Latest news with #MohitGupta
Forbes
4 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Beyond Disruption: How Tech Leaders Are Using AI To Navigate A New Era Of Economic Volatility
Mohit Gupta, the CEO of Damco Solutions , is a visionary business leader with over 30+ years of industry experience. getty While the media may have moved on from trade wars and tariffs, the underlying economic volatility is far from over. If anything, it's become more complex. For tech leaders, the real challenge today isn't just inflation or labor shortages—it's the unpredictable mix of geopolitics, policy shifts and economic signals that no longer follow old patterns. What we're seeing isn't a temporary disruption. It's a structural shift. Traditional strategies alone won't preserve margins. Lean teams won't guarantee speed. And decentralization won't ensure resilience. Today, tech leaders need to rethink how they operate in a world where change happens faster than ever. In today's unpredictable world, AI is no longer a futuristic technology. It's become a critical tool for making smarter, faster decisions. AI is helping businesses address new challenges that didn't exist a few years ago. Take supply chains, for example. Geopolitical risks, labor shortages and sudden changes in weather or regulations can disrupt operations quickly. AI helps businesses predict these disruptions before they happen by analyzing vast amounts of data and generating real-time risk assessments. It allows businesses to shift strategies, like finding new suppliers or adjusting inventory, based on changing conditions. This shift from reacting to disruptions to predicting and preparing for them is where AI shines. It's no longer just a tool for efficiency; it's now central to how businesses stay resilient in uncertain times. Smarter, More Agile Operations It's not just supply chains that are being affected by economic changes. Costs are rising across the board (energy, labor, materials, etc.). And while many businesses are already tightening belts, the challenge isn't just about cutting costs—it's about predicting how these rising costs will impact the bottom line and making proactive adjustments before it's too late. AI allows businesses to forecast how changes in supply costs or labor expenses will affect margins. By understanding these impacts in advance, companies can make smarter decisions around pricing, staffing and resource allocation rather than scrambling at the last minute to adjust. In short, AI makes it possible to protect margins proactively instead of reacting after the damage has already been done. AI For Innovation Under Constraints Another area where AI is helping businesses thrive is innovation. With so many supply-side constraints—like shortages of raw materials or sudden regulatory changes—companies need to find new ways to continue innovating, even when their normal processes are disrupted. AI makes this possible by helping companies redesign products and processes in real time. For example, when a specific material is in short supply, AI can help companies quickly identify alternative materials or design adjustments that still meet performance standards. This kind of flexibility is key to staying ahead, even in challenging times. Moreover, AI supports product development by speeding up decision-making. Instead of relying on a traditional R&D cycle, AI enables businesses to simulate and test different options quickly, speeding up innovation without sacrificing quality. Building AI-Driven Agility Into Operations AI isn't just about reacting faster—it's about building agility into the very systems that run the business. Whether it's adjusting cloud infrastructure based on real-time usage or reconfiguring production schedules based on sudden supply changes, AI is making it possible for businesses to adapt to new challenges without missing a beat. Companies are using AI to ensure their operations can sense and respond to changes as they happen. For example, AI can automatically shift workloads or resources to different areas of the business based on immediate needs. This level of automation and agility is becoming a critical part of how businesses stay competitive in a volatile world. The Role Of Policy In Tech Strategy In this new environment, businesses can no longer treat regulatory compliance as an afterthought. Regulations are evolving quickly, and the ability to stay on top of new rules—whether related to data privacy, security or cross-border commerce—can give businesses a competitive edge. AI is increasingly being used to track and analyze these changes, allowing businesses to integrate compliance into their tech strategy rather than treating it as a separate concern. This means companies can avoid costly mistakes and continue to innovate without falling behind in regulations. By using AI to understand and anticipate policy shifts, businesses can stay ahead of the curve and ensure their technology strategies align with global trends. What Comes Next For Tech Leaders The challenges of today's world are forcing tech leaders to rethink how they approach operations, innovation and risk. The key to thriving in this environment is not just about cutting costs or waiting for disruption to pass—it's about using AI to stay agile, predictive and proactive. Here are some strategic steps tech leaders can take today: • Integrate AI Into Decision-Making: Don't just test AI in small pilots—embed it deeply into your day-to-day operations, from supply chain management to pricing decisions. • Forecast And Adapt To Changing Costs: Use AI to predict how rising costs will impact your bottom line and adjust before it's too late. • Rethink Innovation In A World Of Constraints: Let AI drive faster, smarter innovation by simulating product adjustments and redesigns under new conditions. • Build For Flexibility, Not Redundancy: Focus on creating systems that can adapt to change, not just continue operating under normal conditions. • Align Your Tech Strategy With Policy: Use AI to monitor and adapt to new regulatory changes, ensuring compliance doesn't hold back innovation. In A World Of Constant Change, Intelligence Is Your Advantage In today's unpredictable world, where every decision is intertwined with global shifts in regulation, supply and customer expectations, the ability to act with intelligence is the true differentiator. AI is not a luxury—it's a necessity for staying agile and competitive in a world that won't stop changing. Tech leaders who treat AI as core to their operations, not just as a tool to reduce costs, are the ones who will thrive in the coming decade. The question isn't whether AI can help your company. The question is: How will you make AI a central part of your strategy to navigate this era of volatility? Forbes Technology Council is an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs and technology executives. Do I qualify?
