Category news

New Delhi, July 10, 2025: The Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC), as part of its centenary celebrations, hosted Krishi Vikram – Transforming Agriculture for a Secure Future of Viksit Bharat in New Delhi today. The event witnessed a compelling keynote address by Shri Piyush Goyal, Hon’ble Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, who laid out a bold and holistic vision to position agriculture at the heart of India’s $5 trillion economic ambition.

Addressing a diverse audience of policymakers, industry leaders, farmer collectives, and agri-entrepreneurs, Shri Goyal said, “By embracing drip irrigation, natural farming, resilient supply chains, and smart food processing, we have a real opportunity to make Indian agriculture self-reliant and globally competitive. With focused investments, innovation, and public-private collaboration, we can scale our agri-exports from ₹4 lakh crore to ₹20 lakh crore. As a rain-fed agrarian economy, India must make irrigation an economically viable solution for farmers — not just to boost productivity but also to fuel our processed food exports. This is how we transform agriculture into a powerful engine of Viksit Bharat.”

The Minister emphasized a multi-pronged approach to agri-reform—calling for a mass movement around climate-resilient irrigation, energy-efficient farming, high-value exports, packaging and branding, and technology-enabled natural and organic farming. Highlighting India’s rising global footprint in the sector, he cited export success stories from lychees to spices, coffee, and millets, and encouraged stakeholders to think bigger and work as a team to unlock the untapped potential of India’s agri-economy.

He further added, “To truly transform Indian agriculture, we must equip our farmers with advanced technology, sustainable infrastructure, and seamless access to markets. Imagine the impact of energy-efficient pumps—reducing costs, conserving water, and minimizing maintenance. When paired with drip irrigation, the benefits multiply. Our government remains firmly committed to enhancing farmer incomes, building skills, and expanding the global footprint of India’s rich produce—from fruits to high-value horticulture. It’s time to elevate local to global and make agriculture the cornerstone of a prosperous country.”

Echoing the Minister’s sentiments, Mr. Abhyuday Jindal, President, ICC and Managing Director, Jindal Stainless, remarked:

“Agriculture will be the driving force of India’s journey to a $5 trillion economy—linking farmers to global markets through tech, trade, and trust. In Shri Piyush Goyal’s vision, we find the blueprint for an inclusive, export-oriented Viksit Bharat.”

The event also focused on the growing role of agri-entrepreneurship, value chain integration, and reskilling rural youth for modern, high-value agri-jobs. With over 60% of India’s population still dependent on agriculture, the message was clear: transforming Indian agriculture is not just an economic imperative, but a national priority.

Mumbai, July 10, 2025:  Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) under the Ministry of Finance has notified bonds issued by Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd. (IREDA) as ‘long-term specified asset’ under section 54EC of the Income-tax Act, 1961. The notification came into effect from July 9, 2025.

As per the notification, bonds redeemable after five years and issued by IREDA on or after the notification date will qualify for tax exemption benefits under section 54EC, of the Income Tax Act, 1961, which allows capital gains tax exemption on investments in specified bonds. The proceeds from these bonds will be utilised exclusively for renewable energy projects capable of servicing debt through their project revenues, without dependence on State Governments for debt servicing.

Eligible investors can save tax on Long Term Capital Gain (LTCG) up to Rs. 50 Lakhs by investing in these Bonds in a Financial Year. IREDA will get benefit in terms of lower cost of funds, which is a significant development for the renewable energy sector, in turn to support the expeditious development of RE sector.

Welcoming the notification, Shri Pradip Kumar Das, Chairman & Managing Director, IREDA, said, “We are deeply grateful to the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of New & Renewable Energy and Central Board of Direct Taxes for this valuable policy initiative. This recognition by the Government reinforces IREDA’s pivotal role in accelerating renewable energy financing in the country. The tax-exempt status for our bonds will offer an attractive investment avenue while ensuring increased capital availability for green energy projects, contributing to India’s 500 GW non-fossil fuel capacity target by 2030.”

