Noted scientist Prof V Ramgopal Rao highlights India's significant progress in higher education and research but points out a critical gap in converting scientific discoveries into market-ready technologies. He advocates for a robust institutional framework, multidisciplinary collaboration, and stronger academia-industry ties to foster innovation and translate research into practical products.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his Independence Day address, highlighted technology and innovation as central to India's goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047. He called for India to lead in emerging technologies like AI, quantum computing, and space, announcing a massive AI skilling initiative for one crore youth. Modi stressed the importance of becoming a global innovation hub, bolstering energy security with nuclear power, and strengthening cybersecurity.
Drone technology company ideaForge Technology has successfully raised Rs 500 crore through a Qualified Institutional Placement (QIP). The funding, which saw strong interest from domestic and international institutional investors, will be used to accelerate innovation, expand its product portfolio into combat drones and autonomous systems, and strengthen its working capital to meet growing demand in defence, homeland security, and civil sectors.
Drone technology company ideaForge Technology has successfully raised Rs 500 crore through a Qualified Institutional Placement (QIP). The funding, which saw strong interest from domestic and international institutional investors, will be used to accelerate innovation, expand its product portfolio into combat drones and autonomous systems, and strengthen its working capital to meet growing demand in defence, homeland security, and civil sectors.
Researchers at IIT-ISM Dhanbad have been granted an Indian patent for an electrochemical reactor designed to recover copper from industrial wastewater. This innovative technology offers an environmentally sustainable solution for resource recovery and wastewater treatment, particularly benefiting the mining and metallurgical sectors.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced the state's ambition to become India's leader in quantum technology. The state plans to build a robust ecosystem, align with the National Quantum Mission, and train over 5,000 professionals, recognising AI, semiconductors, and quantum tech as key pillars for future growth and global competitiveness.
Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan announced the state's vision to become a national hub for artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, coinciding with the launch of Naviq Technology by IBS Software Group. The state government is implementing initiatives like an AI-powered dashboard, a Global Job Watch Tower, and curriculum revisions to align with technological advancements and foster skill development in AI and semiconductor sectors.
The World Bank's "World Development Report 2026" urges developing countries to adopt low-cost AI tools to accelerate progress in healthcare, education, and judicial services. The report highlights AI's potential to boost productivity and improve public services, while noting that jobs in high-income countries are more at risk from automation than those in developing nations.
Alphabet has announced a significant leadership reshuffle within its artificial intelligence division, appointing Google DeepMind co-founder Demis Hassabis as Chief Scientist to intensify its focus on artificial general intelligence (AGI). Koray Kavukcuoglu will become Senior Vice President of Google DeepMind, overseeing Gemini development and frontier AI research. Additionally, Google veterans Jeff Dean and Sanjay Ghemawat are launching a new public benefit corporation for ML and science discoveries, supported by Google.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the nation from the Red Fort on Independence Day, declared that India is undergoing a rapid transformation across various sectors and is firmly on track to become a developed nation by 2047.
The Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee has signed two technology transfer agreements with Cathion Energy Private Limited for the commercialisation of advanced lithium-ion battery electrode technologies.
Chinese President Xi Jinping called for global collaboration in artificial intelligence development, emphasising a "symphony of global collaboration" over a "solo performance" by any single nation. Speaking at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, Xi highlighted the need for ethical AI governance, shared prosperity, and addressing challenges like the widening digital divide. He also announced China's commitment to support developing countries with 5,000 AI research projects and training programmes. The event also saw 29 countries sign an agreement to establish the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation (WAICO) in Shanghai.
The ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (ICAR-CIFT) has secured an Indian patent for a novel technology designed to make live fish and aquatic animal transport safer and more efficient without the use of chemicals. This innovative system employs controlled hypothermic anaesthetisation, gradually cooling aquatic animals to prevent shock and improve survival rates during transit, offering a practical and affordable solution for the seafood industry.
The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has introduced a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to tackle land encroachment and unauthorised constructions in the capital. Following Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu's directive for "zero tolerance," the SOP mandates demolition within 72 hours of detection by dedicated Quick Response Teams and flying squads. The policy also incorporates technology like geo-tagging and drone inspections, alongside continuous monitoring to prevent re-encroachment.
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant urged national law universities to proactively lead the integration of technology into the legal system, rather than merely reacting to changes. Speaking at a conclave, he stressed the importance of incorporating academic integrity and responsible AI use into the curriculum, rejecting outright bans on generative AI. The CJI highlighted that law schools must prepare graduates to critically engage with technological tools, ensuring justice, fairness, and human judgment remain central to the evolving legal landscape.
L&T Technology Services (LTTS) has announced a strategic partnership with Anthropic to integrate its Claude AI models into LTTS' engineering processes and AI platforms. This collaboration aims to redefine engineering work by enabling faster decision-making, streamlining workflows, and accelerating innovation for global clients, coinciding with Anthropic's new rupee-denominated pricing for Indian customers.
The Delhi High Court has dismissed a lawsuit by news agency ANI against OpenAI, ruling that ChatGPT's use of copyrighted material for training large language models (LLMs) constitutes fair dealing under the Copyrights Act. The court emphasised that restraining AI development would be detrimental to India's growth in the field and public interest.
Goa has successfully completed its first pilot drone-skilling workshop for 12 women and plans to train 100 women annually under the Goa Drone Didi Training Scheme. This initiative aims to promote drone technology, rural livelihoods, and women-led entrepreneurship, aligning with the Centre's Namo Drone Didi programme.
Air Chief Marshal A P Singh, the IAF chief, has strongly advocated for India to achieve greater self-reliance in unmanned aerial systems and other critical defence technologies, stating, "Technology delayed is technology denied." He stressed the importance of indigenous development to avoid dependency on other countries for components.
Experts highlight India's significant market potential for assistive technologies, estimated at Rs 75,000-95,000 crore by 2030. They advocate for a National Assistive Technology Policy to address current gaps in access and service delivery, fostering inclusion, independence, and economic participation for persons with disabilities and the elderly.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh stated that human-led artificial intelligence will be the defining force in India's journey to becoming a developed nation by 2047. Speaking at the 29th National Conference on e-Governance, he emphasised that technology must strengthen governance without replacing human accountability, advocating for responsible AI deployment with citizens at the centre. The conference concluded with the adoption of the Jaipur Declaration on e-Governance 2026, outlining a roadmap for AI-enabled, data-driven, and secure digital governance.
'With this deal, we may see even 50 launches a year within the next few years.'
Broadband technology firm GX Group is set to commence manufacturing operations at its advanced photonics facility in India from December, investing Rs 500 crore. This initiative aims to strengthen domestic manufacturing, create skilled jobs, and reduce dependence on imported optical components crucial for high-speed data networks and AI data centres.
The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Cultus Education, has launched a nationwide initiative to provide cloud and AI skilling to 1.5 lakh learners. This programme aims to equip youth, especially from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, with essential technology skills and job-ready training, contributing to India's goal of becoming a global innovation hub.
Minister of State for Telecom Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani urged BRICS nations to collaborate on building institutional capacity and advocating for fair standards in international telecom and ICT bodies. He highlighted India's willingness to share its modular, open-source digital public infrastructure frameworks like Aadhaar and DigiLocker, emphasising their role in sustainable development and economic growth across the Global South.
E-Eye, which cost about Rs 3,500 to develop, can test a sample for around Rs 2, making it particularly suitable for field-level water quality monitoring in areas where access to sophisticated laboratories is limited.
'Our research demonstrates the potential of perovskite-based semiconductor technologies for next-generation solar cells and memory devices.'
BRICS Sports Ministers adopted a Joint Declaration in Visakhapatnam, reaffirming their commitment to strengthen sports cooperation through dialogue and mutual respect. The meeting, held under India's 2026 Chairship, saw Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya call for a BRICS Sporting Partnership and introduce three key initiatives: a Working Group on Sports Technology, a Sports Manufacturing Conclave in Udaipur, and Traditional and Indigenous Sports Demonstration Games in Ahmedabad in 2026.
GE Aerospace is utilising artificial intelligence solutions, developed by its Bengaluru team, to significantly improve aircraft engine inspection, analytics, and maintenance. These innovations have reduced turnaround times by at least five days, enhancing engine durability, reliability, and time on wing, with specific tools like the AI-enabled Blade Inspection Tool cutting inspection times by 50%.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has introduced a 'Sapta Dhara' (seven-stream) reform framework, aiming to propel India into a developed nation by 2047. This comprehensive plan focuses on key sectors including manufacturing, agro-food processing, technology, logistics, defence, green and blue economy, and soft power, leveraging the nation's youth potential.
'From day one, our vision has been to build a company that develops and owns the technologies defining the future of space.'
Reliance Industries and Rolls-Royce on Friday said they intend to jointly develop a sovereign combat engine for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme, marking a bid by India's largest private-sector company and Britain's storied aero-engine maker to build indigenous fighter-jet propulsion capability in the country.
Reliance Industries and Rolls-Royce on Friday said they intend to jointly develop a sovereign combat engine for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme, marking a bid by India's largest private-sector company and Britain's storied aero-engine maker to build indigenous fighter-jet propulsion capability in the country.
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will chair a two-day meeting of BRICS Sports and Youth Ministers in Visakhapatnam, aiming to strengthen cooperation in youth affairs and sports, with a focus on sports manufacturing, indigenous disciplines, and youth development.
Econz IT Services, in partnership with Google Cloud, has launched Bengaluru's first Gemini Enterprise Experience Centre. This centre provides an immersive environment for businesses to develop and deploy advanced Agentic AI solutions, marking a significant step in enterprise AI innovation in the region.
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary has called upon ministers and legislators to extensively use digital technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for balanced development and improved public outreach. He highlighted the state government's existing use of AI in welfare programmes and project cost reduction, stressing its importance for Bihar's progress in the digital era.
Formula E is entering its Gen4 era with ambitious plans to close the performance gap with Formula One, aiming for near-F1 speeds on several tracks by the end of the next four-season cycle. The all-electric series anticipates Gen4 cars reaching 335 kmph with significant lap time improvements, driven by advanced technology and high efficiency. Despite manufacturer exits, co-founder Alberto Longo asserts continued interest, while CEO Jeff Dodds believes electric racing could eventually surpass F1 in performance, bolstered by new partnerships like Disney+ to boost awareness.
Fintech firm PhonePe has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to integrate its enterprise data intelligence platform, PulsePro, into the PM GatiShakti framework. This collaboration aims to provide granular, hyperlocal insights for national infrastructure planning, economic analysis, and holistic urban and rural development.
MiniMines Cleantech Solutions has secured an Indian patent for its Hybrid Hydrometallurgy technology, which efficiently recovers critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, and nickel from end-of-life lithium-ion batteries and electronic waste. This innovative process, developed in India, supports sustainable battery recycling and strengthens resource security for the nation's growing demand for critical minerals.
The ACSEL Technology Forum, a Karnataka government Centre of Excellence in AI, has launched Tathyakosh.in, a digital public good designed to make India's extensive public data more accessible. This platform consolidates over 1.5 million datasets from 458 sources, addressing the challenge of fragmented data discovery across various government and research portals. It aims to benefit researchers, startups, and technology teams in sectors like healthcare, agriculture, and financial inclusion by providing a structured and discoverable data infrastructure.
