https://www.facebook.com/112325148421604/

Digital InfyByte, Chennai (2025)

19/09/2025

The government has named eight organisations, including IIT Bombay, Tech Mahindra, and Fractal Analytics, to build foundational large language models (LLMs) under the IndiaAI Mission. IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the names during the AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi on September 18.

The most ambitious of these projects is being led by IIT Bombay through its BharatGen consortium. The institute has been tasked with developing an LLM that will have one trillion parameters, a scale that places it among the largest AI models currently being attempted anywhere in the world. To support this effort, the IndiaAI Mission has approved financial assistance worth Rs 988.6 crore.

The full list of entities announced includes Avataar AI, IIT Bombay Consortium – BharatGen, Fractal Analytics Limited, Tech Mahindra Ltd., Zeinteiq Aitech Innovations, Genloop Intelligence Pvt Ltd., NeuroDX (Intellihealth), and Shodh AI. Each of these organisations will play a role in building foundational LLMs aimed at different applications.

This latest move builds on earlier rounds of selection under the Mission. In May 2025, three startups — SoketAI, Gnani.ai, and Gan AI — were selected to develop India’s first homegrown foundational models. A month before that, four other startups, including Sarvam AI, were identified to focus on specialised AI systems.

Looking ahead, the government also plans to unveil an AI framework in the coming days. The framework is being prepared jointly by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser. It is expected to provide clear guidelines on how AI systems should be built and deployed responsibly in the country.

19/09/2025

The Finance Ministry on Thursday asked government employees to opt for shifting to the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) well before the September 30 deadline to ensure the timely processing of their requests. From April 1, 2025, the government has introduced UPS as an option under the National Pension System (NPS) for central government employees. UPS will provide assured payouts to the employees.

In a statement, the Ministry said the last date for eligible employees and past retirees under NPS to opt for UPS is September 30, 2025.

"All eligible employees are urged to exercise their option well before the deadline to avoid any last-minute difficulties and to ensure the timely processing of their requests. Employees who choose to remain in NPS cannot opt for UPS after this date," the ministry said.

Around 31,555 central government employees had opted for the UPS till July 20, and the last date to enrol under the scheme is September 30.

Also, the Finance Ministry, on August 25, introduced a one-time one-way switch facility from the newly introduced UPS to the NPS.

The Finance Ministry said it has been decided that a one-time, one-way switch facility from UPS to NPS will be made available to all Central Government employees who have opted for UPS.

The government has extended the benefit of 'Retirement gratuity and Death gratuity' under UPS.

Further, the government employees who opt for UPS under NPS will also be eligible for the option to avail benefits under the CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021, or the CCS (Extraordinary Pension) Rules, 2023, in the event of death of the government servant during service or his discharge on the ground of invalidation or disablement.

The government has also extended tax benefits to UPS as are available to NPS under the Income Tax Act, 1961. PTI JD MR

19/09/2025

Nvidia, the world’s most valuable chipmaker, announced on Thursday that it will invest $5 billion in Intel and partner with the struggling semiconductor giant. The two companies will jointly work on custom data centers powering artificial intelligence infrastructure as well as next-generation PC products, Nvidia said in a statement.

Calling it a historic step, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang declared: “This historic collaboration tightly couples NVIDIA’s AI and accelerated computing stack with Intel’s CPUs and the vast x86 ecosystem - a fusion of two world-class platforms. Together, we will expand our ecosystems and lay the foundation for the next era of computing.”

The deal arrives at a critical time for Intel, which was once the undisputed leader of the PC era. After missing the shift to mobile devices in the late 2000s, Intel fell further behind during the AI wave that propelled Nvidia to the top, foreign media reported.

Intel reported nearly $19 billion in losses last year and another $3.7 billion loss in the first half of this year. The company has already announced plans to cut 25 per cent of its workforce by the end of 2025.

The US government recently stepped in with a 10 per cent equity stake in Intel, aiming to shore up domestic manufacturing and secure American leadership in critical technologies.

