Business

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...

Greenzo Energy has entered into a strategic agreement with Lord's Mark Industries to jointly develop clean energy projects across Uttar Pradesh, including the creation of a 60 MW green hydrogen capacity.The collaboration marks a significant step toward expanding renewable energy infrastructure in the state, with both companies outlining clear roles in project execution and development.Roles Defined for Technology, EPC and Investment Under the agreement, Greenzo Energy will act as the technology and EPC partner. The company will handle engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning of the projects.Lord's Mark Industries will take on the role of project developer and investor. It will oversee financing, regulatory...

Mumbai, February 17: India’s Global Capability Center ecosystem continues to expand at a rapid pace, with more than 200 new GCCs established in the country over the past two years. The total GCC footprint is projected to surpass 350 million square feet within the next three to four years, signaling sustained momentum in corporate expansion and office space demand.GCC Leasing Activity Reaches Record High According to a report released by JLL, GCC leasing activity in India touched a record 31 million square feet in 2025. The surge reflects the evolution of a sophisticated ecosystem of specialized metropolitan hubs, each offering distinct competitive advantages across key industry verticals.Over the past decade, GCCs have driven 40...

ABEPL Moves Towards Full-Scale Production at Numaligarh Facility Numaligarh, Assam, February 17: Assam Bio Ethanol Pvt Ltd is preparing to scale up operations at its second-generation bioethanol plant in Numaligarh, with plans to partner with more than 30,000 farmers over the next three years to secure bamboo supplies.The Rs 4,930 crore facility, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September last year, is currently in its start-up phase. According to Chief Executive Officer Rupjyoti Hazarika, the plant is expected to stabilize within a week, after which full-scale production will begin. Limited raw material availability has been part of the initial stabilization process.World’s Only Commercial Bamboo-Based...

New Delhi, February 17The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence across global markets is opening up substantial opportunities for Indian enterprises, with minimal risk of business disruption, according to Ankit Bose, Head of AI at Nasscom.Speaking on Tuesday, Bose emphasized that the accelerating pace of AI development worldwide should be viewed as a strategic opportunity for India rather than a threat.AI Expansion to Drive Job Transformation, Not Job Losses Addressing concerns around employment, Bose clarified that India is unlikely to witness widespread job losses due to artificial intelligence. Instead, he pointed to a significant shift in job roles as AI adoption scales across industries.He explained that while AI...

Two National Highway Sections in Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh Monetized Under InvIT Model New Delhi, February 17: The National Highways Authority of India has accepted an offer of ₹6,220.90 crore from the National Highways Infra Trust for the monetization of two National Highway sections spanning 310.35 kilometers across Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.The latest transaction reinforces NHAI’s asset monetization strategy, which has become a key mechanism for unlocking value from operational highway assets while drawing long term private capital into infrastructure development.Asset Monetization Gains Momentum in FY With this award, the total value of National Highways assets monetized during the current financial year stands at...

Gold and silver prices declined for the second consecutive session on Tuesday, with investors parsing mixed US economic data and awaiting clearer signals on the US Federal Reserve’s policy direction.MCX Gold and Silver Futures Under Pressure On the Multi Commodity Exchange, gold April futures slipped 0.56 percent on a day to day basis to Rs 1,53,889 per 10 grams. Silver March futures fell 1.18 percent to Rs 2,37,064 per kilogram.The weakness reflects caution in the bullion market as participants reassess interest rate expectations amid evolving macroeconomic data.US Inflation Moderates, Jobs Data Surprises In international markets, spot gold fell below the $5,000 level to $4,992 per ounce, while spot silver declined nearly 3...

Mumbai, February 17: The benchmark equity indices opened lower on Tuesday but staged a recovery as buying interest in select blue chip stocks lifted market sentiment.Early Decline in Benchmark Indices The 30 share BSE Sensex slipped 289.72 points in early trade to 82,987.43. The 50 share NSE Nifty also declined by 112.45 points to 25,570.30 during the initial session.However, the weakness proved short lived as both indices reversed losses and moved into positive territory later in the morning.The Sensex was trading 116.08 points higher at 83,393.23, while the Nifty gained 12.90 points to quote at 25,695.65.Blue Chips Drive Market Recovery The rebound was supported by gains in key heavyweights. Among the Sensex constituents...

Rising Electrification and Renewable Share Reshape Electricity Systems New Delhi, February 17: Integrating artificial intelligence into electricity systems can help address the rising complexity of the power sector, particularly in countries like India where renewable energy capacity is expected to expand significantly in the coming years, an expert from the International Energy Agency said on Monday.Speaking at the AI Impact Summit in the national capital, Siddharth Singh from the International Energy Agency highlighted that electricity systems across the world are undergoing structural changes driven by rapid electrification and the growing role of renewables.He noted that the energy sector, especially electricity systems, is...

AI Impact Summit 2026 Positions India as Emerging Global AI Leader NITI Aayog Highlights Capacity Building for Women-Led AI Startups New Delhi, February 17: The AI Impact Summit 2026 is set to become a defining platform for positioning India as a leading force in artificial intelligence, according to Anna Roy, Mission Director of the Women Entrepreneurship Platform and Programme Director at NITI Aayog.Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Roy emphasized that the summit should help establish India’s global standing in the rapidly evolving AI ecosystem.Dedicated Mentorship Programme for 150 Women-Led AI Startups Roy announced a focused capacity-building initiative for 150 shortlisted women-led AI startups. The programme will offer...