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The Union Home Minister recently launched Bharat Taxi in Gujarat, a cooperative-model ride-hailing platform designed to give drivers greater ownership and economic participation.

About Bharat Taxi

Bharat Taxi is India’s first cooperative-led, driver-owned ride-hailing platform, registered under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002. It is a government-supported initiative under the Ministry of Cooperation and the National e-Governance Division (NeGD).

Unlike conventional private ride-hailing platforms, Bharat Taxi treats drivers as “Sarathis” and allows them to become shareholders and members of the cooperative, giving them greater participation in decision-making.

Institutional Support

The platform has been developed by Sahkar Taxi Cooperative Limited and is backed by eight major cooperative institutions: NCDC, GCMMF (Amul), NDDB, NAFED, IFFCO, KRIBHCO, NABARD and NCEL.

Key Features

Driver Ownership: Drivers can purchase shares and become cooperative members, giving them greater ownership, transparency and participation in the platform.

Zero Commission: Unlike conventional aggregators that deduct commissions from fares, Bharat Taxi aims to transfer the full fare to the driver.

Transparent Pricing: The platform follows a no-surge pricing model, helping passengers avoid unpredictable fare increases during periods of high demand.

Digital Integration: Bharat Taxi is designed to integrate with national digital platforms such as DigiLocker, UMANG and API Setu, strengthening its digital ecosystem.

Security and Compliance: The platform is intended to follow Government of India data-protection and cybersecurity standards, supported by robust digital infrastructure.

Support for Sarathis

Bharat Taxi seeks to strengthen the livelihoods of drivers by providing access to loans, insurance and business-expansion opportunities. The cooperative model aims to shift drivers from being merely service providers to stakeholders and owners of the platform.

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Labourers from the Jammu and Kashmir Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) recently undertook weed-removal operations in Dal Lake, Srinagar, as part of efforts to maintain the lake’s ecological health.

About Dal Lake

Dal Lake is an urban freshwater lake located in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, surrounded by the Pir Panjal mountains. It is a major centre of tourism and recreation and is popularly known as the “Jewel in the Crown of Kashmir” or “Srinagar’s Jewel.”

The lake covers approximately 18 sq. km and is the second-largest lake in Jammu and Kashmir after Wular Lake. It is also famous for its floating gardens, houseboats, Shikaras and lotus blooms.

Hydrology and Physical Features

Dal Lake receives most of its water from the Telbal stream, which is connected to the Jhelum River system. During severe winters, temperatures can fall to around −11°C, causing portions of the lake to freeze.

The lake is divided by causeways into four main basins—Gagribal, Lokut Dal, Bod Dal and Nagin. Nagin is sometimes treated as a separate lake.

Lokut Dal and Bod Dal each contain an island at their centre, known as Rup Lank (Char Chinari) and Sona Lank, respectively.

Floating Gardens and Economy

One of Dal Lake’s most distinctive features is its floating gardens, locally known as “Rad.” These floating patches of land are used by farmers to cultivate vegetables and flowers. The lake becomes particularly attractive during July and August, when lotus flowers bloom.

The lake is also famous for its floating market, where vendors use Shikaras and wooden boats to sell goods to tourists.

Tourism and Cultural Importance

The approximately 15.5-km shoreline is surrounded by Mughal-era gardens, parks, houseboats, hotels and a boulevard, making Dal Lake an important symbol of Kashmir’s tourism and cultural landscape.

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The Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme for another five years, from 2026–27 to 2030–31, reaffirming the Government’s focus on strengthening farmers’ income security and rural livelihoods.

About PM-KISAN

PM-KISAN is a Central Sector Scheme launched in 2019 to provide direct income support to eligible landholding farmer families having cultivable land. Under the scheme, each eligible farmer family receives ₹6,000 annually, transferred in three equal instalments of ₹2,000.

The Union Cabinet has approved a total outlay of ₹3.15 lakh crore for the continuation of the scheme during 2026–27 to 2030–31. The Union Budget 2026–27 has also allocated ₹60,000 crore for PM-KISAN.

Mode of Financial Assistance

The financial assistance is transferred directly into farmers’ Aadhaar-seeded bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism. This reduces intermediaries and promotes transparency and timely delivery of benefits.

Objectives of the Scheme

PM-KISAN aims to provide farmers with assured income support to meet agricultural expenses such as the purchase of seeds, fertilisers and other inputs. The scheme also seeks to improve crop productivity, strengthen farmers’ financial capacity and reduce their dependence on informal sources of credit.

Beneficiary Identification and Digital Governance

The State Governments are responsible for identifying eligible farmer families and maintaining their beneficiary database. The PM-KISAN portal and mobile application facilitate registration, beneficiary verification, e-KYC, fund-transfer tracking and other digital services.

The scheme is monitored through a multi-tier institutional framework operating at the national, State and district levels, with the national review mechanism chaired by the Cabinet Secretary.

Major Achievements

Under PM-KISAN, more than ₹4.47 lakh crore has reportedly been transferred directly into farmers’ bank accounts through 23 instalments. During the COVID-19 pandemic, more than ₹1.71 lakh crore was disbursed, while women farmers have received over ₹1.06 lakh crore and account for nearly one-fourth of beneficiaries.

