Archives April 2026

New Delhi, Apr 28 (BNP): Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has said that the proposed bullet train project in South India will be a major step in transforming regional rail connectivity and modernising India’s transport network.

He said the high-speed rail corridor reflects the government’s vision to extend next-generation railway infrastructure beyond western India and strengthen connectivity across key southern cities and economic centres.

The Minister noted that the project is expected to significantly cut travel time, improve passenger experience, and support faster movement between major urban and industrial hubs, thereby boosting economic activity in the region.

Officials indicated that planning and technical assessments are in progress, with focus on advanced rail technology, safety systems, and globally benchmarked infrastructure standards.

The initiative is part of India’s broader push to develop high-speed rail corridors aimed at improving mobility, enhancing regional integration, and supporting long-term economic growth.

Apr 28 – Accountants and financial advisers are increasingly switching to allowing monthly fee payments to help ease the financial pressure on clients and themselves, new research* from Premium Credit, a leading provider of finance for businesses, shows.

 Nearly two out of five (37%) questioned said cashflow at their business suffered last year and almost all (95%) said clients struggling to pay fees was the main or a contributory factor in the squeeze on cashflow.

 However more than four out of five (85%) expect cashflow to improve over the next 12 months including 15% expecting cashflow to improve significantly over the period. More than half (52%) say that their client base has expanded over the past three years. Just 4% say their client base has shrunk.

 The improvements are against a backdrop of more accountants and financial advisers allowing clients to pay fees monthly. Almost all (97%) say they allow clients to pay fees monthly over an extended period of time. Research** last year found just 70% were doing so.

 Almost all (96%) questioned say they would consider allowing clients to pay fees monthly if asked – that compares to 68% in last year’s survey. There was similar strong support (98%) for offering clients the option to spread the cost of tax bills through instalments.

 The study found that accountants and financial advisers are seeing signs of financial strain among clients as the table below shows. More than 25% say that over five in 10 clients are in poor health or on the verge of failing.

 Nearly two out of three (66%) accountants and financial advisers surveyed say HMRC is getting tougher on tax arrears and debts. That is double the 33% who believe HMRC has become more understanding.

 Recent tax rises affecting SMEs such as Employers’ National Insurance and increases in the minimum wage have hit SME businesses, the survey found. Around half of accountants and financial advisers surveyed (48%) say the Government changes have reduced staff and recruitment at firms they work with while 47% say it has cut profits.

 Jennie Hill, Chief Commercial Officer, Premium Credit (Specialist Finance) said: “Accountants and financial advisers continue to show real flexibility and creativity in how they support clients, while also ensuring their own fees are paid on time.

 “We’re seeing increasing use of monthly payment options being offered, and it’s clearly making a difference. More accountants and advisers are feeling optimistic about their cashflow for the year ahead. Enabling clients to spread the cost of fees through convenient monthly payments benefits everyone — it improves affordability for clients, supports timely payment, and reduces risk to both the business and the client relationship.”

Bengaluru, April 28: India’s Manufacturing, Engineering and Infrastructure (MEI) sector has recorded a Net Employment Change (NEC) of 6.6% for HY1 FY2026–27, strengthening from 5.5% in the previous half-year, according to the TeamLease Employment Outlook Report (EOR). With 70% of MEI employers planning workforce expansion, the sector ranks among the top three industries by hiring intent nationally, signalling a shift from cyclical recovery to structured expansion.

This acceleration is being driven by a clear build-up in industrial investment cycles and policy-led momentum across the MEI ecosystem. The National Manufacturing Mission’s integrated push across clean-tech manufacturing, semiconductor ecosystem development, and PLI frameworks is supporting structured talent creation across the value chain. Semiconductor investments across Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka are expected to generate approximately 1 million jobs across fabrication, ATMP, chip design, and supply-chain functions by 2026–28. In parallel, Industry 4.0 adoption is reshaping demand toward higher-value, digitally enabled roles across plant operations and engineering design.

As industrial execution deepens, functional hiring within MEI continues to reflect strong alignment with capital deployment cycles. Plant engineering, automation engineering, project management, ATMP operations, and sustainability-linked manufacturing roles remain core demand areas. Engineering as a function reflects execution continuity, with 33% of employers planning growth and 46% maintaining stable headcount, indicating sustained capex-driven activity rather than speculative hiring. Growth continues to concentrate in EV ecosystems, renewables, and advanced manufacturing capabilities.

Geographically, MEI hiring is consolidating across established and emerging industrial corridors. Chennai leads city-level expansion intent at 24%, followed by Pune at 20% and Bengaluru at 18%. In Pune, for instance, hiring momentum is supported by proximity to manufacturing clusters and engineering R&D ecosystems. At the state level, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Gujarat continue to anchor manufacturing employment generation through automotive, semiconductor, and EPC project pipelines.

As this industrial expansion continues, compensation trends reflect rising demand for specialised engineering capability. MEI sector salary increments for FY2026–27 are projected at 9.4%, placing the sector in the ‘Sustainable Growth’ cluster, ahead of IT at 8.9%, Banking at 8.8%, and Insurance at 8.7%. At the city level, Chennai and Pune lead salary increments at 9.8% each, reinforcing their position as key MEI talent hubs.

Structural regulatory changes are reshaping MEI workforce design, with 64% reporting higher employment costs and 80% revising salary structures. Around 20% are rebalancing permanent, fixed-term and contract roles, while 62% are upgrading HRMS and payroll systems, reflecting a shift toward digitised compliance and more structured workforce governance across manufacturing, engineering and infrastructure operations. 

