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Time of India
11-08-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Alabuga Shahed project: How Russia took over Iran's deadliest drone and is now building thousands for less
Russia has built a drone plant that Tehran might once have considered its own project. Now, Iran is on the sidelines, as reported by CNN. 'Finally, something no one else has,' a Russian journalist boasted during a state television documentary on the country's biggest drone factory. 'Such mass production of two-stroke engines doesn't exist anywhere else in Russia.' The factory, located in Alabuga, some 600 miles east of Moscow in Tatarstan, has become the backbone of Russia's Shahed-136 programme. Known in Russia as the Geran, the one-way attack drone has been a constant presence over Ukrainian skies since late 2022. Productivity Tool Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide By Metla Sudha Sekhar View Program Finance Introduction to Technical Analysis & Candlestick Theory By Dinesh Nagpal View Program Finance Financial Literacy i e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By CA Rahul Gupta View Program Digital Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Neil Patel By Neil Patel View Program Finance Technical Analysis Demystified- A Complete Guide to Trading By Kunal Patel View Program Productivity Tool Excel Essentials to Expert: Your Complete Guide By Study at home View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program 'This is a complete facility,' CEO Timur Shagivaleev declared in the same broadcast, as reported by CNN. 'Aluminium bars come in, engines are made from them; microelectronics are made from electric chips; fuselages are made from carbon fibre and fibreglass this is a complete location.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Could Be the Best Time to Trade Gold in 5 Years IC Markets Learn More Undo According to Western intelligence estimates, about 90 per cent of the Shahed's production stages now happen in Alabuga or other Russian sites. Scaling up and shutting out Recent satellite images show the site continuing to grow, new workshops, new dormitories, and room for yet more assembly lines. Analysts told CNN that this capacity could allow Russia not only to maintain its war effort but even export an improved, battle-tested Shahed back to Iran. Live Events But those same sources say Moscow's growing independence has left Tehran out of the loop. A Western intelligence official described it as a 'gradual loss of control for Iran over the final product', adding that Russia's goal is 'to fully master the production cycle and free itself from future negotiations with Tehran'. A transactional partnership Tensions became visible during June's 12-day Israeli bombing campaign against Iranian nuclear and military sites. For a government that had helped arm Russia's war supplying not just drones but missiles and technical expertise Iran expected more than statements of condemnation. 'Iran may have expected Russia to do more or take more steps without being required to do so,' said Ali Akbar Dareini, an analyst at Tehran's Centre for Strategic Studies. He suggested that Moscow could have increased 'operative support, in terms of weapons shipments, technological support, intelligence sharing, or things like that.' The Western official put it bluntly: 'This explicit disengagement demonstrates that Russia never intervenes beyond its immediate interests, even when a partner, here an essential supplier of drones, is attacked.' From imports to mass production When Russia first began importing Shaheds in 2022, each one cost roughly $200,000, according to Ukraine's Defence Intelligence. By 2025, after localising almost all production, that price had fallen to about $70,000. The same source said the Alabuga plant now produces around 5,500 drones each month — far more than the original target of 6,000 over two years. Russia hasn't just replicated the original Iranian model. Ukrainian officials say the latest versions have stronger communications links, bigger warheads, longer-lasting batteries, and radar-absorbing paint. In some cases, they have been deployed in swarms of hundreds at a time. Dareini describes the Moscow–Tehran relationship as 'both cooperation and competition', adding, 'It's obvious that Russians want more, to get more and give less, and this applies to Iran as well. Iran has provided Russia with drones and technology and the factory, and it has not been for free.' Money, gold, and broken promises According to Western officials, Iran's frustration is compounded by unpaid bills and delays in promised technology transfers. One Iranian partner, Sahara Thunder, has reportedly complained that Moscow has failed to meet its commitments, partly because of the sanctions strangling Russia's economy. A report from the Centre for Advanced Defence Studies in May 2025 claimed that Russia had paid at least $104 million in gold bars to Iran under its drone-building contracts. But speculation that Tehran would also receive Su-35 fighter jets, S-400 air defence systems, or other major hardware has so far led nowhere. Some analysts believe Moscow might send upgraded Shaheds back to Iran, especially since Israeli strikes destroyed parts of its drone production network. David Albright, former UN weapons inspector and now head of the Institute for Science and International Security, warned that such cooperation would be 'very dangerous'. 'Some of [Iran's] drone production facilities were bombed and they fired a lot of [drones], so as a way to build back stock, they may do that,' Albright said. 'And then Iran could reverse engineer or receive the technology to make the better quality Shahed.' Flights between Moscow and Tehran continue, with at least one Ilyushin Il-76 military cargo plane visiting in July. Iranian media claimed it carried parts for an S-400 air defence system, though that remains unconfirmed. A strained but enduring alliance Despite the frictions, Dareini still sees long-term benefits for Tehran. 'Iran has got, and very likely will get the things it needs for its own security,' he said. 'Whether it's military hardware, whether it's in terms of economic cooperation, technology and whatever it needs.' For now, the Alabuga plant stands as a symbol of Russia's determination to take foreign designs, make them its own, and produce them at scale even if it leaves the original partner out in the cold.