This move is expected to attract wider participation from investors seeking tax-saving instruments and strengthen the renewable energy financing ecosystem in the country.

Mumbai, July 10^th 2025 – OVHcloud, a global player, European cloud leader and pioneer in sustainable cloud computing for over 25 years, today announced the launch of its Environmental Impact Tracker. This tool comes as an enhanced version of the carbon calculator, now covering additional cloud universes and will soon provide a multi-criteria approach.

A highly innovative environmental impact tracking tool

The OVHcloud Environmental Impact Tracker enables customers to have a better understanding and track the carbon emissions associated with their use of  cloud. The tool is an advanced version of the carbon calculator created in 2023 and considered to be the most comprehensive tool of its kind on the market. The Environmental Impact Tracker accurately measures the carbon footprint of infrastructures used for Baremetal, Hosted Private Cloud and Public Cloud Compute products, and will shortly be extended to Public Cloud Storage and Web Hosting. OVHcloud’s methodology for rigorous calculation of carbon emissions has been enhanced to take into account the complexity and variety of its products, enabling a very high level of accuracy and performance.

The OVHcloud Environmental Impact Tracker provides transparent and exhaustive information covering scopes 1, 2 and 3, from the manufacturing phase to the operation of the infrastructure, as well as offering a complete lifecycle analysis, both in terms of the components and carbon footprint linked to the consumption of cloud services. The latter consists of a benchmark based on the market offers, rewarded for its level of methodological achievement and transparency, as attested by the study carried out by the digital responsibility research and expertise firm IJO .

 Enhanced features and criteria for more accurate and transparent information

OVHcloud is continuing to improve its Environmental Impact Tracker by integrating new cutting-edge functionalities. The latest innovations now make it possible to take into account emissions from the usage phase with two angles, using both the average emission factors of the countries and those of the electricity suppliers with which the Group works with, as well as the reconditioning of components during the server assembly phase. These improvements provide OVHcloud customers a better understanding of the carbon footprint of their cloud infrastructure and encourage more sustainable practices.

The Group will also soon be incorporating into the tool not only carbon emissions, but also water, abiotic resources and the impact of land use, offering a multi-criteria approach and mapping.

 “In a world where every action counts, accurately and transparently assessing your environmental footprint is no longer an option – it is a responsibility. As a committed player,  we support our customers in understanding and controlling their impact. That is why we are continually improving our Environmental Impact Tracker, a true market benchmark recognised for its methodological rigour and completeness. We are determined to pursue our commitments to contribute to a more sustainable and responsible cloud industry,” said Grégory Lebourg, Global Environmental Director at OVHcloud.

OVHcloud, a pioneer in sustainable cloud computing for over 25 years

Since its creation, OVHcloud’s mission and practices have contributed to a responsible digital world. Thanks to its many innovations, including the use of its large-scale watercooling technology and its vertically integrated industrial model, the Group’s data centres have among the best PUE and WUE indices (energy and water efficiency scores) in the industry. At the beginning of 2025, the Group was ranked among the top 16% of companies in its sector in the Corporate Sustainability Assessment carried out by S&P Global Ratings, once again demonstrating its commitment to a sustainable cloud.

 Availability and next milestones

The Environmental Impact Tracker is available to all OVHcloud customers worldwide with the exception of the United States. It can be accessed directly from the OVHcloud Manager and via a dedicated API. New features will be gradually integrated over the course of the year: Public Cloud Compute is already available while Storage, Web Hosting and multi-criteria support will be available shortly.

The Indian Express Group and Screen announced Wednesday the launch of Screen Academy, a pioneering not-for-profit initiative that will nurture and showcase exciting new voices in Indian cinema.

With an exciting and fast-growing list of diverse members including Cannes and Oscar winners, Guneet Monga, Payal Kapadia and Resul Pookutty, and veteran screenwriter Anjum Rajabali, the Academy, working with India’s top film institutes, will identify and empower the next generation of filmmakers through education, representation, and recognition.

