Recent Current Affairs related to AI

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi has launched the tech-driven Smart Warehousing System at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. This system represents the world's largest deployment of AI and Internet of Things (IoT)-based technologies in public-sector storage.

The system is currently operational across 216 grain warehouses managed by the Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC). The Food Corporation of India is scheduled to transition 150 of its warehouses to the smart system by October 2026.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, in the presence of Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, has inaugurated the advanced manufacturing facility of Jabil Inc. at the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) in Ranjangaon, Pune.

The facility aims to create an export-centric ecosystem for manufacturing next-generation hardware for AI data centres.

The World Economic Forum (WEF) has released its “2026 Technology Pioneers” cohort, which features 100 early-stage companies from 23 countries. The USA leads the list with 43 startups, followed by China and the UK.

India is represented by 9 startups in the 2026 cohort (compared to 10 in the 2025 list), bringing the total number of Indian firms in the WEF cohort to 28. The selected companies will contribute to WEF initiatives through a two-year engagement program.

Sarvam AI, an Indian full-stack sovereign AI startup, has become the 130th unicorn of India. The company raised $234 million as part of its $300 million Series B funding round.

With this, the valuation of the company has reached $1.5 billion, making it the only AI startup in India to achieve this valuation.

Bengaluru-based Avataar has launched 'Varya', India’s first indigenous, distilled video AI model, designed to make generative video storytelling accessible and affordable at a population scale. It was launched in partnership with the IndiaAI Mission.

The AI model operates as a text-to-video and image-to-video foundation model, offering enhanced speed and cost efficiencies to the digital ecosystem.

The National e-Governance Division (NeGD), an independent business division under the Digital India Corporation (DIC) of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), has empanelled 6 firms to provide AI and Machine Learning (ML) solutions for central ministries and agencies.

The selected firms are TCS, NEC India, Kyndryl Solutions, Innefu Labs, CoRover.ai, and Cactus Technology Solutions. The empanelment is valid for 2 years, with a provision for an extension of up to 1 year.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has inaugurated a 20 kW Akashvani FM transmitter in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, to upgrade communication capabilities along the India-Pakistan border.

He also announced the establishment of an Advanced Quantum Computing and Quantum Communications Lab and a dedicated AI Lab at the Malaviya National Institute of Technology (MNIT) in Jaipur.

The ICAR-Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research (ICAR-IIOR), Hyderabad, has launched “Oilseeds Kisaan Mitra,” a WhatsApp-based AI advisory service.

The initiative aims to harness digital technology to benefit the farming community. It enables oilseed farmers across India to access free, trusted, and instant crop advisory through WhatsApp.

Meta has partnered with Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) to develop its first large-scale AI-enabled data centre in Jamnagar, Gujarat.

Under the agreement, the former will lease 168 MW of AI-ready data centre capacity from RIL, with operations expected to commence by 2028.

India has joined ‘Project Glasswing’, a global cybersecurity initiative led by Anthropic PBC, gaining access to ‘Claude Mythos AI’, an advanced AI model.

This model is designed to identify software vulnerabilities and strengthen cyber defences for critical infrastructure, helping participating nations enhance their cybersecurity resilience and safeguard their critical digital infrastructure.

Saurabh Vijay, the CEO of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), has assumed additional charge as the CEO of the IndiaAI Mission.

He succeeds Abhishek Singh. Sudeep Shrivastava has assumed charge as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the IndiaAI Mission.

According to the “State of India’s Digital Economy (SIDE) 2026” report released by the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER)-Prosus Centre for Internet and Digital Economy (IPCIDE), India ranks as the world’s 5th most digitalised economy.

In the Connect, Harness, Innovate, Protect and Sustain (CHIPS) index for AI, India is positioned 4th globally, behind USA, China, and Singapore. India also recorded an 8.8% growth in internet users. It is to be noted that India accounts for 19.9% of global AI users and possesses the 2nd largest concentration of AI talent worldwide.

The Digital India BHASHINI Division (DIBD) has launched the ‘VYOMA Innovation Challenge’ to promote the development of open-source, multilingual, and voice-first AI solutions. The initiative is launched in partnership with Current AI and Kalpa Impact.

The challenge focuses on creating AI solutions that can operate in offline and low-connectivity environments. It is structured around ‘Sunno Sutra’, a multilingual, voice-first, open-source handheld AI reference device.

Chandigarh University in Punjab has become the first private university in India to launch an ‘IndiaAI Data Lab’.

The lab has been established in partnership with Intel India to enhance students’ employability by providing industry-relevant skills in AI, Data Science, and emerging technologies.

The Indian Army has successfully completed operational trials of the Divyastra Mk-1 in Jodhpur, Rajasthan.

The Divyastra Mk-1 is an advanced indigenous AI powered tactical loitering munition system developed by Hoverit. It is designed to strengthen Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities along the border regions of India.

Microsoft has unveiled “Majorana 2”, its second-generation topological quantum computing chip developed using its agentic AI platform, “Microsoft Discovery”.

The prototype features 12 topological qubits as a model for scalable systems, with the company aiming to develop commercially viable quantum systems by 2029. Additionally, Microsoft has introduced “Scout”, an AI-powered Microsoft 365 assistant designed to autonomously manage schedules, emails, and meetings.

Hindustan Unilever Ltd has inaugurated the Unilever Fragrance Hub (UFH) at the IIT Bombay. This is the third such global facility for the company, after the ones in the UK and the USA.

The Digital India BHASHINI Division (DIBD) has signed an MoU with the Centre for Digital Public Infrastructure & Artificial Intelligence (DPI-AI) at Kathmandu University, Nepal.

The partnership aims to advance Language AI, multilingual digital public infrastructure, and inclusive digital ecosystems in both India and Nepal.

The National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS) has signed three MoUs to modernise Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) through digital innovation and structural enhancements.

Under the first agreement, the EdTech firm CoGrad will provide 499 EMRSs with two years of free access to its “Medha AI” platform. NESTS has also renewed its corporate philanthropy partnership with the Learning Links Foundation (Amazon) for another two years. Additionally, a governance MoU signed with the Bihar Mahadalit Vikas Mission has standardised EMRS funding at ₹1.47 lakh per student.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has signed three contracts with the IIT Bombay to indigenously develop AI-driven predictive maintenance technologies.

This initiative includes the development of a digital diagnostic health index for the Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter aircraft fleet. The Su-30MKI is a twin-engine, multi-role fighter aircraft developed by Sukhoi, Russia, and customised for India by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL).