<img src="https://discussion.policharcha.in/1603375492938" alt="JioPages. Jio Pages. Made in India browser" style="float:none;height: auto;width: auto"/>

Reliance Jio has launched a JioPages, a revamped version of its Jio Browser. The “Made in India” browser, “designed for Indians” will provide an alternative to the likes of Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge.&nbsp;
JioPages has been built using the powerful Chromium Blink engine that was developed with the contributions from tech giants like Google, Microsoft, Adobe Systems, Opera Softwares, Samsung, and IBM.
This will enable JioPages perform actions much faster and smoothly, therefore enhancing user experience. The new browser is designed to keep the privacy of user at its core while using “encrypted connections”.
Jio Pages is now available to download for Android users on Google Play Store.
<ins>Jio Pages’ Features &amp; What makes it different?</ins>
<ul>
<li><ins>For multilingual India</ins>: Jio Pages comes with eight Indian languages; Hindi, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Tamil, and Telugu.</li>
<li><ins>No more Annoying Ads</ins>: The users can block ads using the Ad Block+ feature of Jio Pages. Not many browsers provide this facility.</li>
<li><ins>Private Browsing</ins>: Jio Pages also supports incognito mode, but it is more than that. Users can choose to secure their private surfing with either a four-digit PIN or a fingerprint lock.</li>
<li><ins>Regional Content</ins>:- The new browser will provide users the facility of customising their content feed according to their region and favorite language.</li>
<li><ins>Personalized at every level</ins>: Jio Pages intelligently collects your user data to analyse what are your interests and preferences, and then customises your content feed accordingly. The users can choose their favorite theme enjoy a personalized experience.</li>
</ul>
<ins>What is Reliance Jio up to?</ins>
Reliance under Jio Platforms is looking to establish a digital empire of its own in India. Jio already has a strong hold over the telecom sector of India, thanks to its 40 crore (400 million) subscribers who have made Jio the biggest player of the industry in a very short time. Jio also has a host of smartphone applications like JioPay, JioCinema, JioTV, JioNews, JioMart and JioMeet.&nbsp;&nbsp;
With JioMart app, Jio is also eyeing e-commerce business which is presently dominated by Amazon and Flipkart.&nbsp;
Recently, Reliance Jio announced that it is working with Qualcomm to develop 5G network technology in India.

JioPages: An internet browser made in India; supports 8 regional languages

<img src="https://api-discussion.policharcha.com/1713440585192" alt="Technology Trifecta – U.S., South Korea, and India Forge Strategic Alliance in the Indo-Pacific" style="float:none;height: auto;width: auto"/>

