Can metaverse lead the way in bringing back Ayurveda’s glory?

Wearable technologies would mean patients can experience a personalised digital assistant (or an avatar) that would help in the initial diagnosis and support the patient follow treatment plan 

G Krishna Kumar Dr Lakshmi N PrasadUpdated: Sunday, October 23, 2022, 12:26 PM IST

The formation of the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) five years ago has provided the right impetus for undertaking interdisciplinary research on the validation of the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda using modern tools and technologies. How can advanced technologies and more specifically metaverse be used in delivering high-quality Ayurvedic care? Before we delve into this, a quick look at how Ayurveda has been accepted over the years. 

Ayurveda is based on the concept that a disease is caused due to an imbalance in the Tridoshas (Life forces) – Vata, Pitta and Kapha. The idea of universal interconnectedness, the body's constitution (prakriti), Tridoshas, and the concept of ‘agni’ (fire) form the basis of Ayurvedic treatment. Ayurveda’s approach is holistic by promoting lifestyle interventions and natural therapies. 

Ayurvedic medication has worked well in cases involving chronic respiratory infection, arthritis, and headache. Instead of just treating the symptoms, Ayurveda tries to address the root cause. Ayurveda leads in the treatment of jaundice, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and even auto-immune disorders. 

A new trend is emerging where people are turning towards Ayurveda for gestational health issues and neonatal care. This can be attributed to Ayurveda’s approach towards both the physical and psychological development of the newborn. 

Ayurvedic immunity boosters have helped in reducing mortality during the Covid pandemic. A recent AIIA report shows how Ayurvedic treatment can be an effective and safe solution in the case of drug addiction. The report states that the Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS) score decreased from 22 to three after three weeks of treatment.

Over the past 20-25 years, the awareness and acceptance of Ayurveda, as a mainstream form of medical intervention, have improved significantly in India. It is not surprising that the number of colleges offering graduate degrees - Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) has increased from 240 in 2011 to over 450 now. 

Technology adoption in Ayurveda 

With the availability of affordable phones, tablets and low-cost internet, digital awareness has been on the rise. With technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Virtual reality(VR), Alternate Reality (AR) and metaverse, a highly dependable healthcare system can be created with Ayurveda.

Ayurveda has lost out on the latest technological advancements witnessed in the allopathic medical field. But even now, by adopting the newest technologies, Ayurveda-based diagnosis and treatment can be improved. 

The good news is that several competing products are either in advanced research or in pilot usage. For example, the automatic classification of plants/herbs using computer vision and Machine learning (ML) algorithms can help in improving productivity. Geo-tagging (for identifying accurate location) can be used for the conservation of medicinal plants. 

Ayurveda offers a personalised treatment. Each person is different with unique physiological attributes. The ‘nadi parikshap (or pulse examination) using sensors and AI can help in identifying the patient’s Prakriti and thereby also understand the ailments. This can reduce human errors in diagnosis to a large extent. Companies are offering Ayurvedic assessment and treatment using mobile apps. The government should update the flagship Aarogya Setu app with Ayurvedic aspects. 

Importantly, the government’s initiatives to digitise Ayurvedic text are a huge contribution to supporting research on Ayurveda. For example, an easy-to-use digital version of Charaka Samhita has been created by The National Institute of Indian Medical Heritage (NIIMH).

Metaverse

Technologies like AI, ML, and VR would become the core components of Metaverse. Today, we live a distinct physical and digital life and the metaverse will blur the two lives. Metaverse is a simulated digital environment where people can interact/collaborate in real-time and the whole experience would be natural and intuitive. In the future, the availability of wearable technologies and sensors would mean patients can experience a personalised digital assistant (or an Avatar) that would help in the initial diagnosis and support the patient follow Ayurvedic medication, diet and exercise routine suggested by the doctor. The doctor can monitor the patients remotely and suggest changes.

Student education can be transformed with an immersive learning experience with rich visual aspects and achieve precision learning. Medical schools in the US are experimenting with AR to provide students with hands-on learning opportunities. 

Reports suggest gamification to be a key differentiator in the metaverse and would provide a new way of connecting the healthcare ecosystem.

