IIT Kanpur: India's new hub for advanced drone technology in modern warfare
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Hindustan Times
a minute ago
- Hindustan Times
Ukraine flags Indian-made parts in drones used by Russian forces
Ukraine has formally raised with the Indian government and the European Union (EU) the issue of electronic components made or assembled by firms in India being found on Iranian-designed drones used by Russian armed forces, people familiar with the matter said. The Shahed, a relatively inexpensive drone, has been used in large numbers by Russia to target Ukraine since late 2022. (REUTERS) The Ukrainian side raised the matter through formal diplomatic correspondence with the external affairs ministry on at least two occasions after these components were found on Shahed 136 unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs) since last year, according to the people cited above and documents reviewed by HT. Ukrainian diplomats brought up the issue with EU sanctions envoy David O'Sullivan when he visited New Delhi in mid-July, the people added on condition of anonymity. O'Sullivan travelled to India last month to brief Indian officials on the EU's latest sanctions package, which listed Vadinar refinery, jointly owned by Russian energy major Rosneft, and included an import ban on refined products made from Russian crude. According to the documents reviewed by HT, an investigation by Ukrainian authorities established that electronic components from Vishay Intertechnology and Aura Semiconductor – either assembled or made in India – were 'used by Russia in the production of the Shahed 136' UCAVs. The documents provided detailed information and images of specific components. A 'bridge rectifier E300359' of Vishay Intertechnology assembled in India was used in the Shahed's voltage regulator unit, while a PLL-based signal generator AU5426A chip made by Aura Semiconductor was used in the jammer-proof antenna for the drone's satellite navigation system, according to the documents. The people said, purely on a technical basis, the firms have not violated any Indian laws. External affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal responded to a query on the matter by saying: 'India's exports of dual-use items are in keeping with its international obligations on non-proliferation, and based on its robust domestic legal and regulatory framework. Due diligence is conducted to ensure that such exports do not violate any of our laws.' There was no official word on the matter from the Ukrainian embassy in New Delhi. However, Ukraine's defence intelligence directorate or HUR has reported about the Indian-origin components found in Shahed drones on its official Facebook page and Telegram channel. Several requests for a comment from Vishay Intertechnology, a US-based manufacturer of chips, optoelectronics and sensors, elicited no reply. Kishore Ganti, co-founder of Aura Semiconductor Pvt Ltd, the Bengaluru-based subsidiary of Ningbo Aura Semiconductor Co, said the firm ensures its products are used lawfully and ethically, and fully complies with all applicable national and international export control laws. 'We are deeply disturbed by the possibility that any of our components may have reached defence manufacturers through unauthorised third-party channels, in violation of our stated compliance framework and distribution agreements. We strongly oppose such activity and are committed to taking action wherever compliance gaps are identified,' Aura Semiconductor said in a statement. Ganti said that on becoming aware of the use of an 'Aura buffer product' in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Aura undertook a limited audit to understand the end-use for the item in question. 'However, the findings of the audit were inconclusive with respect to supply chain/end-user visibility of the Aura buffer product,' Ganti said. The component is a 'plug-and-play' one and can be used without dependence on Aura for any kind of support, 'making it difficult for Aura to trace the end users in this instance', Ganti added. The people cited above said there were instances of electronic components made in India being legally exported to destinations in West Asia, from where they were diverted to Russia or Iran. After Ukraine raised the matter, representatives of Indian security agencies visited manufacturers of electronic components and chips in Delhi, Bengaluru and Mumbai to sensitise them about international restrictions related to dual-use items, the people said. The Shahed, a relatively inexpensive drone, has been used in large numbers by Russia to target Ukraine since late 2022. According to Ukraine's Security Service or SBU, Iran initially supplied 2,000 fully assembled drones to Russia, which later established its own assembly system using Iranian ready-made parts. Data from Ukraine's air force showed Russia launched 6,129 Shahed-type drones in July. Ukraine's defence intelligence directorate has also reported that electronic components from firms in the US and China have been found on Russian drones and other weapons. Ajay Srivastava, founder of the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), said the components may have been diverted by foreign buyers to Iran through third countries. 'India strictly prohibits the export of dual-use items to sanctioned destinations. However, once such goods are exported to legitimate third countries, tracing their end use becomes nearly impossible – a challenge every open economy faces,' he said. These incidents underline the need for India to strengthen exporter awareness, especially in sensitive sectors, Srivastava said. 'Exporters must be better informed about high-risk geographies and flagged entities. But no system, however rigorous, can guarantee full control once goods leave Indian borders,' he added. 'Export compliance must be enforced, but blame must not be misdirected.'
