VOL XXIV, ISSUE 17

15 September 2023

Industry Scan

          INDUSTRY  SCAN                                                                           

       General

Ather Raises Rs 900 Crore From Hero MotoCorp And GIC

Electric vehicle start-up Ather Energy announced it has raised Rs 900 crore from existing shareholders Hero MotoCorp and global investment firm GIC through a rights issue. The funds will be used for new product development, launches, and expansion of the start-up’s charging infrastructure and retail network. Notably, its revenue jumped 4.4 times to Rs 1,783 crore from Rs 408 crore in FY22. Compared to 30 stores last year, it now has 130 stores in India. According to data sourced from Vahan portal, the start-up had registered 74,248 electric scooters in India during the last eight months. In 2022, it had registered 51,804 electric scooters.

Source: By Mukul Yudhveer Singh, https://www.electronicsb2b.com/, September 06 2023

EV Car Sales: Leaders Continue Podium Positions With MoM Dip During August 2023

In what appears to be a significant pointer towards the future of electric cars in India, the August 2023 registrations of passenger electric four-wheelers (PE4Ws) were a mixed bag of Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). While Tata Motors continued to enjoy its leadership (at number one) in the PE4Ws domain, its registrations (for TATA PASSENGER ELECTRIC MOBILITY) fell approximately 14% Month on Month (MoM). In August 2023, the OEM registered 3750 electric vehicles, while in July 2023, it had registered 4340 units of the same. Please note that Tata Motors and Mercedes are registered under different names on the Vahan Portal, and this report has indicated all of them.

Source: By Mukul Yudhveer Singh, https://www.electronicsb2b.com/, September 04, 2023

BMW Group and Qualcomm Demonstrate Continued Momentum to Redefine Next-Generation Vehicles With Snapdragon Digital Chassis Technologies

BMW Group and Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. today announced the companies’ have extended their technology collaboration beyond driver assistance and automated driving technologies, bringing the latest Snapdragon Digital Chassis Solution advancements to power BMW Group’s new vehicles for safer, smarter and sophisticated experiences to drivers and passengers.  Leveraging both companies’ expertise in innovation, BMW is working with Qualcomm Technologies as the automaker’s systems solutions provider, to utilize the latest generation of the Snapdragon® Cockpit Platform to power BMW Group’s new in-vehicle experiences, as well as the Snapdragon® Auto Connectivity Platforms for 5G connectivity to bring ultra-fast and seamless connectivity to vehicles with new BMW iDrive generation “QuickSelect” and new Operating Systems 8.5 and 9.

Source: https://www.qualcomm.com/, September 05, 2023

Hyderabad Firm Unveils India's First AI-Powered Anti-Drone System

A Hyderabad-based robotics firm has unveiled a state-of-the-art autonomous anti-drone system, powered by artificial intelligence. The system can protect not just vital installations like nuclear installations and oil rigs, but also a wide area encompassing even an entire city, from multiple drones of any kind. This is the first time such a system has been developed in India. This advanced full-spectrum drone security system capability was demonstrated live on the outskirts of Hyderabad by Grene Robotics, a deep-tech company that specialises in providing AI-powered security solutions for defence, enterprise, and government sectors.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/, September 04, 2023

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Information Technology

Gartner Identifies the Top Strategic Technology Trends in Software Engineering Trends for 2023

 Gartner, Inc. announced the top strategic technology trends in software engineering for 2023 and beyond. Analysts presented these findings during the Gartner Application Innovation & Business Solutions Summit, which is taking place here through today. The top strategic technology trends for software engineering fall into three distinct categories. The developer enablement theme brings together trends for enabling developer teams to release their full potential. The second theme focuses on enhancing teams with AI technologies and the third theme focuses on trends in scaling software development.

