Author: Sreelatha M

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Corporate

OpenAI–Tata partner for 100mw AI data centre in India

OpenAI has entered into a major infrastructure partnership with the Tata Group to build artificial intelligence-ready data-centre capacity in India, starting with 100 megawatts (MW) and with a long-term goal of expanding it to 1 gigawatt (GW). The move is aimed at strengthening the company’s presence in one of its fastest-growing user markets and supporting the rising demand for AI services in the country.

Under the agreement, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) will provide the data-centre infrastructure, making OpenAI the first customer for its new AI-focused hosting platform. The facilities will be designed to handle high-performance computing required for training and running advanced AI models. Having local compute capacity is expected to improve speed, reduce latency and help meet India’s data-storage and regulatory requirements.

The project is part of OpenAI’s broader global plan to develop large-scale AI infrastructure through its “Stargate” programme. By hosting computing power within India, the company aims to enable wider adoption of AI across sectors such as finance, healthcare, manufacturing and government services, where domestic data processing is often essential.

The partnership also extends beyond infrastructure. ChatGPT Enterprise and other OpenAI tools will be deployed across several Tata Group companies to improve productivity, software development and automation. TCS is expected to integrate these AI solutions into its delivery platforms, helping clients adopt AI-driven workflows more quickly.

India has emerged as one of the largest markets for ChatGPT in terms of users, making local infrastructure a strategic priority for OpenAI. For the Tata Group, the deal provides a high-profile customer for its expanding digital and data-centre business and supports its ambition to become a key player in AI infrastructure.

Also Read: Trump’s first Japanese investments under $550 bn trade pact

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Corporate

Sensex jumps 400 points, Nifty nears 25,600

Indian equity markets opened higher on Friday as investors sought opportunities after a sharp decline in the previous session. The BSE Sensex rose over 400 points, trading near 55,800, while the NSE Nifty 50 held around 25,600 in early deals, supported by buying in select heavyweight sectors.

The market rally was driven by value buying and sector-specific strength, particularly in public sector units, banks, and energy stocks. However, IT and realty counters underperformed, limiting the overall gains amid caution over global cues and recent volatility.

Among the top gainers, Coal India Ltd surged over 1%, while Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Ltd (ONGC) also rose about 1%. Heavyweight industrial stocks such as Bharat Electronics Ltd and Larsen & Toubro Ltd advanced around 0.8% each.

On the losers’ side, major IT stocks fell sharply. Infosys Ltd dropped more than 2%, while Tech Mahindra Ltd, Kwality Walls India Ltd, HCL Technologies Ltd, and Wipro Ltd all declined over 1%, reflecting profit-taking after recent gains.

Sector-wise, the Nifty Bank index showed resilience, while midcap and IT segments dragged market breadth lower. Investors remained watchful ahead of weekly derivatives expiry and potential global triggers that could influence market direction in the coming days.

After Thursday’s sharp sell-off, Friday’s session showed tentative stability, with defensive and cyclical stocks leading the rebound.

Also Read: Cigarette stocks jump up to 12% on sharp price hikes

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Technology

Sarvam Kaze, India’s multilingual answer to Meta ray-ban

Bengaluru-based Sarvam AI has unveiled Kaze, its first AI-powered smart glasses, marking India’s formal entry into the global AI wearables segment. The device was showcased at the India AI Impact Summit, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi tested the glasses, signalling strong policy-level visibility for indigenous AI hardware.

Kaze is designed as a voice-driven, hands-free computing interface powered by Sarvam’s in-house foundational models, with a core focus on Indian language support and localised AI use cases. Through integrated cameras, microphones and open-ear audio, the glasses can process real-time visual context, respond to spoken queries and deliver contextual assistance without requiring users to access a smartphone.

The product targets enterprise and public-sector deployments in areas such as field services, education, accessibility, navigation and document workflows, alongside future consumer applications. Sarvam’s on-device and edge-optimised AI approach is expected to reduce latency and improve privacy for real-time interactions.

The launch places Kaze in direct comparison with Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses, which currently leads the category with camera, audio and voice assistant features. However, Sarvam is betting on multilingual AI, India-specific workflows and domestic design-to-manufacture capabilities as key differentiators.

