The Congress on Thursday claimed that nine of its videos created using artificial intelligence (AI) were “forcefully deleted” by BJP governments at the Centre and in various states. The party said the move was a “blatant misuse” of blocking rules and called for more transparency from the government. At a press conference, Congress social media department head Supriya Shrinate accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP-ruled state governments of curbing dissent. She claimed the deleted AI videos all carried proper disclaimers indicating they were AI-generated and were not meant to mislead anyone. Shrinate said, “Throughout the entire duration of the videos, 'AI-generated video' is prominently displayed at the top, which clearly proves that there was no attempt to mislead or deceive anyone,” as per PTI reports. According to her, deletion orders came from both state authorities in Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra, as well as the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology under Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. Criticism of AI management and national policy Shrinate criticized the Modi government’s handling of AI initiatives, citing the controversy over Galgotias University displaying a Chinese-made robotic dog at the India AI Impact Summit as its own innovation. She argued this reflects broader issues of imitation over innovation. “Imitation is not innovation, but does the government care? Modi ji, no matter what you say, your legacy is that private university which has brought us global shame,” she said. She also claimed that instead of deleting AI videos and curbing dissent, the Prime Minister should focus on national interests, farmers’ rights, and governance issues. Calls for transparency The Congress leader called the video deletions a misuse of the IT Rules, 2021, noting that there is no public explanation for the take downs.“This is how authoritarian regimes work — by giving orders to social media platforms to take down or block content arbitrarily in complete secrecy,” Shrinate said, stressing that citizens deserve clarity on what was illegal in the videos as per PTI reports. The party also questioned if political satire and commentary using AI would be treated the same way, warning that such censorship undermines democratic freedoms. (With PTI Inputs)
19 February,2026 06:10 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMaharashtra’s Pune district recorded more than 14,000 property registrations in January 2026, generating over Rs 600 crore in stamp duty revenue, according to data released by Knight Frank India. In January 2026, Pune registered 14,537 properties and collected Rs 609 crore in stamp duty during the month. While registrations declined 17 per cent year-on-year (YoY) compared to January 2025, stamp duty collections saw a relatively smaller dip of 5 per cent YoY. However, on a sequential basis, the market showed signs of recovery. Property registrations rose 20 per cent month-on-month (MoM), while revenue collections increased 37 per cent compared to December 2025, indicating improved activity levels at the start of the year. Homes priced up to Rs 1 crore continued to dominate the market, accounting for 82 per cent of total registrations in January 2026. At the same time, the ticket-size distribution suggests a gradual shift towards higher-value properties. The Rs 50 lakh–1 crore and Rs 1–2.5 crore segments gained traction, with their respective shares rising to 29 per cent and 14 per cent . The distribution of home sizes remained largely stable, with minor shifts across segments. The share of units below 500 sq ft declined from 26 per cent in January 2025 to 23 per cent in January 2026. The 500–800 sq ft category continued to lead the market, increasing marginally from 45 per cent to 46 per cent over the same period. Larger configurations witnessed a modest rise in demand. The 800–1,000 sq ft and 1,000–2,000 sq ft segments each saw a one percentage point increase to 14 per cent, while the share of homes above 2,000 sq ft remained steady at 3 per cent. Overall, the data indicates a stable demand environment in Pune’s residential market, with a slight inclination towards larger homes and mid-to-premium ticket sizes despite the annual slowdown in registrations.
