AAPI: 2023

DELHI, December 2023

Index of this Newsletter

INDIA

INDIA & THE WORLD

21. In Case You Thought Diwali Is Just A Desi Indian Festival, Well, Think Again
22. Three more Chip Units with $8-12 b Investment Soon
23. In October, Indian engineering exports to 18 major markets showed positive increase
24. India stands at frontline of innovations in Quantum, 6G, AI; no room for corruption, brokers, middlemen: VP
25. A Guide to New Restaurants In Delhi And Goa

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DELHI, DECEMBER 2023

NEWSLETTER, DECEMBER 2023

INDIA

– GENERAL POLICY, INFRASTRUCTURES, COUNTRY FINANCES, ETC.

India’s startups are designing devices, IP products, solutions, platforms for the world: Chandrasekhar

ET Gov. 4 Dec. 2023

"I believe that in the last few years, we have made tremendous progress in talent, design, packaging, and research. India’s journey toward becoming a semiconductor nation and, in turn, a trusted player in the global semiconductor ecosystem is a given. It's a matter of how quickly we can implement it."

Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, has said that the world is aligning with India's stand to ensure safety and trust regarding the Artificial Intelligence (AI) domain.

“We witnessed a shift in narrative at the 2023 Semicon India summit in Gandhinagar, where people were now changing from asking “why India” to questioning “when are we going to do this in India, and why are we not in India?” Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Union Minister of State for Electronics & IT, said during his fireside chat at the Bengaluru Tech Summit on Thursday.

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The Minister shared his insights into India’s growing semiconductor industry, AI, and the vital role that startups have been playing in the nation’s overall economic growth.

“There are many underlying reasons for this shift, however, the most important factor, apart from geopolitics, is the increasing confidence and capabilities of the ecosystem that has developed over the last few years. Over the last five to seven years, our tech economy represents almost every aspect of what is going on around the world. Whether it's AI, semiconductors, electronics, Web 3, supercomputing, high-performance computing,” he said.

Emphasizing India’s rapid progress in the semiconductor field despite lacking a legacy in design, the Minister said, “I believe we are now playing catch-up after having missed opportunities for decades. Interestingly, in many ways, we are almost skipping one generation and looking at opportunities for the next decade that are entirely new and present unique opportunities.”

“Designing devices today for the world is something that has no legacy in India. I believe that in the last few years, we have made tremendous progress in talent, design, packaging, and research. India’s journey toward becoming a semiconductor nation and, in turn, a trusted player in the global semiconductor ecosystem is a given. It's a matter of how quickly we can implement it,” he added.

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Chandrasekhar underscored the government’s approach to leveraging AI, emphasizing its application in healthcare, agriculture, and governance. While acknowledging the vast opportunities presented by AI, he also spoke about the presence of potential bad actors seeking to cause harm. He stressed the necessity for legislative guardrails for safety and trust.

Speaking about AI, he said, “We believe that AI, when harnessed correctly, can transform healthcare, agriculture, governance and language translation. Our focus is on capturing AI, building capabilities and datasets, and enhancing AI compute and training capacities to create models that will contribute to India’s goals of improving lives. AI is a kinetic enabler for the $1 trillion digital economy goal that we have set for ourselves as a nation.”

“As recent conversations have shown, the world is now aligning with India’s view that we need guardrails of safety and trust. Even though AI is great, we require legislative guardrails of safety and trust to ensure that AI can never be misused or used by bad actors to cause harm,” he said.

Addressing the significant role startups play in India’s economy since 2014, the Minister said, “We have 102 unicorns, $65 billion of FDI that have come into startups. So therefore startups are not just an important part of our economy, technology, vision, but also part of the overall economic vision. Today, the futureDESIGN DLI startups that we are supporting, I see in many of them having the ability to become the unicorns of the future."

"Startups play a crucial role in our social and economic fabric, and are the heart and soul of our digital economy, contributing significantly to the goal of achieving a $1 trillion digital economy. As we push the envelope and venture into AI, semiconductors, the next generation of electronic systems, more startups will emerge that are valued and hold significant IP,” he added.

2. Centre plans to introduce cashless treatment of accident victims across India: Official

ET Gov. 5 Dec. 2023

Free and cashless medical treatment to accident-injured victims is part of the amended Motor Vehicle Act 2019 (MVA2019).

Road Transport and Highways Secretary Anurag Jain

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) plans to roll out the facility of cashless medical treatment of road accident victims across the country in three to four months, a top government official said on Monday. Road Transport and Highways Secretary Anurag Jain while inaugurating an event organized by the Institute of Road Traffic Education (IRTE) noted India has the highest number of road accident deaths in the world.

"Free and cashless medical treatment to accident-injured victims is part of the amended Motor Vehicle Act 2019 (MVA2019). Some states have implemented it but now the Ministry of Roads in league with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare will be fully implementing it across the nation," Jain said.

He added the facility will be rolled out in three to four months.

According to him, it is envisioned to provide access to cashless trauma care treatment for road accident victims at the nearest appropriate hospital in the country, in accordance with the Supreme Court ruling, and by drawing its power from the Motor Vehicle(Amendment) Act 2019 (MV Amendment Act).

"Such cashless treatment shall be extended to road accident victims including during golden hour, as defined by the MV Amendment Act," he added. Golden hour refers to the critical first hour after a road accident with casualties when prompt medical attention can make all the difference.

The road secretary said for education and awareness about road safety, the Union Ministry of Education has agreed to include road safety as part of the curriculum for schools and colleges to be implemented soon.

"For vehicular engineering, several steps have been taken including seat belt reminder and introduction of Bharat NCAP," he said.

IRTE President Rohit Baluja said the global road safety experts attending the event will be working towards deliberating and finalizing suggestive codes of safe practice for driver certification, diagnosis of road crashes through multi-disciplinary crash investigation and safety of vulnerable road users.

3. Delhi's tech education institutions should lead in research, innovation: Atishi

Press Trust of India, 18 Nov. 2023

Delhi's tech education institutions should lead in research, innovation: Atishi© Provided by India Today

Delhi's technical education institutions should lead in the fields of research and innovation, education minister Atishi said on Thursday while inaugurating two new state-of-the-art academic blocks at Delhi Technological University.

She said the goal of the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government is to provide every student studying in their institutions with excellent facilities.

The newly inaugurated blocks at the Delhi Technological University (DTU) are each eight-storeyed and equipped with ''world-class modern facilities'', Atishi said. These academic blocks will serve as an example where students will have all the necessary amenities to help shape their careers in the future, she added.

''Our technical education institutions should lead in the fields of research and innovation,'' an official statement quoted the minister as saying. The minister said since coming to power, promoting technical education has always been a priority of the Kejriwal government.

''We have consistently worked on developing excellent infrastructure for our universities. As a result, in the last eight years, the number of seats at the Delhi Technological University has increased from 6,000 to over 15,000,'' she added.

The education minister said the city government is committed to ensuring that students never face a lack of world-class infrastructure or funding.

Atishi said the new academic blocks at DTU boast of excellent labs, lecture halls, faculty rooms, and conference rooms equipped with world-class modern facilities.

Both the blocks feature 36 modern labs, 67 lecture rooms, classrooms, faculty rooms, and conference rooms, the minister said and added these facilities can accommodate more than 5,200 students simultaneously, she said.

Additionally, the academic blocks are eco-friendly, equipped with rooftop solar panels, a modular rainwater harvesting system, and a connecting sky ramp, Atishi added.

4. 1132 projects approved under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY)

Press Information Bureau, Dec. 11, 2023

The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY), implemented by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) since the fiscal year 2017-18, is a comprehensive umbrella scheme operating nationwide. This initiative comprises various component schemes designed to establish modern infrastructure and efficient supply chain management from the farm gate to the retail outlet. PMKSY significantly contributes to the growth of the food processing sector, facilitates improved prices for farmers, generates substantial employment opportunities, particularly in rural areas, minimises agricultural produce wastage, elevates processing levels, and boosts the export of processed foods.

Financial support in the form of grants-in-aid is extended under several component schemes to encourage the establishment of food processing projects nationwide.

These schemes include:

(i) Mega Food Parks scheme (MFP) - discontinued from April 1, 2021

(ii) Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition infrastructure (Cold Chain)

(iii) Creation of Infrastructure for Agro Processing Cluster (APC)

(iv) Creation/ Expansion of Food Processing and Preservation Capacities (CEFPPC)

(v) Creation of Backward and Forward Linkages (CBFL) - discontinued from April 1, 2021

(vi) Operation Greens (OG): Long Term Interventions

(vii) Food Safety and Quality Assurance Infrastructure – Setting up/Upgradation of quality control/food testing laboratories (FTL)

(viii) Human Resource & Institutions (HRI)

A total of 1132 food processing projects have received approval in the 36 states/Union Territories, with a cumulative project cost of Rs. 23071.29 crores (US$ 2.76 billion). The objective is to create a processing capacity of 252.297 lakh MT/annum, a preservation capacity of 42.908 lakh MT/annum, generate employment for 602,070 individuals and provide benefits to 3,819,220 farmers.

Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.

5. Indian Talent Gets Senior-level Roles as GCCs Mushroom

ET, 9 Dec. 2023

The boom of Global Capability Centres (GCCs) in the country has led to a 40-50% increase in the number of global and senior level roles based out of India in the last five years, numbers sourced by ET show. On an overall basis, an estimated 300,000-400,000 jobs are likely to be created in the GCC sector in the next 2-3 years, according to Deloitte estimates.

In the fourth and concluding part of the Global to Local series, ET looks at the maturity and cultural shift of the talent ecosystem of GCCs and how it is driving the shift towards more global roles within Indian GCC leadership.

For instance, Uday Odedra recently joined banking major Wells Fargo, from another banking major UBS, as its MD and head-India Philippines. Meanwhile, Arindam Banerrji, who was leading Wells Fargo, joined as country head of State Street. Meenakshi Nevatia, country head and MD of pharma company Pfizer India, moved from a similar role leading Stryker, the Indian arm of an American medical technology company.

“This (GCC talent demand) is spurred by the entire transformation of business strategy of these MNCs in India from GCC 1.0 to GCC 4.0,” said Vamsi Karavadi, director at Deloitte India, adding that there has been a 40-50% increase in the number of global and senior roles based out of India in the last five years. From primarily an operations centre, the GCCs transitioned into offshore units for analytics and reporting and then to being a market expansion centre evolving into a business driver for the global multinationals, he added.

“With India GCCs turning into business drivers, many companies realised that it is better to have global leaders based in India to be able to unlock new value from functions like digital transformation, analytics, risk, operations etc in the India units now,” said Karavadi.

While GCCs initially started coming to India in the 1980s-90s and 2000s to drive cost savings, it has increasingly become a strategic imperative for global majors to have a technology and research base in India. As the GCCs themselves are maturing, they are also creating increasingly high level and global roles that were non-existent pre-pandemic for their long-term talent in addition to creating fresh talent.

