Latest news with #SasmitPatra
Time of India
25-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
GCC push will be competitive, political as states play catch-up
Sasmit Patra (File photo) BENGALURU: The race to attract global capability centres (GCCs) will intensify across India as states compete not just on incentives but also on political priorities, said Dr. Sasmit Patra, MP and member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and IT, at the USIBC Bengaluru Summit on June 25. 'By 2030, you will have different states openly competing for GCC investments. It's going to be competitive and political as well,' Patra said. 'Karnataka is the leader, but many states aren't as sensitised to this shift. They will have to adopt policies that match their core competencies, whether in mining, coal or bauxite, if they want to secure a share of this growth.' EV Ramana Reddy, Chairman of the Karnataka Skill Development Authority, said that the state aims to drive GCC expansion beyond its traditional hubs. 'We have announced the first dedicated GCC policy in the country. Our goal is 500 more GCCs by 2029-30, adding $50 billion in economic contribution and creating 3.5 lakhs jobs, with at least one‑third of those jobs beyond Bengaluru. We don't call it tier‑one or tier‑two anymore, we call it 'beyond Bengaluru',' he said. Panelists also highlighted the role of digital infrastructure and trust in shaping the next phase of GCC growth. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo Vyom Upadhyay, Deputy Chief Technology Officer of ICICI Bank, said the data centre boom will be a catalyst. 'With strong data security and trust layers, India has a unique opportunity to evolve from a GCC powerhouse to an AI development hub. That's the trajectory we should be looking at,' he said. The panel concluded that state‑level policies, targeted incentives and digital trust will be critical as the GCC boom spreads beyond traditional hubs. Karnataka, long the state to beat, will have to contend with rising competition as other states finetune their policies and build sector‑specific ecosystems. The shift, panelists said, is both an economic and political test, one that will define India's role in global GCC and AI landscapes over the coming decade. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Indian Express
25-06-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Without gender inclusivity, India's AI growth is incomplete
Written by Sasmit Patra and Suryaprabha Sadasivan Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming India's economy and governance, from public service delivery to healthcare and financial inclusion. While frameworks like the National Strategy for AI and initiatives like the National AI Portal show India's ambition to lead responsibly, a critical gap remains: The underrepresentation of women in shaping and benefiting from AI. India produces one of the world's highest proportions of female STEM graduates. Very few women make it into careers in AI and machine learning in India. This disparity reflects deep-rooted norms, a lack of gender-responsive skilling, limited mentorship and workplace support for women in tech. These barriers reduce individual aspirations and collectively constrain the country's potential to build a diverse and robust AI ecosystem. The challenge, however, goes beyond representation. When women are missing from the design, governance, and policymaking processes around AI, the technology itself becomes exclusionary. AI systems, trained on historical datasets where male dominance has been the norm, risk replicating those very inequities. In recruitment, for example, AI tools have been shown to favour male candidates simply because the datasets used reflect past hiring patterns biased against women. A UNESCO study found AI tools were 30 per cent more likely to recommend men for leadership roles, reflecting how biased datasets can be unless actively corrected. Despite these risks, AI also holds tremendous promise to advance gender equity, if designed and deployed with intention. In India, we have already begun to see AI-based innovations that address gendered development gaps. AI-powered diagnostic tools are improving maternal healthcare by identifying high-risk pregnancies early, especially in underserved rural areas. Fintech companies have leveraged AI to assess creditworthiness for women entrepreneurs who lack formal credit histories, enabling them to access much-needed capital. Educational platforms are harnessing AI to deliver personalised learning for girls from disadvantaged communities, helping overcome learning deficits and social stigma that traditionally keep them out of school. A few initiatives in different states have shown that AI and digital skilling can be made more inclusive when viewed through a gendered lens. Odisha, for instance, has expanded its flagship Mission Shakti women's empowerment programme to include digital and AI-related skilling for self-help group members, especially in tribal and rural districts. Through partnerships under the Odisha Skill Development Authority, women are being introduced to AI concepts, digital literacy, and data-driven enterprise development, linking traditional livelihoods with the digital economy. Similarly, Telangana's WE Hub and T-AIM have created a supportive ecosystem for women-led startups working in AI and emerging technologies, while Kerala's SHE ICT initiative and its Knowledge Economy Mission explicitly target digital employment for women returning to the