Time of India
4 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Built to last? Cracks, erosion appear near Ghaggar bridge within months of launch
1 2 Panchkula: Less than three months after its grand inauguration by Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini, a portion of the Rs 50 crore Ghaggar river bridge project is already showing alarming signs of structural failure, raising serious questions about construction quality and public safety. What was meant to be a long-term solution for easing traffic across sectors 20-21 and 24-26 has now become a symbol of premature decay. The side slopes, designed to protect the bridge from erosion and weather damage, are eroding themselves. A site visit revealed deep cracks in the concrete and visible damage from recent rainfall, prompting fears that the road leading to Maharana Pratap Chowk and the bridge itself could be compromised, especially during the ongoing monsoon season. Mohit Gupta, founder of Solution Box, a residents' help group, said, "It raises questions on the quality of material and the kind of work that was carried out. This concrete side slope was recently built. The soil is loose here. It seems compaction of soil was not done properly, which is why it got washed away. If you see this side slope at the old Ghaggar bridge at Majri chowk, there is a stark difference in the work as compaction of soil was done properly, and the work quality is much better. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Dubai's Next Icon: Experience Binghatti Aquarise Luxury Binghatti Developers FZE Learn More Undo " N K Payal, executive engineer, Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP), that implemented the project here, said, "This side slope protection is built to protect the road and not the bridge. Though this entire road, the chowk, and bridge are part of the same project, the slope is built at a place which 3-4ft high. It will not impact the bridge at all." "The slope work is currently going on. The thrown concrete you see here was put on Tuesday only in view of rain so that soil does not wash away as there is no grass. However, the contractor is responsible for repairs under the 10-year defect liability period, and if any portion is damaged, it will be fixed by him," Payal assured. BOX: Long delayed project: The bridge was inaugurated by Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini amid much fanfare on April 20. The 360-metre-long and 16-metre-wide bridge connects Sectors 20-21 with 24-26. It also reduces travel to Zirakpur, Rajpura, Patiala, and Mohali airports. This bridge is a part of the PR-7 ring road connecting Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Chandigarh. Residents residing near Sectors 20-21 lament about traffic congestion in the absence of any traffic lights or traffic cops here. Delay reason: HSVP officials said the project started in 2020 with a two-year compeletion deadline but got delayed due to various reasons like environmental clearances, COVID-19, and monsoon disruptions. Earlier, the Punjab govt's in-principle approval for the work came late. The connecting road falls in its jurisdiction.