Lalit Ahuja, CEO of ANSR, said GCCs are now providing a career path to become a global employee and eventually migrate to either one of the global locations or the headquarters. “So if people are looking at working in a particular location or particular industry, where the GCCs present is an interesting option because it's just a natural progression of career to work in the headquarter or global locations as an employee of the brand, and not as a contracted resource,” said Ahuja.

This focus also allows GCCs across sizes and maturity levels to invest heavily in upskilling, work life balance programs, and creating an organisational identity or brand that employees can identify with, he said. “A great work environment is one of the key differentiators for GCCs to attract the premium talent they are looking for,” Ahuja said.

GCCs have become enablers for global organisations, providing skilled and ready talent for constantly evolving and complex business environments, said Leena Rajput, senior client partner, Korn Ferry India.

As an increasing number of global roles are expanding here in India around technical leadership roles, organisations are talking about setting up AI/ML capabilities, enhancing their analytics and digital space.

“Companies have taken note that organisations that set up GCCs in India early on have shown a certain level of growth, and others are following them in recruiting the kind of talent that can foster a similar environment. Also, to ensure continuity, implementation of succession plans at senior leadership levels is an integral part of strategic investments for these GCCs,” said Rajput. GCCs in India have been scaling up their fresher hiring programs even as their IT services counterparts have rolled back similar requirements.

“India has an impressive pool of experienced and next generation talent and we are very focused on attracting, developing and retaining our talent,” said Chakra Mantena, managing director, head of technology, global centres, Morgan Stanley, adding that the company runs its own training program for freshers called Technology Analyst Program.

“We introduced TAP in India in 2005, and over the years, our India TAP graduates have been a source of building a strong talent pipeline for Morgan Stanley in India,” said Mantena.

Agriculture, Fishing and Rural Development

6. Strawberries, broccoli, tomatoes...: Rajasthan farmer's pioneering agricultural techniques draws the attention of global agriculturalists

The New Indian Express, 12 Nov. 2023

In this challenging landscape, Ramchandra Rathod, a former tailor, has astounded many by successfully cultivating strawberries and broccoli in his ancestral land.

RAJASTHAN: Agriculture experts and enthusiast from across India love to congregate at Ramchandra Rathod’s farmland located in the Luni tehsil of Jodhpur district. Luni is a part of the Marwar region of western Rajasthan known for barren lands, and categorized as a dark zone because of polluted water. Despite some improvement in recent times, people in this desert region are forced to grapple with repeated droughts. Most youths have migrated to southern India in search of jobs.

In this challenging landscape, Ramchandra Rathod, a former tailor, has astounded many by successfully cultivating strawberries and broccoli in his ancestral land. Tomatoes from his farm are known to stay fresh for up to two months in the fridge. Ramchandra’s pioneering agricultural techniques have drawn the attention of global agriculturalists, many of them from Australia.

Recognizing his innovative efforts, he was appointed the brand ambassador of the Central Arid Zone Research Institute’s Innovations in Farming programme in 2018. Same year, he clinched the title of the best farmer in the Luni region for the exceptional produce. Last year, he became president of the Rohicha Cooperative Society, following a 10-year tenure as a director in the Cooperative Society from 2012 to 2022.

Strawberries, broccoli, tomatoes...: Rajasthan farmer's pioneering agricultural techniques draws the attention of global agriculturalists© Provided by The New Indian Express

Through his innovations, he has inspired over 500 farmers from neighbouring areas, enabling them to access government schemes and learn advanced farming methods tailored for cultivating in drought-affected lands. Ramchandra grew up in challenging circumstances. His father, a farmer, faced recurrent crop failures due to insufficient rain, compelling Ramchandra to assist in farming rather than pursuing further studies. He turned to tailoring to support his family and continued his education up to the 12th grade through self-financing.

However, after his father’s death in 2004, he decided to transition back to farming on his ancestral land. “My father was very ill. His treatment drained our finances; we were in huge debt. I had to leave my studies. When my father died, I was only 17 years old. I decided to shift back to farming,” recalled Ramchandra. Initially engaged in cultivation of moong, millets, and jowar, Ramchandra faced water quality issues when a tube well was installed in 2018, providing highly polluted and unsuitable water for farming due to a TDS (total dissolved solids) reading of 42, significantly below the optimal range between 300 to 600.

The turning point came when he got an opportunity for a seven-day training at the Jodhpur CAZRI Institute, a part of the government’s Krishak Mitra scheme. This training taught him how to conserve rainwater for agriculture and employ innovative agricultural practices in desert conditions.

The training also introduced him to a series of government schemes supporting farmers. This further led him to challenge his belief that famine and unseasonal rains were insurmountable problems. Through the guidance of agricultural scientists and the practical knowledge gained from the training, he discovered the potential of rainwater harvesting and the protective benefits of polyhouses against erratic weather patterns.

Encouraged by a horticulture department official in Jodhpur, Ramchandra established a polyhouse in 2018. He expanded his efforts, installing a farm pond and a vermi-compost unit in 2019-20. By harnessing rainwater for cucumber cultivation in the polyhouse, he achieved a record-breaking yield of 14 tonnes in just 100 square meters, a feat unmatched by any single farmer in Jodhpur district.

Continuing his streak of innovation, Ramchandra ventured into cash crops, successfully growing strawberries and zucchinis in the desert area. His integrated approach involves rainwater storage in tanks and ponds, serving domestic and agricultural needs.

He also pioneered organic fertilizer production while dedicating a significant portion of his land to horticulture farming. His wife serves as a Ward Panch, reflecting the family’s active involvement in community leadership.

His success story has caused a ripple effect, inspiring other farmers to adopt similar practices. “We’ve harmonized ancestral agricultural wisdom with science, establishing a new farming methodology that nourishes the plants, not just the land. This shift has significantly improved our income, allowed our children to attend school, and reignited interest in farming among the youth,” says Ramchandra. Today, Ramchandra’s income has become much better; his children are studying in good schools, and many people are being drawn to farming.

“I tell the youth not to run after jobs nor migrate. I provide training to those who have no future in jobs. Those who migrated 20 years ago have started returning,” he says. With a vision for collective progress, Ramchandra has established a Farmer Producer Organization (FPO) to support fellow farmers looking to innovate their agricultural practices.

“Rajasthan receives meager rain and the groundwater depletion is a major cause for concern. If we can teach our farmers to conserve rainwater and utilise every drop of it, our state can surely flourish. I earn Rs 6 lakh in a year and I am putting all my efforts to improve the financial condition of other farmers of my region,” Ramchandra said.

Ramchandra Rathod is integrating rainwater harvesting with the agricultural needs of the arid land, pioneering organic fertiliser production while dedicating a significant portion of his land to horticulture, writes Rajesh Asnani

Strawberries, broccoli, tomatoes...: Rajasthan farmer's pioneering agricultural techniques draws the attention of global agriculturalists© Provided by The New Indian Express

7. '...Increased shelf life means the growers could sell the products at their will and time': On Kashmir apple-growers

The New Indian Express, 13 Nov. 2023

Controlled Atmosphere, precise regulation of atmospheric conditions in storage areas, is helping preserve Kashmir apples for longer periods, proving a boon for cultivators, writes Fayaz Wani

JAMMU&KASHMIR: For the apple-growers of Jammu and Kashmir, the short shelf-life of their produce was a predicament. If something went south between the harvest and the time it took for the apples to reach the market, their months-long effort would have gone down the drain and it would have hit their margins. But that is not the case anymore, with the Controlled Atmosphere (CA) cold storage facilities that have mushroomed in the Valley.

The Controlled Atmosphere is an agricultural storage method in which the concentrations of oxygen, carbon dioxide and nitrogen, as well as the temperature and humidity of a storage room are regulated. The grading of apples is being done as per colour, size and weight. The temperature for the apples is maintained between 0 and 3 degree Celsius. All these in turn help preserve the fruits for longer periods of time.

The cold-storage units made entry in Kashmir in 2008. Since then, about 45 such facilities have been set up in the Valley, mostly in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district. The cold storage units have also come up in Shopian district in South Kashmir and Baramulla district in North Kashmir. According to Majid Aslam Wafai, president of Jammu and Kashmir Fruits and Vegetables Processing and Integrated Cold Chain Association, the maximum number of CA storage units has come up in South Kashmir, and about six have cropped up in North Kashmir.

Related video: Kashmir: Lower import duties punish local apple growers (Dailymotion)

Wafai, who owns a CA storage unit himself, said these facilities have proved beneficial for the Valley’s apple growers. “They increase the shelf life of apples by 6-7 months, without affecting the quality,” he said. This in turn has also cut the farmers’ financial losses, since increased shelf life means the growers could sell the products at their will and time. They are not forced to dump the produce in the market at throwaway prices. Mohammad Ashraf, an apple grower and president of Shopian Fruit Mandi, opined that the cold storage facilities are becoming a new lifeline for the growers.

“We have stored about 2 lakh metric tonnes in the cold storage units as of now. If this produce would have reached the market all at once, it would have brought down the prices, thus inflicting heavy financial losses to the growers,” he said.

“The cold storage units have given us the opportunity to sell the apples even off season. Now, we can store the apples till June-July, after the harvest,” he said. Bashir Ahmed Bashir, a fruit grower from Baramulla and the president Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers-cum-Dealers Union, also echoed the sentiment. “The growers can now breathe easy even if the Srinagar-Jammu national highway, which is the only road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country, remains closed for days.”

Kashmir produces 20-22 lakh metric tonnes of apples annually. According to an official of the horticulture department, Kashmir at present has about 45 CA storage units with the total holding capacity of 2.15 lakh metric tonnes, against the requirement of 5 lakh metric tonnes. Bashir demanded that more CA storage units should be set up in North Kashmir incentives should be provided to businessmen interested in setting them up.

According to Director Horticulture Kashmir Ghulam Rasool Mir, “If the storages have 5,000 metric tonne capacity, they get a subsidy of `10,000 per metric tonne from the Central government. The J&K government, through its Top-Up policy, gives an additional subsidy of `14,520” Mir said.

'...Increased shelf life means the growers could sell the products at their will and time': On Kashmir apple-growers© Provided by The New Indian Express

8. HUL to Help Kiranas Compete with Bigger Players Via ONDC

ET, 14 Nov. 2023

Hindustan Unilever (HUL) said it will help onboard nearly 1.3 million kirana stores on the central government’s Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) network, helping them compete with e-commerce and quick service grocery retailers.

The move is an extension of its internal ordering app Shikhar, which allows small neighbourhood stores to order directly from it. For HUL, the country’s biggest packaged consumer goods firm, the app now accounts for about a third of its sales from neighbourhood retailers. Last year, HUL became the first fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) firm to join ONDC through its multi-brand direct-to-consumer platform, UShop.

“We realised that retailers need to service orders directly instead of HUL doing it through UShop. That's the real democratisation of ecommerce,” said Kedar Lele, executive director, customer development for HUL. “With Shikhar, they have come half way and are beginning to order on their own. In the future, 1.3 million retailers could become available on the ONDC network and buy not just HUL products but anything that the retailer sells.”

Lele said HUL plays the role of “digitalisation agent or hand holding team, which makes a neighbourhood retailer compete with the best, the biggest in e-commerce business for hyper local servicing”.

