AGP Executive Report

Sovereign AI: IBM and MeitY are teaming up to help deep-tech startups scale, while IBM has unveiled its Bharat Core AI stack. IBM also plans to deploy India’s first quantum computer in Amaravati in early 2027. Chip Ambitions: IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw says India must build domestic supplies of critical materials, chemicals and gases for semiconductors. A new report highlights the gap: Indian hardware brands earn just over ₹60,000 crore, despite electronics production exceeding ₹13 lakh crore. AI Infrastructure: CtrlS plans a $1.05 billion, 150MW AI data centre in Bihar; Adani Enterprises and Jabil have also agreed to form a 50:50 venture to make AI and data-centre hardware in India. Energy Storage: India’s solar-cell manufacturing capacity is nearing 50GW, while Andhra Pradesh has invited bids for 1,250MW of battery storage. Research Partnership: A UK-India programme backed by £2.9 million will fund work on recycled materials and alternatives to critical minerals.

Deep-Tech Startups: IBM and MeitY Startup Hub will connect Indian AI, quantum and cloud startups with enterprise platforms, mentors and potential customers to help turn prototypes into commercial products. Semiconductors: DRDO will lead a session on indigenous chips at the October 27–29 ESTIC-2026, focusing on chip design, AI computing and strategic applications. AI Infrastructure: CtrlS plans to invest $1.05 billion in a 150MW AI data centre in Bihar and build more edge centres in smaller cities. Clean Energy: India generated a record 101 billion units of renewable power in July–September, while solar output rose 39% year on year; coal still supplied about two-thirds of electricity. Research: Indian scientists developed a lightweight shielding material from millet straw and soy waste that blocks more than 99.99% of microwave radiation in a tested band. Automotive Technology: Hyundai Motor Group pledged $15.5 billion in India through 2032, including investment in local R&D, manufacturing and future mobility.

AI and Jobs: A report says about a quarter of India’s workforce is highly exposed to AI, sharpening concerns over how automation could reshape entry-level work. Healthcare Technology: Fortis has introduced what it calls India’s first AI-powered, robot-assisted hybrid cath lab, combining imaging and robotic assistance for procedures. Quantum Research: India’s reported 1,000-km quantum milestone could support secure communications for defence and government networks. Clean Energy: India curtailed more than 4% of solar power in July and August as grid constraints limited absorption, highlighting the need for stronger networks and storage. Science Education: IISER Tirupati and the University of Melbourne have launched a dual science degree, giving students two years of study in each country and honours degrees from both institutions. Solar Research: Indian scientists analysed three decades of data to study the Sun’s bright poles.

Grid & Renewables: India curtailed 4.2% of its solar generation in July and August—about 1.8 billion units—as transmission and operating constraints left the expanding clean-power fleet unable to deliver its output. Deep-Tech Funding: The government approved 19 managers to deploy ₹7,131 crore from its research and innovation fund, backing technology ventures from prototype stage onward and aiming to draw in private capital. Space Technology: Chennai’s Space Zone India says it demonstrated an in-flight rocket engine shutdown and restart, a capability that could support reusable launch systems. Science Education: IISER Tirupati and the University of Melbourne launched a dual-degree programme, with students spending two years at each institution and choosing from science majors including biotechnology, physics and environmental science. Automotive Engineering: Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles and Stellantis will develop vehicles in India using Tata platforms, with production intended for more than 50 markets.

Satellite Internet: Elon Musk says Starlink will keep prices affordable in India, where it faces competition from Jio; both satellite services are awaiting security clearance. Semiconductors: Bengaluru-based Tessolve Semiconductor raised $75 million led by Vector Line Capital to fund growth, acquisitions and global expansion. Energy Storage: India’s battery storage capacity could grow 91% annually to 302 GWh by FY32, Nuvama estimates. In Delhi, Pace Digitek won a 115 MWh utility-scale battery project for BSES Rajdhani Power. AI Policy: India plans to issue a consultation paper on AI rules, with deepfakes and user safety among the priorities. Power Infrastructure: A report sees transmission upgrades and data-centre demand creating opportunities for India’s engineering sector, with capacity for high-voltage direct-current power links projected to rise to 55 GW by FY32.

Electric Mobility: India recorded 3.33 lakh EV sales in September, up 74% year on year, with electric two-wheelers and passenger vehicles both hitting monthly records. Research: Thirty-one University of Hyderabad scientists made Stanford–Elsevier’s 2026 list of the world’s top 2% researchers, including 12 named on both career-long and single-year rankings. Nuclear Energy: Private companies could invest about ₹7.5 lakh crore and supply 30 GW toward India’s 100 GW nuclear capacity target by 2047, says Atomic Energy Commission chief Ajit Kumar Mohanty. AI Investment: Voice-AI firm ElevenLabs plans to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in India, building local teams and developing models for Indian languages. High-Altitude Health: ICMR is set to lay the foundation for its first dedicated high-altitude medicine and public-health research centre in Keylong, Himachal Pradesh, on October 12.

AI Infrastructure: Google’s planned $15 billion Visakhapatnam data centre is drawing local opposition over possible strain on water, power and the environment. Google says it plans to use air cooling and will assess the project’s impact. Physical AI: Mumbai startup Inner Sky Labs has launched a platform to help machines interpret sight, sound and touch, and is seeking ₹300 crore in funding to expand into industrial robotics and other applications. Telecom: At India Mobile Congress, officials highlighted ambitions to reach one billion 5G users by 2030 and lead in 6G, alongside a focus on rural connectivity and AI. Research: IIT Bombay and Rosatom have opened a student hackathon to develop power-grid protection systems for networks combining nuclear and renewable energy. India has also demonstrated quantum-key transmission over 5.56 km of open air, a step towards secure communications.

Telecom & AI: India Mobile Congress 2026 closed with a push for farmer-focused AI, autonomous agents to manage 5G networks and better rural connectivity. India also joined the ITU’s AI for Good Lab as a pilot country. Digital Rights: The Delhi High Court barred unauthorised use of actor Vijay Deverakonda’s identity through AI deepfakes and face-morphing, ordering platforms to remove flagged content. Satellite Internet: Elon Musk’s Starlink dispute with Mukesh Ambani intensified, while the government said satellite operators must meet security requirements and no monopoly would be allowed. IT Jobs: Infosys expects no material impact from the US suspension of some firms’ green-card sponsorship applications; filings by Indian IT companies have fallen sharply in recent years. Clean Tech: Indian cleantech startups raised $433 million across 23 deals in Q3, up from $118 million a year earlier, with three electric-mobility firms accounting for nearly 69% of the funding.

Telecom & Satellite: India is positioning itself as a telecom technology hub, with officials highlighting home-grown 6G research. The ambition is playing out amid Elon Musk’s public attacks over Starlink’s delayed India launch; the government says providers can begin once security requirements are met. AI Policy: India has joined the ITU’s AI for Good Lab as a pilot country, while the Centre plans AI rules focused on deepfakes and user safety. Science: Indian researchers have links to two 2026 Nobel-winning fields: JNU professor Suneel Kateriya helped identify light-sensitive algal proteins central to optogenetics, while AMU researchers are part of the IceCube neutrino collaboration. Tech Talent: A US pause on green-card labour certifications at eight tech firms, including TCS, Infosys, Wipro and HCL, has unsettled Indian workers; some industry leaders see a chance to shift more advanced work to India, though the impact is uncertain. Digital Logistics: India Post is expanding drone deliveries, connecting 27 branch offices in Assam and planning service on 110 routes in Himachal Pradesh.

Satellite Internet: Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia says satcom providers can launch only after meeting security requirements, as Starlink awaits approval and Eutelsat OneWeb says its infrastructure and security demonstrations are ready. AI Rules: The Centre plans to release a consultation paper on AI regulation within a month, with deepfakes and user safety in focus. 6G Outlook: India’s full 6G rollout may slip beyond 2030, the telecom industry warns, citing weak revenue-generating applications for 5G and uncertainty over future returns. Energy Storage: NETRA is urging India to back alternatives such as sodium-ion, flow and zinc-based batteries alongside lithium-ion to reduce reliance on imported minerals. Digital Access: Mobile internet is set to be suspended for 24 hours in parts of central Delhi ahead of Saturday’s protest, affecting residents and businesses within the notified area.

Satellite Internet: Elon Musk escalated his Starlink dispute with India, questioning Mukesh Ambani’s influence after the government rejected claims that business interests were blocking the service. Security clearances remain a hurdle for satellite operators. AI Rules: India plans to publish an AI regulatory consultation paper within a month, with deepfakes and safety among the concerns. Telecom: At India Mobile Congress, PM Modi said 5G now reaches every district; the government is targeting one billion users by 2030 and leadership in 6G. Tech Jobs: The US has suspended PERM green-card processing for eight major firms, including TCS, Infosys, Wipro and HCLTech. Nasscom said the move affects a specific immigration route, not skilled-talent mobility broadly. Research: Indian teams demonstrated a 5.56-km open-air quantum security link, a step towards testing quantum key distribution over satellite networks. Data Centres: Google is preparing to build what it describes as India’s largest data centre, adding to a rapid expansion that is intensifying questions over clean power and net-zero goals.

