Seoul, May 19 (IANS) Servers at SK Telecom containing personal information and universal subscriber identity…

New Delhi, May 18 (IANS) India has been ranked the world’s largest market for electric three-wheelers, above China, for the second straight year with a 20 per cent surge in sales to 7 lakh vehicles in 2024, according to a report by the International Energy Agency (IEA).The IEA’s Global EV Outlook 2025 report points out that the three-wheeler market is highly concentrated, with China and India accounting for more than 90 per cent of electric and conventional 3W sales.”Electrification of 3Ws in China has stagnated at less than 15 per cent over the past three years. In 2023, India overtook China to become the world’s largest market for electric 3Ws, and it maintained this position in 2024, with sales growing close to 20 per cent year-on-year to reach nearly 7,00,000 vehicles,” the report states.The report states that this rising trend is likely to continue with the government’s support under the new PM E-DRIVE scheme, which supported the roll-out of more than 3,00,000 electric 3Ws for commercial use in 2024.According to the report, China, India, and Southeast Asia remain the world’s largest 2/3W markets, accounting for around 80 per cent of 2024 global sales, with 2/3Ws serving as the primary mode of private passenger transport in these regions.”India’s increasingly dynamic electric 2W market hosted a total of 220 OEMs in 2024, up from 180 in 2023, although the four market leaders accounted for a combined 80 per cent of the 1.3 million electric 2Ws sold in the country in 2024 (6 per cent of the overall 2W market),” the report said.While the upfront purchase price of electric 2Ws remains higher on average than that of conventional 2Ws, increasing competition is prompting OEMs to offer more affordable electric models.”Policy support is also helping to bridge the affordability gap between electric and ICE 2W models, with the new PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) policy continuing financial support formerly provided under both Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME)-II and Electric Mobility Promotion Scheme measures,” the IEA report states.The scheme is planned to operate until March 2026 to support the roll-out of about 2.5 million electric 2Ws, up from 1 million targeted under the previous FAME-II policy.On the manufacturing side, the 80 largest electric 2W makers in India accounted for a combined production capacity of 10 million electric 2Ws in 2024, almost 8 times the domestic sales that year. The capacity is expected to increase to 17 million electric 2Ws in the near term, if all OEM announcements come to fruition.The IEA report also states that total sales of electric cars in India increased by a mere 2 per cent to around 1,00,000 units in 2024.Sales in India grew 45 per cent year-on-year, nearing 35,000 electric car sales for the first quarter of 2025.”In India, high import duties on EVs and the availability of locally made, affordable electric models meant the share of Chinese imports in the country’s EV sales remained below 15 per cent in 2024.”While the cheapest battery electric car model was produced locally by a Chinese OEM (SAIC’s city car, the MG Comet EV, priced under $8,000), the average price of imported Chinese BEVs was twice that of those made by domestic manufacturers,” the report pointed out.In 2024, all battery electric vehicle (BEV) models manufactured by Indian carmakers started below $20,000, while none of the imported Chinese BEV models were priced under that threshold.Overall, the average price gap between battery electric and ICE cars fell below 15 per cent for small cars and 25 per cent for SUVs in 2024.IEA said India has also seen rapid growth in electric bus deployment since 2020, with the number jumping nearly 4-fold from below 3,000 to more than 11,500 at the end of 2024.–IANSsps/vd

New Delhi, May 18 (IANS) Nearly 50 per cent of startups are now emerging from tier 2 and 3 towns, Union Minister for Science and Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh, said on Sunday.Addressing the Pragati Founder Forum, hosted by IIT Ropar and supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Dr Singh observed that India’s startUp revolution is no longer confined to metro cities.He hailed IIT Ropar for promoting high-potential agri startups through transformation of traditional sectors.“This shift is a healthy sign of deep-rooted innovation,” the minister said, crediting Prime Minister Narendra Modi for democratising entrepreneurship across India through the clarion call “StandUp India, StartUp India”.Dr Singh underlined the role of startups as “enablers,” propelling India from the ‘Fragile Five’ to a future among the world’s top five economies by 2047.Highlighting India’s meteoric rise from 81st to 39th in the ‘Global Innovation Index’, he pointed to the role of science and technology startups, agri-innovation, and deep tech in contributing to India’s economic growth.The minister also emphasised that 70 per cent of resource allocation under the upcoming ‘Anusandhan NRF’ (National Research Foundation) will come from non-government sectors, boosting public-private synergy.Dr Singh showcased the Purple Revolution as a hallmark of grassroots innovation — lavender cultivation that began in hilly towns of Jammu and Kashmir, now flourishing in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, with over 3,000 startups profiting in this niche.Touching upon India’s recent military-technological advancements, Dr Singh referred to ‘Operation Sindoor’, a showcase of India’s leadership in tech-enabled warfare, underlining the indigenous development, technology transfer, and joint efforts of private and government sectors — with hubs in Hyderabad and Bengaluru.Dr Singh said that “as India accelerates towards its vision for 2047, the message is clear: Innovation, inclusion and intent are the pillars of India’s ascent to global leadership.”—IANSna/