Government should embark on a long-term technology strategy for Ayurveda to create a research focussed ecosystem with AIIA, leading Ayurvedic institutions and premiere technology institutions like IISc, and IITs. 

Incentivising the start-up ecosystem to bring advanced technologies for Ayurveda can spur collaboration and innovation in precision diagnosis and treatment. How about a five-year target for a functional metaverse for Ayurvedic healthcare workers? Technology alone can lead the way in bringing back the glory of Ayurveda. 

(G Krishna Kumar is a Bengaluru-based ICT Professional and columnist, and Dr Lakshmi N Prasad is an Ayurveda practitioner based in Sringeri, Karnataka) 

Quiet quitting and moonlighting are real - workplaces need to adapt

Quiet quitting and moonlighting are real - workplaces need to adaptFor enabling a smooth transition, all stakeholders need to accept and demonstrate maturity, build a transparent, robust policy that works to everybody’s advantage 

G Krishna Kumar, SEP 27 2022, 22:57 ISTUPDATED: SEP 27 2022, 23:17 IST

IT major Wipro sacking 300 employees for moonlighting is making headlines in India. Globally, social media is abuzz with two trends in workplace: ‘Quiet quitting’ and moonlighting. ‘Quiet quitting’ is about keeping one’s job, just doing bare minimum work to be employed and meeting performance expectations. The idea is to use the after-work hours to earn money by moonlighting. Moonlighting is defined as having a second job, typically secretly, while keeping the primary job. The name moonlighting was coined in the US to depict work after regular office hours.

While the terms have gained popularity now, both moonlighting and quiet quitting have been followed as ‘side hustle’ and ‘checked out’ respectively in the past. For example, professionals like doctors, lawyers, and teachers holding primary jobs along with a personal practice has been long accepted. Corporate employees involved in multi-level marketing is also well known.
Is moonlighting or dual employment, a problem? Yes, especially if the second job is related to the primary job. Dual employment is an offence due to confidentiality breach. For example, A Bengaluru-based IT company has found that an employee was illegally employed in more than two of its competitors. Several such cases were found over the past 30 months and almost all the employees have been terminated.

Reports suggest that only one-third of employees consider themselves ‘highly engaged’ at work. Lack of engagement among the rest may be because of job insecurity, lack of job satisfaction, lack of respect/recognition or rewards/remuneration or poor work-life balance.

Since the pandemic, both quiet quitting and moonlighting have become easy as people find themselves productive working from anywhere and saving 2-3 hours of commute time every day.
A recent news report states that a survey of 400 IT professionals in India revealed that 65% engaged in moonlighting while working from home. Another report states that 70% of those surveyed said that side-hustles are the real shot to fame and 69% shared that they would want to earn from their hobbies.

Moonlighting clauses are added to employment agreements; violation of these clauses amounts to confidentiality breach and conflict of interest. They could use the IP, tools, and processes from their primary job in the second job, which is legally, and ethically, wrong. The other ethical question is does moonlighting deny opportunity for the unemployed or underemployed?
A recent report states that 34% of the working population in the US have a ‘side hustle’. Though dual employment is not banned in the US, Australia and other countries, many workers hide their second job from the primary employer. A recent Mckinsey report in the US shows a rise in independent workers from 27% in 2016 to 36% in 2022. The key reason citied is the autonomy and flexibility of freelancing.

European Union has adopted a directive in 2019 that requires EU member states to ensure that an employer can no longer prohibit an employee from working for another employer or for themselves outside of agreed working hours. The goal is to lower the threshold for workers to engage in other work, on a payroll or as self-employed persons, in addition to their existing work. The Directive allows the member states to set conditions under which an employer can continue to place restrictions on an employee having multiple jobs.

The Netherlands has recently implemented rules that would stop employers from banning their employees from taking up a second employment or doing voluntary work, with the aim of making it easier to combine different jobs.
While Indian companies are in a dilemma over moonlighting, IT major Infosys has warned its employees that moonlighting could lead to termination. On the other hand, online food delivery company Swiggy announced a moonlighting policy allowing its employees to take up projects outside of their regular work. In general, are organisations ready to accept and respond to the shift towards side-hustling?

