MAM
IndiaAI and Meta launch AI initiatives to drive innovation and skill development
Mumbai: IndiaAI and Meta have announced a significant collaboration to advance open-source AI innovation and skill development in India. As part of this partnership, a new Center for generative AI, Srijan (सृजन), will be established at IIT Jodhpur, alongside the launch of the YuvAi Initiative for skilling and capacity building in association with AICTE. These initiatives aim to empower India’s AI ecosystem and ensure the responsible deployment of generative AI technologies across various sectors.
The Center for Generative AI will focus on research and development while promoting the growth of ethical AI technologies in India. It aims to support open science innovation and provide education and policy guidance, empowering students, researchers, and AI practitioners with the tools needed for responsible AI development.
The YuvAi initiative targets one lakh students and developers, equipping them with the skills to harness large language models (LLMs) for real-world solutions in healthcare, education, agriculture, smart cities, and financial inclusion over the next three years. It will include courses, hackathons, and startup support to foster AI talent in India.
Ministry of electronics and information technology (MeitY), secretary, S. Krishnan highlighted the importance of these initiatives, stating, “These initiatives are pivotal in creating a robust ecosystem for groundbreaking research, skill development, and open-source innovation, advancing AI technology while ensuring its responsible and ethical deployment.”
Brands
Jubilant Foodworks to end Dunkin’ franchise in India
Pizza chain operator will not renew agreement when it expires at end of 2026.
MUMBAI: When the doughnuts stop turning and the coffee goes cold, even a global giant like Dunkin’ can find the Indian market a tough brew to crack. Jubilant Foodworks has decided not to renew its franchise agreement with Dunkin’ when the pact expires on 31 December 2026, according to a Reuters report. The operator, best known for running Domino’s outlets in India, said it would evaluate options for its existing Dunkin’ stores, including a potential sale or transfer of franchise rights, in consultation with the US-based brand.
The decision follows years of underperformance in a market where local tastes and intense competition have made it difficult for international coffee-and-doughnut formats to gain traction. Jubilant, which has increasingly focused on its core pizza business and newer bets like Popeyes, indicated that the exit would not materially affect its financial or operational position.
Dunkin’ accounted for just 0.61 per cent of Jubilant’s revenue in the fiscal year ending 2025 and recorded a loss of approximately Rs 191 million, according to a regulatory filing. The company operated 27 outlets as of December 2025, having shuttered seven stores over the preceding year.
The retreat comes even as Jubilant’s broader business shows signs of momentum. The company reported a 65 per cent rise in quarterly profit for the October to December period, reaching Rs 70.9 crore, up from Rs 42.91 crore a year earlier.
For Jubilant, the exit reflects a sharpening strategic focus. For Dunkin’, it marks another setback in a market that has proven resistant to imported café concepts without significant localisation.
In the cut-throat world of Indian quick-service restaurants, sometimes the sweetest deals are the ones you quietly walk away from leaving more room for the brands that truly rise to the occasion.
