Karmayogi Bharat and OpenAI have signed an MoU to enhance AI capacity development across India's civil services. This partnership aims to equip government personnel with AI skills through the iGOT Karmayogi platform, fostering confident and responsible AI use for improved public outcomes and a future-ready civil service under Mission Karmayogi.
Volkswagen, a long-standing but minor player in India's fiercely competitive automotive sector, is now exploring a strategic partnership with the JSW group, aiming to revitalise its market presence, enhance profitability, and potentially establish India as a key export hub for electric vehicles.
The Karnataka government is collaborating with ElevenLabs to explore pilot projects using voice AI across various sectors including skilling, investment promotion, healthcare, culture, and citizen services. This initiative aims to leverage advanced AI to enhance accessibility and efficiency of government services, with a strong focus on responsible AI use and safeguards against misinformation.
Cortex DC, a company of The Chatterjee Group (TCG), announced its entry into the data centre market with plans to develop 2 GW of AI-ready capacity across India over the next seven years. The initiative aims to meet the growing demand for high-performance computing, targeting hyperscalers, cloud service providers, and advanced AI workloads with a focus on speed, scale, and sustainable power.
Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar lauded KEONICS' initiative to provide AI-based KEO computers to rural children, marking the institution's golden jubilee. The KEO computers, developed in Karnataka, aim to bridge the digital divide. Shivakumar also highlighted government efforts to promote IT beyond Bengaluru, enhance industry-oriented skills, and digitise property records, emphasising the state's commitment to technology and skill development.
HCL Group, a USD 14.8 billion conglomerate, has announced a new partnership with the DP World Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI). This collaboration aims to leverage technology and innovation to strengthen India's professional golf ecosystem, broaden the sport's reach, and enhance experiences for players, fans, and partners.
Forty-two naval vessels are already on order, while the navy has the government's initial go-ahead to procure another 78 ships and submarines and 120 fast interceptor craft, worth approximately Rs 2.41 trillion.
Apple Pay has officially launched in India, integrating with CCAvenue and partnering with Axis Bank to bring secure and convenient mobile payment solutions to millions of iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch users across a vast network of merchants.
In a shocking incident from Gujarat's Surendranagar, a woman was forced by her husband and others to undergo a 'punishment-cum-purification ritual' involving sexual assault by her live-in partner. Police revealed the husband had previously chained her to prevent her from fleeing. Ten people, including the husband and the woman's stepson who uploaded a video of the incident, have been arrested. The accused claimed this was a 'common practice' in their community for eloping women.
The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council is set to discuss proposals aimed at transforming the complex indirect tax system into a more business-friendly regime, focusing on simplifying compliance, reducing administrative burdens, and potentially raising the prosecution threshold.
Women Inspiring Network (WIN) has launched 'WIN Connect', an AI-powered platform designed to connect global women leaders and enhance opportunities across various sectors. Unveiled in New York, the platform aims to leverage AI to facilitate networking, access to capital, and business growth for its 10,000-strong network across 50 countries.
French football champions Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) have announced a partnership with Google, making Google Gemini their official AI assistant and Google Pixel their official smartphone, with plans for a Google space at Parc des Princes stadium.
Korean auto major Hyundai plans to invest an additional Rs 4,000 crore in Maharashtra by 2030, aiming to nearly double capacity at its new Pune manufacturing plant to 320,000 units per annum in a phased manner, a top company executive said.
Apple has officially launched its Apple Pay service in India, initially partnering with Axis Bank for Visa and Mastercard credit card users. The service allows secure, cashless transactions via iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch using NFC technology, without requiring PINs or OTPs. This move is set to intensify competition in India's digital payments market, currently dominated by UPI and local players, with Apple planning to onboard more banks and expand merchant networks.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) will hold a Special General Body Meeting to amend its constitution in line with the National Sports Governance Act and discuss the new commercial partner for the Indian Super League.
India's GST Council has approved changes allowing small online sellers to register in states without physical premises by using an e-commerce operator's warehouse as their principal place of business, aiming to boost national sales for small businesses.
Experts at a national symposium in Shillong discussed the role of Artificial Intelligence in tourism, emphasising that AI should support human judgment, local knowledge, and cultural values rather than replace them. Discussions highlighted the need for robust policies to address ethical concerns, safeguard livelihoods, and preserve cultural heritage while leveraging AI for innovation and sustainability in the tourism sector, particularly in Meghalaya.
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon stated that the historic Free Trade Agreement with India, now in effect, will help grow both economies, allowing Kiwi businesses to reach over a billion more customers with significantly reduced tariffs, leading to 'more jobs and higher wages for Kiwis'.
United States Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has warned that Iranian airlines could be effectively shut out of international travel from Wednesday, September 23, as Washington threatens secondary sanctions against foreign companies that continue providing services to Iran's carriers.
A senior US official has warned against the weaponisation of digital and artificial intelligence sovereignty by political voices, urging nations to avoid costly re-invention of existing technology. The official highlighted the economic dangers of rebuilding entire tech stacks and emphasised India's crucial role as an indispensable partner in global technological leadership due to its engineering talent and innovation ecosystem.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump held a telephone conversation to review progress in bilateral ties, covering trade, defence, and energy, against the backdrop of heightened trade friction due to the 'Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026'.
Salesforce has entered a multi-year partnership with FIDE, becoming the title sponsor for the 2026 and 2028 World Championship Matches and the 2027 Women's World Championship Match, and integrating its AI solutions to enhance FIDE's operations, player rankings, and fan engagement.
InsuranceDekho and RenewBuy have merged to establish India's largest artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled insurance distribution platform, targeting a significant premium book and extensive reach across the country.
Paras Defence and Space Technologies partners with Northstar Aviation to provide air-to-air refuelling technologies and support services to the Indian armed forces, enhancing mission endurance and operational flexibility.
IIT Bhubaneswar and IIT (Indian School of Mines) Dhanbad have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance research collaboration and academic interactions, particularly in semiconductor and basic sciences. The agreement facilitates joint research projects, doctoral student supervision, faculty and student exchanges, and shared experimental resources, aiming to advance knowledge and create lasting impact.
India is set to develop its first 100% hydrogen-powered Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) plant, a Rs 207-crore national pilot project led by CSIR-IMMT. This initiative aims to significantly reduce carbon emissions in the steel sector and achieve net-zero commitments, focusing on adapting the technology to India's domestic iron ore conditions.
The BCCI has announced new associate partnerships with Campa, SBI Life, and ChatGPT for India's home cricket matches. These deals are valued at over Rs 130 crore for two seasons, marking a 44% increase over the previous cycle and extending until March 2028. The partnerships highlight the growing commercial appeal and versatility of Indian cricket.
The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is actively working on plans to expand Aadhaar's reach globally, particularly to benefit non-resident Indians (NRIs) and overseas citizens of India (OCIs). This initiative aims to enhance interoperability, attract investment, and streamline digital identification processes, with new guidelines for merchants and products like Aadhaar Lite also in development.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has delivered LCA Tejas FOC twin-seater trainers and HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft to the Indian Air Force, and Dhruv next-generation helicopters to Pawan Hans. This significant handover, witnessed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, marks a crucial step in India's journey towards self-reliance in the aerospace sector, showcasing HAL's capabilities across military, civil rotary-wing, and pilot training aviation.
State-run defence major Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has delivered LCA Tejas Final Operational Clearance twin-seater trainers and HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft to the Indian Air Force, along with Dhruv next-generation helicopters to Pawan Hans. This significant handover, witnessed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, marks a crucial step in India's journey towards self-reliance in the aerospace sector, showcasing HAL's diverse capabilities in military, civil, and training aviation.
India is hosting the BRICS summit, leveraging the platform to address global trade tensions and champion the developmental priorities of the Global South, including food, energy, and supply chain security. The summit, attended by leaders like President Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, will focus on resilience, innovation, cooperation, and sustainability, with India aiming to strengthen intra-BRICS collaboration and discuss global matters. The expanded BRICS grouping represents a significant portion of the world's population and GDP, making its discussions crucial for global economic stability.
BRICS nations have successfully reached a consensus on a joint statement following extensive negotiations, with India playing a crucial role in bridging differences, particularly among West Asian members like Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, despite regional conflicts and geopolitical tensions.
The BRICS summit in New Delhi brings together leaders from major emerging economies to address global challenges like trade disputes, geopolitical upheavals, and the economic impact of conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia. India, as chair, aims to position BRICS as an economic growth engine, focusing on the Global South's food, energy, and supply chain security. The summit also highlights the grouping's expansion and its growing influence in global governance.
State-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has delivered LCA Tejas FOC twin-seater trainers and HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft to the Indian Air Force, and Dhruv Next Generation helicopters to Pawan Hans. This significant handover, attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu, underscores India's progress towards self-reliance in aerospace, strengthening both military and civil aviation capabilities with indigenous platforms.
Chinese President Xi Jinping's upcoming visit to India for the BRICS summit is a pivotal diplomatic event poised to significantly impact bilateral ties and global cooperation amidst ongoing international instability.
Do not share OTPs, PINs, authentication codes, card numbers, card verification values (CVVs), KYC details, security answers, Internet-banking passwords or Aadhaar-based authentication credentials through SMS, e-mail or phone calls.
Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal highlighted the critical need for India to diversify its services exports beyond the dominant IT/ITeS and professional services sectors. Speaking at the Global Fintech Fest 2026, he emphasised the vast potential in the global financial services market, where India currently holds a small share, and stressed how fintech solutions, like UPI, can drive growth, reduce remittance costs, and support MSME trade finance, ultimately leading to sustainable economic expansion.
Japan is deepening its defence relationship with India while simultaneously expanding its economic, infrastructure and security engagement with countries around India -- particularly Bangladesh. The result is an emerging Japanese conception of South Asia in which India remains the strategic anchor, but the geography surrounding India is becoming increasingly important, points out Varun Arya.
IIT Madras is hosting the 3rd Digital India RISC-V (DIR-V) Symposium 2026 in partnership with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and RISC-V International. The symposium aims to unite stakeholders from government, industry, and academia to advance India's semiconductor innovation, focusing on indigenous processor technologies, secure computing, hardware innovation, and AI, aligning with the government's vision for India as a global semiconductor hub.
Former fighter pilot Andy Green has set a new world land speed record for a hydrogen-powered car at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, achieving a combined speed of 406.320 mph (653.909 kph) in the JCB Hydromax.