Time of India
22-07-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Need India AI risk framework, says academic Amlan Mohanty
As new AI tools flood the market, experts are calling for stronger self-regulation to ensure safe and responsible use, supported by risk frameworks, government backing, and industry Mohanty, an associate research fellow at the Centre for Responsible AI (CeRAI), IIT Madras, emphasised that a risk-based classification system is needed. This will determine which AI systems are 'low risk' and 'high risk,' he also a non-resident fellow at Carnegie India and Niti Aayog who previously led public policy for Google in India, added that collecting real-world data on AI-related incidents in India is crucial for developing these his recent paper, 'Making AI Self-Regulation Work – Perspectives from India on Voluntary AI Risk Mitigation', Mohanty outlined a practical policy roadmap for India, arguing that voluntary or self-regulation frameworks can help manage AI risks without stifling innovation.'My suggestion would be to introduce baseline protections for all types of AI applications, while high-risk applications should be subject to additional rules,' he told ET. If an AI application causes harm or injury to an individual's life or livelihood, it should be considered high-risk, the research explained.B Ravindran, head, Wadhwani School of Data Science, said it is important to govern AI risks throughout their life cycles.'Organisations involved in AI development should proactively embrace voluntary self-regulations to lead the AI adoption in India in a safe, ethical, and responsible manner mitigating adverse impacts on humans,' he the government has not formally proposed voluntary AI risk commitments, a draft report prepared by a committee set up by the principal scientific advisor and convened by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), 'AI for India-Specific Regulatory Framework,' suggests that voluntary commitments could play a key role in the early phase of AI of the key arguments in the paper is that India needs its own definition of AI-based risk classifications that are influenced by local, social and cultural factors.'Do Indians worry about AI-based surveillance the same way Europeans do? Probably not. That's why one cannot simply transpose the risk classification from the EU's AI Act to Indian law. We need to collect real-world data from local communities,' Mohanty research stressed that reporting AI-related incidents will help identify the reasons behind harms caused and assess the nature of impact, whether physical, emotional, financial, or otherwise. This evidence-led approach will be key to designing a contextual and effective AI risk classification recommend a mix of financial, technical, and regulatory incentives to encourage the adoption of voluntary AI commitments For example, companies seeking grants under the India AI Mission could be required to adopt specific AI commitments as a condition for support. Leveraging the proposed AI Safety Institute in India to shape industry behaviour, develop benchmarks, and promote the use of AI safety tools is also seen as critical. Establishing a Technical Advisory Council could provide valuable expertise to government agencies, facilitate risk assessments, and support compliance efforts, experts India's approach to AI regulation is pro-innovation, each country tailors its strategy to its own priorities. The US uses a decentralized, sector-specific approach; China emphasizes centralized information and content controls. The EU has put in place the AI Act, which imposes risk-based legal obligations.
The Hindu
17-07-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Mask compulsory in Mannarkkad taluk
Wearing masks has been made compulsory in Mannarkkad taluk in the district following detection of three back to back Nipah cases in the taluk. District Collector G. Priyanka also permitted work-from-home facility for government employees coming from containment zones. Ms. Priyanka said that giving leave to those who could not work from home was under consideration. She said online classes would be arranged for students of schools and colleges in containment zones. Students from containment zones studying in schools and colleges elsewhere will have to attend online classes. Minister for Health Veena George said on Thursday that 674 persons were under observation across the State. She said 426 of them were in Palakkad, 131 in Malappuram, 115 in Kozhikode, and one each in Ernakulam and Thrissur districts. As many as 12 persons in quarantine are under treatment in Malappuram while 17 persons are being treated in quarantine in Palakkad. The Minister said 32 persons among those under observation were in highest risk group and 111 in high risk group. Ms. George has directed documenting of all activities of the One Health Centre for Nipah Research at Kozhikode. A team of experts from Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) visited Malappuram on Thursday.
