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Artificial Intelligence Task Force For New India

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Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, the Minister of Commerce and Industry has constituted a task force on artificial intelligence for India’s Economic Transformation. The task force will be chaired by V. Kamakoti of IIT Madras, a professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering.

The task force will explore possibilities to leverage artificial intelligence for development across various fields. The power of big data, high computing capacity, artificial intelligence and analytics will be used to prepare for industrial revolution 4.0 and digitize the manufacturing sector. In a press release, the minister said with rapid development in the fields of information technology and hardware, the world is about to witness a fourth industrial revolution.

The 18 member panel will comprise of experts, academics, researchers, industry leaders and more members from various government departments and private companies such as HCL Technology and Tata Consultancy Services. Official participation from NITI Aayog, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Department of Science & Technology, UIDAI and DRDO will also be requested in addition to the regular members.

The Mint reported the task force will submit their first concrete and implementable recommendations for government, industry and research institutions within four months, according to Kamakoti. The committee will focus on agriculture, transportation and other wide spectra of areas including the types of tools, interoperability, standardization and skill sets needed for artificial intelligence and machine learning.

As per the official press release, the task force will include the following members
1.  Dr. V. Kamakoti, IIT Madras, Chairperson
2.  Mr. Anuj Kapuria, High Tech RoboticSystemz Ltd., Member
3.  Dr. Anurag Agarwal, Institute of Genomics & Integrative Biology, CSIR, Member
4.  Dr. Ashish Dutta, IIT Kanpur Member
5.  Ms. Ashwini Asokan, Mad Street Den, Chennai, Member
6.  Mr. Gautam Shroff, Vice President & Chief Scientist, TCS Innovation Labs, Tata Consultancy Services, Gurgaon, Member
7.  Mr. G. H. Rao, HCL Technology, Member
8.  Mr. G. Madhusudan, IIT Madras, Member
9.  Mr. G. V. N. Apparao, Ex Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Cognizant, Member
10. Ms. Komal Sharma Talwar, Founder, XLPAT Member
11.  Mr. Kunal Nandwani, Founder &  CEO, uTrade Solutions, Member
12.  Dr. Shantanu Chaudhary, IIT Delhi, Department of Electrical Engineering, Member
13.  Mr. Vijay Kumar Sankarapu, Founder & CEO, Arya.in, Member
14.  Mr. Ajay Kumar, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Electronics & IT, Member
15.  Mr. Amandeep Gill, Ambassador/PR to CD, Geneva, Member
16.  Mr. K. Nagaraj Naidu, Joint Secretary (ITPO), Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Member
17.  Dr. Aloke Mukherjee, DRDO, Member
18.  Mr. Ravinder, Joint Secretary, DIPP, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Convenor

The commerce minister’s official Twitter account also tweeted about the task force

 

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IIT Hyderabad Unveils Palyanka, Heavy-Lift Drone for Air Ambulance Use

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The Technology Innovation Hub on Autonomous Navigation Foundation (TiHAN) at IIT Hyderabad has set a new standard in drone technology with the launch of Palyanka, a heavy payload drone designed as an autonomous air ambulance. Capable of carrying up to 200 kg, Palyanka is engineered to swiftly transport patients, medical equipment, or critical cargo across challenging terrains, bypassing traditional barriers like road congestion and remote inaccessibility. This advanced UAV operates autonomously, making it highly effective for rapid response in both urban and rural emergencies, and stands at the forefront of disaster relief operations in scenarios such as floods and fires.

Built for versatility, Palyanka doesn’t just function as an air ambulance. Its robust design enables use in rescue missions, cargo deliveries, and even as an air taxi for metropolitan connectivity. Inspired by the Sanskrit word for palanquin, the name “Palyanka” reflects the drone’s role as a safe and efficient carrier. All components, from conceptual design to IP, have been developed in-house at IIT Hyderabad, ensuring the drone meets stringent standards for durability and performance under extreme conditions.

With a development journey spanning over five years and led by Prof. P. Rajalakshmi, TiHAN’s team has transitioned from early drone prototypes to a full-scale, high-capacity solution like Palyanka. The team is now preparing pilot projects in hilly terrains and working on further enhancing the drone’s endurance with innovative heat-resistant materials. By pioneering such indigenous solutions, IIT Hyderabad’s TiHAN is transforming emergency medical services and logistics, marking a pivotal advancement in India’s urban mobility and public safety landscape.

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X’s Major Price Cut in India: Premium Plans Now More Accessible Than Ever

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X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, has announced a major reduction in its subscription prices across India, slashing fees by up to 48%. The Basic plan now starts at ₹170 per month, down 30% from its earlier price, while the Premium plan has dropped 34% to ₹427 per month on the web. The Premium+ plan has also become more affordable, now costing ₹2,570 per month—a 26% reduction. For mobile users, the discounts are even steeper, with Premium priced at ₹470 per month and Premium+ at ₹3,000 per month, reflecting the impact of app store commissions.

This marks the first comprehensive price adjustment across all three tiers—Basic, Premium, and Premium+—since the service launched as Twitter Blue in India in February 2023. The move comes shortly after Elon Musk’s AI venture, xAI, rolled out the new Grok 4 model and follows xAI’s acquisition of X earlier this year. The price cuts are seen as a strategic effort to boost adoption in India, one of the world’s largest internet markets, by making premium features more accessible to a wider audience.

Each subscription tier offers a range of features: Basic users can edit and write longer posts, enjoy background video playback, and download videos. Premium subscribers get additional perks like a blue checkmark, creator tools, analytics, and fewer ads, while Premium+ members benefit from an ad-free experience, article publishing, and exclusive access to advanced AI features. These changes are expected to make X’s premium services more appealing to Indian users looking for enhanced social media experiences.

 

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Leadership Shakeup at X: Linda Yaccarino Resigns After Two Years at the Helm

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Linda Yaccarino, the CEO of X (formerly Twitter), announced her resignation on July 9, 2025, bringing her two-year leadership of Elon Musk’s social media platform to a close. Yaccarino, who previously led NBCUniversal’s advertising division, was appointed in 2023 to help stabilize X’s advertising business and guide the company through its ambitious transformation into an “everything app.” In her farewell message, she expressed gratitude to Musk for entrusting her with the mission of revitalizing the company, protecting free speech, and prioritizing user safety, though she did not specify a reason for her departure.


Her exit comes at a turbulent moment for X, following the recent controversy involving Grok, the AI chatbot developed by Musk’s xAI, which posted antisemitic content referencing Adolf Hitler. This incident intensified scrutiny of X’s content moderation policies and added to the challenges Yaccarino faced, including restoring advertiser trust after a period of strained relations with major brands. Some analysts have suggested that differences in management style between Yaccarino and Musk, as well as the evolving structure of X after its integration with xAI, may have contributed to her decision to step down.

Elon Musk publicly thanked Yaccarino for her contributions, while her departure leaves a leadership gap as X navigates ongoing business, regulatory, and reputational challenges. The company’s next steps will be closely watched as it seeks to maintain its influence in the social media landscape and fulfill Musk’s vision of a multifaceted digital platform.

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