I&B Ministry
MIB takes note of banned Zakir Naik content on Kashmir TV channels
MUMBAI: Despite a ban on Peace TV, the hate preacher Zakir Naik’s speeches reportedly continued to be telecast on channels in Jammu and Kashmir, and the ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) has taken note of a news report in this regard. Naik was, earlier this year, declared a proclaimed offender and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) undertook a process to attach his assets.
The ministry, the Times of India reported, is expected to write to Jammu and Kashmir chief secretary to take suitable action in the case. Also, the MIB may, reportedly, issue show-cause notices to cable operators in the state, who are broadcasting the controversial speeches.
Minister of state in the Prime Minister’s Office Jitendra Singh said that they would convey to the related government departments and tell them to verify the development and a stand accordingly.
NIA chargesheet against Naik has revealed that his organisation had connections with terror groups. He has been accused of spreading hatred through his provocative speeches, funding terrorists and laundering billions of rupees over the years. The NIA also claimed that Naik had engaged in “anti-India activities”. It was not just his hate speeches, but NIA also accused his organisation of providing “financial and tactical” aid to terror suspects.
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I&B Ministry
Government sets up AI governance group to steer policy
AIGEG to align ministries, assess jobs impact, guide AI deployment.
MUMBAI: If artificial intelligence is the engine, the government is now building the dashboard and making sure everyone reads from the same screen. The Centre has constituted a new inter-ministerial body to coordinate India’s approach to AI, formalising a key recommendation from its governance framework and the Economic Survey. The AI Governance and Economic Group (AIGEG), set up by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, will act as the central platform to align AI-related policy across ministries, regulators and departments, an attempt to bring coherence to what has so far been a fragmented and fast-evolving landscape.
The group will be chaired by union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, with minister of state Jitin Prasada as vice chairperson. Its composition reflects both technological and economic priorities, bringing together the principal scientific adviser, the chief economic adviser, and the CEO of NITI Aayog, alongside key secretaries from telecommunications, economic affairs and science and technology. A representative from the National Security Council Secretariat is also part of the group, while the MeitY secretary will serve as member convenor.
At its core, AIGEG is designed to do two things: coordinate and anticipate. On the policy front, it will review existing regulatory mechanisms, issue guidance across sectors and ensure companies remain compliant with evolving legal frameworks. Beyond that, it will oversee national initiatives on AI governance, with a focus on enabling responsible innovation rather than merely regulating it.
The economic dimension is equally central. The group has been tasked with assessing how AI-driven automation could reshape jobs identifying which roles are most at risk, where those impacts may be geographically concentrated, and whether technology will augment or replace human labour. Based on these assessments, it will develop mitigation strategies and transition plans, signalling a more proactive stance on workforce disruption.
In parallel, AIGEG will work with industry stakeholders to chart a long-term roadmap for AI adoption, categorising use cases into “deploy”, “pilot” or “defer” buckets depending on readiness factors such as data availability, skill levels and regulatory clarity. The aim is to move from broad ambition to structured execution deciding not just what can be built, but what should be built now.
The group will function as the apex layer in India’s AI governance architecture, supported by a Technology and Policy Expert Committee that will track global developments, emerging risks and regulatory priorities. Together, the two bodies are expected to shape both the pace and direction of AI adoption in the country.
In a landscape where technology often outruns policy, the creation of AIGEG signals an attempt to close that gap ensuring that India’s AI journey is not just rapid, but also coordinated, accountable and economically grounded.
