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PERSOL Outsourcing will deliver tailored end-to-end solutions for today’s evolving business landscape

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 31 March 2026 – PERSOL, Asia Pacific’s leading HR solutions provider, today announced the official launch of PERSOL Outsourcing. This strategic rebranding brings together the collective strengths of P-Serv and EVO, creating a unified, future-ready outsourcing brand designed to help Malaysia businesses navigate an increasingly complex and tech-driven market.

The rebranding of P-Serv and EVO as PERSOL Outsourcing marks a significant milestone in PERSOL APAC’s regional growth strategy. By combining three decades of operational stability with digital capabilities, PERSOL Outsourcing is positioned to deliver tailored end-to-end solutions that integrate People, Process, and Technology.

“The transition to PERSOL Outsourcing is a natural evolution of our deep-rooted presence in Malaysia and the wider region,” said Brian Sim, Managing Director and Country Head of PERSOL Malaysia. “By unifying the specialised domain expertise of P-Serv and EVO, we are better positioned to help our clients navigate the evolving business and workforce landscape. Our clients will continue to work with the same expert teams they trust, but with the added benefit of unified regional scale and enhanced digital capabilities that drive long-term resilience and efficiency.”

Tailored Solutions for an Increasingly Complex Landscape

PERSOL Outsourcing addresses the rising demand for agile delivery models in a regional Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) market that is expected to reach US$147.06 billion by 2032. In Malaysia, Customer Experience BPO market generated US$1.43 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 12.5% by 2030. As local and regional enterprises increasingly seek partners who can navigate this rapid growth through specialised domain expertise, PERSOL Outsourcing will focus on delivering solutions across three core pillars:

• Customer Experience: Supporting service delivery across all touchpoints, from customer service management to omnichannel contact centre operations and front-of-house operations.
• Corporate Services: Streamline complex shared service operations through a comprehensive suite of solutions including Human Resource Advisory, Finance, Marketing, and Compliance. Services include the management of intricate administrative, facility, and regulatory requirements based on organisational needs and growth trajectories.
• Technical: Driving digital transformation through engineering and IT infrastructure management. Capabilities span cloud operations, digital support, and platform management, leveraging AI implementation and automation to innovate and improve core business processes.

Effective immediately, P-Serv and EVO will operate under the PERSOL Outsourcing brand. The integration will allow clients to tap into an expanded suite of regional resources and digital innovations designed to drive greater operational efficiency.

For more information, please visit https://www.persoloutsourcing.com/.

Hashtag: #PERSOLOutsourcing

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About PERSOL Outsourcing

PERSOL Outsourcing is a regional strategic partner delivering comprehensive outsourcing solutions that seamlessly integrates people, process, and technology. As a newly integrated brand following the rebranding of P-Serv and EVO, PERSOL Outsourcing unites three decades of operational excellence with deep domain expertise to drive agility and resilience for enterprises across Asia-Pacific.

About PERSOL APAC

PERSOL is Asia-Pacific’s leading Staffing and HR solutions partner, operating across 13 markets with deep local insight and regional scale. With more than 140 offices and decades of experience, we deliver integrated workforce solutions that are tailored, tech-enabled, and designed for the dynamic world of work.

We combine human expertise with smart technology to help organisations solve workforce challenges, unlock potential, and stay ahead of change. From recruitment and talent management to workforce strategy and advisory, our collaborative approach puts your goals at the centre.

In 2025, we came together under the PERSOL name – reflecting our bold vision for the future of work and our Group’s Vision: ‘Work and Smile’. Whether you’re building teams, growing careers, or transforming how work gets done, we’re here.

By Dr. Gyan Pathak On the very onset of the Financial Year 2026-27, beginning from April 1, 2026, India faces a multi-layered set of risks, given its position as a major energy importer with strong trade, investment, and remittance linkages with the West Asia region, which has turned into a war zone since the United […]

The article India Faces Multi-Layered Set Of Risks At The Onset Of FY2026-27 appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).

