Technology

Mumbai, April 1 (IANS) Domestic stock markets on Wednesday opened sharply higher with a gap-up start, tracking positive global cues from the US and Asian markets amid hopes of de-escalation in the West Asia conflict -- now in the 33rd day of the conflict.

The 50-scrip Nifty opened at 22,899, rising 567 points or 2.54 per cent, while Sensex began the session up 1,814 points, or 2.52 per cent, at 73,762.43.

Sector-wise, all indices traded in green, led by gains in banking, auto and IT stocks. On the broader indices front too, markets showed strong momentum, with midcap and smallcap indices advancing over 2-3 per cent.

US President Donald Trump has indicated that the American military could halt attacks on Iran within the next three weeks. He also said that Tehran may not need to strike a deal as a precondition for the conflict to wind down. On the other side, Iran has issued a warning that prominent American corporations could face retaliation if Iranian figures continue to be killed.

Notably, headline indices had declined more than 10 per cent during March amid heightened geopolitical tensions.

According to analysts, given ongoing global uncertainties and elevated volatility, investors should adopt a cautious and selective approach.

“It may be prudent to accumulate fundamentally strong stocks during market corrections,” analysts said.

They added that fresh long positions should ideally be initiated only after the Nifty decisively breaks above and sustains the 24,000 level, which would signal improved sentiment and a more durable bullish trend.

Auto stocks are expected to remain in focus as companies release their sales numbers.

On the institutional front, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) sold equities worth Rs 11,163 crore on Monday, extending their selling streak through March. In contrast, domestic institutional investors (DIIs) bought equities worth Rs 14,894 crore.

Globally, Wall Street ended on a mixed note, with the S&P 500 closing about 3 per cent lower, while the Nasdaq gaining nearly 4 per cent.

In Asia, Japan’s Nikkei traded over 4 per cent higher, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rose more than 2 per cent, and South Korea’s KOSPI surged over 6 per cent.

In the commodities segment, crude oil prices edged higher. Brent crude futures rose 1.81 per cent to $105.86 per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures were up 1.90 per cent at $103.31.

--IANS

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New Delhi, March 31 (IANS) The city of Mumbai recorded 15,516 property registrations in March, generating over Rs 1,492 crore in stamp duty revenue for the state exchequer, a report said on Tuesday.

The report from Knight Frank cited data from the Maharashtra Department of Registrations and Stamps as saying that the March tally is the highest monthly registration volume for the reported month in the past 14 years, surpassing the previous high observed in March 2025.

Registrations remained broadly stable year‑on‑year, rising marginally from elevated levels of 15,501 a year earlier, while stamp duty collections eased 6 per cent on a year‑on‑year basis, reflecting a shift in transaction mix.

On a sequential basis, activity strengthened notably as the financial year ended.

Registrations rose 19 per cent month-on-month (MoM), while stamp duty collections increased by 32 per cent MoM, indicating sustained end-user demand supported by stable macroeconomic conditions, ongoing infrastructure upgrades, and positive buyer sentiment. Residential properties continued to dominate, accounting for nearly 80 per cent of total registrations.

The market showed a clear tilt toward the mid‑segment, with properties priced between Rs. 1–2 crore rising 6 per cent annually to 38 per cent of transactions. The sub‑Rs.1 crore segment fell to 39 per cent from 46 per cent.

“The growth in transactions reiterates the depth of end-user demand in the city, supported by stable economic conditions and sustained buyer confidence. The momentum is particularly evident in the middle-income segment, where aspiring homeowners are actively upgrading to better quality housing within accessible price bands," said Shishir Baijal, International Partner, Chairman and Managing Director, Knight Frank India.

Higher ticket segments remained largely stable, with the Rs 2–5 crore and above-Rs 5 crore categories holding steady at 17 per cent and 6 per cent, respectively.

The buying pattern suggested that the expansion in transaction values is being driven by upgradation within the mid-income bracket rather than a broad-based shift toward premium housing.

—IANS

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New Delhi, March 31 (IANS) India’s bioeconomy is approaching the $200 billion mark, which is a significant milestone in its evolution with a strong policy push and growing innovation pipeline signalling the next phase of growth, according to a report released on Tuesday.

The report by Endiya Partners said that the nation’s bioeconomy has expanded sharply from around $10 billion in 2014 to over $195 billion in 2026, now contributing nearly 5 per cent to the GDP.

India, long recognised as the 'Pharmacy of the World' for supplying nearly 20 per cent of global generics and over 60 per cent of vaccines, is now transitioning towards an innovation-led biopharma ecosystem focused on novel therapeutics and deep-tech platforms.

The report highlighted that India stands at an inflection point, driven by favourable policy measures, regulatory reforms, and increasing global validation of its clinical-stage assets.

