September 10, 2025

THE CLIFF NEWS

National Daily Bilingual Newspaper

Category: Technology

RC Bhargava Bats for Lower GST as US Tariffs Hit Indian Industries

At Maruti Suzuki’s annual general meeting, Chairman RC Bhargava urged the government to expedite GST reforms, warning that fresh US tariffs could disrupt multiple Indian industries and erode the purchasing power of small car buyers. To be sure, the Narendra Modi government has already proposed lowering the GST on Maruti Suzuki’s bestselling small cars. However, the additional US import duties—effective 27 August—have raised total tariffs to as high as 50% on goods like garments, gems and jewellery, footwear, sporting goods, furniture and chemicals. The move threatens thousands of small exporters and jobs, a vital customer base for the carmaker. In his Independence Day address on 15 August 2025, Prime Minister Modi announced India’s biggest tax overhaul since the rollout of GST in 2017. Consumer, auto and insurance firms are expected to benefit most when product prices fall from October. The Centre has suggested cutting GST on small cars from 28% to 18%, while insurance premiums could see rates drop from 18% to as low as 5%—or even zero.

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India Likely to Seal $1-Billion Defence Deal With US for 113 GE F-404 Engines

New Delhi: Amid escalating tariff tensions with Washington, India is set to sign a major defence deal with the US to procure 113 General Electric F-404 engines for its homegrown Tejas LCA fighter jets, according to defence officials quoted by ANI. The agreement, valued at around $1 billion, is expected to be finalised by September. The deal follows last week’s approval by the Cabinet Committee on Security for the purchase of 97 additional Tejas Mk-1A aircraft from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) at a cost of ₹62,000 crore, aimed at strengthening the Indian Air Force’s depleting squadron strength. Boost to HAL Production Officials said the engine supply will help HAL complete the delivery of 180 Tejas Mk-1A jets on schedule. Production has been delayed due to GE’s earlier supply bottlenecks, with HAL still awaiting engines to ramp up deliveries. HAL has planned phased deliveries — the first batch of 83 jets by 2029–30, followed by the additional 97 by 2033–34 — provided GE can maintain its commitment of supplying two engines per month. Parallel Negotiations for GE-414 Engines HAL is also in talks with GE to acquire 200 more powerful F-414 engines to power the next-generation variants of Tejas and the indigenous fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). Strategic Push The indigenous fighter jet programme, strongly backed by the Defence Ministry and Air Headquarters, is expected to promote defence indigenisation and provide opportunities to Indian MSMEs. The defence deal comes alongside India–US 2+2 discussions on defence and security cooperation, where both nations are working towards a new 10-year framework for their strategic defence partnership.

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Centre Clears ₹70,000 Cr Submarine Deal with Germany Under Project-75(I)

The Centre has approved negotiations for building six advanced submarines in India in collaboration with Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) under Project 75-India (P-75I), a deal valued at ₹70,000 crore, The Times of India reported. The Defence Ministry and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) will begin formal talks with TKMS by the end of this month, with the contract expected to be finalised within six months. The submarines will be equipped with Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) systems, enabling them to remain underwater for nearly three weeks, significantly boosting the Indian Navy’s undersea warfare capabilities. This decision follows a high-level meeting of defence and national security officials that reviewed India’s submarine programme and future requirements. The Navy aims to replace around 10 ageing submarines in the next decade, while parallel efforts continue on indigenous nuclear submarine projects. Larsen & Toubro (L&T), in partnership with the Submarine Building Centre, is already developing two nuclear attack submarines, further expanding India’s underwater fleet.

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ISRO, IAF, Navy Set for Crucial Gaganyaan Splashdown Test on August 24

If weather permits, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), in collaboration with the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Indian Navy, will conduct a critical Gaganyaan Human Spaceflight mission test in the Bay of Bengal near Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, on Sunday, August 24, 2025, WION has learnt. The Test – Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT) This test simulates the crucial final stage of astronaut return from space, validating the capsule’s parachute-based deceleration and splashdown recovery system. Post-Splashdown Recovery Multi-Agency Coordination Background If successful, the trial will mark a major milestone for India’s human spaceflight ambitions, bringing the country a step closer to safely sending astronauts to space and back.

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Google Strikes $10B+ Cloud Deal With Meta Amid AI Data Center Expansion

Google has secured a six-year cloud computing agreement with Meta Platforms worth over $10 billion, marking its second major win in recent months after signing a deal with OpenAI, a source told Reuters. Under the agreement, Meta will rely on Google Cloud’s servers, storage, networking, and related services to support its growing infrastructure needs. Neither Google nor Meta immediately commented on the deal. The news follows Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s July announcement that the company would spend hundreds of billions of dollars on massive AI data centers. Just weeks ago, Meta lifted its 2025 capital expenditures forecast to $66–72 billion, up by $2 billion, underscoring the scale of its AI push. Meta has also disclosed plans to offload $2 billion worth of data center assets to external partners in an effort to spread the burden of financing its infrastructure. This partnership highlights an unusual convergence in the AI race: in June, Reuters reported that OpenAI was also turning to Google Cloud to expand its computing capacity — despite Google and OpenAI competing fiercely in AI development. The deal adds momentum to Google Cloud, which posted a 32% year-over-year revenue jump in Q2, outpacing analyst expectations.