South Korea’s Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar convened their 10th Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) in Seoul, marking a significant milestone in bilateral relations after nearly six years.
This meeting was swiftly followed by a trilateral technology dialogue involving the United States, South Korea, and India, focusing on collaborative opportunities in cutting-edge fields like semiconductors, biotechnology, space, artificial intelligence (AI), and quantum technology.
These developments underscore a deepening strategic alliance between South Korea and India in the Indo-Pacific era. The momentum gained from these interactions signals a shift towards expanding their bilateral cooperation beyond the existing special strategic partnership, paving the way for a long-term alliance spanning the next five decades and beyond.
The bilateral summit between South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the 2023 G-20 meeting further solidified this partnership, particularly in advanced manufacturing sectors like electric vehicles. Recognising the importance of collaboration in critical technological domains among nations sharing common values, both leaders committed to enhancing supply chain cooperation, especially in emerging sectors such as IT and electronics.
Amidst the current geopolitical landscape, the Indo-Pacific region necessitates minilateral frameworks involving like-minded countries to address mutual concerns and pursue common objectives. The establishment of the trilateral technology dialogue stemmed from the inaugural South Korea-U.S.
Next Generation Critical and Emerging Technologies Dialogue held in Seoul in December 2023. Notably, recent advancements also expanded the scope of the India-U.S. Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET), covering areas like biotechnology, key minerals, rare earths processing methods, digital connectivity, digital public infrastructure, and innovative materials.
Central to this evolving partnership are shared values, including a commitment to democracy and upholding the rules-based international order. The "defining partnership" between the United States and India reflects this dedication, with the U.S. actively supporting India's ascent as a major global power and viewing India as a crucial ally in ensuring peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. The participation of both nations in the Quad framework underscores the broader necessity for engaging in minilaterals and trilaterals, underscoring the region's security imperatives.
In 2022, South Korea unveiled its new Indo-Pacific policy, signalling its ambition to emerge as a "Global Pivotal State" and collaborate with like-minded nations in the region to bolster peace and stability. Recognising South Korea's status as a prominent economic powerhouse in Asia, India is keen on expanding cooperation across various domains such as critical and emerging technologies, semiconductors, green hydrogen, human resource mobility, nuclear collaboration, and supply chain resilience.
While India plays a pivotal role in upholding the rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific, South Korea maintains a cautious stance regarding China's response to initiatives like the Quad, despite not being a member. The Quad's focus on infrastructure development, climate action, pandemic management, and technological advancements aligns with Seoul's strategic priorities, hinting at potential areas of collaboration among the United States, India, and South Korea.
India's democratic framework and shared interests in critical technologies make it a valuable partner for the South Korea-U.S. alliance. India's expanding domestic market, aspirations in semiconductor innovation, and its partnership with South Korea based on democratic principles further enhance this strategic alignment.
In a recent development in New Delhi, the United States and South Korea solidified their partnership through the formalisation of cooperation between their international development agencies, USAID and KOICA, aiming to address global development challenges collectively. This memorandum of understanding (MOU) outlines collaborative efforts in areas such as women's economic empowerment, disaster resilience, digital literacy, and fostering trilateral cooperation with the Indian government. The alliance seeks to stimulate innovative collaborations, bolster local trade, and provide digital and entrepreneurial resources to support grassroots development.
The establishment of a new communication mechanism between the U.S., South Korea, and India signifies one of the early diplomatic agreements on technology cooperation by New Delhi. India's participation in the Quad's technological collaborations, including initiatives related to 5G and 6G, further amplifies its engagement in shaping the global tech landscape.
The trilateral technology dialogue holds substantial economic implications, potentially transforming manufacturing dynamics and driving employment growth across these nations. This alliance is poised to stimulate innovation hubs, enhance exports, and attract investments, contributing to advancements in global technology markets.
Moreover, the collaborative efforts in technology could serve as a counterbalance to China's technological dominance, particularly in areas like 5G and artificial intelligence, exerting a notable influence on the global tech competition.
To counter China's influence in the Indo-Pacific, nations like the United States, South Korea, and India are increasingly turning to Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a critical component of their defence and security strategies. Collaborative efforts in AI innovation and data-sharing are seen as essential steps to address concerns about China's growing military capabilities among these partners.
While trilateral cooperation on critical technologies is a positive move for India and South Korea's bilateral ties, it's just one piece of the puzzle. Strengthening strategic trust and evolving into true strategic partners in the Indo-Pacific requires a broader range of cooperative platforms based on mutual interests.
One such area ripe for deeper collaboration is the defence industry. The successful export and local production of K-9 self-propelled howitzers from South Korea to India serve as a positive example. Now, expanding this cooperation to include maritime weapon platforms could significantly enhance their defence capabilities.
Moreover, with the rise of maritime threats like terrorism, piracy, and illegal fishing in the Indian Ocean, leveraging existing regional multilateral platforms and considering joint bilateral exercises can greatly improve maritime security and awareness. This collaboration is not only crucial for India, a key security provider in the Indian Ocean, but also beneficial for South Korea's strategic interests as it relies heavily on sea lines of communication.
The trilateral dialogue between India, the U.S., and South Korea is pivotal in ensuring equitable technology-sharing without compromising India's policy independence. This dialogue should also focus on responsible AI use in surveillance and intelligence sharing, emphasising common data protection standards, cybersecurity enhancement, and supply chain resilience to maximise the benefits of this technology partnership.
By fortifying their alliance and aligning their interests, these three nations can effectively protect their interests and uphold the rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific region, ushering in a new era of strategic cooperation and technological advancement.

Technology Trifecta – U.S., South Korea, and India Forge Strategic Alliance in the Indo-Pacific

<img src="https://api-discussion.policharcha.com/1712829746190" alt="Apple issues global alerts on Pegasus spyware, including to users in India" style="float:none;height: auto;width: auto"/>

Tech giant Apple has recently issued a series of alerts to users in 91 countries, including India, warning them about the risks posed by 'mercenary spyware' like the infamous Pegasus malware, which has been at the centre of controversy in recent times.
These new notifications, also sent to users in India, are part of Apple's proactive measures to caution users about potential threats to their privacy and data security.
Back in October 2023, Apple had sent a similar alert to political figures across different parties in India, including Shashi Tharoor from the Congress, Raghav Chadha from the Aam Aadmi Party, and Mahua Moitra from the Trinamool Congress. The alert raised concerns about a "potential state-sponsored spyware attack" targeting their iPhones.
This heightened alert comes in the wake of ongoing scrutiny regarding the Pegasus software developed by the Israeli firm NSO Group. In 2021, the Supreme Court had formed a committee of technical experts to investigate allegations of unauthorised surveillance using Pegasus.
In August 2022, the committee appointed by the Supreme Court reported that while no evidence of the spyware was found in 29 mobile phones examined, malware was discovered in five of them.
Apple's recent notification highlights findings from public reports and research by civil society organisations, tech firms, and journalists. These findings suggest that individually targeted attacks of significant cost and complexity, often associated with state actors and private companies like NSO Group, continue to pose a global threat.
Since 2021, Apple has been actively sending out threat notifications multiple times a year as it detects these attacks. So far, the company has alerted users in over 150 countries.
The tech giant emphasises the seriousness of mercenary spyware attacks, labelling them as some of the most advanced digital threats today due to their extreme cost, sophistication, and global reach. However, Apple refrains from attributing these attacks to specific entities or regions.
In addition to issuing alerts, Apple advises users to update their devices with the latest security patches and exercise caution when dealing with suspicious links or messages. They also recommend enabling Lockdown Mode as an extra layer of protection.

Apple issues global alerts on Pegasus spyware, including to users in India

<img src="https://api-discussion.policharcha.com/1709381960727" alt="Google faces government backlash over removal of Indian apps from Play Store; parties called for meeting" style="float:none;height: auto;width: auto"/>