Also Read: Tata Sons moves to renew N. Chandrasekaran’s term

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Corporate

Sensex dips 100+ points, Nifty slips under 25,800

The markets opened lower on Thursday, 19 February 2026, after early optimism faded into profit-booking and cautious trading. The BSE Sensex fell over 100 points, while the Nifty 50 slipped under 25,800, dragged down by weakness in select IT and industrial stocks, even as metal and consumer segments showed resilience.

Tech Mahindra led the gainers with a roughly 2% rise, followed by Netweb Technologies and MCX, which benefited from strong demand in commodities. On the other hand, IndiGo and construction stocks such as NCC saw declines amid sectoral pressures and regulatory concerns. Broader market sentiment remained cautious, with retail investors gradually shifting funds from traditional bank savings into higher-yielding instruments like liquid funds.

Sectorally, metal stocks continued to outperform, with the BSE Metal Index rallying over 13% in the past three months, reflecting higher commodity prices and tight supply. Consumer and financial stocks contributed to early gains, while IT shares struggled, limiting overall upside.

Global markets presented a mixed picture. Asian benchmarks traded higher, with Nikkei 225 futures up 0.6% and Topix rising 1%, while European indices remained largely flat. Wall Street ended higher on Wednesday, lifted by gains in technology and AI-related stocks, including Nvidia and Amazon.

Meanwhile, the dollar strengthened ahead of key U.S. inflation data, and oil prices eased as investors monitored U.S.-Iran diplomatic developments.

Also Read: Sensex surges 283 points, Nifty climbs above 25,800

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Beyond

NGT approves Great Nicobar Island mega project

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has given the green light to the ₹80,000‑crore Great Nicobar Island mega infrastructure project, dismissing petitions that challenged its environmental clearance. The tribunal cited the project’s strategic importance for India and found that adequate safeguards had been put in place to protect the island’s fragile ecosystem.

A six‑member bench, led by Justice Prakash Shrivastava, reviewed petitions from environmentalists and activists, including Ashish Kothari, who raised concerns over forest diversion, impact on coral reefs, and threats to indigenous communities such as the Shompen and Nicobarese tribes. The tribunal noted that a high‑powered committee in 2023 had examined these issues and confirmed sufficient protections under the 2022 environmental clearance (EC).

The project spans 166 sq km and involves the diversion of roughly 130 sq km of forest land. Key components include a container transshipment port, a dual-use airport, an integrated township, and a 450 MVA power plant using gas and solar energy.

The NGT emphasized that authorities must ensure full compliance with EC conditions, including conservation of coral habitats, protection of sandy beaches critical for marine species, and safeguarding key wildlife such as the leatherback sea turtle, Nicobar megapode, and Nicobar macaque.

While the tribunal recognized environmental concerns, it highlighted the project’s role in strengthening India’s strategic presence in the Indian Ocean region and near the Strait of Malacca, a major global shipping corridor.

Although the NGT ruling removes legal barriers at the tribunal level, activists may still approach higher courts.

Also Read: YouTube faces global outage, millions affected

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Technology

YouTube faces global outage, millions affected

On 17–18 February 2026, the video platform YouTube went down for users around the world, leaving many unable to watch videos or use the app properly. The outage affected countries including the US, India, the UK, Australia, and Mexico.

In the United States alone, over 3 lakh users reported problems on tracking site Downdetector. Users faced issues like blank homepages, error messages, videos not loading, and problems accessing related services such as YouTube Music, YouTube Kids, and YouTube TV.

Many users took to social media, including X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit, to share their frustration. While some videos could still be accessed through direct links, the home page and recommended videos were often missing or not working.

YouTube confirmed the outage and said its engineering teams were working to fix the problem. The company explained that a glitch in its recommendation system, the feature that suggests videos and populates users’ home pages, was the main cause.

By Wednesday morning, YouTube announced that services across all platforms had been fully restored. Users could again access videos, playlists, recommendations, and related services without issues. The company thanked users for their patience during the disruption.

Also Read: NPCI rolls out UPI wallet for Global AI Summit visitors

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1 Minute-Read

NPCI rolls out UPI wallet for Global AI Summit visitors

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has introduced its UPI One World wallet service for international attendees of the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi.

