Karnataka First

Bengaluru, VTU on Friday said it has signed an agreement with UK-based company Chiac ASI to introduce Artificial Super Intelligence, a technology considered to surpass conventional AI.

Visvesvaraya Technological University said it would be adopting ASI “for the first time as part of its efforts to prepare students for emerging technologies.”

“VTU has entered into an agreement with Chiac ASI, a company based in the United Kingdom. Chiac is the world’s first ASI research institution. At present, five major companies, including Meta and Microsoft, are engaged in research in this field,” it said in a statement.

The university said Chiac ASI has published significant research at an international conference on controlling the potentially dangerous behaviour of ASI using Indian sutras, for which it has received an award.

The academic and research agreement was signed by VTU Vice-Chancellor Dr S Vidyashankar and Chiac ASI CEO Chandrashekar Nagaraju.

Dr Vidyashankar said technology was advancing rapidly, and VTU was aligning itself with emerging trends.

“We are adopting Artificial Super Intelligence, which is expected to create a revolution by 2030, while also addressing concerns related to the rapid expansion of AI,” he said.

He added that under the agreement, Chiac ASI would offer free internships to more than 1,000 students and provide ASI textbooks to engineering college faculty for effective teaching.

“These are not ordinary books, but self-updating research textbooks that evolve as the field progresses. Workshops on ASI have also been conducted for faculty members of VTU-affiliated colleges,” he said.

Chiac ASI CEO Chandrashekar Nagaraju said that from a national security perspective, it was crucial for India to establish leadership in the field of super intelligence before 2030.

“The US and China are advancing rapidly in this area. Our goal is to develop one million engineering professionals in India to work in the ASI domain,” he said.

“As the world’s largest technological university, VTU has the potential to produce 4 lakh ASI-skilled engineers, which would be a significant contribution to the nation,” he said.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.

source/content: hindustantimes.com (headline edited)

The budget’s focus on developing CER has been welcomed by experts.

To strengthen urban growth, the Union Budget has proposed setting up seven City Economic Regions (CER) across India, with Bengaluru selected from Karnataka.

In the budget presented on Sunday, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said Tier 2 and 3 cities, which need modern infrastructure and basic amenities, would be granted an allocation of Rs 5,000 crore per CER over five years.

“Cities are India’s engines of growth, innovation and opportunities. We shall now focus on Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, and even temple-towns, which need modern infrastructure and basic amenities. This Budget aims to further amplify the potential of cities to deliver the economic power of agglomerations by mapping City Economic Regions based on their specific growth drivers.

An allocation of Rs 5,000 crore per CER over five years is proposed for implementing their plans through a challenge mode with a reform-cum-results-based financing mechanism,” Sitharaman said. The budget’s focus on developing CER has been welcomed by experts.

“For industries to develop, they need to be given basic infrastructure like roads, electricity, water, communications and others. We guess a major share of the Rs 5,000 crore would be used for these in the CER,” D Rajasekhar, former director of Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC) said.

“CER cannot be located far from a city. While we don’t know exactly where this is going to be set up, it is expected to be near Bengaluru, like in Peenya, Ramanagara, Tumakuru, Kolar.”

He said the success of this initiative will depend on the location of the CER. “We cannot strongly say if the development will ease out the pressure on Bengaluru. All depends on the CER location and what the Rs 5,000 crore is spent on,” he said.

CREDAI Karnataka President Bhaskar T Nagendrappa, said, “Growth is where infrastructure is. The moment infrastructure expenditure increases, growth follows. CER is a welcome initiative in the budget”.

“The budget’s emphasis on Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities is a welcome and much-needed shift. Growth is no longer metro-centric, and this focus will help decentralise talent, reduce migration pressure and create sustainable employment ecosystems closer to where people live,” said Subramanyam S, CEO, Ascent HR Technologies.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

Ambulances rushing with blaring sirens to save lives during road accidents or medical emergencies are a common sight. However, when mishaps occur in the middle of the sea, the lack of facilities to immediately bring the injured ashore has often resulted in loss of lives. Addressing this long-pending concern, fishermen from Ullal in Mangaluru have launched the state’s first-ever ‘boat ambulance’ service, drawing widespread attention.

The emergency boat service has been initiated by the Ullal zone Nadadoni and Gillnet Fishermen’s Association. The objective of the service is to provide immediate first aid and swiftly transport the injured to the shore in cases of boat capsizing, fire accidents at sea, or sudden health emergencies among fishermen. Although there has been a demand for a sea ambulance along the coast for decades, government projects could not be implemented due to technical and financial constraints. In a notable move, fishermen have now come together to launch this service without waiting for government support.