To begin with, HUL is piloting the initiative through an integrated module in Shikhar called the Shikhar Seller app, where neighbourhood kirana stores can go on live on ONDC and sell the entire catalogue of products online. It is being piloted in New Delhi and Bengaluru, covering 60 outlets, and will be scaled up across India in a phased manner.

“This is the right time in our belief to start enabling because as ONDC starts growing, is the time when the retailer starts plugging into it. And with that momentum, we will be able to service the retailer as well and they will be able to hold on to their share of business, which otherwise will become difficult for them,” said Lele.

ONDC is a freely accessible and inclusive platform that aims to democratise e-commerce. It is expected to benefit small merchants with more advanced technologies and better business mechanisms. At present there are about 12 million mom-and-pop stores in India, of which only about 0.12% are tech enabled, while e-retail accounts for only 4% of the $800 billion retail market in India.

Joining the open network creates an opportunity for retailers to operate in an e-commerce ecosystem that works without pre-determined barriers, said experts.

“ONDC ensures a level playing field for digital retailers of all sizes, granting visibility and democratising the digital commerce landscape. Sellers enjoy the freedom to set their terms and conditions, register once for discoverability and retain high profit margins without commission deductions. Direct connections with buyers eliminate intermediation risks and third-party charges, boosting profitability,” said T Koshy, managing director, ONDC, adding that the network also offers services such as logistics and enhanced analytics, enabling retailers to optimise operations and enhance overall business performance.

HUL has the biggest retail network reach among FMCG companies in India, with its products reaching nine million kirana stores. Last year, parent Unilever called its Indian unit a digital and innovation powerhouse after several of HUL’s local tech and digitisation initiatives, including Shikhar, were being adopted by several developing countries.

9. Fisheries And Aquaculture: 'Affordable technologies essential for marine navigation to be beneficial to fishermen on sea'

ET Gov. 23 Nov. 2023

Partnering with other countries and organisations that have advanced technologies and expertise in fisheries and aquaculture to facilitate the transfer of technology and knowledge would greatly help to enhance the Indian fisheries sector.

An international round table meet led by Union Fisheries Minister Parshottam Rupala at the Global Fisheries Conference India 2023 on Tuesday called for cooperation and collaboration between countries for a sustainable growth of the fisheries and aquaculture sector.

An international round table meet led by Union Fisheries Minister Parshottam Rupala at the Global Fisheries Conference India 2023 has called for cooperation and collaboration between countries for a sustainable growth of the fisheries and aquaculture sector.

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Speaking at the session, Union Minister Parshottam Rupala said that the GPS system should be made user-friendly to the fishermen, utilising the global expertise and technologies. Cost-effective and reliable technologies are essential for marine navigation to be truly beneficial to fishermen venturing into the sea, the Minister said.

“Global exchange programmes in data collection and data sharing can play a major role to improve the fisheries sector," Rupala said. By fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange, these programmes can facilitate the adoption of best practices, promote sustainable resource management, and develop effective mitigation strategies in response to climate change. This collective approach can play a pivotal role in safeguarding the livelihoods of traditional fishermen, who are particularly vulnerable to the escalating impacts of climate change, he added.

Global data exchange programmes can significantly enhance the quality and availability of fisheries data, providing a comprehensive understanding of fish stocks, migration patterns, and ecosystem dynamics”, the Union minister said.

Dimitrious Ioannou, Ambassador of Greece, underscored the critical need to harmonize fishing and aquaculture practices with environmental sustainability. He advocated for a multifaceted approach that encompasses both domestic and international strategies.

The forum underscored the need of exchange of adequate technology expertise to tap the unexplored deep-sea resources in India. The country has vast unexplored deep-sea resources and equipping the fishermen and the vessels with adequate technologies and training could utilise these untapped resources, it stated.

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The speakers identified four major areas which require international collaboration. They are enhancing fisheries production targeting food and nutritional security, strengthening of aquaculture to combat human hunger, sustainable utilisation of the resources in the fisheries sector, and development of deep-sea fishing.

The high-level dialogue was attended by Ministers of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Sanjeev Kumar Balyan and Dr L. Murugan, Union Fisheries Secretary, Dr Abhilaksh Likhi, Ambassadors from Greece, Angola and diplomatic delegation from Australia, Brazil, France, Norway, Russia, Zimbabwe and State Fisheries Ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura, representatives of international organisations such as Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organization (BOBP-IGO), GiZ, Asian Development Bank (ADB), senior officials of the Department of Fisheries, Govt of India and State Fisheries Departments and Heads of various research and development agencies.

10. It's time for India to emerge as food bowl of the world by adopting climate-smart food-grain production

ET Gov. 23 Nov. 2023

It is time to envision India as a food bowl of the world because India has the potential not only to meet its fast-growing domestic demand for food but also to become a significant exporter of agricultural produce if it adopts a climate-smart food-grain production strategy that aims at doubling the rate of growth of food-grain production from an average annual growth rate of 2% witnessed over the last two decades (2001-02 to 2021-22) to 4% per annum over the next two decades till 2044.

It is feasible to double the yield of major food grains in India in a climate-resilient manner, thereby doubling the production without increasing the cultivated (sown) area.

Dr MS Swaminathan epitomized the emergence of India as a food-grain surplus nation during the period of the Green Revolution, from 1965-66 to 1985-86. In these two decades, India more than doubled its production of food grains from 72 million tons to 154 million tons. Although the pace of growth in food grain output declined during the subsequent period from 1985 to 2021, India has emerged as the world’s largest exporter of rice since 2012. Further, its rice exports have doubled from 10 million tons in 2018-19 to over 20 million tons in 2022-23. India exports more rice than the next three exporting countries put together (Thailand, Vietnam, and Pakistan).

Advt

Recent events such as the COVID pandemic, global inflation, the Ukraine-Russia war, and El Niño have adversely impacted global food supplies, with the poor being especially vulnerable. The uptick in food grain prices during July 2023 in response to the collapse of the Russia-Ukraine agreement for shipment of wheat exports has prompted the Government of India to ban the export of non-basmati rice and subsequently to put a price floor on basmati rice exports. Expectedly, rice prices in global markets have shot up to levels not seen since the great financial crisis of 2008-09. This global food crisis is likely to be a short-term phenomenon. However, it points to the fact that the long-term food security of rice-eating peoples of Asia and Africa, which account for more than half the world’s population, needs to be addressed urgently.

In this context, India must be ready to assume its responsibility as the world's most significant rice producer and exporter. It is time to envision India as a food bowl of the world because India has the potential not only to meet its fast-growing domestic demand for food but also to become a significant exporter of agricultural produce if it adopts a climate-smart food-grain production strategy that aims at doubling the rate of growth of food-grain production from an average annual growth rate of 2% witnessed over the last two decades (2001-02 to 2021-22) to 4% per annum over the next two decades till 2044.

Advt

If this target is achieved, India can double the production of food grains in the next two decades from the current level of 330 million tons to 660 million tons per annum by 2044. There are several good reasons for adopting such a strategy. This will fulfil nutrition, biofuels (renewable energy) requirements, food exports and national security. Its benefits will also enhance rural investment, incomes, and jobs and reduce income inequality and regional disparity. Without such a strategy, the business-as-usual scenario may lead to a situation where India’s food-grain production is threatened by the effects of climate change, and production growth lags behind the increase in domestic demand required to support growing income and consumption levels.

Climate-smart Agriculture

The average yield of major food grains in India, such as rice, wheat, maize, pulses, soybean, and millets, is just half that of the yield in similar agro-climatic zones where global best practices are followed. It is feasible to double the yield of major food grains in India in a climate-resilient manner, thereby doubling the production without increasing the cultivated (sown) area. This significantly higher level of food production can be achieved in a carbon-neutral or possibly carbon-positive manner by adopting climate-smart practices across the agriculture and food processing sectors. The climate-smart agriculture revolution has to be climate resilient and climate efficient in the sense that agriculture must not only withstand the impact of climate change but also respond to these changes optimally.

In essence, a climate-smart agriculture strategy would have to be woven around the three pillars of technology, creating infrastructure, and building new institutions.

The main constituents of this strategy are as follows. The required technology includes new varieties of cultivars (seeds) and digitally enabled agronomic practices. The required investment in physical and human infrastructure includes water management infrastructure (irrigation, drainage and flood control) and skill development. Finally, the institutional reforms include new operational units, management practices and new market institutions. These pillars of transformation must be coordinated in each agro-climatic region of India to bring about the required synergies at the national level.

The technological requirements of new cultivars and digital infrastructure will require urgent investment in research and development, extension (much simpler and faster now with the digital transformation of India than it was during the Green Revolution), innovation, enterprise creation and skill development, especially in rural India. Nothing less than a transformation of traditional farmers to modern entrepreneurs is required for adopting and diffusing climate-smart agricultural technologies and practices.

The absence of water management infrastructure is the most critical bottleneck, impeding the growth of food grain production in India. The eastern Ganga plain has yet to see any significant irrigation project since the Damodar Valley Corporation of the 1950s. The time for large multipurpose projects may have passed now. However, we do require modern environment-friendly irrigation projects to harness the massive flow of usable water in Eastern India in the Ganga basin and to produce hydroelectricity. Much of this water flows to India from Nepal; therefore, such projects also require the construction of water-management infrastructure in Nepal.

These international projects are possible when a comprehensive treaty has been executed between the two countries, after which the necessary finances will have to be arranged. The cost of these projects would be about Rs 4 lac crore or US$ 50 billion. The long gestation period of six to eight years for such projects makes it urgent to begin work on the international treaty and the design and financial closure of these projects so they can be completed in the next ten years. Significant investment of a similar magnitude (Rs 4 lac crore) is required to enhance water management infrastructure in the Deccan, trans-Vindhya and Chhota Nagpur regions of Central and Southern India. In addition, there is a shelf of ongoing irrigation projects in India which require an investment in the range of Rs 5 lac crore (US$ 60 billion) to complete. This total required investment of about US$ 160 billion (Rs 13 lac crore) in water management infrastructure over 10 years amounts to only 5% of India’s current annual GDP. The benefits include not only irrigation, flood control, hydroelectricity and ecological stabilisation of the Himalayas but also the potential of carbon capture with increased green cover and afforestation.

New management practices are required for scaling up farm operational holdings, which need to be in the range of at least 400 to 1,000 hectares so as to support the necessary management talent (human resources) and digital and physical infrastructure that is required for greater efficiency and productivity in climate-smart agricultural practices. This larger ‘village-sized’ scale of operations can be achieved by facilitating institutional changes consistent with India’s rural sociology, such as collective farm operations conducted by cooperative societies, village-level enterprises, etc. We would have to carve out unique corporate structures that can leverage the economic benefits of scale while maintaining social acceptability, accountability, and justice.

Climate change is likely to result in greater volatility of the yields and prices of food grains. These risks must be managed and mitigated by building insurance markets and commodity futures markets, respectively. In particular, a National Commodities Futures Exchange (NCFE) for all major agricultural commodities will be promoted with the active participation of the Government, which can replace its spot purchases (procurement) and sales with futures contracts. The participation of the Government as a significant and trusted player (market maker) in the NCFE will build trust amongst farmers who can hedge (insure) their crop price risk in advance with online futures contracts.

