Tech startups raise $4.1 billion in 1st half of 2024, India remains 4th-highest funded globally

Bengaluru, June 20, 2024
Indian tech startups raised $4.1 billion in the first half this year (January to June to date), a 4 per cent increase from $3.96 billion in the second half of 2023, a report showed on Thursday, as the country witnessed three unicorns along with 17 IPOs in this period.

India remains the fourth-highest funded country globally in the tech startup landscape. The US led in overall funding volumes, followed by the UK and China, according to Tracxn, a leading market intelligence platform.

The month of April saw the highest monthly funding ($862 million) in the first half of 2024.

Bengaluru led the space in terms of total funds raised, followed by Mumbai and Hyderabad.

Retail, enterprise applications and fintech were the top-performing sectors in H1 2024 in this space, the report mentioned.

“Despite four consecutive half-year periods of declining funding since H1 2022, we are now showing signs of stabilization, going upward. India’s robust performance as the fourth-highest funded country in the tech startup ecosystem is encouraging,” said Neha Singh, Co-Founder, Tracxn.

Seed-stage funding increased to $455 million, up by 6.5 per cent from H2 2023. Early-stage startups maintained a steady funding amount of $1.3 billion, consistent with H2 2023.

Late-stage funding rose to $2.4 billion, marking a 3.8 per cent increase from H2 2023.

The first half of 2024 witnessed eight funding rounds surpassing $100 million, such as Flipkart’s $350 million round led by Google; Apollo 24|7’s $297 million round and Meesho’s $275 million funding round.

Logistics company Porter was the third unicorn in the first half of this year, after AI startup Krutrim and B2B SaaS company Perfios.

Some of the top companies that went public were TBO, TGIF Agribusiness, Radiowalla and Trust Fintech.(Agency)

Big success in anti-terror Ops, says Army on killing of two terrorists in J&K

Srinagar, June 20, 2024
Security forces said on Thursday that the killing of two terrorists in J&K’s Baramulla district was a big success in anti-terrorism operations.

Two terrorists were killed on Wednesday in Haripora village of Baramulla’s Rafiabad area during an encounter.

They were identified as Usman and Umar from whose possession a large quantity of arms and ammunition was recovered.

Security forces said that Usman had been active in the Valley since 2020.

Addressing a media conference in the Pohrupet area of Baramulla district, the Commander of 7 sector Rashtriya Rifles, Brigadier Deepak Kumar said, “High operational momentum of security forces is bearing good results. For the last two days, there were continuous inputs about the presence of terrorists in Sopore’s Rafiabad area.”

“On June 19, specific information was generated by the J&K Police about the presence of terrorists in a house at Hadipora, Rafiabad, after which the Army, police and CRPF launched a joint operation.

After zeroing in the house, two terrorists were eliminated in an encounter. The two slain terrorists were affiliated with the LeT outfit and have been identified as Usman and Umar.”

“The killing of two terrorists is a big success for the security forces. Since the past few weeks, there is a high operational momentum which is bearing good results in the form of elimination of terrorists,” Brigadier Deepak Kumar.

The Army officer was accompanied by senior police and CRPF officers during the media briefing.(Agency)

T20 World Cup: Arshdeep to be an important factor in India-Afghanistan clash, says Robin Singh

New Delhi, June 20, 2024
Robin Singh, the former India all-rounder, believes left-arm fast-bowler Arshdeep Singh could become an important factor for the side ahead of starting their 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup Super Eight campaign against Afghanistan at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados on Thursday night.

Since 2022, Arshdeep has been the find for India in T20Is, more so with the new ball. He picked ten wickets to be India’s leading wicket-taker in 2022 T20 World Cup.

In the ongoing tournament, Arshdeep has been decisive with his left-arm angle and ability to move the ball both ways as well as produce a sharp bouncer, seen from his seven wickets in three games – four of which came against USA.

“I think Arshdeep will be important in the match, because especially in Barbados, where the wind is a factor. So, considering that he takes the ball in, as well as he takes the ball away from the right-handed batter as well as the left-hand batter, which makes him an important factor for sure in the match,” said Robin in an exclusive conversation with IANS.

Another pleasing factor for India has been vice-captain Hardik Pandya rediscovering his bowling rhythm after a lacklustre IPL 2024, to take seven wickets in three games so far. Robin, who’s played 136 ODIs for India, thinks Hardik’s good bowling returns are a big plus for the Rohit Sharma-led side.

“I think (its good) on several accounts. One is personally, he is bowling close to his best. It’s good to see him taking up wickets. More importantly, it’s good to see him fitting into an Indian squad, where he makes a huge difference with the balance of the team and performing for the side.

