India’s Tech Hubs Hit $98.4B, Racing Past 2030 Targets

India’s offshore technology centers (Global Capability Centres, GCCs) generated $98.4 billion in FY26 revenue, nearly reaching the $99–105 billion levels earlier projected for 2030, according to the latest Nasscom–Zinnov report. This surge underscores India’s rapid evolution from cost‑arbitrage outsourcing to a global innovation hub.

Key Findings from the Nasscom–Zinnov Report

• Revenue milestone: $98.4 billion in FY26, nearly four years ahead of projections.
• GCC footprint: India now hosts 2,117 GCCs, employing 2.36 million professionals, close to the 2030 forecast of 2,100–2,200 centers and 2.5–2.8 million employees.  
• Growth rate: GCC ecosystem grew 32% since FY21, driven by AI adoption and strategic mandates.  
• New entrants: Over 100 new GCCs added in FY26, including Anthropic, Eli Lilly, FedEx, Marriott, Lufthansa.  
• Global participation: About 506 Forbes Global 2000 companies now operate GCCs in India. 

Drivers of Growth

• AI adoption: Nearly half of GCCs set up since FY21 are AI‑centric.
• Talent advantage: India’s AI‑ready workforce and 250,000 AI professionals are enabling rapid scaling.  
• Policy support: Favorable tax regimes and scalable operating models.
• Geopolitical & cost pressures: Rising U.S. visa costs, inflation linked to conflicts, and AI‑led disruption are pushing firms to relocate strategic work to India.  

Industry Shifts

• Beyond back‑office: GCCs now handle finance, R&D, and digital transformation.
• Leadership evolution: 64% of GCC heads hold dual global roles.
• North American dominance: Two‑thirds of new GCC setups in FY26 came from North America.

Broader IT Sector Context

• India’s IT sector overall is projected to surpass $300 billion in FY26, reflecting AI‑driven transformation across services.  
• Expansion announcements in 2026 include BASF, eBay, Revolut, signaling continued global confidence in India’s tech ecosystem.  

Strategic Implications

• Acceleration of 2030 goals: Targets achieved in FY26.
• Innovation hub positioning: India as strategic nerve center for enterprises.
• Talent demand: Strong demand in AI, cybersecurity, cloud, product engineering.
• Regional diversification: Hyderabad, Pune, Vizag rising alongside Bengaluru and Gurugram.

Metric	FY26	2030 Projection
Revenue	$98.4B	$99–105B
GCC Count	2,117	2,100–2,200
Employment	2.36M	2.5–2.8M

Takeaway for enterprises: India’s GCCs are now critical to global resilience strategies, offering not only cost efficiency but also innovation capacity. For policymakers, this validates India’s role as a global digital economy hub.  

NITI Aayog Releases Evidence‑Driven Reports to Strengthen India’s Research Ecosystem

On April 9, 2026, NITI Aayog released two landmark reports—“Ease of Doing Research & Development in India” and the “Survey Report on Ease of Doing R&D in India”—in New Delhi, aimed at strengthening India’s innovation ecosystem through evidence‑driven reforms, improved funding, and greater private sector participation.

The reports were formally released by Shri Suman Bery, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog, and Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Science & Technology, in the presence of Dr. V. K. Saraswat, Member, NITI Aayog, along with senior officials, presidents of science academies, and representatives from academia and industry.

Key Highlights

• Reports Released: Ease of Doing Research & Development in India; Survey Report on Ease of Doing R&D in India
• Date & Venue: April 9, 2026, New Delhi
• Released By: Shri Suman Bery (Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog) and Dr. Jitendra Singh (Minister of State, Ministry of Science & Technology)
• Stakeholder Outreach: 400+ institutional leaders, 850+ scientists and researchers

Report Objectives

The reports provide actionable recommendations to improve funding mechanisms, institutional governance, regulatory frameworks, and research translation. They emphasize building a trust‑based, outcome‑oriented environment to empower researchers and institutions.

Report Recommendations -

• Funding: Encourage private sector and CSR contributions to research. 
• Governance: Strengthen institutional structures for mission‑mode R&D. 
• Regulatory Frameworks: Increase flexibility to reduce impediments. 
• Research Translation: Focus on converting research into practical applications. 
• Trust‑Based Environment: Build outcome‑oriented systems to empower researchers.

Stakeholder Insights

Stakeholder	Key Insight
Prof. Ashutosh Sharma (Former INSA President)	Strengthening innovation within the research ecosystem
Prof. Vinod Kumar Singh (NASI President)	Support for early‑stage scientists and enabling mechanisms
Dr. Shekhar C. Mande (INSA President)	Private sector participation and flexible financial norms
Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood (Principal Scientific Adviser)	Continuous improvement and implementation of recommendations
Dr. Jitendra Singh (Union Minister)	CSR‑driven private sector support for startups and emerging areas
Shri Suman Bery (Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog)	Mission‑mode R&D and adaptable frameworks for collaboration

Significance

The reports reaffirm India’s commitment to becoming a global leader in science, technology, and innovation. They serve as a guidance document for ministries and institutions to strengthen the country’s R&D ecosystem and advance innovation‑driven growth.

India’s Coastlines Are Sinking—Kolkata, Chennai, and Visakhapatnam Most Exposed

A new University of Rhode Island (URI) study has revealed that India’s coastline is sinking at alarming rates, with some areas subsiding up to 44 mm per year. This widespread coastal subsidence, combined with sea-level rise, threatens millions of residents in low-lying regions, especially across the east coast deltas.

