CEA caution: Can't drift, Al stress test, must create jobs

Sounding a note of caution that India risked higher inequality at the time of greatest technological change, Chief Economic Advisor V Anantha Nageswaran said Monday that while artificial intelligence (AI) is a plus for advanced economies facing demographic decline, it is "a stress test of our state capacity".

NGT clears Great Nicobar, cites 'strategic' role, no 'good ground' to interfere

A Six-Member National Green Tribunal (NGT) special bench ruled on Monday that it did not find "any good ground" to interfere in the environmental clearance accorded to the Rs 81,000-crore Great Nicobar mega infrastructure project as there were "adequate safeguards" in the project's environmental clearance.

This National Green Tribunal order is significant and is likely to act as a reference point for future projects of strategic importance that are planned in ecologically sensitive areas - 'balanced approach' being the key words.

Apex court: No question of stay on RTI amendments

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to grant any interim stay on the amendments made to the RTI Act by the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023, and the Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025, but said it will examine them "to balance" competing "rights".

Al-powered Bharat-VISTAAR all set to be launched today

The centre is set to launch on Tuesday the Bharat-VISTAAR (Virtually Integrated System to Access Agricultural Resources) - an AI-powered multilingual tool designed to provide information to the farmers in their own language through mobile or a phone call by dialing 155261. The tool will offer guidance on crop planning, package of practices and pests, weather forecast, markets, and scheme information, eligibility, application and grievance. 

Bhabha, Cold War, nuclear technology, 1955: Dos and don'ts for India in AI

As the AI Summit unfolds in Delhi this week, India must necessarily navigate an unstated but inescapable tension: the aspiration for collective solutions in the development of artificial intelligence on the one hand, and the imperative of protecting national interests in a world of geopolitical rivalry. 

PM may visit Israel on Feb 25, hold talks with Netanyahu

PM Narendra Modi's visit comes months after the fragile ceasefire in Gaza. While India has supported the Gaza peace plan, it has stayed away from joining the Board of Peace, led by US President Donald Trump.

India's approach has been to move forward in the relationship with Israel, given that both nations share deep ties in defence and security. 

Women's entry in Sabarimala temple: Top court says 9-judge bench to hear matter in April

With the Centre also backing demands for a review of the Supreme Court's September 2018 judgment in the case on whether women can be allowed to enter the Sabarimala temple in Kerala, the top court said Monday that a 9-judge bench will start hearing the review petitions on April 7. 

How Artificial Intelligence can become democracy's ally, not its adversary

Unlike broadcast media manipulation, Al content can be hyper-personalised inflame tensions. Al to supercharges microtargeting beyond Cambridge Analytica's ambitions. 

Bodhan AI: Centre's new bid to integrate AI tools in schools

Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan last week said the Central government will integrate Al tools in teaching from the next academic session at all levels, from pre-primary to higher education.

The effort is propelled by the launch of the not-for-profit company, Bodhan AI, at the Centre of Excellence in Al for Education at IIT Madras. The centre was a part of the Budget announcement last year, with an allocation of Rs 500 crore. 

The cost of controls on the fertiliser industry

There is perhaps no industry in India as controlled as fertilisers.

The maximum retail price (MRP) of urea is fixed at Rs 266.5 per 45-kg bag, a rate practically unchanged since November 2012.

Di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) is technically decontrolled. Companies, on paper, can sell this fertiliser to farmers at market-determined prices, with the Centre merely paying a flat subsidy of Rs 1,490 per 50-kg bag.

Delegation heads to US to finalise legal text; 18% tariffs by this week

An Indian trade delegation is set to visit Washington next week to finalise the legal text of the first tranche of the India-US trade deal, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal said Monday.