
CAIT, Meta to train 25k women traders with digital skills
New Delhi: The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) and Meta have launched an initiative to equip 25,000 women traders across India with digital skills using the WhatsApp Business App.The first phase of 'Vyaapar Sakhi' will run from June to November 2025, offering in-person training sessions in multiple Indian languages.
The initiative aims to help women entrepreneurs build a credible online presence, showcase products, set up automated messages, and run ads on WhatsApp.The women's wing of CAIT will lead the training, according to a release.'India is home to millions of women-led businesses, and empowering them is not just the right thing to do; it is critical to unleashing our country's vast entrepreneurial potential.
'We believe that giving women across India, especially in tier 2 and tier 3 towns, the right digital skills and knowledge to fully unlock the potential of WhatsApp will not only help them grow their businesses but it will also enable them to better support and benefit their communities,' Shivanth Thukral, Vice President and Head - Public Policy at Meta in India, said.
Hashtags

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

Mint
31 minutes ago
- Mint
Musk's Starlink gets DoT licence for satellite internet services
After a three-year wait, Elon Musk-owned Starlink has finally received the green light to launch its satellite internet services in India – a move that could provide connectivity in rural areas where physical infrastructure remains poor. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) granted the company the critical Global Mobile Personal Communications by Satellite (GMPCS) licence on Friday, marking a major milestone in its entry into the Indian market. With this, Starlink becomes the latest entrant in India's satellite internet space after Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio Satellite. Notably, the licence for Startlink came within a month of the company securing a letter of intent (LoI) from the telecom department to start its services in the country. Also read: Elon Musk vs Donald Trump: POTUS to sell his 'beautiful' red Tesla amid spat with ex-DOGE chief - Report To be sure, Starlink still needs approval from the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) for its constellation of satellites and the capacity it plans to deploy. The GMPCS licence allows companies to offer voice and data services through satellite. The licence is issued for a period of 20 years and allows companies to offer satellite communication services in licenced service areas. In addition to the GMPCS licence, Starlink has also received internet services provider (ISP) and very small aperture terminal (VSAT) licences from the government. Mint was the first to report on 7 May that Starlink had got the letter of intent after agreeing to comply with licensing conditions critical to national security. 'The company will be given the trial spectrum in the next few days to test its services and show compliance with the security norms," a government official said. The government has given allotted provision spectrum to OneWeb and Jio as well to comply with the security norms including lawful interception, network control and monitoring, geo-fencing of services and data localization. Compliance with conditions is essential for companies before starting satellite internet services commercially. Also read: Elon Musk vs Donald Trump feud: What's at stake here as Tesla boss takes on POTUS in this 'big, beautiful' fight? The licence comes as India looks to close a bilateral trade deal with the US to avoid a potential 26% reciprocal tariff before a 9 July deadline. Notably, Musk on 29 May announced his exit from the US president Donald Trump's administration and stepped down from his role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Starlink had applied for a GMPCS licence in 2022, a key regulatory requirement for satellite-based communications in India. The company had started taking bookings for its satellite-based services from Indian customers in 2021, without even getting the licence. The company was then directed by the government to call off such bookings as these could not be done without a licence. In compliance with the DoT order, the company returned the booking amounts to over 5,000 pre-booked customers. Besides In-SPACe approval, Starlink's launch of satellite services in the country is also pending on the government's allocation of spectrum via non-auction route. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has recommended administrative allocation of spectrum, as opposed to auctions, for satellite internet services. It said satcom companies will have to pay annual spectrum charges of either 4% of their adjusted gross revenue (AGR) or ₹3,500 per MHz, whichever is higher. The recommendations are pending with DoT and the government is expected to notify the terms and pricing for spectrum allotment soon. Satcom operators will also have to pay an annual licence fee of 8% of AGR to the government as per current authorization terms of the DoT. This is similar to what telecom operators pay, which includes a 5% licence fee and 3% towards the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF). Also read: Elon Musk vs Donald Trump: Tesla boss' alleged baby mama Ashley St Claire joins debate; offers POTUS 'breakup advice Additionally, Trai has recommended an annual charge of ₹500 per subscriber for satellite service providers in urban areas. Starlink will now need to set up earth station gateways–ground-based facilities that connect satellites to local networks, a critical component for internet connectivity. In a letter dated 29 May to telecom secretary Neeraj Mittal, the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), alleged that the pricing for satellite spectrum recommended by the telecom regulator is non-transparent, unjustified, and does not lead to a level-playing field between telecom and satellite internet operators. Trai, however, had said that satellite services will be complementary and not be competing with terrestrial services. 'Since satellite spectrum is a shared pool, the two (terrestrial and satellite) cannot be priced at par," Trai chairman Anil Lahoti said in a press briefing on 9 May. Lahoti added that Trai has recommended assigning spectrum for five years as satcoms are currently in a nascent stage, and their business potential would emerge after some years of operations. Besides Starlink, Amazon's Kuiper is also in the fray to enter the country and is awaiting a nod from the government on its application. Analysts said Starlink's entry could help bridge the digital divide, particularly in rural areas where internet access remains limited. 'Forty percent of India's population does not have internet access, with rural areas comprising the majority of these cases. This represents a large market opportunity for Starlink," brokerage Bernstein had noted in a report dated 4 March. "The entry of Starlink into the Indian market along with other major players such as OneWeb and Jio Satellite Communications is a significant milestone for the telecom sector in India. It will be interesting to witness these key players roll out satellite-based services and its impact, specially in underserved and rural areas, where traditional terrestrial infrastructure has struggled to reach," said Harsh Walia, Partner at Khaitan & Co.