Key Findings from the URI Study

• Scope of study: First comprehensive satellite-based assessment of vertical land motion along India’s 7,500 km coastline.
• Data source: 8 years of Sentinel-1 radar satellite observations (2016–2024).
• Subsidence hotspots: Five major east coast deltas (including Ganga-Brahmaputra, Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Cauvery) and urban centers such as Kolkata, Chennai, and Visakhapatnam.
• Rates of subsidence: Maximum recorded: 44 mm/year in localized hotspots; widespread areas: 5–20 mm/year.
• Population at risk: 8.5 million people currently live in zones subsiding faster than 5 mm/year.
• Overall exposure: Over 200 million people reside within 100 km of India’s coastline, making them vulnerable to combined effects of sinking land and rising seas.

Impact Overview

Factor	Details	Risk Level
Subsidence rate	Up to 44 mm/year	Severe in hotspots
Affected regions	East coast deltas, major coastal cities	High
Population exposed	8.5 million in high-subsidence zones	Critical
Flood risk	Increased due to combined sea-level rise + sinking land	Extreme
Infrastructure	Ports, housing, agriculture, and transport corridors	Vulnerable

Risks & Challenges

• Flooding: Low-lying areas face accelerated flood risks as subsidence compounds sea-level rise.
• Agriculture: Delta regions risk salinization and reduced productivity.
• Urban infrastructure: Cities like Chennai and Kolkata may see damage to roads, housing, and drainage systems.
• Resilience planning: Current coastal protection strategies may underestimate risks without factoring subsidence.

What Needs to Be Done

• Enhanced monitoring: Expand satellite-based land motion tracking across all coastal states.
• Urban planning: Integrate subsidence data into zoning, construction codes, and flood defenses.
• Community adaptation: Relocation or elevation of vulnerable settlements in high-risk zones.
• Policy action: Governments must update coastal resilience frameworks to include subsidence.
• Global relevance: India’s findings highlight the need for similar assessments worldwide.

To summarize, India’s coastal vulnerability is not just about rising seas—it’s also about sinking land. The URI-led study underscores the urgent need for integrated resilience planning to protect millions living along the country’s shores.

NTT DATA Releases Technology Foresight Report 2026: 6 Trends Defining the Age of Mass Intelligence

• NTT DATA Foresight Report 2026 Reveals Six Trends Shaping the Future of Technology Innovation

NTT DATA, a global leader in AI, digital business and technology services, today announces the release of the NTT DATA Technology Foresight Report 2026. The annual Technology Foresight report examines how businesses are growing by making the most of digital, AI, and other advanced technologies and identifies trends for the future.

As we enter the age of mass intelligence, businesses are prioritizing tools that are focused on learning, adaptation and autonomous behaviour. In this rapidly changing world of artificial intelligence, it is critical that businesses formulate medium- and long-term strategies to establish a presence in the global market.

For the report, NTT DATA examined six trends that indicate the direction of change centred on technology, while taking into account the relationship between technology, business, and society.

Trends and Overview for 2026

• Human-orchestrated autonomy: Autonomy enters a new phase where intelligent systems can operate and act at scale and speed yet remain guided by human intent to ensure that decisions are purposeful, transparent, and aligned with broader enterprise and societal goals.
• Embodied agency and emotions: Emotionally responsive systems are emerging as social infrastructure. Synthetic emotion fosters trust, engagement and ethical interaction, humanizing data and enabling co-evolution between human and artificial empathy which drives well-being, productivity and affective transformation across society.
• Intelligence we trust: Cybersecurity evolves into a trusted layer of adaptive intelligence, learning and adapting to complex threats while maintaining confidence across increasingly interconnected ecosystems. As AI systems gain autonomy, security extends to protecting their integrity, transparency and ethical behaviour.
• Informed infrastructure: Infrastructure becomes an active foundation for innovation, using continuous intelligence to optimize performance, anticipate demand and balance agility, cost, control and sustainability in real time. It seamlessly spans the hybrid continuum of devices, edge and cloud, orchestrating diverse workloads wherever they deliver the greatest value and efficiency.
• Sovereign Silicon Ecosystems: Semiconductor innovation is vital for national resilience and technological autonomy. Nations are building end-to-end chip ecosystems to secure supply chains, protect IP, and maintain computing leadership. Control over silicon drives digital transformation, emphasizing collaboration, sustainability, and global innovation.
• From illusory efficiency to sufficiency: The next frontier of growth moves beyond the pursuit of narrow efficiency toward sufficiency, where technology enables businesses to thrive responsibly within planetary boundaries while strengthening resilience and long-term credibility.

"The rise of mass intelligence shifts our focus from acceleration to significance," said Oliver Koeth, Managing Director Technology & Innovation DACH (Germany, Austria and Switzerland), NTT DATA. "When emotionally aware systems, sovereign compute and trusted infrastructure come together, technology evolves into a purposeful ally - amplifying resilience and reinforcing the values that will define our shared future."

For more information, please visit NTT DATA Technology Foresight website.

NTT DATA uses the NTT DATA Technology Foresight report to create visions for the future together with customers around the world and develops the technologies and services necessary to realize those visions, including the following use cases:

• NTT DATA Unveils Smart AI Agent™ Ecosystem, Revolutionizing Industry Solutions with Intelligent Automation and Strategic Alliances
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• MUFG Bank, NTT DATA and NTT West Publish PoC Report on Inter-Data Center Connectivity Using IOWN APN
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• NTT DATA Partners with Google Cloud to Accelerate Agentic AI Adoption and Cloud Modernization for Enterprises Globally
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The Technology Foresight Report plays a key role in NTT DATA's innovation strategy, with the Company using it to guide the creation of new businesses and drive social change.

