According to estimates by the NatConnect Foundation, India’s data centres may consume around 37.5 billion litres of water every year. This amount equals the yearly water needs of nearly 7–8 lakh people. The AI data centre boom strains water security especially in cities where water shortages already occur.

India’s data centre capacity has grown rapidly from about 375 MW in 2020 to over 1,500 MW by 2025, driven by digital services and AI expansion. A conventionally cooled 1-MW facility can use nearly 25 million litres of water annually.

To tackle this challenge, the government is encouraging advanced cooling technologies. These include direct-to-chip liquid cooling, immersion cooling, and adiabatic cooling systems that reduce both water and energy use. Experts also suggest rainwater harvesting, wastewater reuse, and closed-loop cooling systems to ensure sustainable digital infrastructure.

The post AI Data Centre Boom Strains Water Security, Centre Adopts High-Tech Cooling appeared first on India Podcast.

India’s telecom growth was driven by strong reforms and innovation. The minister said the country stands at the meeting point of intelligence and infrastructure. Under the leadership of Narendra Modi, telecom reforms were strengthened. Indigenous research, production-linked incentives, and global integration supported this transformation. India’s telecom ecosystem continues to expand globally.

The Bharat Pavilion featured more than 40 Indian telecom innovators. Technologies displayed included 4G, 5G, emerging 6G, Open RAN, satellite communication, semiconductor design, AI-driven networks, and cybersecurity. Global confidence in India’s telecom capability was reflected in the expanded participation.

The minister visited several company booths, including C-DOT and other innovators. Indigenous telecom hardware and AI platforms were showcased. India’s commitment to secure networks and telecom exports was highlighted strongly at the event.

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Reports filed in January added five more incidents from late 2025 and early 2026. One incident involved a stopped robotaxi and an Austin city bus. Two others occurred when vehicles reversed into objects in parking areas. Tesla began offering fully driverless rides in a small number of vehicles during January, though reports did not confirm whether those cars were involved in crashes.

The company provides limited details in filings and often removes narrative descriptions, making full analysis difficult. Elon Musk has tied Tesla’s future growth to autonomy and robotics as EV sales pressure increases. Meanwhile, rival Waymo operates thousands of vehicles across several cities and has also reported many incidents. Tesla currently runs robotaxi rides only in Austin but plans expansion to more cities later this year.

The post Tesla Robotaxi Crash Reports Raise Safety Questions appeared first on India Podcast.

Earlier, a viral video showed Professor Neha Singh introducing the RoboDog as “Orion.” As a result, social media users accused the university of misrepresentation. Soon after, authorities asked the institution to clear its expo space.

However, Registrar Nitin Kumar Gaur rejected the allegations. He clarified that the university did not develop the robot. Instead, it bought the machine to help students with research. He explained that confusion arose from the words “develop” and “development.”

Meanwhile, Professor Neha Singh also denied any false claim. She said the robot still carried its original branding. Moreover, she stated that it was displayed only for academic projection. She added that she teaches communications, not artificial intelligence.

In addition, the university issued a formal statement. It described the backlash as propaganda. Furthermore, it stressed its focus on innovation and skill-building. According to the statement, students use global technologies to gain practical exposure.

Overall, the incident sparked debate at the summit. The India AI Impact Summit operates under the IndiaAI Mission and Digital India initiative. It brings together policymakers, industry leaders, and academics to promote responsible AI growth.

The post Galgotias Vacates Stall Over RoboDog Row appeared first on India Podcast.

During a visit to Bengaluru, PNB Managing Director and CEO Ashok Chandra reviewed the bank’s business performance and outlined its expansion strategy for Karnataka. He said the bank wants to deepen engagement with professionals, corporates, and start-ups through technology-driven services.

As part of the plan, PNB will open digital branches in major technology parks across Bengaluru. These branches will focus on offering seamless digital banking solutions tailored for tech professionals and digitally savvy customers. The bank also plans to enhance support for start-ups by providing customised credit, transaction banking, and advisory services.

PNB expands digital banking to align with its broader goal of digital-led growth and improved customer experience. Officials said Bengaluru remains a key market due to its strong start-up culture and concentration of global technology firms.

The expansion will help PNB strengthen its footprint in southern India while promoting faster, paperless, and customer-centric banking services. The bank expects the initiative to drive higher adoption of digital channels and reinforce its presence in emerging business hubs.

The post PNB Expands Digital Banking in Bengaluru appeared first on India Podcast.

The new feature, called “Strict Account Settings,” appears inside WhatsApp’s settings menu. With a single tap, users can activate multiple security defences. These measures block media files and attachments from unknown senders. They also disable link previews and silence calls from contacts not saved on the device.

WhatsApp said hackers often exploit these features to install spyware or track users. By limiting such entry points, the company aims to reduce exposure to advanced cyberattacks. Despite the tighter controls, WhatsApp continues to protect all chats with end-to-end encryption.

Meta joins other major U.S. tech firms that now offer high-security modes. Apple introduced Lockdown Mode in 2022 for iPhone and macOS users. Alphabet followed with Advanced Protection Mode on Android last year.

