Page 18 - NIS English 16-31 March, 2026

Women-led AI
The India AI Impact Summit 2026 showcased women-led AI for public
welfare and digital public infrastructure. Ten women-led startups were
honored for pioneering inclusive, scalable, and impact-first AI solutions.

Use of AI in Agriculture

By analyzing satellite imagery, weather forecasts, soil information,
and crop patterns, AI helps farmers understand which crops to
sow, when to sow, how much fertilizer to apply, and the right
time to harvest. From providing timely warnings about pests and
diseases to better planning irrigation and fertilizer use, AI makes
farming more precise, efficient, and less risky. National AI

n A new digital companion, “Bharat-VISTAAR,” was launched. Infrastructure to be
This AI-based platform provides farmers with one-stop Strengthened
information on weather, market prices, pests and diseases, soil, The Indian government has
crop advisories, and schemes through phone calls, chatbots, and, decided to add 20,000 more GPUs
in the future, an app. Farmers can now dial 155261 and receive to strengthen the national AI
instant answers to their questions. infrastructure, in addition to the
existing 38,000 GPUs. This was
announced by Electronics and
Information Technology Minister
Ashwini Vaishnaw at the India
AI Impact Summit 2026. A GPU
(Graphics Processing Unit) is a
powerful computer chip. It helps
machines quickly understand data,
process images, run AI programs,
and perform complex tasks
faster and more efficiently than a
conventional processor.

ademia, startups, and governments. Better coordi- nology, its use for human welfare, and accountabili-
nation between the state and central governments ty for good governance and security. At this summit,
will be promoted. AI will be used to transform gov- Prime Minister Modi presented the MANAV Vision
ernment services. A policy framework will be to the world. This means that AI should become an
created to commit to responsible and ethical AI. ally, not an enemy, of employment, reach rural and
poor communities, improve education and health,
AI INSPIRED BY INDIA’S ‘MANAV’ VISION and empower small businesses. India’s model
The India-AI Impact Summit held in February served differs from Western countries. Here, AI is seen
as a foundation for the democratization of new tech- not only as a commercial advantage but as a tool

16 NEW INDIA SAMACHAR || March 16-31, 2026