About NTT DATA

NTT DATA is a $30+ billion business and technology services leader, serving 75% of the Fortune Global 100. We are committed to accelerating client success and positively impacting society through responsible innovation. We are one of the world's leading AI and digital infrastructure providers, with unmatched capabilities in enterprise-scale AI, cloud, security, connectivity, data centers and application services. Our consulting and industry solutions help organizations and society move confidently and sustainably into the digital future. As a Global Top Employer, we have experts in more than 70 countries. We also offer clients access to a robust ecosystem of innovation centers as well as established and start-up partners. NTT DATA is part of NTT Group, which invests over $3 billion each year in R&D.

Visit us at nttdata.com.

1% Greener, 7% More Engaged: Landmark Study Quantifies ROI of Sustainable Workspaces in India

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) – Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), in collaboration with the Confederation of Danish Industry (DI), today launched the landmark research report "SUSTAINABLE WORKSPACE – Catalyst for Productivity and Profitability in Indian Businesses" at the CII Green Business Centre, Hyderabad.

The unique one-of-its-kind research study in the world with academic support from the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, reveals that sustainable workplaces are transformative for Indian businesses. The key findings of this research are that organizations that adopt Green Building Practices are more likely to have a thriving and engaged workforce, leading to increase in business performance for the organization. Moving far beyond environmental responsibility, the study demonstrates that green building strategies substantially enhance employee productivity, well-being, and organizational profitability.

The multi-year project presents the strongest evidence to date that adopting green solutions in India’s workplaces leads to marked improvements in employee thriving, engagement, and over all wellbeing outcomes. Through a rigorous, multi-phase approach involving inputs from 75 case study partners with over 1,100 occupant responses from 6 cities and analysis of more than 900 indoor environment quality data points, the study offers robust, data-driven proof that building sustainably delivers measurable value for both organizations and their people.

Key Findings

• A 1% increase in Green Index (a composite of indoor environment quality and comfort) lifts employee thriving by 3% and engagement by 2%, respectively, and enhances physical well-being by 3%.
• A 1% increase in Indoor Environment Quality leads to 7% increase in employee engagement and 2% increase in Thriving.
• Improved Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ)—covering temperature, lighting, noise, humidity, and CO₂—boosts both psychological vitality and learning at work, driving organizational performance, innovation, and staff retention.
• The findings confirm that sustainable workspaces deliver far-reaching outcomes: higher employee satisfaction, well-being, and organizational profitability across varying climatic and cultural zones in India.

The report was unveiled by H.E. Rasmus Abildgaard Kristensen, Ambassador of the Royal Danish Embassy to India; Shri R V Karnan IAS, Commissioner GHMC Government of Telangana; Mr. M Goutham Reddy, Vice Chairman, CII Telangana State Council; and Mr. C Shekar Reddy, National Vice Chairman, IGBC; Ms Bente Toftkær, Director, Global Talent & International Services, Danish Industry; Ar. Srinivas Murthy, Chairman, IGBC Hyderabad Chapter; and Mr. K S Venkatagiri, Executive Director, CII GBC in the presence of other dignitaries and sustainable industry champions.

Speaking at the launch, H.E. Mr. Rasmus Abildgaard Kristensen, Ambassador of the Royal Danish Embassy to India, said "Denmark is delighted to partner with India in advancing the agenda of sustainable and people-centric development. Over the years, our collaboration has demonstrated how shared knowledge, technology, and innovation can deliver solutions that benefit both people and the planet. The launch of the DI and CII-IGBC report on Sustainable Workspaces is yet another milestone in this journey. It reinforces the importance of designing workplaces that reduce environmental impact while enhance well-being, creativity, and productivity. Together, Denmark and India can accelerate the green transition and create resilient urban futures that serve as a model for the world."

Shri R V Karnan IAS, Commissioner GHMC Government of Telangana, while addressing the gathering said, "Telangana is proud to lead the sustainable transformation of India’s built environment, with Hyderabad emerging as one of the country’s green building hubs. Our state has consistently championed IGBC-certified projects across residential, commercial, and institutional sectors, setting benchmarks in energy efficiency and eco-friendly urban development. Collaborating with national and international partners, we reaffirm our commitment to harnessing the power of green workspaces to enhance quality of life, drive innovation, and build resilient urban futures. This report provides compelling evidence that sustainable workplaces are not only vital for citizen well-being but also a strategic investment in Telangana’s economic growth and global competitiveness."

Mr. C Shekar Reddy, National Vice Chairman, IGBC, stated, "As IGBC celebrates 25 years of championing the green building movement in the country, the launch of the DI and CII-IGBC research report on Sustainable Workspaces – Catalysts for Productivity and Profitability in Indian Businesses marks an important milestone. This study reinforces the need to move beyond traditional metrics like energy and water savings to embrace workplaces that prioritize people’s well-being, creativity, and productivity while ensuring environmental stewardship. Together, we can transform our work environments into powerful catalysts for both sustainability and business growth, shaping a greener and healthier future for India."

