It was quite nostalgic to attend Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave @estic_2026 at Bharat Mandapam. Last year around the same time, in the first week of November, I was involved in organizing the first edition -ESTIC 2025 and had spent several sleepless nights. Today morning, I chaired the Session on Plenary talk by Dr Pushmeet Kohli, Chief Scientist Google Clouds and VP at Google DeepMind. Dr Pushmeet delivered a wonderful talk on possibilities that AI has opened in biology to materials science. He also talked about breakthroughs such as AlphaFold. Most importantly, he underscored the fact that AI can certainly help all scientists in tasks such as data collection and curation, literature survey and even new hypothesis generation or experimental investigation planning. It is then upto a scientist to use this to perform her research. There was an equally stimulating session on Physical AI with an interesting perspective from industry by Jalaj Dani, Chairman of @Addverb_Tech. I also released DST’s in-house Dream magazine with special feature on Physical AI. @DaniJalaj @pushmeet @IndiaDST

At #ESTIC2026, Prof. @karandi65, Member, @NITIAayog, highlighted Physical AI as a systems engineering challenge, where reliability, security and trustworthiness are critical, as errors can have real-world consequences. He emphasised the scope for multidisciplinary collaboration to integrate intelligence into autonomous vehicles and cyber-physical systems, paving the way for next-generation autonomous technologies. @DrJitendraSingh @PrinSciAdvGoI @PrinSciAdvOff @waghmare16 @estic_2026 @DBTIndia @CSIR_IND @moesgoi @csir_niist

A Viksit Bharat will be built on strong foundations of scientific research, discoveries and the spirit of innovation. Speaking at the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave in New Delhi. nitter.siddz.com/i/broadcasts/1yxBePXvb…

WATCH LIVE | #ESTIC2026 Plenary Talk 3: Dr Pushmeet Kohli, Vice President, Google DeepMind. @narendramodi @PMOIndia @DrJitendraSingh @PrinSciAdvGoI @PrinSciAdvOff @waghmare16 @Dhana_Arumugam1 @DBTIndia @CSIR_IND @moesgoi @csir_niist @PIB_India @karandi65 @GoogleIndia @NITIAayog nitter.siddz.com/i/broadcasts/2evgerNnX…

Graphene, just one atom thick, has opened up new possibilities in materials science. Professor Konstantin “Kostya” Novoselov’s pioneering work on graphene earned him the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics. I had the opportunity to meet Prof. Kostya Novoselov in my office at @NITIAayog where he shared an overview of the fascinating work being undertaken at his Institute for Functional Intelligent Materials. We also explored the possibility of establishing a Centre of Excellence and co-developing next-generation materials with Indian researchers and innovators. Such collaborations can help strengthen India’s capabilities in advanced materials and translate scientific advances into future technologies.

The stage is set for a historic moment in Indian science. #ESTIC2026 will be inaugurated by the Hon'ble PM, Shri @NarendraModi, marking a defining step towards a self-reliant technological future. This platform will define the next generation of scientific breakthroughs and set the national agenda for deep-tech innovation. Witness the vision that will guide India's scientific leadership for decades to come. @PMOIndia @DrJitendraSingh @PrinSciAdvGoI @PrinSciAdvOff @waghmare16 @Dhana_Arumugam1 @DBTIndia @CSIR_IND @moesgoi @csir_niist @PIB_India

AI is changing the cybersecurity landscape. As attackers use AI to exploit vulnerabilities and automate attacks, prevention alone is no longer enough. We must also be prepared to detect, contain and recover from breaches quickly. In an article published in The Hindu BusinessLine @businessline , I and Debjani Ghosh @debjani_ghosh_ examine the cybersecurity challenges and the growing risks posed by AI-driven attacks. We have argued that “Assume Breach” must become an operating principle and need to reimagine our approach. As AI agents increasingly interact with digital systems and execute transactions autonomously, stronger safeguards, clear accountability and institutional coordination will be essential. Read the article thehindubusinessline.com/opi… @RBI @SEBI_updates

It was a pleasure to deliver the keynote address at Tech Sangam 2026 yesterday at the Uttar Pradesh State Institute of Forensic Science (UPSIFS) @upsifsUp , Lucknow. The event was inaugurated by Shri Yogi Adityanath ji @myogiadityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and attended by several distinguished dignitaries. The convergence of AI, quantum technology, cyber forensics and law is reshaping digital security and investigation. My address highlighted three priorities: preparing critical digital infrastructure for the quantum era, building indigenous technological capabilities and strengthening forensic institutions to ensure that digital evidence meets rigorous scientific and legal standards. Building these capabilities will be critical to securing India’s digital infrastructure and strengthening trust in the digital ecosystem. #QuantumTechnology