19 February,2026 04:51 PM IST | Pune | A CorrespondentA 65-year-old retired ISRO employee allegedly strangled his wife to death with a towel at their residence on Wednesday, police said. The incident was reported at around 11 am within the Avalahalli police station limits. The accused, Nageshwar Rao, has been taken into police custody, said police. A senior police officer said Rao was reportedly undergoing treatment for depression. After the alleged attack on his wife, Sandya Sri, Rao reportedly remained at the spot. He then contacted an acquaintance, who alerted the police. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
19 February,2026 03:49 PM IST | Bengaluru | AgenciesHighlighting India's pivotal role in the global technological landscape, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman on Thursday stated that the country is currently leading the world in AI adoption and is poised to become one of the largest markets for the technology. He said that India is not just participating in the Artificial Intelligence revolution but leading it. Speaking to ANI at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, Altman expressed his optimism regarding the nation's digital trajectory, noting that the work happening within India's tech ecosystem is "amazing" and currently setting a global pace. He identified India as a primary driver of future innovation, suggesting the nation will wield a "huge amount of influence" over how the technology evolves globally. Addressing persistent concerns over automation, Altman acknowledged that while AI will definitely impact the job market, he remains confident in human adaptability. He emphasized that throughout history, technological shifts have consistently led to the discovery of new, more meaningful work. "It (AI) will definitely impact the job market, but we always find new things to do, and I have no doubt we will find lots of better ones this time," Altman stated. Incidentally, OpenAI has seen its second-largest user base emerge from India. The company opened its first office in New Delhi last year "It is amazing to be here, obviously the work happening in India and the adoption of AI is leading the world, and I can't wait to see what goes next," Altman told ANI. Meanwhile, on the sidelines of the summit, the Tata Group, Tata Consultancy Services and OpenAI announced a multi-dimensional strategic partnership, that will drive AI-powered innovation across enterprise, consumer, and social sectors. This partnership spans multiple high-impact areas, including powering AI-led innovation across Tata Group companies, joint efforts to drive AI transformation across industries globally, and setting up AI infrastructure. Building industry-specific Agentic AI solutions: Under this partnership, OpenAI, with its leading Agentic AI solutions, and TCS, with its contextual knowledge of industries and deep AI skills, will come together to build impactful industry-specific solutions. Through this collaboration, TCS will help its customers accelerate AI-led transformation by deploying, integrating, and scaling OpenAI's advanced AI platforms worldwide. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
19 February,2026 02:51 PM IST | New Delhi | ANIRumours of child kidnapping have triggered panic across Jharkhand, leading to a spate of mob violence incidents over the past five days. At least 12 cases of mob assault based on suspicion have been reported from different parts of the state, prompting police to issue an urgent appeal for restraint. On Thursday morning, three innocent persons, two women and a man were surrounded and assaulted by a mob in the Edalhatu area of Ranchi on suspicion of child theft. They were travelling in an auto-rickshaw with a child when the incident occurred. According to eyewitnesses, the child was crying, following which someone raised an alarm alleging that a kidnapping attempt was being made. As the rumour spread rapidly, locals gathered, stopped the auto-rickshaw and dragged the three occupants out. The situation quickly turned violent, with the mob attacking them without verifying the facts. Police from Bariatu police station, led by officer-in-charge Manoj Kumar, reached the spot promptly and rescued the victims, averting what could have been a fatal incident. They were taken to the police station for questioning. Preliminary investigations have not confirmed the existence of any organised child-lifting gang. Officials said it remains unclear whether there was any actual attempt to abduct the child, and the matter is under investigation. The Ranchi incident is part of a worrying pattern. Over the past five days, similar mob attacks based on child-lifting rumours have been reported from Dhanbad, Chatra, Jamshedpur, Jamtara, Giridih, Ramgarh, Latehar and Bokaro. Three days ago, a man was beaten to death in the Piparwar area of Chatra district after being suspected of child theft. Subsequent inquiries revealed that the deceased was mentally unstable and had no links to any kidnapping attempt. On Wednesday, two women were attacked by a mob in Dhanbad’s Baghmara area following similar rumours. Police intervened in time and rescued them. Earlier, on February 16, six women were assaulted in Bokaro on suspicion of being members of a child-lifting gang before police stepped in and ensured their safety. Jharkhand Police have urged citizens not to take the law into their own hands and to refrain from acting on unverified information circulating on social media platforms, particularly WhatsApp. Authorities have appealed to the public to report any suspicious activity to the nearest police station instead of resorting to violence. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