Under the agreement, Intel will design custom chips for Nvidia’s AI data center platforms, while in the PC market, Intel will build processors that integrate Nvidia’s technologies. The companies said their goal is to “seamlessly connect” their architectures, combining Intel’s CPUs with Nvidia’s GPUs.

19/09/2025

Union Minister for Labour & Employment and Youth Affairs & Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday announced a series of reforms in the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) aimed at providing efficient, transparent, and user-friendly services to its members.

The Minister said the focus of these reforms is to ensure that all key EPFO services are accessible through a single login, thereby enhancing ease of living for members. “These initiatives will reduce grievances, improve transparency, and enhance member satisfaction,” Dr. Mandaviya stated.

EPFO has introduced a new feature called Passbook Lite within its member portal, enabling members to easily view a summarised version of their contributions, withdrawals, and balance without visiting a separate passbook portal. For detailed insights, including graphical displays, the existing passbook portal will continue to be available. Officials said the integration is expected to improve user experience while reducing the load on the existing portal.

In another reform, members can now directly download Annexure K, the transfer certificate generated during PF account transfers, from the member portal. Earlier, this document was exchanged only between PF offices and made available to members on request. The facility will allow employees to track transfer applications online, confirm that balances and service periods are correctly updated, and maintain a permanent digital record for future reference.

To further improve efficiency, EPFO has rationalised its approval hierarchy for services . Approvals that were earlier concentrated at higher levels have now been delegated to Assistant P.F. Commissioners and subordinate officers in a structured manner. This change is expected to accelerate claim processing, simplify workflows, and improve accountability at field offices.

18/09/2025

Seven natural heritage sites from across India have been included in UNESCO’s Tentative List of World Heritage Sites, increasing the country’s count on this list from 62 to 69 properties.

With this inclusion, India now has a total of 69 sites under consideration by UNESCO, comprising 49 cultural, 17 natural, and 3 mixed heritage properties.

”India continues to make significant strides in safeguarding and showcasing its rich natural and cultural heritage on the global stage. This accomplishment reaffirms India’s unwavering commitment to preserving and promoting its extraordinary natural and cultural legacy,” the Ministry of Culture said on Thursday.

As per UNESCO’s protocol, inclusion in the Tentative List is a prerequisite for any site to be nominated for the prestigious World Heritage List.

The newly listed sites include the Deccan Traps at Panchgani and Mahabaleshwar in Maharashtra, the geological heritage of St Mary’s Island in Karnataka, Meghalayan Age caves, Naga Hill Ophiolite in Nagaland, Erra Matti Dibbalu in Andhra Pradesh, the natural heritage of Tirumala Hills in Andhra Pradesh, and the Varkala Cliffs in Kerala.

Inclusion in the tentative list is a prerequisite for nomination to the prestigious World Heritage List.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the nodal agency for the World Heritage Convention in India, compiled and submitted the nominations.

India had also hosted the 46th Session of the World Heritage Committee in New Delhi in July 2024, which saw the participation of more than 2,000 delegates from over 140 countries, the ministry said.

18/09/2025

The European Union on Wednesday unveiled a new strategic agenda to elevate its partnership with India, focusing on trade, technology, defence, and global cooperation. The European Commission and the High Representative adopted a Joint Communication outlining the ‘New Strategic EU-India Agenda,’ which seeks to deepen bilateral cooperation, enhance prosperity and security, and address global challenges together.

The Joint Communication identifies five priority areas – trade and investment, sustainability, technology and innovation, security and defence, and global connectivity – with proposals to strengthen supply chains, promote emerging technologies, expand cooperation on renewables and green hydrogen, and launch negotiations for a Security of Information Agreement to enable classified data sharing.

PM Modi welcomed the new agenda, calling it a “shared commitment, shared goal, and shared responsibility.” In a telephone call with President von der Leyen, PM Modi expressed appreciation for the EU’s initiative and reiterated India’s commitment to finalising the FTA negotiations within the year. He also renewed his invitation for the next India–EU Summit to be held in India in 2026.

The two leaders discussed regional and global developments, including the conflict in Ukraine, and reaffirmed their commitment to an early and peaceful resolution. Von der Leyen also conveyed birthday greetings to the Prime Minister.