At @exploreIMC 2026 , I participated in a fireside chat with Ms. @chandrarsrikant of @moneycontrolcom on India’s growing deep-tech capabilities & the opportunity to translate them into globally competitive technologies, products and intellectual property. Using 6G as a key example, we discussed India’s potential to contribute to global standards while developing indigenous, IP-led solutions that address national priorities and compete in global markets. The full conversation is now available on the @NITIAayog YouTube channel: piped.video/_uE6G_Slyw4

तकनीक से सशक्त न्याय, नवाचार से विकसित उत्तर प्रदेश ‘टेक संगम 2026’ में माननीय मुख्यमंत्री श्री @myogiadityanath जी ने विज्ञान, तकनीक और भारतीय मनीषा के समन्वय को समय की आवश्यकता बताते हुए स्पष्ट किया कि आर्टिफिशियल इंटेलिजेंस निर्णय प्रक्रिया को गति दे सकता है, लेकिन उसके विवेक पर पूर्ण निर्भरता उचित नहीं है। डीपफेक, पहचान की चोरी और डिजिटल साक्ष्यों से जुड़ी चुनौतियों के बीच सुरक्षित, विश्वसनीय और जनहितकारी तकनीकी व्यवस्था विकसित करना आवश्यक है। वर्ष 2017 में प्रदेश में केवल एक फॉरेंसिक लैब होने से लेकर आज 12 क्षेत्रीय फॉरेंसिक लैब के तैयार होने और शेष 6 में निर्माण कार्य अंतिम चरण में पहुंचने तक की यात्रा, अपराधों की वैज्ञानिक जांच और समयबद्ध न्याय की दिशा में उत्तर प्रदेश के बदलते स्वरूप को दर्शाती है। सरोजनीनगर स्थित उत्तर प्रदेश स्टेट इंस्टीट्यूट ऑफ फॉरेंसिक साइंस में आयोजित यह अंतरराष्ट्रीय संवाद केवल तकनीकी विमर्श नहीं, बल्कि भविष्य की पुलिसिंग, न्याय व्यवस्था और डिजिटल अर्थव्यवस्था को नई दिशा देने का अवसर है। इस अवसर पर डा. जी.के. गोस्वामी, श्री सुभाष रस्तोगी, श्री मनोरंजन मिश्रा और श्री उपेन्द्र गिरी जी के सहयोग से लिखी पुस्तक 'एआई इन कंस्ट्रक्शन' का विमोचन, ‘The Light of Bharat’ कृति भेंट किया जाना तथा ‘ LEXQ लैब’ की आधारशिला रखा जाना इस आयोजन के प्रमुख पड़ाव रहे। गौरतलब है कि अपराधों का स्वरूप तेजी से बदल रहा है और साइबर अपराध पुलिसिंग के सामने बड़ी चुनौती बनकर उभरे हैं। I4C के अनुसार, नेशनल साइबर क्राइम रिपोर्टिंग पोर्टल पर दर्ज शिकायतें वर्ष 2021 में 2.63 लाख से बढ़कर 2025 में 24.03 लाख हो गईं, जबकि रिपोर्ट की गई साइबर धोखाधड़ी की राशि 551 करोड़ से बढ़कर 22,495 करोड़ तक पहुँच गई। ऐसी चुनौतियों से प्रभावी ढंग से निपटने में कृत्रिम बुद्धिमत्ता और साइबर फॉरेंसिक डिजिटल साक्ष्यों के विश्लेषण एवं अपराधों की जाँच में महत्वपूर्ण भूमिका निभा सकते हैं। उत्तर प्रदेश फॉरेंसिक साइंस इंस्टीट्यूट को प्रदेश में फॉरेंसिक शिक्षा, अनुसंधान और आधुनिक अपराध जाँच के अग्रणी केंद्र के रूप में विकसित करने की दिशा में यह सम्मेलन एक महत्वपूर्ण कदम है। सरोजनीनगर को ऐसे विश्वस्तरीय संस्थान और अंतरराष्ट्रीय संवाद की मेजबानी का अवसर मिलना पूरे क्षेत्र के लिए गर्व का विषय है। हमारा मानना है कि विज्ञान, क्वांटम तकनीक और कृत्रिम बुद्धिमत्ता का वास्तविक उद्देश्य मानव कल्याण, नागरिक अधिकारों की रक्षा और न्याय को अधिक सुलभ बनाना होना चाहिए। ऐसे आयोजन सरोजनीनगर को ज्ञान, अनुसंधान और तकनीकी नवाचार के महत्वपूर्ण केंद्र के रूप में स्थापित करने की दिशा में सार्थक कदम हैं। इस कार्यक्रम में महानिदेशक अपर मुख्य सचिव (गृह), उत्तर प्रदेश शासन, श्री @sanjaychapps1 जी, पुलिस महानिदेशक, उत्तर प्रदेश, श्री राजीव कृष्ण जी, महानिदेशक, रक्षा साइबर एजेंसी, भारत सरकार श्री संजय सचदेवा जी, सदस्य, नीति आयोग, भारत सरकार, प्रो. @karandi65 जी, अध्यक्ष, इंडियानापोलिस विश्वविद्यालय, अमेरिका, डॉ. तनुजा सिंह जी, डॉ.जी.के. गोस्वामी जी निदेशक, यूपीएसआईएफएस, लखनऊ

Ashoke Sen has been awarded the prestigious Oskar Klein Medal for 2026, becoming the first Indian physicist to receive the honour. Previous recipients include Nobel laureates Chen-Ning Yang, Steven Weinberg and Hans Bethe, who received the medal in its first three years.

This prize is quite a big deal in Physics! See the earlier winners. Sadly, not seeing too much coverage about this mainstream media. Barring a few exceptions, Indian media generally does a poor job of science and tech coverage (beyond the headlines), happening in our top research and education institutions.

Building indigenous launch capabilities is essential to strengthening India’s technological self-reliance and competitiveness in the global space sector. At the 36th In-house Lecture Series of @NITIAayog , Mr. Pawan Kumar Chandana @PawanKChandana , Co-Founder & CEO of @SkyrootA, shared insights from his journey of developing indigenous launch vehicles and building a private space technology enterprise. Skyroot’s journey underscores the potential of India’s deep-tech ecosystem to translate scientific capabilities into globally competitive products and enterprises, strengthening the country’s technological self-reliance. #SpaceTechnology #DeepTech @isro @INSPACeIND

The Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India congratulates Dr. Ashoke Sen, @ictstifr-Infosys Madhava Chair Professor, Bengaluru, on receiving the Oskar Klein Medal for 2026. He is the first Indian physicist to receive this prestigious honour. Prof. Sen is globally recognised for his pioneering contributions to string theory, particularly his work on S-duality, the precision counting of black hole entropy and string field theory. His research has played a significant role in advancing modern string theory and deepening our understanding of fundamental physics. Jointly awarded by @Stockholm_Uni and the Nobel Committee for Physics of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, the Oskar Klein Medal recognises distinguished contributions to physics. This recognition adds to Prof. Sen’s distinguished achievements, which include the Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics (2012), the Dirac Medal (2014), the Padma Shri (2001) and the Padma Bhushan (2013).

It was a pleasure meeting Mr. Kishore Babu Yerraballa, ITU Area Head for Southeast Asia, along with Mr. Ananda Raj Khanal, the newly appointed Head of the @ITU Area Office and Innovation Centre for South Asia, based in New Delhi, at @NITIAayog today. We discussed the importance of international cooperation in expanding digital connectivity, strengthening telecommunications infrastructure and advancing interoperable standards to support a more connected digital future. #DigitalConnectivity

Dr. V. Narayanan, Chairman of the @isro called on me today at @NITIAayog We discussed India’s space capabilities and the importance of strengthening indigenous technologies. Expanding the applications of space technology in communications, navigation and Earth observation can help translate India’s scientific and technological strengths into tangible economic and societal benefits.

ImmunoACT: The IIT Bombay Spinout That Made CAR-T an Indian Therapy biospectrumindia.com/feature… @iitbombay @ActImmuno Three years after India approved its first home-grown CAR-T therapy, the Navi Mumbai company behind it is profitable, in more than 80 hospitals and already building its next products. It is the right place to start a 100-day look at the startups reshaping Indian life sciences

WATCH || NITI Aayog launches a framework to help states evaluate data centre investments. In an exclusive interview with DD India, Member @karandi65 explains its role in streamlining project assessment. @Munmun_Bhat #NITIAayog #DataCentres #DigitalIndia #DDIndia