Conclusion

As we march towards becoming a USD 35 trillion economy by 2047, the propulsion would have to come from agriculture and food grain production that lies at the base of the pyramid of value addition in the economy. It also supports the Agri- and food-processing industry, which shall be a massive contributor to our circular bio-economy, which is expected to grow to about USD 300 billion by 2034 from its current level of USD 80 billion. The transition to climate-smart agriculture in two decades can transform India’s agriculture, significantly increase food grain output, ensure better nutrition, increase renewable energy potential, improve climate resilience and climate efficiency of the economy and also make India a reliable exporter of food grains to the rest of the world. The main investments required for this transition are in the three pillars of Infrastructure, Institutions and Technology. This strategy of climate-smart agriculture focused on three factors that can enable India to ensure its national food security and renewable energy requirements and also emerge as the world's food bowl by 2044.

Industry and Manufacture

11. Walmart to host growth summit to partner with Indian suppliers for exports

India Blooms, 12 Nov. 2023

India, Nov. 11 -- Walmart has opened the application process for the company's first Growth Summit in India, offering export-ready suppliers, micro, small and medium-size enterprises (MSMEs), cross-border trade suppliers, and innovative supply chain companies an opportunity to pitch for business.

With a goal of accelerating progress towards Walmart's commitment to triple its exports of goods from India, the Walmart Growth Summit will be held on February 14-15, 2024, in New Delhi.

The two-day event will bring together Indian companies and several dozen Walmart buyers from the United States to evaluate their products for export, with buyers offering real-time, on-the-ground deals and prospects.

Aligned with Walmart's commitment to annually source USD 10 billion of goods from India by 2027, the goal of the event is to partner with the Make in India initiative, increasing exports across categories where India has expertise including food, consumables, health and wellness, general merchandise, apparel, shoes, home textiles and toys.

Andrea Albright, Executive Vice President, Sourcing, Walmart, said, "Walmart has long invested in India, and sees tremendous opportunity in continuing to expand exports with our existing suppliers while developing relationships with new ones.

12. 5PL is a major driver of growth for Snowman Logistics, says CEO Sunil Nair

ET, 20 Nov. 2023

Profitability has always been a sore point for India’s cold chain industry. Sunil Nair, CEO of India’s largest cold chain company Snowman Logistics, has been trying to do new things to improve yields and manage costs. In an interview with ET Prime, he talks about the company’s strategy, its entry into fifth party logistics (5PL), expansion, and much more.

Snowman Logistics, India’s largest cold chain company, was a bit early to enter the business and is privy to the slow evolution of the industry in India. The first multi-purpose cold-storage site in the country, which was also Snowman’s first facility, came up in 1996 in Cochin. While profitability has always been a sore point for the cold-storage industry, Sunil Nair, CEO, Snowman Logistics, has always believed in its prospects. He has been trying to belt out new things to improve yields and manage costs.

Snowman’s conventional business is providing cold chain warehousing and temperature-controlled transportation solutions for pharma, seafood, fruits and vegetables, confectionery, and ice creams. Last year, the company ventured into the 5PL (fifth party logistics) business targeted at hotels, restaurants, and catering companies. It also entered an entirely new product segment — storing and distributing hazardous chemicals — with a Grade A dry warehouse at Shoolagiri, Tamil Nadu. In an interview with ET Prime, Nair talks about his game plan to improve revenue and margins, the 5PL bet, capacity addition, the demand-supply scenario in the industry, and more. Edited excerpts.

Your FY23 financials look good. What are the driving factors and what looks like the road ahead?

The driving factor is the whole 5PL play we started in July last year. Lot of things are maturing in this segment. The major reason we launched the 5PL business is for better revenue and margins. This is an asset-light business model as compared to our conventional 3PL (third party logistics) business. We only need to invest working capital for holding inventory. Now we are adding a lot more products into the 5PL basket which will help us grow this vertical.

We started with three clients (Baskin Robbins, Tim Hortons, and Ikea India). It took us six to eight months to streamline the processes around the new vertical. Now we have a packaging and food expert on board who can source better-quality and better-priced products from the market, onboard vendors, and supply to our set of customers. The growth trend will continue going forward since we also plan to add new customers in the QSR (quick service restaurants) segment.

We may be supplying 50 products to a customer, say a QSR, ranging from packaging material to dairy items, sauces, etc. Now they want to launch a new product and want us to help them source products from the market. We help them in auditing vendors, meeting quality norms and compliances. We then buy from vendors and supply to our customers.

We have three, four QSR customers in the pipeline. Usually in the 5PL concept, customer conversion takes longer since it is a big change for the customer in terms of handing over their activities to us. This also includes a lot of confidential activities, because before they launch a product, we come to know about it. So, trust and confidentiality have to be developed, which takes time.

What are the growth prospects in the conventional cold chain business and what are the capacity additions you are doing?

We have seen about 15% to 18% [growth] in the dairy, ice cream, and QSR segments. These will be promising segments as we expect a similar growth trend in the next fiscal.

Growth in this cold chain segment depends on adding more warehouses. We are adding three warehouses by the end of this financial year – one in Kolkata with 5,000 pallet positions, one in Bhubaneswar with around 4,000 pallet positions, and around 4,000 pallet positions in Lucknow. These new additions will start contributing to our revenue by the next financial year (FY25).

On the transportation side, we have bought 50 new trucks this year already. We have also bought 20 40-foot trailers. At present, we operate between our warehouses and from our warehouses to customer locations. But for import customers wherein products need to move from ports to our warehouses, we didn’t have any transportation support. To bridge this gap, we have deployed these trailers and we are trying to see if that works. All put together, we will be investing INR130 crore this year.

Where does India’s cold chain industry stand vis à vis global best practices?

See, demand is growing at a good 20% year-on-year. But on the supply side, a lot of things still need to mature and get organised. There is no standard template for us to say how growth will come. Typically, if you compare with other developed countries, cold storage sizes are much bigger. In India, we are going small. We are opening many cold storages, but they are small, 5,000 pallet facilities. So, they will open a 5,000 pallet cold storage, fill it up in one or two years and then open the next one with similar capacity. That need not be in the same city, but in a nearby one. So, you will have one cold storage in Mumbai, Pune, Surat, Ahmedabad. This model is more economical than having bigger warehouses serving farther locations because transportation costs are very high. So, warehouses need to be close to consumption centres.

Comparatively, if you go to China, Europe, and the US, you will find cold storage with 50,000 pallet positions. In India, these sizes are not working. If I open a 50,000 pallet cold storage today, it will involve a lot of cash burn since it will take five to seven years to be utilised fully. We don’t know yet whether India will move to large cold storages over a period of time.

In terms of transportation, things are maturing faster. Since bank loans are available easily, supply is growing quite reliably along with demand.

What are the growth prospects in the conventional cold chain business and what are the capacity additions you are doing?

We have seen about 15% to 18% [growth] in the dairy, ice cream, and QSR segments. These will be promising segments as we expect a similar growth trend in the next fiscal.

Where does India’s cold chain industry stand vis à vis global best practices?

In terms of transportation, things are maturing faster. Since bank loans are available easily, supply is growing quite reliably along with demand.

13. JLR: From Tata’s ‘biggest mistake’ to a money-spinner, how focus on high-profit cars did the magic

ET, 12 Dec. 2023

JLR currently accounts for two-thirds of Tata Motors’ consolidated revenues and profits. The most dramatic transformation is happening in free cash flow generation, which used to be the weakest link at JLR. The company also accounts for over a third of Tata Motors’ share price valuation. What drove this turnaround, and is it sustainable?

The day was June 2, 2008. Ratan Tata was looking sharp in a grey suit-white shirt combination as he sported a confident smile after clinching a USD2.3 billion all-cash deal to acquire UK-based marquee luxury car brands Jaguar and Land Rover (JLR). As congratulatory messages and loud applause filled the air at JLR’s Gaydon office in the UK, outside, the criticism from industry experts was even sharper: “Why on earth?”.

They had a point. The world was slipping into a recession. The demand for luxury cars and SUVs was crashing. JLR was heading towards a major loss. The company was critiqued for being Tata’s “biggest mistake”.

But Tata Motors looked at JLR as an opportunity to enter the global big league. The initial signs were not good though. While the JLR acquisition put an INR21,900 crore debt on Tata Motors, in FY09, the company reported an INR2,500 crore loss, a first in seven years. The previous year, Tata Motors had reported a profit of INR2,200 crore.

Fifteen years on, the narrative has changed. Tata Motors is now India’s number 3 carmaker, hot on the heels of number 2 Hyundai, with a market share of 13.4% in the passenger vehicle segment. And JLR has proved why Ratan Tata was not wrong in his pursuit.

In the second quarter of FY24, JLR accounted for two-thirds of Tata Motors’ consolidated revenues and profits. JLR now makes up over a third of Tata Motors share-price valuation. JLR was always a big contributor to Tata Motors’ revenue. What has changed now is JLR’s sharp recovery in profitability. More crucially, free cash flows. In the first half of the financial year itself, the company has generated almost as much free cash flow as it did in its best years on a whole.

The Street today attributes a valuation of around GBP10 billion to JLR, in its sum-of-the-parts or SOTP valuation of Tata Motors which is low if the company can sustain the GBP2 billion or over INR20,000 crore of free cash flows the management is projecting for FY24. While the management believes in further upside in profitability to 10% by FY26 versus 8% in FY24, the Street is divided on profit margins sustaining at 8%. That makes JLR a catalyst for Tata Motors share price in the future.

So, how did JLR achieve this? Well, that is a remarkable story of transformation driven by a smartly stitched strategy and wise utilisation of resources. Before we tell you more about this, here’s what numbers tell us about the company.

The transformation

The astonishing part is JLR’s performance this fiscal is coming on the back of volumes that are likely to be 36% lower than the peak levels in FY18. But the revenue per vehicle will beat the volume decline resulting in the highest revenue ever.

The most dramatic change is happening in free cash flow generation. This used to be the weakest link at JLR so far, with only a small amount of profits converting to cash in the bank. JLR’s net debt was GBP3 billion in FY23. This is set to go down to just GBP1 billion and the company is likely to have a net cash by the end of FY25. This is also playing a vital role in Tata Motors’ efforts to slash its net debt.

In our February 2023 story, we ended with this thought: “…after a long struggle, JLR can prove to be a positive catalyst for Tata Motors.” That seems to be coming true with the FY24 performance coming in better than anyone was expecting.

The turnaround drivers

What made JLR’s transformation playbook interesting was a narrow focus on its most-profitable products. So much so that products like Range Rover, Range Rover Sports, and the Defender accounted for 64% of the vehicle sales this year and 77% of the orderbook. Gone are the days when a Range Rover Evoque, which starts at GBP40,000, was a bestseller. Even the Range Rover Velar, which starts at GBP54,000, has seen a de-emphasis.

The intent to continue on this path is evident from JLR’s bracketing of the Range Rover Velar as a medium profitability car. The aim is to maintain and take its 5.5% market share in the segment to 5.8% in FY26.