Established with the generous support of Founding Patron Abhishek Lodha of the Lodha Foundation,  Screen Academy will annually provide postgraduate fellowships to students nominated by their film schools, who demonstrate exceptional storytelling potential but lack the financial resources to pursue formal film education. (For details of the application process visit www.screenacademy.org).

Chief Minister of Maharashtra Shri Devendra Fadnavis said the timing and the location couldn’t be more relevant. “The film industry has an inseparable association with Mumbai. I am thrilled to learn of the inception of the not-for-profit Screen Academy by The Indian Express Group…I am certain that the Indian film industry will benefit immensely from the new filmmaking talent the academy aims to cultivate.”

Said Anant Goenka, Executive Director of The Indian Express Group, who steered the idea of the Academy: “Screen Academy represents a bold step toward institutionalising excellence in the entertainment and culture space. We will create an ecosystem that not only celebrates excellence but actively nurtures diverse and promising talent with both financial aid and access.”

For Abhishek Lodha, the Academy’s work is key to India’s soft power and growth as a global leader in the  creative arts. “The Lodha Foundation is committed to supporting India’s progress to becoming a developed nation by 2047. Films and creative arts are a key strength of our nation and the Screen Academy will play an important role in furthering India’s progress to a global leader in this field. The Lodha Foundation is pleased to partner with the Screen Academy in this ambitious initiative.”

Academic Excellence and Industry Integration

The Screen Academy Fellowships 2025 will cover full financial support for postgraduate studies at premier institutions, Film and Television Institute of India (Pune), Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (Kolkata), and Whistling Woods International (Mumbai). The Academy plans to expand its footprint across the country and add more film schools going forward.

Beyond funding, Screen Academy fellows will benefit from an unprecedented industry mentorship programme featuring India’s top studios and most respected film professionals as Academy members. These industry leaders will provide masterclasses, internships, and ongoing professional guidance.

 Said Dhiraj Singh, Director, Film and Television Institute of India: “ Screen is a very respected name in film journalism. FTII is very happy that a meaningful collaboration is taking shape. I am sure students and the industry will benefit greatly with this scholarship program.”

 Samiran Dutta, Director in charge of the Satyajit Ray institute, said the fellowships will plug a vital gap. “We have talent from diverse and unknown parts of India, not only from urban metros, producing great ideas and fabulous stories. Understandably, some of our students find it difficult to negotiate the expenditure of film education. The Screen Academy fellowship will help in their quest to make great cinema”

“At Whistling Woods International, we believe that access to quality education can transform lives. This scholarship, in collaboration with the IE Screen Foundation, ensures that financial constraints do not come in the way of creativity and ambition. It’s a partnership rooted in shared values — excellence, inclusivity, and a deep commitment to nurturing the storytellers of tomorrow,”said Meghna Ghai Puri, President Whistling Woods International

Selecting the fellows will be a panel headed by Anjum Rajabali, the veteran screenwriter and film academician. “This hugely generous initiative offers much-needed support to young people to avail of formal education in the craft, for which the film, TV, and the OTT sector will be grateful for having access to this talent pool. These scholarships will help in driving up the quality of writing and filmmaking here.”

Screen Academy Members reflect a diverse list with representation across the industry.

• Guneet Monga– Oscar-winning Producer
• Payal Kapadia – Cannes Grand Prix winner and Golden Globe nominee
• Resul Pookutty– Oscar-winning Sound Designer
• Ronnie Screwvala– Founder of RSVP Films and Upgrad
• Subhash Ghai– Director/Producer and Founder Whistling Woods International

Full list of Screen Academy members will be released shortly on www.screenacademy.org

Recognition of Excellence

In addition to its educational mission, Screen Academy will oversee the prestigious Screen Awards, recognising artistic brilliance, cultural excellence, and technical innovation across Indian entertainment. Academy members will serve as the voting body, ensuring industry credibility and expertise guide the recognition process.

