VARINDIA IT MAGAZINE

Kotak Mobile Banking App seals partnership with Amazon.in:  Amazon   announced its sealed collaboration with   Kotak Mahindra Bank   and also that it will allow Kotak Bank customers to shop on Amazon.in from the Kotak mobile banking app using any payment mode they wish for such as credit card, debit card, net banking, or UPI. The new deal also includes customised offers and rewards for Kotak Mahindra Bank customers sponsored by Amazon India that will be available over and above the ongoing deals and offers announced by the e-commerce company.   The Amazon.in in-app integration on Kotak Mahindra Bank app available for both Android and iOS users can be found under the ‘KayMall’ tab within the app. This partnership allows Kotak customers to seamlessly shop across categories such as consumer electronics, groceries, fashion, books, home products and many more on Amazon.in.   This development comes as a part of Kotak’s digital banking strategy and in its journey ...

Twitter Indias Public Policy Head Mahima Kaul steps down:  As per news, the social media platform,   Twitter’s public policy head Mahima Kaul   has stepped down from his position. Kaul has cited personal reasons for stepping down. She has resigned to take some time off.   Sources aware of the development said that Kaul has resigned from the microblogging website in the first week of January, and will continue with the company until the end of March to help the transition. The job listing has been made public on Twitter’s website.   “At the start of this year, Mahima Kaul decided to step down from her role as Twitter Public Policy Director for India and South Asia to take a well-deserved break. It’s a loss for all of us at Twitter, but after more than five years in the role we respect her desire to focus on the most important people and relationships in her personal life. Mahima will continue in her role till the end of March and will support the transition,”...

100 loan apps face shut down on Google in Dec-Jan: Dhotre:  The   parliament   was recently informed that   Google   removed about 100 money lending apps that were "possibly not in compliance with the applicable legal and regulatory framework" from December 2020 till January 20, 2021.   The  Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY)  has received a number of public grievances against frauds and the malpractices by few online instant loan applications available on internet, including Google Playstore, Minister of State for Electronics and IT Sanjay Dhotre said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.   He also added that the complaints are mainly related to high interest rates, alleged collection of personal data and its misuse, fraudulent and unlawful practices of physical threats and use of other coercive methods for recovery of loan and that few cases have also been filed in the courts.   "Upon being notified by law enfo...

BEL to exhibit 30 products developed under Atmanirbhar Bharat:  Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL)   is ready to display its state-of-the-art products and systems during upcoming Aero India. BEL will present its land and naval products and systems, comprising   QRSAM radars . The PSU will also display communication and laser-based products, including MODEM for a troposcatter communication system.     "The products and systems are clustered as airborne and space application, satellite and space application, products and systems for self-reliance  (Aatmanirbhar Bharat) , high-performance computing and artificial intelligence systems, land and naval products and systems, communication and laser-based products, non-defence/diversification and outdoor display products. The technologies are in the area of airborne and space/satellite application, and include self-protection suite with DIRCM (with foreign ToT), handheld field signal generator, airborne and ground sp...

Indo-American Bhavya Lal appointed as NASA acting chief officer:  The   Indian-American scientist Bhavya Lal , who oversaw NASA’s transition under   President Joe Biden’s administration , has been appointed as the Acting Chief of Staff of the U.S. space agency.   According to  NASA , Bhavya brings “extensive experience” in engineering and space technology, serving as a member of the research staff at the Institute for Defence Analyses Science and Technology Policy Institute (STPI) from 2005 to 2020.   She led the analysis of space technology, strategy, and policy for the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and National Space Council, as well as federal space-oriented organisations, including NASA, the Department of Defence, and the intelligence community, the U.S. space agency said in a statement on February 1.   A member of the Biden Presidential Transition Agency Review Team for the agency, Bhavya is an active member of the space tech...

Redmi India names Sonu Sood as its brand ambassador for smartphones:  Redmi India   has announced   Sonu Sood, popular actor   and a real-life hero as the brand ambassador for Redmi 9 Power. This partnership will further the brand’s existing campaign – ‘More Power to you’.   Redmi’s brand ethos is democratizing innovation and ensuring technology is available for everyone. In 2020, actor Sonu Sood won hearts for his exemplary work in supporting migrant workers and those in need. He has been a strong figure in enabling those in distress such that they could have the opportunity to a better life. His personality and initiative fall perfectly in line with Redmi’s philosophy.   The brand first partnered with Sonu Sood as part of its continued efforts to empower thousands of students by donating Redmi smartphones under the #ShikshaHarHaath initiative. Redmi and Sonu Sood have shared a mutual desire to uplift people’s lives; Redmi through technology and Sonu throu...

Jeff Bezos steps down as Amazon CEO, to focus on other things:  Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos   has announced his retirement from his post and is making way for his successor   Andy Jassy .   Bezos, 57, founded Amazon in 1994 and has since morphed the one-time online bookstore into a mega-retailer with global reach in a slew of different categories from gadgets to groceries to streaming. Amazon surpassed a $1 trillion market cap under Bezos’ leadership in January of last year - it’s now worth more than $1.6 trillion.   Jassy joined Amazon in 1997 and has led Amazon’s Web Services cloud team since its inception. AWS continues to drive much of Amazon’s profit.   “I’m excited to announce that this Q3 I’ll transition to Executive Chair of the Amazon Board and Andy Jassy will become CEO,” Bezos said in a letter to employees. “In the Exec Chair role, I intend to focus my energies and attention on new products and early initiatives. Andy is well known inside the comp...