Source: https://www.gartner.com/, September 14, 2023

IT, AI and Data Science most sought-after courses by Indians looking to study in Australia

Information Technology (IT), Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Science were the top courses that students from various colleges in Chennai enquired about at the Study Australia Showcase organised by the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Australian Government agency) on Tuesday. Around 20 Australian universities participated at the event. Students wanted to know about courses pertaining to IT, Design and Pharmacy. A lot of students were keen on neuromorphic engineering at the education fair.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/, September 12, 2023

Why Indian IT service companies are losing their allure among students

Nitin Gupta, a 23-year-old engineering graduate from SVCE Nellore in Andhra Pradesh, received a job offer from Mindtree in April 2022 before its merger with L&T Infotech. Cut to August 2023, a year-and-a-half and multiple rounds of pre-onboarding training tests later, his offer has been revoked. Reason: He failed a pre-onboarding test in July 2023. “There is a disparity between the score my trainer gave me and what the management says I have scored. There is no clarity from them as to how the scores are different,” says Gupta.

Source: https://www.businesstoday.in/, September 17, 2023

Global IT hardware companies bat for lifting of import restrictions

 Computer manufacturers such as HP, Dell, Acer and Asus, which have applied for the revised production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme, have urged the government to lift the import restrictions on IT hardware or give enough time for a local ecosystem to form before implementing the licensing requirement. In a meeting with IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, held earlier this week, the companies said the import licensing requirement puts "unnecessary pressure" since there is no ecosystem in place in India at present to manufacture these products such as laptops, tablets and servers, executives present at the meeting told ET.

Source: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/, September 01, 2023

HP to expand manufacturing to consumer laptops as part of PLI 2.0: Sources

 Market leader Hewlett-Packard (HP) has taken a big step towards bolstering its presence in the Indian manufacturing landscape. With over 30 per cent market share in the Indian PC space for 2022 (as per IDC), HP has formally applied for participation in the Production Linked Incentive scheme 2.0 (PLI 2.0).  Sources at the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) told Business Today that with the participation in the PLI 2.0, HP is eyeing an expansion of its manufacturing operations to include consumer PCs within the country. As per the threshold of the scheme, HP is expected to invest between Rs 250–300 crore for manufacturing in the country.

Source: https://www.businesstoday.in/, August 31, 2023

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Telecom

Indian Telcos to Refund Money to Users Who were Overcharged: TRAI

The Indian telecom operators have been asked to return any excess amount they have charged from the consumers. According to a new order from the telecom regulatory body, if an audit proves that the telcos have overcharged their customers, then for such instances, the telcos will have to refund the money. Further, the refund has to be done within 3 months of receiving the slip from the auditor that the customers have been overcharged. The new measure is a part of the 'Quality of Service (Code of Practice for Metering and Billing Accuracy) Regulations, 2023,' dated September 11, 2023.

Source: https://telecomtalk.info/, September 14, 2023

DoT forms working groups to drive telecom exports in 5G, 6G, satellite gear & other segments

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has formed eight working groups under the ambit of Telecom Equipment and Services Export Promotion Council (TEPC) to position India as a leading exporter of telecom technologies. The working groups have been constituted in key focus areas, including Collaborations of OEMs and System Integrators; Telecom Standardisation and Testing; Radio, Wireless and Satellite Equipment; Wireline, Optical and Transmission, and many others. The formation of the abovementioned working groups follows TEPC’s all-industry meeting with the telecom secretary, said N.G. Subramaniam, Chairman, of the Telecom Equipment and Services Export Promotion Council.

Source: https://telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com/, September 14, 2023

Elon Musk's Starlink likely to get approval from Telecom Ministry for starting services in India: Report

Elon Musk's Starlink is likely to get approval from the telecom ministry to start offering its services in India. A report by The Times of India while quoting sources noted, "A high-level meeting is slated for later this month and Starlink's proposal for a global mobile personal communication by satellite (GMPCS) services licence is expected to be taken up there." he meeting is likely to give an approval to the proposal, though we cannot rule out certain last-minute hiccups that may cause some more delays. Notably, Reliance Jio and Sunil Mittal's One Web have already secured the GMPPCS license in India.

