Nation

New Delhi: The AI Impact Summit 2026, held at Bharat Mandapam in the national capital, witnessed the presence of Google CEO Sundar Pichai, who was seen enjoying a cup of Indian GI Coffee. The moment was captured and shared by Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal on social media. During the summit, Pichai visited the India GI Coffee Lounge, part of the newly launched ‘India GI’ initiative, a national program promoting India’s Geographical Indication (GI) products. These products are recognized for their unique regional heritage and craftsmanship. Sharing the video on X (formerly Twitter), Minister Goyal wrote, “When Sundar Pichai takes a sip, you realize it’s truly worth it! The world is raising a cup to Indian GI Coffee at the AI Impact Summit 2026.” The event is bei...

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court will hear the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) petition against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and others in the National Herald money laundering case on 9 March 2026. Hearing Date Fixed on ED PetitionOn Thursday, the High Court granted the Gandhi family and other respondents time to file their replies and listed the ED’s petition for hearing on 9 March. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta objected to granting additional time, noting that notices were issued two months ago. Notice Previously Issued by High CourtOn 22 December 2025, the High Court had issued notices to the Gandhi family and others regarding both the main petition and the ED’s plea seeking a stay on the trial court’s 16 December order. The ED has challenged the lower court’s refusal to take cogniz...

New Delhi, February 19, 2026: As discussions at the AI Impact Summit intensify, debates over Artificial Intelligence (AI) often focus on whether machines could surpass humans. While AI demonstrates remarkable capabilities, experts caution that its intelligence is limited compared to human cognition. What Is Intelligence? Large Language Models (LLMs) and generative systems can write essays, translate languages, create code, diagnose diseases, compose music, and even mimic voices. Machines can outperform humans in specific tasks, but whether AI truly matches human intelligence depends on how we define intelligence itself. The Limits of Traditional Measures Comparisons between AI and humans often rely on outdated notions, equating intelligence with performance on tests or specific...

New Delhi, February 19, 2026: The Supreme Court expressed strong concern over the proliferation of free schemes in India, warning that such policies could undermine economic growth and create a culture of dependency. During Thursday’s hearing, a bench led by Chief Justice Suryakant questioned the logic of providing free electricity, food, and other benefits without distinguishing between those who can pay and those who cannot. Bench Criticizes Blanket Freebies The matter came up during a petition filed by Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (TNPDC), which proposed supplying free electricity to all consumers, regardless of financial capacity. The bench, comprising CJI Suryakant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice Vipul M. Pancholi, raised concerns about the financial p...

New Delhi, February 19, 2026: The Supreme Court has expressed strong reservations over government schemes providing free facilities, warning that such policies could hinder the country’s economic growth. During a hearing on Thursday, the Court criticized blanket free distribution of electricity, food, and bicycles, asking, “If everything is provided for free, who will work?” The matter arose when Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (TNPDC) proposed providing free electricity to all consumers, without differentiating between those who can pay and those who cannot. A bench comprising Chief Justice Suryakant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice Vipul M. Pancholi highlighted that while most states face revenue deficits, they continue offering such free benefits, neglecting de...

New Delhi, February 19, 2026: Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented India’s new “MANAV Vision” for Artificial Intelligence at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, outlining a human-centric blueprint for managing AI in the coming decades. Addressing global policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, and civil society representatives, PM Modi explained that “MANAV” stands for “human” and represents ethical, accountable, and inclusive AI governance. Decoding MANAV M – Moral and Ethical Systems: AI should operate on ethical guidance. A – Accountable Governance: Transparent rules and robust oversight are essential. N – National Sovereignty: Data ownership and digital self-determination must be ensured. A – Accessible and Inclusive Systems: AI should be multipolar, avoiding monopol...

Following the terror attack in the Baisaran Valley, Pahalgam on April 22 last year, militants in Jammu and Kashmir have changed their operational patterns. They are increasingly targeting high-altitude, snow-covered areas, which are harder for security forces to access and frequently visited by tourists. CRPF Adopts New Strategy In response, the Jammu and Kashmir Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have revised their deployment strategy. The CRPF is now establishing Temporary Operating Bases (TOBs) on snow-covered mountain peaks to maintain a permanent security presence. According to CRPF sources, 43 high-altitude TOBs—at around 6,000 feet and above—have been set up across the region since last year’s Baisaran attack, with 17 in Jammu and 26 in Kashmir. The first TOB wa...

A technical glitch at major airports in Delhi and Mumbai caused significant disruption for passengers on Thursday, affecting multiple flights and creating long queues at check-in counters. What Happened The issue originated from a server malfunction in the Navitaire system, which airlines use for booking, check-in, and boarding operations. This sudden failure left hundreds of passengers stranded and caused operational delays across terminals. At Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in Delhi, the glitch was reported around 6:45 AM. Technical teams managed to restore the system by 7:30 AM, but during the outage, airline staff had to manually update passenger information, resulting in long lines and delayed flights during the morning rush. Similarly, at Chhatrapati Shivaji M...