To ensure excellence, Screen Academy has established a Resident Critics Panel which includes Dr Priya Jaikumar, Professor of Cinematic Arts in the Division of Cinema and Media Studies at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, Priyanka Sinha Jha (Curator of Screen Awards); Shubra Gupta (The Indian Express Film Critic); Nikhil Taneja (Co-Founder of We are Yuvaa); and Anjum Rajabali (screenwriter and Head of Screenwriting at WWI and FTII).

“The Academy will grow to define rigorous criteria, categories, and evaluation standards to ensure fairness and credibility in honouring outstanding contributions to cinema, music, theatre, regional cinema and other allied art forms,” said Priyanka Sinha Jha.

National, July 10, 2025:  This Amazon Prime Day, GRIPIT, a leading enabler of global brand expansion in India, is bringing a world of innovation straight to Indian homes. Known for curating and delivering cutting-edge international products to Indian consumers, GRIPIT is spotlighting a premium lineup of global tech brands—each redefining how Indian consumers clean, power, live, and connect.

From smart home devices to portable energy solutions and lifestyle innovations, GRIPIT is transforming the e-commerce experience in India through partnerships with globally trusted brands. These include Narwal, offering intelligent robotic vacuum cleaners with sleek aesthetics; EcoFlow, known for portable power stations that deliver reliable off-grid energy; CHUWI, makers of high-performance laptops for everyday needs; LOOP, offering stylish earplugs for sound protection and focus; XGIMI, creators of portable projectors for immersive cinematic experiences; BISSELL, a globally trusted name in cleaning equipment solutions; OBSBOT, known for AI-powered cameras built for creators and professionals; and Yale, world-renowned for smart locks and home security systems.

Commenting on the announcement, Sagar Mehta, Co-founder & CEO, GRIPIT said, “At GRIPIT, our mission is to bridge global innovation with Indian accessibility. Amazon’s Prime Day is the perfect moment for Indian consumers to experience premium international products, backed by local service, reliable delivery, and strong after-sales support. We’re not just offering deals—we’re delivering world-class experiences.”

To make the customer experience seamless, GRIPIT is doubling down on service excellence with free installation across metros like Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Chennai and more. The virtual installation support team ensures that even customers in remote areas receive assistance. With an extensive network of 330+ service partners, GRIPIT is committed to resolving service requests within seven working days, setting a new industry benchmark for support in the tech retail space.

Additionally, in a move to make global tech even more accessible, GRIPIT will soon launch its dedicated mobile app. This app will allow customers to book live demos, schedule free doorstep product trials, and explore the latest in international innovation with a few taps on their smartphone.

Surat, July 10, 2025 – The Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI) successfully hosted a landmark Garment Conclave in Surat on July 5, 2025, at Avadh Utopia. This full-day event was strategically designed to explore and accelerate Surat’s potential as a major garment manufacturing hub, building on its strong textile foundation.

The event, organised by the Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI) – Gujarat Regional Office and powered by the Institute of Design and Technology (IDT), marked a milestone as the first National-level Conclave to be held in Surat. The Conclave unfolded across multiple engaging presentations and panel discussions covering topics such as brand building, artificial intelligence (AI) in manufacturing, sustainability, government policies, and MSME schemes, with participation from Senior officials from the Gujarat and Chhattisgarh governments and the United Nations.

The Conclave commenced with a crucial session focusing on the Gujarat Government’s New Textile Policy. Shri K.C. Sampat, MD, INDEXTB, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to supporting the industry. Subsequently, Shri Naresh Babuta, GM, SIDBI, highlighted the institution’s emphasis on the MSME sector, particularly the garment industry. Billmart also presented its bill discounting solutions, aiming to streamline working capital for Surat’s businesses.

A key highlight was the participation of top leaders from prominent apparel brands like Ashish Dixit, MD, ABFRL, Namit Shrivastava, Ethnics by Raymonds, Jitendra Chauhan, CMD, Jade Blue, Manohar Chatlani, Co-Owner, Soch, Santosh Katariya, MD, Peppermint, Madhukar Sharma, Pantaloons, and Deepak Ahuja, Westside who delivered insightful presentations. They showcased garments crafted from Surat fabrics and expressed a strong willingness to collaborate with and integrate Surat manufacturers into the ready-made garment sector. Acclaimed Fashion Designer Nivedita Saboo further inspired attendees by sharing her positive experiences working with Surat and highlighting the immense opportunities ahead.

