Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has signed a multi-million dollar deal with Sweden-based SKF to deploy a next-generation Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) platform.
The partnership aims to leverage AI across Information Technology (IT) systems and business operations to enhance customer experience and support long-term growth. As part of the agreement, the former will provide end-to-end managed services, including applications, infrastructure, data management, end-user services, security, and connectivity for SKF operations globally.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the ‘SARTHAK-PDS’ (Scheme for Assistance in Ration Transport and Handling-Income with Automation in PDS) umbrella scheme with a central outlay of ₹25,530 crore.
The program will be implemented for 5 years from April 2026 to March 2031, aiming to modernize the food subsidy network and benefit citizens covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA).
The scheme integrates two legacy programs: the ‘Assistance to State Agencies for intra-State movement of foodgrains and Fair Price Shop (FPS) dealers' margin under NFSA’ and the ‘Scheme for Modernization and Reforms through Technology in Public Distribution System (SMART PDS)’. This integration aims to reduce leakages and streamline operations.
Google and UNICEF have announced a 3-year global partnership at the Education World Forum (EWF) 2026 to deploy AI-powered education tools and digital learning resources for students and educators.
The initiative aims to bridge the digital divide and strengthen foundational skills such as reading, comprehension, and numeracy. The project will be implemented in Brazil, India, Kenya, and Pakistan, in collaboration with national governments and local communities.
Indian Railways (IR) has inaugurated a Centre of Excellence (CoE) named “CHIRAG” (Centre for HR Information Systems, Research and Analytics in Governance) at the South Central Railway (SCR) grounds in Secunderabad, Telangana.
The centre is dedicated to human resource management training, research, and digital transformation within IR. It aims to serve as the technological backbone for the Human Resource Management System (HRMS) by providing nationwide certified, role-based training. The project is scheduled for full completion by May 2028.
The Tamil Nadu government has signed an MoU with Larsen & Toubro (L&T) for investments worth ₹18,600 crore.
The agreement covers 3 projects: a Hyperscale and Edge AI Data Centre in Kancheepuram (₹15,000 crore), an Electronics and Electrical Systems Manufacturing Hub in Coimbatore (₹2,500 crore), and an Offshore Wind Infrastructure and Shipyard Expansion in Kattupalli, Tiruvallur (₹1,100 crore).
Google has announced the ‘Google for Education Schoolers (GES)’, a free AI training programme for teachers, at the Education World Forum 2026 in London. Launched in collaboration with the UNICEF, the initiative aims to provide mobile-first AI training to school and higher education teachers on the responsible use of AI tools.
In its initial phase, the programme will be implemented in partnership with the governments of Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Punjab, and the UT of Ladakh. During the first year, the programme will be accessible in 6 Indian languages namely Assamese, Hindi, Marathi, Telugu, Odia, and Punjabi.
The Andhra Pradesh government, in collaboration with the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), has announced the launch of an angel fund through the Ratan Tata Innovation Hub (RTIH) in New Delhi.
The initiative aims to make the state a hub for deep-tech innovation by providing startups with early-stage funding, industry access, ecosystem support, and global scaling opportunities.
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has become the first Global Systems Integrator (GSI) to partner with the France-based Mistral AI, an AI startup.
The collaboration aims to deliver advanced enterprise generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) solutions for clients worldwide. The former will use ‘Mistral Forge’ to develop custom enterprise AI models, allowing clients to integrate their specific data and context for better decision-making.
The Digital India BHASHINI Division (DIBD) has signed an MoU with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) to launch the “BHASHINI Seva/Sanchalan - A BHASHINI Sahayogi Program”.
The initiative aims to enhance multilingual digital capabilities across the industry and internal trade ecosystem in India by leveraging the BHASHINI platform, which serves as the National Language Digital Public Infrastructure of the country.
The Gujarat government has signed an MoU with Meta Platforms Inc to launch a WhatsApp chatbot under the ‘Sugam Digital’ initiative.
The 2-year collaboration aims to enhance e-governance in the state by implementing AI driven public services, accessibility projects, and digital skilling programmes. Through this chatbot, citizens can access around 20 public services from 5 departments in both Gujarati and English.
