Punjab offers uninterrupted power supply to IT firmsAugust 19th, 2009 CHANDIGARH - The Punjab government is offering various sops to information technology (IT) companies operating in the state, including a 24-hour uninterrupted power supply, in order to boost the sector, a government official said here Wednesday. "No economy can grow only on the shoulders of agriculture and we have to give a boost to the IT and service sector.
Recruitment in Bengal IT sector may slump due to meltdownJanuary 14th, 2009 KOLKATA - The recruitment in the information technology (IT) sector in West Bengal is likely to be lower than the target set by the government due to the global economic meltdown, state IT minister Debesh Das said here Thursday. 'Last year we generated employment for around 15,000 people in the IT sector and this year we had set a target of 20,000.
IT bill to get more teethFebruary 4th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The government will add stringent clauses to the IT Amendment Bill, 2008, to ensure data protection and cyber security, a top official said here Thursday. Speaking at a seminar on 'IT Amendments Bill 2008-Entails for Corporate India', organised by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Assocham), IT Secretary Jainder Singh said: 'The ministry would shortly come up with fresh regulations to be added to IT Amendment Bill 2008 as there was criticism that the bill takes little care of the identified issues.'
He said the bill in its existing form 'does not ensure adequate punishment for stealing of corporate data'.
President confers Indira Gandhi Prize on Bill GatesJuly 25th, 2009 NEW DELHI - President Pratibha Patil on Saturday presented the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development to Microsoft founder Bill Gates for his charity work. Gates received the prize on behalf of his 38 billion dollars Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Analyst sees slump in offshore IT sector bottoming, but upturn not yet visibleAugust 24th, 2009 Analyst sees offshore IT sector slump bottomingA Wells Fargo analyst upgraded the offshore information technology and business process outsourcing sector on signs that its business slump may be bottoming. Jennifer Fritzsche raised her rating on the sector to "Market Weight" from "Underweight." While cautioning that a business upturn is not yet apparent, she said there are signs the market is stabilizing especially in financial services as well as the North American market.
Bill Gates receives Indira Gandhi prize for his foundation's work in IndiaJuly 25th, 2009 Bill Gates receives Indira Gandhi Prize in IndiaNEW DELHI — Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates on Saturday received the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development from India's president, a government statement said. The prize recognizes his work with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
US H-1B proposal is against free trade principlesApril 24th, 2009 NEW DELHI/WASHINGTON - India's software industry has opposed a US bill that seeks to make it mandatory for American companies to fill vacancies with locals before turning to skilled foreign workers. 'The stated objective of the bill is to prevent fraud and visa abuse.
Bill Gates to receive Indira Gandhi Peace Prize todayJuly 25th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Microsoft founder Bill Gates will receive the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development here today. The award will be received on behalf of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which has been providing grants for public health activities, notably in the areas of HIV/AIDS prevention and communication.
Two lakh new IT jobs in Kerala in two years: AchuthanandanOctober 10th, 2009 THRISSUR - Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan Saturday inaugurated the third IT park in the state - Phase 1 of Infopark Koratty - and said that nearly 200,000 jobs in information technology sector would be created in the next two years.
Bill Gates says US curb on skilled migrant labour will be a 'mistake'July 24th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Microsoft founder Bill Gates Friday said it would be a "big mistake" if the US imposes curbs on the entry of skilled workers from abroad, putting his weight behind "smart people" from countries like India who want to work overseas. "I can't make any predictions.
Indian IT should get ready to face global competition: Azim PremjiJune 13th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Wipro chief Azim Premji has asked the Indian IT industry to get ready to face the global competition, and not fall into a mind trap of 'India Advantage'. "We have talked a lot about India advantage.
NASSCOM chief sees US visa limits as 'business killer'October 1st, 2009 WASHINGTON - The head of an Indian trade group fears proposals in US Congress to limit visas for foreign high-tech workers would be a "business killer" for India's burgeoning information technology industry and would not reduce US unemployment. Som Mittal, president of India's National Association of Software and Service Cos.
Congress tries to figure out how much power government should have in securing Web in a crisisSeptember 26th, 2009 How much government control of Web in cybercrisis?WASHINGTON — There's no kill switch for the Internet, no secret on-off button in an Oval Office drawer. Yet when a Senate committee was exploring ways to secure computer networks, a provision to give the president the power to shut down Internet traffic to compromised Web sites in an emergency set off alarms.
In cybercrisis, what's government's role in protecting the Internet? Congress sorting it outSeptember 26th, 2009 What's government's role in making the Web secure?WASHINGTON — There is no kill switch for the Internet, no secret on-off button in an Oval Office drawer. Yet when a Senate committee was exploring ways to secure computer networks, a provision to give the president the power to shut down Internet traffic to compromised Web sites in an emergency set off alarms.
Employment outlook under severe strain: StudyDecember 27th, 2008 NEW DELHI - Financial services, information technology, consumer goods, retail and real estate sectors have witnessed the maximum decline in the creation of new jobs because of the economic slowdown, a leading business chamber has said. The Assocham Research Bureau, which tracked job vacancy data in 30 sectors to analyse the creation of new jobs in the economy, found that the 'employment outlook of India has come under severe strain'.