The Conclave also addressed critical industry trends with dedicated sessions on Sustainability and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Representatives from the United Nations, Ms. Radhika Kaul Batra and Dr. Pankaj Kumar, contributed to the sustainability discussion, alongside Parvinder from GATS, sharing practical industry experiences. The AI session, presented by FYND, generated significant buzz and was highly interactive, demonstrating the industry’s keen interest in technological advancement.

Speaking at the conclave, Santosh Katariya, President, CMAI stated, “Surat is firmly establishing itself as a leading garmenting hub. Rising as an MMF powerhouse, Surat provides an integrated supply chain and well-developed trade infrastructure, uniquely positioned for significant growth. We are observing increased attention from global brands, a testament to Surat’s immense potential, particularly amidst instability in other garment-producing regions. This vital sector not only contributes significantly to the local economy through employment and revenue but also holds a collective vision to elevate our garment manufacturing to new global heights.”

Naveen Sainani, Hon. Gen. Secretary & Chairman-ESG Committee, CMAI, expressed “For India’s domestic apparel industry, embracing sustainability is an urgent, strategic imperative, not just a global trend. As conscious consumers increasingly demand ethical choices, our industry must transform. CMAI has spearheaded this commitment through the SU.RE project, encouraging Indian manufacturers and brands to integrate sustainable practices, fostering a cleaner environment and a responsible fashion future for our nation.”

Dr. Ajoy Bhattacharya, Chairman, Gujarat Regional Committee, stated “I am delighted at the tremendous response received by the Conclave from the Surat Industry. More than 450 attendees thoroughly appreciated the insights they received during the one-day Conclave, and express my sincere gratitude to the dedicated team of Mayur Golwala, Vishal Paheriwal, Vikas Agarwal, and Anupam Goyal for making this Conclave a huge success.”

Adding a vibrant dimension to the Conclave was “FASHIONOVA 2025,” a dynamic fashion show powered by the Institute of Design and Technology (IDT). Students of IDT showcased their creations, with a strong emphasis on sustainable fashion. A special sequence dedicated to “Operation Sindoor” further enhanced the show’s impact and message. IDT also provided comprehensive support in organizing the entire Conclave.

This event marks a significant milestone in Surat’s evolution, solidifying its position not just as a textile powerhouse, but as an emerging leader in India’s ready-made garment industry.

In response to the flash floods that have impacted the communities in Karsog, Dharampur, Pandoh, and Thunag in Mandi district, Nestlé India is stepping forward to provide assistance to those affected. It has pledged to donate 5,000 essential grocery kits to the Government of Himachal Pradesh; a gesture aimed at alleviating the hardships faced by families during this challenging time.

The grocery kits, which were officially handed over to the Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Mr. Mukesh Agnihotri, include staple items such as wheat flour, rice, cooking oil, sugar, salt, pulses, spices, and other essential food products. Each grocery kit has been created to sustain a family of four for over 15 days.

Kunwar Himmat Singh, Director of Corporate Affairs at Nestlé India, expressed the company’s commitment to support the affected communities. “We sincerely hope that our contribution will help provide much-needed food supplies to the people of Mandi. Nestlé India stands in solidarity with Himachal Pradesh during these difficult times, and we are committed to support relief efforts in any way we can,” he stated during the meeting with the deputy Chief minister.

Mumbai, July 9^th,2025: Embassy Group has announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Education, Government of Karnataka, to support the holistic development of Government Schools across Bengaluru. The three-year agreement, effective from May 2025 to April 2028, aims to provide educational resources, infrastructure upgrades, and comprehensive health programs across 40 Government Schools, with a proposed budget of ₹15 crore. This MoU builds upon a successful partnership first established in 2018.

