'India among world's most optimistic nations about tech'

Agencies

October 4, 2019

Oct 4: Indians are some of the most optimistic people in the world when it comes to technology and the least sceptical in the world about the motives of technology companies, an opinion poll commissioned by the World Economic Forum said.

According to an opinion poll prepared by SAP and Qualtrics in conjunction with this year's India Economic Summit, while many acknowledge their job could be automated, more than two-thirds embrace technology and expect it to be easy to find new employment.

The poll that covered more than 10,000 respondents from 29 countries noted that Indians are some of the least sceptical in the world about the motives of technology companies: more than two-thirds reject the idea that technology companies "only want to make money".

Compared to global averages, Indian respondents more often say that technology makes personal relationships, society and jobs better.

When it comes to the future of work, Indian respondents are embracing new technology, acknowledging that jobs may be jeopardised, but that a growing economy will continue to provide opportunities.

"The rise of advanced technologies has the potential to create economic and social value, and bolster India's goal of maintaining its growth momentum," said Sriram Gutta, Head of Community Development, India and South Asia, World Economic Forum.

Gutta further said that "these statistics indicate the foundation is there for accelerating the adoption of fourth industrial revolution technologies. The next step is to ensure the governance of them assists India in leapfrogging to an advanced stage of development while maintaining high levels of trust."

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Over 58 lakh names dropped from draft voter list in Bengal ahead of polls

News Network

December 16,2025

The deletion of over 58 lakh names from West Bengal’s draft electoral rolls following a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) has sparked widespread concern and is likely to deepen political tensions in the poll-bound state.

According to the Election Commission, the revision exercise has identified 24 lakh voters as deceased, 19 lakh as relocated, 12 lakh as missing, and 1.3 lakh as duplicate entries. The draft list, published after the completion of the first phase of SIR, aims to remove errors and duplication from the electoral rolls.

However, the scale of deletions has raised fears that a large number of eligible voters may have been wrongly excluded. The Election Commission has said that individuals whose names are missing can file objections and seek corrections. The final voter list is scheduled to be published in February next year, after which the Assembly election announcement is expected. Notably, the last Special Intensive Revision in Bengal was conducted in 2002.

The development has intensified the political row over the SIR process. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her Trinamool Congress have strongly opposed the exercise, accusing the Centre and the Election Commission of attempting to disenfranchise lakhs of voters ahead of the elections.

Addressing a rally in Krishnanagar earlier this month, Banerjee urged people to protest if their names were removed from the voter list, alleging intimidation during elections and warning of serious consequences if voting rights were taken away.

The BJP, meanwhile, has defended the revision and accused the Trinamool Congress of politicising the issue to protect what it claims is an illegal voter base. Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari alleged that the ruling party fears losing power due to the removal of deceased, fake, and illegal voters.

The controversy comes amid earlier allegations by the Trinamool Congress that excessive work pressure during the SIR led to the deaths by suicide of some Booth Level Officers (BLOs), for which the party blamed the Election Commission. With the draft list now out, another round of political confrontation appears imminent.

As objections begin to be filed, the focus will be on whether the correction mechanism is accessible, transparent, and timely—critical factors in ensuring that no eligible voter is denied their democratic right ahead of a crucial election.

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