India and France inaugurate Indo-French AI in Health Centre at AIIMS
India and France inaugurated the Indo-French Centre for AI in Health (IF-CAIH) at AIIMS New Delhi during the Rencontres Universitaires Et Scientifiques De Haut Niveau meetings on 18-19 February 2026. The centre stems from a MoU between AIIMS New Delhi, Sorbonne University and Paris Brain Institute, with collaboration from IIT Delhi and other French institutions. IF-CAIH aims to advance AI-driven research, medical education and clinical innovation in healthcare. The inauguration signals strengthened international collaboration to accelerate health tech adoption and translational research in India.
IF-CAIH inaugurated at AIIMS New Delhi (18-19 Feb 2026).
MoU with Sorbonne University and Paris Brain Institute.
Collaboration includes IIT Delhi and other French partners.
Focus on AI in health, education and clinical innovation.
Significant step in India-France health tech collaboration.
India AI Impact Summit: Guinness World Record for Responsible AI Pledges
Day 3 of the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam featured a Guinness World Records title for the 'Most pledges received for an AI responsibility campaign in 24 hours,' with 250,946 valid pledges recorded during 16-17 February. The pledges were mobilized through colleges and student networks to build trust-led AI adoption alongside innovation. The focus remained on Responsible AI, digital connectivity, talent development, and scaling compute capacity. The event underscored India’s role as a global convenor for AI governance in emerging markets and highlighted partnerships with industry to advance ethical deployment.
Guinness World Records title awarded for AI pledges.
Pledges totaled 250,946 (16-17 February).
Campaign mobilized via colleges and student networks.
Focus on Responsible AI and talent development.
Positions India as a hub for AI governance.
Feb 18, 2026
New Diplura Species Described by ZSI in the Himalayas
Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India describe a new Diplura species from the eastern Himalayas, named Lepidocampa sikkimensis. Published on 7 January 2026 in the journal Zootaxa, the wingless, soil‑dwelling microarthropod represents the first Diplura described by an Indian team in nearly five decades. Diplurans are primitive hexapods, blind and soil‑dwelling, commonly called two‑pronged bristletails. The discovery sheds light on ancient hexapod lineages and highlights ongoing biodiversity research by Indian institutions in a high‑altitude region. ([biospectrumindia.com](https://www.biospectrumindia.com/news/16/27153/23rd-edition-of-bioasia-to-take-place-on-17-18-feb-2026-in-hyderabad.html?utm_source=openai))
New Diplura species Lepidocampa sikkimensis described
Published in Zootaxa on 7 January 2026
First Indian team to formally describe a Diplura in decades
Diplurans are wingless, soil‑dwelling hexapods
Highlights Himalayan biodiversity research
BioAsia 2026 Opens in Hyderabad Under TechBio Unleashed Theme
The 23rd BioAsia 2026 Summit began at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre on 17 February 2026 and runs through 18 February 2026. Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy inaugurated the two‑day international life sciences conference, which positions the state as a growing TechBio hub. The theme ‘TechBio Unleashed – AI, Automation, and the Revolutionary Changes in Life Sciences’ highlights AI‑driven drug discovery, automated biologics production, and data‑powered healthcare delivery. Delegates from industry, academia and government will explore research partnerships, investment avenues, and regulatory frameworks to accelerate timelines. Telangana aims to attract global capability centers and partnerships in vaccines, digital health, and biopharma manufacturing. ([bioasia.in](https://www.bioasia.in/2026/?utm_source=openai))
Inauguration by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on 17 February 2026
Conference held at Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC) over two days
Theme emphasizes AI, automation and biology revolution
Focus on AI-driven R&D, digital health and manufacturing
Aim to position Hyderabad as a global life sciences hub
BioAsia 2026 Spurs Major Investments in Hyderabad GCCs and Life‑Sciences Infrastructure
Web reports from BioAsia 2026 sessions indicate major investments in Hyderabad’s Global Capability Centers and life‑sciences infrastructure. U.S. analytics firm Tredence announced a healthcare AI innovation hub; Sanofi spinoff Opella Healthcare expanded its GCC footprint; Indonesian firm Vaksindo Animal Health plans a vaccine facility; Rx Propellant announced a ₹1,000 crore life‑sciences campus with extensive lab space; Novartis marked 25 years in India and highlighted Hyderabad as its largest GCC outside Basel. The summit showcased Hyderabad’s bid to become a global bio‑economy nexus, with public‑private partnerships accelerating R&D and manufacturing. ([timesofindia.indiatimes.com](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/investments-in-hyderabad-gccs-vaccine-rd-facilities-announced-at-bioasia-2026/articleshow/128470415.cms?utm_source=openai))
Tredence to open healthcare AI hub
Opella Healthcare expands GCC presence
Vaksindo Animal Health to build vaccine plant
Rx Propellant to invest ₹1,000 crore
Novartis cites Hyderabad GCC significance
Feb 17, 2026
AIIMS Conducts Real-Time Ultrasound from Antarctica via Tele-Robotics
AIIMS, New Delhi, conducted a real-time ultrasound on a patient at Maitri research station in Antarctica, about 12,000 kilometres away. A tele-robotic diagnostic system linked India’s experts with the remote site, enabling a live ultrasound examination from a distance. This breakthrough demonstrates telemedicine’s potential in extreme environments and could expand access to specialist care for remote researchers and international collaborations. Reportedly the first deployment of such a system at any Antarctic station, the development may pave the way for broader remote diagnostic capabilities in challenging terrains and during long-duration missions.
