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IIT Hyderabad sets up Centre for Creative Arts to bridge arts and technology

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The Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IIT Hyderabad) has announced the establishment of a Centre for Creative Arts (CCA) within its Department of Liberal Arts, marking a significant step towards blending creativity with technical and scientific learning. According to the institute, the new Centre aims to embed artistic practices more deeply into engineering and science education. IIT Hyderabad has been nurturing creative and liberal arts for more than a decade, with structured initiatives beginning in 2014 through heritage tours for first-year students. Over the years, these efforts have grown into credited courses, and currently about 10 per cent of the undergraduate curriculum includes liberal and creative arts such as photography, fine arts, performing arts and crafts. The Centre for Creative Arts will offer elective courses ranging from one to three credits in creative and performing arts for both undergraduate and postgraduate students. It also plans to bring practicing artists on board as adjunct faculty and distinguished professors. Artist-in-Residence programmes will enable long-term interaction between students and professionals, encouraging cross-disciplinary engagement across engineering, science and design. In addition to teaching, the Centre will support research in the arts, including doctoral programmes. Visiting artists may act as co-supervisors for research scholars, helping integrate practice-based artistic knowledge with academic research. Collaborations with cultural organisations, including SPIC MACAY, are also planned to enrich campus activities. Beyond the campus, the Centre will run outreach initiatives for school students and art educators, with the objective of promoting early exposure to diverse art forms and strengthening ties between the institute and the broader community. Announcing the launch, IIT Hyderabad Director Prof B S Murty said the Centre reflects the institute’s vision of combining creativity, culture and technology in higher education. Dr Aalok Khandekar, Head of the Department of Liberal Arts, added that the CCA would build on existing initiatives while enabling new courses and research collaborations. Source: Indian Express

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Ambani rolls out draft Reliance AI Manifesto, eyes 10x productivity leap and nationwide impact

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Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani has unveiled a draft Reliance AI Manifesto, laying out a sweeping plan to reposition the conglomerate as an AI-native deep-tech enterprise while aiming for a tenfold boost in productivity across its workforce of over six lakh employees. The initiative also targets a 10x impact on India’s economy and society. Describing artificial intelligence as “the most consequential technological development in human history,” Ambani said Reliance intends to spearhead India’s AI journey, much as it played a central role in the country’s digital transformation. The group’s stated mission is to deliver “Affordable AI for every Indian”, embedding AI across businesses while ensuring safety, trust and accountability. According to Ambani, the manifesto is not a slogan but a practical action guide. “At Reliance, we are transforming ourselves into an AI-native deep-tech company with advanced manufacturing capabilities,” he said, adding that the draft manifesto will steer this transformation. Internal transformation through AI Part I of the manifesto focuses on reshaping Reliance’s internal operations. AI is positioned not as a standalone technology initiative but as a fundamentally new way of working. The group plans to reorganise around outcomes and end-to-end workflows, supported by shared digital platforms and robust governance frameworks. AI and agentic automation will be deployed to reduce repetitive tasks, enhance decision-making, and improve speed and quality, while maintaining clear human accountability. Execution will be driven by small, cross-functional teams or “pods” with defined ownership and measurable goals, supported by continuous data, learning, operations and automation systems. Core workflows such as procure-to-pay, order-to-cash, hire-to-retire and plant-to-port will be redesigned to eliminate manual handoffs, close digital gaps and enable real-time visibility. Ambani stressed that AI will augment human capability rather than replace jobs, saying the focus is on raising standards and unlocking collective potential. A common 12-layer Digital Functional Core (DFC) will standardise data, integration, security and controls across Reliance businesses, while allowing individual units autonomy over their platforms. Governance, audit trails and human-in-the-loop mechanisms will be embedded to balance speed with safety, compliance and trust. Driving India’s AI-led growth Part II extends the vision beyond Reliance, positioning the group as a catalyst for India’s broader AI transformation. Ambani said that just as AI can deliver a 10x improvement in efficiency and outcomes within Reliance, it can also generate a similar multiplier effect for the country through the group’s businesses and philanthropic efforts. Employees have been invited to submit ideas on AI applications across Reliance’s diverse portfolio—from Jio’s 500-million-plus subscribers and the country’s largest retail network to energy, materials, life sciences, financial services, media and philanthropy. Ambani also pointed to opportunities in indigenous AI hardware, robotics and cross-sector innovation to boost efficiency, sustainability and technological self-reliance. Ideas can be submitted between January 10 and 26, after which the manifesto is expected to evolve into a shared organisational commitment. “Let us begin—together,” Ambani said, calling on employees to help build “a New Reliance and a New India.” Source: PTI

