Kochi, June 4 (IANS) The Central government is committed to enhancing farmers’ income by increasing production across crops in agriculture and allied sectors, a top Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) official said on Wednesday.Scientists and experts from 113 ICAR institutes and 731 KVKs, officials from state-level departments of Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, and Fisheries, as well as innovative farmers, are part of this campaign.ICAR’s Deputy Director General, Animal Science, Dr Raghavendra Bhatta, said the ongoing ‘lab to land’ initiative under the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan (VKSA) would significantly enhance productivity in the coming seasons.”A substantial rise in output is expected across crops, animal husbandry and fisheries,” Bhatta said at a special session of the VKSA campaign at ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), here. Bhatta, who is the VKSA Coordinator for Kerala, Karnataka and Lakshadweep, said technological innovations and scientific solutions being introduced among the farming community across 700 districts in the country would play a crucial role in transforming India’s agricultural landscape.”Under this initiative, scientists and experts from research institutions and Krishi Vigyan Kendras are engaging directly with farmers, understanding their issues, and offering on-site solutions. This landmark initiative will pave the way for widespread adoption of advanced farming techniques, refining farming practices and efficient resource management, ultimately leading to a quality production across crops,” he said.”By integrating scientific innovations with indigenous farming knowledge, the VKSA is projected to have a manifold impact on the country’s agriculture and allied sectors in increasing crop yields, enhancing livestock and dairy productivity and boosting aquaculture output,” he added.CMFRI scientists are utilising this opportunity to popularise their cutting technologies in cage fish farming, marine ornamental fish farming, seaweed cultivation and on Wednesday, Bhatta distributed fishing kits to 80 Scheduled Tribe farmers.–IANSsg/vd

New Delhi, June 4 (IANS) From enforcing bans on single-use plastics to promoting circular economy innovations, India has adopted a strong legal and policy framework to tackle the plastic waste crisis in the country, said government on Wednesday, ahead of the World Environment Day.World Environment Day is observed every year on June 5. The theme ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’ aims to end plastic pollution.”India’s fight against plastic pollution reflects a deep commitment to environmental sustainability and global cooperation,” said the government.”From enforcing bans on single-use plastics to promoting circular economy innovations, the nation is driving impactful change at local, national, and international levels,” it added.To tackle the plastic waste crisis, the country has adopted a strong laws, reforms and missions, focussed on ensuring responsible plastic use, recycling, and disposal.The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, has notified various waste management rules to ensure the environmentally sound handling of waste.This includes the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021, which strengthens regulations on plastic waste to promote sustainability and reduce pollution.Under the rule, there has been a ban on identified single-use plastics items with low utility and high littering potential since July 2022.Plastic bags with thickness less than 120 microns have also been banned from December 2022.Other key provisions include a ban on lightweight non-woven bags and state-level action for partial or complete bans on single-use plastics and carry bags.Further, sustainable plastic management have been promoted through dedicated initiatives, which aim to reduce pollution, support recycling and boost eco-friendly industry growth.The initiatives include Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), 2022, which means that companies which make or sell plastic products must take care of the plastic waste they create.Another is the FSSAI’s Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018, which set standards for safe food packaging materials, including plastics.Notably, the country is reinforcing its sanitation and waste management infrastructure through of Swachh Bharat Mission in both rural and urban areas.These missions emphasise plastic waste management, scientific processing of waste and community-led cleanliness initiatives.Importantly, the government has roped in local bodies across the country to drive impactful change through innovative, community-drivensolutions to combat plastic pollution.”With continued public participation, responsible industry practices, and government initiatives, India is on a determined path to shrink its plastic footprint and safeguard a greener future,” the government said.–IANSrvt/pgh