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E-commerce, Tech Startups Lead Fresher Hiring in India with 88% Intent: Report

The e-commerce and technology startup sector is driving fresher hiring in India with an impressive 88% intent for the July–December 2025 period, according to the latest Career Outlook Report (HY2 2025) by TeamLease EdTech. The report highlights robust job opportunities for first-time job seekers, with retail (87%) and manufacturing (82%) also emerging as strong recruiters of freshers. Key Highlights from the Report Industry Insights Shantanu Rooj, Founder & CEO, TeamLease EdTech, said the strong hiring intent in e-commerce and tech startups reflects “dynamic growth creating exciting opportunities for freshers.” He noted that blending technical expertise with adaptability and human skills will give jobseekers a strong edge. He further highlighted the rise of degree apprenticeship programmes, calling them a sign of the growing demand for practical, skill-based learning pathways. Interestingly, the report also pointed out that smaller organisations show higher intent to hire freshers compared to larger enterprises, though their overall hiring capacity remains limited.

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Kerala Police to Deploy AI-Powered Drones for Surveillance, Disaster Relief, and Crime Prevention

When Govindachamy, the convict in the infamous Soumya murder case, escaped from Kannur’s high-security prison on July 25, it took police nearly nine hours, hundreds of CCTV scans, and vigilant citizens to recapture him. But what if a swarm of AI-powered surveillance drones had been deployed immediately? That scenario could soon become reality in Kerala. In a first, the Kerala Police is planning to introduce AI surveillance drones, marking a major leap in modern policing. The Cyber Police Headquarters has floated a tender to procure around 60 AI-equipped drones capable of real-time data collection and analysis. These drones are envisioned for use in: “These drones will be the police’s eyes in the sky, with numerous applications,” said Ankit Asokan, SP, Cyber Operations, adding that the initiative is part of the Modernisation of Police Force (MOPF) project. The drones will be fitted with advanced sensors, including thermal cameras to detect heat signatures, allowing them to: Police sources say the technology will help overcome the limitations of static CCTV cameras and conventional drones by enabling real-time analysis and rapid decision-making. If implemented, Kerala will become one of the first states in India to deploy AI-powered drones for law enforcement, disaster management, and public safety.

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JSW Steel, POSCO Explore Joint Venture for 6 MTPA Integrated Steel Plant in India

JSW Steel and South Korea’s POSCO Group are in talks to establish a six million tonnes per annum (MTPA) integrated steel plant in India, the companies announced Monday. The move follows the signing of a non-binding Heads of Agreement (HoA) in Mumbai, building on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in October 2024. The potential venture, structured as a 50:50 partnership, aims to combine JSW’s domestic expertise with POSCO’s global technological leadership in steelmaking. “This partnership brings together JSW’s proven execution capabilities and strong domestic footprint with POSCO’s technological leadership in steelmaking. The proposed venture aligns with India’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and will help create a globally competitive manufacturing hub to serve both domestic and export markets,” said Jayant Acharya, Joint Managing Director & CEO, JSW Steel. POSCO’s Lee Ju-tae, Representative Director and President, highlighted India’s role in shaping global steel demand. “Our collaboration with JSW is based on mutual trust and a shared long-term vision. This initiative represents our commitment to supporting India’s industrial growth while creating long-term value for both organizations.” POSCO, a global industrial leader with major operations in steel, battery materials, construction, and energy, operates integrated plants in Pohang and Gwangyang, South Korea, with a combined crude steel capacity of around 42 million tonnes per year.

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NISAR Satellite Unfurls Giant Radar Antenna, Paving Way for Life-Saving Earth Observations

Bengaluru, August 16, 2025 — In a landmark moment for global Earth science and international space collaboration, the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite has successfully deployed its massive radar antenna in orbit, marking a critical step toward delivering life-saving data to communities across the globe. Launched on July 30, 2025, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota aboard India’s GSLV-F16 rocket, NISAR is the world’s most expensive civilian Earth observation satellite. Weighing 2.8 tons and built at a cost of $1.3 billion, the joint ISRO-NASA mission is designed to track subtle changes in Earth’s surface—down to a fraction of an inch—caused by earthquakes, landslides, volcanic eruptions, glacier movements, and forest degradation. Seventeen days after launch, on August 15, the satellite’s 12-meter radar antenna reflector—the largest ever deployed for a NASA mission in low Earth orbit—unfurled in a complex operation dubbed the “bloom.” The drum-shaped antenna, crafted from gold-plated wire mesh and supported by a nine-meter boom, will allow NISAR’s dual radar systems—NASA’s L-band and ISRO’s S-band—to peer through clouds, vegetation, and even heavy rainfall to deliver high-resolution imaging. “This successful deployment marks a significant milestone in the capabilities of the satellite,” said Karen St. Germain, Director of NASA’s Earth Science Division. “The data NISAR will gather will have a major impact on how global communities prepare for and recover from natural disasters, strengthen infrastructure, and maintain food security.” A “Life-Saving Mission” for India and the World Disaster managers in India and worldwide are pinning hopes on NISAR’s capabilities. By the 2025 monsoon season, the satellite is expected to provide early warnings for landslides, glacial lake outbursts, and cloudburst risks—hazards that have increasingly plagued the Himalayan region. Experts say that no previous Earth observation mission has offered such a comprehensive “watchtower in space.” Beyond disaster preparedness, NISAR’s data will support climate resilience, agricultural monitoring, and urban planning, making it one of the most versatile scientific tools ever placed in orbit. Symbol of Technological Prowess For India, the mission also carries symbolic significance. NISAR rode into space on the GSLV-F16, powered by an indigenous cryogenic engine—a technology once denied to the country but now emblematic of its growing space capabilities. With science operations slated to begin by October 2025, NISAR is poised to redefine Earth observation and international collaboration in space science.

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