Hindustan Times
18-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
Reimagining education with AI
As Artificial Intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly embedded in daily lives and interactions, its influence on learning and teaching is no longer a distant possibility but a present reality. Yet, the true potential of AI in education will only be realised if its adoption is inclusive, responsible, and deeply rooted in the human and contextual needs of learners, especially within India's diverse and complex education landscape. India stands at a pivotal moment: an opportunity not just to adopt AI tools, but to build our own and shape their use, purpose, and guiding values. As we design the next generation of technology-enabled, equitable education systems, it is vital to discuss what AI can and cannot do in learning and teaching contexts. To dispel common myths and highlight AI's real promise, we examine five misconceptions based on research and insights from India's classrooms. This is one of the most common and limiting misconceptions. While it's true that many AI-powered tools are packaged as premium apps, the reality is that AI has already permeated daily life across income levels in India. According to the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2024, 82% of children in rural India aged 14-16 know how to use smartphones, and many are already engaging with AI, knowingly or unknowingly--through voice assistants, chatbots, video recommendations, and translation tools. What's missing is not access, but guided, meaningful, and critical engagement. Estimations by the Centre for Responsible AI (CeRAI) at IIT, Madras and the Central Square Foundation show that early exposure to generative AI can be made accessible using low-cost, commercially available tools powered by non-sovereign models. Such exposure, designed for approximately 45 minutes of use per week, including 10 minutes of chatbot interaction and two image generations per day, can be delivered at a cost as low as ₹100– ₹110 per student per year, when scaled to reach 10 million students. But to make this transformation truly sustainable and avoid dependency on proprietary systems, India must invest in public digital infrastructure for AI in education. Alternatively, a sovereign, indigenous 14-billion parameter AI-powered personalised learning model for K–8 grades can be operated and maintained at a cost of approximately ₹25– ₹30 per student per year (with upfront investments amortised over five years), assuming one hour of use per day. An investment of ₹13–14 crore could potentially scale this model to serve three million K–8 students, with further potential to expand to a larger population. This demonstrates that guided AI tools are both feasible and scalable. These infrastructure investments lay the foundation for building safe, inclusive, and context-aware AI tools for classrooms. With the appropriate guardrails in place, AI in education holds immense promise to reshape education as we know it. This myth overlooks the pace and potential of AI's evolving role in education. Purpose-built AI is steadily emerging as a long-term enabler of more effective, equitable, and responsive learning systems. When thoughtfully integrated, AI can personalise learning, provide real-time feedback to students, and generate insights that help educators better understand and support each learner's progress. It enables differentiated instruction, particularly valuable in classrooms with varied learning levels, a common challenge in India's public education system. The long-term impact of AI is already visible in classrooms around the world, signalling a fundamental shift in how we learn, teach, and innovate. Myth 3: AI might replace the role of teachers.A common concern is that AI may replace teachers. In reality, AI is a supportive tool that enhances teaching by automating routine tasks like grading and administration, optimising teachers' time to engage more meaningfully with students. AI also complements instruction through personalised tutoring and tailored support, with teachers remaining essential as guides and mentors to learners. Rather than diminishing their role, AI empowers educators to be more effective and focused on each student's learning. The future of education will be shaped by how AI complements and supports teachers, amplifying their impact and helping every child learn more effectively. AI literacy goes beyond technical skills to include conceptual understanding, critical thinking, and ethical awareness needed to navigate an AI-driven world. As AI integrates into education, health, and social media, understanding and questioning AI outputs becomes as fundamental as reading or arithmetic. Therefore, AI literacy must extend beyond STEM classrooms to reach teachers, students, policymakers, and communities. It is a foundational requirement for AI adoption and future skill development. Viewed through the lens of AI competency, a three-tiered model is useful: AI Samarth, a first-of-its-kind large-scale AI literacy initiative launched by CSF and IIT Madras, recognises the urgent need to build foundational AI awareness and promote responsible use. AI Samarth aims to cultivate a generation of informed, responsible and empowered users. Children in rural and low-income communities are already engaging with AI via smartphones and learning platforms, often without fully understanding how these tools work or their reliability. AI literacy is essential for these groups, as accessible AI offers scalable, personalised solutions to challenges in under-resourced settings. Yet, without adequate awareness, risks like privacy concerns, misinformation, and misuse increase. Without critical understanding, students may accept AI outputs uncritically, potentially worsening inequities. AI Samarth addresses this by providing contextual content for students, parents, and teachers in underserved communities in local languages, ensuring safe, informed, and purposeful AI engagement. Similarly, rural women working as data workers at Karya for AI systems--earn an hourly wage of about $5, nearly 20 times the Indian minimum--demonstrate how lower-income communities are not just passive recipients of AI but active and aware contributors to the global AI economy. Their participation underscores the importance of AI literacy, empowering individuals to engage safely and meaningfully with AI technologies while benefiting economically. India's National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 calls for AI fluency, digital skills, and computational thinking across school curricula. Realising this vision requires coordinated action from policymakers, educators, technologists, and civil society. The goal is not just adopting new tools but shaping technology to uphold fairness, inclusion, safety, and transparency. Critical questions about who designs the AI, whose data is used, and who benefits must guide this effort to ensure education becomes more equitable. As initiatives scale, focus should be on building strong public infrastructure, fostering local innovation, and delivering AI literacy so every learner can thrive in an AI-driven world. AI is not a silver bullet, but with the right intent, investment, and safeguards, it can be a powerful force to reimagine India's education system as equitable, future-ready, and learner-centred. This article is authored by B. Ravindran, head, Wadhwani School of Data Science & AI (WSAI), Indian Institute of Technology, Madras and Gouri Gupta, project director, Central Square Foundation.