New Delhi, June 4 (IANS) More than seven in 10 (73 per cent) of professionals in India are confident about retaining their jobs this year, an 11-percentage point increase from the previous year, a report said on Wednesday.About 31 per cent of professionals in tier 1 cities feel ‘extremely confident’ about job retention, compared to 18 per cent in tier 2 cities.Additionally, 85 per cent of professionals in companies with over 5,000 employees express confidence in job retention, while the figure drops to 58 per cent among those in companies with fewer than 50 employees, said the report by Great Learning, a leading global edtech company.As professionals navigate the evolving job landscape shaped by AI and automation, a sense of adaptation is becoming increasingly apparent.About 78 per cent of professionals now express a positive outlook towards AI’s impact on their careers.Interestingly, MBA and B.Com graduates are more optimistic (89 per cent and 84 per cent, respectively) than those from B.E/B.Tech backgrounds.This is likely influenced by recent trends in India’s IT sector, where many large companies, traditionally major recruiters of entry- and mid-level talent, have reduced hiring due to increased AI adoption.This shift has sparked widespread discussions about AI’s effects on tech jobs, shaping the outlook of professionals with technology degrees, said the report.In FY 2026, 85 per cent of professionals recognise the importance of upskilling to future-proof their careers, an increase from 79 per cent last year. Intent to upskill remains strong, with 81 per cent planning to invest in acquiring new technical skills this year, the report added.Professionals in tier 1 cities are especially motivated, with 46 per cent rating upskilling as ‘extremely important,’ compared to 26 per cent in tier 2 cities.“AI is a transformative force reshaping the modern workplace. While it presents challenges, it also simultaneously opens doors for those who are ready and willing to learn and evolve,” said Hari Krishnan Nair, Co-Founder, Great Learning.–IANSna/

Seoul, June 4 (IANS) A two-fold increase in US tariffs on steel and aluminum imports is expected to deliver a heavier blow to South Korean steelmakers already grappling with oversupply and falling prices amid an economic slowdown, industry sources said on Wednesday.US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order doubling tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports from 25 percent to 50 percent, with the new rates taking effect Wednesday (U.S. time), reports Yonhap news agency.Local steelmakers, including POSCO Group and Hyundai Steel Co., have been seeking ways to cope with the “U.S. steel barrier,” or at least minimize the impact of the steep tariffs on their operations.In March, Hyundai Steel announced plans to invest US$5.8 billion to build an integrated, electric arc furnace-based steel mill in Louisiana by 2029, with production scheduled to begin in the same year.The 2.7-million-ton-a-year facility is expected to supply steel not only to Hyundai Motor Co. and its smaller affiliate Kia Corp. but also to other U.S.-based automakers.Its larger rival, POSCO, has decided to invest in Hyundai Steel’s U.S. steel mill project, following the Trump administration’s move to impose 25 percent tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports in mid-March.In North America, POSCO operates a steel processing center in the U.S., along with a steel processing facility and an automotive steel plant in Mexico.Industry experts say it will take time for the steelmakers to recover from the prolonged downturn, as their key customers — the construction and automobile sectors — continue to face sluggish demand and high U.S. tariffs.”Local steelmakers need to produce more high-end products to overcome the current challenges, while the government should introduce measures to protect them from an influx of low-priced Chinese products,” an industry official said.As experts have noted, South Korean steelmakers plan to develop more value-added products and enhance their technological capabilities to reduce manufacturing costs and strengthen global competitiveness.They also intend to implement an “item-by-item” export strategy through close consultations with the government and industry associations.South Korea was the fourth-largest exporter of steel to the United States last year, accounting for 9 percent, or US$2.9 billion, of Washington’s total steel imports, according to data from the U.S. International Trade Administration (ITA).–IANSna/

New Delhi, June 4 (IANS) In a crackdown on unauthorised automated bookings, the Indian Railways on Wednesday said its AI-powered system has deactivated 2.5 crore suspicious user IDs for booking tickets.Moreover, a landmark achievement was recorded on May 22, with the highest-ever per-minute booking of 31,814 tickets, showcasing the robustness and scalability of the upgraded platform.The Ministry of Railways said in a statement that to further enhance fairness and efficiency, new user protocols have been introduced.”Users not authenticated via Aadhaar can book Opening ARP, Tatkal or Premium Tatkal tickets only after 3 days of registration, while Aadhaar-verified users can book tickets without delay,” it noted.These efforts have delivered measurable improvements. The average daily user logins increased from 69.08 lakh in FY 2023–24 to 82.57 lakh in FY 2024–25, registering a 19.53 per cent rise, while average daily ticket bookings grew by 11.85 per cent in the same period.Additionally, E-Ticketing now accounts for 86.38 per cent of total reserved ticket bookings.The Indian Railways has undertaken a comprehensive digital overhaul of its ticketing infrastructure. Through the deployment of cutting-edge anti-BOT systems and integration with a leading Content Delivery Network (CDN) service provider, the Railways has significantly curbed unauthorised automated bookings by unscrupulous agents and improved the access of the website to genuine users.The new system has effectively mitigated all bot traffic, which peaks during the first five minutes of Tatkal. Bot traffic accounts for up to 50 per cent of overall login attempts during this period.The new AI enhancement ensures better accessibility for genuine users.”Systemic upgrades include 87 per cent of static content being served via CDN for faster load times and reduced server load; active detection and mitigation of bot traffic using sophisticated AI algorithms and proactive deactivation of suspicious user IDs and complaint lodging via the Cyber Crime Portal,” the ministry said.–IANSna/vd

Mumbai, June 4 (IANS) Reaffirming its commitments towards sustainability, Adani Electricity on Wednesday said that it has channelised over 3.8 metric tonnes (MT) of non-biodegradable plastic waste for recycling in the last three financial years.Ahead of World Environment Day, observed every year on June 5, Adani Electricity stated a remarkable progress in its commitment to environmental stewardship.It particularly emphasised a drastic reduction and elimination of single-use plastics (SUP) across its operations.”As the world observes World Environment Day — this year’s theme of #BeatPlasticPollution, we at Adani Electricity reaffirm our unwavering dedication to environmental responsibility,” said an Adani Electricity spokesperson.”Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a core principle guiding our every action. The significant reduction in single-use plastics across our operations underscores our deep commitment to building a greener future. We believe that every step, no matter how small, contributes to a larger, more impactful change for our planet and communities,” the spokesperson added.Ranging from 632.15 kg of non-biodegradable plastic waste in FY23 to 1940 kg of non-biodegradable plastic waste in FY24, the company demonstrated a consistent upward trend in channelising non-biodegradable plastic waste for recycling. In FY25, the figure stood at 1230 kg of non-biodegradable plastic waste recycled.“This impressive cumulative figure of 3802.15 kilograms highlights the effectiveness of Adani Electricity’s robust environmental initiatives,” the company said.The phased-out single-use plastic items include drinking water bottles and cups, as well as plastic cutlery such as forks, knives, spoons, glasses, plates, chopsticks, and thermocol cups.It has also eliminated plastic garbage bags (less than 75 microns), gift wrapping papers, and plastic used during Diwali decorations.Furthermore, plastic food packaging boxes, lamination sheets for office cubicles, cello tapes and brown tapes, and various packaging materials for stores (including lugs, glands, wires, pillars, panels, ring main units (RMUs), cables, poles, ferrules, and fuse units) are no longer in use, Adani Electricity said.Meanwhile, the company also said that it has successfully replaced single-use plastics with more sustainable alternatives across its operations. For instance, the packaging material for pillars, panels, and RMUs has been replaced with multiple-use plastic.Additionally, lugs, ferrules, and wires are now received in eco-friendly gunny bags, and jointing kits are received in cardboard boxes.“Adani Electricity remains dedicated to leading the charge in environmental sustainability, constantly striving for innovative solutions to minimise its ecological footprint and inspire a greener future for all,” the company said.Adani Electricity Mumbai Limited, part of the diversified Adani Group, serves over 3 million consumers spread across 400 sq km in Mumbai and its suburbs — meeting close to 2,300 MW of power demand with 99.99 per cent reliability, which is among the highest in the country.–IANSrvt/

