Recently, there was a lot of talk about long work hours in India after some business leaders suggested ideas like working 70 to 90 hours a week. This caused a big reaction online, with many people upset about the idea of not having enough time for their lives outside of work.
Harsh Goenka, the head of the RPG Group, tried to support these ideas. He said that when leaders like Narayana Murthy and SN Subrahmanyan talked about long hours, they weren’t serious but were trying to point out something important. He believes India should focus on working harder and having lower expectations to compete with big countries like China and the United States.
Earlier in the year, Narayana Murthy, who is the chairperson of Infosys, said that working 70 hours a week could help India grow. SN Subrahmanyan from L&T even said he would make his workers work 90 hours and on Sundays if he could. Many people were unhappy with the idea, saying it wasn’t fair to the employees.
Even though Goenka appeared to agree with the idea of longer hours, he explained that it’s not about pushing people to exhaustion. He said it’s about changing how we think—from wanting easy success to aiming for real achievements. He also backed Union Minister Piyush Goyal, who criticized some Indian startups for focusing on simple things like ice cream instead of more ambitious projects like artificial intelligence or clean energy.
In the past, Goenka had criticized Subrahmanyan for his comments about long work hours, saying that work-life balance is crucial. He stressed that working hard is important, but not at the cost of people’s well-being. He believes that everybody needs time to rest and enjoy their lives outside of work.
Category: News
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Debate on Long Work Hours: Ambition vs. Work-Life Balance in India
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Farmers Protest Corporate Farming in Pakistan on April 13
Farmers in Pakistan are planning to protest on April 13 against big corporate farms. This protest can involve rallies and gatherings in different towns and public farms across the country. Groups like the Pakistan Kissan Rabita Committee and Anjuman Mazareen Punjab are joining together for this cause.
During the protest, farmers want to stop large corporate farming and protect their lands, which they have worked on for many years. They are also asking for several things:
– A halt to the building of controversial canals in southern Punjab.
– Distribution of public agricultural lands to the peasants.
– Cancellation of notices asking tenants to pay large sums of money in dues.
– Setting the price of wheat at PKR 4,000 for 40 kg during the current harvest season.The Green Pakistan Initiative (GPI) is a program started by the government to improve farming and help the environment by using advanced technology and better farming methods. However, farmers are worried that these changes may harm smaller landowners, force peasants off state lands, and limit their access to the resources they need for farming.
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Impact of DHS Move on Immigration Services: What Immigrants Should Know
The Trump administration has decided to put the staff of the Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) Ombudsman on a 60-day break. This decision, made on March 21 by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), worries many legal experts. They think this might be part of a plan to break down an important immigration help office that watches over immigration issues.
This change also affects other offices like the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties and the Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman. The DHS claims this move is to make their operations run smoother, but they haven’t said how immigration cases will be managed without the Ombudsman’s help.
How Will This Change Impact Indian Immigrants?
Indian people living in the U.S. on H-1B or F-1 visas, as well as those waiting for green cards, could face problems because they often depend on the CIS Ombudsman to sort out issues with visa delays and other problems. The Ombudsman’s office helped about 30,000 people each year before this change.
Groups like the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) are upset about this decision. They say that without this independent office, it might encourage unfair practices in immigration cases. Now, immigrants are told to reach out to their local lawmakers or advocacy organizations, but many people think those sources don’t have the same knowledge or fairness as the Ombudsman.
Democratic lawmakers have criticized the move, especially since the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties is legally required to exist.
What Can Affected Immigrants Do?
If you’re affected by this situation, here are some steps you can take:
1. Reach out to your congressional representative for help with any USCIS case delays or problems.
2. Consult with immigration lawyers for advice.
3. Keep detailed records of all your interactions with USCIS.
4. If possible, consider premium processing to avoid long delays. -
Indian Markets Dive: Trade Wars and Tariffs Explained Simply
On Monday, Indian stock markets suffered a major fall, making many investors very nervous. This was mainly because U.S. President Donald Trump announced new taxes, called tariffs, on goods coming from all countries. This news made people fear that a global trade war might be on the horizon.
When the markets opened on Monday, the Sensex and Nifty indices dropped almost 5%. In early trading, the Sensex went down by about 3,940 points to settle at 71,425, while the Nifty fell by around 1,160 points to reach 21,743.
Companies that rely heavily on business from the U.S. were hit the hardest. Tata Steel’s shares fell by over 8%, while Tata Motors saw its shares drop by more than 7%. Other tech giants like HCL Technologies, Infosys, and Reliance Industries also faced massive losses.
This market crash is the worst we’ve seen since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
Why is This Happening?
The fear began when Trump announced tariffs, which sparked concerns of a trade war as countries like China and Canada considered retaliatory measures. Investors are worried that this could trigger a global recession, leading to less economic growth.
In Asia, markets like those in China and Japan fell by 10% and 8%, respectively. In the U.S., the S&P 500 index dropped by 6%, and the Dow Jones lost over 2,000 points during its worst week since the COVID-19 crisis.
Experts believe that higher tariffs may lead to increased prices for things like food and cars, which could hurt company profits. U.S. companies are about to report their earnings, and analysts at Goldman Sachs warn we might hear fewer companies giving positive forecasts than usual.
The head of the Federal Reserve, Jerome Powell, said that the impact of Trump’s tariffs will likely affect both inflation and economic growth, creating worry about the U.S. economy’s future.
As the situation continues to unfold, the Nasdaq index recently confirmed it’s in a bear market, showing that the downturn is far from over.
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Delhivery to Acquire Ecom Express for Rs 1,407 Crore: What You Need to Know
Delhivery, a big logistics company, is set to buy its rival, Ecom Express, for Rs 1,407 crore in cash. This deal is huge for India’s logistics industry! Ecom Express was once valued at over Rs 7,000 crore last June but has faced challenges recently, leading to this major drop in value. They even had to cancel their planned IPO last year.
With this purchase, Delhivery will gain a 99.4% ownership of Ecom Express after getting the green light from regulators. The CEO of Delhivery, Sahil Barua, said that this move will help them reach more customers and improve delivery speeds in India. Delhivery has Rs 5,488 crore in cash, showing they have the funds to make this move.
This acquisition will help Delhivery grow and compete better in the logistics world. Right now, Delhivery’s shares are considered a good buy by many experts, with an average target price of Rs 406. As of now, shares are priced at Rs 258.2, down 2%. The company’s value has decreased by 26% this year and 44% in the past year.
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Heat Wave Warning: Stay Safe in Delhi and Across India
On Sunday, the temperature in Delhi reached 38.2 degrees Celsius, which is much hotter than usual. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a heat wave warning for many places across India.
What Does a Heat Wave Mean?
A heat wave is when the temperature is much higher than normal, making it feel very hot outside.Where Will It Be Hot This Week?
– Monday: Places in Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Delhi will experience very hot weather. Coastal areas in Gujarat and Goa will also feel the heat.
– Tuesday: It will still be very hot in Rajasthan, and other places like Punjab and Delhi may experience heat waves.
– Wednesday: Eastern Rajasthan and many places in Gujarat and Delhi will likely feel the heat again.
– Thursday: More heat is expected in Gujarat, Punjab, and Rajasthan.Safety Alerts:
A red alert is issued for parts of West Rajasthan. This means that people are at risk of heat-related illnesses.In Delhi, a yellow alert is in effect, warning people to be cautious and stay safe in the sun. It is essential to drink enough water, even if you don’t feel thirsty, to avoid dehydration.
Stay cool and take care of yourself during this heat wave!