South Korea is weighing whether to extend car-use restrictions beyond the public sector as oil prices climb sharply, a step that would amount to the country’s first nationwide driving curbs since the 1991 Gulf War if it is applied broadly to the public. Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol said wider restrictions could come into play if crude prices rise into a $120-$130 a barrel range, up from about $100-$110 now, as Seoul tries to contain fuel demand and cushion the economic shock from turmoil in the Middle East.

The discussion marks an escalation from measures already in force. Public institutions are operating under a five-day vehicle rotation system, while large companies including Samsung Electronics and SK Group have begun urging staff to cut private car use, reduce parking demand and adopt other energy-saving practices. Officials have also left open the possibility of further fuel-tax relief to soften the burden on households and businesses, though no final decision has been announced on compulsory curbs for private motorists.

At the centre of Seoul’s concern is its exposure to imported energy. About 70% of South Korea’s oil imports come from the Middle East, leaving the country highly sensitive to any disruption in supplies or shipping routes. The government raised its crude oil supply disruption alert to Level 2 on March 18 as tensions mounted, signalling a more serious official assessment of the risks facing one of Asia’s largest energy importers.

The external shock has been severe. Reuters reported that Brent crude climbed to nearly $115 a barrel over the weekend and above $116 on Monday, putting it on course for its biggest monthly jump on record, while US crude also surged past $100. The rally has been driven by a widening conflict linked to Iran and growing anxiety over disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global oil flows. That backdrop has sharpened pressure on Asian economies that rely heavily on imported fuel, with South Korea among the most exposed.

For policymakers in Seoul, the issue is no longer only about fuel bills. Higher oil prices threaten to spill into inflation, transport costs, industrial input prices and consumer sentiment. A Reuters poll published on Monday projected that South Korea’s imports rose 18% in March, the fastest pace since September 2022, largely because of elevated oil prices, even as exports remained buoyant on strong semiconductor demand. That split picture captures the dilemma facing the government: trade performance is being helped by chips and artificial intelligence-linked demand, but the economy’s dependence on imported energy is pushing up costs and widening vulnerability.

President Lee Jae Myung has responded by urging a nationwide energy-saving drive, while Energy Minister Kim Sung-whan has pushed demand management and warned against panic behaviour. The government has promoted 12 power-saving practices, from shorter showers to shifting electricity use away from peak hours, and has also moved to restart several nuclear reactors, loosen coal plant restrictions and expand renewable energy to offset pressure on gas imports. The mix underlines how Seoul is trying to balance short-term crisis management with longer-term energy security, even as those goals can pull in different directions.

That tension is visible in the broader regional response. Across Asia, governments are looking again at emergency stock releases, fuel-saving directives and, in some cases, greater coal use to bridge supply gaps. Analysts say such measures may shield economies from the immediate shock, but they also expose how quickly climate and transition goals can be tested when energy security comes under strain. In South Korea’s case, the administration’s public emphasis on renewables sits alongside plans to lean harder on nuclear and coal generation if needed.

The market fallout has already been visible in financial assets. South Korean equities were hit as investors fled Asian markets on fears of a prolonged oil shock, though some analysts argue the sell-off has reflected panic rather than a collapse in fundamentals. Technology and industrial names remain central to the country’s earnings outlook, but energy-intensive sectors face a tougher operating environment if high crude prices persist or if physical shortages emerge.

Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (Shatin), St. Paul’s College, Tai Po Old Market Public School Crowned Champions with St. Paul’s Convent School Named Most Active Participant

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 30 March 2026 – Samsung ‘Solve for Tomorrow,’ a global inter-school technology competition operating in 68 countries, has been held in Hong Kong since 2013, empowering youth to address social and global challenges through innovation. This year, two core themes guided participants: Topic 1: Environmental Sustainability via Technology — Create sustainable solutions to protect our planet via AI, and Topic 2: Social Change through Sport & Tech: For Better Futures — Harness the power of AI technology and sports to open new opportunities. Both themes rigorously challenged students to innovate beyond traditional boundaries, leveraging AI and cutting-edge technologies to develop creative, practical solutions to complex societal issues and actively shape a better future.

Running from September 2025 to March 2026, the competition, co-organized by AiTLE and fully backed by the HKSAR Education Bureau’s ‘Business-School Partnership Programme’ and Hong Kong Education City, attracted over 250 teams from 100 tertiary, secondary and primary schools. Each team demonstrated unique technological approaches to tackle pressing social issues.

Yiyin Zhao, Managing Director, Samsung Electronics H.K. Company, Limited, stated: ‘Samsung has always believed technology is not merely a tool for changing lives, but a vital force driving social progress. ‘Solve for Tomorrow’ empowers young people to leverage creative thinking and technology to address real-world needs and challenges. It’s more than a competition; it’s a journey of innovative exploration that nurtures and empowers the younger generation. The widespread adoption of AI, in particular, presents unprecedented opportunities for innovation. This year, we were delighted to see students actively using AI and diverse technological solutions across the community, environment, sports, and sustainability, submitting outstanding, inspiring, and practical work. This truly demonstrates the remarkable creativity, keen observation, and effective problem-solving skills of Hong Kong’s youth.”

Samsung Nurtures Tomorrow’s Tech & Innovation Leaders
She also hopes the competition will encourage more students to step out of their comfort zones: “Beyond stimulating creativity and developing innovative solutions, we aim to cultivate critical skills: problem-solving, critical thinking, teamwork, and communication. This equips students to navigate the challenges of our rapidly evolving intelligent era confidently. We believe this competition will discover and cultivate the next generation of innovation and technology talent, contributing significantly to both Hong Kong’s and global innovation.

Samsung Solve for Tomorrow extends beyond monetary rewards, actively aligning with the Education Bureau’s ‘Business-School Partnership Programme’ to provide invaluable hands-on experience. Tertiary champions secure corporate internships, while secondary champions and first runners-up gain critical work experience, preparing them for future careers. The competition ignites students’ passion for technology and STEM, building a robust foundation for their innovation journeys and continually inspiring alumni to pursue pioneering solutions.

Final Awards Reveal Extraordinary Creativity
After the initial judging round, 95 outstanding projects advanced. They then refined their innovative solutions in Design Thinking workshops and through expert guidance. The judging panel then selected the nine finalists—the top three teams from each category, who will present their detailed project concepts and results, vying for the ultimate recognition.

Tertiary Category Champion “AquaPulse” – Developed by the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (Shatin), AquaPulse is an AI coastal protection system powered by continuous 24/7 tidal and solar energy with integrated storage. It reliably detects abnormalities such as falling into the sea, even at night or in adverse weather, using millimeter-wave radar and AI vision. Upon detection, it instantly notifies rescue teams via lamppost positioning, significantly shortening response times. AquaPulse also monitors environmental data, aiming to create safer, more sustainable waterfronts for Hong Kong.

Secondary Category Champion “Plastine” – Developed by St. Paul’s College, Plastine is a solar-powered microplastic removal system for freshwater environments. It utilizes advanced electrocoagulation with aluminum electrodes to aggregate microplastics for efficient filtration and collection. Combining IoT sensors and AI algorithms, Plastine intelligently identifies optimal deployment locations. Focused on Hong Kong’s microplastic-rich rivers, it purifies water, safeguards public health, and restores aquatic ecosystems.

Primary Category Champion “Yoga 24 Go!” Wellness Exercise App – Developed by Tai Po Old Market Public School, “Yoga 24 Go!” is an innovative wellness application. It intelligently integrates the health wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine’s 24 solar terms with the body’s 12 meridians. Guiding users through specific yoga poses for each solar term, the app promotes “seasonal wellness” by targeting health goals such as nourishing the liver in spring, the heart in summer, the lungs in autumn, and the kidneys in winter

Award List (for details, please refer to the appendix):

Hashtag: #Samsung #SolveforTomorrow

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Samsung Solve for Tomorrow

Samsung Solve for Tomorrow is an annual competition that brings together the creativity and passion for new technologies of young people around the world to solve social problems in local communities. In 2013, Samsung introduced this meaningful event to Hong Kong, inspiring tens of thousands of students to develop innovative solutions to address social issues in the City. Samsung is promoting the new educational philosophy of STEM. Besides encouraging Hong Kong students to deepen their knowledge of STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics – Samsung hopes that they can develop empathy and a sense of responsibility and apply their STEM knowledge to contribute to society. Through the competition, Samsung hopes to cultivate tomorrow’s thought leaders, equipping them with both technological knowledge and a sense of responsibility as global citizens. To learn more about Samsung Solve for Tomorrow, please visit: https://hkclubs.samsung.com/hk/offer/solvefortomorrow2025/

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies. The company is redefining the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, home appliances, network systems, memory, system LSI, foundry and LED solutions, consistently elevating their performance and innovation to new heights. For the latest news, please visit the Samsung Newsroom at http://news.samsung.com/.

India’s rupee surged on Monday after the Reserve Bank of India tightened banks’ foreign-exchange position limits, forcing lenders to cut dollar holdings and unwind arbitrage trades that had built up as the currency slid to a record low at the end of last week. The rupee rose as much as 1.4% in early trade and was quoted around 93.48 to 93.85 per US dollar, marking its sharpest one-day gain since February.

The immediate trigger was the RBI’s March 27 directive capping banks’ net open rupee positions in the onshore deliverable market at $100 million by the close of each business day from April 10. That replaced a looser framework under which banks’ boards could set limits up to 25% of total capital. Traders said the order prompted a burst of dollar selling as banks moved to reduce exposures that had become profitable while the rupee was weakening.

The rebound followed a bruising stretch for the currency. On Friday, the rupee hit a record low of about 94.84 to the dollar after heavy pressure from higher crude prices, risk aversion and foreign outflows. Reuters reported the rupee had fallen more than 4% in March, putting it on course for its worst monthly performance in more than seven years, while broader anxiety over the Middle East conflict and its implications for energy markets deepened concern over India’s import bill and external balance.

At the centre of the RBI’s move is the gap between the domestic market and the offshore non-deliverable forward, or NDF, market. Banks had been exploiting pricing differences between the two venues, building large arbitrage books that were profitable during the rupee’s slide. Estimates for those positions vary, but Reuters and other market reports put them broadly in the $25 billion to $50 billion range. By suddenly tightening the rules, the central bank appears to have targeted not only volatility in the spot market but also the speculative mechanics that were amplifying pressure on the currency.

That has given the rupee breathing room, but it has also shifted the strain onto banks. Lenders have warned that rapid compliance could force a disorderly unwinding of positions and crystallise losses in treasury books. Several banks have asked the RBI for three months to comply, arguing that a phased adjustment or permission to hold existing trades to maturity would reduce the risk of market disruption. Equity investors appeared to register that concern, with banking shares falling amid estimates that mark-to-market losses could run into thousands of crores if the unwind is abrupt.

The central bank’s intervention is being read in dealing rooms as one of its strongest attempts in years to reassert control over rupee pricing. Market participants said the RBI has already been active in local and offshore markets, using reserves and liquidity tools to keep the currency from sliding too quickly. The new cap adds a regulatory weapon to that defence. It also sends a signal that the central bank is prepared to curb trading strategies it sees as destabilising, even at the cost of squeezing bank profitability in the short term.

Whether the rupee can hold on to these gains will depend less on technical unwinding and more on the backdrop that pushed it down in the first place. Brent crude has climbed sharply, with Reuters reporting a move above $115 a barrel on Monday and a monthly gain of nearly 60%. For an economy that imports the bulk of its oil, that raises the risk of a wider current account deficit, imported inflation and renewed pressure on the currency. Bond yields also edged higher, indicating that traders remain alert to the wider macroeconomic fallout even as the rupee recovers ground.

The survey found that 53 per cent of Taiwanese small businesses grew in 2025, slightly below the 57 per cent recorded in the previous survey. Looking ahead, business sentiment strengthened notably. In 2026, 63 per cent of respondents expect their business to grow, while confidence in the local economy also improved, with 61 per cent anticipating economic growth, the highest level recorded since Taiwan was first included in the survey in 2018.

Taiwan’s small and medium‑sized enterprises (SMEs) continue to play a vital role in creating new jobs. In 2025, 31 per cent of SMEs increasing staff numbers, while 44 per cent plan to hire additional employees in 2026.

With rising costs identified as the biggest challenge facing Taiwan’s SME in 2025, many businesses identified cost control as the most positive contributor to business performance last year.

Mr Elic Lam FCPA (Aust.), Honorary Taiwan Advisor at CPA Australia, said Taiwan’s economic fundamentals continue to support small business resilience, “Rising global demand for semiconductors and AI related chips continues to create opportunities for exporters and suppliers across Taiwan’s value chain,” Mr Lam said. “While geopolitical tensions and intensifying competition are adding uncertainty, government support measures for SMEs, including targeted subsidies and tax incentives, together with Taiwan’s resilient domestic demand, are helping to lift business confidence.”

Technology adoption, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), is becoming increasingly widespread among Taiwanese small businesses. The survey found that 33 per cent of small businesses identified AI as the technology they invested in most heavily invested in 2025, up from 29 per cent in the previous year.

Cyber risk among Taiwanese small businesses fell markedly. The share of small businesses reporting losses of time or money due to cyber incidents declined sharply from 59 per cent in 2024 to 27 per cent in 2025, reflecting stronger awareness and the uptake of basic protective measures across the sector.

However, the survey also indicates there is room to strengthen the returns from digital investment. Only 40 per cent of respondents reported that their technology investment in 2025 improved profitability, compared with the survey average of 56 per cent.

Mr Lam noted that Taiwan’s SME sector is undergoing a generational transition that is influencing technology adoption patterns, “Many SMEs in Taiwan are moving from first generation ownership to second or third generation leadership, and technology adoption remains cautious and practical,” he said. “The increase in AI investment reflects both external drivers, such as changing customer expectations and government policy support for digital transformation, as well as internal factors, including younger owners’ familiarity with AI tools and rising operating and staffing costs.”

“To improve profitability, SMEs should focus on applying digital solutions in areas with the greatest impact. For example, as rising costs were identified as the most negative factor affecting performance in 2025, investing in ready-to-use and AI enabled accounting or financial management tools can help reduce operating expenses and lift productivity.”

Access to finance is another notable finding. Financing conditions in Taiwan improved significantly in 2025, even as borrowing softened. Two-thirds of businesses (66 per cent) I said it was easy to access external finance, placing Taiwan among the top three surveyed markets and representing a sharp increase from 28 per cent in 2024. Looking ahead, financing conditions are expected to remain supportive, with 63 per cent anticipating easy access to finance in 2026.

Despite the marked improvement in financing conditions, demand for finance was more subdued. In 2025, 54 per cent of SMEs sought external finance, down from 72 per cent in 2024.

“The Taiwan government has expanded inclusive and guaranteed financing mechanisms to support SMEs, including higher guarantee ratios under the SME Credit Guarantee Fund and preferential loans offered through state affiliated banks,” Mr Lam said. “These measures have made bank financing more accessible for small businesses.”

“Even so, many SMEs remain cautious about taking on new debt. In a stable domestic environment, businesses can maintain steady growth, but external uncertainties drive them to take a prudent approach to borrowing. This aligns well with the government’s policy focus on gradual and resilient SME transformation rather than rapid, high risk expansion.”

Lam concluded, “To navigate international uncertainty and intensifying market competition, Taiwan’s small businesses should make better use of government policy support to upskill their workforce through AI adoption, foster innovation, and diversify export markets by strengthening online sales channels.”

The Asia Pacific Small Business Survey 2025–26 gathered views from 4,166 small businesses across 11 markets in the region, including Singapore, Chinese Mainland and Australia. The Taiwan survey sample comprised 311 small businesses.

Hashtag: #CPAAustralia

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About CPA Australia

CPA Australia is Australia’s leading professional accounting body and one of the largest in the world. We have more than 176,000 members in over 100 countries and regions, including more than 22,500 members in Greater China. Our core services include education, training, technical support and advocacy. CPA Australia provides thought leadership on local, national and international issues affecting the accounting profession and public interest. We engage with governments, regulators and industries to advocate policies that stimulate sustainable economic growth and have positive business and public outcomes. A CPA is a Certified Practising Accountant. More at cpaaustralia.com.au

Banks are pressing the Reserve Bank of India to soften a new foreign-exchange rule that dealers say could force the unwinding of large arbitrage positions, deepen trading losses and add fresh strain to the rupee at a fragile moment for the currency market. The central bank has told lenders to keep their net open rupee positions in the onshore deliverable market within $100 million by the end of each business day from April 10, replacing a far more flexible regime under which banks’ boards could set limits linked to capital.

The pushback from lenders has grown because the rule change lands after weeks of pressure on the rupee from higher oil prices, foreign portfolio outflows and war-driven risk aversion across global markets. The rupee touched a record low of 94.84 against the US dollar after a sharp slide this week, underscoring the urgency with which the central bank is trying to contain volatility and regain influence over price formation in the domestic market.

At the heart of the dispute is a trading structure that banks have used to profit from differences between the onshore market and the offshore non-deliverable forward, or NDF, market. Under the earlier framework, dealers could offset positions across the two venues without breaching broader exposure limits. The new rule narrows that room sharply by capping end-of-day net open rupee exposure in the onshore deliverable market, regardless of how positions are balanced elsewhere. Traders told Reuters that arbitrage books likely to be affected are worth about $10 billion to $18 billion, while Bloomberg reported that banks see total unwinding pressure building toward roughly $30 billion.

That distinction matters because the RBI appears to be targeting a channel through which offshore pricing has increasingly spilled back into the domestic market. By tightening end-of-day exposure, the central bank is seeking to reduce the ability of banks to transmit volatility from the NDF market into onshore rupee trading, while making its own intervention in the domestic market more effective. That objective fits with a broader pattern this month, as the RBI has been active in spot, futures and non-deliverable forward markets to steady the currency.

Banks, however, argue that the speed of implementation could be costly. Treasury officials have warned that compressing positions before the April 10 deadline may force disorderly exits, widen onshore-offshore spreads and crystallise mark-to-market losses on trades that had previously been profitable. The immediate complaint is not only about tighter oversight but also about the lack of transition time for legacy positions built under the old regime. Reports from the domestic financial press say lenders have asked the central bank to reconsider or provide relief, reflecting concern that a hard cap applied uniformly across banks does not distinguish between speculative bets and market-making activity.

The central bank’s tougher line comes as India’s external buffers, while still substantial, have been tested by intervention. RBI data cited in a Reuters report showed foreign-exchange reserves at $709.76 billion as of March 13, enough to cover 11.2 months of imports and about 95 per cent of outstanding external debt. Even so, reserves had fallen notably over the month as the central bank sold dollars to smooth rupee moves. That means policymakers are trying to balance two goals at once: preserving confidence in India’s macro-financial resilience while discouraging trading structures that may amplify pressure during periods of external shock.

Another layer of complexity is that the RBI had, only weeks earlier, proposed broader reforms that would ease some foreign-exchange transaction norms for authorised dealers and give market participants greater flexibility in hedging and balance-sheet management. That makes the present clampdown look less like a reversal of liberalisation and more like a targeted response to extraordinary market conditions. For banks, though, the contrast has sharpened frustration: one arm of the regulatory agenda promises flexibility, while another has suddenly imposed a hard operational ceiling on rupee positions.

Foreign visitors to India will have to complete a digital e-Arrival Card before landing from April 1, 2026, marking the end of the paper disembarkation card that travellers had long filled out on board or at immigration counters. The move is part of a wider technology-led overhaul of border processing that authorities say is aimed at cutting queues, improving data accuracy and giving immigration officers faster access to passenger information.

The e-Arrival Card is submitted online through the official Indian Visa Online portal, the Bureau of Immigration platform or the government’s Indian Visa Su-Swagatam mobile app. The current official guidance says the form must be completed within 72 hours before arrival and is for arrival information only, not a visa. Travellers are asked to provide passport details, travel information, contact particulars, purpose of visit and their address in India, after which a digital confirmation is generated for presentation on arrival.

The April 1 deadline is not the start of the digital system itself but the point at which the physical card is being withdrawn after a transition period. Government-linked notices issued through overseas missions said the digital disembarkation process had already come into force on October 1, 2025, while paper cards would continue temporarily for as long as six months or until further notice. An immigration advisory published this week by Fragomen, citing a government announcement, said physical cards would be permanently discontinued from April 1, 2026.

That chronology matters because it shows India is not unveiling a wholly new border form overnight, but completing a staged shift towards paperless arrival processing. The official visa portal now prominently carries a notice that foreigners and OCI card holders can complete and submit the e-Arrival Card online within 72 hours before arrival through approved government channels. That wording suggests authorities are folding the form more tightly into the wider immigration and visa network rather than treating it as a stand-alone travel add-on.

The policy aligns with a broader expansion of the Immigration, Visa, Foreigners Registration and Tracking scheme, or IVF-RT, which the Union Cabinet has approved for another five years through March 2031 with an outlay of Rs 1,800 crore. Officials have described the plan as a way to link visa issuance, immigration records, travel history and foreigner registration databases so that decisions at entry and exit points rely less on fragmented manual checks and more on integrated digital records.

For travellers, the most immediate consequence is procedural rather than legal. The e-Arrival Card does not replace a visa, e-Visa or other entry authorisation. It supplements them. A visitor who already holds valid travel permission for India will still need to file the digital arrival declaration in the permitted time window. That means airlines, travel agents, business mobility firms and universities handling international arrivals are likely to spend the next few days reminding passengers that a boarding document and an arrival declaration are now separate steps in the journey.

The government’s pitch is built around speed and visibility. Digital pre-submission allows immigration systems to receive data before a flight lands, which can reduce form-filling bottlenecks at the airport and improve risk screening. Industry specialists tracking mobility rules say the change also gives authorities stronger data control and supports more real-time monitoring of foreign arrivals. That mirrors a global pattern in which governments are replacing handwritten landing cards with app-based or portal-based pre-arrival disclosures.

There are, however, operational questions that matter for passengers. Official pages make clear that the form should be completed within 72 hours of arrival, yet some secondary reports have described slightly different timelines or suggested varying treatment of QR code presentation depending on when the form is filed. The most reliable course for travellers is therefore to follow the instructions displayed on the official government portal or app at the time of submission, rather than relying on social media summaries or copied advisories.

Another area requiring care is who exactly falls under the rule. The current official portal text explicitly refers to foreigners and OCI card holders being able to submit the e-Arrival Card, while some earlier mission notices had described OCI holders as exempt before later updates changed that position. For foreign visitors travelling on tourist, business, student or other visas, the direction is straightforward: the digital arrival filing now sits at the centre of entry processing.