The specially designed boat is equipped with a siren, red warning lights, a stretcher, oxygen cylinder, first-aid kit and life jackets. Arrangements have been made so that other boats give way upon hearing the siren. A public address system has also been installed, enabling communication with people along the shore, which proves helpful during emergencies.

Three trained personnel have been appointed to manage the service. They are capable of swimming even in harsh sea conditions. Preventing deaths caused by breathing difficulties during boat capsize incidents is one of the key objectives of this initiative. The boat ambulance allows for immediate first aid and quick transportation of the injured to the shore.

At present, one boat ambulance is in operation. The fishermen’s association aims to expand the service across the district by equipping the boats with more advanced medical facilities if financial assistance is provided by the government. This initiative has emerged as a model effort in safeguarding lives along the coast.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

In a personnel-friendly move, the Director-General and Inspector-General of Police (DG & IGP) has issued a circular on Thursday directing all unit heads to grant casual leave to police officers and personnel on the occasion of their birthdays and wedding anniversaries.

According to the circular, granting leave on such special occasions allows officers to relax emotionally, spend quality time with their families, and maintain a healthy balance between professional duties and personal life. The order states that this humane approach is expected to boost morale, reduce stress, improve job satisfaction, and enhance overall productivity within the police force.

The directive further notes that acknowledging personal events will strengthen loyalty, discipline, and organisational efficiency among police personnel.

All unit officers have been instructed to grant leave without fail to police officers and staff who apply for leave on their birthdays or wedding anniversaries. The circular comes into immediate effect.

The order was issued following a recommendation made by Mohan Kumar Danappa, a member of the State Police Complaints Authority, on December 4.

Sources said that the practice of granting leave on birthdays had earlier been followed during the tenure of former Bengaluru Police Commissioner B. Dayananda, but was later discontinued abruptly. While the provision of granting such leave at the police station level has existed, it has not been implemented strictly due to factors such as staff shortages and heavy workload.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

The tricolour was unfurled on a trial basis for a short while on Sunday February 1 evening on the state’s third tallest national flagpole, constructed at a cost of Rs 1 crore near the private bus stand at Nellikatte, opposite the Mahalingeshwara Temple in Puttur.

The installation of the massive 80-metre-high national flagpole began on Sunday morning. Using a large crane, the flagpole was erected, and by evening, the national tricolour was hoisted briefly on a trial basis before being lowered. MLA Ashok Kumar Rai and others were present during the installation. Hundreds of people gathered at the site and watched the proceedings with keen interest.

Speaking on the occasion, MLA Ashok Kumar Rai said it had been their dream to hoist the national flag at a great height in Puttur. He recalled that six months ago he had stated that Puttur would demonstrate what true patriotism means. He said that no other taluk-level Assembly constituency in the state has hoisted the national flag at such a height, and added that Puttur can proudly claim to have the state’s third tallest national flagpole at the taluk level.

He further said that within a week, lighting arrangements would be put in place and the national flag would be hoisted. The national flag, measuring 2,400 square feet, will be flown on the flagpole. Each flag costs Rs 60,000, and it will need to be replaced three times a year. Patriotism, he said, does not come merely from giving speeches, but can be nurtured only by creating such meaningful installations and systems.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

A day ahead of the Union Budget, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah launched “Justice for Karnataka — Fair Share, Strong Federalism” campaign and released nine posters highlighting the State’s long-standing demands, including the restoration of the tax share, reduced from 4.71% to 3.64% in Central tax devolution.

Among the other key demands are correcting the “flawed formula” of penalising development and population control and restoration of the use of 1971 population data in tax sharing, reduction in income distance weightage from 45% to 25%, setting right “the unrealistic GSDP base-year methodology” as IT exports inflate the State’s GSDP and distort fair comparisons.

The government mooted the adoption of a Panchayat devolution index in fund allocation for effective governance in local governments. It also sought a special package of ₹10,000 crore for the backward Kalyana Karnataka region, special grants for ecology, farmers and irrigation projects, and an increase in the State’s share of taxes to 50% and a cap on cess at 5% are part of the demands.

In a note, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the government has placed its “Constitutionally grounded” demands before the 16th Finance Commission seeking justice in tax devolution and fiscal federalism, and expressed hope that the Budget will fulfill it.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

The event will bring together leading specialists and researchers to discuss the latest advancements in the diagnosis and management of ocular surface disorders.

An international conference of the Dry Eye and Ocular Surface Society (DEOSS) will be held in Bengaluru on January 31.

With Dry Eye Disease emerging as a major public health concern — fuelled by increased screen time, modern lifestyle, pollution, and prolonged exposure to air-conditioned environment — the conference aims to address the growing challenges in eye health.