Mumbai, June 4 (IANS) Domestic benchmark indices closed in the green on Wednesday due to favourable global cues such as strong US job data, as the ongoing RBI Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting added a layer of speculation about a potential rate cut.Sensex ended 260.74 points or 0.32 per cent up at 80,998.25 while Nifty closed 77.70 points or 0.32 per cent high at 24,620.20.Midcap and smallcap performed better than largecap. Nifty Midcap 100 index was up 407.55 points or 0.71 per cent at 57,924.65 and Nifty Smallcap 100 index rose 142.95 points or 0.79 per cent at 18,257.10.On a sectoral basis, auto, IT, PSU bank, financial services, pharma, FMCG, metal, media, energy and private indices closed in the green, and only the realty index closed in the red.Rupak De from LKP Securities said the Nifty continues to exhibit a lacklustre sentiment as traders await the RBI rate decision.The market is likely to remain sideways for another session until the RBI announcement and follow-up commentary on Friday.“Immediate support is placed at 24,500; a break below this level could lead to further weakness. On the higher side, resistance is seen at 24,750/24,900,” De added.Vikram Kasat, Head-Advisory, PL Capital, said that markets opened firmly as benchmark indices inched higher amid global tailwinds and anticipation around RBI’s policy stance.“The ongoing RBI Monetary Policy Committee meeting added a layer of speculation, especially with market participants divided over the extent of a potential rate cut. Meanwhile, upbeat US labour data lent support to global equities,” he noted.With the Nifty holding above 24,500, near-term sentiment remains constructive. However, clarity from the RBI and global macro developments will shape the next leg of the rally.Meanwhile, rupee traded weak by 25 paise at 85.87, inching closer to the 86.00 mark, as foreign investors remained in sell mode ahead of the RBI policy announcement. The rupee is seen trading in a range of 85.50 to 86.40, said analysts.–IANSna/

Mumbai, June 4 (IANS) India will need massive investment to achieve its 2070 net-zero pledge as it balances energy security, affordability and transition, Moody’s Ratings said on Wednesday.Achieving this pledge will necessitate substantial investment, particularly in the power sector, which is a material contributor to the nation’s carbon emissions.Over the next decade, these investments are projected to constitute 2 per cent of real GDP for the electricity value chain, encompassing power generation, storage, transmission and distribution, the report mentioned.The government’s plan to reach net-zero emissions by 2070 will be contingent upon a shift in the fuel mix from the current predominantly coal-fired power toward clean and renewable energy.However, strong economic growth implies India will also expand its coal-based power generation capacity by 32-35 per cent (or around 70GW-75GW) over the next 10 years, even as it adds around 450GW of renewable energy over the same period.“We expect the private sector to remain active in India’s renewable energy sector, while government-owned companies will also increase their role,” said Abhishek Tyagi, a Moody’s Vice President and Senior Credit Officer.Solar and wind power will dominate new generation capacity additions over the next 20-25 years, with smaller nuclear and hydropower additions, he added.Securing diverse sources of capital, including foreign investments (both debt and equity), will be crucial to bridge the funding gap for energy transition-related infrastructure.Meanwhile, the government has planned sizeable capex under its ‘Maritime India Vision 2030’ to augment port capacity and infrastructure over the course of next few years.Moody’s Indian affiliate ICRA expects cargo volumes to rise by 3-5 per cent in FY26, driven largely by the growth in the container, petroleum products and the fertiliser segment.Apart from the traditional segments like transportation and energy within infrastructure space, data centre is emerging as a new hotspot for infrastructure investment.ICRA expects significant investment pipeline of Rs 1.6-1.8 trillion in data centre (DC) capacity addition over next 5-6 years in India, supported by rapid digitalisation along with favourable policy measures.–IANSna/

Mumbai, June 4 (IANS) India, the US and Mexico have emerged as the most balanced global capability centre (GCC) ecosystems globally — with India uniquely combining scale, innovation and efficiency, a report showed on Wednesday.The report highlights AI — notably advanced AI use cases including GenAI, NLP and AI agents — as a critical accelerator of GCC maturity. While top performers have moved beyond pilots to embed AI across core workflows, most GCCs remain trapped in early-stage experimentation, said the report from Boston Consulting Group (BCG).“GCCs have always been good at acting as the engine room — now the best ones are learning to steer the ship,” said Sreyssha George, Managing Director and Partner at BCG.AI has brought fresh momentum — enabling GCCs to lead transformation, not just support it. Over 90 per cent of top performers have set up or expanded AI-led Centers of Excellence in the past 18 months, a trend consistent across industries and geographies, he mentioned.The report outlines a three-step playbook for GCCs to accelerate maturity and have an increased role in enterprise impact: define a bold North Star aligned with the enterprise vision, prioritise high-impact value pools based on differentiating factors for top performers, and conduct structured diagnostics to benchmark capability gaps and build a roadmap for scaled transformation.The report said that GCCs poised to lead are those that reimagine their role — not just as delivery arms, but as capability centres driving innovation, enterprise agility, and competitive advantage.Those that invest in talent, embed AI deeply, and take co-ownership of outcomes are best positioned to shape the next wave of global enterprise transformation.“GCCs which treat AI as a bolt-on will never close the gap,” said Rajiv Gupta, Managing Director and Senior Partner at BCG. “The frontrunners have strategically embedded AI into their operating models, at a scale which makes a material difference at the enterprise level”.The leaders are not experimenting — they are delivering meaningful outcomes.More than 90 per cent top performing GCCs implement advanced AI use cases vs 50 per cent of others. The risk for others is falling into an auto-pilot mode, Gupta added.–IANSna/

New Delhi, June 4 (IANS) NITI Aayog member Dr. V.K. Saraswat on Wednesday emphasised the critical need to transform India’s government-funded Research and Development (R&D) institutions into dynamic, autonomous, and mission-driven ecosystemsAddressing the inaugural session of the two-day consultative meeting on reforming India’s R&D ecosystem in Dehradun, Saraswat stressed that scientific research must be unshackled from bureaucratic delays and rigid hierarchies and instead be empowered through decentralized decision-making, timely funding, and performance-based accountability.Dr Saraswat also reiterated NITI Aayog’s commitment to driving systemic reform through continuous engagement with stakeholders and evidence-based policy recommendations.This ongoing initiative by NITI Aayog aims to enable a forward-looking, innovation-driven, and resilient research ecosystem in the country, with a particular focus on strengthening the capacities of government-funded R&D institutions and laboratories.Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Director General, CSIR and Secretary, DSIR, commended NITI Aayog’s leadership in convening this much-needed dialogue and emphasized the importance of collaborative governance in resolving long-standing structural issues.She highlighted the need to rejuvenate R&D infrastructure, particularly in tier 2 and tier 3 institutions, and to strengthen industry-academia partnerships to foster impactful translational research. Dr. Kalaiselvi also spoke about the significance of aligning national scientific efforts with local innovation needs.Professor Ashutosh Sharma, President, Indian National Science Academy (INSA), drew attention to the human dimension of science, calling for greater trust in researchers, reduced micromanagement, and the creation of flexible pathways for scientific careers. He underscored the urgency of retaining young talent in Indian institutions through better opportunities, mentorship, and global exposure.The meeting, currently underway, will discuss themes such as institutional governance, researcher mobility, translational research, and enhancing public-private collaboration.Organised under the Chairpersonship of Dr. V.K. Saraswat, Member, NITI Aayog, the two-day meeting builds upon the outcomes of the first consultative dialogue held in May 2025 at Raj Bhawan, Lucknow, and marks the second installment in a series of regional meetings planned to address systemic challenges in India’s research and development ecosystem.–IANSsps/na