The report provides actionable guidance for business leaders, Developers, policymakers, urban planners, architects, ESG investors and industry associations. It urges all stakeholders to:

• Prioritize IEQ and comfort in both new and existing workplaces.
• Integrate measurable green metrics in design and operations.
• Assess workspaces with evidence-based tools to drive employee engagement and organizational success.

NTT DATA and Cisco Partner to Power Networking for the AI Era

NTT DATA, a global leader in digital business and technology services, and Cisco today unveiled a new co-sponsored IDC InfoBrief, Wired for Intelligence: A CIO Guide to Enterprise Networking for AI. The study shares strategic guidance for organizations seeking to accelerate transformation by modernizing their network infrastructure.

As organizations integrate AI into more applications, from manufacturing and healthcare to financial services, the demand for high-speed, low-latency, and secure networks is surging. Legacy infrastructure is no longer sufficient to support the scale and complexity of AI workloads. NTT DATA and Cisco are responding to this shift by helping clients evolve from outdated architectures to intelligent, adaptive infrastructure that can power AI-driven innovation.

“As two market leaders, NTT DATA and Cisco are well positioned to help clients modernize their digital infrastructure foundations for the AI era. The network exists as a catalyst for growth and organizations can unlock powerful new capabilities and achieve AI-driven business transformation at scale,” said Dilip Kumar, Global Head, Technology Solutions, NTT DATA, Inc.

The Critical Foundation Empowering AI-Driven Growth

The study highlights that network modernization is at the heart of AI success. More than 78% of companies say that networking capabilities are either important or very important when selecting providers for GenAI infrastructure — underscoring the need for networks that can handle and secure ever-scaling AI workloads while running complex AI training, inference, and storage clusters with ease. At the same time, modernization also infuses AI into network operations through AI-driven configuration, anomaly detection, self-healing, and intelligent monitoring to accelerate issue resolution and elevate user experience. Already, industries like manufacturing, healthcare, and financial services are leveraging AI in networking to improve operational efficiency, ensure secure connectivity and reduce costs.

“Network modernization is about more than replacing old hardware—it’s about allowing enterprises to lead in an AI-driven world,” said Brink Sanders, Senior Vice President of Global Networking Sales, Cisco. “Our partnership with NTT DATA equips clients with the technology and expertise needed to build secure and connected networks.”

“Your network will make or break your AI transformation. Overcoming the challenges of legacy networking technologies is essential. This IDC InfoBrief gives organizations the steps to transform enterprise networking from a bottleneck into a business advantage,” said Chris Barnard, Vice President, European Telecoms and Infrastructure, IDC.

NTT DATA is Enabling Network Modernization Through Intelligent Services

NTT DATA’s comprehensive suite of intelligent services helps clients modernize their digital infrastructure and build secure networks. These services span the full lifecycle from advisory to sourcing, professional services, support and managed services to enable organizations to modernize and unlock the full potential of AI.

With many companies undergoing hardware refresh cycles due to the emergence of AI, NTT DATA’s services are designed to meet this critical moment:

• Advisory: Strategic guidance to align network modernization with AI goals.
• Strategic Technology Sourcing: Recommending and procuring the right technology to transform network to be AI-ready.
• Professional Services: Architecting and deploying scalable, secure and high-performance networks.
• Software-Defined Infrastructure Services: Driving business outcomes through adoption of automation and AI agents into infrastructure operations and license optimization.
• Adoption Services: Maximizing value from infrastructure investments through greater adoption of software, continuous improvement and change management.
• Managed Network Services: End-to-end network management to ensure seamless data flow from edge to cloud, minimizing latency and enhancing application responsiveness.

NTT DATA recently launched AI-powered Software Defined Infrastructure (SDI) services for Cisco products to deliver intelligent automation and real-time insights to optimize infrastructure, reduce costs, and drive business outcomes.

IDC InfoBrief:, sponsored by NTT DATA and Cisco, Wired for Intelligence: A CIO Guide to Enterprise Networking for AI, doc #EUR253592825, July 2025.

India’s Sci & Tech Clusters Enter Phase 2.0: Driving Regional Innovation and National Resilience

In a year marked by technological flux and global uncertainty, India’s Science & Technology (S&T) Clusters quietly built something extraordinary: momentum. The newly released S&T Clusters Annual Report 2024–2025, reads like a blueprint of how grassroots collaboration and applied science can reshape regional innovation.

India’s Science & Technology (S&T) Clusters are collaborative innovation ecosystems designed to bridge the gap between research and real-world impact. Launched in 2020 under the guidance of the Prime Minister’s Science, Technology, and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC), and supported by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA), these clusters bring together academia, R&D institutions, industry, startups, and local governments to co-create solutions for regional and national challenges.

The Science and Technology (S&T) Clusters Annual Report 2024–2025 was officially released on June 26, 2025, by Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India. It highlights how India’s 8 operational S&T Clusters are evolving into powerful engines of regional innovation and national impact.

Eight Clusters. One Mission. Countless Ripples.

From Delhi to Hyderabad, and Bengaluru to Bhubaneswar, eight operational Science & Technology Clusters are not just conducting research—they’re solving wicked problems, scaling up pilots, and translating ideas into impact. This past year marked the transition from early groundwork to full-fledged implementation, with tangible results lighting up the map.

In Delhi-NCR, the DRIIV cluster deployed EV charging infrastructure that promises to decongest and decarbonize India’s capital. Bengaluru transformed waste into value through cutting-edge e-waste processing systems. Hyderabad turned biotech labs into launchpads for health-tech tools, while Vizag’s AMTZ hub saw homegrown pacemaker leads break new ground in indigenous medical devices.

