< Back Road Ministry planning centralised hubs for all transportation modes 21 Aug 2024 The ministry aims to develop integrated public transport and terminals across India, combining road, rail, air, water, helipads, and ropeway modes of transport. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is actively working on its One Nation, One Location initiative to integrate all modes of transport for speedier freight and passenger movement. National Highways Logistics Management, National Highways Authority of India’s fully owned subsidiary, will develop two pilot hubs in Tirupati and Katra within two years, followed by Nagpur and Varanasi. It will reduce passengers' navigation challenges due to a fragmented transportation system, including local public transport. An integrated system will minimise transit time, facilitate smooth transfers between different transport modes, and offer amenities like parking spots, hotels, and retail outlets. Integration will happen using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and data analytics. The government is encouraging Public-Private Partnerships for this project. The hubs will be a one-stop solution for 87% of the passenger traffic using road transport in India. The development of city centres will further reduce city congestion and boost economic activity. Previous Next

< Back Govt launches AI-based National Pest Surveillance System (NPSS) 20 Aug 2024 The app will connect farmers with agricultural scientists to improve pest control measures. The Union Government launched the AI-based NPSS app on August 15, Indian Independence Day, to connect farmers with agricultural experts on pest control. Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan announced the new system will reduce farmers’ dependence on pesticide retailers and boost awareness of pest management. The app analyses pest infestations in real time, thus allowing for timely interventions. Farmers can upload images of affected crops on the app, which reach the experts for rapid diagnosis and quick response. Accurate pest management will help avoid the overuse of pesticides, hence promoting sustainable agricultural practices. State-level programs will widen this app's reach to 140 million farmers, who will receive experts’ support according to their regional agricultural challenges. They will also receive support for boosting crop yield, seasonal forecasting, improving IoT devices for efficient farm management, and choosing better-suited crops for a farm’s needs. The app also has a chatbot for quick assistance. Previous Next

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< Back Foreign companies prepare for a lawsuit against GST evasion notices 23 Sept 2024 Online Information and Database Access or Retrieval (OIDAR) covers online services with or without a physical user interface and is subject to an 18% tax slab. OIDAR services were GST-exempt until an amendment took effect in October 2023, which made foreign companies liable to pay the tax. The revised law mandated that companies were liable to pay GST irrespective of the level of human intervention in rendering their digital services. As per the law, foreign organisations must register in India and pay GST to offer their services to Indians. The Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI) issued tax evasion notices for the period between 2017 and 2023 to 70 foreign companies for providing OIDAR services in India. These companies include Meta, Netflix, Spotify, and Google across subscription-based services, advertising, online gaming, and edtech. The companies argue that their services involve human intervention and can be delivered offline, which was GST-exempt before the amendment. Online training and exam platforms say their services are not covered under OIDAR. They will soon file the case in the high court. Previous Next

< Back Airtel shuts Wync Music, will offer Apple Music at discounted prices 29 Aug 2024 All Wync employees will be absorbed In the Airtel ecosystem. Airtel has partnered with Apple Inc. to offer discounted rates on OTT videos, Apple TV+, and Apple Music streaming to its Xtream fibre customers. As part of the move, it is shutting down Wync Music ten years after its launch. Wync has been generating ₹250-300 crore annual revenue as a part of Airtel's digital services arm. Apple's discounted services will be available exclusively to Airtel customers by the end of this year. This deal will be a carrier billing alliance that will help Airtel offer enhanced streaming services to its customers with a focused monetisation plan. It will allow Apple access to a quality audience and monetise its OTT streaming services in India. In 2023, of the 185 million active users of online Music streaming apps, only 7.5 million paid for a subscription. Airtel tried an alliance with Times Internet and the Gaana app, but the talks didn't succeed. Previous Next