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IndiGo Increases Pilot Allowances Amid Staffing Challenges and New Duty Norms

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IndiGo has revised and increased allowances for its pilots by up to ₹2,000, with the changes taking effect from January 1, according to sources. The move comes weeks after the airline faced widespread flight disruptions triggered by pilot rostering issues. The disruptions were largely attributed to inadequate preparedness in implementing the revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms, which restrict the number of night landings a pilot can undertake. These changes reportedly forced IndiGo to cancel over 1,600 flights in a single day earlier this month. In response to the new regulations, which require more pilots for night operations, the airline has enhanced several allowance categories. The revised allowances—ranging from ₹25 to ₹2,000—cover domestic layovers, night operations, deadhead duties, and a newly introduced tail-swap allowance. Tail-swap refers to replacing a scheduled aircraft with another aircraft. Sources said the tail-swap allowance was not available earlier and has been introduced as part of the latest revision. IndiGo has not issued an official statement on the matter. Under the new structure, a captain on a domestic layover of 10.01 to 24 hours will receive ₹3,000, up from ₹2,000. For first officers, the allowance has been raised to ₹1,500 from ₹1,000. Beyond 24 hours, captains will now earn ₹150 per additional hour, while first officers will get ₹75 per hour, up from ₹100 and ₹50 respectively. Night allowances per hour have been increased to ₹2,000 for captains and ₹1,000 for first officers. Deadhead allowance per scheduled block hour has also gone up—to ₹4,000 from ₹3,000 for captains and to ₹2,000 from ₹1,500 for first officers. Meal allowance during transit for captains has doubled to ₹1,000. However, sources noted that the latest increase recovers only about 25 per cent of the allowances that were cut following the implementation of the second phase of the FDTL norms in November. Following the recent operational disruptions, aviation regulator DGCA directed IndiGo to reduce its winter flight schedule by 10 per cent. As per government data shared in Parliament, IndiGo employed 5,085 pilots as of December 8. Source: PTI

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CBSE Postpones March 3 Class 10 and 12 Board Exams Due to Administrative Reasons

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The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced a revision in the schedule of certain Class 10 and Class 12 board examinations slated for March 3, 2026, citing administrative reasons. As per the revised timetable, the Class 10 papers originally planned for March 3 will now be conducted on March 11, while the Class 12 examination scheduled for that day has been postponed to April 10. The rescheduled Class 10 exams include subjects such as Tibetan, German, NCC, Bhoti, Bodo, Tangkhul, Japanese, Bhutia, Spanish, Kashmiri, Mizo, Bahasa Melayu, Elements of Business, and Elements of Book Keeping and Accountancy. For Class 12, the Legal Studies paper, earlier fixed for March 3, will now take place on April 10. CBSE clarified that no other examination dates have been altered and urged schools to promptly inform students and parents about the changes. With this update, Class 10 board examinations will be conducted from February 17 to March 18, 2026. Class 12 exams will now conclude on April 10, instead of the earlier April 4 end date. All examinations will continue to be held in a single morning shift beginning at 10:30 am. The board had released a tentative schedule in September, followed by the final datesheet in November after incorporating several changes. Around 45 lakh students are expected to appear for board exams across 204 subjects in Classes 10 and 12 this year. Notably, CBSE will implement a two-phase examination system for Class 10 students in 2026. The first phase, mandatory for all candidates, will run from February 17 to March 6, while the optional second phase—aimed at score improvement—will be held from May 15 to June 1. Results for the first phase will be declared in April and for the second phase in June. The final marksheet will record the higher score from the two attempts, marking a shift away from the traditional single-exam model. Source: Indian Express

