsupported iPhones and iPads" comment="subhead" text="Unsupported iPhones and iPads">Unsupported iPhones and iPads</cmsannotation> <ul><li>iPhone 8, 8 Plus or older </li><li>iPhone X </li><li>iPad Pro </li><li>iPad Air 2nd generation and earlier </li><li>iPad 5th generation and earlier </li><li>iPad mini 4th generation and earlier </li></ul><cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="What happens if you use an unsupported iPhone or iPad?" comment="subhead" text="What happens if you use an unsupported iPhone or iPad?">What happens if you use an unsupported iPhone or iPad?</cmsannotation> Unsupported iPhones and iPads will still continue to remain functional and receive almost all app updates. However, they will no longer get new features. Fortunately, Apple does release critical security updates over-the-air from time to time. But these updates only address severe issues, so minor security issues will still persist. If you have an unsupported iPhone or iPad, you might want to consider upgrading to a newer iPhone or iPad. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="iPhones compatible with the iOS 17 update" comment="subhead" text="iPhones compatible with the iOS 17 update">iPhones compatible with the iOS 17 update</cmsannotation> iPhones powered by the Apple A12 Bionic chipset or later will all receive the iOS 17 update. The following iPhones will receive the iOS 17 update: <ul><li>iPhone XS and XS Max </li><li>iPhone XR </li><li>iPhone 11, 11 Pro and Pro Max </li><li>iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro and Pro Max </li><li>iPhone 13, 13 mini, 13 Pro and Pro Max </li><li>iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max </li><li>iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd gen) </li></ul>These iPads will receive the iOS 17 update: <ul><li>iPad Pro 2nd generation or later </li><li>iPad Air 3rd generation or later </li><li>iPad 6th generation or later </li><li>iPad mini 5th generation or later </li></ul>SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/ikio-lighting-ipo-ten-things-to-know-before-you-subscribe/slidelist/100767847.cms">IKIO Lighting IPO opens today: 10 things to know before you subscribe</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/indian-railways-kavach-which-aims-to-prevent-railway-accidents-explained/articleshow/100767568.cms">Explained: What is Kavach? The Railways’ protective armour missing in Odisha</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/rbi-mpc-likely-to-hold-repo-rate-in-june-policy-as-inflation-cools/articleshow/100760075.cms">RBI monetary policy: MPC likely to keep the pause-button pressed</a>