Organised by Narayana Nethralaya, the event will bring together leading specialists and researchers to discuss the latest advancements in the diagnosis and management of ocular surface disorders.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL), a Schedule ‘A’ CPSE and a subsidiary of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, has once again reinforced its leadership in innovation by winning two major honours at the Federation of Indian Petroleum Industry (FIPI) Awards, held on the sidelines of India Energy Week (IEW) 2026.

MRPL was conferred with the FIPI Innovator of the Year (Team) Award 2025, recognising the organisation’s sustained excellence in refining innovation and indigenous technological advancement. In addition, R Karthick of MRPL was honoured with the Young Achiever of the Year in Oil Industry (Male) award, acknowledging his outstanding individual contribution to innovation in the downstream oil and gas sector.

The FIPI Innovator of the Year (Team) Award was received by Mundkur Shyamprasad Kamath, managing director, MRPL, along with Nandakumar Velayudhan Pillai, director (refinery). The award was presented by Hardeep Singh Puri, minister of petroleum and natural gas, government of India, in the presence of Dr Neeraj Mittal, secretary, ministry of petroleum and natural gas.

India Energy Week (IEW) is India’s flagship global energy event, bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, innovators, and technology providers to shape the future of energy security and energy transition. The Federation of Indian Petroleum Industry (FIPI) is the apex industry body representing India’s oil and gas sector, promoting policy advocacy, innovation, and sustainable growth.

With these recognitions, MRPL has achieved a significant milestone—winning innovation awards in refining from the Government of India for the fifth time in the last four years, underscoring its consistent focus on process excellence, operational efficiency, and technology-driven growth.

Commenting on the achievement, MRPL’s top management stated, “These awards are a testament to MRPL’s deep-rooted culture of innovation and teamwork. Our people continue to push boundaries through indigenous solutions, digitalisation, and sustainable refining practices. Recognition at a national platform like FIPI and India Energy Week further strengthens our resolve to support India’s energy security while advancing the transition towards a cleaner and more resilient energy future.”

MRPL continues to play a pivotal role in India’s downstream energy ecosystem, leveraging innovation, scale, and sustainability to deliver world-class fuels and petrochemicals in alignment with national priorities.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

The report estimates that by 2030 India’s space economy will touch $40 billion and expects the sector to grow at twice the pace of the global market.

India’s space economy, currently estimated to be at $13 billion, is set to touch $40 billion by 2030, according to the recent India Spacetech-2026 report by early-stage venture capital firm, Arkam Ventures.

Titled ‘India’s Space Odyssey’, the report forecasts the sector to grow at twice the pace of the global market and that structural shifts in India’s spacetech ecosystem will propel it to the world’s third-largest space-tech economy by 2030. The growth will be fuelled by cost-efficient engineering, deep manufacturing capabilities and a new generation of startups building advanced space technologies for customers worldwide, it notes.

Higher capital inflow expected

Over the past five years, more than 300 space-tech startups have emerged in India, in areas such as satellite manufacturing, earth observation, launch vehicles and in-space solutions.

“More than two-thirds of the historical capital flows in the Indian spacetech sector have come in the last 5 years, post the space policy being formulated. We expect $3-$5 Bn of private capital flows in the sector over the next couple of years to fund cutting edge space innovations.” the report reads.

According to the VC, this momentum is built on ISRO’s legacy of low-cost, high-impact missions and its active support for private innovation.

“Its frugal engineering philosophy has shaped how startups design, test, and deliver products. Access to ISRO facilities and technology transfers has helped reduce time and cost to market. A talent flywheel is emerging with companies founded by alumni of ISRO and institutions such as BITS and IIT Madras, supported by more than 25,000 skilled engineering graduates in aerospace and allied sectors, annually. This combination of institutional backing and fresh talent is enabling startups to move from prototypes to market-ready solutions at unprecedented speed,” a statement from the firm said.

Indian companies to be among world’s top

The report also forecasts five Indian companies featuring among the world’s top 10 companies across the space-tech value chain in the coming years.

“India is uniquely positioned to lead the global spacetech sector fuelled by the unique ecosystem development role played by ISRO and the support from the Government. Over the next five years, we expect $3-$3.5 Bn of VC and Private Equity investments in the sector. We foresee 5 Indian startups feature among the world’s top 10 companies in vehicle launch, situational awareness, earth observation satellite manufacturing, and space debris handling,” said Rahul Chandra, Managing Director, Arkam Ventures.

The report also projects that by 2030 Indian private players will conduct 40 to 45 launches each year for global customers, manufacture one-third of the world’s Earth Observation Satellites and emerge as major exporters of avionics, GNSS, SATCOM and ground RF systems.

Aerospace scientist B.N. Suresh, former Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre and former chancellor of Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, unveiled the report at the Arkam Spacetech Meetup held in Bengaluru.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)