Business

AI Set to Strengthen India’s Digital Public Infrastructure New Delhi, February 17: The convergence of connectivity and computing power is poised to fundamentally reshape how citizens, businesses, and governments interact across India, according to Reliance Jio CTO Shyam Prabhakar Mardikar.Speaking at the AI Impact Summit, Mardikar said artificial intelligence will amplify India’s already robust digital public infrastructure, unlocking a new phase of inclusive and intelligent growth.“India’s digital infrastructure is already a huge success story,” he said during the five day summit that began on Monday. “Now, imagine adding intelligence to it, making it aware, inclusive, and accessible to every citizen in every village.”India Ahead...

Underrepresentation in AI Raises Concerns Over Systemic Bias Women account for only 30 per cent of artificial intelligence professionals worldwide and hold just 16 per cent of AI research positions, UN Women said on Tuesday, urging greater female participation in the development of AI tools to better address women’s needs across health, finance, climate resilience, and safety.Speaking at the launch of the AI Casebook on Gender and Agriculture at the India AI Summit in New Delhi, Christine Arab, Regional Director for Asia Pacific at UN Women, said the continued underrepresentation of women in AI development is leading to systemic bias within emerging technologies.Arab highlighted what she described as a persistent global design gap...

Apparel Export Promotion Council Highlights Growth Momentum in Ready-Made Garments New Delhi, February 17: The Apparel Export Promotion Council on Tuesday said the latest data on ready-made garment exports reflects the resilience of Indian apparel exporters, even as they continue to navigate challenging global conditions.On a cumulative basis, ready-made garment exports during April to January of the financial year 2025 to 26 stood at 13,129.1 million dollars. This represents a growth of 1.6 percent compared to the corresponding period of April to January in FY25. More significantly, exports registered a 13.3 percent increase over the same period in FY24, indicating a steady recovery trajectory for the sector.January Performance...

AI in Agriculture: From Input Distribution to Real-Time Advisory Support New Delhi, February 17: Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology Secretary S Krishnan on Tuesday urged the use of artificial intelligence to bridge the widening information gap in Indian agriculture, stating that the traditional extension network has weakened and shifted its focus away from the advisory support farmers truly need.Speaking at the AI Impact Summit in the national capital, Krishnan, who described himself as a registered farmer with an agricultural loan in his personal account, said timely and reliable advice remains the most critical requirement for farmers. He noted that while his mother oversees cultivation on his farm, the challenge of...

India Positioned as Global Epicenter of AI Growth and Governance: Report New Delhi, February 17: India’s vast domestic market, indigenous artificial intelligence models such as BharatGen and Sarvam 1, robust digital public infrastructure, deep technology talent pool, and the IndiaAI Mission are collectively positioning the country as the epicenter of AI’s next chapter, according to a report released on Tuesday.The report stated that India’s rapid advancements in artificial intelligence have transformed it into a powerhouse of innovation and a strong voice for equitable global AI governance.AI Market Growth and Global Competitiveness India’s AI market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 25 to 35 percent through...

Tamil Nadu Interim Budget 2026-27: Rs 4,000 Crore for Free Bus Travel Scheme, Fiscal Deficit Targeted at 3% of GSDP Chennai, February 17: Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Thangam Thenarasu on Tuesday presented the Interim Budget for 2026-27 in the state Assembly, allocating Rs 4,000 crore for the fare-free bus travel scheme for women and earmarking funds for key flagship initiatives of the DMK government.The nearly two-and-a-half-hour-long speech is being seen as one of the lengthiest Budget addresses in recent years, coming ahead of the Assembly elections due in April 2026.Rs 4,000 Crore for Vidiyal Payanam Scheme In the Interim Budget Estimates for 2026-27, the government has allocated:Rs 4,000 crore for the Vidiyal Payanam scheme...

India’s drone ecosystem is witnessing accelerated growth, with more than 38,500 drones registered across the country and 39,890 DGCA-certified remote pilots as of February 2026, according to official figures released on Tuesday.The surge reflects the steady formalization and scaling up of unmanned aerial systems in India, supported by a structured regulatory environment and expanding institutional capacity.Over 240 Training Organisations Fuel Skilled Workforce To support the rising demand for drone operations and maintenance, more than 240 approved training organisations have been established nationwide. These institutions are focused on building a skilled workforce capable of operating drones across commercial, agricultural...

Vegetarian and Non-Vegetarian Thali Costs Decline Year-on-Year The cost of preparing a home-cooked vegetarian and non-vegetarian thali declined in January compared to the same month last year, driven by lower prices of key vegetables and pulses.According to a report by Crisil Intelligence, the cost of a vegetarian thali fell by 1 percent year-on-year in January, while the cost of a non-vegetarian thali dropped by 7 percent. The moderation reflects easing prices of essential ingredients, although select items recorded increases that limited the overall relief.Onion, Potato and Pulse Prices Drive Relief The reduction in vegetarian thali costs was primarily supported by a sharp fall in onion, potato and pulse prices.Onion prices...

New Delhi, February 17: Space technology startup Pixxel Space has announced a strategic partnership with French electric propulsion provider Exotrail to support the control and operation of its advanced satellites in orbit. The announcement comes at the start of the India France Innovation Year, launched by Narendra Modi and Emmanuel Macron in Mumbai.Exotrail’s Spaceware Systems to Power Upcoming Satellite Deployments Under the agreement, Pixxel will integrate Exotrail’s spaceware electric propulsion systems into its upcoming satellite deployments, with deliveries scheduled through 2027. These systems will play a critical role in supporting Pixxel’s expanding Earth Observation constellation and its broader space infrastructure...

AI Must Be Accessible, Affordable and Multilingual to Prevent Inequality: Amitabh Kant Calls for Inclusive AI at AI Impact Summit in New Delhi Artificial Intelligence is a transformative force that will disrupt every aspect of life, former NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said on Tuesday, warning that the technology must be made accessible, affordable, accountable and multilingual to prevent widening global inequalities.Speaking at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi during a session titled AI for India's Next Billion: Intergenerational Insights for Inclusive and Future-Ready Growth, Kant highlighted the sweeping impact AI is expected to have across sectors and societies.“There is no doubt that this is a hugely transformative technology...

Union Minister Jitin Prasada on Tuesday underscored the need for a balanced regulatory framework for Artificial Intelligence, stating that rules should not be overly restrictive but robust enough to encourage innovation across the country.Speaking at the Amazon Web Services New Delhi Symposium 2026, the Minister highlighted India’s growing role as a technology powerhouse and emphasized that the benefits of AI-led transformation must reach every segment of society.AI Policy to Encourage Innovation, Not Over-Regulation Prasada, who serves as the Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology as well as Commerce and Industry, said that India’s approach to AI regulation is not intended to stifle growth.According to him...

Kempegowda International Airport Handles 2,700 Tonnes of Roses in Record Valentine Season Bengaluru, February 17: As global demand for fresh roses surged during the Valentine’s season, Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru emerged as a key export hub, shipping nearly 60 million rose stems weighing over 2,700 tonnes to 26 international destinations.Operated by Bangalore International Airport Limited, the airport also facilitated shipments to 47 domestic destinations, reinforcing its role in India’s perishable cargo ecosystem.Strong Year on Year Growth in Rose Exports The Valentine’s surge translated into robust growth numbers for the airport. Rose stem volumes increased by 38 percent year on year, while tonnage jumped by 64...

AI to Drive India’s Transformation into a Global Knowledge Hub New Delhi, February 17: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has called upon India’s youth to fully leverage the potential of Artificial Intelligence, asserting that AI will play a decisive role in shaping the country’s journey towards becoming a developed nation by 2047.Addressing participants at the AI Impact Summit, the minister emphasized that the next generation must deepen its engagement with AI, strengthen collaboration, and actively explore the vast opportunities emerging from the technology. He urged students, innovators, and professionals to view AI as a transformative force rather than a disruptive threat.AI as a Strategic Opportunity for Multilingual...

Ahmedabad, February 17: The Adani Group has unveiled one of the world’s largest integrated energy and compute investments, committing $100 billion to develop renewable-energy-powered, hyperscale AI-ready data centers by 2035. The move signals a decisive push to position India at the forefront of the global Intelligence Revolution.Building a Sovereign Energy and Compute Platform The initiative is designed as a long-term sovereign energy and compute platform, combining green power generation with large-scale artificial intelligence infrastructure. According to the Group, the investment will lay the foundation for India to emerge as a global leader in the next era of digital and technological transformation.The $100 billion direct...

Mega Energy-Compute Commitment to Power India’s AI Infrastructure New Delhi, February 17: The Adani Group on Tuesday announced a landmark $100 billion investment plan to build renewable-energy-powered, hyperscale AI-ready data centres by 2035. The move is positioned as one of the world’s largest integrated energy and compute commitments.According to Adani Enterprises, the initiative is expected to unlock an additional $150 billion in investments across server manufacturing, cloud platforms, and allied industries. Together, the effort aims to create a projected $250 billion AI infrastructure ecosystem in India over the next decade.India’s Bid to Lead the Global AI Revolution Announcing the roadmap, Gautam Adani, Chairman of the Adani...

India Steps Up Global Economic Engagement Mumbai, February 16: India is intensifying its engagement with international partners from what it describes as a position of strength, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Tuesday, pointing to recent trade agreements including developments with the United States.Speaking at the Global Economic Cooperation conference in Mumbai, Jaishankar underscored that India’s expanding global outreach is reflected in the trade deals concluded in recent months.“From a position of strength, India is engaging international partners more intensively. This is demonstrated in the recently concluded trade deals,” he said.Global Order in Transition The minister also highlighted broader structural...

Nvidia CEO Pulls Out of AI Impact Summit as High Profile Cancellations Mount Jensen Huang Joins Bill Gates in Skipping New Delhi Event New Delhi, February 17: Jensen Huang, Chief Executive Officer of Nvidia, has cancelled his visit to India and will not attend the ongoing AI Impact Summit in the national capital.Huang was considered one of the key global technology leaders scheduled to speak at the summit, which is being held from February 16 to 20. His absence follows confirmation that Bill Gates will also not be attending the event.Bill Gates Removed from Speaker List Gates had initially been listed among the summit speakers on the official website. However, his name no longer appeared on the website as of Tuesday. Government...

Microsoft Co-Founder’s Name Removed From Summit Website New Delhi, February 17: Microsoft Co-Founder Bill Gates will not be attending the AI Impact Summit 2026, government sources confirmed on Tuesday.Gates had earlier been listed among the prominent speakers on the official website of the AI Impact Summit, which is being held in the national capital from February 16 to 20. The event features leading technology executives, industry heads, policymakers, founders, and technologists.However, by Tuesday, his name no longer appeared on the summit’s website. Government sources stated that Gates will not be participating in the event.Decision Linked to New Jeffrey Epstein Files According to government sources, the development is linked...

CM A Revanth Reddy Positions Hyderabad as Future Global Life Sciences Capital Hyderabad, February 17: Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has issued a strong global pitch to investors, inviting them to partner in the state’s growth story as it accelerates its ambitions in life sciences, biotechnology, and innovation.Speaking at the inauguration of BioAsia 2026, the Chief Minister declared that Telangana is no longer competing only within India but is benchmarking itself against leading global clusters. He said Hyderabad has evolved into a preferred destination for Global Capability Centres, reinforcing its position in the global innovation ecosystem.Reddy assured potential investors that the state government, officials...

Bharat1.AI Unveils ‘Humanity First AI City’ in Bengaluru, Plans to Host 10,000 Researchers by Year-End Bengaluru, February 17: Bengaluru-based AI infrastructure company Bharat1.AI has announced an ambitious plan to build a “Humanity First AI City” in the city, positioning it as a large-scale hub for model training, fine-tuning, and inference.The company said the initiative aims to host more than 10,000 AI researchers and innovators by the end of the year, marking one of the most expansive AI research infrastructure projects announced in India.B1 AI Superpark to Anchor the Initiative At the core of the project is the B1 AI Superpark, a 5 lakh square feet AI research and innovation campus coming up in Sarjapura. The campus is designed...