-The Hindu Local firms will be at a disadvantage if big tech companies are given plum roles Since early last year, WhatsApp has busily piloted its payment system in India. WhatsApp Pay relies on the Indian government’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) system to facilitate inter-bank transactions. Regulatory approval that would allow its nation-wide introduction is stuck on one point: the Indian government has asked WhatsApp to localise all data processing related to...
More »SEARCH RESULT
Rajya Sabha clears bill on voluntary use of Aadhaar as ID proof -Shreya Nandi
-Livemint.com * The law ensures that no one is denied any service for not having Aadhaar as ID proof * An Aadhaar holder can now opt for offline verification through QR code with consent The Rajya Sabha on Monday passed The Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019, allowing voluntary linking of the 12-digit identification number as part of know your customer guidelines to open bank accounts or get a Mobile connection. The law...
More »How WhatsApp messages from Bhutan are saving lives in Assam -Shailendra Yashwant
-Scroll.in/ The Third Pole Flash-flood warnings routed through NGOs are giving border villages precious lead-time to escape the wrath of suddenly rising rivers. In the last few weeks of June, a series of WhatsApp messages were sent from Bhutan to India to warn cross-border friends downstream of the Aai, Saralbhanga and Manas rivers about cloud-bursts, swollen rivers and possible flash floods affecting people in the Indian state of Assam. Although originating from officials,...
More »Penalty, jail term to private entities storing Aadhaar data -Bindu Shajan Perappadan
-The Hindu Lok Sabha clears Aadhaar amendment Bill amid stiff opposition. The Lok Sabha cleared the Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019 by a voice vote on Thursday. The Bill replaces an Ordinance promulgated on March 2 and provides for a stiff ?1 crore penalty and a jail term to private entities for storing Aadhaar data. It also makes the use of Aadhaar voluntary for opening a bank account, securing a Mobile phone...
More »Agricultural reforms and urban accountability key to water management -Joydeep Gupta
-TheThirdPole.net Between wasteful flood irrigation, free electricity to farmers, and skewed market incentives, agriculture is a mess; while lack of accountability creates urban water problems in South Asia The 2019 South Asian summer monsoon is late, slow and inadequate so far. If it makes up somewhat for lost time, those 55% of Indian farmers who do not get irrigation water will still suffer, but there is a chance that reservoirs may fill...
More »