Business

New Delhi, Feb 19 (IANS) Demand for artificial intelligence (AI), for both consumers and enterprises, is inevitable at population scale, just as seen with mobile data and unified payments interface (UPI), according to Sunil Gupta, Co-founder, CEO and MD, Yotta Data Services.

Yotta Data Services has announced to deploy 20,736 liquid-cooled NVIDIA Blackwell Ultra GPUs, forming one of Asia’s largest AI superclusters. This represents an investment exceeding $2 billion and is expected to go live by August 2026.

Gupta told IANS on the sidelines of the ongoing ‘India AI Impact Summit 2026’ here that India has the talent, ranks high on global AI skill indices, has vast and diverse datasets, multiple languages, and one of the world’s largest digital populations.

“What was missing was large scale GPU infrastructure. By building supply first, we unlocked latent demand. Today, leading Indian models are trained locally, and as inferencing and enterprise adoption increase, compute availability will remain critical,” he emphasised.

Yotta Data Services is empanelled with the government under the India AI Mission, which “procures compute from us on a usage basis and allocates it to startups and institutions such as Sarvam, IIT Bombay and Bhashini”.

Roughly three-fourths of the GPUs deployed under the Mission come from Yotta infrastructure, he informed.

According to him, India’s real gap was never demand but compute power.

“Our philosophy is -- from India, for India, and for the world,” Gupta told IANS, adding that they are enabling Indian startups, hosting global models serving Indian users and serving international customers.

“India will require millions of GPUs in times to come to serve our population scale AI use case. And that is what Yotta is gearing up for,” he noted.

According to the company, access to large-scale Blackwell infrastructure within the country reduces structural dependence on offshore compute and enables Indian model builders and enterprises to scale confidently.

It also allows AI products conceived in India to serve both domestic and international markets from infrastructure located within India—advancing India’s ambition to evolve from a technology consumer to a technology creator.

—IANS

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Mumbai, Feb 19 (IANS) The Indian equity markets traded in green with mild positive bias early on Thursday, extending the steady multi-session recovery seen in the last three days, as the 'India AI Impact Summit 2026' continues in New Delhi with intense discussions around AI.

As of 9.30 am, Sensex added 35 points, or 0.04 per cent, to reach 83,769, and Nifty gained 30 points, or 0.12 per cent to settle at 25,850.

Main broad-cap indices performed in line with the benchmark indices, as the Nifty Midcap 100 added 0.20 per cent, and the Nifty Smallcap 100 gained 0.34 per cent.

Sectoral indices traded mixed with Nifty IT being the major gainer up 1 per cent. Nifty metal gained 0.60 per cent. Nifty private bank was the top loser, down 0.15 per cent.

Immediate support for Nifty is placed at 25,650-25,700 zone, while resistance is anchored at 25,950-26,000 range, market watchers said.

Also, immediate support for Bank Nifty is seen in the 61,250–61,350 range, while 61,750–61,850 continues to act as a major resistance zone, analysts said.

Analysts said that the rally in recent sessions were driven by sustained strength in banking and financials, along with momentum in select energy, metal, and consumer segments.

Robust and consistent DII inflows remain the key stabilising force underpinning the market, helping absorb volatility and support dips. However, near-term sentiment is expected to stay measured, with selective profit booking emerging in high-valuation pockets and lingering uncertainty in the IT sector amid global AI-led disruption concerns, they added.

On account of Lunar New Year, major markets across Asia will continue to remain closed on Thursday. In mainland China, the Shanghai Stock Exchange and the Shenzhen Stock Exchange will remain closed till February 23, while Hong Kong Stock Exchange will remain shut till February 19.

The US markets ended in the green overnight as Nasdaq gained 0.78 per cent. The S&P 500 added 0.56 per cent, and the Dow Jones gained 0.26 per cent.

On February 18, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) net sold equities worth Rs 1,154 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) were net buyers of equities worth Rs 440 crore.

—IANS

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Seoul, Feb 19 (IANS) Science Minister Bae Kyung-hoon shared South Korea's vision and latest policies in the artificial intelligence (AI) industry on Thursday at a global technology conference held in India, the ministry said.

Bae took part in the ‘India AI Impact Summit 2026’, which kicked off on Thursday in New Delhi for a two-day run, sharing visions on utilising AI technology to serve the common values of humanity, according to the Ministry of Science and ICT.

The ministry said the summit served as a venue for countries to share their respective efforts to harness the impact of AI technology and expand the drive across the Global South, reports Yonhap news agency.