The focus will be squarely on high-profitability cars where the company wants to take its global market share from 12% in the second half of FY23 to 17% in FY26.

The company plans to fully exit — yes you heard it right, exit — low-profitability cars like the Jaguar sedan. The Jaguar will be reborn in 2025 as three fully electric sports cars with pricing starting from GBP100,000 and a range of 700km.

Speaking of high-margin cars, the company is selling the largest number of Range Rover models ever. Here, the base model starts at GBP110,000. The personalised Range Rover Special Vehicle variant, which starts at GBP162,000, is no longer a niche offering.

Even the Defender, which has emerged as a key model contributing a third to JLR’s wholesale volumes (excluding the China JV) in the quarter gone by is priced between GBP60,000 and GBP80,000, or sits in a segment higher than the Velar and is massively more profitable than the Evoque was. JLR spent almost GBP60 million to make the Defender brand the official sponsor of the 2023 Rugby World Cup and in advertisement in the September quarter. The brand differentiation between various JLR models is very sharp. In fact, when you visit the Land Rover website anywhere in the world, you have to choose between Range Rover, Defender and Discovery brands to enter. In other words, one can’t browse all JLR models on the same website as we see on most car websites.

The next big trigger for JLR will be the launch of battery electric Range Rover in late 2024 and Range Rover Sports soon after. It is likely that these vehicles have higher price points. Going by JLR’s R&D expenditure (50% higher than last year), it seems the company is spending an enormous amount of money building these electric vehicles. In fact, JLR’s total investment, which sunk to just GBP2.3 billion in FY23 could climb to USD3 billion in FY24 and further to GBP3.5 billion in FY25.

Manufacturing and distribution redefined

JLR has a plan to reduce its production capacity by 20% over FY24-FY27, according to a presentation on its investor day. This essentially means that its manufacturing footprint is structurally reduced to make fewer luxury cars.

The company has already cut its total workforce by 8% over FY18-FY23. However, employee costs have risen by 18% year-on-year this year indicating higher wage inflation and fresh hiring related to its battery electric vehicle (BEV) investments. For instance, a new BEV testing facility will just cost GBP250 million and create 350 jobs. For instance, a new BEV testing facility will just cost GBP250 million and create 350 jobs.

JLR is in the news for 10,000 of its customers not getting spare parts. The real reason behind this problem is that JLR is consolidating its aftersales operations and is moving to a massive single warehouse (from the 18 warehouses it used to have) operated by a specialised logistics provider. Unipart won a five-year contract last year to operate the global parts centre owned by JLR. Similarly, TCS is taking over the responsibility of digital infrastructure and contract management. This kind of outsourcing to specialised players helps iron out the creases.

The overall car industry in major economies has stagnated although the luxury SUV segment continues to grow, something we have seen in India as well. However, the macroeconomic situation is tougher and with the reduction in the waiting period for customers (JLR will reduce its orderbook to 110,000 over the next six months from 168,000 at the end of Q2 FY24), it is likely that discounts, which rose slightly to 1.5% in the quarter gone by, will move up in FY25. The JLR management is optimistic that any additional discounts will be offset by further normalisation of raw material and power costs from elevated levels.

But how sustainable is this turnaround? And what are the catalysts for investors or the stock price?

A lot of focus is being put both at Tata Motors and JLR to make battery electric vehicles (BEVs) mainstream. But that may put a dent on margins.

The EV challenge

A ICICI Securities report by Basudeb Banerjee talks about downside risks in JLR’s Ebitda (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation) margin coming under pressure from FY25, as new EVs start entering the portfolio. “We believe replicating portfolio-level margin for its EV models might be tough in the initial years of EV launches,” the report says.

Tata Motors EV business is currently making a -5% Ebidta margin as compared to +9% for the ICE (internal combustion engine) business. While this will get better, the fear is electric Range Rovers will negatively impact profitability.

Mercedes recently highlighted that the pricing is brutal in electric cars, and this is putting a huge pressure on margins. JLR also admitted that given the spate of product launches, supply is more than demand putting pressure on pricing. How long this scenario will continue is hard to tell, it said.

Also, the new BEV-only competitors in key regions are taking market share away from traditional players. However, the big disruptors like Tesla, BYD or Nio are more in the premium end. They are not the major players in the ultra-luxury end of the market. So, this can be a deciding factor for companies such as JLR that are planning to make electrification a part of their core strategy.

The launch of an all-electric Range Rover and Range Rover Sport, to be launched a year from now, will be a big trigger for the stock market. The huge investments, despite multiple partnerships, mean the efforts being put in are humongous. These two models, in their ICE avatar, are massively profitable. But no one really expects them to be able to have similar profitability in their EV versions. Remember, other traditional manufacturers like Mercedes and Ford are struggling with profitability of their BEVs.

So, the market may get more apprehensive in the run up to the product launches mentioned above. The management may try to explain why JLR can have a different and more profitable path. In fact, Tata Motors has already given indications that its EVs are likely to be profitable. In fact, with PLI (Production Linked Incentive), Tata Motors EV business could indeed be profitable in the coming year.

If JLR can pull off profitability from its electric cars, that will be a remarkable feat vis-à-vis all traditional carmakers around the world. And that will be another astonishing story to narrate.

14. A leap has been taken by Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati startups at renewable energy with floating solar technology

IBEF, Nov. 24, 2023

A clean technology startup, Quant Solar Technologies Private Limited incubated at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati, has taken strides in pioneering floating solar technologies in India.

It is the latest innovation in solar installations which are gaining prominence as a third pillar alongside rooftop solar and ground-mounted solar. The technology of Quant’s solar harnesses solar energy by installing solar panels on water bodies such as dams and reservoirs. This addresses environmental concerns by reducing evaporation loss in water bodies by up to 70% along with contribution to national solar goals.

Quant Solar, incubated at the facility of IIT Guwahati- Technology Incubation Centre (IITG-TIC) has rapidly advanced in the clean tech revolution, making significant contributions to the renewable energy landscape.

The company has aligned itself with various global leaders, joining a consortium led by DNV in the Netherlands. With this collaboration, Quant Solar gets a position as a key player in shaping global standards for floating solar plants.

Quant Solar has collaborated with various public sector enterprises, state government bodies, and private companies since its inception. This startup has also delivered India’s first megawatt-scale Floating Solar Plant (FSP) of 2 MW capacity and one of the world’s largest FSPs of 36 MW for the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC).

Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.

15. Mobile manufacturing to hit US$ 50 billion in FY24: Ashwini Vaishnaw

IBEF, Dec. 8, 2023

In the ongoing fiscal year, mobile phone manufacturing in India is projected to achieve a value of US$ 50 billion, with the overall exports from this sector anticipated to reach US$ 15 billion, according to statements made by Minister for Communications, Electronics & Information Technology and Railways Mr. Ashwini Vaishnaw. This reinforces the significance of mobile phones as the fourth-largest export category from India. The minister's optimism extends to the broader economic landscape, as he anticipates that the country's total exports will soon surpass the US$ 1 trillion mark.

Looking ahead, a transformative shift in India's export landscape is envisioned. He predicts that mobile phone and electronics exports will reach the top 2 or 3 positions in the next year or two. The current top 5 exports include processed petroleum, diamonds, iron, steel, and pharmaceuticals.

Official data from the Commerce Department reveals that India consistently surpassed US$ 1 billion in smartphone exports since October 2022. In the initial six months of FY24, smartphone exports amounted to US$ 6.53 billion, compared to US$ 10.95 billion for FY23, reflecting a substantial surge.

A significant portion of these exports, constituting 62%, is attributed to Apple India. In the April-October period of FY24, iPhones worth US$ 5 billion were exported by Apple's three vendors in India.

India's broader electronic exports totalled US$ 15.77 billion in FY24, marking a significant shift from the previous year's $28 billion. Minister Vaishnaw attributes the rapid growth in smartphone exports to the successful diversification of India's export basket under the 'Make in India' initiative. Expressing confidence in India's economic trajectory, Minister Vaishnaw stated that the country is poised to achieve US$ 1 trillion worth of exports very soon. In FY23, India's exports reached US$ 775.7 billion, with merchandise exports contributing US$ 450.4 billion and services accounting for US$ 325.4 billion.

Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.

Services (Education, Healthcare, IT, R&D, Tourism, etc.)

16. What’s choking Delhi? Farm fire isn’t the only villain burning a USD150 billion hole in the economy

ET, 12, Nov. 2023

In cities like Delhi, baseline pollution from local sources is very high throughout the year. Stubble burning in neighbouring states only adds to the toxic air. If India had achieved safe air quality levels in 2019, its GDP would have increased by USD95 billion, or 3%. What’s the key to clean air then? Political will, strict regulations, and awareness.

“Feels like I have been put in a chokehold.”

That’s mostly how P C Bhardwaj (name changed), an 80-year-old retired government officer living with his daughter in Delhi’s Lajpat Nagar, replies nowadays when someone generally inquires about his health.

As advised by his pulmonologist, Bhardwaj hasn’t stepped out in the last 15 days or so and is badly missing his morning walks. “Thank god the cricket world cup is on, otherwise getting confined to the four walls is so frustrating,” he says with a pale smile adding that “even indoors, my eyes burn and I’m having a sore throat.”

Bhardwaj is among more than 71 million people of Delhi-NCR who are forced to breathe toxic air, especially during this time of the year, every year. Air quality in most of NCR has fallen in the ‘severe’ category with the AQI (air quality index) crossing 400.

And the suffering of people owing to the air pollution in India has a huge economic cost – a whopping USD150 billion annually. USD95 billion, or 3.3%, of the country’s GDP, are losses to businesses. The rest is the health impact in terms of lost output from premature deaths and morbidity owing to breathing polluted air. Several global reports have put gruesome numbers of premature deaths due to pollution in India.

While Delhi’s pollution makes it to the frontpages around this time of the year, a 32-year analysis of pollution from 1990 to 2022 by a team of experts from a group of institutions, including IIT Delhi, found that air pollution in the national capital is a year-round problem, not just limited to specific events such as Diwali or post-harvest fires or seasons such as the winter.

“This kind of rapid build-up is not uncommon during this part of the season and is generally associated with smoke from farm stubble fire and meteorological factors assisting transportation of the smoke to Delhi NCR topping the high local pollution. But it must be kept in consideration that this rapid build-up in a short time span is able to tip air quality into severe category because baseline pollution from local sources is already very high,” says Centre for Science and Environment’s (CSE) urban lab head Avikal Somvanshi.

The villains

While Delhi is breathing air that is 100 times more polluted than the permissible limit, Mumbai, Chennai, and Bengaluru are not far behind and so are several other smaller cities that face severe air pollution around the year.

So, when it is such a perennial problem, why isn’t something being done?

The analysis by a team of experts mentioned above, published early this year, lists the key air pollution sources that require immediate attention – vehicle exhaust, road dust, construction dust, cooking and heating, open waste burning, and industries. Stubble burning in neighbouring states only adds to the toxic air in the national capital.