The government has taken a firm stance against Google's recent removal of certain apps from its Play Store, stating that the delisting of Indian apps is unacceptable.
IT and Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw conveyed this sentiment in an interview with PTI, and talked about the pivotal role of the startup ecosystem in the Indian economy, asserting that their fate cannot be subject to the decisions of major tech companies.
Vaishnaw's remarks come in the wake of Google's action on Friday to remove several apps, including popular matrimony apps, from its Play Store in India amidst a dispute over service fee payments. This move sparked outcry from affected apps and prominent startup founders.
Expressing grave concern over the issue, Vaishnaw stated, "India is very clear, our policy is very clear...our startups will get the protection that they need." The government is poised to address the matter directly by convening meetings with Google and the affected app developers in the coming week to seek resolution.
"I have already called Google...I have already called the app developers who have been delisted, we will be meeting them next week. This cannot be permitted… This kind of delisting cannot be permitted," affirmed Vaishnaw.
Stating India's remarkable achievement in nurturing a robust startup ecosystem, with over one lakh startups and more than 100 unicorns emerging within a decade, the minister stressed the imperative to harness the energy of youth and entrepreneurs fully. He underscored that such critical matters cannot be left at the mercy of big tech policies.
"I will be telling Google...Our entrepreneurial energy...startups, look at the whole startup India programme, 10 years back we had practically nothing and today we have more than 1,00,000 startups, more than 100 unicorns...this is something...the energy of our youth, the energy of our entrepreneurs, energy of our talented people that has to be channelised fully well, it cannot be left to the policies of any big tech," Vaishnaw said.
Google announced on Friday that it had taken action against ten companies in India, including several well-established ones, for evading fees despite benefiting from the platform and Play Store. Consequently, the tech giant proceeded to delist several apps from its platform.
While Google did not disclose the names of the companies involved, searches on the Play Store from Android phones failed to yield results for matrimonial apps such as Shaadi, Matrimony.com, and Bharat Matrimony. Additionally, Balaji Telefilms' Altt (formerly ALTBalaji), audio platform Kuku FM, dating service Quack Quack, and Truly Madly also vanished from the Play Store.
The contentious issue stems from Google's imposition of a fee ranging from 11 to 26 percent on in-app payments, following an order from the Competition Commission of India (CCI) to scrap the previous system, which charged between 15 to 30 percent.
Google proceeded with the removal of apps that failed to pay the fee after the Supreme Court declined to grant interim relief to the companies behind these apps in their legal battle against the tech giant's app marketplace fee.
Reacting to the development, Bharat Matrimony founder Murugavel Janakiraman characterised the move as a "dark day" for the internet in India, while Kuku FM Co-founder Vinod Kumar Meena criticised Google's actions, likening them to those of a "monopoly." Quack Quack Founder Ravi Mittal expressed the company's intention to comply with the rules to regain access to the marketplace.
Previously, Google had issued notices of Play Store violations to Matrimony.com, the operator of BharatMatrimony, and Info Edge, which operates a similar app called Jeevansathi.
In a related development, Info Edge (India) Ltd disclosed on Saturday that its mobile apps, including naukri.com, 99acres.com, and shiksha.com, had been removed from the Google Play Store.
"Indian companies will comply - for now. But what India needs is an App Store/ Play Store that is a part of Digital Public Infrastructure - like UPI and ONDC. The response needs to be strategic," Info Edge founder Sanjeev Bikhchandani had said in a post on Friday on X (formerly Twitter) tagging Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and his office.
IAMAI - an industry association that represents some of the largest Indian startups as well as international firms - condemned the removal of apps and had urged Google to reinstate delisted apps.
In its blogpost, Google had said 10 Indian companies had chosen for an extended period of time not to pay for the "immense value they receive on Google Play".
"For years, no court or regulator has denied Google Play's right to charge," it said, adding that the Supreme Court on February 9 also "refused to interfere" with its right to do so.
Google asserted that allowing a small group of developers to get differential treatment from the vast majority of developers who are paying their fair share creates an uneven playing field putting all other apps and games at a competitive disadvantage.
"After giving these developers more than three years to prepare, including three weeks after the Supreme Court's order, we are taking necessary steps to ensure our policies are applied consistently across the ecosystem, as we do for any form of policy violation globally," Google said.
In the blogpost, Google had said that enforcement of the policy, when necessary, can include removal of non-compliant apps from Google Play. Google, however, added that existing users will be able to continue to access the apps without interruption and that it continues "to offer our support to help developers get into compliance."
Developers, it said, are welcome to resubmit their apps to be listed on Play by selecting one of the three billing options as part of its payment policy.
"Today, we have over 2,00,000 Indian developers using Google Play who adhere to our policies, helping us ensure we have a safe platform; however, for an extended period of time, 10 companies, including many well-established ones, have chosen to not pay for the immense value they receive on Google Play by securing interim protections from the court," Google had said.

Google faces government backlash over removal of Indian apps from Play Store; parties called for meeting

<img src="https://api-discussion.policharcha.com/1709205492251" alt="Union Cabinet greenlights three semiconductor units in India, including one in North-East" style="float:none;height: auto;width: auto"/>