workforce. Karnataka, through its Elevate Women and KDEM programmes, is investing in women entrepreneurs and digital skilling outside the Bengaluru metro, and Tamil Nadu's Naan Mudhalvan scheme is integrating AI education into colleges and schools with a focus on increasing female participation in STEM. These state-level models offer promising blueprints for how gender-inclusive AI policies can be grounded in local contexts and scaled nationally. India's AI strategy must include deliberate, systemic actions to reverse the gender gap in both access and leadership. There is an urgent need to make AI education and skilling programmes more accessible and relevant for women. While numerous skilling initiatives have emerged under the government's Digital India and Skill India Missions, most are not designed keeping the gender aspect in mind. As per NASSCOM (2023), women constitute only 29 per cent of those enrolled in AI and data science courses at top institutions such as the IITs and IIITs. Without targeted outreach, fellowships, and bootcamps for women, this gap will only grow. Global programmes like Canada's 'AI for Gender Equity' or the UK's 'Women in Innovation' fund show how targeted subsidies can boost women's participation in AI. India must also institutionalise mechanisms to ensure that AI systems are not reinforcing gender biases. While NITI Aayog's AI Ethics Guidelines acknowledge the risks of discriminatory algorithms, companies have little regulatory compulsion to test or report the gender impact of their tools. Countries such as the Netherlands and Singapore have introduced mandatory algorithmic audits and gender impact assessments for AI deployed in critical sectors like hiring, social welfare, and finance. A similar framework in India — requiring large-scale AI systems to disclose fairness metrics and undergo third-party audits — would be a critical step toward accountability. Supporting women-led AI innovation will be equally important. At present, women-led AI startups in India remain scarce, largely due to limited access to capital, networks, and visibility. Dedicated grants, challenge funds, and incubators — modelled on successful programmes like Australia's SheStarts or France's AI Grand Challenge for Women — can level the playing field. The private sector, too, must actively set diversity goals in AI hiring, invest in leadership training programmes for women, and expand career re-entry pathways. Integrating gender into AI is not merely a question of fairness. It is one of the national competitiveness. The IMF has estimated that equal participation of women in the workforce could boost India's GDP by 27 per cent. If AI is to be a core driver of India's future economy, then gender inclusion must be a strategic priority, not an afterthought. Gender-inclusive AI also aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on education, equity, and work. AI will define India's future, but who defines AI matters. Ensuring that women are not only consumers of AI but also its architects, regulators, and innovators is essential for building a digital economy that truly serves all. With the right policy focus, regulatory intent, and cross-sectoral support, India can set a global precedent in building AI that is not only powerful but also inclusive. Patra is a BJD Rajya Sabha MP from Odisha. Sadasivan is Senior Vice President, Public Policy at Chase India
Hindustan Times
07-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Amazon to restore 400M litres of water yearly to Yamuna watershed near Delhi
New Delhi: Corporate giant Amazon has initiated a water replenishment project for the Yamuna River watershed near Delhi, which aims to restore over 400 million litres of water annually. Announced during Amazon's Water Dialogues 2025 event in New Delhi on Thursday, the project aims to address the 'region's critical groundwater decline exacerbated by urban sprawl and over-extraction.' The initiative, implemented in partnership with ecosystem restoration firm Hasten Regeneration, will feature a groundwater recharge programme. It combines the rehabilitation of existing water infrastructure, including check dams and ponds, besides working towards the construction of new water-saving structures such as percolation pits and recharge shafts. Additionally, Amazon will be planting vegetation around these structures to prevent erosion, increase the moisture in soil, and improve local landscapes. Rehabilitation sites will be selected within the Yamuna River watershed. Hasten will collaborate with 2023 National Water award winner Arpan Seva Sansthan and Bengaluru-based water consultancy Clear Water Dynamics, selecting strategic sites within the Yamuna basin. Abhinav Singh, vice president of operations, Amazon India & Australia said that the initiative 'represents a significant step toward our goal to replenish more water than we use in India by 2027.' Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MP Sasmit Patra who was the keynote speaker at the event said,'The inaugural Water Dialogues... marks an important step in advancing collaboration around India's pressing water challenges... We welcome this effort to encourage greater private sector engagement.' The Water Dialogues event convened policymakers, including Niti Aayog's Yugal Joshi, water conservationist Anand Malligawad, and other stakeholders to discuss water sustainability solutions.
Mint
06-06-2025
- Business
- Mint
What is 400 million litre water replenishment project for Yamuna river that Amazon is funding?