To effectively address ambient air pollution, it is necessary to implement measures that target the emissions at the sources by altering control technology, influencing behaviours, and providing incentives. Experts say there is a need for political will, strict regulations, data collection, and awareness to address the risk of toxic air.

Former Union environment minister Jairam Ramesh feels that regulations dealing with air pollution need to be revamped to address the issue, as the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) is chugging along without having any marked impacts.

“The Air Pollution (Control and Prevention) Act came into being in 1981. In November 2009, after a thorough review by IIT Kanpur and other institutions, a more stringent and wide-ranging National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) was put into effect. This covered 12 pollutants considered very detrimental to public health. It is now time for a revisit and a total revamp of both the Act and the NAAQS. Over the past decade and more, compelling evidence has accumulated on the impacts of air pollution on public health,” he tweeted.

Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, CSE, says, “This winter season has started with a much higher pollution level compared to November last year. The combination of adverse meteorological conditions, the onset of crop residue burning, and high local pollution has tilted the scale dangerously, increasing public health risk.”

According to Roychowdhury, even though the overall long-term pollution curve is stable and downward, it is still significantly above the national ambient air quality standards. “This demands the most stringent and sustained action on vehicles, industry, energy systems, and waste management across the region,” she adds.

A CSE analysis shows that Delhi is in the grip of a multi-pollutant crisis – while particulate pollution is severe, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels are also rising. The levels of NO2, which comes largely from vehicles, are also rising in the region indicating the high impact of vehicular pollution.

Economic and health impact

According to The World Health Organization, around 21 of the world’s 30 most polluted cities are in India. This means that air pollution has a massive economic impact.

The Clean Air Fund, Dalberg Advisors, an advisory firm, and Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) studied the economic impact of air pollution and found that if India had achieved safe air quality levels in 2019, its GDP would have increased by USD95 billion, or 3%, as Indian businesses would face lower costs and higher revenues.

“This means there was a potential to return a value equal to 50% of all tax collected annually, or 150% of India’s healthcare budget. Bringing clean air to India benefits the economy and businesses through lower absenteeism, higher on-the-job productivity, higher consumer footfall, and lower premature mortality,” found the study.

The analysis of air pollution in India also shows that India could have gained 1.4 billion working days by decreasing air pollution-related sick leaves in 2019, translating into USD6 billion higher revenues for businesses. The cognitive and physical performance of employees would be boosted by cleaner air, adding USD24 billion per year to Indian business revenues.

The Indian IT sector, which accounts for 9% of the GDP and is a key engine driving the growth of India’s service sector, stands to benefit by USD1.3 billion, or 0.7% of its GDP, due to cleaner air, as this would result in lower absenteeism and higher productivity. In India’s capital alone, lower pollution would result in an IT company increasing its competitive advantage over a company in the Philippines by 33%.

The analysis shows that clean air is not just the backbone of healthy societies, but also of a thriving global economy and that there are huge gains to be unlocked by solving it. There have been several reports that the life span of people is getting shortened in India due to breathing toxic air.

The World Air Quality Report 2022, prepared by Swiss organisation IQAir in 2022, termed air pollution as the second biggest factor affecting human health in India, and its economic cost is estimated to exceed USD150 billion annually. It found that India’s PM 2.5 (particulate matter) level returned to pre-Covid lockdown concentrations measured in 2019.

"This winter season has started with a much higher pollution level compared to November last year. The combination of adverse meteorological conditions, the onset of crop residue burning, and high local pollution has tilted the scale dangerously, increasing public health risk."

— Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, CSE

The way out

A stronger control of episodic pollution like crop residue burning; stronger hyper-local action on all other pollution sources; and more effective monitoring, enforcement, and compliance strategy are required to address the problem.

Experts also point out the availability of updated city-specific pollution data as a key to fix the issue. A regular update on the emission inventory allows for the identification of new sources or hotspots, the assessment of their relative contributions, and the development of targeted control measures.

“Periodic updates to emission inventories and repeating source apportionment studies are essential for a clean air action plan. It is like the need for an expanding air quality monitoring network to track progress or the lack thereof. Similarly, repeating source apportionment studies every two-three years can help identify the relative importance of different sources over time,” highlights the earlier-mentioned 32-year analysis of Delhi’s pollution data.

“While several measures have been taken over the years to clean up fuels and technology across transport and industry sectors, and control dust sources, more action is needed at a scale and speed to address the remaining policy gaps for meeting the clean air targets. Only this can prevent building up of such smog episodes endangering public health,” CSE’s Roychowdhury elaborates.

CSE says there is a need for local and regional scale multi-sector action to cut emissions from vehicles, industry, power plants, waste burning, construction, and dust sources.

17. Domestic tourists turn 2023 busy for Kerala

The New Indian Express, 16 Vov. 2023

The year 2023 is looking extremely good for Kerala Tourism with the state playing host to 1.59 crore domestic tourists till September.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The year 2023 is looking extremely good for Kerala Tourism with the state playing host to 1.59 crore domestic tourists till September. This is 19.34% higher than the same period last year, when 1.33 crore people from various states visited the state.

Adding to the delight of stakeholders, the footfall of foreign tourists also saw a massive spike with 4.47 lakh foreigners making their way to the state in the first nine months, compared to 2.06 lakh during the same period in 2022 — a growth of 116.25%.

Tourism Minister P A Mohamed Riyas said compared to the pre-pandemic figures, domestic tourist arrival numbers in the first nine months of 2023 constituted a growth of 21.12%. Ernakulam recorded the maximum number of domestic footfalls, attracting 33.18 lakh tourists, followed by Idukki (26.61 lakh), Thiruvananthapuram (25.61 lakh), Thrissur (18.22 lakh) and Wayanad (12.87 lakh).

“The steady surge in tourist footfalls indicates that 2023 is going to be a record-breaking year in the history of Kerala Tourism as far as domestic visitors are concerned,” Riyas told reporters. Meanwhile, Ernakulam was clear winner in terms of foreign tourist arrivals, catering to 2.04 lakh visitors till September 2023. In second place was Thiruvananthapuram (98,179), followed by Idukki (68,798), Alappuzha (19,685), and Kottayam (15,112).

18. Worried about AI takeover, tepid tech hiring? Well, telecom sector is seeing a jobs boom

ET, 18 Nov. 2023

In a tight job market, facing multiple headwinds led by AI and automation, the telecom industry stands out with new jobs being created at a brisk pace. In fact, there’s a shortage of telecom talent with a demand-supply gap of 2.41 million. Read on to find out.

Much of 2023 has been dominated by AI-led disruptions, impacting every industry and business with fears of fewer jobs for humans. Hiring in the USD250 billion IT services industry, which employs around 4 million, is also down. Outlook for fresh recruits remains bleak as global customers defer tech spending. The headcount at the top 10 providers including TCS, Wipro and Infosys is down by around 50,000 in H1 of this year.

However, in an overall tepid job market, the telecom sector stands out. Unbelievable it may sound, but there’s a shortage of 2.41 million, including both white and blue-collared jobs, across a spectrum of roles.

Arvind Bali, CEO, Telecom Sector Skill Council (TSSC), says, “Every generation of mobile network has brought a technology shift and created new jobs. Now 5G provides new opportunities in India and globally. India is also a hub for global telecom networks, creating wider job opportunities.”

The shifts from 4G to 5G, network expansion, deployment of Internet of Things (IoT), handset and telecom equipment manufacturing and heavy dependence on telecom networks across robotics, automated factories, smart-city deployments, cloud computing, et al, are increasing demand for professionals in the telecom space, leading to a jobs boom.

Telecom talent demand-supply gap

The current telecom demand-supply gap of 2.41 million is expected to jump 3.8x or around 9 million (by jobs) by 2030. A report by TSSC, a skill development institute for the telecom sector, and Draup, an AI-driven platform for talent, notes that 11.59 million are currently employed by the Indian telecom industry, with 2.95 million being corporate or white-collar talent and the rest 8.64 million being blue-collar workers.

New telecom jobs are coming up across 15 streams (see infographic) that include network operations and maintenance, project engineering, network installation, security, fault management, customer service and communication electronics.

For instance, according to the TSSC-Draup report, for terminal equipment application developers, there are 70,704 white-collar and 150,076 blue-collar openings. These involve creating and developing applications for Android-based smartphones/tablets or iOS-based phones.

In communication electronics, there is a requirement for 34,629 engineers and 242,431 blue-collar workers. These professionals are responsible for performing security and maintenance tasks, assisting with calibrations, monitoring site power, upgrades, and modifications. They are also responsible for maintaining the company's telecom networks, including communication systems and installation of Internet lines and cables.

In operation and maintenance jobs, there’s demand for 3,75461 white-collar workers and 7,96899 blue-collar staff. This role is responsible for ensuring site uptime through preventive and corrective maintenance of infrastructure, energy management, site management, fault reduction, and preventive maintenance.

The top four occupations that have the highest corporate talent requirement (66% of the total jobs) include network operation and maintenance, project engineering, operation and maintenance - passive infrastructure (that is non-electronic elements of a cell site), and network fault management.

On the other hand, at least half of the blue-collar jobs are in areas including setting up base stations, physical deployment of networks, laying out fiber and maintenance tasks.

4G, 5G and localisation push demand for jobs

Interestingly, in the telecom space, there are many more players than just a few like Reliance Jio, Airtel, Vodafone or a few equipment providers including Tejas, Ericsson, Nokia, Cisco, and others. In fact, many of the telcos use third-party services or temp staff, hence the hiring does not show up directly in their manpower pool.

Also, there are more than 6,000 telecom companies in India providing a whole spectrum of services, products, manufacturing, support and so on.

When 2G and 3G networks were being deployed India was dependent on network equipment imports from Sweden, Finland, China, Israel and Germany. But since the 4G launch the government has been pushing for more localisation, creating a larger local ecosystem and India has become less dependent on imports. “Now, companies here not just cater to the local market but also global, leading to job expansion as well,” adds Bali.

The starting salary for blue-collar workers is INR12,000 to INR14,000 while for engineers it's INR40,000. While expansion of networks, migration to 5G is leading to new jobs, there’s plenty of poaching of telecom professionals by other sectors, notably electric vehicles (EVs) and logistics companies.

When EVs started, there was a surge in demand for professionals who had worked in the rechargeable battery space and knew about lithium-ion batteries. Handset companies saw a flight of talent to EVs. So, overall telecom jobs are increasing, but will automation, AI decrease the need for human workers?

AI, 6G and telecom jobs

Sure, automation has always been impacting and transforming telecom and this is increasing now. This might impact some jobs — automating them while network expansion, deployment of IoT, smart cities solutions etc, will actually lead to new job creation. In fact, at present, it is leading to new jobs in sectors like network automation, intelligent automation platforms, AI-based RAN (Radio Access Networks — it connects individual devices to other parts of the network via a radio link) and automation-based telecom operations to improve accuracy and reliability of services.

Besides, with some of the network tasks of more than 100 countries being managed out of India, telecom will continue to seek fresh hands. Many of these are backend-support jobs including billing services, customer support, analytics and tasks like checking on antenna tilts remotely.