Location: Maitri research station, Antarctica.
Distance: ~12,000 km from India.
Technology: tele-robotic ultrasound system.
Significance: remote diagnostics in extreme environments.
First known deployment at an Antarctic station.
Feb 16, 2026
Four New Astronauts Arrive at the International Space Station
The International Space Station (ISS) has welcomed four new astronauts who will stay for eight to nine months. NASA’s Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway join France’s Sophie Adenot and Russia’s Andrei Fedyaev. The arrival follows NASA’s first medical evacuation in 65 years of human spaceflight last month. The new crew will conduct experiments and support station operations, while the health-related incident prompted renewed emphasis on crew safety and readiness. The ISS remains a platform for international cooperation in space research.
Crew: Meir, Hathaway, Adenot, Fedyaev
Mission duration: eight to nine months
Follows NASA’s first medical evacuation in 65 years
Crew conducts experiments and supports operations
Emphasis on crew safety and station readiness
India AI Impact Summit Begins Today; PM Modi Highlights Global Participation
The India AI Impact Summit begins today in New Delhi, attracting global participation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed participants and described the summit as a milestone for the Global South. The India AI Impact Expo 2026 runs from 16 to 20 February at Bharat Mandapam, with the Prime Minister inaugurating the expo at 1700 hours on Monday. The theme Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya reflects a shared commitment to human-centric AI progress. The event brings together world leaders, policymakers, researchers and industry players to discuss governance, standards and ethical AI deployment.
Expo runs 16–20 February; Modi inaugurates at 1700 hours
Theme: Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya
Global participation; leaders and researchers engaged
Focus on governance, standards and ethical AI
Highlights India’s role in global AI governance
India to Host First-Ever Global South AI Impact Summit 2026
New Delhi, 16 February 2026 — The AI Impact Summit 2026 opened in New Delhi at Bharat Mandapam, marking a historic moment as the first global AI summit hosted in the Global South. The five-day event brings together leaders and experts from more than 100 countries to discuss governance and cooperation on artificial intelligence. Ministerial delegations from over 45 nations are expected. India positions itself as a bridge between developed and developing nations to shape responsible AI policies. The summit will cover standards, safety, ethics, and international collaboration to guide AI deployment worldwide.
Five-day summit at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
First global AI summit in the Global South
Participants from 100+ countries; 45+ ministerial delegations
Focus on governance, standards, safety, and ethics
India positions itself as a hub for responsible AI policy
Feb 15, 2026
India Opens First National Biobank for Lysosomal Storage Disorders
India has launched its first government-supported national biobank dedicated to Lysosomal Storage Disorders (LSDs). Researchers from 28 institutions across six states and two Union Territories have compiled data on 530 patients from 15 states. Funded by the Department of Biotechnology, the biobank integrates biological samples with clinical, biochemical, and genetic data to support affordable screening tools and therapies for LSDs in children. LSDs are a group of over 70 rare inherited metabolic conditions caused by enzyme deficiencies, which can lead to progressive organ damage. The biobank aims to accelerate diagnosis, research, and development of Indian-specific therapies.
National LSD biobank established
28 institutions across 6 states and 2 UTs involved
530 patients data across 15 states
Funded by the Department of Biotechnology
Aims to advance affordable diagnostics and therapies
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