The science minister shared South Korea's AI transformation policies and the country's experience in implementing the AI Basic Act, highlighting Seoul's efforts to foster solidarity with the global community.

In January, South Korea formally enacted the AI Basic Act, establishing a regulatory framework against misinformation and other hazardous effects involving the emerging field.

On the margins of the event, Bae held a separate meeting with Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei to discuss cooperation in the AI industry, the ministry added.

Meanwhile, the science ministry on Thursday unveiled its road map to foster South Korea's quantum industry, aiming to become the world's top quantum chip producer by 2035.

The Ministry of Science and ICT said the plan includes fostering 10,000 experts in the field and nurturing 2,000 businesses, with the goal of securing homegrown quantum technologies that can deliver industrial breakthroughs by building advancements in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector.

The government will designate five locations by July to establish what it calls "quantum clusters" that will lead the country's quantum transformation, the ministry added.

"Quantum technology is a formidable innovation that will determine a nation's competitiveness in the post-AI era," Science Minister Bae Kyung-hoon said in a release.

"The government will mobilise all national capabilities across industry, academia, research institutions and the public sector to help South Korea emerge as a global hub for quantum technology and industry through the comprehensive plan and the cluster blueprint," he added.

—IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 18 (IANS) Union Minister for Electronics and IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, on Wednesday announced that India has achieved the Guinness World Records title for the “Most pledges received for an AI responsibility campaign in 24 hours”.

India achieved the Guinness title after collecting 2,50,946 valid pledges during the 24‑hour period (February 16–17, 2026), according to an official statement.

The nationwide ‘AI Responsibility Pledge’ campaign, launched under the IndiaAI Mission in collaboration with Intel India on February 16, invited citizens to commit to "the ethical, inclusive, and responsible use of Artificial Intelligence through the dedicated portal, aipledge.indiaai.gov.in.", the statement from IT Ministry said.

The announcement was made during the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, in the presence of Guinness World Records Adjudicator, who officially verified the achievement.

The initiative encouraged participants to reflect on key principles such as data privacy, accountability, transparency, and combating misinformation through scenario-based questions. Participants who completed the pledge received a digital badge and access to AI learning pathways.

“This is the direction in which the nation must move — towards a future where AI is embraced with responsibility,” Vaishnaw said, crediting Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his vision of engaging youth in the responsible and ethical use of AI.

Vaishnaw said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi inspired the authorities to take this pledge "to use AI as a tool for the good of society — as a technology that improves our lives — and to ensure it is used responsibly."

The record-setting participation — far exceeding the initial target of 5,000 pledges — reflects strong public engagement and growing awareness around responsible AI adoption, the minister said.

The ‘India AI Impact Summit 2026’ brings together the heads of state and government, ministers, global technology leaders, eminent researchers, multilateral institutions and industry stakeholders to deliberate on the role of AI in advancing inclusive growth.

--IANS

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Mumbai, Feb 18 (IANS) The Indian equity benchmarks made considerable gains on Wednesday, even as selling of information technology stocks continued weighing on investor sentiments.

The strength in banking, metal, and FMCG stocks helped counterbalance sharp selling in the IT sector.

At the closing bell, Sensex gained 283 points, or 0.34 per cent to settle at 83,734. Nifty added 93 points, or 0.37 per cent, to close at 25,819.

The broader markets performed in line with benchmark indices, as Nifty Midcap 100 index added 0.50 per cent, while the NSE Smallcap 100 advanced 0.54 per cent. Nifty Next50 surged 0.67 per cent.

All sectoral indices traded in the green except Nifty IT down 1.23 per cent. Nifty FMCG, metal and PSU bank were the top gainers up 1.21 per cent, 1.33 per cent and 1.31 per cent.

Market breadth on the BSE was in the green, with 2,110 stocks advancing against 1,916 declining, while 166 remained unchanged. As many as 94 stocks hit fresh 52-week highs while 82 touched 52-week lows.

Analysts said that persistent DII inflows continued to offer strong structural support, cushioning volatility amid mixed global cues. Overall sentiment remained cautiously constructive, backed by optimism around domestic growth prospects and improving earnings visibility, they added.

Rupee traded slightly weak by Rs 0.02 at 90.66 against the dollar.

Sensex touched the day's low at 83,206 at around 10.40 am and recovered over 585 points to 83,749. The Nifty 50 had regained 183 points to 25,828 in the afternoon session, recovering all morning losses and extending gains for the third consecutive session.

Analysts said that the trend of broader indices indicated rotation rather than broad-based risk appetite, with investors favouring defensives and value pockets over growth-oriented sectors.