Security researchers welcomed WhatsApp’s move. John Scott-Railton from The Citizen Lab said the feature would help protect civil society members and pressure other companies to improve security standards.

WhatsApp plans to roll out the feature globally in phases.

The post WhatsApp High Security Mode Launched for Users appeared first on India Podcast.

On Tuesday, several AWS employees received a commiseration email and a team-wide meeting invite that appeared to confirm layoffs scheduled for Wednesday morning. The email, signed by Colleen Aubrey, Senior Vice President of Applied AI Solutions at AWS, stated that affected employees in the U.S., Canada, and Costa Rica had already been informed—though this had not happened.

Soon after employees flagged the message on internal Slack channels, Amazon canceled the meeting invitation. The email referred to the layoffs as “Project Dawn” and cited the company’s long-term strategy and future growth.

Reuters had earlier reported that Amazon planned to lay off thousands of corporate employees this week, but the company has not officially confirmed the move. Roles across AWS, retail, Prime Video, and human resources may face cuts.

Amazon previously reduced about 14,000 jobs in October as part of a broader plan to trim 30,000 corporate roles. The company linked those cuts to increased use of artificial intelligence.

Amazon has not yet responded publicly to the email error.

The post Amazon Bungles Layoff Plan After Email Error appeared first on India Podcast.

Altman responded hours later and defended OpenAI. He called the reported cases tragic and complex. He said OpenAI takes user safety seriously. Altman noted that nearly one billion people use the tool worldwide. He added that some users face fragile mental health conditions.

Altman said OpenAI must balance protection for vulnerable users with public usefulness. He also accused Musk of mixed messaging. He said Musk often criticises ChatGPT for being too restrictive. He argued Musk now claims the system allows too much freedom.

Altman then referenced Tesla’s Autopilot feature. He said reports link the system to dozens of fatal crashes. He added that riding in a Tesla using Autopilot felt unsafe. He also criticised Musk’s AI chatbot Grok. He pointed to past controversies over generated images.

Musk has accused OpenAI of abandoning its nonprofit mission. He has filed a lawsuit seeking billions in damages. Musk and Altman co-founded OpenAI in 2015. Musk left the board in 2018.

The post Musk Altman ChatGPT deaths feud erupts over safety claims appeared first on India Podcast.

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh said the move gives timely relief to young innovators working on advanced technologies. He explained that the change will strengthen India’s startup ecosystem by offering early momentum to promising ideas.

The Minister noted that the Rs 1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation Fund targets startups with proven technological maturity. However, several schemes already support early-stage innovators through departments like DST, CSIR and TDB. By removing the three-year condition, the government allows deep-tech startups to scale faster.

Earlier, CSIR linked financial assistance, including loans of up to Rs 1 crore, to a minimum three-year existence. The government has now removed this requirement, while evaluation will still focus on technological maturity.

Addressing DSIR’s Foundation Day, the Minister highlighted strong industry participation and rising women involvement, with over 10,000 women beneficiaries. He also launched revised DSIR guidelines, new PRISM initiatives and a Disaster Management Plan, reinforcing India’s growing leadership in innovation.

The post Centre Relaxes DSIR Norms for Deep-Tech Startups appeared first on India Podcast.

According to the complaint, Sandeep Kumar Rana, a resident of village Nangran, alleged that mining operator Baljinder Singh alias Aman tried to kill him and his family members. Rana claimed the accused planned the attack as retaliation for his role as an Enforcement Directorate informer.

Rana stated that Baljinder Singh operates mining activities across Rupnagar, Ludhiana, and SBS Nagar districts. He alleged that the accused used a drone to conduct surveillance on his house in village Khera Kalmot. The drone reportedly tracked the movements and presence of Rana and his family members.

Furthermore, Rana claimed that four to five men arrived at the location in an Innova car bearing registration number PB-91U-9494. Soon after, they deployed the drone as part of the plan. Rana also alleged that Baljinder Singh fired two gunshots at him with the intent to kill.

Importantly, Rana said the attack followed his cooperation with the Enforcement Directorate, Jalandhar. He had allegedly shared confidential information regarding illegal activities linked to Baljinder Singh and his associates. Acting on this information, the ED reportedly attached several movable and immovable properties.

As per the complaint, around 15 criminal cases already stand registered against Baljinder Singh. The complaint also cited an earlier FIR registered in September 2025 at Dehlon police station, Ludhiana. In that case, Baljinder Singh allegedly attempted to kill another ED-linked witness, Gurmeet Singh.

Based on the complaint, Rupnagar Police registered a case under Sections 223, 332, 351(2), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Police also recovered a drone from the scene.

Meanwhile, senior police officials confirmed that investigations are underway. Teams are working to arrest the accused and identify all conspirators. Authorities assured strict action against everyone involved in the attack.

The post ED Informer Targeted in Drone-Assisted Attack, Murder Attempt Case Filed appeared first on India Podcast.