It also highlighted key government initiatives -- including the proposed Rs 10,000 crore Biopharma Shakti scheme and the Rs 1,00,000 crore Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund -- that are expected to accelerate the development of a robust innovation ecosystem.

Recent regulatory reforms, such as the introduction of a 45-day approval timeline and prior intimation pathways, are also likely to reduce administrative bottlenecks and compress drug development cycles by up to four months, it added.

At the same time, structural shifts in the global biopharma industry, including rising R&D costs, estimated at $2.2 billion per asset, and a looming $300 billion patent cliff, are creating opportunities for cost-efficient and high-velocity research ecosystems like India.

The report also noted that Indian biotech startups benefit from a 'Recruitment Alpha', enabling significantly faster patient enrolment and allowing drug candidates to advance to Phase II trials at substantially lower costs compared to global peers.

This advantage enables Indian firms to take multiple parallel bets in drug development, improving overall success probabilities, it added.

However, the report cautioned that challenges remain, including gaps in pilot-scale GMP infrastructure, limited late-stage funding, talent shortages, and the need for stronger translational research capabilities.

Despite these constraints, India’s biopharma ecosystem -- comprising over 2,500 startups, around 100 incubators, and more than 600 research institutes -- is well-positioned to support the next phase of growth.

"With sustained policy support and deeper ecosystem collaboration, India has the potential to emerge as a global hub for cost-efficient, high-quality biopharma innovation," the report said.

--IANS

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New Delhi, March 30 (IANS) Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday suggested setting up a Centre of Excellence at Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV) to focus on high-precision manufacturing technologies needed in aviation, railways and marine sectors.

He said such initiatives can make students more industry-ready and boost employment opportunities.

The proposal came during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

The agreement aims to strengthen India’s fast-growing maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) sector by improving training and building a skilled workforce.

Speaking at the event, Vaishnaw said sectors like aviation and railways require a very high level of technical precision, and industry-oriented courses are essential to prepare students for such roles.

He stressed the need to follow global standards while designing these programmes and said around 1,000 students could benefit from such initiatives every year.

He also assured that funding support would be arranged to turn the plan into reality.

Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu highlighted that India’s aviation sector is growing at a strong pace of 10–12 per cent annually and is expected to continue this growth for the next 15 years.

He pointed to the expansion of airports, passenger traffic and aircraft fleet, and said this growth requires a skilled workforce that meets global standards.

He also referred to the development of Jewar Airport as a sign of rapid infrastructure expansion.

Naidu added that GSV reflects the government’s vision of integrating different transport sectors such as railways, aviation and logistics, which have traditionally worked separately.

He said the aviation sector now goes beyond passenger travel and includes areas like MRO, training and domestic manufacturing, contributing to the goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Under the MoU, GSV and DGCA will jointly develop a three-year B.Sc. programme in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (AME), designed to combine academic learning with industry requirements and regulatory standards.

The course aims to create a skilled workforce ready to meet the needs of the aviation sector.

--IANS

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New Delhi, March 30 (IANS) The Indian rupee on Monday crossed the 95 per dollar mark for the first time, hitting 95.2 against the US dollar, down 0.3 per cent.

It ended at a record closing low of 94.83 per dollar, compared to Friday's close of 94.81.

The currency has depreciated by 4.4 per cent against the US dollar in the March quarter.

The rupee, which had opened on a strong note after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) reduced the net open position limit that banks can keep overnight to $100 million, erased its gains and fell 160 paise from its opening level.

Moreover, the rupee fell about 1 per cent last week, its fourth consecutive weekly decline of a similar magnitude to hit a record low of 94.84 against the dollar.

After market hours on Friday, the central bank said banks must ensure that by April 10, their net open rupee positions in the onshore deliverable market do not exceed $100 million at the end of each business day.

Estimates suggest that the magnitude of these positions ranges from $25 billion to over $50 billion.

Worries over elevated oil prices have put Indian stocks on course for their worst monthly drop since March 2020 and bonds on track for their weakest fiscal year since 2023.

Escalation in the West Asia conflict has also pushed up global crude oil prices.

Brent crude futures jumped 3 per cent to an intra-day high of $116.70 per barrel, nearing a fresh 52-week high. Meanwhile, US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose over 3 per cent to cross $103 per barrel.

In March, the rupee fell by more than 4 per cent amid the geo-political tensions.

On the domestic equity market front, the Sensex settled at 71,947.55, down 1,635.67 points or 2.2 per cent, while the Nifty closed at 22,331.40, lower by 488.20 points or 2.14 per cent.

Foreign institutional investors sold equities worth Rs 4,367.30 crore on a net basis on Friday, according to exchange data.

--IANS

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New Delhi, March 28 (IANS) The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Delhi Police to deploy nine advanced solutions, purpose-built for modern policing requirements in the national capital, an official statement said on Saturday.

The partnership aims to "leverage C-DOT's portfolio of cutting-edge, homegrown technological solutions to boost the operational efficiency, secure communications, surveillance, cybersecurity, and emergency response capabilities of Delhi Police."

C‑DOT will deploy solutions including a Facial Recognition System (FRS)/FraudPro for suspect or missing person identification and crowd monitoring.

It can identify repeat offenders through photograph-matching with available databases, strengthening investigation processes, crowd monitoring, and identity verification during law-and-order deployments, the statement said.

SAMVAD, a unified communication platform for one-to-one and group chats, audio/video calls, and official data sharing, enabling seamless and secure coordination across units, districts, and specialised branches during both routine operations and emergencies, will also be deployed.

The collaboration reinforces the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat in the domain of public safety and law enforcement, the Ministry of Communications said in the statement.

SAMVAD Prime, a dedicated specialised handset-based secure messaging system will be deployed among senior officers and operational teams to ensure confidentiality and integrity during critical operations.

C-DOT Meet, a secure web-based video conferencing solution featuring multi-camera access, presentation sharing, and collaborative whiteboards, will facilitate briefings, inter-unit coordination, and training sessions.

The C-DOT Mission Critical Services (MCX) platform will enable secure, private, and low-latency communications specifically designed for public safety and emergency operations, ensuring real-time coordination among field officers during large-scale events, disaster response, and law-and-order situations.

The C-DOT Intelligent Attendance System, powered by facial recognition, will enhance administrative efficiency through accurate attendance recording, prevention of proxy marking, and strengthened access control at sensitive police installations.

The C-DOT Cell Broadcast Solution will enable geo-targeted dissemination of critical alerts across mobile devices and public display systems, supporting public advisories, traffic alerts, missing person notifications, and emergency warnings.

On the cybersecurity front, Trinetra ESOC, an AI-powered integrated security operations platform will monitor endpoints, identify vulnerabilities, and detect anomalies, safeguarding Delhi Police's IT infrastructure including the internal ecosystem and internet-facing systems.

Further, Trinetra 360 will deliver cyber intelligence, brand monitoring, attack surface monitoring, and AI-driven digital risk management.

Quantum-based Security Solutions, including the Compact Encryption Module (CEM), Quantum Secure Smart Video Phone (QSSVIP), and Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) will provide future-ready, quantum-resilient secure voice, video, and data communications for the Delhi Police, the statement noted.

—IANS

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New Delhi, March 28 (IANS) Union Minister Manohar Lal on Saturday outlined key priorities, including institutionalisation of single-window approvals, integration of PNG infrastructure into urban planning, facilitation of last-mile connectivity and convergence with ongoing urban development initiatives.

Addressing a review meeting here, he underscored the critical role of cities as engines of economic growth and called for mission-mode implementation to accelerate PNG expansion.

An ambitious target of providing 50 lakh new PNG connections was also highlighted, according to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

The meeting brought together key stakeholders to deliberate on accelerating PNG network expansion across urban India and ensuring uninterrupted delivery of essential services.

A detailed presentation by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas outlined the current status of PNG rollout, emphasising its advantages over LPG in terms of safety, reliability, affordability and environmental sustainability.

Key challenges identified included delays in municipal permissions, Right of Way (RoW) approvals and high restoration charges, which continue to impede timely network expansion.

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri highlighted the evolving global energy landscape and stressed the importance of strengthening PNG infrastructure to enhance energy security and resilience. He encouraged States and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) to actively promote PNG adoption, particularly in areas where infrastructure is already available.

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi emphasised the need to maintain uninterrupted essential supplies, curb misinformation, and prevent black marketing of fuel.

He advised states to strengthen monitoring and vigilance mechanisms and to encourage consumers to transition from LPG to PNG wherever feasible, with priority given to public institutions such as schools and colleges.

Deliberations during the roundtable highlighted several best practices, including fast-tracking of road-cutting permissions and adoption of deemed approval mechanisms to expedite project implementation.

State representatives shared their experiences and emphasised the importance of enhanced coordination among Urban Development Departments, Municipal bodies, and Food and Civil Supplies Departments for seamless implementation.

There was broad consensus on facilitating a phased and structured transition from LPG to PNG in areas with existing infrastructure, supported by adequate consumer awareness and safeguards to prevent disruption of essential services.

--IANS

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New Delhi, March 27 (IANS) The government on Friday unveiled the TV Ratings Policy 2026, aiming to make television audience measurement more transparent, independent and accountable, while also easing entry for new players in the sector.

The new policy replaces the earlier 2014 guidelines and seeks to ensure fair practices, accurate data measurement and stronger oversight in the broadcasting ecosystem.

Under the revised norms, the government has significantly reduced the entry barrier for companies looking to operate as TV rating agencies.

The net worth requirement has been brought down from Rs 20 crore to Rs 5 crore, a move aimed at encouraging more participation and competition in the sector.

To maintain neutrality and prevent any conflict of interest, the policy mandates that at least half of the Board of Directors of rating agencies must be independent, with no links to broadcasters, advertisers or advertising agencies.

It also bars such agencies from taking up consultancy assignments that could compromise their impartiality.

In a bid to improve the accuracy and representativeness of data, the policy requires agencies to expand their sample size to 80,000 metered homes within 18 months, while existing agencies have been given six months to meet this target.

The sample size will eventually be scaled up to 1,20,000 homes. The measurement system has been made technology-neutral, covering viewership across cable, DTH, OTT platforms and connected TVs, and capturing data from all screens within selected households.

The policy also places strong emphasis on transparency and data privacy. Rating agencies will now be required to publish their methodologies and anonymised data on their websites.

At the same time, they must comply with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 to ensure the safety of viewers’ personal information.

To enhance accountability, a dual-audit mechanism has been introduced, involving quarterly internal audits and annual external audits.

In addition, the Ministry will set up an Audit and Oversight Team to conduct periodic field inspections.

--IANS

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Bhubaneswar, March 27 (IANS) After famous Bollywood producer Subhash Ghai shared a post featuring a sand statue of himself, which turned out to be AI-generated, renowned sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik on Friday clarified that he did not create the sculpture and that it appears to be digitally fabricated.​

Notably, Ghai had earlier shared the image on his social media handles, expressing appreciation and thanking Pattnaik for what he believed was a remarkable tribute, unaware that the sculpture was actually AI-generated.​

“CAN’T BELIEVE IT My friend sent me this amazing sand picture made by our famous SAND ARTISTE Sudarshan Patnaik, a Padma Shree recipient and the best sand artist known in India from Puri, with such perfection and affection. Thank you, Sudhershan ji. Stay blessed always,” wrote the Bollywood producer.​

Responding quickly to the post, Pattnaik issued a clarification stating that the sand sculpture appears to be AI-generated.​

Taking to his social media, Pattnaik clarified, "Namaskar @SubhashGhai1 ji, I am truly honoured to receive your message and appreciation. Sir, I am a big fan of you. With due respect, I would like to share that the sand sculpture appears to be AI-generated, and there may have been a small misunderstanding or some incorrect information. Your kind words mean a great deal to me—they are truly a blessing. With respect and gratitude."​

This episode underscores growing concerns over the misuse of artificial intelligence to create convincing yet deceptive imagery. ​

In recent months, Indian authorities have observed a rise in AI-generated misleading content, as digital manipulation tools become increasingly sophisticated and accessible.​

For instance, the Kerala police recently registered a case against an AI-generated video that allegedly portrayed the Prime Minister and the Election Commission of India in a misleading, disrespectful manner.​

Numerous public figures have also spoken out against AI-generated images that falsely portray them. ​

As AI technology continues to advance, such cases highlight broader concerns about digital authenticity and misinformation.​

They underscore the urgent need for stronger safeguards and increased public awareness of the sources and credibility of AI-generated media.​

--IANS

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New Delhi, March 27 (IANS) AI is increasing cloud dependency, yet investment levels are not aligned as only 14 per cent of organisations reached the highest level of cloud maturity despite nearly two decades of cloud adoption, a report said on Friday.

The report from NTT DATA said that 99 per cent of organisations feel AI is increasing demand for cloud investment, yet 88 per cent felt current cloud investment levels are putting AI, cloud‑native and modernisation initiatives at risk.

The findings are based on a global survey of over 2,300 senior decision‑makers across 33 countries.

Fewer than half of organisations are satisfied with cloud’s impact or with their modernisation progress, signalling a disconnect between ambition and reality.

Cloud leaders, or organizations that feel “cloud evolved” — the most advanced in terms of cloud adoption and impact, with solid business performance – are significantly better positioned to capitalize on AI, the report said.

“AI is accelerating faster than enterprise cloud maturity. Cloud has moved well beyond infrastructure to the execution layer for AI. Organisations that fail to evolve their cloud foundations risk constraining the growth and value of their AI investments,” said Charlie Li, President, Global Head of Cloud and Security, NTT DATA, Inc.

To turn cloud into a strategic value engine, both cloud and AI strategies need to be developed in tandem, the report said, pointing out that AI demand is rising, yet alignment is uneven. CAIOs are 22 per cent more likely than CIOs and CTOs to say AI increases cloud investment needs.

A platform-led approach is no longer optional, it said, adding with investments stalling and environments getting more complex, over half respondents cited cloud cost management challenges.

Organisations expect a threefold increase in fully managed cloud platforms, it said, urging firms to reset their cloud transformation KPIs.

Around 47 per cent of cloud leaders used AI in their last cloud migration project, compared with 35 per cent of all others, it noted.

—IANS

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