Firstly, companies should address quiet quitting through a positive work culture that enables right job fitment and work-life balance. Providing a career roadmap and helping individuals cross-skill or upskill will help motivate workers and improve productivity.

Conventionally, moonlighting is considered a breach of trust. Going forward, there is a need for a framework for ethical moonlighting with representation from all stakeholders including labour department, industry bodies, companies and employee representatives. Companies should consider categorising employees who will be allowed/disallowed to moonlight depending on their role and type of work. Differentiated perquisites between the two category could be used. Moonlighting policies and awareness campaigns should be created. The policy framework must allow flexibility for employees and set clear performance goals, while clarifying on the confidentiality aspects. This would foster a healthy environment and a win-win for all concerned.

The present labour laws need a relook. For example, Shops and Establishment Act (S&E) in India does not allow dual employment. It is also unclear how PF, gratuity and employee insurance would be handled in cases of dual employment. How will a ‘background check’ be conducted in case of multiple employment?

Sooner or later, moonlighting needs to be accepted as a reality. For enabling a smooth transition, all stakeholders need to accept and demonstrate maturity, build a transparent, robust policy that works to everybody’s advantage.

(The writer is an ICT Professional and columnist based in Bengaluru)

India@100: World’s innovation capital

 We need to create research mindset among students in schools & colleges. We need to create an environment that can aid in producing subject matter experts who are equipped with multidisciplinary skill

Published: 19th August 2022 07:33 AM  |   Last Updated: 19th August 2022 07:33 AM

By G Krishna Kumar

In his Independence Day address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for India to become a leader in Innovation. His “Jai Anusandhan” (Hail Innovation) slogan is timely. 

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India significantly lags behind the world’s top economies in Innovation/Inventions and Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)—including patents, trademarks, trade secrets and copyrights. While India’s ranking in the Global Innovation Index has improved significantly from 81 in 2015–16 to 46 in 2021, it is a long road ahead for India to dominate in innovation.

A recent report analysing data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) suggests that India pays a huge amount of money to foreign entities (for using the latter’s IPRs), compared to what India earns for IPRs held in India. For example: In 2021, India paid $8.6 billion and earned just $800 million. Back in 1981, the out-go was $15.1 million and earning was $0.11 million.

As India aims to be one of the top three economies in the world, we must have a multi-pronged approach to strengthen our position in Innovation and IPRs. Let us look at how India can improve its innovation and invention capabilities through patents. 

For the uninitiated, a patent is defined by WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organisation) as an exclusive right granted for an invention, which is a product or a process that provides, in general, a new way of doing something or offers a new technical solution to a problem. Patents are territorial rights—this means that the patents are to be filed in each country where the inventor seeks patent protection. World bodies (like the Paris Convention and Patent Cooperation Treaty, etc.) assist inventors in filing patents in other countries. 

The Indian patent system dates way back to the 1856 Act on the protection of inventions. It has undergone several modifications and enhancements post-independence and more so since 1999.

Over the past decade, the government’s ‘Make in India’, ‘Start-up India’, ‘Digital India’, ‘Atal Innovation Mission’, ‘Skill India’ and the ‘NIPAM’ (National IP Awareness Mission) have certainly helped in spurring innovation in the country. To encourage startups to file more patents, the government provides incentives—startups recognised under the Startup India programme get up to 80% rebate on patent filings.

There are several examples of Indians driving innovation. For example, a Maharashtra-based company has a patented tamper-proof painting technology that can be applied on uneven and rough surfaces. This technology would have global demand. 

Patent filing has significantly increased over the past decade. For example, 58,502 patents were filed in 2020–21, compared to 39,400 patents filed in 2010–11. Nearly 28,391 patents were granted in India in 2020–21 compared to 7,509 in 2010–11. 

However, when we look at the global scenario, 5.3 lakh patents were granted in China, while 3.52 lakh were granted in the USA, 1.7 lakh were granted in Japan, and South Korea granted 1.35 lakh patents. We are significantly lagging behind these leading economies. The main issue is India’s low Research and Development spending of 0.7% of GDP. In comparison, the USA spends 3%, Israel spends 4.5% and even China spends 2.6% of GDP. 

