Category: Science & Technology

Noida Doctor Loses ₹ 59 Lakh in ‘Digital Arrest’ Scam

Manish Kumar

Dr. Puja Goyal, a Noida-based doctor, fell victim to a sophisticated ‘digital arrest’ scam, losing ₹ 59 lakh. On July 13, Dr. Goyal, a resident of Noida Sector 77, received a call from an individual claiming to be an official from the Telephone Regulatory Authority of India. The caller accused her of using her phone to circulate pornographic videos. The Deception Despite Dr. Goyal’s denial, the scammer coerced her into joining a video call. She was threatened with severe consequences and informed that she was under ‘digital arrest’. After 48…

India Successfully Tests Phase-II Ballistic Missile Defence System

Manish Kumar

On Wednesday, India successfully conducted a flight test of its Phase-II ballistic missile defence system, showcasing its advanced capability to defend against hostile missiles with a range of up to 5,000 km. This significant achievement was accomplished at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur, Odisha. The test fully met all trial objectives, thereby validating a comprehensive network-centric warfare weapon system. Ministerial Praise Defence Minister Rajnath Singh praised the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for this remarkable achievement, underscoring India’s robust ballistic missile defence capabilities. “The DRDO successfully flight-tested…

Mobile Tariffs May Rise in India After Budget Announcement

Manish Kumar

On Tuesday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget for 2024-25. Among the announcements, one may concern mobile users, potentially leading to higher mobile tariffs. The Union Minister announced an increase in duties on Printed Circuit Board Assemblies (PCBA) for telecom equipment, directly impacting mobile users. Telecom Companies’ Response In early July, Reliance Jio, Airtel, and Vi already raised their recharge plan prices. With the new increase in PCBA duties, these companies might further hike their plan prices. This added cost for telecom equipment could hinder the progress of…

Byju Raveendran Faces Reckoning as Ed-Tech Giant Collapses

Manish Kumar

Byju Raveendran, once a mathematics teacher turned billionaire entrepreneur, now faces his toughest challenge. His ed-tech company, Byju’s, has plummeted from a $22 billion valuation to below $2 billion. Accusations of financial mismanagement and compliance issues have led to insolvency proceedings, casting a shadow over his legacy. Rise to Prominence Raveendran’s journey began humbly in a small village in South India. He started Byju’s in 2011 with physical classes. His knack for teaching and impressive credentials, including acing a premier Indian management exam twice, quickly gained attention. Alongside his wife…

Hinduja Tech to Acquire Germany’s Tecosim Group for €21 Million

Manish Kumar

Hinduja Tech, a subsidiary of Ashok Leyland, is set to acquire Germany-based engineering firm Tecosim Group for €21 million (approximately ₹190 crore). This strategic move is designed to expand Hinduja Tech’s presence in the European market and enhance its global capabilities in mobility engineering services. Background on Hinduja Tech Hinduja Tech, established as a leading provider of engineering, manufacturing, and enterprise solutions, is a key player in the automotive and aerospace sectors. The company has built a reputation for delivering innovative and sustainable engineering solutions that cater to the evolving…

Byju’s Faces Shutdown Amid Insolvency Crisis, CEO Warns

Manish Kumar

Indian ed-tech giant Byju’s, once valued at $22 billion, faces a total shutdown if insolvency proceedings continue, warned its CEO in a court filing. The financial troubles of the company could lead to thousands of employees quitting and a complete halt of its services. Recent Setbacks Byju’s, backed by notable investors like Prosus and General Atlantic, has faced multiple setbacks recently. These setbacks include significant job cuts, a dramatic drop in valuation, and ongoing disputes with investors. The investors have accused CEO Byju Raveendran of corporate governance lapses, allegations which…

Recent Major Tech Outages: Global Disruptions Across Multiple Sectors | DETAILS

Manish Kumar

Global: A major tech outage on Friday caused widespread disruptions across multiple sectors, including airlines, broadcasters, banking, and healthcare services. The cybersecurity firm Crowdstrike has been addressing issues related to a defect found in a Microsoft Windows update, which has been identified as a contributing factor to the outages. Recent Tech Outages and Their Impact British Airways – May 2017 In May 2017, British Airways faced a significant computer system failure that stranded 75,000 passengers over a holiday weekend. The disruption, caused by a maintenance contractor accidentally switching off power,…

Infosys Plans Major Freshers Recruitment Drive for FY25

Manish Kumar

Infosys to hire 15,000-20,000 freshers in FY25 Workforce reduced by 1,908 in Q1 Infosys hit all-time high post Q1 results Infosys is planning to hire 15,000-20,000 freshers for the fiscal year 2025, according to Chief Financial Officer Jayesh Sanghrajka. During a press briefing announcing the company’s Q1 results, Sanghrajka stated that the hiring plans will depend on the company’s growth outlook. Sanghrajka highlighted Infosys’s shift to an agile hiring base in recent quarters. “We hire freshers from on and off campus,” he said. Despite a net decline of 2,000 employees…

Global Microsoft Outage Causes Disruptions; Government Intervenes

Manish Kumar

A global Microsoft outage is wreaking havoc across multiple sectors, affecting everything from airlines and supermarkets to banking operations. This outage underscores the critical dependency many industries have on Microsoft’s cloud services. If not resolved promptly, the consequences could be severe worldwide. Airlines in India In India, three major airlines — IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air — are facing significant technical issues due to the outage. Essential services such as booking, check-in, and flight updates are disrupted, forcing the airlines to switch to manual check-in processes. IndiGo Acknowledged the disruption…

Government Commits to Boosting Domestic Defence Production and Manufacturing Ecosystem

Manish Kumar

The Government has reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing domestic defence production and supporting the ecosystem to strengthen manufacturing in the country. This was highlighted by Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane during his keynote address at a virtual seminar on quality reforms. In his address, Aramane emphasized the importance of achieving the set goals and stressed the need for attaining self-reliance (Atmanirbharata) in defence manufacturing. He pointed out the crucial role of all stakeholders, particularly the domestic defence industry, in realizing this vision. Lt Gen R S Reen, Director General of the…