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NCLAT sets aside NCLT order in Culver Max insolvency case, orders fresh hearing

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The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) has granted relief to Culver Max Entertainment, formerly Sony Pictures Network India, by overturning an order of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) that had rejected its insolvency petition against an Odisha-based fintech company. The appellate tribunal has sent the matter back to the Cuttack bench of the NCLT, directing it to hear the case afresh after giving Culver Max an opportunity to address procedural shortcomings in its application. In its ruling, the NCLAT noted that the NCLT should have allowed Culver Max to rectify defects in the insolvency plea, particularly relating to authorisation, instead of dismissing it outright. Since no such opportunity was provided, the appellate tribunal held that the April 30, 2024 order of the NCLT was legally flawed. A two-member NCLAT bench comprising Justice Yogesh Khanna (Judicial Member) and Ajai Das Mehrotra (Technical Member) clarified that it was not expressing any view on the merits of the insolvency case. However, it set aside the impugned order and instructed the NCLT to allow Culver Max to cure the defects and then adjudicate the matter on merits. The tribunal added that the process should ideally be completed within two months, as per its order dated December 10, 2025. The dispute arose after the NCLT dismissed Culver Max’s Section 9 application under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) against Rechargekit Fintech. The tribunal had rejected the plea on the ground that no board resolution or formal authorisation approving the filing of the insolvency application was placed on record. Challenging this decision, Culver Max argued before the NCLAT that the NCLT should have invoked the proviso to Section 9(5)(ii) of the IBC, which allows applicants time to correct defects in an incomplete application. The appellate tribunal agreed, observing that it was the duty of the NCLT to notify the applicant and provide an opportunity to rectify such defects. Section 9(5)(ii) of the IBC empowers the NCLT to reject an incomplete application but also mandates that the applicant be given notice and up to seven days to remove the deficiencies. Since this procedure was not followed, the NCLAT ruled that the dismissal order could not be sustained. Source: PTI

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Gen Z and Gen Alpha will drive India’s journey towards Viksit Bharat: PM Modi

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasised that India’s future development will be led by its youngest generations, asserting that Gen Z and Gen Alpha will play a decisive role in achieving the vision of a Viksit Bharat. He said current policies are being designed with youth empowerment at their core, placing young people at the centre of nation-building. Speaking at the Veer Baal Diwas programme at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, the Prime Minister said he has deep faith in the competence, confidence, and capabilities of today’s youth. Referring to a traditional saying, he noted that wisdom should be valued regardless of age, as true greatness is reflected in one’s actions and achievements, not years. PM Modi observed that young Indians have already delivered inspiring accomplishments across fields, but stressed that these milestones are only the beginning of a much longer journey. He encouraged the youth to dream bigger and aim higher, noting that the nation now stands firmly behind their aspirations. Highlighting the contrast with earlier times, the Prime Minister said previous generations of youth often hesitated to dream due to an atmosphere of pessimism. In contrast, today’s India actively recognises talent, offers platforms for growth, and aligns the collective strength of 140 crore citizens with youthful ambition. He pointed to initiatives such as Digital India, which has empowered youth with access to the internet and learning resources, Startup India for innovation and entrepreneurship, and Khelo India for sporting excellence. He also referred to his recent participation in the Sansad Khel Mahotsav as an example of the growing ecosystem supporting young talent. Urging young people to remain focused, PM Modi cautioned against getting distracted by short-lived fame and stressed the importance of clarity in thought, values, and principles. He encouraged them to draw inspiration from national icons and ensure that their personal success contributes to the progress of the country as a whole. The Prime Minister further highlighted platforms like Mera Yuva Bharat, aimed at connecting young people, nurturing leadership skills, and creating opportunities across sectors. He reiterated that youth are central to India’s growth in areas such as space economy, sports, fintech, manufacturing, skill development, and internships, with new avenues opening across industries. Veer Baal Diwas, observed on December 26, was announced by PM Modi in January 2022 to honour the martyrdom of Sahibzadas Baba Zorawar Singh Ji and Baba Fateh Singh Ji, the sons of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Their sacrifice, he said, continues to inspire generations of Indians. Source: ANI