It is heartening to see the share of Indian residents in total applications has increased to 40% in 2020–21 from 20% in 2010–11. It is encouraging to see academic institutions filing over 2,500 patents during the last year, spread across Information Technology, Biotechnology, Ayurveda and Basic Sciences. 

India fares poorly on time taken for patent granting. The time taken in India is about 42 months. This has dropped significantly from 64 months in 2017. However, this is way below the global benchmark. USA, China, South Korea and Japan take about 15–20 months to grant patents. 

The delays can be attributed to the number of patent examiners in India. India has 615 examiners compared to 8,132 in the USA and 13,704 in China. The whole process of patenting involves three critical aspects—the inventors, the patent agents and the examiners granting the patents. 

Firstly, we need to create a research mindset among the students in schools and colleges. We need to create an environment that can aid in producing subject matter experts who are equipped with multidisciplinary skills. 

The NEP 2020’s vision for encouraging entrepreneurship and innovation can help if implemented effectively through strong feedback and a continuous improvement mechanism. Much more awareness must be created among the students and the youth in the country. The NEP’s focus on building multidisciplinary skills can encourage students to think about research and innovation instead of just focusing on standard jobs. 

The inventors approach patent agents for filing. The patent agents need to pass the patent agent examination conducted by the Indian government to qualify for patent filing. 

Reports suggest that India has about 4,000 registered patent agents. In contrast, the USA has about 50,000 agents. The number of patent filings per agent is about 14 in India compared to about 7 in the USA. We need to increase the number of patent agents significantly. This can be done by increasing awareness about the role of patent agents. These patent agents must hold a degree in Science and Technology to appear for the patent agent exam. Here again, multi skilled personnel will have a great opportunity to excel. 

Finally, India is lagging significantly behind its global peers with regard to the ratio of patent examiners to the patents filed. Government initiatives to increase the intake will certainly help in reducing the gap. Regular awareness campaigns and celebration of success stories will motivate professionals to become patent agents or patent examiners. India should learn from the European Patent Office’s (EPO) strategy to attract talent as patent examiners. 

Overall, we have an excellent opportunity for the innovation-led ecosystem to work together and enable an efficient patent management system in the country. Such actions would ensure India can produce some of the best-patented inventions in the world before we celebrate India@100. 

Bengaluru-based ICT professional and columnist

5G will transform the telecom landscape, but India will have to wait

 Globally, 5G subscribers were expected to touch 1.3 billion by Dec 2022

G Krishna Kumar, AUG 07 2022, 21:36 ISTUPDATED: AUG 08 2022, 01:17 IST

The much-touted 5G auction has concluded and the Centre is set to garner over 1.5 lakh crore. This auction was estimated to fetch over 4.3 lakh crore, however, just before the auction, the government reduced the expectation to Rs 80,000-90,000 crore. Very high base price meant that 29 per cent of the spectrum remained unsold. As in the past, the government will conduct follow-up auctions for the unsold spectrum; hopefully, at an attractive base price. 

India’s mobile telecom journey has been quite unprecedented. From the first mobile phone call back in July 1995 to the expected 5G launch, we have seen several transformations. From exorbitant call charges to ‘paisafication’ of tariff; from 12 mobile service providers to just 4 and from being a predominantly 2G (voice) market to becoming among the highest per-capita data consumers, India has come a long way. 
The introduction of 5G is expected to further transform India’s digital footprint. Considering that 5G data speeds will be 5 to 10 times faster than 4G, users can expect amazing experiences. But there are several challenges to be addressed. Before we delve into them, a quick look at the global scenario for 5G.

Global 5G uptake
Globally, 5G subscribers were expected to touch 1.3 billion by Dec 2022. However, the revised forecasts indicate that the number could be short by 300 million. This is still a significant achievement considering that it took 12 years for achieving the one billion user milestone for 3G, 4 years for 4G and it would be just about 3.5 years for 5G. If not for the Covid-19 impact, 5G uptake could have been much faster.
A recent report states that 70 countries had 5G networks as of June 2022, up from just 38 just two years back. South Korea was the first country to deploy 5G services back in 2018. By 2025, 60 per cent of South Korea’s mobile subscribers are expected to be using 5G.
5G uptake in the EU has been sluggish. A recent European Telecommunications Network Operators’ Association (ETNO) report states that Europe accounts for only 2.8 per cent of the total mobile connections although 62 per cent of the population has access to 5G. In the US, 13.4 per cent are using 5G. Even Thailand has had a sluggish 5G uptake.
Another report states that the US and China lead on the number of cities with 5G coverage, with 356 and 296 cities, respectively. The Philippines with 98 cities and South Korea with 85 are the countries in Asia among the top 10 countries.   
While 5G involves significant expenditure from the telcos, an Ericsson report states that 5G ARPU (average revenue per user) can gain 34 per cent by 2030 if the telcos offer differentiated services to the consumers.