According to telecom industry experts, India is already supplying telecom technologies to more than 60 countries and automation will help India as talent at scale is available here. “By the time 6G deployments start globally in 2028, India will have the capability both on hardware and software side to deploy the networks. Telecom industry will continue to create more jobs, and there will be opportunities for skilling, upskilling as well,” adds Bali.

However, the one big problem is — only 40% of the graduates have the industry-ready skills needed by telecom companies. Training will continue to thrive even as network expansion leads to more jobs.

19. Bio-economy has grown 8 times in 8 years from $10 billion to $80 billion: Mansukh Mandaviya

ET Gov. 12 Dec. 2023

“The Indian Biotech Industry is aiming to grow to $150 Billion by 2025 and $300 Billion by 2030. India is currently among the top 12 destinations for Biotechnology in the world with approximately 3% share in the Global Biotechnology Industry."

The Union Health Minister talked about the contribution that institutions and industries based in Gujarat have made in making India a leader in the field of biotechnology.

“India's bio-economy has grown eight times in the last eight years from $10 billion to $80 billion. In the coming times, biotechnology will become the biggest foundation for health treatment.”

This was stated by Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, today. He was addressing the pre-event summit “Biotechnology: The Path of Innovation & Wellness for Viksit Bharat.” This summit is a preliminary event to the 10th Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit that will take place in January 2024 at the Mahatma Gandhi Mandir, Gandhinagar.

“This industry will become a medium for finding solutions for complex problems in various spheres such as agriculture, environment, industrial production and many more. In the future, the economy will become biotechnology based,” he added.

Quoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Dr. Mandaviya said, “in the global biotechnology ecosystem, India will soon feature among the top ten nations.”

Mandaviya pointed out that the vaccination produced by India during the pandemic showcased India's power in the field of biotechnology to the world.

“The National Biotechnology Development Strategy 2020-25 provides the government a platform to strengthen skill development, resource and innovation converging into one strong ecosystem for knowledge sharing,” he said. He noted that the biotechnology sector further facilitates commercialization and market linkages by encouraging private-public partnership models in these sectors.

Dr. Mandaviya lauded the achievements of the startups, industries and industry associations that are making major contributions to India’s biotechnology sector. He also appreciated the researchers and academicians for contributing to the development of this sector.

The Union Health Minister talked about the contribution that institutions and industries based in Gujarat have made in making India a leader in the field of biotechnology.

The Union Health Minister reflected that Gujarat was the first state in the country to establish a Biotech Mission 15-20 years ago. Dr. Mandaviya recalled that when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat, he had established a Biotech Mission and Biotech Park in the state.

20. Hyderabad tops y-o-y growth in nurturing India's digital tech talent pool: Nasscom

ET Gov. 30 Nov. 2023

The report shows that Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi NCR lead the charts, with Hyderabad closely following suit.

While Hyderabad, accounts for approximately 13-14% of India's digital tech talent, Chennai and Pune contribute 9-10% each to the total digital talent pool.

As technology related innovations take centerstage, Hyderabad has emerged as one of the six mature tech hubs in India. According to a Nasscom report ‘India Tech Industry Digital Talent Demand and Supply Analysis 2023’, Hyderabad has secured the fourth position in the country's total digital tech talent pool. The report also shows that Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi NCR lead the charts, with Hyderabad closely following suit.

While Bengaluru, also known as silicon valley of India, continues to maintain its dominance, with over 25-26% of the total digital talent in the country, Mumbai with 15-16% and Delhi NCR with 14-15% remain a distant second and third. As per the latest data while Hyderabad, accounts for approximately 13-14% of India's digital tech talent, Chennai and Pune contribute 9-10% each to the total digital talent pool.

The latest Nasscom data is in contrast with its 2022 tech talent report. The latest report suggests that Hyderabad has seen a growth from 12-13% to its current position. The report emphasizes that India's tech industry currently employs over 5.4 million people, with digital talent constituting 36-38% of the workforce. Artificial Intelligence, Big Data Analytics, and IoT emerge as the top tech skills with a demand-supply gap exceeding 50%.

Globally, the United States has the highest demand-supply gap for tech talent in 2023, followed by the UK at 30-32%. India, along with China, scores the highest on the reskillability index, attributing this to the substantial talent reserve and the ability to enhance digital tech talent through upskilling the workforce.

Nasscom report also suggests that the majority of the growth in the tech talent base is driven by digital tech talent, responding to the escalating demand for digital skills and technologies essential for the rapid digital transformation of businesses.

As per the report findings in the last two years, the digital technology talent pool in emerging and other tech hubs across the country has witnessed a significant 20-23% increase. Nasscom attributes this growth to the key advantages offered by these emerging hubs, including swift infrastructure development, a rising number of startups, cost savings in talent acquisition, and more affordable real estate rental expenses.

The report also reflects the dynamic landscape of India's tech hubs and their pivotal role in meeting the growing demand for digital skills and technology in the ever-evolving business landscape.

India and the World

21. In Case You Thought Diwali Is Just A Desi Indian Festival, Well, Think Again

ET, 12 Nov. 2023

Today, I’m sure to receive Diwali greetings from one of my Malaysian co-authors. He has visited Kolkata several times and knows that Durga Puja is the primary Bengali celebration. Nevertheless, hailing from a country with a roughly 8% Indian-descent population, he only greets me on Diwali. Perhaps because it's the foremost Indian festival.

Traditionally, countries like Singapore, Fiji, Nepal, and Mauritius also celebrate Diwali with the usual aplomb and lights. But of late, this de-lightful Indian festival has expanded its footprint by solidifying the Indian identity globally.

Perhaps, the brightest spotlight ever shone on Diwali in the US was the 2006 episode, ‘Diwali’, of the iconic Steve Carrell-starring sitcom, The Office, based on the British original with the same name. Being watched live by 8.8 million viewers helps to push a cause – in this case, a festival. That episode singlehandedly played a big role in bringing Diwali to mainstream American attention – although Carell’s character did call Diwali the ‘Hindu Halloween’ in the episode.

Fifteen years later, an episode revolving around Diwali of the American comedy-drama TV series And Just Like That, a 2021 reboot of the cult classic, Sex and the City, demonstrated how the Indian festival of lights has illuminated America. Sarah Jessica Parker went Diwali-shopping while donning a lehenga – again, never mind that she called it a saree.

So, is Diwali a global festival now? Possibly, yes. India's growing soft power has much to do with that. And even more so due to the Indian diaspora's expanding influence, both politically and economically, and by extension, culturally. Brit PM Rishi Sunak, US veepee Kamala Harris, US surgeon-general Vivek Murthy, former White House staff secretary Neera Tandem, and many other PIOs holding significant positions across the globe ‘do the Diwali’.

From George W Bush and, most particularly, Barack Obama to the present POTUS, White House’s non-Hindu First Residents, too, have been regularly lighting Diwali diyas – bringing them a wee bit closer to the 4.4 million Indian Americans? Even a bill to designate Diwali as a federal holiday has now been presented in the US Congress.

Remember, Obama visited Mumbai on Diwali in 2010. After lighting the first-ever diya in the Oval Office in 2016, he remarked, ‘Michelle and I will never forget how the people of India welcomed us with open arms and hearts and danced with us in Mumbai on Diwali.’ Dee-wali was no longer a quaint religious observation, but a calendar festival in the US.

A vibrant Diwali celebration has been held at New York’s Times Square since 2013. As Diwali is a public school holiday in New York City effective from this year, mayor Eric Adams expressed Diwali pride. Meanwhile, across the pond, during this Diwali celebrations, London’s Pakistani-origin mayor Sadiq Khan has even encouraged Bollywood to remake 'Amar Akbar Anthony' set in Britain, hinting at Sunak and Amar, himself as Akbar and King Charles as Anthony.

Britain may have its first-ever Indian-origin PM. But Gordon Brown began giving 10 Downing Street a festive twist with diyas in 2009. With a 3.1% Indian diaspora, Diwali is part of British ‘national life’, as then PM Theresa May observed in 2016.

And then, there’s Canada. Considering that almost 5% of Canadians are of Indian descent, Canadian Diwali should be equally enlightening. Well, after becoming PM in 2015, in a first-of-its-kind event, Justin Trudeau visited a Hindu temple and a gurdwara in Ottawa to celebrate Diwali with the Indo-Canadian community.

Unfortunately, it looks like Trudeau has a bizarre history of reading Indian culture and the Indian mindset. He tweeted 'Diwali Mubarak' in 2017, accompanied by a photo of himself lighting a lamp in a black sherwani. He was widely trolled. Perhaps, it would be wise, especially today, to change it to ‘Happy Diwali’.

Wishing all of you, wherever you may be across the world, a very happy Diwali.

The writer is professor of statistics, Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), Kolkata

22. Three more Chip Units with $8-12 b Investment Soon

ET, 29 Nov. 2023

Three more chip fabrication units will be announced in India in the next few months, electronics and information technology minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Tuesday.

The ground-breaking ceremony for the first chip packaging unit in India — by Micron Technology — was held in Sanand, Gujarat, in the last week of September.

“In another few months, I can share with you, without sharing any names, that we will get at least three more units, fabricating really good, advanced technologies of chips in the country,” Vaishnaw said. The minister was speaking in a fireside chat with Jaya Jagdish, country head and senior vice president of Silicon Design Engineering at the India unit of chip maker Advanced Micro Devices (AMD). On Tuesday, Vaishnaw inaugurated AMD’s design centre, AMD Technostar, in Bengaluru.

“Our focus has been on creating the ecosystem and making sure to get the first few units right so that the confidence in the country’s ability to develop chips grows,” he said. Later, at a press conference in the AMD Technostar campus, he told reporters: “In the coming few months, you can see at least two very good proposals for fabrication and the OSAT (outsourced semiconductor assembly and test) sector.” “The investment will be in the order of $8 billion to $12 billion in these units,” he added.

In response to a question from ET, he said: “The applicants will be free to decide the locations of these units. They are interacting with various state governments of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh. We hope that in the coming few months they finalise the locations.”

On the state and central subsidies for these three units, he said: “Whether it is an OSAT unit, fab or compound, silicon, or 24 nanometre, 40 nm or 7 nm, the policy of state and central subsidies is uniform. So, the $8 billion to $12 billion investment is the total investment inclusive of state and central subsidies.”

23. In October, Indian engineering exports to 18 major markets showed positive increase

IBEF, Nov. 29, 2023

According to a statement from the Engineering Exports Promotion Council (EEPC) India, October saw a healthy increase in Indian engineering exports to 18 important markets. Among the nations with positive growth in exports in October are the UK, the US, and the UAE.

According to the trade body, the countries that reported a decrease in engineering shipments during the month included China, Italy, Singapore, and Indonesia.

The engineering exports to the US were valued at US$ 1391.5 million, a 2.2% increase over US$ 1361 million in the previous year. According to the report, Germany's exports in October increased by 20% to US$ 342.7 million.

According to EEPC, engineering exports to the UAE rose 2.9% annually to US$ 348.6 million.

Overall, India's engineering exports reached US$ 8,094.20 million in October, up 7.2% from US$ 7,550.69 million in the same month last year. The total value of engineering exports during April-October 2023 was US$ 61.63 billion, 1.61% less than the corresponding period of the previous year of US$ 62.63 billion.