Time of India
23 minutes ago
- Time of India
Airtel's Xtelify launches cloud, AI-led software suite for telcos
New Delhi: Xtelify, the digital arm of Bharti Airtel, on Monday announced the launch of 'Airtel Cloud' along with a new suite of AI-powered software solutions designed for telecom enterprises. This "built-in-India" telco-grade cloud platform will deliver Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and advanced connectivity, ensuring secure migration, seamless scalability, reduced costs, and freedom from vendor lock-in, the company said in a statement. "Tailored to handle 140 crore transactions per minute for Airtel's own use in India, this sovereign cloud platform is now being extended to meet the ever-evolving needs of businesses in India. "Hosted on next-gen sustainable data centres , with Gen-AI based provisioning, and managed by 300 certified cloud experts... Airtel Cloud offers IaaS, PaaS and advanced connectivity..." the statement said. The company claims its cloud service can reduce cloud spending for Indian businesses by up to 40 per cent. The software suite includes four core platforms -- Work, Serve, Data Engine, and Airtel IQ -- delivering capabilities such as business process automation, personalization, real-time customer engagement and task optimisation, and AI-powered analytics and intelligence. Xtelify has already secured three global partnerships for the platform with Singtel, Globe Telecom, and Airtel Africa. Highlighting the scale of Airtel's internal usage, Bharti Airtel Vice Chairman and MD Gopal Vittal stated: "We are processing 2 trillion transactions per day. So, it's the real scale that we have. This is the largest cloud that runs in India. There are 10,000 physical servers, almost 7,600 network and security devices ...". These software solutions, he said, have enabled Airtel to maintain high Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) while achieving the world's lowest technology spend as a percentage of revenue.
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Universal AI University Partners with Cambridge to Offer Fast-Track Undergraduate Degrees for Advanced-Level Students
Universal AI University (UAi), India's first institution focusing on Artificial Intelligence and emerging technologies, is now the only university in the country to partner with the International Education group at Cambridge University Press & Assessment to fast-track undergraduate degree completion for students with Cambridge A and AS Level qualifications. Under this collaboration, eligible students can receive up to 30% academic credit, allowing them to complete their undergraduate programs six months earlier than the standard duration. This initiative reflects UAi's strong commitment to global academic standards, innovation, and expanding access to future-ready education. Universal AI University has rapidly become the center of choice for future-oriented learning. Spread over a completely residential 40-acre green campus at Karjat, near Mumbai, UAi currently accommodates more than 980 students in its schools of AI & Future Technologies, Design, Music, Sound & Cinematics, Management, and Social Sciences & Liberal Arts. It is also the first Indian university to have hired an American Vice Chancellor from MIT, USA, which confirms its global vision. Talking about the collaboration and its applicability to Indian higher education, Tarun Anand, Universal AI University Founder and Chancellor, said, 'At Universal AI University, we believe in developing talent that's ready to drive a future of transformation. Cambridge students are known for their academic seriousness, international outlook, and willingness to adopt the strengths that align with our mission and values. We are delighted to provide them a space within our ecosystem through this pioneering initiative in India. In offering a faster path, we not only acknowledge their intellectual achievement but also move boldly towards aligning Indian higher education with global best practices, creating new avenues for active learners to shine and serve as leaders.' Emphasizing collaboration and how it influences learner journeys, Vinay Sharma, Cambridge's Senior Vice President of International Education, said, "This collaboration is an important milestone towards academic advancement for Cambridge students in India. By granting credit for Cambridge Advanced qualifications, Universal AI University is enabling students to move on from their current achievements into forward-looking degree courses. It reflects the university's proactive attitude and commitment towards providing globally aligned, high-impact education in India's changing academic environment." This collaboration underscores UAi's deep commitment to the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and to creating meaningful academic pathways that combine global credit recognition, AI-driven learning, and sustainability, all while enabling students to stay in India and earn internationally relevant degrees. UAi Postgraduate Class of 2024 has also received remarkable placement figures, with the top international offer reaching INR 31.32 lakhs per annum and the highest domestic offer of INR 24 lakhs per annum, a reflection of its industry-aligned curriculum and strong global connections. For more information about Universal AI University, one of the best University in India, and about the Cambridge credit transfer program, email at info@ Note to readers: This article is part of HT's paid consumer connect initiative and is independently created by the brand. HT assumes no editorial responsibility for the content, including its accuracy, completeness, or any errors or omissions. Readers are advised to verify all information independently. Want to get your story featured as above? click here!