Impact on Agriculture

An evaluation by the Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office of NITI Aayog found that more than 92% of beneficiaries used PM-KISAN assistance for agricultural activities and investment, while around 85% reported higher agricultural income and reduced dependence on informal credit.

Between 2020–21 and 2025–26, the scheme is also associated with an increase of around 9.65% in cultivated area, 10.53% in productivity and 21.18% in total foodgrain production.

Significance

The continuation of PM-KISAN is important for strengthening farmers’ investment capacity, improving agricultural productivity, reducing financial vulnerability and supporting the broader rural economy. By combining direct income support with digital delivery, the scheme represents an important component of India’s agricultural welfare framework.

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A four-year-old leopard was recently killed after being hit by an unidentified vehicle near the Arabithittu Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka, highlighting the issue of wildlife mortality due to road traffic around protected areas.

About Arabithittu Wildlife Sanctuary

Arabithittu Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Mysuru district of Karnataka. It was originally a game reserve and was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1985.

The sanctuary covers an area of approximately 13.5 sq. km and includes the Arabithittu State Forest. Access to the forest is highly restricted because of the presence of nearby Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) installations.

Flora

The sanctuary primarily consists of tropical dry deciduous forests and scrublands, surrounded by areas used for cultivation and grazing. It also contains significant plantations of eucalyptus and sandalwood.

Other tree species found in the sanctuary include Ailanthus triphysa, Artocarpus heterophyllus, Anogeissus latifolia and Butea species.

Fauna

The sanctuary supports several species of mammals, including leopards, foxes, spotted deer, wild pigs, porcupines, hares and common mongooses.

It is also significant for avian biodiversity, with more than 250 bird species recorded in the sanctuary.

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India’s Prime Minister recently congratulated Abelardo de la Espriella on his victory in the Colombian presidential elections, highlighting the continuing diplomatic engagement between India and Colombia.

Location and Strategic Importance

Colombia is located in the northwestern part of South America and is often described as the “Gateway to South America” because of its strategic location connecting South America with Central and North America.

Bordering Countries

Colombia shares land borders with Panama in the northwest, Ecuador and Peru in the south, Venezuela in the east and Brazil in the southeast. It is the only South American country with coastlines on both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean.

Political and Economic Profile

The capital of Colombia is Bogotá. Colombia became a member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 2020, strengthening its integration with the global economic system.

Geographical Features

Colombia has considerable geographical diversity, ranging from tropical coastal regions and eastern plains to cooler highland areas associated with the Andes.

Its highest peak is Pico Cristóbal Colón, located in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.

Major Rivers

The country's important river systems include the Magdalena, Amazon and Orinoco. The Magdalena River is particularly significant for Colombia's geography, transport and economic activities.

Natural Resources

Colombia possesses substantial natural resources, including petroleum, natural gas, coal and gold, which contribute significantly to its economy and exports.

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The All-India Tiger Estimation (AITE) 2026 has recorded a strong presence of tigers in the Amrabad Tiger Reserve, highlighting the ecological significance of this protected landscape in Telangana.

Location and Background

The Amrabad Tiger Reserve is located in the Nallamala Hills of the Eastern Ghats in Telangana. Before the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh in 2014, the area formed part of the larger Nagarjunasagar–Srisailam Tiger Reserve.

Geographical Features

The reserve is characterised by rugged terrain, deep valleys and dense forests, providing suitable habitats for large mammals. The Krishna River and several perennial streams originating within the reserve contribute to the water resources of the region and feed major reservoirs such as the Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar reservoirs.

Tribal Community

The Chenchu tribe, a traditionally forest-dependent tribal community, is closely associated with the landscape of the reserve. Their traditional knowledge and dependence on forest resources are important aspects of the region's human–wildlife and conservation context.

Flora

The vegetation of Amrabad is dominated by dry deciduous forests, with important tree species such as sal, teak, bamboo and acacia. The reserve also contains a rich variety of medicinal plants and shrubs, many of which have traditionally been used by local communities.

Faunal Diversity

Amrabad provides habitat for tigers, leopards and other wild cats, along with herbivores such as sambar, chital, nilgai, wild boar and gaur. The reserve also supports significant avian diversity, with more than 303 bird species recorded, including eagles, pigeons, doves, cuckoos, woodpeckers and drongos.

Significance

The strong tiger presence recorded through AITE 2026 reinforces the importance of the Nallamala landscape as a critical habitat for tiger conservation. Its forests, river systems, biodiversity and tribal communities make Amrabad an important example of wildlife conservation integrated with landscape and community considerations.

Background

India has developed a robust Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) by integrating Aadhaar for digital identity, UPI for digital payments and DEPA/Account Aggregator for consent-based data sharing into an interoperable ecosystem. This digital foundation has enabled large-scale inclusion and significantly reduced the cost of internet access.

The next stage of this transformation is to treat Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a public utility, making computing power, datasets, foundational models and AI-based services affordable, accessible and interoperable for citizens, startups and public institutions.