Time of India
31-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
IIT Mandi launches AI & Data Science program for all - Know fees, how to register & more
IIT Mandi has launched a new AI and Data Science program for all, even beginners. This specially designed 9-month course provides both foundational and advanced knowledge in AI and Data Science, offering learners a great opportunity to build a career in one of today's most in-demand fields. Interested students can apply at the official website - Let's take a closer look at the IIT Mandi AI and Data Science program, including the registration process, fee structure, syllabus, and more. A Beginner-Friendly Course Designed by Experts at IIT Mandi This AI and Data Science program by the Centre for Continuing Education (CCE), IIT Mandi, is a 15-credit course that is ideal for beginners who have basic knowledge of maths and programming. You don't need to be an expert to apply. What makes this course unique: Created by top IIT Mandi professors Hands-on training in real-world AI and Data Science tools Covers both basic and advanced topics Open to students and professionals from any background Course Duration and Structure Total Duration: 9 Months Trimester Format: 3 trimesters Study Time: Around 10 hours per week Trimester Breaks: Two breaks of 2 weeks each Course Credits: 15 credits (equivalent to a minor degree) Limited Seats Available – Apply Now! Batch Start Date: 3rd June 2025 Seats Remaining: 164 only Make sure to apply early to grab your seat! Simple Admission Process in 3 Easy Steps To join this AI and Data Science program at IIT Mandi, just follow these steps: Clear the Qualifier Test Take the online entrance test at your allotted time. Duration: 60 minutes Topics: Mathematics, Statistics, and Problem-Solving Ability Test is available only once and must be taken on a desktop/laptop using Google Chrome. Complete the Onboarding Shortlisted candidates go through a brief onboarding process. Start Learning Begin your classes and learn from India's top educators at IIT Mandi. How to Register? Visit - Pay Rs 99 to book your test slot. Access a free mock test to practise before the real one. 100% refundable if you don't qualify or decide not to join after counselling. What You'll Learn in This AI and Data Science Program This course covers a wide range of topics from basic concepts to advanced applications: Trimester 1: Mathematics for Data Science Linear Algebra Calculus Probability & Statistics Optimisation Techniques Eigenvectors & Orthogonality Bayes' Theorem and more Trimester 2: Data Science and Machine Learning Supervised & Unsupervised Learning Ensemble Methods Model Evaluation Bias-Variance Trade-off Hyperparameter Tuning Trimester 3: Deep Learning & AI Applications Neural Networks (CNNs, RNNs, Transformers) Generative Models (GANs, VAEs) NLP and Reinforcement Learning Computer Vision Ethics in AI Skills You Will Gain By the end of this AI and Data Science course by IIT Mandi, you will gain: Programming skills Data analysis & visualisation techniques Big data handling Machine Learning & Deep Learning knowledge Real-world problem-solving using AI Who Should Join? This IIT Mandi AI and Data Science program is suitable for: Students looking to enhance their profile while studying Working professionals planning a career switch to AI or Data Science Tech enthusiasts who want to stay ahead in the industry Entrepreneurs and innovators seeking AI-powered solutions Career Opportunities After This Course After completing the program, you can pursue exciting roles like: Data Scientist AI Engineer ML Engineer Software Developer Quantitative Analyst Tech Entrepreneur Why Choose the AI and Data Science Program at IIT Mandi? Top-Notch Faculty from IIT Mandi Comprehensive Curriculum from basics to advanced AI topics Capstone Projects to solve real-life problems Official IIT Mandi Certificate to boost your resume Job-ready skills for high-demand AI and DS careers Fee Structure You can choose between upfront payment or easy EMIs through NBFC partners. The AI and Data Science program by IIT Mandi is your gateway to the booming tech world. With expert guidance, hands-on learning, and a flexible structure, this course can give your career the right boost. If you have a passion for technology and are eager to grow in the field of AI and Data Science, don't miss this opportunity.
