President to Lead SOAR AI Skilling Programme

02 Jan 2026 CW Team

Organised by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, the programme reflects the continued commitment of the Government of India towards building future-ready skills across sectors. The event will be held in the presence of Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Education, and Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education.

During the programme, the President will confer artificial intelligence certificates on learners, including students and Members of Parliament. She will also launch the national awareness campaign, #SkillTheNation Challenge, aimed at encouraging greater youth participation in skilling initiatives aligned with emerging technologies. As part of the agenda, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship will conduct a special “AI for Beginners” session at Rashtrapati Bhavan, delivered as a short interactive learning module by a globally renowned AI expert in collaboration with Google.

The President will also virtually inaugurate the IGNOU Regional Centre at Rairangpur, which is expected to serve as a key hub for northern Odisha by strengthening employability through skill-oriented programmes and training support.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping the nature of work and skill requirements across industries. The Ministry has placed strong emphasis on AI skilling with a focus on accessibility, relevance and inclusion. Through initiatives such as SOAR – Skilling for AI Readiness, it aims to equip learners with essential AI competencies aligned with evolving industry needs and national development priorities.

The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, will grace a special programme under SOAR – Skilling for AI Readiness, an initiative of the Skill India Mission, on 1 January 2026 at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre in New Delhi. The event is scheduled to begin at 11 am and underscores the government’s focus on preparing India’s workforce for an artificial intelligence-driven future. Organised by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, the programme reflects the continued commitment of the Government of India towards building future-ready skills across sectors. The event will be held in the presence of Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Education, and Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education. During the programme, the President will confer artificial intelligence certificates on learners, including students and Members of Parliament. She will also launch the national awareness campaign, #SkillTheNation Challenge, aimed at encouraging greater youth participation in skilling initiatives aligned with emerging technologies. As part of the agenda, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship will conduct a special “AI for Beginners” session at Rashtrapati Bhavan, delivered as a short interactive learning module by a globally renowned AI expert in collaboration with Google. The President will also virtually inaugurate the IGNOU Regional Centre at Rairangpur, which is expected to serve as a key hub for northern Odisha by strengthening employability through skill-oriented programmes and training support. Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping the nature of work and skill requirements across industries. The Ministry has placed strong emphasis on AI skilling with a focus on accessibility, relevance and inclusion. Through initiatives such as SOAR – Skilling for AI Readiness, it aims to equip learners with essential AI competencies aligned with evolving industry needs and national development priorities.

Real Estate

28 Feb 2026

Casagrand Launches Keystone In Tiruppur

Casagrand has launched Casagrand Keystone, a gated residential development at Rakkiyapalayam, off Avinashi Road, in Tiruppur. Spread across 2.2 acres, the B+G+5 structure comprises 142 units of 2 and 3 BHK homes, supported by 48 indoor and outdoor amenities. The project is introduced at a starting price of Rs 5,199 per sq. ft. The development allocates 1.3 acres to open space, including a central park of about 24,500 sq. ft. A 6,800 sq. ft. clubhouse includes a multipurpose hall, mini theatre and indoor recreation facilities. Other amenities include a 5,100 sq. ft. swimming pool, poolside par..

Real Estate

28 Feb 2026

Premium homes account for half of India’s housing sales in 2025

Knight Frank India, in its latest report on India’s office and residential property market, has highlighted a significant shift in housing demand, with homes priced above Rs 10 million accounting for 50 per cent of total residential sales across the top eight cities in 2025. The findings underscore the growing dominance of premium housing in the country’s real estate landscape.Out of 348,247 residential units sold during the year, approximately 175,091 units were in the Rs 10 million-plus category, marking a 14 per cent year-on-year increase. The data reflects changing buyer preferences, w..

Infrastructure Energy

28 Feb 2026

Xbattery launches XB-5K energy storage system for homes, offices

Xbattery, a Hyderabad-based deep-tech company specialising in next-generation energy storage and battery management technologies, has introduced its flagship XB-5K, a scalable 5kWh energy storage system designed for homes and offices in India.The XB-5K is built on the company’s indigenously developed BharatBMS platform, described as India’s first universal high-voltage battery management system architecture aimed at reducing import dependence and improving after-sales service capabilities. The launch comes as India seeks to strengthen domestic manufacturing and address reliance on imported..