Archives February 2026

The keynote address of the Prime Minister in AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, noted that the world economy is on an inflection point in artificial intelligence. “India is on the cusp of its own AI revolution, given the largest youth population and one of the most extensive technology talent pools”, says Mr. Rajeev Juneja, President, PHDCCI.

Artificial intelligence as a transformative force will reshape economic structures, governance systems, and patterns of work and given the exceptional speed, scale and depth sooner than we think, he said.

Prime Minister’s reiteration of Summit theme—Sarvjan Hitay, Sarvajan Sukhay (Welfare for All, Happiness for All) is the right step towards democratizing artificial intelligence for all, he added.

India’s AI-driven solutions in agriculture, national security, multilingual services, and accessibility for persons with disabilities reflects India’s growing capabilities in indigenous innovation and scalable public-interest technologies, he said.

India’s guiding framework for AI governance under the acronym M.A.N.A.V. (Human)—Human Vision for AI:

• M – Moral and Ethical Systems: Establishment of robust ethical guidelines for AI development and deployment.
• A – Accountable Governance: Transparent regulatory frameworks and institutional oversight.
• N – National Sovereignty: Protection of data rights and national interests in digital ecosystems.
• A – Accessible and Inclusive: Prevention of monopolization; ensuring AI serves as a multiplier for societal progress.
• V – Valid and Legitimate: Emphasis on verification, authenticity, and technical reliability.

Large-scale investment in skilling, reskilling, and lifelong learning to ensure workforce readiness has the capacity to take away the fear of unemployment and at the same time prepare India for next generation technology frontier, he added.

The Prime Minister’s articulation of India’s support for open collaboration in AI development, while at the same time recognising that AI-leading nations shall treat AI development as a collaboration effort with open standards, and shared code treating it as a Global Common Good, he added.

India is moving fast on its commitment to building a technological ecosystem encompassing semiconductor manufacturing, chip design, quantum computing, secure data centres, he said.

Prime Minister’s commitment to “Design and Develop in India” and “Deliver to the World” showcases emerging AI-led development opportunity for India rather than fear of job loss, and India will navigate this with confidence and with ethical governance, said Dr. Ranjeet Mehta, CEO & Secretary General, PHDCCI. 

Mumbai, Feb 19th: Reinforcing its commitment to India’s skill development vision and expanding equitable access to AI education, Amazon flagged off two AI Skills Vans as part of its Think Big initiative. These are mobile learning labs designed to bring foundational cloud computing and AI education directly to government school students and communities with limited access to emerging technology resources. The vans were flagged off by Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education, in New Delhi in the presence of David Zapolsky, Chief Global Affairs and Legal Officer, Amazon. 

The mobile AI Skills Vans will be deployed across Delhi/NCR and Haryana, helping bridge access gaps in emerging technology education among government schools. Each van functions as a fully equipped mobile learning ecosystem delivering interactive, curriculum-aligned modules that introduces students to cloud technologies, AI fundamentals, computational thinking, and ethical AI principles, complementing formal science and technology education. 

 In 2026, the two vans are expected to directly engage more than 9,000 students and 100 teachers, supporting educators in integrating AI concepts into classroom instructions and building long-term institutional capacity within schools. The teacher training component is designed to in turn, create a multiplier impact, with trained educators expected to reach an additional 100,000 additional students over the next five years through classroom integration, peer learning networks, and teacher-led technology clubs. 

Speaking on the occasion, Minister Jayant Chaudhary said, “India’s skilling journey is grounded in the belief that every young learner should have the tools and opportunities to shape their future. The AI Skills Van exemplifies this vision by taking foundational AI and cloud education directly to students. It is encouraging to see industry leaders like Amazon complement national skilling priorities not only through such initiatives, but also through their long-term investments in India’s digital and innovation ecosystem. This initiative supports our national missions, including Skill India and the AI Mission, by expanding access to future-ready digital skills and ensuring that no student is left behind as we build a skilled, inclusive and innovation-driven workforce for the nation.” 

David Zapolsky, Chief Global Affairs and Legal Officer, Amazon, said, “India’s leadership in building digital infrastructure and skilling initiatives for communities at large is creating unprecedented opportunities for the next generation of innovators. Supporting the Government’s vision of AI inclusion, we have committed to bringing AI education to 4 million government school students by 2030. Through initiatives such as the AI Skills Vans, we aim to combine student learning with teacher capacity building. This reflects our commitment to democratising technology access and ensuring more young Indians are prepared for an AI-enabled future.” 

The initiative, implemented in partnership with Learning Links Foundation, builds on Amazon’s global Think Big Spaces program, which delivers hands-on learning through technology labs, school learning corners, and mobile innovation vans across multiple countries. 

Additionally, Amazon Web Services (AWS) has trained more than 6.2 million individuals in India in cloud skills since 2017 through programs such as AWS Skill Builder, AWS Educate, and AWS re/Start. It also launched the Think Big Spaces program in 2019 to help students in exploring Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) learning pathways. In India, the program has expanded to 67 learning spaces, benefiting over 13,000 students, supporting more than 700 women entrepreneurs, and enabling nutrition support for more than 12,000 public school students to strengthen learning outcomes. In addition, it works on renovating school and community infrastructure projects including libraries, Primary health centres, community parks, water harvesting structures etc.  

More recently, at Smbhav 2025, Amazon announced its planned investment of more than $35 billion across all businesses in India through 2030, with AI-driven digitization as one of three strategic pillars, alongside export growth and job creation. As part of this, Amazon committed to bringing the benefits of AI to 15 million small businesses and AI education for 4 million government school students by 2030.

Chennai, India, Feb 19th: ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (India) (“STT GDC India” or the “Company”), a leading AI-ready colocation data centre services provider, today announced the launch of its fourth data centre in Chennai, marking the expansion of its second campus in the city at Siruseri. 

The Siruseri campus is designed as a 45 MW AI-ready facility, with the first phase of 7.2 MW now operational. This milestone reinforces STT GDC India’s continued investment in building next-generation digital infrastructure in Tamil Nadu. 

The facility was e-inaugurated by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Thiru M.K. Stalin, on 12^th February 2026, reflecting the state’s strong commitment to positioning itself as a preferred destination for large-scale, next-generation data centre investments. 

With 40 MW already operational at its Chennai Ambattur campus, STT GDC India continues to scale its presence in one of India’s fastest-growing digital markets. Earlier this month, the Company also marked the groundbreaking of STT Chennai 4 within the same campus, unlocking a total development potential of approximately 130 MW, inclusive of the existing operational capacity. This expansion further strengthens STT GDC India’s ability to serve the rapidly accelerating demand from hyperscalers, enterprises and cloud service providers. 

The Company has recently signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Tamil Nadu, proposing an investment of ₹4,200 crore to develop state-of-the-art, AI-ready data centre infrastructure in the state. 

Together, these developments reinforce STT GDC India’s leadership in strengthening Chennai’s position as a pivotal hub for AI-led and cloud-driven digital growth, aligned with India’s broader digital economy ambitions.

Aligned with India’s digital growth story, STT GDC India continues to evaluate long-term strategic options to support its future expansion plans, including a potential initial public offering (IPO) targeted for the first half of 2027,

as part of its roadmap to strengthen capital access and accelerate growth across India’s digital infrastructure landscape. 

Commenting on the Siruseri Campus Launch milestone, Bimal Khandelwal, Chief Executive Officer, STT GDC India, said: “The launch of our fourth data centre in Chennai at the Siruseri campus marks a pivotal milestone in our growth journey and reinforces our long-term commitment to the city. As AI adoption accelerates and cloud demand scales, the need for resilient, high-density, future-ready infrastructure has never been more critical. Siruseri has been purpose-built to support hyperscalers and enterprises as they scale seamlessly and sustainably. With strong policy support from the Government of Tamil Nadu and growing customer momentum, we see Chennai playing a defining role in India’s AI and digital transformation. Our focus remains clear – to invest decisively, build sustainably, and deliver world-class infrastructure that will power India’s growth for the next decade and beyond.”

Beyond Chennai, STT GDC India is undergoing one of the most significant expansion phases in its history, strengthening its presence across India’s leading digital corridors. The Company has signed strategic MoUs with the governments of Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh to develop large-scale, AI-ready data centre infrastructure, reinforcing its long-term commitment to building national digital capacity. 

In parallel, expansion plans are progressing across key markets including Mumbai, Noida, Pune Jaipur, Hyderabad and Bengaluru, ensuring customers benefit from geographically diversified, high-availability infrastructure across India’s most critical economic centres. 

Today, with 30 data centres spanning 10 cities and over 400 MW of critical IT load capacity, STT GDC India operates one of the country’s most extensive data centre platforms. Through sustained investments in next-generation, AI-ready campuses, the Company is not only scaling capacity—it is building the digital backbone that will power India’s cloud, AI and enterprise transformation at scale.

New Delhi, Feb 19: Two weeks into Zomato’s Healthy High-five challenge, the data shows a meaningful shift in how urban India orders food: making protein the priority, not an afterthought.

Since February 1, over 10 lakh Indians have collectively begun their High-five journey, ordering healthy meals with over 20 grams of protein more than 15 lakh times. Here’s what the data shows: people are going beyond the first milestone. Over 10,000 customers have earned their first free meal.

A customer from Bengaluru exemplifies this frequency, he has logged 33 high-protein orders in just two weeks, earning multiple free meals along the way. Since Healthy Mode launched in late 2025, a customer from Chennai has placed 811 orders through the feature. These patterns suggest sustained behavior change, not temporary experiments.

The geographic breakdown reveals expected metro dominance: Bangalore leads with 3.78 lakh high-fives, closely followed by Delhi and Mumbai. Interestingly, grilled chicken has emerged as the most-ordered dish in the challenge with over 1 lakh orders in February, suggesting customers are consciously switching to healthier options without sacrificing taste or familiarity.

Aditya Mangla, CEO, Zomato, said,

“We’ve always felt that people want to make healthier choices. They just need it to be simpler and more accessible. The Healthy High-five challenge was our small attempt to enable that. Two weeks in, with over 10 lakh customers participating, it’s encouraging to see not just orders come in, but early signs of habits taking shape.”

Since the launch of Healthy Mode on the Zomato app in late 2025, the feature has driven 74 lakh orders from 12 lakh customers, indicating growing user inclination towards healthy meal options. There’s been a 20% uptick in orders for dishes with ‘High’ healthy scores, compared to September’25.

The Healthy High-five challenge runs till the end of February 2026 on the Zomato app. To participate, order dishes that meet specific nutritional criteria: a minimum of 20g of protein and a high Healthy Score. Healthy Score evaluates dishes on protein, complex carbs, fibre, and micronutrients, and not just calories.

• Every qualifying order once delivered, earns the customer a ‘High-five’
• 4 High-fives unlock a free dish from a curated menu of high-nutrition options listed under the Healthy Mode.

Mumbai, Feb 19: AlfAccurate Advisors Pvt. Ltd., with Arham Yuva Seva Group (AYSG), have partnered for the CSR initiative “Arham Dialysis Sahay,” aimed at supporting underprivileged individuals battling chronic kidney disease by ensuring access to life-saving dialysis treatment.

Dialysis is not a one-time procedure but a recurring medical necessity that places significant financial and emotional strain on families, particularly those from economically weaker backgrounds. Recognizing this challenge, the initiative provides holistic support designed to ease both medical and lifestyle burdens faced by patients.

Under this program, ₹20 lakh worth of assistance has been extended, benefiting 108 dialysis patients. Financial aid was distributed through verified cheque support, enabling beneficiaries to continue treatment at medical centres of their choice. In addition to treatment sponsorship, essential grocery kits containing staple food items were provided to help families manage daily nutritional needs amid rising healthcare expenses.

To promote long-term health monitoring, blood pressure measurement devices were also distributed, empowering patients to track their health independently. Trolley bags were included to help beneficiaries conveniently carry essential supplies and medical equipment.

Chronic kidney disease is a growing healthcare concern in India, with many patients forced to discontinue treatment due to financial limitations. The costs for these treatments run upto ₹1.5 lakh per year. Arham Dialysis Sahay aims to bridge this gap by combining financial assistance with compassionate community support

AlfAccurate Advisors’ participation reflects a commitment to responsible corporate citizenship, while AYSG – a nationwide non-profit with over 1,500 volunteers inspired by Param Namramuni Gurudev – ensured effective implementation through beneficiary verification, logistics coordination, and on-ground execution.

“Our CSR philosophy focuses on creating sustainable impact by supporting healthcare access and easing the burden on families facing long term medical challenges. We sincerely thank Arham Yuva Seva Group for their noble initiative,”said Mr. Rajesh Kothari, Founder & Managing Director, AlfAccurate Advisors, one of the leading Investment Management firms in India.

The initiative highlights how collaborative CSR efforts can create meaningful, sustainable impact by supporting vulnerable communities with dignity, care, and continuity of treatment

Surat, Feb 19 : Concept Medical Group successfully concluded Momentum 6.0, its sixth annual sports fest, held in Surat, India. The two-day celebration brought together employees from across the organization for high-energy competition, camaraderie and connection.

Momentum 6.0 featured tournament-style matches across Cricket, Volleyball, Badminton, Table Tennis, Chess and Carrom. The event opened with an Opening Ceremony and Team Flag March, setting the tone for two days of spirited participation and sportsmanship.

Evenings added a celebratory dimension through performances, employee recognition and Concept Got Talent showcase. The fest concluded with the recognition of winning teams and standout performers, including the Momentum 6.0 Champions.

Dr. Manish Doshi, Founder & Managing Director, Concept Medical Group, said,

“Momentum has evolved into more than a sports fest. It is a shared experience that strengthens bonds, deep-rooted camaraderie, nurtures leadership beyond the workplace, and reinforces the values that drive Concept Medical forward every day.”

Parth Doshi, Executive Director, Concept Medical Group, added,

“Momentum is about energy, unity and belief. What we witnessed over these two days was our people coming together with pride, passion and purpose. That spirit is what defines Concept Medical.”

Momentum 6.0 reflects Concept Medical’s commitment to building a people-first workplace grounded in trust, inclusion and a strong sense of belonging, demonstrating the organization continues to be recognized among the country’s top Great Place To Work year after year.

With support from volunteers, mentors and cross-functional teams, the event was delivered through structured coordination and a vibrant on-ground experience. Concept Medical will continue to invest in initiatives that promote wellbeing, collaboration and shared success.

Mumbai, Feb 19: Netcore a global leader in Agentic Marketing, today announced that it has been recognised on the 2026 Best Software Awards by G2, earning a place on the Best of APAC Software List and Best of India Software List.

The G2 Best Software Awards rank the world’s leading software companies and products based on authentic, timely reviews from real users. With over 2 million verified reviews across categories, G2’s annual lists are widely regarded as one of the most trusted buyer-led recognitions in the software industry.

Netcore’s inclusion in the APAC and India lists reflects strong customer validation across enterprise marketing teams using its Agentic Marketing platform to drive customer engagement, retention, and revenue growth.

Recognition Backed by Customer Voice

Unlike jury-based or nomination-led awards, G2 rankings are driven entirely by verified user feedback, product satisfaction scores, and market presence data. For B2B buyers evaluating technology partners, G2 recognition often serves as a key validation point during the shortlist and vendor selection stages.

“This recognition is especially meaningful because it comes directly from our customers,”

Rajesh Jain, Founder & MD, Netcore Cloud.

“As marketing moves toward more autonomous, AI-driven decision-making, our focus has remained clear to deliver measurable business outcomes. Being featured on G2’s Best Software list for APAC and India validates the impact our customers are seeing across engagement, personalisation, and retention.”

Strengthening Global Trust in Agentic Marketing

Netcore has been advancing its vision of agentic marketing systems where agents evaluate context, intent, and orchestrate outcomes in real time to drive the next best action across channels. This recognition further strengthens the company’s positioning among enterprise brands seeking scalable, outcome-focused marketing technology.

With enterprises increasingly relying on peer validation platforms during procurement cycles, the G2 Best Software badge enhances Netcore’s credibility across competitive evaluations, RFP processes, and AI-led discovery environments.

As enterprise marketing shifts toward autonomous, AI-driven systems, trust and proven outcomes are becoming the ultimate differentiators. Netcore’s recognition on G2’s 2026 Best Software Awards signals strong customer confidence in its platform and vision. Leading global and regional brands such as Crocs, Bajaj Allianz, and Hero MotoCorp are already leveraging Netcore’s Agentic marketing capabilities to drive deeper engagement, stronger retention, and measurable revenue impact. The company will continue investing in innovation, customer success, and agentic marketing systems that help brands move beyond campaigns toward intelligent, continuously optimising growth engines built for long-term profitability.

Mumbai, Feb 19: PanIIT Alumni India organised a distinguished felicitation ceremony at the iconic Bombay Gymkhana, honouring eminent IIT alumni and leaders who have made exceptional contributions in public service, industry, entrepreneurship, and academia.

The highlight of the evening was the felicitation of Rajesh Agarwal, Chief Secretary of Maharashtra and distinguished alumnus of IIT Delhi. PanIIT Alumni India also felicitated Shashi Tripathi, Chairman of the upcoming IIT2026 global conference.

The event witnessed the gracious presence of several prominent IIT alumni and national leaders, including:

          •        Sharad Saraf, Member, Board of Governors – IIT Bombay & IIT Jammu

          •        Ashank Desai

          •        Sudhakar Gande

          •        Raj Nair

Senior leaders from government, industry, startups, and academia across multiple IITs joined the gathering, reflecting the strength and unity of the global IIT alumni network.

Prabhat Kumar, Chairman, PanIIT Alumni India, said

“PanIIT represents the collective strength of over 300,000 IIT alumni across the globe. Today’s felicitation is not just about honouring individuals, but about celebrating leadership that contributes to nation-building and global impact. IITians are playing transformative roles in governance, innovation, entrepreneurship, and global partnerships aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.”

He emphasised that PanIIT will continue to act as a bridge between government, industry, academia, and the global alumni ecosystem to accelerate India’s growth story.

Rajesh Agarwal, Chief Secretary, Maharashtra, in his address, welcomed investors, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders to actively engage with Maharashtra’s fast-growing innovation and industrial ecosystem. He highlighted key initiatives of the Maharashtra Government aligned with the Viksit Bharat vision and assured full support to the PanIIT community to invest and collaborate in Maharashtra’s strategic sectors.

Update on IIT2026 – USA (April 22-25, 2026)

Shashi Tripathi shared insights about the IIT2026 Conference, a landmark global summit scheduled from April 22 to 25, 2026, in Long Beach, California, USA. IIT2026 is a three-day conference celebrating 75 years of IIT excellence, bringing together over 2,500 innovators, CEOs, thought leaders, and changemakers from around the world to explore innovation, investment, technology, and global collaboration.  

He invited the entire PanIIT community—especially alumni and professionals in the USA and beyond—to participate in this historic event, engage in transformative dialogues, and build strategic partnerships that will shape the future of innovation worldwide.

The evening concluded with networking and discussions focused on strengthening alumni collaboration, fostering cross-border investments, and positioning the IIT ecosystem as a powerful driver of India’s and global innovation leadership journey.

New Delhi, Feb 19 : Ashoka University, India’s leading interdisciplinary research university, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with École normale supérieure PSL Paris, one of France’s most prestigious higher education and research institutions. The announcement was made at the High Level Academic and Scientific Meetings in the presence of French President Emmanuel Macron, marking an important step in strengthening India–France collaboration in higher education, research, and innovation.

The MoU was formally signed by Somak Raychaudhury, Vice-Chancellor, Ashoka University, Delhi-NCR, and Frédéric Worms, Director, ENS-PSL. The partnership reflects a shared commitment to academic excellence, interdisciplinary learning, and global knowledge exchange between two leading institutions known for integrating teaching and research across disciplines.

Ashoka University’s Memorandum of Understanding with École normale supérieure – PSL establishes a deep, long-term partnership spanning joint research, faculty and student exchanges, and collaborative academic programmes in the sciences and humanities. This MoU will create shared research ecosystems, foster co-taught courses and workshops, and open opportunities for Ashoka students and scholars to engage with ENS–PSL’s renowned scientific community in Paris. Together, the two institutions aim to build a vibrant Indo-French intellectual corridor that advances fundamental science, interdisciplinary inquiry, and innovation with global impact.

K VijayRaghavan, Chair, Science Advisory Council, Ashoka University noted,

“France and India are already closely linked in science through bilateral structures such as the Indo-French Centre for Applied Mathematics (IFCAM), DST–India programmes in digital science and technology, and joint initiatives in neuroscience and engineering. Most recently, both countries have expanded this cooperation through new initiatives in AI, health, and digital science, including plans for Indo-French centres for AI in health and digital science and technology under the 2026 Year of Innovation”.

École normale supérieure – PSL is among France’s most prestigious higher education institutions and a globally recognised centre of academic excellence. Founded in 1794, the institution is known for its rigorous research culture and interdisciplinary approach, ENS-PSL has a distinguished legacy of producing leading scholars, scientists, and policymakers, including multiple Nobel laureates and Fields Medal winners.

For Ashoka University students, the partnership will play an important role in shaping research capabilities by providing access to advanced research networks, collaborative projects, and mentorship from internationally renowned scholars. The engagement is expected to strengthen Ashoka University students’ understanding of global techniques and methodologies used in research across multiple domains, thereby equipping them with better skills to carry deep research for better knowledge creation and innovation.

For students and experts of ENS-PSL, this collaboration will offer valuable opportunities to engage with India’s dynamic academic ecosystem, participate in interdisciplinary research initiatives, and gain deeper insights into diverse social, cultural, and scientific contexts of the country.

Both institutions are already connected through the Franco-Indian Campus in Life Sciences for Health, launched in 2022, and the MoU seeks further to deepen academic and research exchanges within this broader framework.

Frédéric Worms, Director, ENS-PSL, said,

“This agreement offers a unique opportunity to bring together École normale supérieure – PSL and Ashoka University, two institutions that share a similar academic model and a common commitment to excellence, interdisciplinarity, and the close articulation of teaching and research.”

Somak Raychaudhury, Vice-Chancellor, Ashoka University, said,

“This partnership marks an important step in strengthening global academic collaboration at a time when AI is reshaping industries and societies. Through our engagement with ENS-PSL, we aim to drive high-impact research, foster meaningful academic exchange, and equip our students and faculty with deeper global perspectives.”

Anastasia Beverly Hills expands its blush offerings in India with the introduction of the Magic Touch Blush Trio, a three shade cream blush format featuring a silky, gel like texture that seamlessly blends into the skin for a flawless, natural looking finish.

Designed for effortless application and all day wear, the Magic Touch Blush Trio features a bouncy, cloud like texture and a silky, gel like formula, that blends seamlessly into the skin for a flawless, natural looking finish. Each trio features three vibrant shades that can be worn individually or layered to customize your look. Enriched with antioxidant rich Pomegranate Oil, the lightweight, non-greasy formula delivers a healthy glow while blending smoothly on bare skin or over makeup, without streaking, patchiness, or settling.

Housed in sleek, travel-friendly packaging, the Magic Touch Blush Trio is available in three curated colour trios and is dermatologist-tested, non-comedogenic, cruelty-free, and vegan, offering a high-performance, conscious beauty experience for modern consumers in India.

Available Shades:

Kit 1: Berry/Rose

 A trio of vibrant berry and red tones.

 Shades: Fuchsia | Orange-Red | Mulberry

Kit 2: Peach

 A trio of soft peach, pink, and mauve hues.

 Shades: Carnation Pink | Cool Pink | Mauve

Kit 3: Pink

 A trio of bright and playful pinks.

 Shades: Cool-Toned Pink | Candy Pink | Soft Pink

Availability: Sephora, Tira, Nykaa