That is the main thing, as at the end of the day, you are playing for India. So, you need to go out there and give your best. I think he has stepped up to the plate.”

Having fast-bowling spearhead Jasprit Bumrah at the peak of his power also adds to India’s advantage, feels Robin. “It’s almost like having an extra bowler in your side, if I may say so. So, it gives you that huge advantage. It also puts a fear among batsmen who are going to play against him.”

“So, it gives him that advantage as well. Importantly, he himself is a super confident guy. He is able to deliver at any given point in time. So, that is the most critical thing. I hope that he does the same for the tournament.”

In the bowling department, with Axar Patel doing an underrated but crucial job for India with both bat and ball, there’s pressure on Ravindra Jadeja to step up in Super Eights. Robin signed off by expressing confidence over Jadeja coming good in the decisive phase of the competition.

“See, in all these things, this is the format of T20. Sometimes you do a lot, sometimes you don’t get an opportunity. But, it’s important to stay confident. I’m pretty sure, when the opportunity arises, Jadeja will deliver. He’s been somebody who’s a seasoned campaigner. So, these guys really know how to step up and it’s important.”(Agency)

Rajeev Khandelwal says Yoga is real workout, enhances potential of other workouts

Mumbai, June 20, 2024
Ahead of International Yoga Day on Friday, actor Rajeev Khandelwal, a sceptic, shared that his journey into the world of yoga has been nothing short of life-changing.

“I always treated yoga as a form of exercise for those who are lethargic and don’t want to indulge in the ‘real’ workout,” said Rajeev.

The actor said: “As I stepped into the world of yoga, I realised how wrong I was. If I were to compare the two, I would say yoga is the real workout, which also enhances the potential of other workouts.”

The actor emphasised that yoga has not only improved his physical fitness but has also significantly boosted his performance in other physical activities.

“Yoga has made my running better. My gym workouts give me much better results by cutting down the chances of injuries.”

Among the myriad of yoga poses, Rajeev’s favourite is the headstand.

“I love headstands. They give me a sense of balance between my mind and body. I have mastered the art of doing it and can show off the pose anywhere, anytime,” he said.

His most transformative experience with yoga has been through the practice of pranayama, the ancient art of controlled breathing.

“For me, the most transformative experience has been the breathing techniques. I was never the type who would even try it,” he confessed.

“Now I wake up early only to do my pranayama. It kept me going even when I was Covid-positive. I didn’t take any medication. I just did my pranayama thrice a day.”(Agency)

RBI Governor urges banks to adopt AI for reducing risk of fraud

Mumbai, June 20, 2024
RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das on Thursday underlined the importance for banks and NBFCs to adopt advanced and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning (ML) to prevent financial fraud.

Addressing the Global Conference on Financial Resilience here, the RBI Governor said, “Integrating advanced and emerging technologies such as AI, ML and big data analytics in organisational functioning can transform the way financial institutions operate.

AI and ML can enhance predictive analytics and enable banks and NBFCs to identify potential risks and trends more accurately. These technologies can improve fraud detection by recognising unusual patterns and transactions in real time. Thus, they can protect the institutions and their customers from financial crimes and frauds.”

“As the financial sector gets increasingly digitised, adoption of advanced technologies can significantly strengthen the ability of banks and NBFCs to withstand and respond to various risks. It has to be, however, ensured that these technologies are secure, reliable and aligned with the institution’s overall strategic goals,” Das said.

He observed that operational efficiency can be improved through the automation of routine tasks, which reduces human error and frees up resources for more strategic activities. Robotic process automation (RPA) can handle high-volume and repetitive tasks, such as data entry and transaction processing, more quickly and accurately than humans, the RBI Governor added.

Das also pointed out that as financial institutions increasingly rely on advanced technologies to enhance their operations, the dependence on third-party vendors and service providers may increase.

A vendor’s inability to deliver services reliably can directly impact the regulated entity’s operations and customer service. Therefore, thorough due diligence becomes necessary before selecting third-party vendors, he added.

The RBI Governor also observed that while the pursuit of business growth is important for banks and NBFCs, it should never come at the expense of taking on unacceptable risks.

Robust risk mitigants are essential for ensuring the long-term success and resilience of a regulated entity as well as the overall financial system, he added.

Das also highlighted the importance of ethics in the governance of financial institutions which involves compliance with laws and regulations, both in letter and spirit; pursuit of sustainable business practices; and avoidance of mindless pursuit of bottom lines.(Agency)

‘Mirzapur 3’ trailer promises bigger doses of blood, gore, deceit and drama

Mumbai, June 20, 2024
The trailer for the upcoming season of the fan-favourite streaming series ‘Mirzapur’ was unveiled on Thursday at a five-star property in the Bandra area of Mumbai.