AI as a Foundational Public Utility

AI as a foundational public utility means creating shared infrastructure that provides affordable access to computing power, algorithms, datasets and AI inference. This approach seeks to move AI beyond large corporations and research laboratories and make it available to ordinary citizens, MSMEs, governments and educational institutions.

It reflects the principle of “AI for All” and can contribute to the broader vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.

Why AI as a Public Utility Matters

Economic Growth and Innovation

AI can become a major productivity and innovation engine across agriculture, healthcare, education, manufacturing, MSMEs and the digital economy. According to the cited IBM–IndiaAI study, AI could contribute over $500 billion to India’s economy by 2030.

Better Governance

AI can strengthen data-driven policymaking and improve the delivery of welfare schemes, grievance redressal, taxation and judicial services. It can help governments process large volumes of information and provide faster and more targeted public services.

Technological Sovereignty

Developing indigenous AI models and computing capabilities can reduce dependence on foreign technology platforms. Domestic AI infrastructure can also strengthen data sovereignty and ensure that AI systems better reflect India’s linguistic, cultural and social diversity.

Social Inclusion

AI-powered voice and language technologies can help overcome barriers related to literacy, language and digital skills. Citizens in rural and underserved areas could access banking, healthcare and government services through local-language interfaces.

Improved Service Delivery

AI can support early disease detection, crop advisories, weather forecasting and soil-health analysis. In education, adaptive learning systems can provide personalised instruction and help address teacher shortages, particularly in multilingual classrooms.

India’s Emerging AI Ecosystem

India is rapidly expanding its technology and AI ecosystem, supported by a large startup base, a growing pool of technology professionals and numerous Global Capability Centres. The country is also witnessing increasing adoption of AI across sectors, with startups integrating AI into products and services.

India has also improved its position in global assessments of AI competitiveness, reflecting its growing capabilities in technology, talent, entrepreneurship and digital infrastructure.

Major Government Initiatives

IndiaAI Mission

The IndiaAI Mission, approved in 2024 with an allocation of ₹10,371.92 crore over five years, aims to build an inclusive and responsible AI ecosystem. It focuses on expanding compute access, datasets, innovation, AI skills and safe AI adoption.

AI Centres of Excellence

The government has established AI Centres of Excellence in areas such as healthcare, agriculture and sustainable cities, with education also identified as a major area. These centres bring together government, academia and industry to develop scalable AI applications.

Bhashini

Bhashini uses AI for Indian-language translation and speech services, helping citizens access digital platforms without being restricted by language barriers.

BharatGen

BharatGen represents India’s effort to develop indigenous multilingual and multimodal AI capabilities, incorporating Indian languages and datasets to address the country's diverse linguistic and cultural requirements.

AI Skills Development

AI-skilling frameworks are being developed to improve the ability of government officials and public-sector institutions to use AI effectively in policymaking, administration and service delivery.

Major Challenges

Inadequate Computing Infrastructure

India still faces limitations in access to high-performance GPUs, advanced computing infrastructure and semiconductor technologies. Building large-scale AI infrastructure requires significant investment.

Dependence on Foreign AI Models

Reliance on proprietary foreign AI models and APIs can create vulnerabilities related to technological sovereignty, cost and data control.

Data Gaps

The availability of high-quality datasets in Indian languages and local contexts remains inadequate. This can limit the accuracy and relevance of AI applications for Indian users.

Digital Divide

Unequal access to internet connectivity, digital infrastructure, AI tools and digital literacy could deepen existing socio-economic inequalities, particularly among rural communities and small enterprises.

Ethical and Cybersecurity Risks

The spread of deepfakes, AI-generated misinformation, privacy violations and algorithmic bias can undermine public trust and create new governance and security challenges.

Environmental Concerns

AI data centres require large amounts of electricity and water, raising concerns regarding energy security, carbon emissions and environmental sustainability.

Way Forward

India needs to expand affordable AI compute infrastructure and strengthen domestic semiconductor capabilities while encouraging collaboration among government, academia, startups and industry.

Greater support should be provided for open-source and indigenous Indic AI models, supported by high-quality and responsibly anonymised datasets. A common interoperable AI platform, similar in principle to UPI, could allow citizens, startups and public institutions to access multiple AI models through common standards.

The government could also consider subsidised AI access for students, researchers, startups and public institutions to encourage wider adoption while allowing commercial users to transition towards market-based services.

At the same time, strong frameworks for privacy, transparency, accountability, cybersecurity and ethical AI are essential to ensure that technological progress does not compromise individual rights or public trust.

Conclusion

Artificial Intelligence has the potential to become India’s next foundational public utility, building upon the success of its Digital Public Infrastructure. Just as affordable internet, Aadhaar and UPI democratised participation in the digital economy, accessible and affordable AI can democratise knowledge, innovation and opportunities.

With greater investment in compute infrastructure, semiconductors, indigenous datasets, skilled talent and responsible governance, India can use AI to strengthen economic growth, improve public services, promote inclusion and advance the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.