The Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIM-K) has entered the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 top 100 for the first time. The QS rankings assess universities globally using criteria such as academic reputation, employer reputation, research output, and employment outcomes. IIM-K’s inclusion in the top 100 marks a notable milestone for Indian management education, reflecting stronger international visibility and performance in management disciplines. The development contributes to India’s rising presence in global higher education rankings and signals continued improvement in Indian business schools' global standing.
IIM Kozhikode joins QS Top 100 Rankings 2026 by subject.
QS rankings evaluate reputation, research, and outcomes.
marks a milestone for Indian management education.
Indicates rising global visibility of Indian business schools.
NASA Artemis 2 set for April 2026 launch; first crewed lunar flyby in decades
NASA's Artemis 2 mission is set for launch on 1 April 2026. The mission will send four astronauts on a 10-day journey around the Moon, marking the first crewed mission to go beyond low Earth orbit since 1972. Artemis 2 will not land on the lunar surface; instead, the crew will perform a lunar flyby and return to Earth. This flight is the first crewed test under NASA's Artemis program, designed to demonstrate long-duration deep-space operations ahead of future surface landings. The mission underscores the United States’ capability for sustained human exploration of cislunar space, and science objectives will include experiments in life support, navigation, and communications.
Launch date: 1 April 2026
Crew of four astronauts
10-day lunar flyby mission
First crewed beyond LEO since 1972
Part of NASA's Artemis program
No lunar landing during Artemis 2
Kiran Mani named APAC Chief to drive OpenAI's India growth
OpenAI appointed Kiran Mani, former CEO of JioStar, as Asia-Pacific chief to lead India growth plans. The announcement was made on 25 March 2026. Mani will head OpenAI's Asia operations from a Singapore base and report to Chief Strategy Officer Jason Kwon. Mani is a technology and business leader with experience at Google, Microsoft, and IBM, including a long stint directing Android and Google Play operations in Asia-Pacific and Japan. The appointment signals OpenAI's intensified focus on high-potential markets in the region and is expected to bolster partnerships, product deployment, and AI research collaboration in India and nearby markets.
Appointed: 25 March 2026
Role: APAC Chief, OpenAI
Base: Singapore; reports to CSO Jason Kwon
Past roles: JioStar CEO, Google, Microsoft, IBM
Focus: India growth and regional expansion
Implications: stronger partnerships and AI collaboration
Akasha300 3D printer delivered to ISRO's LPSC
The Akasha300, a high-temperature 3D printer, was delivered to ISRO's Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre. Developed by Kerala-based startup Spacetime 4D, the printer is designed for space mission components and operates as a multi-material extrusion device capable of handling engineering plastics and composite materials. Supported by the Space Technology Innovation and Incubation Centre (STIIC) at IIST and Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM), the unit aims to boost domestic manufacturing for space hardware. The development supports Atmanirbhar Bharat by reducing import reliance and enabling faster prototyping of critical propulsion and structural parts.
Device: Akasha300 high-temperature 3D printer
Delivered to ISRO's LPSC
Developer: Spacetime 4D (Kerala)
Capabilities: multi-material extrusion
Supports STIIC at IIST and KSUM
Advances domestic space manufacturing
Mar 25, 2026
Convergence India & Smart Cities India Expo 2026 held in New Delhi
Convergence India and Smart Cities India Expo 2026 were held at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi from 23 to 25 March 2026. The event showcased ICT, digital infrastructure and smart city solutions, drawing government officials, industry leaders and investors. It featured conference sessions, business matchmaking and technology demonstrations across 5G, AI, IoT, cybersecurity and urban governance. The expo supports India’s digital transformation and citizen services, promoting public‑private collaboration for sustainable urban development under the national smart city agenda. Participants included technology providers, city authorities and financiers looking to scale, pilot and deploy next‑generation solutions for urban living.
Dates and venue: 23–25 March 2026, Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
Theme: ICT, digital infrastructure and smart city solutions
Objective: accelerate digital governance and urban development
Audience: government, industry, investors
Mar 24, 2026
National AI Skilling Initiative My WAVES launched with built TV Tuner
Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw launched the National AI Skilling Initiative, My WAVES, featuring built-in TV Tuner and Advanced Electronic Program Guide (EPG) in New Delhi. The move, developed in collaboration with television manufacturers, Prasar Bharati, and Doordarshan under the Free Dish framework, aims to democratise technology and enhance access to high‑quality entertainment and AI literacy. The built-in TV cards enable older and newer sets to benefit from integrated AI features, lowering costs and improving ease of use for households across India. The initiative underscores a shift toward more inclusive digital access.
Launch of National AI Skilling Initiative: My WAVES
Features built-in TV Tuner and Advanced EPG
Collaboration with manufacturers, Prasar Bharati, Doordarshan (Free Dish)
Aims to democratise technology and AI literacy
Integrates AI features into modern and legacy televisions
Terafab AI chip manufacturing project announced by Elon Musk
Entrepreneur Elon Musk announced a major semiconductor initiative named Terafab, based in Austin, Texas. The project aims to scale artificial intelligence chip production to meet rising demand for autonomous systems, robotics, and AI workloads. Terafab envisions a massive fabrication facility larger than existing gigafactories and functions as a hub for designing, manufacturing, and testing next‑generation chips. The initiative signals a strategic move to bolster domestic chip supply and address perceived gaps in global capacity, with potential implications for the US tech ecosystem and international supply chains.
Project name: Terafab
Location: Austin, Texas
Involves Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI
Aims to scale AI chip production at a new large facility
Intended to strengthen domestic chip supply and tech sovereignty
Mar 22, 2026
Bharat Innovates Deep-Tech Pre-Summit in Mumbai
The Ministry of Education will host the Bharat Innovates Deep-Tech Pre-Summit in Mumbai as a two-day event starting 22 March 2026. Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan will address the gathering, with approximately 137 startups selected from over 3,000 applications, presenting innovations across 13 critical technology domains, including Advanced Computing, Space, and Defence. Principal Scientific Adviser Ajay Kumar Sood, senior officials, academicians, and entrepreneurs will participate. The summit aims to accelerate collaboration among startups, higher education institutions, and industry, showcasing India’s growing depth in deep-tech and signaling opportunities for domestic and global partnerships.
Event: Bharat Innovates Deep-Tech Pre-Summit, 22-23 March 2026.
Location: Mumbai, India.
Selected startups: about 137 from 3,000+ applications.
Technology domains: 13, including Advanced Computing, Space, Defence.
Attendees include Dharmendra Pradhan and Ajay Kumar Sood.
Bharat Innovates 2026 (Web-Added Note)
Web-added context notes Bharat Innovates 2026 as a global deep-tech platform linked to higher education institutes, inviting startups to connect with partners and investors. The program emphasises collaboration with HEIs/CFTIs and governmental offices to scale innovations, with the official site noting participation and networking potential. While the 2025 application cycle closed on 5 November 2025, the initiative continues to position India as a hub for deep-tech entrepreneurship, with office and coordination hosted at IIT Bombay in Mumbai. This addition provides background on the platform’s ongoing role in India’s innovation ecosystem.
Program focus: Deep-tech innovations linked to HEIs/CFTIs.