Poor mobile experience
Indians will lap up 5G connectivity if the telcos retain the tariff. India’s data tariff is amongst the lowest in the world. Price per GB (gigabyte) in India is at $0.17 per GB, while it costs between $3.85-$5.95 in Japan, the US and Canada. No wonder the ARPU of the Indian telcos is under Rs 150. The global average is between Rs 700-Rs 1000. Perhaps, low ARPU is a key reason for the poor quality we experience while using our phones.

Dropped calls continue to haunt the Indian subscribers. Government had planned to penalise telcos with poor call quality, call drops etc. No action was taken and telcos have got away with no accountability for providing poor quality of service.
Many of the challenges we face with connections (especially indoors) would continue even with 5G. The main reason is that the high frequency spectrum, also called millimetre wave (26GHz), is capable of carrying a significant amount of data, but constrained with coverage distance.
On the other hand, the efficiency is much better in the sub-GHz band (600-900MHz). But exorbitant prices meant that the telcos did not bid aggressively in the lower frequency band.    
In India, 4G picked up significantly as people were able to enjoy live-streaming videos, news etc. The speeds are good enough for the current set of applications as 5G specific applications are largely absent. Subscribers may not pay higher tariff for 5G if the quality is largely 4G-like. 
With 5G limited to a few patches, it is highly likely that users will be pushed back to 4G where 5G connectivity is absent (even 2G if 4G coverage is poor). In addition, availability of affordable handsets will be a deterrent for major uptake in 5G. Presently, less than 10 per cent of the smartphones in India support 5G. 
A very strong fibre-optic backhaul network is required for 5G, but only 30 per cent of the mobile towers have fibre-optic connectivity. This needs to be increased to 80 per cent for a seamless 5G experience (Just as an example, South Korea has over 70 per cent fibre-optic coverage).
Sample this: India’s fibre kilometre per-capita is 0.09 compared to 1.35 in Japan and the US and 0.87 in China. Fibre-optic connectivity must be ramped up on a war footing for India to realise its 5G dreams.

Enterprise segment
The Centre’s plan for pricing the spectrum for captive non-public network (CNPN) is awaited. Most enterprises in India will be eager to get on the 5G bandwagon. Also, considering the challenges in 5G deployment for retail mobile users and the fact that enterprises are still major contributors to telcos’ revenue, it is likely that the telcos would prioritise enterprise segment for faster 5G adoption.  
Summarising, for Indians to enjoy a true 5G experience, it will certainly take a few more years. Till that time, we should be happy with occasional 5G and mostly 4G.
(The writer is a columnist and ICT professional based in Bengaluru.)

Great expectations as govt looks to reshape e-commerce landscape with ONDC

ONDC is a not-for-profit, open e-commerce platform that aims to provide a level playing field for all types of sellers

G Krishna Kumar, JUN 05 2022, 22:16 ISTUPDATED: JUN 06 2022, 07:33 IST

Buoyed by the success of several digital initiatives in the country from Aadhaar to Co-Win and UPI transactions, the Union government has embarked on an ambitious project “Open Network for Digital Commerce” (ONDC).

ONDC is a not-for-profit, open e-commerce platform that aims to provide a level playing field for all types of sellers, from kirana stores to retail chains and even larger e-commerce players.

The pilot phase of ONDC was kicked off recently in five cities (Bengaluru, Bhopal, Coimbatore, Delhi-NCR, Shillong) with 150 sellers, and over the next 6 months the footprint is expected to increase to 100 cities across the country with over 3 crore sellers. Reports suggest that there are 1.2 crore kirana stores in the country and just 15,000 of them are e-commerce enabled.