Visitors from over 40 countries can make seamless, real-time payments across India without needing an Indian bank account or mobile number. Funds can be loaded via international debit or credit cards, and payments can be made by scanning standard UPI QR codes.

The service is active at Delhi airport and the summit’s NPCI pavilion, simplifying transactions for global delegates.

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Corporate

Air India–Lufthansa deal to make Europe trips smoother

In good news for travellers, flying between India and Europe is set to become easier and more seamless. Air India and the Lufthansa Group have joined hands to deepen their partnership, a move that will eventually allow passengers to access more destinations, better-timed flights and hassle-free connections under one coordinated network.

The plan is simple in intent but significant in impact: give passengers more choice, shorter travel times and smoother transfers. Once the agreement receives regulatory approvals, the two airline groups will be able to align flight schedules, coordinate routes and sell seats together — allowing travellers to book their entire journey on a single ticket even when flying across multiple airlines.

The collaboration brings several European carriers into closer cooperation with Air India, including Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and ITA Airways.

For travellers, this could mean better-timed connections, fewer separate bookings and more flexibility in choosing routes. Someone flying from a smaller Indian city to a European destination, for instance, may soon be able to move between flights within the same network without the usual hassle of multiple check-ins and baggage reclaims.

The two groups already share flights on a large network linking several Indian and European cities, and this is expected to grow further as demand rises for tourism, education, business and family travel.

For Air India, the agreement supports its ongoing transformation and global expansion. With new aircraft on order and more long-haul routes planned, the airline is rebuilding its international presence. For Lufthansa Group, India remains one of its most important and fastest-growing long-haul markets.

Also Read: Adani Ports ties up with Marseille Fos for IMEC corridor

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Corporate

Adani Ports ties up with Marseille Fos for IMEC corridor

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd has signed an MoU with Port of Marseille Fos to strengthen cargo connectivity between India and Europe and support the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).

The partnership links India’s largest private port operator with France’s biggest maritime gateway and is aimed at creating faster, more reliable supply chains for bilateral and global trade. By improving port-to-port coordination, the two sides plan to reduce transit time and enhance cargo movement for Indian exporters entering European markets.

The agreement covers logistics integration, digital port solutions, knowledge exchange and joint efforts in sustainable shipping. Both ports will also explore projects in decarbonisation, alternative fuels and energy-efficient operations as the global maritime sector moves towards greener standards.

For Adani Ports, the pact strengthens its international network and positions it as a key player in the emerging IMEC trade route, which will connect India to Europe through the Middle East using a mix of sea, rail and logistics infrastructure. The corridor is expected to diversify supply chains and offer an alternative to traditional trade routes.

Marseille Fos, a major Mediterranean hub, provides direct access to southern and central Europe, making it a strategic entry point for Indian cargo. The collaboration is also seen as part of the broader India–France push to deepen cooperation in infrastructure, clean energy and resilient trade systems.

Also Read: Adani Group unveils $100 bn plan for AI data centres

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Corporate

Sensex drops 100 pts, Nifty slips below 25,700

As the markets opened on Wednesday, the BSE Sensex fell over 100 points while the NSE Nifty 50 slipped below the 25,700 mark in a volatile session dominated by sector-specific action. Weakness in frontline technology stocks such as Infosys, TCS and HCLTech weighed the most on the indices, reflecting persistent concerns over the sector’s growth outlook amid the rapid shift towards artificial intelligence-led business models.

However, losses were partially capped by strong buying in metal counters. Tata Steel and JSW Steel emerged among the top gainers after positive global cues linked to steel and aluminium tariffs improved sentiment for the sector. Gains in banking stocks, led by State Bank of India, also helped prevent a sharper fall.

The broader market mirrored the cautious mood, with mid-cap and small-cap indices trading on a flat-to-negative note. Most sectoral indices ended in the red, highlighting the lack of broad-based momentum.

Global cues remained mixed. Asian markets traded with mild gains, while investors continued to track the US interest-rate trajectory and movements in global technology stocks. The uncertainty kept domestic traders from taking large directional positions.

Stock-specific action continued in the infrastructure and capital-goods space on the back of fresh order wins, while select FMCG and tobacco stocks saw buying interest after price hike expectations.

Also Read: Adani Group unveils $100 bn plan for AI data centres