19 February,2026 02:50 PM IST | Ranchi | IANSThe Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has suffered a setback ahead of the Bhiwandi-Nizampur mayoral elections. Nine of its 22 corporators broke away to form a separate group, the Bhiwandi Secular Front (BSF), and extended their support to the Congress-led alliance. This move paves the way for the Congress to elect its own mayor. Congress-NCP-SP alliance gains strength With the support of the BSF, the Congress-NCP-Samajwadi Party (SP) alliance has crossed the halfway mark in the 90-member body. A Congress functionary said on Wednesday, “The nine corporators have decided to support us.” The development comes amid differences between the BJP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, the functionary added. Notably, the Samajwadi Party had previously supported Shiv Sena. In the municipal elections held last month, the Congress emerged as the single largest party, securing 30 seats. The BJP won 22 seats, Shiv Sena 12, NCP-SP 12, Samajwadi Party 6, Konark Vikas Aghadi 4, and Bhiwandi Vikas Aghadi 3. One independent candidate also won a seat. Thanks to the support of the breakaway corporators, the Congress-NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) alliance now has the numbers to comfortably install its mayor and deputy mayor. Fractured verdict and political shifts The elections had produced a fractured verdict, with no party having a clear majority. The recent realignment highlights growing political shifts within the BJP and Shiv Sena in the region. “The political landscape in Bhiwandi-Nizampur is changing fast,” said a local Congress leader. “This support ensures stability and allows us to move forward with our plans for the city.” Arrested former Mayor Vilas Patil was allowed to file nomination for BNMC elections A Thane court on Monday allowed arrested corporator Vilas Raghunath Patil for alleged involvement in a 2025 financial fraud case to be escorted by police to file his nomination papers for the upcoming mayoral elections of the Bhiwandi-Nizampur Municipal Corporation (BNMC). According to a BNMC release, nine candidates, including Patil, filed nominations for the post of mayor, while six candidates filed for deputy mayor which were scheduled on February 20. The court imposed conditions that Patil should not interact with anyone outside the EOW premises, cannot use any phone or communication device, cannot address or engage with the media and must bear police escort expenses and return immediately after filing. “The right to contest elections is the constitutional right of every person which cannot be denied,” the court observed. (With PTI Inputs)
19 February,2026 02:41 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentPreparations have begun for the Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Simhastha Kumbh Mela 2027, which is expected to draw more than 12 crore devotees. The festival will run from October 31, 2026, to July 24, 2028, coinciding with a rare astrological configuration that occurs once every 75 years. Shekhar Singh, commissioner of the Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela Authority (NTKMA), said “the 21-month Simhastha, guided by the rare Trikhand Yog, seeks to balance faith, sustainability, and technology while positioning Nashik as a global pilgrimage and cultural centre”. The NTKMA has outlined an integrated development plan spanning roads, transport, water, sanitation, and environmental protection. More than 300 km of roads, including a 77.4 km ring road with bridges and tunnels, are planned to improve access. Nashik airport will be expanded to handle over 1000 passengers, while Trimbakeshwar will get a spiritual corridor, shuttle services, and barrier-free facilities. Water supply and river rejuvenation projects will ensure a 24×7 supply and pollution control. Sadhu Gram and climate-resilient tent cities will house pilgrims, supported by AI-based crowd management and emergency systems. The mega event is projected to generate Rs 30,000 crore in economic activity, with Rs 4000 crore in direct investment and extensive skill development for locals. Key dates Flag hoisting: October 31, 2026 (Ramkund, Nashik)Main simhastha: 2027-28Major Amrit Snan: August 2, August 31, September 11, 2027 Expected footfall Nashik: 8 croreTrimbakeshwar: 4 crore Budget & projects Total master plan: Rs 25,000 croreRoads & highways: Rs 2400+ croreAirport expansion: Rs 640 croreSadhugram: Rs 1000 croreSewerage & pollution control: Rs 165 crore Infrastructure highlights >> 300+ km road upgrades>> Ring road with tunnels and bridges>> Airport expansion>> Railway station upgrades>> 17,000 mobile toilets and water facilities>> Safety and technology>> AI-based crowd management>> CCTV surveillance>> Emergency response units>> Digital grievance systems>> Tourism and local opportunities>> 5-6 tent cities>> Skill development & micro-entrepreneurship>> Hospitality, logistics, and sanitation training