Bank Nifty delivered a structurally strong bullish session, opening with a positive bias and maintaining a consistent pattern of higher highs and higher lows. The 61,400 zone acts as a critical support level for potential continuation in the near term, market participants said.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 18 (IANS) Liquor maker Radico Khaitan's Chief Operating Officer Amar Sinha has stepped down from his post due to "personal reasons", joining Allied Blenders & Distillers as its new Managing Director.

Sinha had previously served as Executive Director and CEO of BDA (now Allied Blenders & Distillers Ltd).

"I hereby tender my resignation from the position of Chief Operating Officer of Radico Khaitan Limited due to personal reasons. I would like to be relieved from my responsibilities by 31 March 2026," he said in his resignation letter.

Sinha had joined Radico Khaitan in March 2017 as Chief Operating Officer.

"It has been a privilege to serve in this capacity and contribute to the Company's growth journey," he added.

"I take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Board and my colleagues across the organisation for their support, collaboration, and trust during my tenure," Sinha said.

Last May, Radico Khaitan announced the withdrawal of its newly launched whisky brand ‘Trikal’ after facing severe backlash over the brand’s name and imagery, which many claimed hurt religious sentiments.

In an official statement shared with IANS, the company had said it respects the voices of Indian citizens and, as a responsible organisation, has chosen to discontinue the brand following an internal review.

"'Trikal' was never just a name -- it was intended as a tribute to India’s timeless spirit," the company said, while explaining that the term comes from Sanskrit and refers to the past, present, and future.

The brand’s teal-coloured bottle label featured a minimalist line drawing of a face with closed eyes and a circular mark on the forehead, which critics said resembled Lord Shiva’s third eye.

Radico Khaitan, known for popular labels like 8PM, Magic Moments, and Rampur Indian Single Malt, had positioned ‘Trikal’ as part of its premiumisation strategy, priced between Rs 3,500 and Rs 4,500.

Meanwhile, Radico Khaitan reported a jump in Q3 ‍profit. The company posted a 62 per cent rise in profit to Rs 1.55 ‌billion ($16.9 ‌million) for the quarter ended December 31, up from Rs 954.9 million rupees ‌a year ago. Revenue from operations went up 22 per cent to Rs 54.24 billion.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 18 (IANS) Bengaluru and Delhi‑NCR together account for over 50 per cent of India’s Artificial Intelligence‑related job openings, with Bengaluru alone holding a 25.4 per cent share, a report said on Wednesday.

The report from CBRE South Asia Private Limited said the analysis covered over 64,500 active job listings on Naukri.com as of December 2025 and found Delhi‑NCR at 24.8 per cent and Mumbai at 19.2 per cent, the report said.

Together, these three cities collectively account for nearly 70 per cent of all AI-related job openings in the country, the report said

Engineering (Software & Quality Assurance), Data Science & Analytics, and Customer Success, Service & Operations are the top three domains driving AI hiring, the report said.

This trend reflected AI’s expanding role across core development as well as front-end business functions, the firm said.

"India is not just writing the code for AI but also leading in how it is implemented and serviced for global consumers," it noted.

The surge in AI-related roles is mirrored by record office leasing, with Bengaluru leading 2025 office absorption at 26 per cent and total leasing activity reaching 82.6 million square feet. Further, captured more than one-third of the country's total GCC leasing activity.

Delhi-NCR, unlike hubs focused solely on IT, sees strong AI demand from a mix of consulting, fintech, healthcare, and public-sector initiatives.

"AI has transitioned from a buzzword to a crucial peg in India's broader economic and infrastructure growth story," said Anshuman Magazine, Chairman & CEO – India, South-East Asia, and MEA, CBRE.

"The rising demand of AI professionals is not just a job trend but a fundamental shift in how global enterprises view India — as a hub for end-to-end innovation rather than just service delivery. This evolution is set to redefine the country's economic landscape and its position in the global digital value chain," he added.

—IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 18 (IANS) The India AI Expo Summit 2026 will remain closed to the public on February 19 and will instead continue for an additional day on February 21, Electronics and IT Secretary S Krishnan said on Wednesday.

The decision comes as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the summit on February 19.

Due to the high-level presence and security arrangements for the inaugural session, authorities have decided to keep the expo closed for general visitors on that day.

Krishnan said the event has been extended by one day because of the overwhelming response and enthusiasm from the public.

“The expo will now remain open on Saturday, February 21, allowing more visitors to attend and explore the exhibits,” Krishnan stated.

Krishnan also informed that around 20 heads of state will be present at the inaugural session.