India.com
38 minutes ago
- India.com
Rafale Fighter Jet Gets Make In India Twist; Tata Partners With Dassault To Manufacture Jet Fuselage Domestically
MUMBAI: French aerospace company Dassault Aviation has signed four Production Transfer Agreements to manufacture the Rafale fighter aircraft fuselage in India, in partnership with Tata Advanced Systems. This marks a significant step forward in strengthening the country's aerospace manufacturing capabilities and supporting global supply chains. "This facility represents a significant investment in India's aerospace infrastructure and will serve as a critical hub for high-precision manufacturing," a joint statement said Thursday. Under the scope of the partnership, Tata Advanced Systems will set up a cutting-edge production facility in Hyderabad for the manufacture of key structural sections of the Rafale, including the lateral shells of the rear fuselage, the complete rear section, the central fuselage, and the front section. The first fuselage sections are expected to roll off the assembly line in 2027-28, with the facility expected to deliver up to two complete fuselages per month. "For the first time, Rafale fuselages will be produced outside France. This is a decisive step in strengthening our supply chain in India. Thanks to the expansion of our local partners, including TASL, one of the major players in the Indian aerospace industry, this supply chain will contribute to the successful ramp-up of the Rafale and, with our support, will meet our quality and competitiveness requirements," said Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation. Sukaran Singh, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Tata Advanced Systems Limited, said, "This partnership marks a significant step in India's aerospace journey. The production of the complete Rafale fuselage in India underscores the deepening trust in Tata Advanced Systems' capabilities and the strength of our collaboration with Dassault Aviation. It also reflects the remarkable progress India has made in establishing a modern, robust aerospace manufacturing ecosystem that can support global platforms." The signing of these contracts reflects Dassault Aviation's strong commitment to India's 'Make in India' and AtmaNirbhar initiatives. This partnership aims to strengthen India's position as a key player in the global aerospace supply chain while supporting its goal of greater economic self-reliance. Over the last century, Dassault Aviation has delivered over 10,000 military and civil aircraft (including 2,700 Falcons) in more than 90 countries. Tata Advanced Systems Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Sons, is a significant player for aerospace and defence solutions in India. TASL offers a full range of integrated solutions across: Aerostructures & Aeroengines, Airborne Platforms & Systems, Defence & Security, and Land Mobility. Tata Advanced Systems has a strong portfolio of partnerships and joint ventures with leading global aerospace and defence firms. As part of the 'Atmanirbhar' and Make in India plans, the government launched various schemes, including the production-linked incentive (PLI), in multiple sectors to make Indian manufacturers globally competitive, attract investments, enhance exports, integrate India into the global supply chain, and reduce dependency on imports. Defence production in India has surged to historic highs with the government's thrust on the Make in India initiative. The government invests heavily in defence and aerospace manufacturing, with several defence hubs being set up. Notably, many global companies have either shared or shown intent to share critical defence and aerospace knowledge with India.


The Hindu
39 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Textile mills urged to use Kasturi cotton
More number of spinning mills should use Kasturi cotton, said Siddhartha Rajagopal, Executive Director of the Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council (Texprocil). Mr. Rajagopal told The Hindu on Friday that the government is targeting 10% of Indian cotton production to be tested and certified as Kasturi cotton in five years. It will also support this through the mini mission on cotton. In the 2024-2025 cotton season, 1.12 lakh bales of cotton will be certified as Kasturi cotton. Of this, majority is with the Cotton Corporation of India. The Texprocil is talking to international brands to use Kasturi cotton as it has traceability and quality assurance. Some of the textile manufacturers in India have made shirts and towels using Kasturi cotton. 'It is recognised as a pivot for quality cotton,' he said. The brand commands a premium and there are standards for extra long staple cotton too. Textile mills that have cotton can go for testing and certification if they have details of the ginners and farmers from whom the cotton was sourced. At a meeting organised by the Texprocil for members of the textile associations here, chairman of the Southern India Mills' Association S.K. Sundararaman said the usage by the textile mills will increase when they see demonstration of value for the cotton. Nishant Asher, secretary of the Indian Cotton Federation, said the pull should come from the garment and made up brands. The participants also suggested improvement of best practices by farmers so that the traceability starts from the farmers and reduction in short fibres in the cotton to be certified as Kasturi.