Culture, Commerce, and Code

The report also chronicles unexpected intersections—like Kalaanubhav.in, an AR/VR-enabled digital marketplace that gives traditional artisans a tech-powered stage. Or the One Delhi App, which stitched together fragmented transit systems into a smooth, digital-first commuter experience for over 300,000 users.

This convergence of science, sustainability, and social innovation hints at a broader shift: the Clusters aren’t working in silos. They’re building bridges—between disciplines, sectors, and cities.

What’s Next: From Projects to Platforms

Perhaps the most significant takeaway isn’t a single innovation, but a structural evolution. The report signals a decisive move into Phase 2.0: inter-cluster collaboration, shared R&D infrastructure, and national-scale innovation grants. The clusters are positioning themselves as platforms, not just pilots—a signal that India’s science ecosystem is ready to scale purposefully and collaboratively.

More Highlights from the S&T Clusters Annual Report 2024–2025

🔬 Health-Tech & One Health Initiatives

• Diabetic Foot Screening Mats: Low-cost, sensor-based mats developed for early detection of diabetic foot complications—already deployed in community health centers.
  
• One Health Surveillance: Integrated platforms for zoonotic disease monitoring, combining veterinary, environmental, and human health data streams.
  

🔄 Circular Economy & Sustainability

• E-Waste Management Systems: Bengaluru’s cluster piloted AI-enabled segregation and recycling units, improving material recovery rates and reducing landfill burden.
  
• Water Quality Monitoring: Real-time sensors deployed in rural and peri-urban areas to track contaminants and support local governance.
  

🧬 Indigenous Manufacturing & Deep Tech

• Pacemaker Leads at AMTZ Vizag: A breakthrough in domestic medical device manufacturing, reducing reliance on imports and lowering costs.
  
• Biotech Incubation: Hyderabad’s cluster supported over 20 startups in diagnostics, genomics, and bioinformatics, with several moving to clinical trials.
  

🧠 Capacity Building & Knowledge Sharing

• Inter-Cluster Collaborations: Joint projects between clusters (e.g., Delhi and Pune) on AI for urban planning and climate resilience.
  
• Shared Infrastructure: Access to high-end labs and equipment via the I-STEM portal, enabling cross-institutional R&D.
  

📊 Governance & Structure

• The report emphasizes a consortium-based model, where academic institutions, R&D labs, startups, and local governments co-create solutions.
  
• A new Innovation Grant Framework has been introduced to fund multi-sectoral, high-impact projects across clusters.
  

The report also signals a shift toward inter-cluster collaboration, shared infrastructure, and multi-sectoral innovation grants—marking the beginning of what’s being called Phase 2.0 of the Clusters initiative.

79% Students Use Smartphones to Study Online: 'India Lockdown Learning' Report by Vidyasaarathi

• 59% are using WhatsApp and Zoom calls for their classes; while 30% are using their institution’s online platform
• 75% students still prefer physical classrooms over online learning; biggest challenge being poor network connection

Majority of students (79%) use smartphones to study online reveals ‘India Lockdown Learning’ report by Vidyasaarathi. The report goes on to state that only 17% of students attend their online classes using laptops and computers and rest 4% students attend it through mediums like tablets. Vidyasaarathi is one of the largest scholarship management portals in India - promoted by NSDL e-Governance.

Vidyasaarathi’s ‘India Lockdown Learning’ report is basis a nationwide survey conducted by collecting data from over 10,000 students across 400 cities to understand the transformation happening in the educational eco-system.  The survey helps us to take note of how students are adopting e-learning which is becoming the norm and the challenges they face in the transition. The survey is holistic in capturing all the essential data for us to discern the pros and cons of the new normal.

The report that provides unique insights and perspectives on the e-learning scenario in India further finds that WhatsApp and Zoom Calls to be the most preferred medium of 59% students for conducting online classes; followed by 30% of students using their school’s or college’s online platform to attend online classes.  

While online classes are part of the new normal, 75% of the students still prefer physical classrooms over online learning. Poor internet connection was highlighted by 57% of students as their biggest challenge for e-learning. 31% of students finding it difficult to focus and 12% finding it difficult to get doubts clarified while studying online.

Interestingly, over 60% of the students spend around 1-4 hours on e-Learning; followed by 31% spending 4-8 hours and 8% spending 8-12 hours studying online. This shows that despite the challenges, the students’ willingness to learn and the commitment of teachers towards online education.

Moreover, among the total number of students who are utilizing online classes, 62% of them are using it for curricular and 38% for extra-curricular activities. Amongst the extra-curricular activities 39% are taking online courses on art & craft. This indicates a shift from the traditional learning methods.

Majority of the students who took the survey were in the age groups of 12 to 28 years where 62% were males. The respondents are in their undergraduate and postgraduate courses. They come from middle class families, with around 90% students belonging to families with annual incomes below INR 7 lakh

Students are also well aware of the benefits of online classes. Majority of them cited that the biggest advantage of e-learning is the accessibility of the course content any time. Students also highlighted ease of use and convenient doubt clarification to be the other motivators for online education.

Indian students are new to the e-learning culture. Online classes in this pandemic situation has been a challenge for educators and for students as well. This survey highlights the need for good IT infrastructure so that the challenges of digital learning do not weigh it down.

Vidyasaarathi is among the three education financing portals developed by NSDL e-Governance Infrastructure which assists students in their education financing process– Vidyasaarathi (education scholarships), Vidya Lakshmi (education loans), and Vidya Kaushal (skill development loans).

