Microsoft to Sign AI Skilling MoU with Karnataka: Minister Patil

06 Sep 2024 CW Team

MB Patil, the Minister for Large and Medium Industries, revealed that Microsoft is set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Karnataka government. This agreement aims to boost skills in generative AI and other emerging technologies, according to an official statement.

The announcement came after a meeting between Patil and a Microsoft delegation led by Puneet Chandok, the President of Microsoft India and South Asia. During their discussions, the delegation outlined Microsoft's plans and initiatives.

Patil explained that Microsoft aims to position Karnataka as one of India's leading AI-driven states. To achieve this, the company will bring in solution experts to explore how AI can enhance investor support processes within the Department of Commerce & Industries.

Additionally, the discussions covered Microsoft?s involvement in the upcoming Global Investor Meet, scheduled for February 12-14, 2025. The focus will be on collaborating with Invest Karnataka to showcase Microsoft?s innovations at the event. Microsoft also plans for senior leaders to attend and present their latest technologies, as noted by Patil.

The Microsoft delegation included Irina Ghose, Managing Director of Microsoft India; Sheenu Sehkhri, Strategy Head and Chief of Staff for Microsoft India & South Asia; Anish Chandy, Senior Director; Sandeep Mahapatra, Senior Account Manager for Industry Solutions; and Sreekant Kurup, Account Lead and Technology Strategist. The meeting was also attended by Selvakumar, Principal Secretary of the Department of Commerce & Industries, and Gunjan Krishna, Commissioner of the Department of Commerce & Industries.

Infrastructure Urban

09 Apr 2026

Mineral Auction Rules Amended To Speed Mine Operationalisation

The Ministry of Mines notified the Mineral (Auction) Second Amendment Rules, 2026 on 30 March 2026 to accelerate operationalisation of mines and improve ease of doing business in the mining sector. The amendment follows a prior change to the Mineral (Auction) Rules, 2015 effected on 17 October 2025 that introduced intermediary timelines between issuance of a letter of intent (LoI) and execution of the mining lease. The 2025 change provided that one per cent of performance security would be appropriated for each month of delay by the preferred bidder and introduced incentives for early operatio..

Indian Railways Strengthens Telecom And AI Safety Systems

Indian Railways strengthened its telecom and digital infrastructure during 2025-26 with the aim of improving safety, operational efficiency and the passenger experience. The programme promoted modernisation through advanced technologies, robust communication systems and passenger-centric solutions. These measures were presented as part of a drive to build a digitally integrated rail ecosystem. A key development was the enhancement of the Internet Protocol Multi-Protocol Label Switching (IP MPLS) backbone, commissioned at 1,396 stations to meet bandwidth needs of mission-critical applications. ..

NHAI Holds Workshop on Litigation Management and Coordination

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) organised a day-long workshop in New Delhi to strengthen capacity and interdepartmental synergy for faster execution of national highway projects. The event was held under Mission Karmayogi – Sadhana Saptah, an initiative of the Government of India to enhance governance through capacity building and improved processes. The workshop focused on structured and solution oriented deliberations to address implementation constraints. The session was chaired by the NHAI chairman Santosh Kumar Yadav and brought together senior officials from NHAI, the M..