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India backs global AI while building its own, says MeitY secretary
NEW DELHI: India is keeping its AI doors wide open, but it is also busy building a strong home base. That was the message from S Krishnan, secretary at the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, on the “IndiaAI in Action” podcast by the Startup Policy Forum.
“We are not a closed economy,” Krishnan said, adding that India welcomes global investors and cutting-edge technology. At the same time, he said the government is determined to build serious capability within the country, starting from the ground up. The aim is simple, what is made in India should stand tall in the global marketplace, and should be built while competing with the very best.
Krishnan pushed back against the idea that the government is tilting the field too heavily in favour of domestic players. Instead, he described a strategy that blends openness with smart incentives. Compute infrastructure located in India receives lower rates and subsidies, helping data remain sovereign and giving startups a fair shot. Indian companies will also gain access to Indian datasets, creating space for innovation that reflects both global ambition and local realities.
According to Krishnan, this balanced approach mirrors the early days of India’s IT revolution, where strong infrastructure powered breakthrough growth. “We are working on building the best infrastructure and the best models in India,” he said in conversation with Startup Policy Forum president and CEO Shweta Rajpal Kohli.
India, he added, has not been slow to adopt AI. “We now have more than 38,000 GPUs on offer. It is not that we are denying anybody the resources,” he noted.
On regulation, Krishnan described a watchful but pro-innovation stance. The government is ready to legislate if needed, but its current priority is enabling progress. He cited the prime minister’s view that India should approach AI with optimism, focusing on productivity and growth rather than fear.
The “IndiaAI in Action” series, created with the Government of India’s IndiaAI Mission, spotlights how Indian startups are using AI in sectors from fintech to healthcare. It also sets the stage for the India AI Impact Summit 2026, where global leaders will gather to shape the future of responsible and inclusive AI.
MAM
Toyota appoints Kenta Kon as President & CEO
New leader to steer EV push and global innovation amid industry shift.
MUMBAI: Toyota just handed the keys to a new driver because when the road to electric mobility gets twisty, you need someone who knows how to accelerate without skidding. Toyota Motor Corporation has named Kenta Kon as its new president and chief executive officer, a key leadership transition as the Japanese giant doubles down on its transformation in the fast-evolving global automotive landscape.
Kon brings deep expertise in automotive innovation, business strategy, and operational leadership to the top job. His appointment signals Toyota’s intent to sharpen focus on accelerating electric mobility, strengthening worldwide operations, and pushing customer-centric breakthroughs in next-generation technologies.
The company is betting on Kon to guide it through the industry’s pivotal shift toward sustainability, digital integration, and smarter mobility solutions. Key priorities under his watch include ramping up electric and hybrid lineups, expanding global market reach, driving cutting-edge automotive R&D, tightening supply-chain efficiency, and scaling connected and intelligent vehicle ecosystems.
This move comes at a time when legacy automakers face intense pressure to balance heritage strengths with aggressive electrification timelines and software-defined vehicle demands. Toyota aims to reinforce its position as a leader in sustainable, reliable, and future-ready mobility while navigating competitive challenges from both traditional rivals and new-age EV players.
For a brand that’s long defined durability and innovation, Kon’s elevation isn’t just a title change, it’s Toyota flooring it toward the next lap, ready to turn today’s tech talk into tomorrow’s showroom reality.