New Apple iOS: If you have these devices, it might be time to upgrade

<ul><li>India’s benchmark indices <keyword id="6484188" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sensex" source="Orion">Sensex</keyword> and <keyword id="2931774" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="nifty50" source="Orion">Nifty50</keyword> are likely to open in the red on Tuesday amid increased volatility. </li><li><keyword id="90570" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sgx-nifty" source="Orion">SGX Nifty</keyword>, an early indicator of how the markets may perform, was down 0.18% or 33 points early in the morning today. </li><li><keyword id="6367820" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="adani-group" source="Orion">Adani group</keyword>, <keyword id="116253" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="sbi-cards" source="Orion">SBI Cards</keyword> and InterGlobe Aviation (<keyword id="6354706" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="indigo" source="Orion">Indigo</keyword>) are amongst <keyword id="73648" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="stocks-to-watch" source="Orion">stocks to watch</keyword> today.</li></ul>India’s benchmark indices Sensex and <keyword id="6354813" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="nifty" source="Orion">Nifty</keyword>50 are likely to open in the red on Tuesday amid increased volatility. SGX Nifty, an early indicator of how the markets may perform, was down 0.18% or 33 points early in the morning today. Earlier on Monday, markets closed 0.3% in the green led by auto and private banking stocks. Gold prices edged up to ₹59,800 per 10 grams while silver was hovering at ₹71,900 per kilogram. Crude oil prices eased a tad, with Brent crude hovering at $76 per barrel. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="US markets head lower" comment="subhead" text="US markets head lower">US markets head lower</cmsannotation> Markets in the US headed lower following gains made in the previous week on the US debt ceiling proposal. Dow Jones closed 0.59% lower while S&amp;P 500 lost 0.2%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq closed 0.09% in the red after Apple pared its gains to close lower ahead of the launch of its virtual reality headset. Asian markets remained upbeat on Tuesday, led by Hang Seng which rallied 1.07%, followed by KOSPI which was up 0.54% and Nikkei 225 which gained 0.41%. Taiwan Weighted was up 0.33% while Shanghai Composite was trading 0.11% in the green. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Stocks to watch" comment="subhead" text="Stocks to watch">Stocks to watch</cmsannotation> Adani group: The Gautam Adani-led group announced that it has completed the prepayment of margin-linked financing amounting to $2.15 billion. The group promoters have also prepaid the $700 million debt taken for the Ambuja Cement acquisition. SBI Cards and Payment Services: The credit card provider’s board has approved raising ₹3,000 crore through non-convertible debentures on a private placement basis. InterGlobe Aviation (Indigo): The airline said it aims to carry 100 million passengers in FY24, up from 86 million in FY23. Indigo CEO Pieter Elbers said that the airline expects to have 350 aircraft in its fleet by the end of FY24. State Bank of India: Its board will meet on June 9 to consider raising funds in FY24 through debt instruments on a private placement basis. Indian Energy Exchange: The energy exchange reported an 8% YoY rise in volume to 8,251 million units. It expects power demand to increase in the coming months. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/ikio-lighting-ipo-ten-things-to-know-before-you-subscribe/slidelist/100767847.cms">IKIO Lighting IPO opens today: 10 things to know before you subscribe</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/indian-railways-kavach-which-aims-to-prevent-railway-accidents-explained/articleshow/100767568.cms">Explained: What is Kavach? The Railways’ protective armour missing in Odisha</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/rbi-mpc-likely-to-hold-repo-rate-in-june-policy-as-inflation-cools/articleshow/100760075.cms">RBI monetary policy: MPC likely to keep the pause-button pressed</a>

Sensex, Nifty50 likely to open in the red amid volatility: Adani group, SBI Cards, Indigo among stocks to watch