Telecom & 6G: At India Mobile Congress, PM Narendra Modi said 5G now reaches every district, with more than 550,000 operating base stations. Tejas Networks and Qualcomm demonstrated technology that uses wireless signals to detect vehicles and drones, a potential building block for 6G. AI Research: IIT Hyderabad and S&P Global launched a lab for AI research and finance-focused projects, giving students and faculty hands-on industry experience. Quantum & Space: Indian researchers transmitted quantum keys across 5.56 km of open air, a step towards testing satellite-based quantum communications. AI in Classrooms: A study of more than 1,000 Karnataka teachers found that Shiksha Copilot helped create locally relevant lesson plans in Kannada and English, saving time and supporting more hands-on teaching. Satellite Internet: Elon Musk again alleged that business interests are holding up Starlink’s India launch; the government has called the claim baseless and says approvals follow a fair process.

Telecom & 6G: At India Mobile Congress, Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said India aims to grow its 5G user base from 550 million to one billion by 2030. Broadband subscriptions have reached one billion, and the Bharat 6G Alliance has filed 7,700 patents. PM Modi said mobile phones are now tools for delivering public services. Satellite Internet: India defended its “fair” telecom rules after Elon Musk accused unnamed interests of blocking Starlink. The service is awaiting approvals amid debate over spectrum and pricing. AI Investment: CoreWeave is entering India with a 240-megawatt data-centre deal with AdaniConneX, while voice-AI firm ElevenLabs plans major investment and team expansion. Tech Manufacturing: Ericsson says it has made more than 15,000 antennas in India and is beginning exports to Europe, bolstering the country’s ambitions as a telecom equipment hub. Agricultural Biotech: A field study estimates unapproved herbicide-tolerant Bt cotton covered 24–30% of India’s cotton acreage in 2025–26, intensifying debate over regulation and farm impacts.

AI & Cybersecurity: RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra said AI-related asset valuations pose a risk, but cyber threats from AI’s growing use across financial systems are a bigger concern. 6G: Nokia says timely access to enough spectrum is crucial for India’s planned 2030 rollout. Medtech: Dehradun-based Sunfox Technologies raised $7 million to expand its portable cardiac diagnostics business and invest in R&D. Research Ties: India and Ghana signed a five-year pact for joint agricultural research and technology transfer, starting with tomato research. Digital Infrastructure: At India Mobile Congress, Jio showcased its sovereign AI plans and proposed low-Earth-orbit satellite network; Starlink says it has built 20 India gateway sites and will keep user data in the country. Industrial AI: A NITI Aayog report sees predictive maintenance and other AI tools potentially adding up to $100 billion to manufacturing by 2035. Biotech Research: A new industry white paper urges India to develop human-relevant alternatives to animal testing, including organ-on-chip systems and AI models.

RBI Tightens Policy: India’s central bank hiked the repo rate by 25 bps to 5.50% for the first time in over three years, citing firmer inflation risks, global yield pressures and resilient growth—sparking selling in rate-sensitive sectors like banks, auto and realty. Aerospace Push: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated HAL’s second Shakti helicopter engine line at Koraput, targeting up to 100 engines annually and boosting India’s indigenous propulsion roadmap. AI Safety & India: An opinion piece flags concerns over OpenAI-linked software agents accessing sensitive systems, arguing India must set clear guardrails before agents handle payments on behalf of users. Edtech Funding: Hyderabad’s byteXL raised $9 Mn to expand tech + AI skilling across engineering colleges, aiming to scale from 40 to 120 institutions and reach 5 lakh students in 15 states. Smart Finance Apps: A quick read argues for integrated financial apps that combine budgeting, utility payments and credit management to reduce app clutter and hidden fees. Urban Tech for Enforcement: Delhi’s MCD sought ₹60 crore for drone-based 3D mapping and enforcement squads to curb illegal construction in informal colonies. GST Overhaul Ahead: The 57th GST Council meeting (Oct 8) is expected to focus on faster refunds, simpler registration and reduced compliance friction using more tech. Space/Defence Deals: India’s defence ecosystem also saw new momentum with engine and naval procurement headlines.

Court Watch: A Mumbai court discharged engineering student Vishal Jha in the Bulli Bai App case, saying merely following the app (without proof of sharing) isn’t enough for an offence. AI & Telecom: HCLTech will showcase AI-native transformation solutions for telcos at India Mobile Congress 2026, targeting autonomous networks, OSS modernization and 6G readiness. Solar Push: Premier Energies began trial production at India’s largest solar cell plant in Andhra Pradesh, while Bondada Engineering bagged a 270 MWp solar EPC order in Maharashtra. Health Tech: OU and AIG Hospitals won a top Young Investigator award at WCOG 2026 for colorectal cancer multi-omic research in Indian patients. Public Health & Policy: Delhi LG and CM launched healthcare initiatives under Seva Sankalp Abhiyan, including upgrades to ASHA incentives and new hospital systems. Digital Inclusion: PM Modi urged democratisation of technology and stronger safeguards against cyber fraud and deepfakes. Global Trade: India and Switzerland discussed fast-tracking a Bilateral Investment Treaty and deeper science/tech cooperation, including emerging tech and research frameworks. Markets: Sensex and Nifty jumped ahead of the RBI policy decision.