5 initiatives that are propelling Indian SMEs to grow
With over 50 per cent MSMEs expecting revenues to reach pre-covid levels within six months, the outlook for the sector is slowly looking optimistic.
UK-India Tech Partnership: The next level of thought leadership
A symbiotic approach between the UK and India can address the challenges of reskilling and set a remarkable example of co-creation in the digital era, notes a prominent Indian tech expert. We are in the midst of multitudinous shifts. Tectonic, as they are, and seemingly trying to outdo each other—in terms of impact—they are creating vast opportunities and challenges alike. One such is AI. It is estimated that it will add more than 15 trillion dollars of value globally, in [...]
H1B visa troubles: Wake-up call for Indian IT sector
India takes a tough stand on the Trump administration’s visa crackdown. It’s two steps forward and one step back – once again. We’re talking of Indo-US relations here and the rollercoaster it has been riding on since Donald Trump’s ascent to the White House. The latest irritant to mark the otherwise warm relationship between the two countries is the tightening of rules for issuing H1B and L1 visas. A new directive issued by the Trump administration recently made it more [...]
Close and warm but…
Donald Trump’s ambivalence on economic and strategic issues concerning India is coming in the way of taking bilateral ties to the next level. If India and the US were Facebook friends, then many in the Indian establishment would be justified in describing the relationship as “It’s complicated.” India is a “major defence ally” of the US, the economic relationship is vibrant, at least on the face of it, Washington has reiterated its support for India to be admitted into the [...]
The war against robots
Automation in the global IT industry threatens to disrupt the sector in -India but it may be a blessing in heavy disguise. For the stagnant industry, robots may pave the way for the next round of growth. On March 19, news reports suggested Cognizant, the New-Jersey headquartered software services firm may fire between 6,000-10,000 workers in its bid to reduce redundant and non-performing workers. As the news spread and doomsday predictions started ringing, the firm’s spokesperson sought to cool frayed [...]
India and China: It’s complicated
An assertive China presents Prime Minister Modi with his most intractable foreign policy challenge, but there are indications that Beijing may be getting a little edgy. Mahatma Gandhi had said of his adversaries: “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.” Much to the chagrin of many in New Delhi’s policy circles who saw India as a counterweight to China, Beijing has, at least publicly, refused to treat India as an equal. [...]
Indian professionals wait and watch Trump’s executive pen
Just days after Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th US President, there is much upheaval around his series of unilateral executive orders. There is yet another draft reportedly awaiting his signature, which could hit Indian professionals hard. American billionaire Donald J. Trump marked his first days in the Oval Office in characteristic style by signing some of the most controversial executive orders in history. The suspension of the US refugee programme for 120 days and a cap on [...]
Job creation may gather pace from second half of 2017
The immediate impact of demonetisation will mean a slower pace of job creation but, overall, there is some good news in store for the New Year. How long will the current phase of jobless growth in India, which began during the UPA II regime continue? And when will the Narendra Modi government’s flagship schemes such as Make in India, Start-up India, etc., start generating jobs – which, for many Indians, remains the true touchstone of the achcche din (good times) [...]
India’s big job crunch
With a million people entering the job market every month, India’s economy desperately needs to find a way to make space for them. The morning of September 17, 2015, India woke up to a curious headline: PhD holders among 2.3 million applicants for peon jobs in UP. The response to 368 vacancies for peons in the most populous state of the country had been a record of sorts. The minimum qualification for the post was no more than school education [...]
Easier visa regime a win-win for both US and India
Indian IT companies help US companies retain their global competitive edge. This is just one reason why it must roll back visa curbs on Indian IT professionals, argues ‘India Global Business’.
The trickle of bad news buffeting the Indian IT sector is slowly gaining critical mass. Infosys, Wipro and Cognizant, three leading software exporters, have cut their annual revenue guidance to 8.4 per cent from 12 per cent, citing macro-economic factors such as falling ticket sizes of deals, Brexit and a frustrating inability to scale up the skill sets of their workforce.