New Delhi, Jul 12 () Delhi's daily COVID-19 case count on Sunday remained below the 2,000-mark for the second consecutive day and with the recovery rate improving to nearly 80 per cent, authorities have for now put on hold plans to use stadiums as makeshift coronavirus care facilities. In the last 24 hours, the national capital has recorded 1,573 fresh coronavirus cases, taking the tally to 1,12,494 in the city, while the death toll mounted to 3,371 after 37 fatalities were reported, according to the latest Delhi health department bulletin. This is the first time in July that the daily case count has remained below the 2,000-mark for two consecutive days. On Saturday, 1,781 cases were detected. The COVID-19 recovery rate improved to 79.97 per cent on Sunday, as per the bulletin. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that Delhi has been able to minimise deaths of coronavirus patients in home isolation through pulse oximeters, which he termed as "suraksha kavach'' (protective shield). The bulletin said as many as 89,968 patients have recovered, been discharged or migrated so far, while there are 19,155 active cases in the city. The Delhi government has asked all district magistrates (DMs) to document initiatives taken by them in their respective areas to deal with the COVID-19 situation. For instance, the South Delhi district administration has set up a 10,000-bed Sardar Patel COVID Care Centre, one of the "largest" such facilities in the world, at the Radha Soami Satsang Beas. Similarly, a 500-bed COVID care facility was set up at the Commonwealth Games Village in East Delhi. In North West district, railway coaches were converted into insolation wards for COVID-19 patients. The DMs have been asked to also mention the difficulties they faced while executing such initiatives. "The need was felt to showcase all such initiatives taken by the district magistrates so that their efforts are reflected in documents. All the DMs have been asked to make proper documentation of these initiatives introduced by them to deal with the COVID-19 situation," an official told . Seeing the good recovery rate, authorities in the city have for now put on hold their plans to use stadiums as makeshift COVID-19 care facilities. Last month, a Delhi government panel, constituted by Lt Governor Anil Baijal, had suggested to use Pragati Maidan, Talkatora Indoor Stadium, Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium and JLN Stadium, Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium and Dhyanchand National Stadium for the purpose. "Seeing the current situation, there is no need to convert stadiums into COVID-19 care facilities. We can use them (stadiums) for such facility, but it would be unnecessary step because many people are under home-isolation and recovering from the virus," an official in the east Delhi district administration said. He said that if such need arises in the coming days, the district authorities will use stadiums as makeshift COVID-19 care facilities. "We are closely monitoring the situation. As of now, there is no need to use any stadium for COVID-19 care facility," an official in the south district administration said. On Saturday, a government study said that there has been a "sharp decline" in daily fatality figures in the past two weeks. Terming pulse oximeters as ''suraksha kavach'', Kejriwal said these have helped minimise COVID-19 deaths of patients under home isolation in Delhi. The Delhi government has provided pulse oximeters to asymptomatic and mild symptom coronavirus patients undergoing home isolation. "Delhi has been able to minimise deaths of coronavirus patients in home isolation through this suraksha kavach called pulse oximeter. If patients detect their oxygen is falling they reach out to us for help. We immediately send oxygen concentrators to their home or take them to a hospital," Kejriwal said in a tweet. A pulse oximeter is a device that measures blood oxygen level. Coronavirus patients need to be hospitalised if their oxygen level reaches 90 per cent or below, according to health guidelines. A study of COVID-19 deaths reported in the last fortnight (from June 24), conducted by the Delhi government, has revealed that no one under home isolation has died in first week of July. The total number of daily deaths too have shown a sharp decline, the report said. In a sign of revival of economic activities post the coronavirus-forced lockdown in Delhi, over 23,000 vehicles were registered in the city in June, up from just 8,455 a month ago, transport department officials said on Sunday. Registration of cars and two-wheelers picked up after the restrictions due to the lockdown were relaxed, they said. "The registration of vehicles picked up after ''Unlock 1'' was declared, and total registrations were 23,940 in the month," said an official. Official data shows that registrations in June included 18,741 two-wheelers (motorcycles and scooters) and 4,755 four-wheelers, he said. Some restaurants reopened a month ago after being allowed to resume their business post the COVID-19 lockdown, but are still grappling with decreased sales, staff shortages and few dine-in customers. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, many restaurants have not commenced dine-in facilities and are relying on takeaways to drive their business. According to Rohit Aggarwal, director of Lite Bite Foods, post ''Unlock'', the situation has not been "very motivating, walk-in numbers are extremely low and the operational cost is soaring". "The highest number of dine-in guests we have served on a single day after opening following the COVID-19 lockdown is just 15 at Punjab Grill's Saket outlet. We are hoping to serve the same number of guests we had before very soon and are positive that this number will go up eventually. "We are making just 20 per cent sales of what we used to do. Dine-in sales account for just 25 per cent of the existing 20 per cent sales and rest all are delivery and takeaway orders," he said. GVS VIT SLB BUN ANB ANB

COVID-19: Recovery rate nears 80 pc in Delhi; plans to use stadiums as COVID-19 facilities put on hold