Subramaniam Swamy asks for CBI probe into RBI scam:  BJP senior leader Subramanian Swamy   has asked for a   CBI enquiry   into the   (Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) functioning . Swamy has asked the SC to direct an investigation by CBI or any other competent authority into the illegalities committed by officials of the RBI in discharge of their official functions, which has resulted in various banking/financial scams in India.   Advocates M R Venkatesh and Satyapaul Sabharwal have assisted him in filing a PIL today at the Supreme Court.   In the petition, they alleged that RBI officials have been in demonstrable active connivance and in grave violations of their statutory duties.   "...no officer of RBI has ever been held accountable for any dereliction of duty in case of any fraud reported by any bank. This is in sharp contrast to the number of frauds exploding in the banking sector in India aggregating to in excess of over Rs 3 lakh crore (Rs th...

Bengaluru to host Aero India 2021 from 3-7 February:  The Department of Defence Production attached to the   Ministry of Defence   confirmed that Bengaluru will host the   Aero India 2021 . It is a biennial air show and aviation exhibition. It is the 13th edition of Aero India and it will be held from February 3 to February 7, 2021, at the Air Force Station in Yelahanka in the city. During this show, manufacturers and service providers from the Indian aerospace and aviation industry meet potential buyers of their products.   On the first day of the show,  Defence Minister Rajnath Singh  will launch the DRDO export compendium. It is a new Procedure for Design, Development and Production of Military Aircraft and Airborne Stores (DDPMAS) document and other documents.   DRDO  will showcase the latest defence technologies and demonstrate many systems. The major attractions will be flying displays of Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C), ...

Union Budget 2021: Focus on vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Start-ups:  The Union Budget turns out to be an excellent budget but not a transformational budget as was made out to be. It has adopted a brilliant strategy of large scale infrastructure rollout, funded by asset monetization of existing road, power lines, gas pipelines and railway assets.   The budget also covers funding of New Education Policy which is what I have been asking for as it will provide the human resources needed for growth in this decade. Adequate provisions have been made for health, education, agriculture, MSME's and startups. Hope there is removal of GST on digital payments and removal of Angel tax as a followup of the budget.   The Union budget 2021 has brought relief for a lot of industries and is poised to take India to greater heights. For start-ups and entrepreneurs, one key highlight from the budget is the capital gains exemption for one more year to 31 March 2022, and secondly they will...

KIC Housing Finance CEO - Siddhartha Mohanty roped in as new LIC MD:  With effect from February 1, the government has roped in   KIC Housing Finance Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Siddhartha Mohanty as the Managing Director of Life Insurance Corp. (LIC) .   The  Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC)  has approved the appointment of Mohanty till his superannuation on June 30, 2023.   Mohanty has succeeded TC Susheel Kumar who is set to retire on January 31, 2021.   “ The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the proposal of the department of financial services for appointment of Shri Siddhartha Mohanty, CEO,LIC Housing Finance as MD, LIC, in the pay scale of Rs.205,400 – Rs.224,400 with effect from the date of his assumption of charge of the post on or after 01.02.2021 and upto the date of his superannuation or until further orders, whichever is earlier”, the government notification said.... Read More

FM Nirmala Sitharaman to presents Union Budget 2021:  Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman  is set to present  Union Budget 2021-22 today . She is likely to use a tablet computer to deliver a paperless Budget address. This Budget assumes greater significance as it comes amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, which has led to massive economic disruption in India. As per  Deloitte , the company’s budget recommendations are anchored around three themes: build a stronger foundation today, prepare for tomorrow’s opportunities, and grow beyond borders to make an impact in the long run. Sitharaman proposes discoms assistance scheme with Rs 3 lakh crore outlay. She is use a ' made in India ' tablet computer to deliver a paperless Budget address. Expectations are high that the government will boost economic revival by focussing on infrastructure, healthcare, agriculture, rural economy, MSMEs sectors impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown restrictions. Government will all...

Dutch newsletter platform Revue acquired by Twitter:  Twitter   on Tuesday announced to enter the newsletter segment by acquiring the   newsletter platform Revue   for an undisclosed amount.   An expert says, during the day, regularly thousands of news are coming and there can be country specific news to send to each region by a newsletter, could grab a good revenue and response both at a time. Where the most relevant news can be posted in the Newsletter, that to country and region specific.   Newsletters aren’t the most obvious fit for Twitter’s platform, but in a blog post, Product Lead Kayvon Beykpour and VP of Publisher Products Mike Park suggested that that this is a new way for Twitter to serve writers and publishers who have built a following with their tweets.   Twitter said that Revue will continue to operate as a standalone product and the platform's Pro features will be made free for all accounts. Revue is a Netherlands-based startup that al...

Whatsapp used to distribute new malware:  Whatsapp   and its users now seem to be in deep trouble as a newly discovered   Android malware   has been found to propagate itself through WhatsApp messages to other contacts in order to expand what appears to be an adware campaign.   "This malware spreads via victim's WhatsApp by automatically replying to any received WhatsApp message notification with a link to [a] malicious Huawei Mobile app,"  ESET researcher Lukas Stefanko  said.   The link upon clicking the fake Huawei Mobile app, redirects users to a lookalike  Google Play Store  website.   Once installed, the wormable app prompts victims to grant it notification access, which is then abused to carry out the wormable attack. Specifically, it leverages WhatApp's quick reply feature - which is used to respond to incoming messages directly from the notifications - to send out a reply to a received message automatically. ...