Source: https://www.livemint.com/, September 12, 2023

SC junks PIL seeking to scrap Centre's relief to stressed telecom sector

The Supreme Court has dismissed a PIL seeking cancellation of Centre's decision of September 15, 2021 to grant relief to the stressed telecom sector from paying statutory dues, saying these are all matters of policy and decision-making is on the basis of experts' opinion. In a breather to telecom service providers struggling to pay Rs 93,520 crore of Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) related dues, the top court on September 1, 2020 gave them a 10-year period to clear their outstanding amount to the government.

Source: https://www.business-standard.com/, September 10, 2023

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EV’s & Auto Electronics

India's Transition to Electric Vehicles Powered by Three and Two Wheels

In India, most electric vehicles are not cars, but three wheelers that ferry passengers and deliver goods or two wheelers used for personal mobility. Accounting for 90% of the country's nearly three million electric vehicles, they are at the forefront of India's transition to clean transportation. That is not surprising — in developing countries like India, these vehicles provide an affordable means of transport. In the case of electric rickshaws, they help decarbonize small trips. Their popularity has grown as subsidies by the federal and state government for manufacturers, along with tax incentives, drive down costs. Spiraling petrol costs in recent years have made them more attractive.

Source: By njana Pasricha, https://www.voanews.com/, September 13, 2023

World EV Day: How India Became One Of World's Fastest Growing Electric Vehicle Market

Electric vehicle sales in India have seen steady growth, credits to the benefits like cost-efficiency and lower carbon footprint associated with it. Two-wheelers and three-wheeler electric vehicles have taken the lead to drive this growth while the EV segment saw sales of over 1 lakh units every month in the first half of 2023. Three-wheelers made up a sizeable 36 percent of the category, while two-wheelers made up 58 percent of the market for electric vehicles. Furthermore, reports suggest over half of India's three-wheelers sold in 2022 were electric.

Source: By Amulya Raj Srinet , https://zeenews.india.com/, September 12, 2023

Government considers legal action against electric 2-wheeler manufacturers for FAME II non-compliance: PTI

The government is exploring legal options against electric two-wheeler companies for not complying with the FAME II scheme norms, according to a senior government official, PTI reported. The centre has sought Rs 469 crore from seven electric two-wheeler makers, for claiming incentives but not adhering with the FAME II (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles) Scheme norms. The government is seeking a refund of incentives from Hero Electric, Okinawa Autotech, Ampere EV, Revolt Motors, Benling India, Amo Mobility and Lohia Auto, PTI reported.

Source: https://www.autocarpro.in/, September 13, 2023

‘Say bye to diesel’: Centre warns automakers of higher taxes in pollution fight

The Union road transport minister on Tuesday said he will propose an additional 10% tax ondiesel vehicles and warned automakers of even higher levies to come to force them away from diesel-burners and cut fuel emissions and pollution. Nitin Gadkari made the comments at the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) annual conference in New Delhi, where executives of Tata Motors, Mahindra and Mahindra , Maruti Suzuki and foreign carmakers such as Mercedes and Volkswagen had gathered.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/, September 12, 2023

India charges ahead on the global electric vehicle map, shows Gartner data

A total of 15.4 million electric vehicles (EVs) will be shipped globally in 2023, with cars accounting for 97.1 per cent of the market, according to a forecast by research firm Gartner. This data was released ahead of World EV Day, which falls on September 9. The forecast for 2023 indicates that electric buses and vans will record 200,000 shipments each. Total shipments are expected to reach 18.5 million in 2024. EV sales in India are on the rise, according to data from JMK Research. Sales increased by 173.6 per cent to 1.25 million in 2022–23 (FY23), up from 460,000 in the previous year. In 2018-19, the figure was 150,000.