The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved the establishment of three semiconductor units under 'Development of Semiconductors and Display Manufacturing Ecosystems in India'.
Briefing reporters after a meeting of union cabinet, Union Minister for Communications, Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw said all three units will start construction within the next 100 days.
Minister Vaishnaw said that the Prime Minister has taken an important decision to set up semiconductor unit in the country. The first commercial unit will be setup by Tata and Powerchip-Taiwan in Dholera, Gujarat.&nbsp;
The union minister said that cumulative investment in all three units will be Rs 1.26 lakh crore.
"All three units will start construction within the next 100 days. 50,000 wafer per month will be manufactured. 300 crore chips will be manufactured annually through this facility. Northeast will get its first semiconductor Unit in Assam. 48 million chips per day will be manufactured from here. The breakdown is investment in FAB will be 91,000 crore. Investment in the Assam unit will be 27,000 crore. Investment in the Sanand unit will be Rs 7,600 crore," he said.
Vaishnaw said these units will generate direct employment of 20,000 advanced technology jobs and about 60,000 indirect jobs.
"These units will accelerate employment creation in downstream automotive, electronics manufacturing, telecom manufacturing, industrial manufacturing, and other semiconductor consuming industries," he said.
He said within a very short time, India Semiconductor Mission has achieved four big successes.
"With these units, the semiconductor ecosystem will get established in India. India already has deep capabilities in chip design. With these units, our country will develop capabilities in chip fabrication. Advanced packaging technologies will be indigenously developed in India with today's announcement," the minister said.
The Programme for Development of Semiconductors and Display Manufacturing Ecosystem in India was notified in December 2021 with a total outlay of Rs 76,000 crore.
In June, 2023, the Union Cabinet had approved the proposal of Micron for setting up a semiconductor unit in Sanand, Gujarat.
An official release said that construction of this unit is progressing at a rapid pace and a robust semiconductor ecosystem is emerging near the unit.
The approved three semiconductor units are: Semiconductor Fab with 50,000 wfsm capacity, semiconductor ATMP unit in Assam and Semiconductor ATMP unit for specialised chips.
The release said Tata Electronics Private Limited ("TEPL") will set up a fab"&gt;semiconductor fab in partnership with Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp (PSMC), Taiwan.
"This fab will be constructed in Dholera, Gujarat. Investment in this fab will be Rs 91,000 crore. PSMC is renowned for its expertise in logic and memory foundry segments. PSMC has 6 semiconductor foundries in Taiwan. The capacity is 50,000 wafer starts per month (WSPM)," the release said.&nbsp;
Segments covered include high performance compute chips with 28 nm technology, power management chips for electric vehicles (EV), telecom, defence, automotive, consumer electronics, display, power electronics, etc. Power management chips are high voltage, high current applications.
Referring to semiconductor ATMP unit in Assam, the release said Tata Semiconductor Assembly and Test Pvt Ltd ("TSAT") will set up a semiconductor unit in Morigaon, Assam.
This unit will be set up with an investment of Rs 27,000 crore.
"TSAT semiconductor is developing indigenous advanced semiconductor packaging technologies including flip chip and ISIP (integrated system in package) technologies. Capacity is 48 million per day. Segments covered include automotive, electric vehicles, consumer electronics, telecom, mobile phones," the release said.
On semiconductor ATMP unit for specialised chips, the release said CG Power, in partnership with Renesas Electronics Corporation, Japan and Stars Microelectronics, Thailand will set up a semiconductor unit in Sanand, Gujarat.
This unit will be set up with an investment of Rs 7,600 crore.
"Renesas is a leading semiconductor company focussed on specialised chips. It operates 12 semiconductor facilities and is an important player in microcontrollers, analog, power, and System on Chip ('SoC)' products," the release said.&nbsp;
The CG power semiconductor unit will manufacture chips for consumer, industrial, automotive and power applications and will have a capacity of 15 million per day, it said.
The meeting of union cabinet was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Union Cabinet greenlights three semiconductor units in India, including one in North-East

After the grand success of Chandrayaan missions and Aditya L1 project, India is ready to take Indian astronauts into the space for the first time on an Indian platform.

I just hope everything goes well....
what are your views?

Big hopes from Gaganyaan Mission

<div>ISRO Chandrayaan 3 Moon Landing Updates: Isro’s third lunar mission Chandrayaan-3 made a historic soft landing on the Moon on Wednesday. This made India only the fourth nation to land a rover on the lunar surface and also the first ever country to land a rover near the Moon's South Pole. Meanwhile, the Pragyan rover ramped down from the Vikram lander and is moving on the Moon's surface, where it will conduct scientific experiments for 14 days. Stay with Indiatoday.in for the latest updates on Chandrayaan-3’s landing</div><div> </div><div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DLA_64yz8Ss" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>

JioPages: An internet browser made in India; supports 8 regional languages

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