Online retail Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) has tripled over the past 5 years and yet it represents just 4.3% of the total sales in the retail segment. In comparison, e-retail as a percentage of overall retail sales in South Korea, China and the UK are at 26%, 25% and 23%, respectively.

A recent report indicates that the e-commerce market is predicted to increase from an estimated $75 billion by 2022 to $350 billion by 2030. It must also be noted that Amazon and Flipkart account for about 60% of the e-commerce market in India. Can ONDC seize the moment in the retail space?

As of now, large players like Amazon, Paytm etc have created apps/portals where buyers, sellers, logistics and payment are integrated onto their platform. Thus, a customer who is connected to one app or portal (say Paytm) can buy goods from that portal alone. If the buyer wants to buy from any other app (say Amazon), he/she has to log into the app and buy goods. Presently, all the e-commerce players have a centralised approach. ONDC on the other hand has a decentralised network approach. Here, the same Paytm platform can be used by the buyer to search for a product. Instead of seeing just what is offered by Paytm sellers, the buyer can choose from a variety of sellers: it could be from a nearby kirana store or from other established e-commerce players. This gives freedom of choice for the buyers and sellers as well. Most importantly, the buyer can buy goods or services without logging into different e-commerce portals or apps.

The buyers and sellers can transact irrespective of the platform or application they use to be digitally visible. Such a public digital infrastructure enabled by ONDC can potentially disrupt hospitality, travel, food delivery and mobility segments in addition to the retail segment.

The ONDC is based on an open protocol called Beckn, which allows interoperability of a wide variety of buyers and sellers. This effort to standardise all aspects in the entire chain involving various entities for exchange of goods and services is much needed as it would enable seamless experience for all the participants within the ONDC network. The platform is expected to perform the role of an enabler for e-commerce expansion and to be a market- and community-led initiative instead of being a regulator. Most importantly, such an open and decentralised network would certainly spur innovation.

It aims to work on three key aspects: dynamic pricing, inventory management and optimisation of delivery cost, and thereby bring down the cost of doing business for all players, including retailers.

Several technology startup companies have already started working on ONDC. To provide long-term vision and support for the initiative, private sector banks (HDFC, Kotak, ICICI), public sector banks (SBI) and financial institutions like BSE and NSDL among others are jointly owning ONDC. Several news reports indicate that many private banks, tech giant Google and FMCG companies like Dabur, ITC and Unilever are likely to join the ONDC network.

One of the biggest challenges ONDC will face is to replicate or better the existing user experience and quality of service provided by leading e-tailers in the country. As the e-tailers own the end-to-end system, they are able to provide assurance on the quality of products and timely delivery. ONDC would need to include the right checks and balances to create predictability in the decentralised system.

In addition, a strong grievance redressal and dispute resolution mechanism must be in place for earning the trust of buyers and sellers alike. While some of the big e-tailers provide local language support in their portals and apps, ONDC could play a significant role in language localisation, voice- based search and better user experience.

There were several unsuccessful attempts to digitise kirana stores in the past. Lack of success can be attributed to technology that was still evolving as well as low-speed internet, high mobile data tariff and low awareness amongst kirana store owners. Right now, India’s 4G data charges are among the lowest in the world at $0.68 per GB. In addition, availability of cheaper mobile phones will help in onboarding users onto the ONDC ecosystem. Awareness among local sellers, however, holds the key to success. Most importantly, established e-commerce players participating in the ONDC initiative will be a win-win for the overall ecosystem as India tries to catapult into the digital commerce space. Can ONDC replicate the success of UPI, where the banking sector actively participated? It will be a challenge, but with active participation from stakeholders, there is hope. 

(The writer is an ICT professional and a columnist based in Bengaluru)

Karnataka should address charging woes to become a hub of EV adoption

  The government must implement a hassle-free and affordable private charging system

G Krishna Kumar, APR 17 2022, 22:42 ISTUPDATED: APR 18 2022, 15:41 IST

The recent fire incidents involving four EV scooters have shocked both EV users and potential buyers alike. Will this put India’s EV story in jeopardy? Unlikely. Considering the importance of EV uptake in the country, the central government has ordered a forensic probe into the incidents. The manufacturers will have to take corrective and preventive actions to bring back the trust in EVs.