The Indian Army (IA) has launched ‘Q-FORCE’, an integrated digital application designed to streamline logistics and sustainment management by integrating multiple logistics and inventory platforms across diverse operational terrains.
Additionally, the IA has introduced ‘Kautilya’, an AI-powered command intelligence platform.
Jumpp, operated by the Finvasia Group, has received Corporate Agency and Insurance Self Network Platform (ISNP) licences from the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI).
These licences enable Jumpp to distribute insurance products digitally through its AI-powered platform. The platform has also partnered with YES Bank to provide banking and Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS) services.
Union Minister Rajnath Singh visited Vietnam to operationalise the Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (ECSP). During his visit, he held ministerial-level discussions with the Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam, General Phan Van Giang, and met with the President of Vietnam, To Lam.
He announced that India is committed to establishing an AI laboratory at the Telecommunications University in Nha Trang. Additionally, he visited the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi on the 136th birth anniversary of the leader.
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Dr Jitendra Singh has launched the Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) AI-enabled voice chatbot named “Samadhan Didi” at Kartavya Bhawan in New Delhi.
The chatbot is developed by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) in collaboration with Bhasini. It allows citizens to lodge grievances by speaking in their native language.
PM Narendra Modi has visited Sweden at the invitation of the PM of Sweden, Ulf Kristersson. The visit transitioned the bilateral relations into a formal “Strategic Partnership” and adopted the “Joint Action Plan (2026-2030)”.
Building on a record $7.75 billion bilateral trade volume achieved in 2025, both nations agreed to double their trade over the next 5 years. During his address to the European Round Table for Industry (ERT) in Gothenburg, PM Modi highlighted that India has followed a “12-year trajectory of reforms, performance, and transformation”.
The “India-Sweden Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) and Start-up Platform” was initiated. The leaders also endorsed the “India-Sweden Technology and Artificial Intelligence Corridor (SITAC)”. Additionally, a virtual “India-Sweden Joint Science and Technology Centre (ISJSTC)” was launched to strengthen bilateral scientific cooperation.
In the field of space exploration, Sweden announced its participation in the Venus Orbiter Mission (“Shukrayaan”) of India, with the Swedish Institute of Space Physics supplying the advanced Venusian Neutrals Analyzer to fly aboard the spacecraft of the ISRO. Furthermore, both nations rolled out the “Tagore-Sweden” Lecture Series to deepen academic connections.
The Ministry of Textiles has launched the “Bharat Tex 2026 Event Application” to facilitate AI-driven networking and business matchmaking for the upcoming “Bharat Tex 2026” exhibition. The exhibition is scheduled to be held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
The application features an AI-powered smart assistant designed to provide 24x7 conversational support for event schedules, venue details, directions, and other related queries.
Scientists at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-Central Rice Research Institute (CRRI) in Cuttack, Odisha, led by Kutubuddin Ali Molla, have developed and validated a platform named “Plant-OpenCRISPR1” (POC1).
This represents the first AI-designed genome-editing platform in the world for plants, developed utilizing rice as a model crop. The POC1 platform facilitates advanced gene knockout, base editing, and prime editing in rice crops using AI-designed enzymes, surpassing conventional Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) technologies.
It is to be noted that the research findings have been accepted for publication in the international journal “New Phytologist”.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), under the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT)), has launched an AI-based helpbot named ‘ABHAY’ (AI-Based Helpbot for Authentication of Your Notice).
The initiative aims to authenticate official CBI notices and safeguard citizens against cyber fraud and digital arrest scams.
Google and Blackstone, the world’s largest alternative asset manager, have announced a joint venture (JV) to establish an AI cloud infrastructure company. Blackstone has committed an initial equity investment of $5 billion for the venture. Benjamin Sloss has been appointed as the CEO of the newly formed company.
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma inaugurated India’s first AI-powered ‘phygital’ banking branch of Slice Small Finance Bank (Slice SFB) in Guwahati, Assam. The ‘phygital’ model integrates physical banking infrastructure with digital technologies to provide seamless and efficient financial services.
