Ola Solo, Electoral Bond, EV Policy, Byju's, Bajaj Auto, MMT, Anthropic, etc.

Vaishali Sharma
April 03, 2024

Ola Solo: The Future of Self-Driving Electric Scooters Revealed

Ola Solo Introduction: Announced by Bhavish Aggarwal, CEO of Ola Electric, as the world's first autonomous electric scooter.
Initial Skepticism: Launch initially suspected as an April Fools' prank but later confirmed to be genuine.
Technological Advancements: Features AI, autonomous capabilities, and the proprietary LMAO9000 chip for traffic navigation.
Innovative Features: Includes 'Juice Up' for self-charging, Krutrim voice AI in 22 languages, facial recognition, and a summon feature.
Safety and Convenience: Equipped with a vibrating seat for hazard alerts and supports helmet activation.
Development Status: Engineered entirely in-house, representing a significant leap in two-wheeler technology, with no launch date announced yet.

SBI's Standoff on Electoral Bonds: A Battle of Transparency vs. Commercial Confidence

SBI withheld SOP details for electoral bond transactions, citing "commercial confidence" under the RTI Act.
Transparency activist Anjali Bhardwaj filed an RTI request for these details.
The refusal conflicts with the Supreme Court's directive for transparency in the electoral bond scheme.
The Supreme Court declared the electoral bond scheme unconstitutional and demanded full disclosure.
SBI's non-compliance includes not disclosing bond details as ordered by the Supreme Court.

India's Open Door: New EV Policy Welcomes Global Players, Including China

No Import Restrictions: India's new EV policy allows the import of electric vehicles from all countries, including China.
Import Duty Concessions: Companies investing USD 500 million in manufacturing units in India will receive import duty concessions.
Lower Customs Duty: A reduced customs duty of 15% applies to a limited number of imported EVs costing above USD 35,000.
Domestic Manufacturing Boost: The policy is designed to stimulate the domestic manufacturing of EVs and expand the Indian EV market.
Import Limits: There are strict limits on the number of imports per company to prevent market saturation.
Concerns and Support: While there are concerns about Chinese firms entering the market, many experts support the policy for its potential to make India a global manufacturing hub for EVs.

Byju's Triggers Controversy by Phoning in Layoffs, Skips Notice Period.
Over 43 Crore Digital Transactions Monthly in India, Confirms Finance Minister.
Defence Market Growth Estimated at 13% Annually Till 2030, Says Jefferies.
Bajaj Auto Achieves 25% Sales Rise in March Wholesales.
Domestic Car Sales Hit Record 4.23 Million, Growing Nearly 9%.
$10 Billion Investment by Haldia Petchem for South India Chemical Project.
PepsiCo India Announces Rs 1,266 Crore Investment for New Madhya Pradesh Facility.

MoU Sealed by MakeMyTrip, Singapore Tourism to Encourage Indian Travelers.
Bharat Biotech and Bilthoven Biologicals Join Forces for Polio Vaccine Production.
Upcoming Apple Launch: AirPods Lite This Year, AirPods Max in Development.
Meta Continues to Refute Netflix's Access to Facebook's Private Messages.