Latest news with #AshwiniVaishnav
India.com
14 hours ago
- Business
- India.com
India To Host AI Impact summit 2026, Leading Global Dialogue On Democratising AI
New Delhi: India is set to host the AI Impact Summit in February 2026, reinforcing its commitment to democratising Artificial Intelligence (AI) for the public good, the Parliament was informed on Wednesday. This landmark event aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of making technology accessible to all and leveraging AI to tackle real-world challenges across healthcare, education, agriculture, climate, and governance, Union Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnav told the Lok Sabha. The IndiaAI mission, which prioritises accountability, safety, equity, and the defence of privacy and human rights, is at the core of India's AI strategy. According to the statement, one of the main highlights is the creation of native Large and Small Language Models using Indian datasets. Currently, startups such as Sarvam AI, Soket AI, Gnani AI, and Gan AI are developing foundational models that are suited to the linguistic and cultural diversity of India. According to the statement, these models will be open-source, allowing other startups to create locally tailored applications. According to Minister Vaishnaw, to support scalable innovation, the government is also enhancing AI compute capacity by ensuring GPU infrastructure access and expanding the AIKosh Datasets Platform, which currently hosts over 1,000 datasets and 208 AI models, including Text-to-Speech tools in Indian languages. Additionally, the mission is funding 30 AI-based applications addressing public interest areas like health, climate, and governance. Through its IndiaAI Startups Global Programme, 10 startups are being mentored at Station F and HEC Paris, including PrivaSapien Technologies (privacy-enhancing AI) and Secure Blink (AI cybersecurity). Ensuring safe and trusted AI, India has established the IndiaAI Safety Institute to coordinate efforts on responsible AI. Projects under this initiative include AI bias mitigation, machine unlearning, and watermarking, as per the statement A strong legal framework that addresses AI-related risks like disinformation, deepfakes, and data misuse, such as the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (2023), IT Act (2000), and IT Rules (2021), supports the tech initiatives. A techno-legal approach underpins India's regulation, combining legislation with government-funded R&D on deepfake detection, privacy, and cybersecurity tools, according to the written reply. India's hosting of the 2026 summit further solidifies its position as a global leader in the development of AI that is inclusive, moral, and driven by innovation.
India.com
2 days ago
- Business
- India.com
Work on 8 stations of bullet train project to get complete by..., bullet train will start running from...
Work on 8 stations of bullet train project to get complete by..., bullet train will start running from... The Gujarat part of the bullet train corridor between Vapi and Sabarmati is planned to be completed by December 2027 and the entire project from Maharashtra to Sabarmati section is expected to be completed by December 2029. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav gave this information in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. Vaishnaw said the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) project (508 km) is under construction with technical and financial assistance from Japan. Where will be your stoppages? He said the project will pass through Gujarat, Maharashtra and Dadra & Nagar Haveli and is planned to have stoppages at 12 stations in Mumbai, Thane, Virar, Boisar , Vapi, Bilimora , Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad and Sabarmati. Vaishnav said, 'The Gujarat part of the corridor between Vapi and Sabarmati is planned to be completed by December 2027. The entire project (Maharashtra to Sabarmati section) is expected to be completed by December 2029.' When will work on these 8 stations be complete? According to the Indian Express report, the Vapi to Sabarmati section of the MAHSR corridor is targeted to be completed by December 2027. The Vapi-Sabarmati train section will have 8 stations. These include Vapi, Bilimora , Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad and Sabarmati. The Minister said the total estimated cost of the project is about Rs 1,08,000 crore, out of which Japan International Cooperation Agency is funding 81 per cent i.e. Rs 88,000 crore and the remaining 19 per cent i.e. Rs 20,000 crore will be funded through contribution from the Ministry of Railways (50 per cent) and Governments of Maharashtra (25 per cent) and Gujarat (25 per cent).
Hans India
19-07-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Kazipet RMU inching towards completion, says Kishan Reddy
Hyderabad: Union Minister G Kishan Reddy said that Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav will inspect the long-awaited Kazipet Railway Manufacturing Unit (RMU) located in Warangal on Saturday. Addressing the media on Friday, he said the RMU, which has been a goal for regional stakeholders since the tenure of former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao, is now nearing completion, with over 70% of the construction finished. Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the RMU, which is being constructed under his directives. A sanctioned budget of Rs 521 crore has been allocated, with an additional Rs 200 crore under consideration. The RMU will manufacture train engines, coaches, and wagons, dispelling earlier claims by the previous BRS government that its focus would be solely on cleaning wagons. This project is expected to create both permanent and contract-based employment opportunities, along with ancillary industries such as hospitality, transport, and training centers around the unit. He said Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav is scheduled to visit Kazipet on Saturday at 1:30 PM to personally assess the progress. He said production is expected to commence early next year. Additional infrastructure initiatives include the Center's push to establish a mega textile park in Warangal, making it an industrial counterpart to Hyderabad. Reddy reiterated that while the Central Government is proactive, successive state governments have not matched this enthusiasm, particularly concerning the proposed airport in Warangal, which is still awaiting land acquisition. Former Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia engaged directly with the state, but progress has stalled. The Center has completed half of the Warangal Ring Road, with the remaining portion pending collaboration from the state government. In terms of rail connectivity, efforts have been made to expand the MMTS Phase-2, inaugurated by PM Modi, and construction has begun on a new railway station at Komuravelli, which is set to open by January in honor of Mallanna Swamy. Further modernization of Telangana's rail network includes an allocation of Rs 720 crore for upgrading Secunderabad station, along with developments at Nampally and Kacheguda stations, and a women-managed Begumpet station. Thirty-seven stations are already under development and are expected to be completed by June. In total, 40 stations are planned for transformation, integrating local culture into their design.