Time of India
03-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
'Scientific evidence refutes that Covid vaccines are responsible for sudden deaths': Medical expert
Speaking to ANI, Dr Mohit Gupta, Professor of Cardiology, GB Pant Hospital, said that findings from a study conducted on 1,600 heart attack patients showed a protective benefit of the Covid-19 vaccines. NEW DELHI: Medical experts have rejected allegations that Covid-19 vaccines are responsible for a recent spike in heart attack-related deaths, following comments made by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah regarding over twenty such deaths in Hassan district. Speaking to ANI, Dr Mohit Gupta, Professor of Cardiology, GB Pant Hospital, said that findings from a study conducted on 1,600 heart attack patients showed a protective benefit of the Covid-19 vaccines. He said, "In our own study on 1,600 patients with heart attacks who had received the Covid vaccine and those who had not received it. We found that those who have received the Covid vaccine not only have lower chances of having a heart attack, all-cause mortality and sudden deaths, but also, following them for 30 days and 6 months, the chances of death of those people are significantly reduced." "The Covid-19 vaccine is harmless and also plays a protective role. This study is not only ours; ICMR has also validated this. Multiple hospitals have conducted big studies on this. A Korean study on around 2 lakh people replicated the same results. The US Covid Collaboration replicated similar results. In our study, we took both the Covid vaccines and similar results were shown for both the Covaxin and Covishield," he added. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Refuting any linkage between cardiac deaths and Covid vaccines, Dr Gupta said that scientific evidence refutes that Covid vaccines are responsible for sudden deaths. The doctor stated, "This is a sudden hype. If we see practically too, then we have given this vaccine all over the country, so if that is the case, there will be clustering, multiple deaths will be reported from different parts of the country, which will be significantly increased, but in the last 5 years, nothing such has happened. Suddenly, if there are 4-5 cases and if we think that is because of the vaccine, then no. there are multiple reasons of sudden cardiac death. .. I think we really has to be think over... Scientific evidence refutes that Covid vaccines are responsible for sudden deaths..." Earlier, Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, the Executive Chairperson of Biocon Limited echoed similar sentiments and refuted the allegation of the Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, in which he attributed more than twenty deaths due to heart attacks in the past one month in district of Hassan to Covid vaccines. She said that it was factually incorrect to suggest that Covid vaccines were hastily approved. Earlier in a post on X, CM Siddaramaiah shared that in the past month, in just one district of Hassan, more than twenty people died due to heart attacks. CM Siddaramaiah said, "In the past month alone, in just one district of Hassan, more than twenty people have died due to heart attacks. The government is taking this matter very seriously. To identify the exact cause of these series of deaths and to find solutions, a committee of experts has been formed under the leadership of Dr. Ravindranath, Director of Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research, and they have been instructed to submit a study report within 10 days. " He further said that orders were given to this same committee back in February to conduct a thorough study on the reasons behind sudden deaths among young people in the state, and whether the Covid vaccines could have any adverse effects. In this regard, the process of examining and analysing heart patients is also underway. On July 2, a press release by the Union Health Ministry said that studies by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) have established that there is no direct link between Covid-19 vaccination and the reports of sudden deaths in the country.
Time of India
01-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Toxic waters: Panchkula rivers not fit for a dip, let alone drinking
1 2 3 4 5 6 Panchkula: Water bodies across the district are facing a grave environmental crisis, with pollution levels soaring far beyond permissible limits. Rivers and drains in the region have become dangerously contaminated: not only unfit for human consumption but also unsuitable for outdoor bathing, posing serious risks to public health and the ecosystem. A report compiled by the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) in Feb this year paints a disturbing picture of the district's water quality. Kaushalya River, located at Himachal Pradesh-Haryana border in Panchkula, recorded a Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) level of 8.6 mg/L and a Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) level of 52 mg/L. These figures are nearly triple and five times the ideal limits respectively, which are 3 mg/L for BOD and 10 mg/L for COD in healthy river systems. The situation is even worse in Jhajjra River near Parwanoo-Kalka border, where BOD levels reached 10.8 mg/L and COD soared to 64 mg/L. Similarly, Ghaggar River, before its confluence with Sukhna Choe in