Source: https://www.business-standard.com/, September 15, 2023

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Defence & Solar

India’s Air Power Soars: New Airbus C-295 Aircraft Set to Revolutionize Defense

As the Indian Air Force (IAF) prepares to mark its 91st anniversary this October, a momentous event is on the horizon that promises to enhance India’s military strength. Later this month, the IAF is set to welcome its inaugural Airbus C-295 tactical military transport aircraft, marking a significant stride in bolstering the nation’s defense capabilities, particularly in light of potential threats from neighboring China and Pakistan. Air Marshal V R Chaudhari, the Air Force chief, is gearing up for a journey to Seville, Spain, where the delivery of the first C-295 aircraft will take place.

Source: By Huma Siddiqui, https://www.financialexpress.com/, September 13, 2023

India-France vow to bolster defence ties and foster global cooperation

At the conclusion of the two-day G20 Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday affirmed to bolster Indo-French defense ties, forging a collaborative path in the design, development, and production of advanced defense technologies and platforms, even extending this cooperation to benefit third countries in the Indo-Pacific region. Their commitment to this partnership was reiterated during discussions held on the sidelines of the G20 Summit. A joint statement highlighted their aspiration for the prompt finalisation of the Defense Industrial Roadmap.

Source: https://www.cnbctv18.com/, September 10, 2023

'Strategic partnership with india has never been more dynamic': us state secretary antony blinken

Hailing the bilateral partnership between India and the United States on Wednesday, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said that the strategic partnership between the two countries has never been more dynamic. He said that India and the US are teamed up on everything, be it the advanced semiconductors or defense cooperation.

The US State Secretary further spoke at length on the QUAD (Quadrilateral Dialogue) alliance and said, "We’ve elevated the Quad partnership with India, Japan, and Australia to deliver for our countries and the world on everything from manufacturing vaccines to strengthening maritime security to addressing climate challenges.

Source: https://www.indiandefensenews.in/, September 14, 2023

G20 puts spotlight on small modular reactors: india's next game-changer in clean energy

Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), mentioned in the G20 declaration, are compact versions of traditional nuclear reactors. Unlike their larger counterparts, they can produce up to 300 MW of power and are quicker to build because they're pre-made and assembled on-site Energy Times. G20 nations recognized the potential of civil nuclear energy in their final declaration released on 9 September. Particularly, the Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are now in the spotlight. These reactors are compact with a capacity under 300 MW and can be set up faster, making them a promising choice for the future of energy. Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) makes them great for areas with limited power infrastructure, even in remote locations. They can also run without refuelling for decades.

Source: https://www.indiandefensenews.in/, September 14, 2023

Platform developed to carry out quantum experiments by iisc bangalore

Quantum computers can solve certain computational problems much faster than ordinary computers by using specific quantum properties. The basic building blocks of such machines are called quantum-bits or qubits. Qubits can be realised using several physical platforms such as nuclear spins, trapped ions, cold atoms, photons, and using superconducting Josephson circuits. Several such qubits operate in the microwave frequency domain, and require specialised room temperature microwave electronics for control and readout of the quantum states of the qubits.

Source: https://www.indiandefensenews.in/, September 14, 2023

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Consumer Electronics

Consumer durables stocks look ready for a comeback

Investor appetite for consumer durable companies is showing signs of revival driven by expectations of a pick-up in capital expenditure cycle that could boost the revenues of these companies. With the festive season around the corner, analysts are expecting demand to surge over the next couple of months. 3M India, Crompton Consumer, Havells India, Orient Electric, Syrma SGS, TTK Prestige, Whirlpool, Symphony, Voltas, Polycab India, and KEI Industries are among the preferred consumer durable stock picks.