Ahmedabad, May 18 (IANS) Adani Defence and Aerospace on Sunday said it has signed a collaboration agreement with Sparton (DeLeon Springs LLC), a group company of Elbit Systems and a leading provider of advanced anti-submarine warfare (ASW) systems. This marks a significant step toward localising the assembly of complex electronic systems and advanced ASW solutions for the Indian and global markets.With this collaboration, Adani Defence and Aerospace becomes the first private sector company in India to offer indigenised sonobuoy solutions, underscoring its commitment to bolstering the nation’s self-reliance.”In an increasingly volatile maritime environment, strengthening India’s undersea warfare capabilities is not merely a strategic priority but an imperative for safeguarding sovereignty and national interests,” said Jeet Adani, Vice President of Adani Enterprises.According to him, the Indian Navy requires integrated, mission-ready ISR and anti-submarine warfare capabilities, including critical systems like sonobuoys, that are indigenously developed, swiftly deployable, and globally competitive.”Through this partnership with Sparton, Adani Defence and Aerospace becomes the first private company in India to offer indigenised sonobuoy solutions, enabling access to advanced technologies while fostering a future-ready, self-reliant defence ecosystem. This initiative reflects our Group’s vision of empowering India’s armed forces with world-class capabilities that are designed, developed, and delivered in India, for India and the world,” Jeet Adani added.The partnership will combine Sparton’s pioneering ASW technology with Adani Defence’s established expertise in development, manufacturing, and sustenance for the Indian Navy.Sonobuoys are mission-critical platforms for enhancing Undersea Domain Awareness (UDA), providing an effective means to detect, locate, and track submarines and other underwater threats. Playing a key role in anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and other naval operations, they support in maintaining naval security and in protecting naval carrier strike groups.Ashish Rajvanshi, CEO, Adani Defence and Aerospace, said: “For decades, India has been dependent on imports for such critical technology. This partnership to bring world-class sonobuoy technology and integrating it with India’s defence ecosystem is a step towards building self-reliant capabilities in this critical domain.”For decades, India has been importing this critical naval capability from global markets, increasing our dependency on foreign OEMs.Aligned with the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make in India’ initiative, Sparton’s ongoing relationship with the Indian Navy will now facilitate Adani Defence to indigenise the delivery of these solutions that are made in India, for India.”Sparton has a long legacy for problem-solving solving advanced engineering, and manufacturing of America’s best maritime defence solutions. We are proud to partner with Adani Defence & Aerospace to bring our proven anti-submarine warfare (ASW) technologies to India,” said Donnelly Bohan, President and CEO, Sparton DeLeon Springs LLC.This partnership will enable us to localise assemblage, create high-technology skill sets, and deliver reliable ASW solutions tailored to the India Navy’s needs, Bohan added.Adani Defence and Aerospace has established a vibrant ecosystem of start-ups and MSMEs with an export-oriented mindset, best-in-class processes, and quality management systems.–IANSna/vd

New Delhi, May 18 (IANS) Former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman, S. Somanath, on Sunday said that setbacks have served to refine our resolve and deepen our scientific rigour, as the Indian space agency’s 101st mission, PSLV-C61 carrying the EOS-09 satellite, faced a technical malfunction in the launch vehicle.

In a post on the social media platform X, Somanath said that true to its indomitable spirit, ISRO “will swiftly assemble its finest minds to dissect the anomaly and chart a meticulous course forward”.”I am aware of the formidable challenges we faced during the development of the third-stage solid motor — an endeavour marked by multiple failures. It is indeed unusual to witness such anomalies resurfacing at this stage. Nevertheless, I have complete confidence that the team will identify the root cause both swiftly and effectively,” said the former ISRO chief.The malfunction led to the mission failure, and the satellite could not be successfully deployed. The indigenous PSLV, or Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle — PSLV-C61 — lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota with the aim of placing EOS-09 into a Sun Synchronous Polar Orbit (SSPO).According to Somanath, over the years, “such challenges have only strengthened our conviction that failure is never defeat, but rather a formidable tutor”.”Every towering success of ISRO has been forged in the crucible of adversity — shaped by lessons deeply learnt and courageously applied. Setbacks have ever served to refine our resolve and deepen our scientific rigour. Nothing shall deter our pursuit of knowledge, which we carry forward with characteristic poise and unwavering precision,” he mentioned.According to ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan, an unexpected issue arose during the third stage, preventing the successful deployment of the satellite.”The PSLV is a four-stage launch vehicle, and its performance was normal up to the second stage. The third stage motor ignited perfectly; however, during its operation, an anomaly was observed, and the mission could not be completed successfully. We will come back after analysis,” he further said.–IANSna/svn

