Just In: Google loses its second India public policy head in about two years.
One quick thing: Karnataka labour officials visit Infosys Bengaluru, Mysuru campuses amid layoffs; Infy emphasises fair treatment, employee-friendly policies
In today's newsletter:
- Modi’s Musk meeting: What’s on agenda?
- Stark AI warning from Indo-French govts
- Karnataka's huge cleantech ambitions
P.S. A new chapter begins for one of India's most-loved IPL franchises. Scroll below for more deets!
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Top 3 Stories
Modi’s Musk meeting: What’s on agenda?
All eyes will be on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with tech billionaire Elon Musk in Washington today.
- This will be part of PM Modi’s US visit to meet US president Donald Trump. He will also be meeting Indian-origin entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and US National Security Advisor Michael Waltz
PM Modi and Musk have met several times before, but things are different now. Musk is currently US President Donald Trump's bestie (for now, at least!), so expect him to push for a faster Starlink license, tariff concessions for Tesla, among other things.
Why it matters?
Starlink has been seeking approval to provide its satellite broadband services in India for a few years now. In November, Starlink agreed to meet the government's data localisation and security requirements, a key condition for its approval.
This move comes as a fierce battle is underway between global satellite communication players like Starlink and Amazon, and Indian private telecom operators such as Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea.
Tesla's India entry?
Another key talking point is expected to be the much-anticipated entry of Tesla into India, something that has been in the works for several years now (we've lost count of how many...)
Musk has repeatedly criticised India’s high import taxes on electric cars, and discussions about setting up a local manufacturing base haven't materialised.
- In December, Commerce minister Piyush Goyal said that India is ready to create favorable conditions for foreign companies like Tesla, warning that anybody missing the opportunity will do so at their own risk.
What else?
With India seeking to establish itself in the super competitive artificial intelligence (AI) race, Modi might also discuss various opportunities, and collaborations with Musk's xAI venture.
- Musk canceled his much-anticipated visit to India in April last year, shortly before the Indian elections. However, when he last met the prime minister in June 2023, the Tesla CEO said he is "a fan" of him. Will he announce any plans for an India visit this time around?
Stark AI warning from Indo-French govts
It is not just India that is worried about the impact of artificial intelligence on humanity - 29 other countries are too!
Driving the news
The global AI race is spiraling into a dangerous "race to the bottom" without proper international safeguards, according to a report released by a working group co-chaired by India and France on February 11.
- 29 States, 6 international organisations, 7 tech companies and 10 civil society organizations, met for 7 months to identify points of consensus over AI
The report was signed by IT ministry additional secretary Abhishek Singh and Henri Verdier, the ambassador for digital affairs of the French government.
The group's conclusions
Rather than pushing for global regulations, the group advocated a broader approach which includes:
- Voluntary commitments
- Codes of conduct
- Open standards
5 principles
The group also identified 5 core principles for AI governance
- Inclusive growth
- Respect for the rule of law, human rights
- Transparency
- Security
- Accountability
Discussions on topics such as interoperability of standards however remained inconclusive, the report concluded.
Go deeper
Karnataka's huge cleantech ambitions
Karnataka, the first Indian state to embrace EVs, is now supercharging its clean mobility mission!
Driving the news: At the Invest Karnataka Global Investors Meet happening in Bengaluru, the state will unveil the Karnataka Clean Mobility Policy 2025-2030, aiming to position itself as Asia’s leading clean mobility hub. Sources tell us that the policy is likely to be launched tomorrow.
- The policy aims to establish a sustainable clean mobility ecosystem through incentives, cluster development, and infrastructure expansion.
The state is aiming to attract Rs 50,000 crore in investments and generate 1 lakh jobs through this policy.
Key highlights
To drive EV adoption, the state is offering capital subsidies of up to 35% for MSMEs and up to 25% for large enterprises. Fast-charging and swapping stations will receive hefty incentives, ensuring an EV-friendly ecosystem.
- The policy backs hydrogen fuel cell tech, battery recycling, and global R&D collaborations with Stanford and Delft.
- Interestingly, the policy recommends E-rickshaws and EV autos for last-mile connectivity, making urban transport greener.
Mobility clusters on the way
Karnataka is also rolling out three clean mobility clusters—strategically placed near Bengaluru, Hubballi, and Ramanagara—to support R&D, startups, and large-scale manufacturing.
Read More
MC Special: Love bug bites Indian travellers
"Wise men say, only fools rush in, but I can't help falling in love with you".... many would be expressing their love through Elvis Presley's classic song while flying to Phuket or driving down to Kausani as Indians go big on travel this Valentine's Day with hotels sold out.
Room bookings for many hotels have surged 15-20% versus last year and occupancy is hovering around 75 - 85 percent for Valentine's weekend as Indians are making the most of February 14 overlapping with a weekend.
- While Phuket has overtaken Dubai as the most sought-after international destination, Goa remains the top domestic choice.
Read to know more
PS: Quick commerce firms will also join the Valentine's Day bandwagon, so expect high sales of roses, teddy bears and more. Watch out for our edition tomorrow for more on it.
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