The Hindu
17-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Revanth meets Railway Minister, seeks nod to Regional Ring Rail project for Hyderabad
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy urged Union IT and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav for early approvals for the proposed ₹ 8,000 crore Regional Ring Rail project and a dedicated railway line connecting Hyderabad Dry Port to Bandar Port. Accompanied by IT Minister Sridhar Babu and Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy, he met the Union Minister in New Delhi on Thursday and reiterated demand for Kazipet Railway Division and also new railway lines in the backward areas of State with total funding from the Railways. He said the Regional Ring Rail project, which will run parallel to Hyderabad's Regional Ring Road, would enhance rural-urban connectivity, reduce congestion in Hyderabad's main railway stations, and boost employment and economic development. The Chief Minister also appealed for a dedicated railway line connecting Hyderabad Dry Port to Bandar Port, given its potential to streamline exports of pharmaceuticals, electronics, and food processing products from Telangana. The specific projects proposed include: Vikarabad-Krishna (122 km) at an estimated cost of ₹ 2,677 crore, Kalwakurti-Macharla (100 km) at an estimated cost of ₹2,000 crore, Dornakal-Gadwala (296 km) at a cost of ₹ 6,512 crore and Dornakal-Miryalguda (97 km) at a cost of ₹2,184 crore. During the meeting, the Chief Minister sought immediate approvals for semiconductor manufacturing projects and urged the Union Minister to expedite approvals for the Advanced System in Package Technologies (ASIP) project and the Micro LED Display Fab Project Crystal Matrix. Other requests included the establishment of a high-tech electronics manufacturing park at Muchcherla, Rangareddy district, under the EMC 2.0 scheme, and a proposal for an electronics manufacturing park near the RRR to strengthen the electronics ecosystem. MPs Porika Balaram Nayak, Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy, Kunduru Raghuveer Reddy, Ramasahayam Raghuram Reddy, Suresh Shetkar were present along with senior officials.
News18
30-06-2025
- General
- News18
Bullet Train To Pass Through These 7 Rajasthan Districts, 9 Stations On 657-KM Route
Last Updated: Rajasthan Bullet Train: Of the 11 stations planned on the Ahmedabad-Delhi bullet train route, 7 will be in Rajasthan: Udaipur, Dungarpur, Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, Jaipur, and more. The dream of a bullet train in Rajasthan is inching closer to reality, with plans underway to extend the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed corridor all the way to Delhi. The proposed extension will pass through key cities like Udaipur, Ajmer, Jaipur, and Alwar, covering a stretch of approximately 878 km. Meanwhile, construction of the original 508-km Mumbai-Ahmedabad route is progressing rapidly, with 300 km of track work already completed. Once finished, the bullet train is expected to zip across the corridor at speeds of up to 350 km per hour. In February 2025, during the Winter Session of Parliament, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav confirmed in a written reply that a detailed DPR of the Delhi-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor has been prepared. The Railway Ministry is currently examining the feasibility of the report, though the DPR has not been made public. Notably, a high-speed trial track for the bullet train is under construction in Rajasthan, near the Sambhar Lake, one kilometre from Nawa town in Rajasthan's Nagaur district, which falls under the Jodhpur Railway Division. The proposed 878 km high-speed rail corridor between Delhi and Ahmedabad will see 75 percent of its route passing through Rajasthan, covering a distance of 657 km within the state. Bullet Train To Pass Through These Rajasthan Districts The Delhi-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor will traverse 335 villages across seven districts in Rajasthan, including Alwar, Jaipur, Ajmer, Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, Udaipur, and Dungarpur. Eleven stations are planned along this route, seven of which will be in Rajasthan, specifically in Udaipur, Dungarpur (Kherwara), Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, Ajmer, Kishangarh, Jaipur, and Alwar (Behror). Jodhpur, which has long awaited high-speed rail connectivity, will not be part of this bullet train project. The city was excluded from the initial survey and final DPR of the Ahmedabad-Delhi corridor. A 64 km long high-speed test railway track is being constructed in the Jodhpur Railway Division at a cost of Rs 800 crore, where the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train will also run first. Currently, travel from Jodhpur to Mumbai and Delhi takes between 11 to 16 hours. Udaipur Set To Gain The Most Under the Delhi-Ahmedabad bullet train project, nine stations will be constructed in Rajasthan, including Behror, Shahjahanpur, Jaipur, Ajmer, Vijaynagar, Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, Udaipur, and Dungarpur. Udaipur is set to benefit significantly, with a total of 127 km of track being built in the district, passing over five rivers and through eight tunnels. The proposed track will start from Dwarka Sector 21 in Delhi, enter Gurugram at Chauma, and then proceed to the Shahjahanpur border of Alwar via Manesar and Rewari. It will run parallel to National Highway 48, passing through Jaipur, Ajmer, Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, Dungarpur, and finally reaching Ahmedabad. First Published: June 30, 2025, 11:40 IST