<ul><li><keyword id="3345735" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="InsurTech">Insurtech</keyword> startup <keyword id="7772673" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="insurancedekho">InsuranceDekho</keyword> has got $20 million from its parent company GirnarSoft.</li><li>In an interview with Business Insider, Ankit Agrawal, CEO and Co-Founder, InsuranceDekho shared the expansion plans of the startup. </li><li>The COVID-19 pandemic came as a boon for the <keyword id="35450" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="insurance">insurance</keyword> industry bringing in more awareness and insurance takers.</li></ul>Insurtech startup InsuranceDekho has got $20 million from its parent company GirnarSoft, which has other properties such as CarDekho.com, Zigwheels.com, and gaadi.com. This is the first funding for the three-year-old startup InsuranceDekho, which now plans to expand its reach in India. In an interview with Business Insider, Ankit Agrawal, CEO and Co-Founder, InsuranceDekho shared the expansion plans of the startup. Agarwal said that so far, they have been ‘frugal’ about the business and wanted to go for funding at the right time – whether it was raising capital or turning to GirnarSoft for money. “Now I think, the fundamentals of the business are in place, we have got a strong distribution channel, our feet are on the street. So, we realised that we have to scale from here, we will need funding,” he said. The $20 million cheque will be used for three primary reasons – strengthen their tech team, deepen their distribution into the ‘real Bharat’ by bumping up their team presence from 30 to 100 cities and build a strong consumer focussed brand along with marketing spends. How COVID worked as a boon for the Insurance industry For the otherwise underpenetrated <keyword id="9979417" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="insurance-industry-in-india">insurance industry in India</keyword>, the COVID-19 pandemic meant a busy time for business. With the introduction of policies such as Corona Rakshak and Corona Kavach, which were approved by the insurance regulator, Insurance and Regulatory Development Authority of India (IRDAI), the numbers were steadily rising. According to IRDAI data, over 15 lakh people have been covered under both the policies as of August end. “What COVID has done for insurance distribution particularly in the health and life side, I don’t think any amount of government spending or marketing would have done. People are more aware about having insurance and want to get insured. This is going to stay,” said Agarwal. However, it also meant auto insurance was falling. “COVID was not good for motor insurance as people stayed home and didn’t renew their policies. But now with lockdown opening up and commercial movement being allowed, people are once again renewing policies and we have started seeing an uptick,” he said. The ‘Bharat’ approach Almost every other tech company is now eyeing the next 200 million internet users of India or as it is called ‘Bharat’. And insurance is not an industry to shy away from it. InsuranceDekho too has been working on a specific ‘Bharat’ model, that has helped them get more users from smaller cities. “We have an advisory-led model, we don’t push the product to the consumer, we understand the need, existing insurance policy and how we can expand their coverage. We realised that in smaller cities you’ll have to go with an assistance model. So, we have had a strong focus on advising instead of pushing policies down their throat,” said Agarwal. This helped the company grow three times during the last financial year, said Agarwal, without sharing specific revenue details. With business back to usual, they are on track to close March 2021 at an annualized run rate of 36 lakh policies, up from the 20 lakh policies in the last financial year, he added. The startup had earlier said that it plans to onboard 1 lakh agents from across the country and is targeting ₹1,200 crore new premium from the current financial year. But InsuranceDekho also has to brace itself for competition from the likes of Policybazaar, Bankbazaar, Acko and more. While acknowledging the competition, Agarwal said that the market opportunity in India is huge and has enough space for all players. “If you club general and life, the insurance industry in India is worth $15-20 billion. When the market is that huge, competition is not an issue. But yes, there will be a race for the top position and that depends on your technological prowess,” he said. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/dailyhunt-to-launch-family-of-bharat-apps-claiming-it-can-push-a-new-mobile-app-every-three-days/articleshow/78250283.cms">EXCLUSIVE: Dailyhunt is curating an entire family of 'Bharat' apps — claims it can push a new mobile app every three days</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/environment/news/at-least-270-pilot-whales-are-stranded-at-sandbanks-in-australia/articleshow/78249931.cms">At least 270 pilot whales are stranded at sandbanks in Australia — and a third of them have already died</a>

INTERVIEW: InsuranceDekho raises its maiden $20 million from parent co – plans to expand to its reach in the ‘real Bharat’

