India news: PM Modi lays foundation stone for HCL-Foxconn joint venture project in Jewar

State Bank of India is sharpening its startup strategy and putting real money behind it.

The country’s largest lender is actively investing in startup-focused funds and financial market infrastructure through direct equity participation, as part of its broader MSME push. SBI Managing Director Ravi Ranjan said the bank is backing initiatives such as Startup India and strengthening its presence in startup-heavy branches and business centres.

Speaking at the ‘India by MSME’ event hosted by UGRO Capital in Mumbai, Ranjan framed startups as more than just high-growth ventures. He described them as a code for the entrepreneurial shift underway in India, one that is accelerating MSME credit, driving innovation, deepening internet adoption and generating employment at scale.

Authorities are probing if mobile gaming addiction played a role in the death of a 16-year-old boy found dead at a nearby beach, police said on Saturday. Arjunkumar, a resident of Njarakkal, had informed his family on Thursday evening that he was heading to a turf ground for football but later went missing. After his mother filed a complaint, police initiated a missing persons case and launched a search operation. The boy’s body was recovered on Friday evening from Chappa Beach near Malipuram.

Srinagar just rewrote its February weather history.

The city recorded a maximum temperature of 21°C on Saturday, the highest daytime temperature ever logged in the month. That’s a striking 10°C above the seasonal average and enough to push past the previous February record of 20.6°C set on February 24, 2016.

It wasn’t just Srinagar. Several weather stations across the Kashmir Valley reported unusually high daytime temperatures, with readings running 9.5 to 10 degrees above normal.

The Adani Group is working on strategies to restart the Formula 1 motor sport at the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida, Karan Adani, the MD of Adani Cement said on Saturday.

According to official sources, Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya recently visited the circuit and held talks with officials from Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority.

“I’m very excited… obviously the Buddh circuit comes (as) part of the deal. I’m very personally engaged in terms of bringing Formula 1 back into India. I think India has a lot of potential. There’s a lot of following in Formula 1 from India, ” Adani, who is also the MD of Adani Ports & SEZ, said while speaking at the 70th Foundation Day of All India Management Association (AIMA) in the national capital.

(PTI inputs)

India has so far approved 10 semiconductor fabrication and packaging projects under its Semiconductor Mission, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, adding that four of these units are set to commence production very soon.

"This decade is a 'tech-ade' for India. Whatever India is doing in the field of technology in this decade will become the basis of our strength in the 21st century... India may have started its journey in the semiconductor sector late, but today, we are progressing at a rapid pace," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that in the 20th century, countries that possessed oil became both prosperous and powerful. In the 21st century, small chip possesses this same power, he added. "During the Covid-19 pandemic, we have seen how fragile the supply chain for even the smallest chip has been... India learned from that struggle and began to turn it into an opportunity. We have to make India 'aatmnirbhar' in chip manufacturing... When India's chip is 'made in India', we won't have to look towards other nations for manufacturing modern equipment," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the HCL-Foxconn Joint Venture project, India Chip Pvt Ltd, in Uttar Pradesh via video conferencing.

The Ministry of Commerce & Industry on Saturday said it has 'noted' the US Supreme Court judgment on tariffs and is studying the Trump administration’s next steps for their implications, signalling that New Delhi is assessing both the court order and Washington’s policy response before taking a public position.

“We have noted the US Supreme Court judgement on tariffs yesterday. President Trump has also addressed a press conference in that regard. Some steps have been announced by the US Administration. We are studying all these developments for their implications,” the ministry said in an official press statement. Read more

Kerala’s final voter list has been published by the Election Commission of India after the completion of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), bringing the total number of electors to more than 2.69 crore.

The Commission provided the link http://electoralsearch.eci.gov.in to help the public check their enrolment status.

Data shared at a media briefing showed the updated roll comprises 2,69,53,644 voters, compared with 2,78,50,855 before the SIR exercise commenced in October. A total of 8,97,211 voters were removed, the ECI stated.

As many as 86 countries and two international organisations have signed the AI Impact Summit declaration, IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday said, adding that the US, UK, Canada, China, Denmark, and Germany are among the signatories.

The strong global backing for the declaration comes at the conclusion of the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi.

Vaishnaw told reporters that nations across the world have formalised and upheld principles of 'welfare of all, and happiness of all'.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi's human-centric AI vision been accepted by the world. Democratising Artificial Intelligence resources so AI facilities, services and technology can reach everyone in society has been accepted by all," the minister said.

A political controversy broke out after Youth Congress workers staged a topless protest at the AI Impact Summit 2026 venue in New Delhi. The demonstration drew sharp criticism from several opposition leaders, who termed it inappropriate for an international event centred on artificial intelligence and innovation.

The summit, attended by prominent delegates from India and overseas, was meant to showcase India’s rising profile in emerging technologies. However, the protest overshadowed proceedings, with critics arguing that it dented the country’s global image. Read more

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Brazilian President Lula Da Silva at the Hyderabad House on Saturday, India and Brazil signed agreements on five key areas- defence and security, food and nutritional security, energy, agriculture and digital transformation. They have also pledged bilateral trade beyond $20 billion over the next five years.

Retired IAS officer Shantmanu takes oath as J&K Election Commissioner at Lok Bhavan in presence of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.

Vice President CP Radhakrishnan releases Constitution of India in Gujarati, Tamil languages

Vice President CP Radhakrishnan releases the Constitution of India in Gujarati and Tamil languages at the Vice President's Secretariat.

PM Modi holds bilateral talks with Brazilian President Lula at Hyderabad House

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral talks with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at Hyderabad House.

Amit Shah attends 87th Raising Day Parade of CRPF

Home Minister Amit Shah attended the 87th Raising Day Parade of the Central Reserve Police Force as the Chief Guest at the Arjun Bhogeswar Baruah stadium in Guwahati.

BJP holds protest against Indian Youth Congress' 'shirtless protest'

Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva and party MP Manoj Tiwari led a protest against Indian Youth Congress' 'shirtless protest' held at the Bharat Mandapam during the finale of the India AI Impact Summit on Friday.

Seven Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were injured when their vehicle lost control and fell into a river on Saturday. The accident took place on Dagpora-Umerhair Road at Ahmadnagar locality on the outskirts of Srinagar.

Brazilian President Lula gets official welcome in India

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva received an official welcome in India. He was accompanied by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu.

An intelligence alert has been issued in the national capital following inputs warning of a possible terror threat near the Red Fort, with sources stating that terrorists may target a temple in the Chandni Chowk area. According to intelligence sources, key religious places, including areas around the Red Fort and parts of Chandni Chowk, remain on the radar of the Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Sources suggest that the group may be plotting an improvised explosive device (IED) attack.

The White House said US trading partners — including India — that finalised tariff agreements with the Donald Trump administration prior to the Supreme Court's ruling will now be subject to a flat 10 per cent tariff. According to a White House official, this new tariff will remain in place until another authority is invoked, emphasising the expectation that trade partners abide by US trade deals.

US President Donald Trump said 'de minimis' duty free rule stays suspended. These goods will still incur tariffs as per rates defined in July 2025 order.

US President Donald Trump on Saturday suspended reciprocal tariffs and said tariffs applicable on trading countries under Sections 232 and 301 will continue.