The trailer highlights the battle for control over the Purvanchal region, with the town of Mirzapur as the epicentre of power. It shows Ali Fazal’s character, Guddu, breaking down the statue of Pankaj Tripathi’s character, Kaleen Bhaiyya, at a busy intersection in the titular city as he announces, “Kaleen Bhaiyya gone, Guddu Pandit on.”

The fight becomes fierce, with different contenders eyeing the seat as they play politics and carry out violence to tip the scales in their favour. Like previous seasons, the series this time around is going to have innovative ways of murder and killing as per the trailer.

The show also stars Shweta Tripathi Sharma, Rasika Dugal, Vijay Varma, Isha Talwar, Anjumm Shharma, Priyanshu Painyuli, Harshita Shekhar Gaur, Rajesh Tailang, Sheeba Chadha, Meghna Malik, and Manu Rishi Chadha.

Set in India’s hinterland, ‘Mirzapur’ narrates the fictional story of the city of Mirzapur.

Director and Executive Producer Gurmmeet Singh shared: “The first two seasons of ‘Mirzapur’ proved to be game changers for the crime thriller genre in the streaming space in India.

With ‘Mirzapur 3’, we strive to build on the momentum and take the narrative to a whole new level, exploring new facets and dimensions of each character’s life replete with new plot twists. We are incredibly excited for fans to witness the showdown for Mirzapur’s throne unfold in the new season.”

He further mentioned, “The stakes have gone notches higher, and the canvas has surely become bigger. After a hiatus of three and a half years, we, just like our viewers, cannot wait for the global premiere of ‘Mirzapur 3’.”

Produced by Excel Media & Entertainment and directed by Gurmmeet Singh and Anand Iyer, the series is set to stream on Prime Video from July 5.(Agency)

‘Ishq Jabariya’ actress Siddhi Sharma’s favourite Yoga pose is ‘Trikonasana’; it makes her flexible

Mumbai, June 20, 2024
Actress Siddhi Sharma has shared insights into her daily yoga routine, revealing that Trikonasana is her favourite pose and discussing how it helps her manage stress amid her busy schedule.

Siddhi, who portrays Gulki in ‘Ishq Jabariya’, opened up about her personal journey and the profound impact yoga has had on her life.

The actress said: “I dedicate 15 minutes every morning to practising yoga, which significantly aids in managing my stress and navigating my busy schedule.

Trikonasana is among my favourite poses, as it stretches my legs, back, and hips, enhancing my flexibility and mobility. This daily yoga practice contributes greatly to maintaining my overall physical and mental well-being.”

Discussing the advantages of maintaining a regular yoga routine, she emphasised: “Regular yoga practice offers numerous benefits. It enhances energy levels, makes you feel more lively throughout the day, and contributes to overall health and mental clarity. Even a few minutes of daily yoga can significantly improve sleep quality, ensuring you wake up refreshed and ready for the day ahead.”

“Just as they say, ‘An apple a day keeps the doctor away’, I believe, ‘A few minutes of yoga keeps stress away’. Yoga has truly changed my life, bringing me a sense of balance and inner peace that has positively impacted my life.

As an actor, yoga has played a crucial role in my career by helping me stay grounded, focused, and emotionally connected to my roles, ensuring I bring authenticity and depth to my performances,” she added.

‘Ishq Jabariya’ also stars Kamya Panjabi and Lakshya Khurana.

The show is a romantic drama set in Begusarai, Bihar.

The story follows Gulki, a determined young woman who dreams of becoming an air hostess. Despite facing cruelty from her stepmother, Gulki holds on to her dreams. Her journey is full of surprises that could lead her to discover love in unexpected places.

It airs on Sun Neo.(Agency)

Waisale Serevi named head coach of Indian rugby men’s and women’s teams

Mumbai, June 20 2024-

The Indian Rugby Football Union also known as Rugby India appointed World Rugby Hall of Famer, Waisale Serevi as the new head coach of the national men’s and women’s 7s teams.

“The core impetus for all of us at Rugby India is to do better today than we did yesterday. To go one step further every day in our quest to compete with the world’s best. Ergo, it is a privilege for us to welcome Waisale Serevi as the head coach of the Indian National 7s teams. We wish him the best and are excited to see him mold the future of Indian Rugby,” said Rahul Bose, president of Indian Rugby Football Union.