New Delhi, May 18 (IANS) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed his gratitude to the brilliant…

New Delhi, May 18 (IANS) Software major Zoho’s Co-founder Sridhar Vembu on Sunday said that large language models (LLMs) will destroy a lot of software jobs in the future, As AI adoption surges across industries.His remarks align with growing apprehensions about AI replacing millions of jobs soon.“I have often said this to our employees: the fact that software engineers get paid better than mechanical engineers or civil engineers or chemists or school teachers is not some birthright and we cannot take that for granted, and we cannot assume it will last forever,” Vembu said in a post on X social media platform.“The fact that customers pay for our products also cannot be taken for granted. This is to remind ourselves that we can be ‘disrupted’ — and the more we assume we won’t be, the more likely we will be. Or as Andy Grove of Intel said ‘Only the paranoid survive,’” he mentioned.Last month, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) said that up to 40 per cent of global jobs could be affected by AI.According to Vembu, “the productivity revolution I see coming to software development (LLMs + tooling) could destroy a lot of software jobs. This is sobering but necessary to internalise”.Earlier this month, Zoho put its ambitious $700 million semiconductor chip manufacturing project on hold, and the company’s Co-founder Sridhar Vembu said they were not confident enough in the current technology path to proceed.Vembu explained that since chip fabrication is a highly capital-intensive business, it needs strong government support.“On our semiconductor fab investment plan, since this business is so capital intensive, it requires government backing, we wanted to be absolutely sure of the technology path before we take taxpayer money,” Vembu wrote on X social media platform.He added that they did not have that confidence in the tech so the board decided to shelve this idea for the time being, “until we find a better tech approach”.—IANSna/

New Delhi, May 18 (IANS) Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday commemorated the 51st anniversary of India’s first nuclear test, code-named ‘Smiling Buddha’, which was conducted on May 18, 1974. Marking a pivotal moment in India’s scientific and strategic history, the test propelled India into the elite group of nuclear-capable nations, becoming the sixth country in the world to conduct such an operation.Taking to the social media platform X, Kharge paid tribute to India’s scientific community and hailed former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s leadership.In his post, he wrote: “51 years ago, India conducted its first Nuclear Test, code named ‘Smiling Buddha’ and became the 6th nation in the world to carry out such tests. Our scientists and researchers achieved this extraordinary feat through their ingenuity and dedication. We are deeply grateful to them. Smt. Indira Gandhi demonstrated exemplary and dynamic leadership, displaying remarkable courage even in the face of adversity, a legacy that endures. Jai Hind.”The nuclear test, conducted at the Pokhran Test Range in Rajasthan, marked India’s entry into the global nuclear club.Officially termed a “Peaceful Nuclear Explosion”, the operation was a carefully planned scientific and strategic milestone that stunned the international community. Despite facing global backlash and the halting of several international nuclear collaborations, India stood firm in its commitment to pursue an independent nuclear programme.The groundwork for this historic event was laid over the preceding decades. India had strongly opposed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which came into effect in 1970. New Delhi viewed the treaty as discriminatory, arguing that it denied equal rights to nations outside the established nuclear powers and sought to limit India’s sovereign right to develop its own nuclear technology.Smiling Buddha was as much a geopolitical statement as it was a scientific accomplishment. It demonstrated India’s capability to harness nuclear energy for peaceful purposes while reinforcing its strategic autonomy. The success of the 1974 test laid the foundation for further advancements in India’s nuclear capabilities, eventually leading to the series of tests conducted in 1998 under Operation Shakti.The legacy of Pokhran-I endures as a testament to India’s resolve, scientific innovation, and pursuit of self-reliance in defence and technology.–IANSrs/dpb