Commenting on the findings, Balasubramanian A, Senior Vice President, TeamLease Services, said,

“Manufacturing, Engineering and Infrastructure is no longer in a recovery phase. The +6.6% NEC reflects sustained investment pipelines across semiconductors, clean energy and advanced manufacturing. What is evolving is the nature of workforce deployment, which is becoming more digital, more specialised and increasingly positioned at the intersection of engineering and technology. Organisations building capability in these areas today are likely to secure a structural advantage as industrial capex cycles mature.” 

The MEI sector is moving into a more consolidated phase of expansion, with workforce decisions increasingly anchored in execution efficiency and integrated project delivery. As industrial ecosystems scale across manufacturing, energy transition and infrastructure buildouts, organisations are sharpening focus on specialised capability deployment and system-led workforce alignment. This reflects an industrial landscape where sustained productivity and coordinated execution across value chains are emerging as key differentiators of performance and scale.

These insights are based on a survey of 1,268 employers across 23 industries and 20 cities, conducted between November 2025 and January 2026. 

 

New Delhi, Apr 27 (BNP): India has witnessed a strong rise in women’s participation in the workforce, with the women’s employment rate increasing to 39% in 2025 from 22% in 2017, Labour and Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Tuesday.

Speaking at an event in the capital, the Minister said the improvement reflects expanding job opportunities for women across sectors and growing inclusion in both formal and informal employment.

He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several enabling reforms and initiatives have helped improve women’s access to employment and economic participation.

Steady Rise in Workforce Participation

Mandaviya also highlighted that the Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLFPR) has increased from 23.3% in 2017–18 to 40% in 2025, indicating a steady improvement in women’s engagement in the labour market.

He said the trend reflects a broader structural shift in India’s economy, with more women entering diverse sectors, including services, digital platforms, and emerging industries.

Focus on Digital and Platform Economy

The Minister was speaking at the SwigStree event in New Delhi, which focused on women’s participation in the platform and gig economy.

Officials noted that increasing involvement of women in such sectors is contributing to financial independence and broader economic empowerment.

The government said continued focus on skill development, digital access, and employment-linked initiatives will further strengthen women’s participation in India’s workforce in the coming years.

Taipei, Taiwan – Apr 28: AVer Information Inc., an award-winning provider of AI audio-video solutions, announces the MT500 Matrix Tracking Box, designed as the successor to the industry-favorite MT300 to empower venues like large lecture halls, government chambers, and corporate boardrooms to manage multi-camera setups effortlessly. With native Dante AV-H1 and NDI® support2, the MT500 removes the “cable mess” of traditional Pro AV, allowing high-quality video and audio to travel over a single standard network cable. Besides, the MT500 delivers dual 4K video outputs for simultaneous lecture capture and in-room display alongside hassle-free AI features. This new addition to AVer’s line of Matrix Tracking Boxes is a remarkable all-in-one device that delivers seamless, high-impact communication.

Multi-Camera Tracking and Switching for Higher Engagement

With built-in PTZ Link Premium, the MT500 connects AVer cameras to 8 world-leading microphone brands together to create synchronized Voice Tracking while intelligently switching between diverse camera angles based on voice location, always providing the best angle of the active speaker. It employs AI algorithms to understand the “flow” of a conversation, switching angles naturally to maintain visual interest.

AI-Driven Automation for Minimized Manual Effort

The MT500 incorporates a suite of AI features to ensure a clear and professional visual experience for every participant. By automating focus, switching, and configuration, FaceFocus, IntelliSwitch, and InstaConfig3 provide zero-touch multi-camera adjustments. Together, these innovations strengthen operational efficiency by eliminating manual technical setups and reducing the configuration time required for complex hybrid environments.

Key Benefits at a Glance

The MT500 Matrix Tracking Box redefines how organizations approach multi-camera environments by prioritizing ease of use and professional results. Key benefits include:

• Operational Efficiency: Eliminates the need for a dedicated human operator through fully automated AI tracking and switching.
• Versatile Distribution: Serves two audiences at once with dual-output streams for simultaneous in-room and remote viewing.
• Seamless Integration: Reduces technical overhead by unifying NDI®, Dante®, and local audio mixing into a single, compact hub.
• Optimal Visual Engagement: Ensures remote participants feel included with broadcast-quality, and the most professional angle of every speaker.
• Long-Term Peace of Mind: Drives higher student retention and stronger corporate alignment backed by AVer’s industry-leading 5-year warranty.

Bhubaneswar, Apr 28 (BNP): The Government of Odisha has announced plans to establish Heatwave Relief Centres across the state to support citizens amid continuing severe heatwave conditions.

Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said the government is closely monitoring the situation and has intensified preparedness measures in coordination with district administrations.

He added that detailed discussions have been held with collectors of all 30 districts to strengthen heatwave response systems and ensure timely implementation of safety measures.

Public Advisory in Place

The state government has urged people to avoid outdoor activities between 11 am and 3 pm, when heat intensity is at its peak. Citizens have also been advised to minimise non-essential travel during these hours.

Workers and labourers have been instructed to avoid outdoor work during peak heat periods to reduce the risk of heat-related illnesses.

Healthcare and Public Support Measures

The government has directed departments concerned to set up drinking water kiosks in public areas to ensure easy access to safe drinking water.

Special arrangements for heatstroke treatment and emergency care have been made available at all Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Community Health Centres (CHCs) across Odisha.

Phased Rollout of Relief Centres

Officials said Heatwave Relief Centres will first be established in the most heat-affected districts and later expanded across the state based on requirement.

These centres will provide temporary shelter, drinking water, and basic medical assistance to citizens affected by extreme temperatures.

The initiative aims to strengthen Odisha’s heatwave response framework and reduce health risks during the peak summer season.