High consumer interest
It is encouraging to see consumers willing to experiment and switch to EVs. Sample this: Across India, 3.29 lakh EVs were sold in 2021, compared to 1.29 lakh in 2020. Electric two-wheelers contributed almost 50% of the sales, while electric three-wheelers contributed about 45% during 2021.
Vahan website shows UP leading EV sales with over 67,000 vehicles, while Karnataka stands second with sales of over 33,000 EVs. On the other hand, Karnataka leads two-wheeler sales in the country with about 30,000 vehicles sold.
A recent survey by Castrol has found that drivers in India require electric vehicles (EVs) priced at Rs 23 lakh, with a 35-minute average charge time and a range of 401 km. A new study reveals ‘tipping points’ at which most Indian drivers would consider switching to an EV. On average, they are looking to purchase an EV in just two years’ time.
It must be noted that the DC fast charging infrastructure has significantly improved, both in cities as well as highways, over the past three years. A journey from Bengaluru to Hyderabad or Mumbai or Kanyakumari can be covered with less anxiety. However, the state government can take specific steps in improving charging infrastructure significantly — both private/home charging as well as public charging in cities/along highways.

Private charging
Most people who buy an electric car would prefer to charge their cars in their home, and for this, a 7KW connection would be desirable. If a Bengaluru resident living in an independent house with a regular home connection of 2KW wants to upgrade to 9KW, BESCOM, Bengaluru’s sole electricity distribution company (discom), charges the customer about 1.5 lakh, including security deposit, installation charges. The application needs to be routed through designated electrical contractors and “convenience charges” are applicable for priority processing.
Now, let us look at apartment complexes. Most apartments were built 10-20 years ago and hence are not EV-friendly. While BESCOM is willing to help residents in apartment complexes with EV charging in parking areas, there are several Resident Welfare Associations (RWA) opposing the same.
BESCOM does not have the power to override the opposing RWAs as Karnataka lacks an EV policy that provides authority to the Urban Development Department (UDD) and the local civic body, the BBMP, to amend bylaws for supporting private EV charging.
The government must implement a hassle-free and affordable private charging system. New Delhi has implemented a consumer-friendly “Single Window” system. The ‘SWITCH DELHI’ initiative provides great insights for the end-users to switch to EV.
In New Delhi, for example, an end-user can apply for an EV charging connection through one of the four discoms. The connection is provided free of cost and an AC charger is provided for Rs 3,000 (3.2KW) and Rs 5,000 for a 7.2KW charger. A site visit is conducted by the discom and the charger is operational within a week. The Delhi government has an EV policy that overrides RWAs and can enable charging points for the end user directly.

Create awareness
It is highly likely that most EV owners in Bengaluru will not know that BESCOM has a provision for submeters, which can be used to charge EVs at subsidised rates (Rs 4.5 per unit). BESCOM would do well to create awareness about submeters.
In addition, safety guidelines for private charging in apartments and independent houses must be published. India has adopted the AIS 138 (Automotive Industry Standard) which recommends IEC60309 industrial sockets for EV charging. These sockets are waterproof and offer better safety compared to the regular 3-pin plug points at home.
BESCOM can join hands with the OEMs and companies that provide EV chargers to impart regular safety awareness campaigns. Importantly, a periodic audit confirming the worthiness of electrical wiring/switches/earthing at homes should be carried out. Perhaps, the home audit process followed by domestic gas companies can be replicated. Such audits will certainly help in reducing short circuit-related incidents, like the one where two people lost their lives in Tamil Nadu while charging their EV.

Highway charging
There are several private charging companies willing to invest in fast charging infrastructure along highways. Lack of support from discoms and rampant corruption appear to be the biggest hurdles. The time could be ripe for Karnataka to remove the discom monopoly and allow multiple discoms to operate. This would also spur competition for better service quality. The highway chargers must have a backup (maybe solar) so that the chargers are available 24X7 even during power cuts.
In addition to improved fast charging infrastructure along highways, the government should waive tolls for EVs till say 2027 (many countries in Europe have implemented zero toll and zero parking charges for EVs). Karnataka has already implemented tamper-proof high-security number plates (HSRP) and this would aid in implementing toll-free passage for EVs.
The Karnataka government needs to play a significant role in stimulating EV adoption. Willingness to improve the EV infrastructure along with a clear vision and timely implementation will help many buyers to switch to EVs rapidly. Chief Minister, hope you are listening!
(The writer is an EV enthusiast and columnist based in Bengaluru)

Protect youth from stock market perils

 IN PERSPECTIVE

G Krishna Kumar, MAR 28 2022, 00:02 ISTUPDATED: MAR 28 2022, 00:44 IST

A research scholar in Puducherry recently committed suicide owing to losses suffered in the stock market crash. There have been several cases of depression caused by stock market losses of late, especially among youngsters.

A global research report covering 36 countries spanning several decades suggests that a strong correlation exists between a stock market crash and depression/suicide rate, affecting men and women alike.

India’s stock market is relatively new and with a young populace, we would need the right interventions to help avoid cases of depression and suicide. But before delving into the possible interventions, it is important to understand the Indian stock market context.
The Indian stock market has gone up significantly ever since the  March 2020 market crash. The benchmark index Sensex has jumped 2.5-fold from March 2020 to October 2021 and even after the current crash, it is over two-fold. Such a phenomenal increase has meant that more and more youngsters and even college students are attracted to the stock market with the lure of easy and quick money.
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) data shows that India has over 7.7 crore Demat accounts, up from about 3.6 crore accounts back in March 2019. Reports suggest that India has been historically adding about 4 lakh Demat accounts pre-Covid and now has zoomed to 20-30 lakh every month. It is not surprising that 75% of all the new accounts belong to people in the under-30 age group. Awareness about the stock market has gone up significantly over the past two years with many experts gaining celebrity status with “stock tips” on social media apps. The reduced interest rates in fixed deposits and savings bank accounts have aided the sudden increase in interest towards the stock market.
Each person would adopt strategies that would suit their risk profile, be it short-term trading or a long-term investment.
Warren Buffet, the most famous investor, is widely acclaimed as the 'Guru of compounding'. He achieved success by patiently holding on to the stocks for several decades.
In his book 'The Psychology of Money', Morgan Housel beautifully summarises that an average person with no financial background or flashy degrees can create wealth by patiently waiting for decades. The example of  Ronald Read, a petrol station attendant who saved his earnings, invested in Bluechip stocks and waited patiently for decades and created over $8 million wealth during his lifetime, is worth mentioning. The author argues that financial success is not hard science but a soft skill where how you behave is more important than what you know. He also stresses lesser greed and a longer time horizon as the key to wealth creation.
The other classic on personal financial advice is from 'The Richest Man in Babylon'. The 1926 book is a collection of parables that focuses on simple concepts like "paying yourself first", "living within your means", "investing in what you know" and the importance of long-term saving.

Financial literacy
While the Indian stock exchanges regularly run awareness campaigns — 'Soch Kar Samajh Kar invest Kar' from the National Stock Exchange (NSE) is very much appreciated — much more needs to be done. Market regulator Sebi should bring all the stakeholders to further improve awareness about the risks and possible benefits of stock market investing. There are several new financial investment instruments like the new NSE IFSC for investing in US-listed stocks. Sebi may do well to impose additional mandatory guidelines for all TV and social media stock market experts.
Can stockbrokers use advanced computing technologies like Artificial Intelligence to identify the risk profile of their customers? Can they run some proactive intervention for such customers when they see them falling into the yellow or red zone?
We need to prepare our Gen-Next to be financially literate. The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and the CBSE have introduced a financial literacy textbook for class VI students to impart basic financial concepts at the initial stage of education. While this initiative must be lauded, the government must use the NEP (National Education Policy) framework to strengthen financial literacy.
The government should embark on a series of initiatives to educate students about money management and stock market awareness. Maybe a mandatory course for college students across disciplines with a mix of global and Indian examples could be used to increase awareness.
The risks associated with the stock market and other financial instruments must be emphasised to our youth, thereby bringing financial discipline among them. We need to act before it is too late.
(The writer is Managing Trustee, GVB Trust)