According to Mr. Arun Kumar Garodia, Chairman of EEPC India, exports of metal products—more especially, those made of iron and steel, aluminium, and zinc—fell in October of this year. He added that the decrease in demand from the metal sector has been worsened by a number of market barriers placed on Indian exporters, as well as by the downturn in demand in developed nations, particularly the European Union.

In October, India's engineering exports made up 24.11% of all merchandise exports.

Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.

24. India stands at frontline of innovations in Quantum, 6G, AI; no room for corruption, brokers, middlemen: VP

ET Gov. 01 Dec. 2023

"Earlier we used to get all our new technologies from other countries. They used to formalize a mechanism, and we used to get it from them. We are now doing cutting-edge research in AI and quantum computing. We are developing technologies for Green Hydrogen and 6G."

"The emerging technologies have made inroads in our houses, in our drawing rooms, our workplaces." “These days the world is facing challenges of a very different nature. We have to be equipped with that. Artificial Intelligence is only one facet. Disruptive technologies, their power has to be unleashed; we have to stay with them.”

This was stated by Jagdeep Dhankhar, Vice-President of India, during his address to the participants of the 49th Advanced Professional Programme in Public Administration (APPPA) of the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) in Delhi on Thursday.

“The emerging technologies have made inroads in our houses, in our drawing rooms, our workplaces. The world is still grappling with these new technologies. For the first time, India is among the leading countries that is focusing on making ethical use of these emerging technologies. Earlier we used to get all our new technologies from other countries. They used to formalize a mechanism, and we used to get it from them. We are now doing cutting-edge research in AI and quantum computing. We are developing technologies for Green Hydrogen and 6G,” he added.

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He emphasized that India stands at the ‘Front leagues of nations’ in the domains of land, sky, sea, and space. This achievement was underscored by the launch of INS-Vikrant last year and development of several indigenous defence equipment, he noted.

“Just imagine every household having a toilet in a country of 1.4 billion. Having a tap in every house. Imagine having seamless road connectivity throughout the country. We have 5G connectivity in villages. The quality of 5G in rural areas is as good as in the metros,” the Vice-President said.

Underlining the importance of ‘decision making’ for the growth of the nation, Shri Dhankhar commended 'Men in Uniform'. Citing the instance of natural disasters that wreak havoc, the Vice-President lauded the defence personnel for displaying the highest level of performance and exemplifying their unwavering sense of duty.

Highlighting a significant shift from an ecosystem once embedded in patronage and corruption, the Vice-President noted that the current landscape reflects a 'big change,' with power corridors now ‘thoroughly sanitised of power-brokers, liaison agents and middlemen who extra legally leveraged decision making.

25. A Guide to New Restaurants In Delhi And Goa

News-18, 13 Nov. 2023, Swati Chaturvedi

Delhi and Goa, two vibrant and diverse cities in India, are known for their rich culinary scenes. If you’re looking to explore new dining experiences, these cities have recently welcomed a range of exciting restaurants. In Delhi, you can indulge in a variety of cuisines, from local street food to international flavors. The new restaurants offer innovative menus, unique concepts, and stylish ambiance, catering to different tastes and preferences. In Goa, known for its coastal charm, you can savor fresh seafood, Goan delicacies, and fusion dishes. The new dining establishments in Goa reflect the vibrant spirit of the city, with beachside cafes, upscale restaurants, and quaint eateries that showcase local flavors. Whether you’re in Delhi or Goa, these new restaurants promise a delightful culinary journey that showcases the best of these cities’ vibrant food scenes.

Red Delhi

Delhi is now home to Red, the unusual dining bar, a place that evokes passion and happiness in its dazzling use of the colour. The stunning interiors of Red, explore the many shades and moods of the colour red. From extravagant food and beverages inspired by the flaming red of fire, founders, Anubhav Dham and Amman Kumar have conceptualised Red as owning a colour, an emotion, a mindset, and a persona that evokes passion. Playing with the idea of transformation, the ambience transits from an invigorating day space to an almost enigmatic nightlife- balancing between ‘the place to be’ and ‘the place to disappear at’.

The classic cocktails curated by the experts, adding craft and passion to the beverages, comes with the pliability of flirting with the concoctions and discovering new blends. Mindful mixing techniques and seasonal sourcing hints all the pick-me-ups, especially the signature cocktail variety that includes "RED ON RYE” from Back with the twist, "CURE ALL" from the Modern Age, "MOH MAYA" & "TALL TALES" from For the Future, "DOCTOR'S ORDER" & "THE NAUTCH" from RED Originals. The menu also offers extensive options for wine and beer lovers to relish with a wide selection of enticing and pocket friendly pricing, along with mixologist customizations of punches & pitchers.

Perched in Delhi’s upscale Basant Lok Market in Vasant Vihar and situated within the iconic Priya Cinema premises, KHI KHI is more than just a physical space; it’s a state of mind. At its core lies a spirit of playfulness and intimacy that encourages us to shed our inhibitions, start a conversation, engage in authentic experiences, eat, drink, groove, giggle, and unwind. With its unique 'Hospitality from the Heart' motto, KHI KHI is all set to become the go-to destination for Delhi's discerning audience.

Chef and Entrepreneur Tarun Sibal (Co-Founder, KHI KHI) heads and sets the tone for the Food and Beverage program with distinctive Indian nuances. A refreshing take on Delhi's bar culture, KHI KHI's Contemporary Cocktails are stirred with satire. The free-willed Bar Menu is a delight to 'read', offering up Tarun's playful interpretations of old and new favorites.

KHI KHI takes it upon itself to give us something more (or maybe less). While guests figure out their game, they can go for 'Yes, We Have a Bellini' comprising stone fruit, allspice, and prosecco. The 'Cinema Highball', is a tribute to the location of KHI KHI featuring Tennessee Whisky that's butter washed and popcorn infused topped with cola. The Fair-Trade Paloma is hyper-local and super sustainable with Indian citrus, ginger, and kokum salt. 'The Good Looking Spritz' with watermelon shrub guarantees an instant rise in engagement and followers. Don't miss out on 'YES Chef" coming straight from the kitchen containing whiskey, fluffy apple Juice, and fall spices.

Wolf Delhi

A new-age rooftop cocktail lab in the heart of Delhi, The Wolf sets out to bring together only the best experiences from around the world, focused on aesthetics, taste, and vibe. Giving experimental cocktails its focus, Wolf Located above the famous PVR Priya, Basant Lok, has curated signature sips through unique world-class technology that liquefies popular flavours from around the world.

Extending the use of modern technology from the decor to the bar, The Wolf brings on board Giuseppe 'Papi' Stasi, a renowned cocktail crafter from Spain, to create liquid concoctions unlike any other in the country. He has used his vast travel experiences to develop signature sips through unique world-class technology that liquefies popular tastes from around the world, garnished with a taste of complementing flavours. Some of their must-try signatures include Tiramisu, Tarte Tatin, and Banana Split.

Kampai Delhi

Kampai, translating to 'cheers' in Japanese: a favourite of its patrons is all set to open its new outlet, providing an appetising selection of food and beverages. After serving irresistible Japanese delicacies to bon vivants in Aerocity, young restaurateur and entrepreneur, Avantika Sinha Bahl unveils the second outpost of her premium authentic Japanese cuisine restaurant, Kampai – Plate & Pour, at DLF Promenade, Vasant Kunj. Kampai is a first of its kind Japanese restaurant which aims to promote modern Japanese cuisine.

A concept like no other, the unique projections, depicting the various seasons of the country, subtle colours of the walls and the luminous laser cut panels are sure to touch your senses as you imbibe the visuals while indulging in the best being served to your table. The restaurant is a sophisticated twist on traditional Japanese Izakaya style of informal eating and drinking. With conventional furnishings, the space promises a true Japanese experience while ensuring familiarity, relaxation, rejuvenation and comfortability all at once. Overall the experience aims to transport you to the streets of Tokyo for a few meals or many!

Qlay Goa

Located in Assagao amidst all the sun and sand and balmy breeze of Goan lanes, Qlay is a distinctive Mediterranean restaurant. Surrounded with leafy avenues, elegant Portuguese villas and the soft sounds of nature, Qlay provides its patrons with an exquisite dining experience. The eating place is the newest addition to the fine dining restaurants in Goa with a simple and elegant setting, focused on quality food and a delicious flavour palate. Qlay has a refreshing, progressive take on authentic Mediterranean cuisine that uses local ingredients and only fresh produce.

The team that built Qlay came together out of a love for travel, an appreciation of European culture and Mediterranean cuisine – Chef Neeraj Tyagi met Ankit and Nikhil on a fine day and over the next few months discussions about their love for travel and wanting to create something that celebrates Mediterranean cuisine led them to land on the golden coasts of Goa. They wanted the restaurant to honour the history of the space, stay classic and stand the test of time while also allowing plenty of room to relax. And owing to their successful experiments on Mediterranean cuisine in Delhi, they wanted to explore this further.

The kitchen at Qlay is as rustic, timeless, and classic as the name. A menu designed to blend Chef Neeraj Tyagi's culinary excellence with local flavours, Qlay has a refreshing, progressive take on authentic Mediterranean cuisine that uses local ingredients and only fresh produce. Chef Neeraj Tyagi, the culinary consultant says, "We aim to provide fresh and authentic recipes with high end culinary offerings." They whip up the most delightful Mediterranean delicacies alongside a menu packed with some exquisite cocktails – and a promise to leave you enamoured!

Rico on the beach Goa

Rico on the Beach, a recently opened Tiki bar situated in Vagator, fully embraces the laid-back atmosphere of the beach with its charming and rustic shack-like design. Perched on the cliffs, it offers breathtaking views of the enchanting Ozran Beach, providing a truly immersive beach experience.

At Rico on the Beach, patrons can indulge in an array of tantalizing tiki-themed cocktails and delectable appetizers. The menu boasts an impressive selection of exotic concoctions, expertly crafted with a focus on rum-based cocktails, reminiscent of the authentic Tiki bar tradition. Each sip transports guests to a tropical paradise, with the vibrant flavors and refreshing combinations perfectly complementing the coastal ambiance.

Rico on the Beach is the ideal destination for beachgoers and cocktail enthusiasts alike, offering a delightful fusion of picturesque views, delicious libations, and a relaxed tropical ambiance. It’s the perfect spot to unwind, sip on a flavorful drink, and immerse yourself in the blissful vibes of the beach.

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AAPI

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Tuesday 19 December 2023

Newsletter, 20-XII-2023

– GENERAL POLICY, INFRASTRUCTURES, COUNTRY FINANCES, ETC.

– AGRICULTURE, FISHING & RURAL DEVELOPMENT

– INDUSTRY, MANUFACTURE

– SERVICES (IT, R&D, Tourism, Healthcare, etc.)

NEWSLETTER, DECEMBER 2023

– GENERAL POLICY, INFRASTRUCTURES, COUNTRY FINANCES, ETC.

Agriculture, Fishing and Rural Development

Industry and Manufacture

India and the World