About Vidyasaarathi:

Vidyasaarathi is a scholarship portal developed by NSDL e-Governance Infrastructure Ltd., which bridges the gap between students seeking financial assistance and companies with CSR funds wanting to contribute to the education space. Corporates can choose to create their own schemes and criteria to give scholarships to the deserving students. The schemes are designed in association with Tata Institute of Social Sciences. So far, over 30 corporates have associated with Vidyasaarathi to design and provide scholarship schemes to students, the portal is becoming popular amongst students.

Flex Releases 2020 Sustainability Report

2019 accomplishments include a 10% growth in renewable energy use, 20% incident rate reduction and 93% of global sites hosted community outreach activities

Flex (NASDAQ: FLEX) recently released its 2020 sustainability report, summarizing the company’s global sustainability activities, performance and results from calendar year 2019. The report provides a look at how Flex is stewarding sustainable manufacturing operations to minimize its environmental impact, driving responsible business practices and contributing to the communities in which it operates.

Flex’s sustainability efforts focus on five areas, including people, community, environment, social innovation and integrity, and align with 20 goals the company set out to reach by the end of 2020. The company’s 20 goals support the advancement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the UN Global Compact’s principles.

2019 key highlights

• 10% increase in renewable energy use year-over-year


• 20% safety incident rate reduction from 2018


• 98% of new global suppliers were screened using social and environmental criteria


• Women represented 42% of the company’s total workforce and 30% of the Board of Directors


• 93% of sites hosted community outreach activities, supported by 48,000+ employee volunteer hours


• Nearly 100,000 people benefited from 20+ projects through the Flex Foundation

“Sustainability is core to Flex’s mission of becoming the most trusted technology, supply chain and manufacturing partner. As we determine our next set of sustainability targets, we remain committed to driving programs that help address broader societal and environmental issues, such as climate change, and transparently disclosing our progress toward our goals,” said Kyra Whitten, Vice President, Marketing, Communications and Sustainability at Flex.

In 2019, Flex was recognized as an FTSE4Good Index Series constituent for the fourth consecutive year, received an A- rating from CDP (formerly Carbon Disclosure Project) for its disclosures in climate change and water security and earned the highest disclosure and transparency score on environmental, social and corporate governance factors from Institutional Shareholder Services, among other honors for sustainability initiatives.

Prepared in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards: Core Option, the Flex 2020 sustainability report can be viewed at https://flex.com/company/our-sustainability/reporting-and-alignment.

India Adds 205 MW of Solar Capacity in Q2 2020, Reports Mercom India

Cumulative solar installations in India as of June 2020 were ~37 GW

India added 205 megawatts (MW) of solar capacity in calendar year (CY) Q2 2020, an 81% decline compared to 1,090 MW installed in Q1 2020, according to Mercom India Research's newly released Q2 2020 India Solar Market Update. Solar installations were down 86% year-over-year (YoY) compared to the 1,510 MW added in Q2 2019.

Solar installations in the first half (1H) of 2020 totaled 1.3 gigawatts (GW), a 59% decrease compared to 3.2 GW of capacity added in 1H of 2019.

Large-scale installations totaled 120 MW compared to 896 MW in the previous quarter. Year-over-year, large-scale installations decreased by 90%. Large-scale project installation figures in Q2 were the lowest in the past seven years.

"Solar project construction activity came to a standstill in Q2 as the coronavirus pandemic disrupted every aspect of the economy. Labor availability was one of the biggest challenges for large-scale projects. With monsoons setting in, we may have to wait until Q4 for the activity to pick back up," said Raj Prabhu, CEO of Mercom Capital Group. "Considering the realities on the ground, the industry needs more than the 30-day extension post-lockdown period currently granted by the government for project commissioning."

With the lockdown lifted in phases in states, supply chain disruption, and workforce shortages due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, most solar projects scheduled for commissioning have been delayed and slipped into later quarters with a possibility of moving to next year.

According to the report, India still has a significant large-scale solar project development pipeline of 41.7 GW, with another 34.2 GW of projects tendered and pending auction at the end of Q2 2020.

Rooftop solar installations accounted for 85 MW in Q2 2020, a decline of 56% compared to 194 MW installed in Q1 2020. In a YoY comparison, rooftop installations declined by 71%, with 292 MW added in Q2 2019.

The rooftop solar market, which was already struggling, has a steep decline in Q2 as the C&I market fell amid COVID. Installations in Q2 were the lowest since the second quarter of 2016, noted the report.

"Mercom India Research is forecasting approximately 4 GW of solar to be added in 2020, which was the worst-case scenario laid out in our previous report. This assumes that the COVID situation will get worse to the point where most of the projects will be moved to 2021," added Prabhu.

Since the COVID-19 outbreak and the subsequent shutdown in many parts of the world, the government is pushing to localize the supply chain. With the new government policy shift towards "Atmanirbhar" or "self-reliant" India, domestic manufacturing has become the primary objective. To facilitate this, the safeguard duty has been extended, and in addition, a basic customs duty is expected to be imposed soon.

Delays in setting up transmission infrastructure and continuing difficulties in obtaining net metering approvals could further add to the sector's challenges.

Total power capacity additions in the first half of 2020 stood at 2.3 GW from all power generation sources. Of this, renewable energy sources accounted for nearly 85% of installations, with solar representing 56% of new capacity, and wind representing 14%. Coal accounted for 13% of new capacity additions.