Panchkula, showed BOD at 9.8 mg/L and COD at 56 mg/L. The pollution is not limited to rivers alone. Drains feeding into these rivers are in a far more critical state. A sample from a drain at Chandimandir village (Burj Kotian Flyover), which flows into Ghaggar, revealed a BOD level of 145 mg/L and COD of 488 mg/L. Another drain at Kakrali village, also leading into the Ghaggar, had BOD at 120 mg/L and COD at 440 mg/L. While drains are allowed slightly higher thresholds - 30 mg/L for BOD and 250–500 ppm for COD - these figures are still alarmingly high and indicative of severe contamination. "The government must take immediate action. Firstly, it should enforce stricter regulations on industrial discharges. Secondly, the chemicals percolating into the river and groundwater due to nearby untreated waste in a dumping yard must be processed on an urgent basis so that neither the groundwater nor the nearby river gets polluted. Lastly, the government should consider implementing penalties for violations to deter future pollution," said Save Ghaggar Campaign co-founder, Tapasya Sharma, who procured this report under the RTI Act. Adding to this, Mohit Gupta, co-founder of Save Ghaggar Campaign, said: "Plans to supply water to Panchkula residents from Kaushalya Dam in near future is a very sensitive issue. With every drain going into the Ghaggar being highly polluted, the dam water too runs the same risk. No amount of treatment will make it safe for human consumption." Vijay Bansal, president of Shivalik Vikas Manch, highlighted that Kaushalya Dam, constructed in 2012 at a cost of nearly Rs 150 crore, was intended to provide clean drinking water to Panchkula's urban sectors through a treatment plant. However, he alleged that untreated sewage from Pinjore drains, runoff from a nearby cowshed (gaushala), waste from a municipal dumping ground, and discharge from a slum settlement are polluting the dam's reservoir. He warned that if this continues, the contaminated water being supplied to residents could trigger a major public health crisis. At present, water from the dam is being supplied to Pinjore. Pollution Board's Sample Summary As per norms for rivers, BOD level for healthy water bodies should be 3 mg/L or less, while COD levels should ideally be below 10 mg/L. Here's what was found: Kaushalya River (HP-Haryana border): BOD: 8.6 mg/L COD: 52 mg/L Jhajjra River (Parwanoo-Kalka border): BOD: 10.8 mg/L COD: 64 mg/L Ghaggar River (before meeting Sukhna Choe): BOD: 9.8 mg/L COD: 56 mg/L Drain at Chandimandir (Burj Kotian Flyover): BOD: 145 mg/L COD: 488 mg/L Drain at Kakrali village: BOD: 120 mg/L COD: 440 mg/L Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Doctor's Day 2025 , messages and quotes!
The Hindu
18-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Rice, tea exporters to Iran bear the brunt of Iran-Israel conflict
Shipments of a significant quantity of basmati rice and tea, the two major commodities that are exported from India to Iran, are on hold because of the Iran-Israel conflict, putting exporters on wait and watch mode. Iran is the largest market for Indian basmati rice as 1.2 million tonnes of the total six million tonnes of annual exports go to Iran. 'All shipments and payments are on hold,' said Mohit Gupta, a New Delhi-based rice exporter. 'The exporters are talking to the officials and hope for a solution in a couple of days. International price for basmati rice has dropped by $100 a tonne because of the conflict and stocks are beginning to pile up with the exporters,' he said. One of the major exporters of tea said 20,000-25,000 tonnes of tea goes to Iran from India annually, mainly orthodox tea. This is the prime season in Assam for the best quality tea. However, because of the conflict, fresh exports to Iran are on hold now, while the teas at ports are likely to be shipped, depending on the buyer. 'There are withdrawals and drop in price at the auction; shipments are stopped and no one knows how the situation will develop, especially with the attacks escalating. Exporters will get the payment only after shipment. Right now, the priority in Iran is for essentials,' the exporter said. B. Rajesh Chander, member of the Tea Board India, said many of those operating to Iran did not take part in the auctions on Wednesday. 'There is fear that exports to countries such as Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan may also get affected in the future if the conflict continues,' he said. Officials from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry will meet stakeholders from the trade, shipping, and export-oriented sectors on Friday to discuss the problems they are facing due to the Israel-Iran conflict, and how the government could help address these issues. According to sources, prior to the meeting, the Commerce Ministry sought information and feedback from exporters on the extent of impact due to the Iran-Israel tensions, how they were accommodating these factors, and their expectations. While these inputs are coming in, exporters said that air freight costs had already increased and sea freight costs too were expected to go up. The exporters are also factoring in a surge in fuel costs and risk insurance premiums. The Hindu had last week reported that potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to the Israel-Iran conflict would add 15-20 days to India's shipping times, and 40-50% to shipping costs.
