MAM
Karnataka govt. embarks on brand building
BANGALORE: The Karnataka government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce (BCIC) with an object of giving a fresh thrust to economic development in Karnataka and creating a brand identity for the state at the international level.
The government has faced a lot of criticism from the doyens of industry recently over issues like the cessation of the BATF (Bangalore Action Taking Force), the poor quality of infrastructure in the state, et al. Some of the IT giants have even shelved Karnataka based expansion sighting the poor conditions in the state as reason.
The MOU highlights the promotion of small and medium scale industries and enterprises through policy changes, creating a better and dependable infrastructure at par with world standards along with a host of other proposals.
The message the government wants to convey through the branding is that the policies of the coalition government are in favor of industry, mobilizing investments and helping in employment generation. It also tries to hold the earlier perception for its progressive ideological and pragmatic outlook.
Digital
India launches nationwide AI responsibility pledge drive
MeitY and Intel India aim for Guinness record ahead of AI Impact Summit
NATIONAL: India will roll out a nationwide digital campaign on 16–17 February to promote ethical, inclusive and responsible use of artificial intelligence, as the country builds momentum ahead of the India AI Impact Summit 2026.
The initiative, led by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology under the IndiaAI Mission, in collaboration with Intel India, will attempt to set a Guinness World Records title for the “most pledges received for an AI responsibility campaign in 24 hours”.
The digital pledge drive will go live at 8 am IST on 16 February, inviting citizens to commit to responsible AI practices through an interactive platform featuring scenario-based questions. Participants who complete the pledge will receive a digital honorary badge jointly issued by IndiaAI and Intel India, along with access to curated, government-led AI learning pathways.
The campaign has been designed for broad accessibility, requiring neither camera nor microphone permissions and imposing no eligibility criteria or assessment thresholds. Participation is open to students, educators, parents, government officials, public sector employees, industry professionals, startups and the wider public, with a particular focus on youth engagement.
Organisers said the initiative aims to deepen awareness around data privacy, accountability, misinformation and ethical deployment of AI technologies, reinforcing India’s push for a human-centric and trustworthy AI ecosystem.
The pledge campaign forms a central citizen-engagement pillar of the India AI Impact Summit 2026, scheduled from 16 to 20 February at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The summit will be inaugurated by Narendra Modi and will bring together global leaders, policymakers, industry experts, researchers, startups, academia and civil society to discuss AI-led development under the themes of people, planet and progress.