Source: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/, September 08, 2023

Tata Electronics makes mobile parts worth Rs 463 crore in FY23

Tata Group, which started operations of its electronics contract manufacturing unit last year, produced mobile phone parts worth Rs 463 crore in 2022-23, regulatory disclosures by Tata Electronics Show. Tata Electronics is a newly floated entity in the electronics manufacturing services (EMS) space, competing against the likes of Foxconn and Dixon. In its filings to the Registrar of Companies (RoC), the company said most of the technologies used for the production are new to India and it has now built indigenous capability around these technologies.

Source- By Writankar Mukherjee, https://retail.economictimes.indiatimes.com/, September 12, 2023

Samsung mulls setting up 5G gear production hub in India.

Samsung Electronics is evaluating the prospects of making India a hub for manufacturing 5Gequipment. The South Korean conglomerate is considering India alongside Vietnam for its plans to find an alternative to China for expanding production. However, the plan is still at an early stage and is likely to take time to materialize. The company sees this as part of a larger opportunity, wherein the Indian market has the potential not only for 5G but also for higher generation of gear. Samsung is mulling the production of telecom gear, as it has been successfully operating facilities for various consumer electronics products, including smartphone in India.

Source: https://www.projectstoday.com/, September 13, 2023

Apple to sell Made-in-India iPhones on launch day for first time

For the first time, the new iPhone model you buy on the launch day could be made in India. Apple Inc. plans to make the India-built iPhone 15 available in the South Asian country and some other regions on the global sales debut day, people familiar with the matter said. While the vast majority of iPhone 15s will come from China, that would be the first time a latest generation, India-assembled device is available on the first day of sale, they said, asking not to be identified as the matter is private.

Source: https://gulfnews.com/, September 12, 2023

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EMSIF

(Special section of the MSME related news under ELCINA Micro & Small Industry Forum)

Private labels offer Indian MSMEs an export pathway

India’s strategic focus on linking Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to global value chains, as highlighted at G20 meetings and through our Foreign Trade Policy, 2023, is undeniably a step in the right direction. The MSME sector is one of our largest employers, accounting for 29.2% of GDP and 36.2% of manufacturing output in 2021-22. However, the share of MSMEs in our exports has declined from 49.4% in 2020-21 to 43.6% in 2022-23. While the Indian economy is on a fast-growth trajectory, considering the global economic outlook, MSME exports are going through a tough time. In this uncertain global scenario, the role of MSMEs as drivers of India’s growth and employment cannot be undermined. To enhance their output, enable exports and bolster their overall contribution to India’s economy, multiple steps can be taken.

Source: By Arpita Mukherjee, https://www.livemint.com/, September 13, 2023

How msmes and homegrown businesses added colour and flair to the G20 summit

From Kashmir’s Pashmina shawls to Puducherry’s terracotta handicrafts, from Odisha’s Pattachitra paintings to Paithani sarees and Kolhapuri slippers of Maharashtra, and more, India’s rich art and crafts were on full display at the recently concluded G20 summit in New Delhi. Nearly 200 artists and traditional homegrown businesses proudly showcased their products to world leaders and foreign delegates, thus adding colour and flair to the event and gaining global recognition. According to the exhibitors and participating enterprises, the G20 summit's success has created new avenues to facilitate global trade and given a fillip to MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises).

Source: https://yourstory.com/, September 13, 2023

PM Modi to launch PM Vishwakarma scheme, linking artisans to MSME value chain

 Prime minister Narendra Modi to launch the PM Vishwakarma scheme to support artisans and workers on 17 September. The scheme will be launched at the India International Convention & Expo Centre, Dwarka in the national capital, Delhi. Under this program, beneficiaries will receive ₹15,000 each as toolkit incentives via e-vouchers or eRUPI. Additionally, they will have access to collateral-free enterprise development loans at a reduced interest rate. As an added benefit, artisans will receive ₹1 for each transaction, with a maximum limit of 100 transactions per month, as outlined in a presentation prepared by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.

