Indian Army Conducts 'Akash Prime' Air Defence System Trials At 15,000 Feet In Ladakh
/ Jul 16, 2025, 11:09PM IST
Indian army successfully tested the Akash Prime air defence system at over 15,000 feet in the Ladakh sector, officials confirmed. The tests were carried out in the presence of officials from the Army Air Defence and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). During the trials, the surface-to-air missiles scored two direct hits on fast-moving target aircraft in a high-altitude zone with thin air.#akashprime #indianarmy #drdo #ladakh #airdefence #madeinindia #missiles #indiandefence #operationsindoor #militarytech #aatmanirbharbharat #toi #toibharat

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
ETBWS 2025: CMOs decode AI's role in marketing transformation
Marketing is undergoing a seismic transformation. Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping how brands connect with customers, predict behaviours, and deliver personalised experiences at scale. From content generation to predictive modelling , today's CMOs are using AI to accelerate decision-making, enhance customer journeys, and unlock real-time growth opportunities. At the 7th edition of the Brand World Summit, organised by ETBrandEquity, a panel of leading CMOs explored how AI and data are revolutionising not just marketing operations, but also customer engagement . The panel featured Ashish Mishra, CMO, Acko; Darshana Shah, CMO, Aditya Birla Capital; Sai Narayan, CMO, Policybazaar; and Krishna Kota, head of marketing – consumer business, DBS Bank India. While AI currently acts as an enabler, it is expected to become a key growth driver. Mishra noted that most current applications focus on AI's predictive capabilities, including customer segmentation and fraud detection. On generative AI , he said: 'It's easy to get carried away by the scale at which content can be generated. Internally, we are still vetting its use. I believe predictive and generative AI will eventually work in tandem, but for now, our emphasis is on predictive applications.' Shah said, 'When the omnichannel ecosystem first emerged, AI-powered bots gained traction. These systems, fuelled by vast datasets, enabled voice conversations, journey mapping, and drop-off detection. With martech platforms now leveraging data for highly personalised interactions, AI has shifted from being an enabler to a true growth driver in many areas of our business.' She added, 'There are challenges around built-in biases. For example, when prompting tools like Gemini to generate an image of an Indian woman of a certain age, the results often default to cultural stereotypes – a bindi , sindoor , or brown skin – irrespective of context. Even in categories like health wear or activewear, such biases persist. We are actively retraining these models to mitigate these stereotypes.' Narayan said, 'Although insurance is largely digital, customers still require human support when selecting a policy. Traditionally, queries that came in after business hours were only addressed the following morning, which led to lower conversion rates.' To address this, Policybazaar introduced Finova AI for its life insurance division, an AI-powered bot that replaces human agents outside working hours. 'Finova AI understands Indic languages and responds contextually, facilitating seamless, engaging conversations. These interactions not only extend engagement but also enhance the quality of next-day human follow-ups, resulting in higher conversions.' Kota said, 'If your data is well-organised, AI capabilities can truly scale. For DBS Bank, this journey began with the basics. In 2017, we built ADA (Analytics Data Architecture), our central data lake, which now powers all AI-led initiatives.' DBS handles extensive behavioural and transactional data. 'In Singapore alone, we track over 10,000 signals per customer, from spending patterns to salary flows.' To use this data ethically and effectively, DBS developed NBN (Next Best Nudge), an AI-driven framework that delivers timely, personalised suggestions influencing customer decisions. 'We have also created NBC, or Next Best Conversation, enabling our relationship managers to engage customers with data-driven insights. Whether through nudges or conversations, intelligent engagement represents the future of banking, and AI sits at its core.'


Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
Every city must have chief information security officer, says home secretary
Home secretary Govind Mohan (File photo) NEW DELHI: Every city should have a chief information security officer (CISO) to ensure protection of data and systems from cyber threats, Union home secretary Govind Mohan said on Thursday while addressing a meeting on cybersecurity preparedness of Indian cities. He urged states and city administrations to always be on alert about cyber threats and carry out regular audits of their systems and network security. Sources said Mohan also highlighted the need for cities to create their own capacity to deal with technology integration and protect the system, rather than depending on consultants and private players. The meeting was attended by top officials of electronics and IT, home and urban affairs ministries, besides representatives from Intelligence Bureau, UIDAI and state govts. 'There is a huge focus on data security and cyber hygiene, particularly since the 100 smart cities have made huge progress in technology integration. IB officials pointed to how there is need to be ever ready since cyber threats have emerged as a huge challenge with more data on properties, water supply and transportation systems getting digitised,' said an official. Sources said housing and urban affairs secretary K Srinivas announced the ministry's plan to come up with a scheme for the 100 smart cities to take forward the data and technology integration works they have done. 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 'The Centre's scheme will ensure continuity of the 100 common command and control centres that manage the IT backbone and data of the cities,' said a source. Cybersecurity in smart cities is crucial because of their reliance on interconnected digital technologies for essential services. These face cybersecurity challenges stemming from their complex infrastructure, including vulnerabilities in IoT devices, data breaches, and potential disruptions of critical services.


Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
Dai-ichi Life opens new GCC in Hyd, plans to hire 600 techies
Hyderabad: Japanese life insurance major Dai-ichi Life Group has opened its first global capability centre (GCC) outside Japan in Hyderabad. The GCC, which is now operational with around 50-60 techies, will be ramped up to around 500-600 over the next two to three years, its global chief digital and information officer Stephen Barnham told TOI here. 'We are optimistic about scaling up quickly, given the talent availability in Hyderabad,' he said, pointing out that the strategic move is part of Dai-ichi's plan to leverage India's deep talent pool and technological expertise to drive global growth strategy. Barnham said the centre will focus primarily on technology development, especially in enhancing customer experiences through digital solutions. This includes improving the customer journey in insurance processes, utilising AI-driven solutions for better underwriting, and employing data analytics for more accurate health and life insurance predictions. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad It will also work on infrastructure engineering and cybersecurity for robust protection of sensitive customer data. He said setting up of the GCC was significant because of the unique challenges and opportunities it presents in bridging cultural and language differences between Japan and India. 'We are building a bicultural and bilingual capability to ensure seamless integration and synergy between our operations in Japan and India,' he explained. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is it legal? How to get Internet without paying a subscription? Techno Mag Learn More Undo Dai-ichi has a presence in India through its joint venture, Star Union Dai-Ichi Life Insurance (SUD Life). Set up in collaboration with Capgemini on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) model on its Hyderabad campus, the GCC will be initially managed by the French IT services giant before transitioning control to Dai-ichi Life, Capgemini CEO Ashwin Yardi. 'We will leverage our expertise in technology and deep understanding of the Indian market to build a strong foundation for the GCC,' Yardi added.