Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented India’s bold and human-centric vision for artificial intelligence at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, calling for the democratisation of AI and introducing the MANAV framework to guide its ethical and inclusive development. Addressing global leaders, technology pioneers, and policymakers, the Prime Minister stressed that artificial intelligence must empower humanity rather than reduce people to mere data points. He highlighted the need to ensure that AI benefits everyone, particularly developing nations in the Global South, and does not remain concentrated in the hands of a few powerful entities. The MANAV framework, introduced as India’s roadmap for responsible AI governance, focuses on five core principles: Moral and Ethical Systems, Accountable Governance, National Data Sovereignty, Accessible and Inclusive Technology, and Valid and Legitimate AI systems. According to the Prime Minister, AI must operate within ethical boundaries, ensure transparency, protect national data rights, and remain accessible to all sections of society. He emphasized that AI should serve as a multiplier of human potential rather than a monopolistic force controlled by limited stakeholders. The framework aims to ensure that AI remains lawful, trustworthy, and beneficial to humanity while supporting innovation and growth. Prime Minister Modi described artificial intelligence as one of the most transformative technologies in human history, comparable to major breakthroughs such as the discovery of fire and the invention of communication systems. He noted that AI is evolving at an unprecedented pace, impacting industries, economies, and societies worldwide. He warned that without proper governance, AI could create disruption, but with the right direction, it can become a powerful solution to global challenges including healthcare, education, and economic development. The India AI Impact Summit 2026, which brought together over 200,000 participants and representatives from more than 100 countries, reflects India’s growing leadership role in shaping the future of AI. The event featured participation from major global technology leaders, innovators, and policymakers, highlighting India’s position as a key hub for AI innovation. The Prime Minister also praised young innovators and entrepreneurs, noting that the next generation is actively shaping the future of artificial intelligence despite early scepticism surrounding emerging technologies. Prime Minister Modi emphasized that India’s MANAV vision is designed not just for national development but for global benefit, particularly for countries in the Global South. He called on international leaders to work together to ensure that artificial intelligence remains inclusive, ethical, and aligned with human values. He reiterated that the ultimate goal of AI should be welfare for all and happiness for all, ensuring that technological progress strengthens societies rather than widening inequalities. The summit marks a significant milestone in India’s technological journey, positioning the country as a global advocate for responsible AI governance. With its focus on inclusivity, ethics, and accessibility, the MANAV framework represents a major step toward building a balanced and human-centric artificial intelligence ecosystem that can benefit people across the world.

Bill Gates has withdrawn from delivering the keynote address at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, sparking widespread attention and speculation across global tech and political circles. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation confirmed the sudden decision, stating that Gates would skip the summit “after careful consideration,” just one day after publicly confirming his participation. The event, being held at Bharat Mandapam, is one of India’s most significant gatherings focused on artifi

Bangladesh has signaled a major shift in its cricket diplomacy, expressing its willingness to repair strained cricket relations with India following the fallout over the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The move comes shortly after the new Bangladesh Nationalist Party government took office, with newly appointed Youth and Sports Minister Aminul Haque emphasizing the importance of restoring friendly relations through dialogue and cooperation. His remarks have raised hopes among cricket fans and

Rana Daggubati has opened up about one of the most difficult phases of his life, revealing why he returned advances for several films after facing a serious health crisis. The actor shared his emotional journey during a recent appearance on Rhea Chakraborty’s podcast Chapter 2, where he spoke about undergoing a kidney transplant in the United States and how the experience reshaped both his career and personal identity. At the peak of his career, Rana was widely known for his comma

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday publicly criticized British Prime Minister Keir Starmer over the United Kingdom’s handling of the strategically important island of Diego Garcia, warning that London could be making a significant strategic error. In a post on Truth Social dated February 18, Trump said he had advised Starmer that entering into a 100-year lease arrangement concerning Diego Garcia was a “big mistake.” The island, located in the Indian Ocean and part of the Chagos Arc

A 22-year-old Sikh nurse has alleged that he was subjected to a brutal racially motivated assault at a gym in Geelong, near Melbourne, late on February 17, prompting renewed concerns about hate crimes in Australia. The victim, identified as Harmanpreet Singh, said the incident occurred while he was working out at a gym in Corio at around 11 pm, when he was confronted by a group of three men. According to Singh, the men approached him without provocation and began hurling racial slurs before

On February 6, Galgotias University made headlines with a bold announcement: it had invested more than Rs 350 crore in artificial intelligence infrastructure, calling it the largest AI investment by any private university in India. The statement positioned the institution as a future global AI powerhouse, citing partnerships, supercomputing infrastructure, and ambitions aligned with global leaders s

India is set to further restrict water flow to Pakistan ahead of the summer season with the completion of the Shahpur Kandi barrage on the Ravi River by March 31, 2026. The move comes at a time when tensions between the two neighbours remain high and follows India’s decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty after last year’s Pahalgam terror attack. With the new infrastructure in place, surplus water that previously flowed unused into Pakistan is now expected to be diverted for irrigatio

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has extended a warm invitation to Bangladesh’s newly sworn-in Prime Minister Tarique Rahman following the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) electoral victory, signaling India’s intent to deepen engagement with Dhaka’s new leadership. In a congratulatory letter sent soon after the swearing-in ceremony in Dhaka, PM Modi expressed confidence that bilateral relations would grow stronger under Rahman’s leadership and emphasized the importance of shared dev

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron elevated bilateral ties to a new level by signing more than 20 agreements across defence, artificial intelligence, trade, skilling, health and critical technologies during high-level talks in Mumbai. The agreements were announced during President Macron’s three-day visit to India from February 17 to 19, where he is also attending the AI Summit 2026 in New Delhi. Addressing a joint press conference, Prime Minister Na

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday emphasized that India must position itself as a global leader in artificial intelligence, urging the country to transition from being primarily a consumer of technology to a creator of advanced AI solutions. His remarks came during the ongoing India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, a high-profile international gathering widely regarded as the first global AI forum of this scale hosted in the Global South. In an interview with ANI, the Prime Minister

French President Emmanuel Macron is set to begin a three-day visit to India on Tuesday, with high-level discussions expected to focus on artificial intelligence cooperation and a potential multibillion-dollar agreement involving Dassault Aviation Rafale fighter jets. The visit underscores the growing India-France relations and reflects both countries’ efforts to strengthen their strategic partnership across defence, technology, and economic sectors. Macron, accompanied by his wife Brigitte

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to undertake a two-day visit to Israel from February 25 to 26, according to sources familiar with the development. The programme for the trip is currently being finalised, but officials indicate that the visit will include high-level engagements aimed at strengthening the already robust India–Israel partnership. During the visit, Modi is likely to address the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, where discussions are expected to focus on key bilateral an

New Delhi is set to host a major international gathering of technology executives, political leaders and policy experts as the India-AI Impact Summit 2026 begins in the national capital from February 16 to 20. The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that delegations from more than 45 countries will attend the high-level event, positioning the summit as one of the largest global forums focused on artificial intelligence and digital policy. Among the notable participants is Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, along with senior officials from several international organisations. The presence of global leadership underscores the summit’s growing significance as countries seek to collaborate on the opportunities and challenges posed by rapidly advancing AI technologies. The summit’s framework is built around three central themes—People, Planet and Progress—reflecting India’s stated aim of shaping artificial intelligence governance that promotes inclusive growth, environmental sustainability and technological advancement. Officials said the agenda will focus on balancing innovation with responsibility, ensuring that digital transformation benefits both developing and developed economies. Several heads of state and government are scheduled to attend at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Leaders expected to participate include Tshering Tobgay of Bhutan, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil, Emmanuel Macron of France, Pedro Sánchez of Spain and Dick Schoof of the Netherlands, among others. Additional representation will come from vice presidents, crown princes and senior ministers, highlighting broad geographic participation across Europe, Latin America, Asia and Africa. Beyond government delegations, the event will draw prominent figures from the global technology sector. Executives expected to attend include Sundar Pichai of Google, Sam Altman of OpenAI, Jensen Huang of Nvidia, Demis Hassabis of DeepMind, Brad Smith of Microsoft and Cristiano Amon of Qualcomm. Their participation is expected to add industry insight into emerging AI trends, research and investment. According to officials, the summit will facilitate discussions on responsible AI governance, innovation ecosystems, digital public infrastructure and climate-conscious technology. Sessions are also planned on equitable access to emerging tools, reflecting concerns that technological gaps could widen inequalities between regions. Organisers have described the India-AI Impact Summit as a platform designed not only for dialogue but also for measurable outcomes. By encouraging collaboration between policymakers, startups and multinational firms, the event aims to generate partnerships and frameworks that support economic growth, social development and the sustainable use of artificial intelligence. With a strong international presence and a broad agenda, the summit is expected to reinforce India’s role as an influential player in shaping global AI policy while promoting cooperation on the future of the digital economy.

The city of Seattle has reached a $29 million settlement with the family of Jaahnavi Kandula, a 23-year-old graduate student from India, who was tragically killed in 2023 when a speeding police officer struck her. Kandula, a master's student at Northeastern University’s Seattle campus, was hit by Officer Kevin Dave, who was driving at 74 mph (119 km/h) in a 25-mph (40 km/h) zone while responding to a drug overdose call. Though Dave had his emergency lights

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said that tariff threats played a decisive role in resolving several international conflicts during his tenure, claiming that economic pressure through trade measures helped prevent violence and bring rival nations to the negotiating table. In an interview with Fox Business, Trump asserted that at least six of what he described as eight wars were settled after he warned countries that they would face higher tariffs if hostilities continued. Among

Many taxpayers are facing a frustrating wait for their tax refunds as nearly 24 lakh income tax returns (ITRs) for the Assessment Year 2025–26 have been pending for more than 90 days. According to the Minister of State for Finance, Pankaj Chaudhary, as of February 4, 2026, out of 8.79 crore ITRs filed, approximately 24.64 lakh were yet to be processed, leaving millions of individuals waiting for their refunds. The large backlog has triggered concerns, especially for senior citizen

In a major step towards enhancing India's pandemic preparedness, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is rolling out an AI-enabled pathogen surveillance tool under the National One Health Mission (NOHM). This innovative system aims to monitor emerging and novel pathogens to predict and track diseases before they spiral into full-blown outbreaks. The focus is on early detection of zoonotic diseases, viral diseases, bacterial infections, and even parasitic threats that can have far-rea

The Indian government has issued a new directive requiring the six-stanza version of Vande Mataram to be sung or played at all official ceremonies and state functions. The rendition, lasting approximately three minutes and ten seconds, will now be mandatory during significant events, including the unfurling of the Tricolour, the arrival of the President at formal gatherings, and before and after their speeches. The government’s decision aims to ensure uniformity and consi

China has said it understands and respects India’s aspiration for permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council, marking a notable shift in tone as the two Asian powers work to stabilise relations after several years of tension. The statement came during high-level diplomatic talks in New Delhi and is being viewed as a cautious but significant gesture aimed at rebuilding trust between the neighbours. China’s Executive Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu conveyed the po