Waisale Serevi is a former Fijian rugby union football player and coach and is a member of the World Rugby Hall of Fame. Serevi is renowned for his achievements in rugby sevens, while also enjoying a long career in fifteen-a-side rugby at both club and national team levels. Renowned globally as the “King of 7s”, he is widely considered to be the greatest rugby sevens player in the history of the game. He was also an advisor on behalf of world rugby to the International Olympic Committee,for the inclusion of Sevens Rugby in the Olympics.

A five-time cup winner at the prestigious Hong Kong Sevens, Serevi steered Fiji to their first world series title in his first year as player-coach in 2005-06. His most recent stints in coaching are with the Rhinos Rugby USA, Jamaica National Sevens Rugby Team, Russia National Sevens Rugby Team.

“It is an honour and privilege for me to be part of the Rugby family in India, I am grateful and I thank god for the opportunity. From Japan, England, France, the USA, I have now made my way to India. 14 years ago, Rugby was relatively unknown in the USA, I’ve done a lot of work there. India today is at a similar crossroads. India and Fiji hold a close relationship. It gives me great pride to be a Fijian coming to India, to help them take Rugby to the next level,” said Waisale Serevi, head coach (7s) of rugby India. (Agency)

India becomes third-largest domestic airline market

New Delhi, June 20 2024-

Driven by robust growth in the aviation sector in the last decade, India is now the third-largest domestic airline market in the world, up from 5th position 10 years ago.

Ten years ago, India was the smallest market with around 8 million seats, followed by Indonesia at 4th and Brazil at 3rd place, and the US and China occupying the top two positions.

Today, the US and China remain the largest domestic aviation markets.

“However, India is surpassing the Brazilian and Indonesian domestic markets to become the third-largest domestic market with airline capacity of 15.6 million seats in April 2024,” according to OAG data.

India’s capacity growth rate of seats over a 10-year average is the highest, growing at 6.9 per cent annually.

“India is the fastest growing market across all five domestic markets we considered. China was close behind with annual growth of 6.3 per cent between 2014 and 2024, and there is a much smaller growth rate in the US and Indonesia,” according to the data.

According to the OAG report, another interesting metric to consider across these large domestic markets is low-cost carrier (LCC) capacity share.

In April 2024, LCCs accounted for 78.4 per cent of domestic airline capacity in India, the highest LCC share of any of these five domestic markets.

“In the last 10 years, IndiGo has almost doubled their market share, from 32 per cent of capacity in 2014 to 62 per cent today. While the rest of the market has barely grown, averaging just 0.7 per cent a year, IndiGo has a domestic capacity growth rate of 13.9 per cent annually,” the report mentioned.

The country has seen robust growth under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, paving the way for shaping the future of the aviation industry for the next 25 years.

On November 19 last year, airlines in India flew 4,56,910 domestic passengers. This was the highest single-day air traffic since the pandemic hit, marking a remarkable 7.4 per cent surge above pre-Covid averages, as per the Civil Aviation Ministry’s data.

According to the government, the number of airports in the country has increased to 157 from 74 in the last 10 years.

More than 91 lakh passengers availed the facility of Digi Yatra, and over 35 lakh users downloaded the app in 2023. (Agency)

Hayley Matthews to miss third ODI against Sri Lanka due to illness

Hambantota (Sri Lanka), June 20 2024-

West Indies captain Hayley Matthews will miss the third and final ODI against Sri Lanka due to illness.

Due to the same reason, Matthews missed the second ODI of the series in Hambantota as West Indies lost the game by five wickets after being wrapped up for 92 in 31 overs. She featured in the first ODI of the series and played a knock of 38 runs before they were bundled out for 195 in 47.1 overs. In reply, the hosts chased the total comfortably and won the match by six wickets.

In Matthews’ absence, Shemaine Campbelle led the side in the second match of the series and is likely to continue in the third ODI. West Indies remain hopeful that Matthews will be available for the three-match T20I series, starting on June 24 at the same venue.

“West Indies Captain, Hayley Matthews has been ruled out of the ongoing ODI Series against Sri Lanka due to illness. She will continue to be monitored by the CWI Medical Team and will hopefully recover in time for the T20I series,” Cricket West Indies said in a statement.

Over the last 18 months, Matthews has been the cornerstone of the West Indies team. She has scored 519 runs in nine ODIs, at an average of 74.14, including three hundreds, making her the West Indies’ greatest run-scorer since the beginning of 2023. She has taken the joint-highest number of wickets alongside Afy Fletcher during this period with 11 scalps.

Sri Lanka will look to sweep the series on Friday after having an unassailable 2-0 lead.

The three-match T20I series will be played on June 24 followed by 26 and 28 at Mahinda Rajapaksha International Cricket Stadium, Hambantota. (Agency)