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"></div></div></div><ul class="summary-list"><li style="font-weight: 400;">On Wednesday, data analytics company Splunk announced Splunk Ventures, its $150 million <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/power-players-executives-corporate-venture-capital-funds-2019-7">corporate venture fund</a>.</li><li style="font-weight: 400;">The fund will include two distinct funds: a $100 million Innovation Fund and a $50 million Social Impact Fund. Susan St. Ledger, president of Splunk's worldwide field operations, told Business Insider this was to ensure nonprofits had the same access to funds as startups.</li><li style="font-weight: 400;">Splunk Ventures will operate under Splunk's larger merger and acquisitions team, but St. Ledger said the team will <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/greylock-mayfield-emergence-enterprise-tech-acquisition-surge-2019-7">not primarily look to acquire portfolio companies</a>.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/prime?module=article&amp;area=summary">Click here for more BI Prime stories</a>.</li></ul>If you can't beat them, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/base10-base11-automation-will-upend-venture-capital-2019-9">fund them</a>. Splunk, a data analytics company based in San Francisco, has caught <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/silicon-valley-venture-capital-founders-market-notion-funding-2019-8">Silicon Valley's fear of missing out</a>, so on Wednesday the company announced its own $150 million corporate venture fund called Splunk Ventures.Splunk Ventures will oversee two separate funds: the $100 million Innovation Fund will fund early-stage tech companies that could benefit from Splunk's massive customer base and data stores. The fund's first investment also announced Wednesday was an undisclosed amount in cloud security applications startup Kavach.There is also a $50 million Social Impact Fund explicitly dedicated to funding nonprofits that also benefit from data analytics."We want to focus on accelerating the data ecosystem that we play in to unlock more value," Susan St. Ledger, president of Splunk's worldwide field operations, told Business Insider. "We felt strongly that it wasn't just around technology companies but also anyone that uses data for social impact."Read More: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/crowdstrike-accel-falcon-fund-venture-capital-security-startups-2019-8">Less than 3 months after its blockbuster IPO, CrowdStrike is launching a $20 million VC fund to invest in early-stage security startups, and it's partnering with Accel</a>Splunk is the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/power-players-executives-corporate-venture-capital-funds-2019-7">most recent tech company to jump on the corporate venture bandwagon</a>. Large tech companies, like Intel and Cisco, have for years operated in-house venture funds dedicated to investing in promising startups and technologies. Often, these corporate VC arms served as mergers-and-acquisitions pipelines for the parent company. In the last six months, public and private tech companies like Slack, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/crowdstrike-accel-falcon-fund-venture-capital-security-startups-2019-8">Crowdstrike</a>, and Airbnb have created corporate venture funds to invest in "the ecosystem."But Splunk has set a more altruistic standard with its dedicated $50 million Social Impact Fund. The company has worked on social good initiatives and provided grants for years, but this is the first time it will use dedicated funds to back organizations like nonprofits that are usually left on the back burner in favor of more lucrative investments."We have to make sure we are investing in both sides of the equation," St. Ledger said. "We don't want to lose sight of the social impact side of things."St. Ledger said that Splunk Ventures will operate within Splunk's larger organization under the mergers and acquisitions team. Given the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/greylock-mayfield-emergence-enterprise-tech-acquisition-surge-2019-7">founder-unfriendly power dynamics historically associated with corporate venture capital</a>, St. Ledger acknowledged that the Splunk Ventures team will have to work hard to convince entrepreneurs to accept funding from the new fund."Very often that is what corporate venture is used for, but the truth of the matter is that's not our intent going into it," St. Ledger said of whether or not the fund would be used to help the company source acquisition targets. "It's really about accelerating the data ecosystem and partnering with the portfolio companies."

You Searched For "what is kavach" and got 10 results

What is India doing to address the rising number of railway derailments and accidents in the country?

BI India Bureau

Explained: What is Kavach? The Railways’ protective armour missing in Odisha

Rounak Jain

PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan aims to bring synergy between infrastructure and logistics across the length and breadth of India

Rounak Jain

The death of a young EY employee is raising questions over India's 'always-on' work culture

Hannah Abraham

Speedy, small loan market sees Muthoot Microfin make an entry

Anagh Pal

New Apple iOS: If you have these devices, it might be time to upgrade

Rounak Jain

Sensex, Nifty50 likely to open in the red amid volatility: Adani group, SBI Cards, Indigo among stocks to watch

Rounak Jain

COVID-19: Recovery rate nears 80 pc in Delhi; plans to use stadiums as COVID-19 facilities put on hold

PTI

INTERVIEW: InsuranceDekho raises its maiden $20 million from parent co – plans to expand to its reach in the ‘real Bharat’

Sanchita Dash

Data analytics company Splunk officially enters the venture capital game with $150 million Splunk Ventures and a dedicated Social Impact Fund

Megan Hernbroth

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides