Is India ready for the AI revolution? The rapid advancements in artificial intelligence, from generative AI tools to sophisticated machine learning algorithms, are transforming industries across the nation. From fintech's burgeoning use of AI-powered fraud detection to the agricultural sector's embrace of precision farming technologies, the impact is undeniable. This week saw a major breakthrough in indigenous 5G technology development, signaling India's growing prowess in the global tech landscape. But alongside this progress comes the crucial discussion surrounding data privacy, cybersecurity, and the ethical implications of AI deployment. How will India navigate these challenges and harness the transformative power of technology for inclusive growth? Explore the latest developments in Indian tech, from the rise of digital payments to the burgeoning startup ecosystem, and discover how innovation is shaping the nation's future. Stay informed with Abtak.com – your gateway to understanding the tech revolution reshaping India.
New Delhi: The IT Rules have been changed by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to make it clear that only senior officials have the power to issue content take-down notices pursuant to section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act. The updated rule, which will be effective from November 15, is expected to make the content removal process at social media companies more accountable and transparent. So far the junior officers in Central and State governments, such as sub-inspectors and assistant sub-inspectors, had been empowered to make such orders. On October 22, MeitY announced that take-down notices will be authorised only by officers of the joint secretary grade or higher, or also by police officials of the rank of deputy inspector general (DIG) or higher. Where the joint secretary is not present, such an agent as a director or an officer of the same rank may perform the same role. According to the minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the move was meant to keep the digital governance structure in the government more accountable. Clearer process and review mechanism The ministry directed that any takedown notices should be explicitly formulated with the nature of the law, particular statutory ledger and information, including the URL or identifier of the illicit material. Failure of intermediaries to comply may lead to the removal of their safe harbour under the IT Act, which is the immunity against liability of platforms due to third-party content. Periodic review and deepfake focus To facilitate control, the government will periodically review them under the chairmanship of an officer whose rank is not below that of a secretary, i.e., Home Secretary or IT Secretary. MeitY has also suggested changes along with this change in order to address the ever-increasing issue of deepfakes. The action follows legal difficulties by other social networks such as X that have protested against the wide-ranging take-down authority of lower-level officials.
Guwahati: Massive protests broke out amid violence in the Imphal Valley of Manipur after the alleged arrest of five volunteers from the Arambai Tenggol, an armed Meitei radical group, on Saturday night, forcing the state administration to impose curfew and suspend Internet services for five days amid escalating tension in the state. The violent protests erupted after the security forces arrested five Arambai Tenggol leaders, including its commander Kanan Singh. The protesters burnt tyres on the road and blocked roads. Some Imphal residents also reported hearing the sound of gunfire. Kanan Si ...Read More >
Ahmedabad, June 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) The MSC IRINA, recognised as the world's largest container ship by TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit) capacity, is set to dock at the Adani Group's Vizhinjam International Seaport on Monday and will be berthed till Tuesday. The monumental arrival marks a significant milestone for the seaport, which was dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 2. The MSC IRINA boasts an impressive capacity of 24,346 TEUs, making it a formidable player in global shipping. With a length of 399.9 metres and a width of 61.3 metres, the vessel is approximate ...Read More >
Chandigarh: Union minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar inaugurated several development projects for the UT from the Govt College of Commerce & Business Administration in Sector 50 here Friday. Among them were a hostel block for boys and girls at the Commerce College in the same sector, a 2,500 KW floating solar power plant at Water Works in Sector 39, the extension block of Govt Senior Secondary School in Kajheri, and the IT block at the Post Graduate Govt College in Sector 46. In addition, the MoS (home affairs) virtually laid the foundation for the construction of 144 residential units in the Chandig ...Read More >
Kolkata, Jun 28 (PTI) Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday said the Centre is committed to investing in the railway sector in West Bengal and has significantly increased allocations as part of its broader push to boost connectivity, cargo movement and support micro and small enterprises in the state. Speaking at the inauguration of the Udyami Sammelan Mela 2025 at the National Library in Kolkata, Vaishnaw said the railway budget for Bengal has seen a sharp rise from around Rs 3,000 crore under the previous regime to around Rs 14,000 crore now. The minister outlined upcoming projects, ...Read More >
New Delhi: With an eye on bidding for the 2036 Olympics, the Union Cabinet approved a strategic roadmap named Khelo Bharat Niti on Tuesday that would serve as a guiding document for India's elevation among the top five sporting countries. The Khelo Bharat Niti 2025 will supersede the National Sports Policy first introduced in 1984 and upgraded last in 2001 and would facilitate in formulating plans and schemes for betterment of the country's sporting ecosystem. It's aim is to put best modern technical and administrative practices in place for India to be a strong contender to host the 2036 Su ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Recognizing the potential and challenges of AI, the Government of India constituted an advisory group, chaired by Principal Scientific Advisor Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, to undertake the development of an 'AI for India-Specific Regulatory Framework'. Under the guidance of the Advisory Group, a sub-committee on 'AI Governance and Guidelines Development' will provide actionable recommendations for AI governance in India. The sub-committee's report on AI Governance, now published for public consultation, aims to guide the development of a trustworthy and accountable AI ecosystem in India. ...Read More >
Chennai: In a bid to strengthen the organizational infrastructure of the Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) and to develop a robust campaign machinery, the party's founder president Vijay announced the names of 17 new key office-bearers for various wings with Adhav Arjuna, former deputy general secretary of the VCK, becoming the general secretary for campaign management on Friday. Apart from Adhav Arjuna, another known political leader who had been co-opted by Vijay is C T R Nirmal Kumar, a former BJP leader who switched over the AIADMK and has now landed in the TVK as deputy general secretary for ...Read More >
Hyderabad, Feb 10 (VOICE) Telangana's Minister for Industry and Information Technology D. Sridhar Babu has strongly condemned the attack on Chilkur Balaji Temple head priest C. S. Rangarajan and made it clear that the government will not tolerate anarchic elements hijacking Hinduism to spread hate and terror.Terming the attack on the chief priest and administrator of the temple as a heinous act, he said that the government would deal with such evil acts with an iron fist. "Although the main accused is in police custody, this isn't just a crime -- it's an attack on our values and faith! Using ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 5 (PTI) Fintech firm BimaPay Finsure on Thursday said it has entered into corporate insurance financing and aims for Rs 20 crore in premiums in 2025-26. Launching the pilot phase with insurance partners, BimaPay said the initiative will allow businesses to pay premiums in easy equated monthly instalments (EMIs) instead of bearing the burden of full upfront costs. Also Read | Who Is Pinaki Misra? From Age to Family Background and Net Worth, Here's All About BJD Leader With Whom Mahua Moitra Reportedly Married. The company aims to finance over Rs 20 crore worth of premiums by t ...Read More >
VISAKHAPATNAM: Energy Minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar inaugurated Andhra Pradesh's first Super ECBC (Energy Conservation Building Code) compliant building at Sagar Nagar in Visakhapatnam on Friday. Terming it a landmark in sustainable infrastructure, he emphasised the government's commitment to energy efficiency and green design in public facilities. The facility will serve as a national-level training hub for power sector staff. He urged power utilities to expedite 20 lakh rooftop solar connections, targeting 10,000 in each Assembly segment. He reaffirmed nine-hour uninterrupted power for agri ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: The government on Saturday extended the term of the chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) Ravi Agrawal by one year, an official notification said.The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved the re-appointment of Agrawal, an IRS officer of the 1988 batch, as CBDT chairman for one year from July 1 this year to June 30, 2026, on contract basis.Agrawal took over as the CBDT chairman from Nitin Gupta in June 2024 after Gupta's extended tenure ended. Agrawal has been a member of CBDT. He was member administration and had served as DG investigation in Delhi. The gover ...Read More >
Haridwar: A woman politician has been arrested for allegedly letting her boyfriend and others repeatedly rape her 13-year-old daughter in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. The horrifying crime, which occurred between January and March, was exposed when the minor bravely confided in her father, prompting a police investigation that led to the arrest of the accused. The accused was arrested with her boyfriend and one more. According to police reports, the minor was gang-raped multiple times, often in the presence of her mother. The minor, who had been living with her father following her parents' separat ...Read More >
In turn, Acura Capital executed a fictitious deal to attract other investors. Where $8 million were attracted. It is worth noting that at the moment the token price has fallen by half from the pre-sale price. As a reminder, Bohdan Prylepa was previously named the main suspect in a large-scale crypto fraud. The "businessman" embezzled a billion hryvnias that were intended for purchasing drones for the Armed Forces of Ukraine Furthermore, Prylepa's accomplices are under investigation: Saranenko, Shydlovskiy, Ivanov, Podpletko, Mazolyuk, and Vorobyov. These individuals allegedly helped block us ...Read More >
Hours after Atul Subash's wife Nikita Singhania, her mother Nisha and brother Anurag were arrested for allegedly abetting the suicide, the Bengaluru techie's father, Pawan Kumar Modi has questioned where Atul's four-year-old son is and said the family was worried about him. Modi thanked the police for arresting the woman and her family members. However, he said, "We don't know where she has kept our grandson. Has he been killed or is he alive? We don't know anything about him. I want my grandson ...Read More >
Srinagar, Jun 7 (PTI) Authorities on Saturday barred Eid prayers from taking place at the Eidgah ground and the Jama Masjid in the old city here, while Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq claimed that he was put under house arrest. "Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid Srinagar deeply regrets to inform that the authorities have once again disallowed Eid-ul-Adha prayers at the Eidgah as well as at the historic Jama Masjid in Srinagar by closing the gates of the mosque and deploying police personnel outside," the management of the historic mosque said in a statement. ...Read More >
Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh) [India], June 7 (ANI): The Andhra Pradesh government introduced its draft Electronics Component Manufacturing Policy 4.0 during a roadshow organised by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in the state, said an official statement. The event brought together prominent industry representatives to discuss manufacturing opportunities under India's recently launched Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme. Also Read | Latur Shocker: Man Kidnaps Woman's Child for Rejecting His Proposal for Affair in Maharashtra, Arrested. According to an official s ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: Revenue minister Suresh Pujari on Saturday said Odisha would not be allowed to follow the lawless path in sand operations like it is in Bihar and West Bengal, while responding to the recent assault of an additional tehsildar in Kaptipada block, Mayurbhanj district, by the sand mafia. He promised stringent action against the sand mafia regardless of their connections, while speaking to mediapersons here on Saturday."The Kaptipada incident represents a serious escalation in conflict between law enforcement and the sand mafia. The attack on officers performing their enforcement dutie ...Read More >
CHENNAI: Days after a 27-year-old temple security guard was allegedly killed in police custody at the Thirupuvanam police station in Sivagangai district, the AIADMK has launched a campaign 'Justice for Ajith Kumar' to mount pressure on the ruling DMK government over yet another instance of custodial death. Senior leaders and party cadre took to social media, posting pictures of the victim, Ajith Kumar, with a message, "This is the 25th custodial death under the Stalin-led government. It is deeply condemnable." The party's IT wing spearheaded the campaign as per the direction of general secre ...Read More >
The Andhra Pradesh government inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Google. The tech giant will launch its operations from Visakhapatnam in the State. Making the announcement at the district collectors' conference on Wednesday, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said HRD Minister Nara Lokesh's efforts have paved the way for this. The MoU was a significant development and would be a game changer. Visakhapatnam is poised for transformative growth, Mr. Naidu said. The chief minister, in ...Read More >
Gurgaon: Two days after a law student died and his friend suffered critical injuries when a car knocked them down as they stood near railing on the service lane of Delhi-Jaipur highway in the early hours of Tuesday, a civil engineer was arrested on Thursday.Mohit (31), an employee of a private company in the city, told police that he got drowsy while driving. He is staying at a PG facility in Sector 14.The student who died, Harsh Singhal (25), was a resident of Om Nagar colony. His friend Abhishek Kumar (23), who is from Shanti Nagar in Sector 11, is undergoing treatment at a private hospital ...Read More >
The victim, who originally hails from Delhi and is currently residing in the Kharadi, had created a profile on the matrimony site seeking a prospective bridegroom. In 2023, she received a message claiming to be Dr Rohit Oberoi, an Australian citizen of Indian origin. Over time, the duo developed a close relationship. The accused visited her in Pune and other cities in India, further gaining her trust. The victim had previously received ₹5 crore as alimony after a divorce and was planning to st ...Read More >
Kolkata, June 28: A political slugfest has erupted in West Bengal after a woman accused Padma Shree awardee monk Kartik Maharaj, who is posted with the Murshidabad unit of Bharat Sevashram Sangha, of allegedly raping her 12 times for six months in 2013. As per the police complaint lodged by the woman, Kartik Maharaj raped her multiple times 12 years ago promising her a job at a local school. The ruling Trinamool Congress is highlighting the issue in a major way and accusing the BJP of being silent on it since the accused monk had been reportedly close to the saffron party. The woman accusin ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapuram: Ravada A Chandrasekhar took charge as the new State Police Chief on Tuesday. He succeeds Shaik Darvesh Saheb, who retired on June 30. His tenure will run until July 1, 2027. A 1991-batch IPS officer currently serving as Special Director with the Intelligence Bureau, Chandrasekhar is on central deputation. He was selected over Nitin Agarwal, who topped the official list of probables. The appointment order, issued by Kerala Chief Secretary Dr A Jayathilak on behalf of the Governor, was released soon after a cabinet meeting held on Monday. Hailing from Andhra Pradesh's Godav ...Read More >
Bengaluru: The Karnataka government on Thursday took strong action against the police officers allegedly responsible for the Bengaluru stampede, suspending several high-ranking officials, including the city's police commissioner. Addressing a press conference, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also announced a one-man commission to probe the lapses that triggered the deadly stampede. "Cubbon Park Police Station police inspector, station house master, station house officer, ACP, Central Division DCP, cricket stadium in-charge, additional commissioner of police, commissioner of police have been susp ...Read More >
Pune: Hospitals in Pune have started reporting an increase in dengue cases among children following recent heavy rainfall and intermittent showers. Conditions are now ripe for mosquito breeding, experts said, as they warned citizens to ensure there's no waterlogging or stagnant pools near homes and offices. "Dengue is typically seen first in children as they often play outside," said Dr Sagar Lad, a senior neonatologist and pediatric intensivist at Jehangir Hospital and Sahyadri Hospital, Shastrinagar. Dr Lad said he's seen at least three children admitted for dengue this week, with all of the ...Read More >
BENGALURU (Reuters) -Draft legislation by India's tech hub state of Karnataka that would impose jail terms of up to seven years for spreading "fake news" and other misinformation has stirred concerns among free speech activists that it could lead to censorship. With nearly 1 billion internet users, the stakes are high in a sprawling country of many ethnic and religious communities where fake news risks stirring deadly strife and AI deepfake videos have alarmed officials during elections. India's federal government already regulates social media content with legislation empowering it to order ...Read More >
Bengaluru, Jul 1 (PTI) The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday heard arguments in a case filed by X Corp India, the Indian arm of Elon Musk-owned social media platform 'X' (formerly Twitter), challenging the authority of government officials to issue content takedown notices under the Information Technology Act. 'X' Corp informed the court that it had recently received a notice from the Ministry of Railways seeking the removal of a video showing a woman driving a car on railway tracks in Hyderabad. Representing the company, Senior Advocate K G Raghavan argued against what he termed a misuse of o ...Read More >
Bengaluru, Jul 1 (PTI) Challenging the authority of the government officials to issue content take-down notices under Information Technology Act, social media giant 'X' on Tuesday argued in Karnataka High Court "What if every Tom, Dick and Harry officer sends notices?" The Union government and the court took strong objection to the language. 'X' Corp informed the court that it had recently received a notice from the Ministry of Railways seeking the removal of a video showing a woman driving a car on railway tracks in Hyderabad. Representing the company, Senior Advocate K G Raghavan argued ag ...Read More >
Complainant, Gadhagoni Chakradhar Goud, alleges surveillance used to damage reputation A case has been filed against Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader and former minister Harish Rao at the Panjagutta Police Station in Telangana's Hyderabad in connection with allegations of illegal phone tapping . The complaint, filed by Gadhagoni Chakradhar Goud, a real estate dealer and former political candidate, also names senior police official Radha Kishan Rao in the case. In his written complaint, Goud claims that Harish Rao conspired to tap his phone and monitor his activities without authorisation ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: In a dramatic turn of events, Canadian PM Mark Carney called PM Modi and invited him for the G7 summit that begins eight days from now at Kananaskis in Alberta. Modi accepted the invitation and said he was looking forward to meeting him at the summit.The announcement by Modi on X followed almost a week of suspense over his participation because of a lack of invitation, drawing barbs from the opposition about his possible exclusion from the summit. India is not a member of G7 but Modi has been invited for all summits since 2019. Modi congratulated Carney on his poll win and thanked h ...Read More >