< Back Indian budget 2026-27 highlights 3 Feb 2026 Sitharaman focused the budget on the Three Kartavyas – Accelerate growth, build capacity, and equitable development. - Revamped New Income Tax Act, 2025, to take effect from April 1, 2026. It is a new law that may: o Rationalise capital gains tax o Include tax regime for gig workers, influencers, crypto and digital assets, and cross-border digital income o Reduce litigation perpetuated by the ambiguous wording in the 1961 Act. o Introduce fewer deductions, exemptions, and lower tax rates. - ₹12.2 lakh crore in capital expenditure, compared with ₹11.11 lakh crore last year. - Semiconductor Mission 2.0 with a ₹40,000 crore outlay. - National Fibre Scheme for self-sufficiency in advanced materials. - Support for critical mineral facilities in Odisha, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh. - 7 high-speed rail corridors (Delhi–Varanasi, Mumbai–Pune, Pune–Hyderabad, Hyderabad–Bengaluru, Chennai–Bengaluru, Varanasi–Siliguri) - NIMHANS‑2 and upgraded mental health institutes in Ranchi and Tezpur. - Girls’ hostel in every district to support women’s higher education. - Dedicated retail and digital marketplaces for women-led businesses- SHE Marts Check out my new book, THE BLACK FLAMES . A gripping, high-stakes mystery. Previous Next

< Back Jio becomes the world’s leading mobile operator by data traffic 24 Apr 2024 Total data traffic on Jio’s network reached 40.9 exabytes against China Mobile’s 38 exabytes between January and March 2024. Reliance Jio now boasts the world’s largest 5G subscriber base, a staggering 108 million, which accounts for up to 28% of its total wireless data traffic. Last financial year, Jio's subscriber base grew from 449 to 482 million, with each user consuming an average of 28.7 GB per month. The demand for AirFiber was also robust, spanning across 5,900 towns. However, its average revenue per user (ARPU) remained stagnant for three quarters and ended the year at ₹182 due to affordable JioBharat plans and promotional unlimited 5G plans. Jio offers 30% of its network coverage for free to 5G subscribers. In comparison, Bharti Airtel’s user base grew from 339 to 350 million, and ARPU reached ₹211 from ₹200, but a lower data usage of 22.5 GB. All telecom players are expected to gradually increase tariffs in FY2025 and FY2026 to monetise and earn ROI on 5G services. Previous Next

< Back Northeast bound Alliance Air costing ₹6 lakhs per passenger to govt 4 Dec 2023 State-run airline connects India’s smaller towns with Northeastern cities. In April 2022, it carried just three passengers but charged the exchequer a lofty ₹6 crore. Alliance Air deploys Hindustan Aeronautics Limited's (HAL) 15-seater Dornier aircraft. The central government funds flights from smaller towns to northeast cities under the northeastern connectivity scheme. It connects Dibrugarh (Assam) to Ziro, Tezpur, and Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh). Between April 2022 and June 2023, it carried 1500 passengers, costing around ₹100 crore, or ₹6 lakh per passenger to the government. While a burden, the government cannot scrap it as Alliance Air connects crucial northeastern airports near the Chinese border. Moreover, the Dornier aircraft is the first Made in India civilian fleet enjoying the government’s push. Government put up Alliance Air for sale after its parent Air India’s takeover by Tata last year. There were no takers, as investors expected the government to clean up Alliance Air’s ₹4,326 crore debt, as it had done for Air India. The government recently gave ₹600 crore to clear its old debt carried forward from Air India. Previous Next