The adoption of the new strategic agenda is seen as a major milestone in EU–India relations, aligning both partners in advancing economic security, innovation, and a rules-based international order.

18/09/2025

Mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy on Wednesday rose to the top of the ICC T20 Bowlers' Rankings for the first time in his career, becoming only the third Indian to achieve this feat.

The 34-year-old emulated fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah and leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi by moving up three spots following spells of 1/4 against the UAE and 1/24 against Pakistan.

Chakaravarthy, whose previous best was second place in February 2025, displaced New Zealand’s Jacob Duffy, who had held the top position since March.

"India spinner Varun Chakaravarthy has been rewarded for his consistent form in 2025 by becoming the No. 1-ranked bowler on the latest ICC Men's T20I Player Rankings," the ICC said in a statement.

Left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav has made a significant leap, jumping 16 places to 23rd, while spin all-rounder Axar Patel has moved up one place to 12th.

Bumrah has also improved his position, rising four spots to 40th.

In the all-rounders' rankings, Hardik Pandya continues to hold the top spot, while Abhishek Sharma has climbed four places to 14th.

Abhishek has also consolidated his position at the top of the T20 batting rankings. His explosive innings of 30 off 16 balls against the UAE and 31 off 13 against Pakistan have helped him achieve a career-high 884 rating points.

His opening partner, Shubman Gill, has moved up four places to 39th. However, Tilak Varma and captain Suryakumar Yadav have slipped in the rankings.

Tilak is down two spots to fourth, while Suryakumar has dropped one position to seventh. Yashasvi Jaiswal, who was not included in the Asia Cup squad, has also fallen two places to 13th.

The England opening pair of Phil Salt and Jos Buttler have advanced one spot each to second and third positions, respectively, after their scintillating performances in the second T20 against South Africa in Manchester.

18/09/2025

Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal will on Thursday co-chair the 13th India-UAE High Level Task Force on Investments (HLJTFI) along with Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, managing director of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority in Abu Dhabi.

The meeting will review progress on the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), the Double Taxation Treaty, and UAE-India Central Bank matters, the commerce ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

Both sides will also explore opportunities for investment in key sectors, including maritime and space, that hold strong potential for growth. Goyal’s two-day UAE visit on September 18-19 will give a boost to trade and investment.

During his visit, Goyal will co-chair the UAE-India Business Council (UIBC) roundtable with Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, the UAE’s minister of foreign trade, and interact with CEOs of leading Indian and UAE companies.

He will also hold bilateral meetings focused on strengthening trade, investment, and cooperation across priority sectors.

The minister is also expected to meet Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, national security adviser of the UAE and chairman of the International Holding Company (IHC); Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development; and Syed Basar Shueb, managing director of IHC, along with other key private sector stakeholders.

The UAE remains one of India’s most important strategic partners. Their comprehensive strategic partnership is underpinned by deep political engagement, robust economic integration, and collaboration across energy, defence, technology, and food security.

18/09/2025

Defending champion Neeraj Chopra made it look effortless once again at the World Athletics Championships, needing just one throw to book his place in the men’s javelin throw final here on Wednesday, sending the spear to 84.85m — comfortably past the automatic qualifying mark of 84.50m.

Alongside him, compatriot Sachin Yadav produced a career-best performance on the big stage to also secure a spot, giving India two finalists in one of the marquee events of the championships.

This was the fifth straight global meet where Chopra sealed qualification with his very first attempt, having done so at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, the 2022 and 2023 World Championships, and the Paris Olympics last year.

Chopra’s consistency has become as much a talking point as his medals. A double Olympic medallist, the 27-year-old now stands on the cusp of defending his world title, which he first claimed in Budapest two years ago with a throw of 88.17m — a landmark moment as India’s first-ever athletics world champion.

Sachin Yadav, competing in Group A, had a more winding route to the final. He began with a modest 80.16m but steadied himself to close with 83.67m, finishing 10th overall to make the 12-man cut. Rohit Yadav (77.81m) and Yash Vir Singh (77.51m), however, failed to advance.