19 February,2026 02:08 PM IST | Nashik | Archana DahiwalA total of 16,15,489 students from across Maharashtra have registered for the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examination to be conducted by the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) in February-March 2026. The examinations will begin February 20 (Friday) and will go on till March 18 (Wednesday). MSBSHSE will conduct the exams through its nine divisional boards at Pune, Nagpur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Mumbai, Kolhapur, Amravati, Nashik, Latur and Konkan. Of the total students who have registered for this examination, 8,65,740 are boys, 7,49,736 girls, and 13 are transgender students. The official timetable was published on the Board’s website on 15 October 2025. Registration has been completed through 23,683 schools, and the examination will be conducted at 5119 main centres across the state, informed Dr Deepak Mali, secretary, Maharashtra State Board, Pune. Salient features >> Online applications using the UDISE+ database >> Applications accepted till 10 February 2026>> Adequate gaps between important papers>> 20 counsellors appointed to provide support >> Control rooms and helpline facilities 271 flying squads, CCTV monitoring To prevent possible malpractices, the Board has formed 271 flying squads across the state. Special flying squads have been established at the divisional level. Board members and district-level government officers have been instructed to conduct surprise visits to examination centres. Examinations at centres equipped with CCTV will be conducted under camera surveillance. Staff suspended over cheating The State Board and the District Vigilance Committee suspended 26 staff members following a case of mass copying during the Std XII (HSC) examination. The incident came to light at Shri Mainagiri Maharaj Vidyalaya and Junior College, To-Jumda, in Washim district during the physics paper of the ongoing HSC examination. Instructions >> Reporting time is 30 minutes before (10:30 am and 2:30 pm)>> Hall tickets are available online through school login >> Additional 10 minutes will be given for exams >> Concessions for specially abled candidates Counsellors’ phone numbers 9960644411797257374298340845939359978315816920221493716612557208429381770915606884211505289404783996 Travel arrangements To facilitate students’ travel to examination centres, MSRTC has been requested to operate buses regularly and on time. MSEDCL has been requested to ensure an uninterrupted power supply at examination centres. Medical emergencies If some are unable to appear for practical, oral, internal assessment, or equivalent examinations due to medical or unavoidable reasons within the prescribed period, they will be given an opportunity to appear on March 20, 23, and 24. SSC exam prep for Mumbai Exam Centres: 1004 Exam Centre Heads: 1004 Custodians: 71 Runners: 1004 Supervisors: 13,937 Stationary Squads: 8 Flying Squads: 21 Sensitive Centres: 1 Closed Centres: 5
19 February,2026 02:06 PM IST | Mumbai | Archana DahiwalUnion Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday directed officials to work on a “war footing” to achieve a revised target of creating six crore ‘Lakhpati Didis’ under the rural livelihoods mission. He also instructed them to prepare a time-bound plan to link 10 crore women with financial inclusion initiatives. Chouhan expressed satisfaction over the mission’s progress but stressed that a focused strategy is required to meet the expanded goals. “Achieving the ambitious goal of 6 crore ‘Lakhpati Didis’ would require connecting at least 10 crore women to the various financial inclusion initiatives of the Ministry of Rural Development,” the minister said, directing officials to work in close coordination with state governments to ensure the successful attainment of these target. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
19 February,2026 02:00 PM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesReliance Industries Limited and its digital arm, Jio, will invest 10 lakh crores over the next seven years to spearhead India's artificial intelligence transformation, announced Mukesh Dhirubhai Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance, while addressing the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi on Thursday. Mukesh Ambani, while addressing the gathering at the AI Summit, said, "Jio, together with Reliance, will invest Rs 10 lakh crore over the next seven years starting this year. This is not a speculative investment. It is not for chasing valuation. This is a patient, disciplined, nation-building capital designed to create durable economic value and strategic resilience for decades to come," as cited by ANI. Mukesh Ambani announces a three-part strategy from internet to intelligence He added, "Announcement one: Jio connected India to the internet era. Jio will now connect India to the intelligence era. We will deliver intelligence to every citizen, every sector of the economy, every facet of social development, and every service of government." "Announcement two: Jio, together with Reliance, will invest Rs 10 lakh crore over the next seven years starting this year. Third announcement: Jio Intelligence will build India's sovereign computer infrastructure through three bold initiatives – one, gigawatt-scale data centers. We already started construction on multi-gigawatt AI-ready data centers at Jamnagar. Over 120 megawatts will come online in the second half of 2026 this year; two, our green energy advantage. We have an in-house energy advantage with up to 10 gigawatts of ready green power surplus anchored by solar in both Kutch and Andhra Pradesh. Three, a nationwide edge compute layer deeply integrated with Jio's network will make intelligence responsive, low latency, and affordable, close to where Indians live, learn, and work," Ambani highlighted the second point. Mukesh also noted that the primary goal is to make intelligence "as ubiquitous as connectivity. Jio Intelligence is guided by five non-negotiable principles. He further said, "India cannot afford to rent intelligence. Therefore, we will reduce the cost of intelligence as dramatically as we did the cost of data," as per ANI. The chairman of Reliance Industries further highlighted that these systems are guided by the principle of "AI for India's deep tech and advanced manufacturing leadership", aiming to reach agriculture and the informal sector rather than just large enterprises. ‘India is the world's largest mobile data consumer,' says Mukesh Ambani. Reflecting on India's digital progress over the past decade, Ambani cited the nation's position as the world's largest mobile data consumer with nearly 1 billion internet users. Ambani further mentioned that India's digital public infrastructure, including Aadhaar and UPI, now serves as a global template. "India will emerge as one of the greatest AI powers in the world in the 21st century," Ambani stated, citing the country's strengths in demography, democracy, and data generation. Mukesh Ambani introduces ‘JIO AI Bharat' Mukesh Ambani has also introduced "Jio AI Bharat", a multilingual AI capability across all Indian languages. Ambani described this as a tool for inclusion, allowing farmers, artisans, and students to interact with technology in their mother tongues. He emphasised that Jio "will ensure that AI won't take jobs but will create jobs, and AI will create high-skilled work opportunities." "Ambani assured that the company "will partner with the best tech companies of the world," as per ANI. (With inputs from ANI)
19 February,2026 01:53 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentMicrosoft co-founder Bill Gates will not deliver the keynote address at the India AI Impact Summit, his philanthropic organisation, the Gates Foundation, announced on Thursday. While issuing an official statement, the Gates Foundation clarified that they will instead be represented at the summit by Ankur Vora, president of its Africa and India offices. Vora is scheduled to address the gathering on Thursday, February 19, in New Delhi. The Gates Foundation, while taking to social media platform X, said, "After careful consideration, and to ensure the focus remains on the AI Summit's key priorities, Mr Gates will not be delivering his keynote address." The Gates Foundation further reiterated their commitment to its ongoing initiatives in the country, stating, "The Gates Foundation remains fully committed to our work in India to advance our shared health and development goals." Gates Foundation issues clarification over Epstein Files The statement from the foundation comes amid controversy over Bill Gates' name reportedly appearing in the Epstein files. The clarification follows days of speculation and uncertainty after his name did not feature on the official list of key participants for the six-day summit, prompting questions about his planned participation. India AI Summit focuses on collaborative strategies for development The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is aimed at shaping collaborative strategies to harness the transformative potential of artificial intelligence while fostering innovation, responsible governance and cross-border partnerships, reported IANS. India AI summit in New Delhi has brought together global leaders, policymakers and technology experts to deliberate on the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in driving economic growth, improving governance and accelerating social development. Furthermore, it also seeks to align global AI initiatives with India's ethos of 'Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya (welfare for all, happiness for all)' while promoting the broader principle of AI for Humanity. The India-AI Impact Summit 2026 is the fourth edition in the series, following previous meetings held in the United Kingdom in 2023, South Korea in 2024, and France in 2025. The AI India Summit 2026 enables leaders to examine the ethical, economic, and social implications of artificial intelligence while strengthening partnerships across digital technology, trade, culture, tourism, and maritime cooperation. (With inputs from IANS)
19 February,2026 01:52 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
-1771504437793_d.png?tr=w-436,h-271 "Congress social media department head Supriya Shrinate. File Pic")
-1771490093681_d.png "Open AI CEO Sam Altman. File Pic/AFP")
-1771491468673_d.png "One killed, several injured in mob violence across multiple districts in Jharkhand. Representational Image")
-1771421037508_d.png "Biwandi Secular Front members. Pic/X (@rais_shk)")