Almost 70% of the new power capacity additions came from solar and wind in the first half of the year.

Rajasthan and Karnataka were the top states, contributing 68% of solar installations in Q2.

The report also covers the decline in solar component and project costs trends in detail.

Key Highlights from Mercom India Research's Q2 2020 India Solar Market Update

• Solar installations in India in Q2 2020 totaled 205 MW, a decline of 81% compared to 1,090 MW installed in Q1 2020
• In Q2 2020, large-scale solar installations came to 120 MW, while rooftop installations accounted for 85 MW
• Cumulative solar installed capacity in India was approximately 37 GW at the end of Q2 2020
• The large-scale solar project pipeline in India stands at 42 GW, with another 34 GW of tendered capacity pending auction at the end of Q2 2020
• Mercom India forecasts solar installations of approximately 4 GW in CY 2020
• Solar accounted for 56% of new power capacity additions in 1H 2020
• Almost 70% of the new power capacity additions came from solar and wind in the first half of the year.
• Electricity generated from solar in Q2 2020 crossed 15.7 billion units

Mercom India's Q2 2020 report has 107 pages and covers all facets of India's solar market. For the complete report, visit: https://mercomindia.com/product/q2-2020-india-solar-market-update

Mercom's India solar Quarterly Update is the most in-depth and accurate report available on the state of the Indian Solar Market. The report covers the entire solar market, pricing, policies, and forecast that will help companies navigate the challenges as well as take advantage of opportunities in the market.

Mercom Communications India, a subsidiary of U.S.-based Mercom Capital Group, is a clean energy research and communications firm in India recognized worldwide for its expertise in Indian cleantech markets. Located in Bangalore, India, Mercom has been providing communications and research services across India for clean energy organizations since early 2009.

Global Trade in Services to Increase by $2 Trn Over Next 5 Years - Report by Western Union and Oxford Economics

• Forecasts by Western Union and Oxford Economics project the value of international, cross-border trade in services rising from $6.1trn in 2019 to $8.0trn by 2025 – a 31% increase in value


• Amongst developed economies, USA, France, and UK set to see largest increase in value of cross-border trade in services by 2025


• Adoption of new technology and digitization of working practices likely to further fuel post-pandemic economic recovery and growth of cross-border trade in services


• Trade policy liberalization could see an additional $890bn increase in the value of services traded globally.

The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU), a leader in cross-border, cross-currency money movement and payments, today launches a new report, “The Global Services Trade Revolutions: Fuelling post-pandemic economic recovery and growth,” in partnership with Oxford Economics – a leader in global forecasting and quantitative analysis.

The report projects the value of international trade in services* rising from $6.1trn in 2019 to $8.0trn by 2025, equating to an increase of almost a third (31%) in the value of global flows over this period.

It is predicted this growth will be accelerated by the adoption of new technology and digitization of working practices forced by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic – which, combined with a shift in attitudes to online interactions, is likely to fuel economic recovery and growth of cross-border trade in services in the coming five years.

Western Union Business Solutions and Oxford Economics’ central forecast scenario envisages a relatively strong economic recovery, but it is also possible that a more pessimistic scenario will unfold, characterized by a steeper near-term contraction and a more prolonged and incomplete recovery (see Comparison of global services export forecasts graph). Still, this scenario would only magnify the relative outperformance of digitally-deliverable services.

“For far too long the global service industry has been undervalued and its importance underestimated. This report shows that this needs to change. The economic impact of COVID-19 will be felt for years to come, but we can clearly see that the regions and industries that recognize and appreciate the value of global services will be in a better position to drive future success and ultimately, recovery,”said Andrew Summerill, President, Payments at Western Union.

Sector breakdown

[caption id="attachment_150763" align="aligncenter" width="484"] Predicted growth in international services trade (Graphic: Business Wire)[/caption]

The analysis suggests while the global economy is suffering in the short-term, trade in modern digital services will prove comparatively resilient through the current crisis. It estimates that the value of cross-border flows of B2B, ICT and financial services will decline by just 6% in 2020, compared to the value of goods trade, which will decline an estimated 13% (see 2019-2025 Predicted growth in international services trade graph).

Meanwhile, hard-hit traditional services categories such as tourism will decline by around 40% in 2020, while air passenger transport will decline by over 50%. As a share of total services trade, these categories are projected to slide to 39% by 2025 – down from 41% in 2019.

Geographic breakdown

[caption id="attachment_150762" align="aligncenter" width="479"] Predicted growth in services exports by country (Graphic: Business Wire)[/caption]

The report also analysed these trends across eight large developed economies, finding B2B services will be the main driver of export growth, with financial services also important for key hubs like the USA, UK, Hong Kong and Singapore. Outside this sample, other predicted ‘hotspots’ for digital services export growth over the medium term include Korea and Japan, Australia and New Zealand, and Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

The USA will post the largest overall increase in services exports during the forecast period, the result of its global leadership in many categories of professional services, as well as its investments in digital infrastructure and technological innovation (see 2019-2025 Predicted growth in services exports by country).

Furthermore, it is estimated a broad, multilateral liberalization of trade policies on services could provide an additional 11% boost to the value of global services trade by 2025, which would equal an $890bn increase in the value of these cross-border transactions.

“The pandemic has already super-charged the growth in digital services and highlighted the potential for remote services to transcend global borders. Over the next decade, we’re going to see swathes of new business models redefine the possibilities for cross-border transactions. And in the short-term, global trade in services will be a vital component of recovery, and it will be digitally focused industries that will be the driving force,” added Summerill. The report, which aims to shine a light on the valuable contribution that global digital services trade brings to the economy now and its potential for the future, uncovers that trade in services has typically been undervalued, when compared to trade in goods or manufacturing.

The report estimates that services currently account for more than half (55%) of all global trade flows, equating to US$13.7trn of cross-border transactions in 2019. Official statistics state that the share of services in total trade amounted to 24% in 2019, up from 19% in 1995.¹

“Our aim is to champion the industries fuelling economic growth and recovery and to provide support to boost the growth of the digital services sector,” concluded Summerill.

To access the report in full, please click here.

Note on research and methodology

The key framework in which Oxford Economics’ analysis is conducted is its own Global Econometric Model (GEM). The GEM replicates the world economy by interlinking 80 countries, 6 regional trading blocs and the Eurozone. These countries are interlinked through international trade in goods and services, competitiveness (measured by unit labour costs adjusted for the exchange rate), capital markets, interest rates and commodity prices. Historic data and forecasts are updated on a monthly basis by our country economists.

*Definitions of international trade in services used for this study:

• Business-to-business (B2B) services: Professional services (e.g. engineering, legal) and royalty & license fees (e.g. fees for the use of patented technology).


• Information and communications technology (ICT) services: Services related to computers (e.g. software development) and communication devices (e.g. telephone services).


• Financial services: Activities of the finance industry including banking, insurance and asset management.


• Transport & distribution: Services related to the international movement of goods (e.g. shipping, air cargo and cross-border road & rail transport) or transport of people (e.g. air passenger services).


• Tourism & travel: Spending by temporary visitors to another country for leisure, business or other purposes such as education or medical tourism (exports are defined as inbound tourism flows).


• Construction: Services relating to the construction/demolition of buildings and other structures, as well as installations and building repairs.


• Public services: Services commissioned by the public sector.

About Western Union

The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) is a global leader in cross-border, cross-currency money movement and payments. Our omnichannel platform connects the digital and physical worlds and makes it possible for consumers and businesses to send and receive money and make payments with speed, ease, and reliability. As of June 30, 2020, our network included over 550,000 retail agent locations offering our branded services in more than 200 countries and territories, with the capability to send money to billions of accounts. Additionally, westernunion.com, our fastest growing channel in 2019, is available in over 75 countries, plus additional territories, to move money around the world. With our global reach, Western Union moves money for better, connecting family, friends, and businesses to enable financial inclusion and support economic growth. For more information, visit www.westernunion.com.

About Oxford Economics

Oxford Economics is a leader in global forecasting and quantitative analysis. Our worldwide client base comprises more than 1,500 international corporations, financial institutions, government organisations, and universities.

Headquartered in Oxford, with offices around the world, we employ 400 staff, including 250 economists and analysts. Our best-in-class global economic and industry models and analytical tools give us an unmatched ability to forecast external market trends and assess their economic, social and business impact.

¹ Oxford Economics estimates based on the OECD Trade in Value-Added (TiVA) database, together with services activities within manufacturing firms as reported in Miroudot and Cadestin (2017), “Services in Global Value Chains: From Inputs to Value-Creating Activities,” OECD Trade Policy Papers No. 197

Over 60% of Businesses Are More Interested in Early Payment as a Result of COVID-19 - Taulia

Over 60% of businesses are more interested in requesting early payment (62%) and automating invoice processing (66%) as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report conducted by working capital technology solutions leader, Taulia. The global report unlocks key insights into supplier behavior due to the impact of COVID-19, with main themes being: a shift in working practices, a decrease in business demand, and an increase in the automation of financial processes.

The survey which was conducted over a two-week period in June 2020 collected the views and insights of over 9,000 global respondents, with the majority (55%) of respondents coming from businesses with less than USD $10 million in revenue. Respondents were asked questions about how COVID-19 has impacted their business and how their behavior has changed as a result of the pandemic.

The report found that businesses are adapting to the current environment in numerous ways, with many respondents (78%) stating they have seen a change in their customers’ working practices. This change is reflected in their own work environment, with 41% of respondents saying they will now allow staff to work from home. Respondents also noted that there has been an increase in receiving late payments (43%) and a general decrease in business demand (56%), which means managing cash flow and injecting liquidity into the business has never been more important.

“COVID-19 has disrupted the entire business world and we want to do whatever we can to help businesses, small and large, to remain operational and competitive. As a result of COVID-19, we have seen a tremendous increase in early payment requests and demand for solutions to help manage financial processes electronically. The report sheds light on current business attitudes and behavior, which we hope to use to fuel more innovation to help our customers succeed,” states Cedric Bru, CEO, Taulia.

The full COVID-19: Effects on your business report can be viewed here.

About Taulia

Taulia is a leading provider of working capital technology solutions headquartered in San Francisco, California. Through a unique combination of its technology platform, people and process, Taulia helps companies access the value tied up in their supply chain by transitioning from inefficient and often manual working capital management practices into technology-led, working capital optimization strategies. Taulia’s vision is to create a world where every business thrives by enabling buyers and suppliers to choose when to pay and get paid. A network of 2 million businesses use Taulia’s technology and the company processes over $500 billion every year. Taulia is trusted by the world’s largest companies including Airbus, AstraZeneca, Nissan and Vodafone. For more information, please visit www.taulia.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200811005097/en/