As Chopra and Yadav advanced, all eyes inevitably turned to Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem. The 2023 World silver medallist and reigning Olympic champion from Paris hurled the javelin to 85.28m to comfortably progress.

It sets up yet another chapter in a rivalry that has captured the imagination of fans across the subcontinent. Arshad Nadeem dethroned Chopra at the Paris Olympics last year with a massive 92.97m effort, while the Indian had to settle for silver with 89.45m.

The final is scheduled to start at 3:53 PM IST on Thursday.

18/09/2025

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has revised guidelines for the design and printing of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) ballot papers to make them clearer and more voter-friendly, the poll body said in a press release on Wednesday. The new format, introduced under Rule 49B of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, will debut in the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced that candidates’ photos on ballot papers will now be printed in colour, with their faces covering three-fourths of the space, making them easier for voters to recognise.

The ECI stated that serial numbers for candidates and the NOTA option will be printed in bold, size 30 international Indian numerals to enhance readability. Names of all candidates, as well as NOTA, will appear in the same font and size to keep the list consistent.

Ballot papers will be printed on 70 GSM paper. For Assembly elections, they will be printed on pink-coloured paper with specified RGB values for easy distinction.

The poll body said the changes are part of 28 initiatives it has taken in the past six months to streamline election processes and make voting more convenient.

The new design will be used first in Bihar, where Assembly elections are scheduled later this year. The ECI is also conducting a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the state’s electoral roll to ensure all eligible voters are included.

18/09/2025

Bureau of Energy Efficiency has announced the introduction of a new category under the National Energy Conservation Awards (NECA) 2025 called National Energy Conservation Awards for Content Creators and Influencers.

Ministry of Power said in a statement that this initiative seeks to harness the power of digital media in spreading awareness on energy efficiency, conservation, and sustainable living practices. It aims to engage content creators and influencers in promoting energy-efficient behavior and encouraging citizens to adopt simple, actionable measures in their daily lives.

The National Energy Conservation Awards were instituted in 1991. The awards have evolved into one of the most prestigious platforms for recognizing excellence in energy conservation across industries, establishments, buildings, and institutions.

Over the past three decades, NECA has played a pivotal role in inspiring organizations to adopt best practices in energy efficiency and significantly contributed to India’s sustainable development goals. NECA has expanded its ambit to the digital community for the first time with the launch of the Content Creators and Influencers category.

18/09/2025

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday launched the Swasth Nari Sashakt Parivar and Rashtriya Poshan Maah campaigns in Madhya Pradesh. He also laid the foundation stone of India's first Pradhan Mantri Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel (PM MITRA) Park.

PM Modi turned 75 today, marking his second visit to Madhya Pradesh on his birthday since 2022.

During his address, Modi said the health of mothers, sisters, and daughters is our priority, and the government is working in mission mode for the nutrition of pregnant women and daughters.

Urging the women to get health check-ups done, Modi said, "Our goal is that no woman should fall prey to illness due to lack of information or resources."

The Swasth Nari Sashakt Parivar campaign will run till October 2 at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (health and wellness centres) to prioritise women's health with a focus on mental health, gender equity, adolescent anaemia management, and active lifestyles.

The PM also stressed reducing maternal mortality and infant mortality as much as possible. "With this aim, the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana was launched in 2017. Under this scheme, ₹5,000 is provided for the first child and ₹6,000 for the birth of a second daughter, directly into the mother’s bank account," he said.

He added that over 45 million pregnant women have benefited from the scheme, and over ₹19,000 crore has been directly credited into the accounts of these mothers and sisters.

The PM MITRA scheme is aimed at building large-scale textile manufacturing hubs in Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra with world-class infrastructure and facilities.

Modi said, "On Vishwakarma Jayanti today, a major industrial initiative is being launched. The foundation of the country’s largest integrated textile park has been laid here in Dhar."

Digital InfyByte

19/09/2025

19/09/2025

19/09/2025

19/09/2025

18/09/2025

18/09/2025

18/09/2025

18/09/2025

18/09/2025

18/09/2025

18/09/2025

18/09/2025

Address

Website

Alerts

Shortcuts

Share