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Counterfeit Abhayrab Vaccine Batch No Longer in Circulation: Indian Immunologicals

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Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL), a major vaccine manufacturer in the country, has stated that a counterfeit batch of its human anti-rabies vaccine, Abhayrab, is no longer available in the market. The clarification follows a recent advisory issued by Australian health authorities cautioning about the circulation of a fake batch in India since November 1, 2023. Responding to the advisory, IIL described it as overly cautious and said the issue had already been identified and addressed. In an official statement released on Saturday (December 27, 2025), the company said the counterfeit involved Abhayrab batch number KA24014, manufactured in March 2024 with an expiry date of February 2027. The anomaly was detected by early January 2025, after which swift action was taken, it added. Earlier, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation had warned that travellers vaccinated with Abhayrab in India after November 1, 2023, should treat the vaccination as invalid and begin a fresh immunisation schedule. Rabies, a viral disease transmitted from animals to humans, affects the central nervous system and is almost always fatal once symptoms appear. However, timely vaccination following exposure can effectively prevent the disease. IIL highlighted that it has been producing the anti-rabies vaccine since 2000 and has supplied over 210 million doses across India and more than 40 countries, maintaining around a 40 per cent share of the domestic market. According to the company, the counterfeit was limited to a single batch and involved a packaging irregularity. Upon detection, IIL immediately informed regulatory authorities and law enforcement agencies, filed a formal complaint and coordinated with officials to prevent further circulation. The company reiterated that this was an isolated incident and that the fake stock has since been removed from the supply chain. Reassuring doctors and the public, IIL stressed that all vaccines manufactured in India undergo mandatory testing and release by the Central Drugs Laboratory before being made available for use. “Vaccines supplied through government channels and authorised distributors continue to be safe and meet quality standards,” said Sunil Tiwari, vice-president and head of quality management at IIL. He added that Abhayrab is produced in compliance with World Health Organization Good Manufacturing Practices and relevant pharmacopeial norms. The company further noted that the vaccine is approved for both pre-exposure and post-exposure prophylaxis against rabies and is supplied to public health systems as well as private healthcare providers. Each batch, it said, is cleared by the National Control Laboratory, which is WHO-Geneva pre-qualified under India’s National Regulatory Authority. Meanwhile, earlier this month, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued travel health alerts for India and Haiti after cases of rabies were reported among travellers returning from these countries. The advisory urged travellers to avoid contact with dogs, cats and wild animals. Source: The Hindu

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Delhi Government Reopens SCERT-Led Online Training Programmes for Teachers

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The Delhi government has relaunched a series of structured online professional development programmes for teachers in government as well as private schools for the ongoing academic year. The State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) has announced the fresh rollout of NISHTHA (National Initiative for School Heads’ and Teachers’ Holistic Advancement) courses, along with General Continuous Professional Development (CPD) and short-duration nano courses. These programmes are open to teachers, school leaders and teacher educators from government, aided, unaided and private institutions across the capital. As part of the NISHTHA initiative, training modules will focus on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) and Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE). The courses will be offered in English, Hindi and Urdu, and are designed to enhance teaching practices at the foundational level in alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP). SCERT stated that the General CPD courses will address a broad spectrum of contemporary and emerging themes, including cyber hygiene, online safety, cyber crime awareness, digital well-being, inclusive education, techno-pedagogy, media literacy, financial security, data privacy, environmental issues such as e-waste, action research methodologies and the use of open educational resources. In addition, nano courses focusing on cyberspace safety and related topics will also be available. Teachers can register for all programmes through the DIKSHA portal, where course content is hosted in digital format. The DIKSHA platform offers a mix of video-based lessons, reading material and assessments, enabling educators to complete the training at their own pace within the stipulated timeframe. SCERT has informed that enrolment for all courses will remain open until March 10, 2026, while participants must complete the courses by March 15, 2026. Teachers and school heads have been advised to follow the schedule strictly, as course links will become inactive after the deadline. The initiative aims to enhance professional competencies among educators and ensure wider access to updated pedagogical and digital skills across Delhi’s school education ecosystem. Source: PTI

