Ever since the internet was introduced in India back in 1995, it has brought about significant changes in all aspects of society. It has played a crucial role in increasing the rate at which information is shared and has made entertainment, news, and education more accessible to the vast population of over a billion people in the country. A report by Statista predicts that by 2023, there will be more than 1.2 billion internet users in India, a huge jump from just 93 million in 2010. This clearly shows how rapidly the internet has spread across the country.

The rapid expansion of internet usage can be credited to various factors, including advancements in technology, increasing consumer demand, and more. Nevertheless, the most significant contribution has been from broadband service providers, who are revolutionizing the market with their outstanding service and high-speed internet. As a result, an increasing number of individuals and businesses are embracing the internet. Let’s delve into the evolution of the internet through innovative technologies.

The Impact of the Internet on Business and Society in India

India has always been open to embracing new technologies and changes, and the internet is no different. Before the widespread use of smartphones in India, internet access was mostly confined to desktop computers and internet cafés. But now, with the advancements in technology and the availability of broadband services, the internet is easily accessible to users on their mobile devices. This transformation has not only impacted society but also revolutionized the business landscape in India.

Nowadays, people can easily purchase items online as e-commerce companies have adapted to meet their demands by delivering products and services right to their homes. The government’s Digital India campaign has also played a significant role in promoting digital transactions. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology reported a staggering 9,192 crore digital transactions in India during FY23.

This is also why the internet has united society as a whole, through the swift rise of social media and microblogging sites. It has even blurred geographical walls as people, with the assistance of chat apps, can virtually meet face-to-face using video calling in HD.

In terms of available broadband speeds, it is possible to find service providers who offer extremely fast connections at affordable rates that will enable you to get uninterrupted entertainment.

In a nutshell, the importance of high-speed internet in the present digital epoch cannot be overstated. This has greatly impacted all strata of societies and businesses too. Lately, this industry has witnessed intersection between cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) which further enhance the internet and its overall capabilities.

The internet and AI

One of the technologies that has changed a lot of things in this modern world is artificial intelligence (AI). Its impacts have been felt across industries but the most noticeable one is on the internet. The web as we know it today is being transformed by this technology due to features like personalization and automation.

Personalisation: Websites and mobile apps use AI algorithms that understand what a user likes, which enables them to display customised information. Because of this, many online businesses have realized increased sales since they make their customers feel more connected. Moreover, with AI being capable of capturing, storing and processing huge amounts of data; organizations gain insights into what their consumers want so they are able to deliver products that actually speak to their audiences.

Automation: Similarly, there have been significant changes to the internet as far as automatability is concerned. This has given rise to numerous developments including customer service through chatbots powered by AI. Consequently, companies can save remarkable sums because these systems reduce expenses related to hiring human operators while still attending customer needs timely. Also, NLP (natural language processing) and generative AI have made conversations become more natural and intuitive.

Given everything that’s happening these days, it’s clear that the world is going through a lot of changes, and the internet is playing a big role in all of it. People who use the internet, whether they’re individuals or businesses, are using it more and more for convenience and to make money. In India, broadband service providers have been really important in making this all possible with their great services and super fast internet speeds. Thanks to new technologies like AI, the internet is changing a lot, making searches better, reaching more people around the world, and giving us information faster. As these technologies get better, we can expect even more changes and improvements on the internet, with AI being used in new ways to help businesses solve problems.

(The author is Chairman of Jujhar Logistics)

Our environment and atmosphere are getting polluted due to many reasons and we are becoming victims of these slowly. Adulterated food items are already causing many hidden diseases. Pollution is causing respiratory problems and climate change pushing us towards unimaginable calamities every day. Moreover, deadly microplastic has started adding insult to the injuries. It has been found that plastic particles are reaching our internal organs through our eyes and affecting our brains. These microplastic particles are giving a dangerous message to the whole human being and we should be alerted.

Scientists associated with The University of New Mexico and Health Sciences have claimed in a study that microplastic has deeply taken us in its grip, and serious steps will have to be taken to get rid of it, otherwise, the situation is going to be very scary. Is. According to the study, fine particles of plastic pollution have dissolved in food, water and air, which are not only affecting our digestive system but also reaching other important organs of the body like kidney, liver and brain through our intestines. Another study also shows that micro plastics have also been found in marine animals and plants. Not only this, micro plastic particles are also found in the bottled water that we drink proudly claiming its purity. These are very fine particles which we cannot see with the naked eye, which are extremely poisonous and in the form of chemicals. These are causing serious harm to the human body. Scientifically, there is a need to understand its chemical reaction or effect in depth.

Today plastic has entered every home in some form or the other and it seems very difficult to get rid of it. Plastic cups, thermocol, decorative items, plastic straws, packaging films, PVC banners, plastic balloon sticks, plastic bags, flags, toffee candy sticks, plastic utensils, wedding cards, sweet boxes, medicine bottles From buckets etc. to hundreds of household items which are present in our daily life, it seems very difficult to get rid of them. However, due to the initiative of the government and some voluntary organizations, alternatives to single use plastic have been suggested from time to time. Work on many schemes is also going on. But people are still not taking its dangerous consequences seriously. We can avoid this danger a little by using thick jute bags, platinum, silicone, stainless steel, glass, earthen pots or ceramic products.

Plastic is the biggest threat to the environment, wildlife and common people. It is responsible for increasing the pollution levels and the toxic chemicals released from it are polluting the ground water. Due to which fatal diseases are occurring. Scientists conducted a study on rats to identify the amount of microplastics, in which they found that rats were exposed to microplastics for only four weeks, then many dangerous changes were seen in them, whereas humans are exposed to it from birth till old age. Have to bear. Researchers have expressed deep concern about the micro plastic accumulating in the human body because gradually it has started affecting the human brain after passing through our body parts. The government is working at many levels to solve this problem but has not been able to reach any result yet, which is worrying.

It is noteworthy that 20 items of single-use plastic were banned across the country on July 1, 2022. Despite the ban on these items in Delhi, the ban has not yet appeared effective. The reason for this was how to stop these banned items. Standard Operating Procedure i.e. SOP was not issued for this. Now Delhi Pollution Control Committee i.e. DPCC has prepared SOP for this. Along with releasing it on the website, it has been sent to all the officers. Single use plastic has been banned in Delhi for a long time. Despite repeated campaigns, this ban has not proved effective. Single use plastic is still being used openly in the markets. Selling of goods inside polythene has not stopped. The great thing is that their production and sale has not stopped.

Day by day plastic is ruining our eco-system. Its combined load is about 300 million tonnes per year, clogging waterways and oceans, clogging roads, harming wildlife and causing serious harm to our health. In such a situation, it is natural to be worried. We need to be aware of the dangerous effects of micro plastics. The state and central governments need to be more agile to deal with future dire situations. They should work for awareness at many levels. If children are told about the ill effects of plastic from the beginning in the school curriculum, then efforts to control plastic can be successful to some extent. The consequences of plastic should be explained in the curricular activities of schools. Discussion, awareness campaign and workshop on plastic should be organized every week or month. The government should not take this crisis lightly and take strict steps.