Ashwini Vaishnaw

March 11, 2026 10:20 PM

Indian Railways renews 54,600 km of tracks since 2014, boosting speed potential and safety

Indian Railways has renewed nearly 54,600 kilometres of railway tracks between 2014 and February 2026 as part of its ongoing efforts to enhance train safety, reliability and speed across the national rail network. The information was shared by Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. Vaishnaw said that track renewal is a continuous process carried out based on factors such as the age of the track, traffic load and overall condition. The works are prioritised ...

March 11, 2026 8:37 PM

Legal safeguards in place to address potential harms from AI technologies: Ashwini Vaishnaw

The Government has put in place multiple legal and regulatory safeguards to address potential risks arising from artificial intelligence and related technologies, particularly those affecting children, Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. Responding to a query in Parliament, the minister said India’s artificial intelligence strategy is based on the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to democratise technology, addre...

March 11, 2026 8:36 PM

Digital India boosting connectivity, affordability and digital infrastructure: Ashwini Vaishnaw

Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday said the Digital India programme has significantly advanced digital inclusion in India by expanding internet access, reducing data costs and building strong digital public infrastructure. The minister shared the details in the Lok Sabha, highlighting the government’s efforts over the past decade to bridge the digital divide and promote inclusive growth. Rapid expansion of internet access According to dat...

February 25, 2026 10:47 AM

Ashwini Vaishnaw flags off Bhopal-Dhanbad and Bhopal-Chopan Express trains

Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday virtually flagged off two new express trains connecting Bhopal with Dhanbad and Chopan, marking a significant boost to rail connectivity between Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand. The Bhopal–Dhanbad–Bhopal Tri-Weekly Express (Train No. 11631/32) and the Bhopal-Chopan-Bhopal Weekly Express (Train No. 11633/34) were flagged off from Rail Bhawan, New Delhi. The launch ceremony was held at Bhopal Railway Station in the presence o...

February 19, 2026 1:57 PM

India unveils New Delhi Frontier AI Commitments at AI Impact Summit

Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday unveiled the New Delhi Frontier AI Commitments, describing them as a key outcome of the India AI Impact Summit 2026. The framework comprises a set of voluntary commitments adopted by leading global and Indian artificial intelligence companies. Addressing the gathering, the minister said frontier AI firms and Indian AI companies have come together to adopt a shared commitment aimed at promoting inclusive and r...

February 19, 2026 1:48 PM

Ashwini Vaishnaw outlines India’s five-layer AI strategy at AI Impact Summit

Communications and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday outlined India’s five-layer artificial intelligence strategy at the AI-India Impact Summit, attended by delegates from 118 countries. Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed visiting heads of state and participants at the event. Describing it as the first global AI summit hosted in the Global South, Vaishnaw said the government’s approach is guided by the Prime Minister’s vision of democratising technology and ensuring its benefits...

February 18, 2026 12:33 PM

Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurates ‘WAVES Creators’ Corner’ at India AI Impact Summit 2026; 51 startups showcase AI innovations

Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday inaugurated the ‘WAVES Creators’ Corner’ at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, unveiling a dedicated innovation workspace aimed at demonstrating the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence in the AVGC-XR ecosystem. The pavilion, launched on the second day of the summit in New Delhi, has been conceptualised as a fully operational, hands-on platform showcasing AI applications across Animation, Visual Effec...

February 18, 2026 9:09 AM

India AI Impact Summit 2026: Awards and cultural showcase mark close of day 2; Vaishnaw calls it world’s largest AI meet

The second day of the India AI Impact Summit 2026 concluded on Tuesday with an awards ceremony recognising artificial intelligence innovations addressing national and global challenges, followed by a cultural programme celebrating India’s artistic and cultural diversity, according to an official statement. The awards recognised winners across three flagship initiatives — AI by HER, AI for ALL and YuvaAI — highlighting the summit’s focus on inclusive innovation, large-scale societal impa...

February 17, 2026 3:37 PM

Over $200 billion AI investment expected in 2 years, says Ashwini Vaishnaw

India is expecting investments of more than USD 200 billion over the next two years, Union Minister for Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Tuesday, highlighting strong global interest in the country’s artificial intelligence and deep-tech ecosystem. Speaking on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, Vaishnaw told ANI that global interest in India is visible across multiple areas. “There are two types of interest. The first is investment. There...

February 10, 2026 9:05 AM

Tamil Nadu gets ₹7,611 crore rail allocation in 2026–27, says Ashwini Vaishnaw

The Union Government has increased the railway budget allocation for Tamil Nadu by over 8.5 times since 2014, with funding rising to ₹7,611 crore in the 2026–27 financial year, Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Monday. In a series of posts on X, the minister said that despite the enhanced allocation, several railway projects in the state are facing delays due to issues related to land acquisition. He noted that for ongoing projects, only 24 per cent of the required land h...