Mumbai, May 18 (IANS) The Indian equity benchmarks paused their recent rally last week, with the Nifty ending just above the psychological 25,000 mark. However, the momentum indicators favour the bullish setup next week, according to analysts.While the headline indices showed signs of mild pressure, the broader markets outperformed significantly. The BSE Midcap index gained 0.8 per cent, and the Smallcap index added 1 per cent, indicating continued buying interest beyond the large-cap space.“This suggests that investors are becoming more confident in the market’s breadth, often a bullish sign for the overall trend,” according to Kailash Rajwadkar of Choice Broking.From a technical standpoint, the Nifty has recently broken out of a Rounding Bottom pattern on the weekly chart, supported by strong volumes—a bullish signal.“The pattern projects an upside potential toward 28,000 in the short term. Immediate resistance is seen at 26,000–27,000 levels, where partial profit booking may be considered. On the downside, 24,300 and 24,000 are strong support zones; any correction toward these levels should be viewed as a buying opportunity, keeping the broader trend intact,” Rajwadkar mentioned in a note.Momentum indicators also support the bullish setup. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) stands at 61.9 and is trending upwards, indicating growing strength. Furthermore, the Nifty is trading well above its key exponential moving averages — 20, 50, 100, and 200 — highlighting sustained positive momentum. This technical alignment continues to favour a buy-on-dips strategy.In the derivatives space, market volatility cooled off slightly, with India VIX dropping 23.49 per cent to 16.55, reflecting a decline in fear and a more stable trading environment.“However, heavy call writing at 25,500 and 26,000 levels signals resistance at higher zones, while strong put writing at 25,000 confirms it as a crucial support. Traders should keep a close eye on the 25,000 level—a sustained hold above it may trigger fresh buying interest, though a risk-managed approach is recommended in the near term,” said Rajwadkar.Bank Nifty closed the week on a steady note, consolidating just below the key 56,000 mark. Despite limited movement in Friday’s session, the index held firm above previous breakout levels, reflecting underlying strength in the banking space.The weekly chart shows a breakout from a recent consolidation range, and the price action continues to hold above that breakout zone, signalling potential for further upside.According to Nandish Shah, Senior Derivative and Technical Research Analyst, HDFC Securities, the Indian Rupee appreciated marginally by 5 paise against the US dollar, closing at 85.50 on Friday. This gain was supported by a weakening dollar index and easing crude oil prices.Among the sector, Nifty Realty, Media and FMCG were top gainers while Nifty IT, Healthcare and Metal sector ended in the red.“The short-term technical outlook for the Nifty remains bullish, as it continues to trade above its key short-term moving averages. The next resistance level for the Nifty is seen at 25,207, derived from the 76.4 per cent Fibonacci retracement of the previous major decline. On the downside, the 24,800 level could offer immediate support,” Shah noted.—IANSna/

Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh), May 18 (IANS) The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Sunday suffered a setback as its 101st mission, PSLV-C61 carrying the EOS-09 satellite, faced a technical malfunction in the launch vehicle.The malfunction led to the mission failure, and the satellite could not be successfully deployed.The indigenous PSLV, or Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle — PSLV-C61 — lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota with the aim of placing EOS-09 into a Sun Synchronous Polar Orbit (SSPO).While the first and second stages of the launch vehicle performed normally, ISRO Chairman Dr V. Narayanan said that an unexpected issue arose during the third stage, preventing the successful deployment of the satellite.The ISRO Chief said, “Today, we attempted the 101st launch from Sriharikota, the PSLV-C61 carrying the EOS-09 mission. The PSLV is a four-stage launch vehicle, and its performance was normal up to the second stage. The third stage motor ignited perfectly; however, during its operation, an anomaly was observed, and the mission could not be completed successfully…””We will come back after analysis,” he further said.ISRO also posted an update on X, stating: “Today 101st launch was attempted, PSLV-C61 performance was normal till 2nd stage. Due to an observation in 3rd stage, the mission could not be accomplished.”The third stage of the PSLV is a solid rocket motor designed to provide high thrust during the upper atmosphere phase of the flight, delivering a maximum thrust of 240 kilonewtons. It plays a crucial role in placing the satellite into its intended orbit.The EOS-09 was designed to provide continuous and reliable remote sensing data for operational applications across various sectors, ranging from border surveillance and national security to agriculture, forestry, flood monitoring, and disaster management. For the mission, PSLV carried a 1,710 kg satellite into a sun-synchronous orbit to ensure consistent lighting for Earth observation.The mission was also meant to promote sustainability and carry out responsible space operations. EOS-09 was a repeat satellite similar to EOS-04, launched in 2022, that was designed with the mission objective to ensure remote sensing data for the user community engaged in operational applications and to improve the frequency of observation.–IANSdpb