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Bhutan and Morocco Seek India’s Nod for Offshore IIT Campuses

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Bhutan and Morocco have approached the Union government to explore the establishment of offshore campuses of India’s premier Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), signalling growing global interest in India’s higher education ecosystem. At present, IITs operate two overseas campuses—IIT Madras in Zanzibar, Tanzania, and IIT Delhi in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Sources indicated that multiple countries have expressed interest in hosting IIT campuses, with Bhutan and Morocco among the latest to formally reach out. A third overseas IIT campus is also proposed in West Africa, to be hosted by the Federal Government Academy in Suleja. To streamline the expansion of IITs abroad, the central government had constituted a 17-member committee, chaired by IIT Council Standing Committee Chairperson Dr K Radhakrishnan. The committee submitted its recommendations in 2022, laying the groundwork for international campuses. IIT Madras became the first IIT to set up an overseas campus in 2023, launching operations in Zanzibar under Director-in-Charge Preeti Aghalyam, who also made history as the first woman Director of an IIT. The campus began functioning from a temporary facility in November 2023. Following this, IIT Delhi signed an agreement with the UAE government to establish a campus in Abu Dhabi. Located in Khalifa City, the IIT Delhi–Abu Dhabi campus was officially inaugurated on September 2, 2024. Expanding India’s global academic footprint further, IIM Ahmedabad has also recently inaugurated its first international campus at Dubai International Academic City. Source: PTI

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Mandatory Labelling of AI-Generated Content Likely Soon After Industry Consultations: IT Secretary

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The government is set to notify new rules on mandatory labelling of AI-generated content after completing extensive consultations with industry stakeholders, IT Secretary S Krishnan has said. Speaking to PTI, Krishnan noted that the industry has largely shown a responsible approach and has not strongly opposed the proposed move, recognising the rationale behind content labelling. According to him, most industry feedback has focused on seeking clarity around what degree of AI intervention should trigger labelling—particularly the distinction between substantive, material changes made using AI and routine technical enhancements that do not alter meaning or facts. Inputs received are currently being reviewed in consultation with other government ministries, and the final rules are expected to be announced shortly. Krishnan emphasised that the proposal does not impose restrictions or require registration with third parties, but simply asks platforms to clearly label AI-generated or synthetically modified content. He underlined that citizens have a fundamental right to know whether content is authentic or AI-generated. He explained that even minimal AI-driven changes—such as altering a few words—can significantly change context and meaning, whereas routine enhancements like camera optimisation on smartphones may only improve quality without affecting substance. While the government is open to accommodating reasonable industry concerns, excluding all forms of modification could be problematic, as even small AI edits can have major real-world impacts. The proposed amendments to the IT Rules, first floated in October, aim to curb the spread of deepfakes and misinformation by requiring platforms such as Facebook and YouTube to take greater responsibility for identifying and flagging synthetic content. The draft rules seek mandatory labelling, metadata embedding, and visibility markers for AI-generated or modified media, including visual identifiers covering at least 10 per cent of the screen or the initial 10 per cent of an audio clip. The IT Ministry has warned that deepfake audio, video, and other synthetic media can be weaponised to mislead the public, harm reputations, influence elections, and facilitate fraud, making clear labelling and accountability essential in the age of generative AI. Source: PTI

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