< Back Zomato, Swiggy planning to launch service marketplace 11 Nov 2024 Swiggy is piloting “Yello” service marketplace, while Zomato is planning to introduce concierge services. To diversify their offerings, Swiggy and Zomato are planning services marketplace. Swiggy is piloting a marketplace called “Yello”, offering to connect its customers with service professionals like lawyers, fitness trainers, dieticians, astrologers, and therapists, ET reported. It is yet to be clarified if Yello will be a part of the Swiggy app. Swiggy is experimenting with a new premium membership called “Rare” offering well-to-do users exclusive access to high-end events like Formula One races, art exhibitions, concerts, and priority bookings at luxury restaurants. Zomato recently acquired Paytm’s event booking business, Insider for ₹2,048 crore. It is now creating a WhatsApp-enabled concierge service operated by human customer service agents instead of chatbots to offer a more personalised experience. Swiggy is creating a superapp, hosting Instamart, Dineout, and Swiggy Genie. Zomato offers different services via separate apps, like Blinkit for superfast deliveries, District for dining out, and Hyperpure for B2B grocery delivery. Previous Next

< Back African continental split to take 5-10 million years 28 Jan 2026 Africa is slowly tearing apart along the East African Rift System, where the Nubian, Somalian, and Arabian plates diverge. The rift has been active for about 22–25 million years. It stretches from the Afar region of Ethiopia to Mozambique and forms a Y-shaped “triple junction” in Afar, one of the few places on Earth where three rifts meet. Mantle plumes beneath East Africa heat and thin the crust, which causes active rifting, intense volcanism, and frequent earthquakes. GPS and satellite data reveal the crust is steadily thinning, with some segments already transitioning to early oceanic crust. Parts of Afar lie below sea level. The Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea will eventually flood the deepening rift and create a new ocean in roughly 5–10 million years. Climate shifts, including long-term drying and shrinking lakes like Turkana, may be accelerating fault movement, increasing geological hazards for millions living along the rift. In 2005, a 35-mile rift opened in Ethiopia within days due to magma-driven tectonic movement. Check out my new book, THE BLACK FLAMES . A gripping, high-stakes mystery. Previous Next

< Back Apple caught in a horde of anti-trust probes in the US 22 Dec 2023 Over a dozen companies approached the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate the tech giant for anticompetitive behaviour. Over 12 technology advocacy groups wrote to the US Department of Justice requesting an investigation into Apple’s anticompetitive behaviour. Apple recently blocked Beeper, the messaging service that made iMessage compatible with Android devices through its app Beeper Mini. The move triggered a reaction from a horde of advocacy groups, like Demand Progress, the American Economic Liberties Project, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and Fight for the Future. Beeper Mini allowed Android users to experience iMessage features like tapbacks, blue bubbles, and end-to-end encrypted messaging between Android and iPhone users. The DOJ has been probing Apple for anti-trust issues since 2020. Tech Oversight Project’s letter to the American judicial body called out Apple for favouring its products and issuing unfair policies for third-party apps and app marketplace. An ongoing anti-trust investigation in Europe could roll out a judgement in early 2024 against Apple’s control over the app marketplace and impose a fine. Previous Next

< Back Medical supplies plane crashes at London Southend airport 14 Jul 2025 The 12-metre Beechcraft King Air B200 plane is confirmed to carry two pilots; the passenger count is unconfirmed. On July 13, a London to Lelystad (Netherlands) bound plane crashed immediately after takeoff. It was a medical supplies plane that took off at 8:18 pm IST, reached 175 feet, tilted left, inverted mid-air, and nosedived headfirst, crashing on impact. The Beechcraft King Air B200 plane can carry a maximum of 9 passengers and 1-2 crew. London Southend Airport was immediately shut down. At least five international flights were cancelled, including EasyJet flights to Malta, Faro, Pisa, and Palma. The Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) is heading the enquiry, supported by the local Essex Police. Zeusch Aviation, the Dutch expert in medical evacuation and private charter planes, operated the flight. Zeusch is assisting AAIB with the investigation. The Aircraft had completed the flight from Athens to Pula, Croatia, and then to London the same day. London Southend Airport remains closed, with all flights cancelled or diverted to Gatwick and Stansted. Never miss another post from SalestorrsNews150. Follow Salestorrs on WhatsApp , LinkedIn , Facebook , X , and Instagram . Previous Next