“Among them will be French President Emmanuel Macron -- highlighting the global importance of the summit,” he mentioned.

He said the government does not want to cause any inconvenience to the public due to security restrictions and traffic arrangements on the opening day.

Therefore, it was decided that the expo area would remain closed on February 19 and instead operate for an additional day later in the week.

The India AI Expo Summit has drawn significant attention for showcasing cutting-edge artificial intelligence innovations from across the country and abroad, with strong participation expected from industry leaders, startups and international delegations.

Spread across 10 arenas covering more than 70,000 square metres, it will bring together global technology firms, startups, academia and research institutions, Union Ministries, state governments, and international partners.

The event will also feature 13 country pavilions, showcasing international collaboration in the AI ecosystem.

These include pavilions from Australia, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Serbia, Estonia, Tajikistan, and African countries.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 18 (IANS) Dismissing comparisons between Wikipedia and emerging AI-driven knowledge platforms, Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales on Wednesday said the idea of a so-called ‘Grokepedia’ is unrealistic and there is ‘no competition’ between Wikipedia and such experiments.

Speaking during a session at the India AI Impact Summit here, Wales made it clear that attempts to replicate Wikipedia through artificial intelligence tools misunderstand how the platform works.

He stressed that Wikipedia is built on human collaboration, transparency and verifiable sources, which cannot simply be replaced by automated systems.

Wales also raised concerns about artificial intelligence platforms failing to give proper credit to original sources.

He said that providing attribution is not just a technical issue but an ethical responsibility in the digital age.

“AI systems so far have not performed well when it comes to acknowledging where information comes from,” Wales stated.

At the same time, he acknowledged that the way people access and consume information is rapidly changing.

Wales revealed that Wikipedia has seen an 8 per cent decline in human traffic. He described the drop as “a disaster,” but added that it reflects a broader transformation in online behaviour, where users increasingly rely on AI tools and instant summaries instead of directly visiting websites.

Despite these challenges, Wales said India is especially well positioned to benefit from the rise of artificial intelligence.

He pointed to the country’s strong IT ecosystem and large pool of skilled technology professionals as key advantages in the AI era.

On the issue of jobs and automation, Wales said artificial intelligence will make certain skills more valuable because people will be able to complete tasks faster and more efficiently.

However, he cautioned that the world is currently going through a period of “great flux and great change.” While some professions may decline, he said it is difficult to predict exactly which ones will be most affected.

Wales, an American internet entrepreneur and former financial trader, is best known for co-founding Wikipedia, the world’s largest free online encyclopedia, as well as Fandom, a for-profit wiki hosting service.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 18 (IANS) Around 73 per cent of employers intend to hire freshers during January–June 2026, marking a rise of 3 per cent from the previous half‑year, with a shift toward selection frameworks that prioritise demonstrable skills, a report said on Wednesday.

The report from TeamLease EdTech said retail led sectoral intent at 91 per cent, e‑commerce and technology start‑ups at 90 per cent and manufacturing at 85 per cent.

The report highlighted the most in-demand roles in retail are for dark store assistants and inventory management assistants; in e‑commerce and start‑ups for digital sales associates and junior web developers; and in manufacturing for inventory and logistics coordinators and battery assembly technicians.

“The real divide today is between candidates who can demonstrate applied skills and those who cannot,” said Shantanu Rooj, Founder and CEO, TeamLease Edtech.

Some sectors are demonstrating a spiking momentum - Retail hiring intent has jumped 50 percent points, from 41 per cent in H1CY25 to 91 per cent in H1CY26, Rooj added.

Rooj said the market is undergoing a “structural reset” and urged embedding proof‑of‑work into learning pathways.

Freshers with internships, project portfolios, or hands-on exposure are moving faster into growth tracks, while degree-only applicants face longer search cycles, he said.

Fresher hiring intent in travel has surged from 26 per cent to 77 per cent; and Power and Energy saw a surge from 22 per cent to 72 per cent.

Geographically, Bengaluru topped fresher hiring intent at 84 per cent, driven by Information Technology (81 per cent), e-commerce & technology start-ups (90 per cent).

Engineering & infrastructure sector also showed huge demand for fresh talent led by roles for software testing engineer (54 per cent) and digital marketing executive (48 per cent).

Mumbai was ranked second at 72 per cent powered by retail (91 per cent), FMCG (80 per cent), and healthcare & pharmaceuticals (52 per cent), the report said.

In-demand courses that can enhance fresher employability include Certification in Business Analysis, AI and Machine Learning, Cloud Computing, AI-enabled Digital Marketing, and Project Management, the firm suggested.

—IANS

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