As part of the renewed collaboration, Embassy will implement educational programmes including annual distribution of starter kits with learning resources; programmes for Math, Sports, Kannada and English; after-school academic support for weaker distribution; scholarships for higher education; career guidance and mentorship; educational tours and industry exposure; and additional salaries for guest teachers and full-time teachers.

Under the programme, Embassy will strengthen school infrastructure through repairs, renovations and new builds, undertake daily school maintenance, and provide a preventive health & hygiene programme that improves academic and personal outcomes. The goal is to transform these institutions into centres of excellence for holistic learning and well-being.

Since 2012, Embassy Group has been providing sustainable infrastructure solutions in government schools. To date, 21 new government schools have been constructed, with 3 more schools currently under construction. 15 governments schools have benefited from solar panels, while drinking water units have been installed in 23 schools.

Speaking on the MoU renewal, Dr. K V Trilok Chandra, IAS, Commissioner of Public Instruction, Department of School Education, Government of Karnataka, said, “We are pleased to extend our partnership with Embassy Group for another three years to strengthen a holistic initiative that integrates foundational learning with life skills, and preventive healthcare—including regular school maintenance—across Government schools in Karnataka. This collaboration serves as a model for sustainable development in education—demonstrating the impact of consistent, long-term support for the communities. We hope it encourages more corporates to step up and be part of a collective movement that supports in creating more Model Schools in Karnataka and leaves no child behind.”

Ms. Shaina Ganapathy, Head of Community Outreach, Embassy Group, added,
“At Embassy, we believe that a strong public education system is fundamental to building an empowered and equitable society. We are proud to renew our partnership with the Department of Education and remain committed to opening new educational doors for Bengaluru’s underprivileged students. We hope this initiative encourages more like-minded organizations to collaborate with the Department of Education to create meaningful, long-term impact.”

By Sundar Balasubramanian, Managing Director for India and South Asia, Check Point Software Technologies

Operational resilience in the context of cyber security means strengthening an organization’s ability to respond to crises. It must be prepared for disruptions, whether caused by attacks, technical failures, or human error. In addition, it must be able to respond quickly and recover sustainably. There is no definition yet, but the BSI Group uses the term “organizational resilience” and defines it as follows: “Organizational resilience is the ability of an organization to absorb shocks and adapt to a changing environment in order to achieve its goals, survive, and thrive.” Derived from this and tailored to the role of the CISO, operational resilience aims to protect organizations from cyberattacks in such a way that both economic survival and ongoing operations are equally secured.

CISOs are shaping operational resilience as a strategic management goal. They are taking responsibility and embedding their goals in corporate strategy.

The CISO’s job is to create the technological, procedural, and organizational conditions necessary for IT security in their company. They create a security architecture aimed at resilience, drive the integration of interoperable platforms, and establish processes for continuous risk monitoring. In addition, they ensure the development of incident response and backup capabilities as well as the meaningful use of threat intelligence information. At the same time, the CISO acts as a bridge between traditional IT, the business, management, and specialist departments. They pursue the goal of embedding security measures in the company strategy, creating clear responsibilities, and building a resilience-promoting corporate culture. In short, they must create operational resilience.

Supporting this shift, India’s evolving tech landscape is witnessing a sharp rise in demand for talent in areas like cyber security (up 215%), cloud (16%), and data analytics (256%), as per Quess Corp’s Annual Digital Skills Report FY24. These skills are foundational to helping CISOs build scalable, secure, and responsive IT environments. As Indian enterprises intensify digital transformation, CISOs are not only protecting systems—they’re actively shaping hiring strategy and driving enterprise-wide resilience from the ground up.

Operational resilience requires technological resilience

Unlike operational resilience, however, this approach focuses purely on providing crisis-proof technology. Together, the two ensure resilience in maintaining ongoing operations. Technological resilience requires modular, fault-tolerant systems with strong automation and continuous testing and validation loops. An effective resilience strategy is based on the interoperability of security technologies via open interfaces, integrated data management, and a consolidated platform architecture. Only then can sub-disciplines and technologies such as XDR, EDR, cloud security, IAM, and zero trust work together as core components. Resilient teams are interdisciplinary, DevSecOps-oriented, and closely integrated with the business. Building an adaptive security platform in the form of a hybrid mesh architecture creates transparency, automation, and rapid responsiveness. However, this is crucial for resilience in an increasingly complex threat landscape. Technological resilience basically describes an organization’s ability to remain functional and recover quickly despite technical disruptions, attacks, or failures.

This involves identifying various core components and competencies.

These include:

• System redundancy,
• Modularity, e.g. fail-open vs. fail-close in terms of fault tolerance,
• automated recovery via infrastructure-as-code,
• cyber resilience integration, e.g., via zero trust,
• deception,
• threat hunting,
• table top exercises, and
• concrete testing & simulation via chaos engineering or red teaming approaches.

Coordination and interoperability

CISOs must coordinate security technologies and ensure their interoperability. Their goal is to create a harmonious, holistic security ecosystem rather than a collection of individual solutions. They are responsible for maintaining an overview of the so-called “security sprawl,” i.e., the jungle of providers. Unfortunately, the knee-jerk reaction of consolidating providers, i.e., reducing the number of security tools, is often taken too early as a solution. In contrast, deeper integration with a platform provider with a proven ecosystem is the much better choice.

CISOs should therefore not commit to a single provider, but rather focus on the right ecosystem and keep an eye on technological harmony. In a crisis, technologies must be able to interact and be managed via a single platform; a multitude of partial solutions and platforms makes detection and defense more difficult. If, for example, some of the security systems are bypassed during a cyberattack, interconnected systems could still monitor the behavior of the malware and report it via the platform. While working together, they can then detect and thwart the attack at an early stage. Establish a culture of error In addition, it is important to build resilient security teams. These teams are characterized by interdisciplinarity, DevSecOps orientation with clearly defined roles and responsibilities within a “failure culture.”

Security teams must repeatedly train together for emergencies in order to prove their resilience. Specialization does not necessarily help if silo thinking prevails. It is important to work together harmoniously in extreme situations. CISOs should establish a form of “Growth Through Mistakesnight” in their teams. No one is perfect, and mistakes happen, especially in stressful situations. That’s why it’s important for managers to support their teams and cushion them from pressure coming from all directions, whether it’s from senior management, individual departments, or external sources such as service providers or customers. However, such a culture must not operate in silos. It should enable the results of regular training and experience gained from security incidents to be discussed openly with one another. If the insights gained are transferred into your own practices, a robust error culture emerges in which the CISO can rely on their team in an emergency, but the team can also rely on their CISO.

Digital payments have made everyday transactions faster, easier, and more accessible for millions of users across India. As this convenience grows, it is important for users to remain aware and informed. Safe payment practices are simple to follow and go a long way in ensuring secure digital experiences.

• Always check before you pay: Before making any payment, check the name that appears on the screen. Make sure it is the person or business you want to pay. Taking a few seconds to confirm can help avoid mistakes.
• Use only trusted payment Apps and websites: Make payments only through official and well-known Apps or websites. Do not download Apps or click on links sent by people you do not know or trust.
• Do not share your PIN or OTP with anyone: Your UPI PIN, OTP, or bank details are private and confidential. Never share them with anyone, even if they say they are from a bank or police or any government office.
• Do not rush into any payment: If someone asks you to make a payment quickly or share your details urgently, take a moment. You can always say you will check and call back. It is okay to take your time.
• Keep payment alerts on and check them often: Turn on SMS and App notifications for your payments. Read each alert carefully. If something looks wrong, contact your bank or payment App immediately.

By adopting a few mindful habits, every user can ensure they take charge of their digital safety. With awareness and responsible use, digital payments can continue to be a trusted and empowering part of daily life. Report suspicious number to the national cybercrime helpline by dialling 1930 or the Department of Telecommunication (https://sancharsaathi.gov.in/sfc/). Save messages, take screenshots and document interactions. This can help authorities if you need to file a report.