Source: https://ddnews.gov.in/, September 13, 2023

Tata Power subsidiary inks MoU with SIDBI for MSME solar financing; Stock up

 Shares of Tata Power jumped nearly 1 percent in early trade on September 13, after its subsidiary signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with SIDBI on September 12. ata Power Solar Systems Limited (TPSSL) has signed an MoU with the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) to offer an easy financing option for MSMEs. At 9:17 am the Tata Power stock was trading 0.82 percent higher at Rs 265.10 on NSE. TPSSL and SIDBI launched ‘The Big Solar Fest’ offering customized & innovative financing solutions with zero processing fees for solar loans, according to a BSE filing on September 12.

Source: By SHIVAM SHUKLA, https://www.moneycontrol.com/, September 13, 2023

PARAM Utkarsh: What’s high performance computing system for MSMEs, others by govt; see details

The MSME Ministry has urged micro, small and medium enterprises to use the High-Performance Computing System (HPC) PARAM Utkarsh to reduce their turnaround time to market and increase innovation potential. Set up by Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) as part of the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM) to carry out research and development activities in IT, electronics and associated areas, the HPC “offers Artificial Intelligence over machine learning and deep learning frameworks, compute and storage as a cloud service,” according to the details available on HPC portal.

Source: https://www.financialexpress.com/, September 13, 2023

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ELCINA EVENTS , ACTIVITIES & SERVICES 

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ELCINA Publications

https://elcina.com/roadmap-for-developing-pcb-eco-system-in-india	Roadmap For Developing PCB Eco-System in India Key Findings Indian PCB market and industry size in terms of domestic production, exports, and imports Growth drivers and challenges (needs & gaps) in the Indian PCB industry Growth potential of PCB manufacturing in India and identify enablers for creating & strengthening the domestic value chain Key inputs required viz. investments, technology, and infra eco-system Details of key PCB value chain players – global and domestic, who can be invited to invest to establish a strong PCB industry
https://elcina.com/ems-task-force-report-on-market-industry-analysis-of-ems-sector-in-india	EMS Task Force Report Key Findings Currently EMS Industry (Contract Manufacturing Services) are valued 832 Bn $ and are projected to grow 1055 Bn by 2025. Domestic electronics manufacturing is estimated at USD 75 Bn of which 39 Bn constitutes EMS value. This is divided into 23.5 Bn domestic Mfg. and USD 15.5 Bn PCBS/Sub-Assembly imports. Further USD 53.5 Bn is finished Electronic Goods imports of which USD 17 Bn is EMS value. Thus total EMS opportunity loss is US$ 32.5 Bn (15.5 +17). The report estimates that EMS production can grow realistically from USD 23.5 Bn today to USD 152 Bn by 2025 at CAGR of 45%. This will meet 75% of the countries EMS requirement of US$ 203 Bn by 2025 against a total estimated market of 400 Bn.
https://elcina.com/elcina-task-force-report-on-electronic-components	ELCINA Task Force Report on Electronic Components Key Findings Current status of component manufacturing in India – Areas of competence vs Gaps and inadequacies Components which urgently require investments and growth in domestic manufacturing Emerging technology and new components for upcoming opportunities Constraints and bottlenecks to be addressed Overcoming Policy constraints, WTO (ITA-1) deadlock and Zero Duty issue Strategy for overcoming these constraints Eco-System requirements- Role of Central and State Governments
https://elcina.com/elcina-directory-of-indian-electronics-industry	ELCINA Directory of Indian Electronics Industry 2022-23 Description ELCINA Directory of Indian Electronics Industry – includes the updates on Indian Electronics Industry and a host of additional improved features covering business environment, statistical industry scan, company databases plus various projections. This handy compendium with its easy-to-read format attracts the attention of a growing number of users (within India and abroad) Apart from electronics industry, the users of this Directory range from financial institutions, commercial banks, FIIs, Consultancy organizations as well as industry promotion institutes across the world….

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FORTHCOMING EVENTS &  GENERAL INFORMATION 

 Domestic Shows

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