Amazon has launched its first-ever water replenishment project in the Yamuna River watershed to tackle water scarcity and over-extraction of groundwater in the national capital This project is part of Amazon's water conservation initiatives running across India. These initiatives have included major lake restoration efforts and community water solutions benefiting over 1 million people since 2020, the firm said in a statement. Once completed, the Delhi initiative is expected to replenish more than 400 million litres of water annually. It is part of Amazon's commitment to return more water to communities in India than it uses in its direct operations by 2027, the statement said. New Delhi faces significant water management challenges, with water supply issues impacting the daily lives of residents and business operations throughout the capital region. Amazon's project in New Delhi, featuring a groundwater recharge programme, was announced at Amazon's inaugural Water Dialogues in the national capital on 6 June. The event was a thought leadership initiative that brought together key stakeholders in the water industry. The New Delhi water project, in cooperation with social enterprise and developer of ecosystem restoration projects, Hasten Regeneration, combines the rehabilitation of existing infrastructure—including check dams and ponds—with the construction of new water-saving structures, like percolation pits and recharge shafts. Additionally, planting vegetation around these structures can help to prevent erosion, increase the moisture in the soil, and improve local landscapes. Sites will be selected within the Yamuna River watershed with the goal of maximising direct benefits to New Delhi's water security, Amazon said in a statement. 'The inaugural Water Dialogues 2025 in Delhi marks an important step in advancing collaboration around India's pressing water challenges. It reflects the growing recognition that water stewardship is a shared responsibility. We welcome this effort and see it as an opportunity to encourage greater private sector engagement in delivering inclusive, community-driven solutions, especially in water-stressed urban and peri-urban regions,' Sasmit Patra, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) said. For this groundwater recharge water project, Hasten Regeneration will collaborate with India-based non-governmental organization Arpan Seva Sansthan, and Clear Water Dynamics, a Bangalore based consultancy firm specialising in water engineering Our country faces critical water challenges, with groundwater levels in New Delhi declining at an alarming rate.
Mint
06-06-2025
- Business
- Mint
What is Delhi's 400 million litre water replenishment project for Delhi's Yamuna river that Amazon is funding?
Amazon has launched its first-ever water replenishment project in the Yamuna River watershed to tackle water scarcity and over-extraction of groundwater in in the national capital This prject is part of Amazon's water conservation iniatiaves running across India which already include major lake restoration efforts and community water solutions benefiting over 1 million people since 2020, the firm said in a statement. The Delhi initiative is expected to replenish more than 400 million litres of water annually once completed, and is part of Amazon's commitment to return more water to communities in India than it uses in its direct operations by 2027, the statement said. New Delhi faces significant water management challenges, with water supply issues impacting the daily lives of residents and operations of businesses throughout the capital region. Amazon's project in New Delhi, featuring a groundwater recharge programme, was announced at Amazon's inaugural Water Dialogues in the national capital on 6 June. The event was a thought leadership initiative that put together key stakeholders in the water industry. The New Delhi water project, in cooperation with social enterprise and developer of ecosystem restoration projects, Hasten Regeneration, combines the rehabilitation of existing infrastructure—including check dams and ponds—with the construction of new water-saving structures, like percolation pits and recharge shafts. Additionally, planting vegetation around these structures can help to prevent erosion, increase the moisture in soil, and improve local landscapes. Sites will be selected within the Yamuna River watershed with the goal of maximising direct benefits to New Delhi's water security, Amazon said in a statement. 'The inaugural Water Dialogues 2025 in Delhi marks an important step in advancing collaboration around India's pressing water challenges. It reflects the growing recognition that water stewardship is a shared responsibility. We welcome this effort and see it as an opportunity to encourage greater private sector engagement in delivering inclusive, community-driven solutions, especially in water-stressed urban and peri-urban regions,' Sasmit Patra, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) said. For this groundwater recharge water project, Hasten Regeneration will collaborate with India-based non-governmental organization Arpan Seva Sansthan, and Clear Water Dynamics, a Bangalore based consultancy firm specialising in water engineering Our country faces critical water challenges, with groundwater levels in New Delhi declining at an alarming rate. "Our country faces critical water challenges, with groundwater levels in New Delhi declining at an alarming rate," said Abhinav Singh, Vice President, Operations, Amazon India & Australia in the statement. Key Takeaways Amazon's project aims to address severe water scarcity in New Delhi through groundwater recharge. The initiative will restore over 400 million liters of water annually and benefit over 1 million people. Collaboration with local organizations emphasizes community involvement in water management and stewardship.
