CII's innovation summit to focus on Artificial Intelligence
Bengaluru, July 4: The two-day India Innovation Summit by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), to be held here on July 12-13, will focus on the disruptive technology of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the industry body said on Wednesday.
"The 14th edition of the summit will focus on the new age technologies like AI, machine learning and block chain technologies that will transform our future," India Innovation Summit's Chairman and co-founder of global software major Infosys Kris Gopalakrishnan told reporters here.
The summit will witness the participation of over 600 attendees, including the industry leaders, entrepreneurs and government representatives, who will deliberate on various aspects of adoption of AI.
The two-day event, with a theme "India.AI - Driving the Future for the World", will address the aspects of impact of AI on farming, healthcare, automobiles and job creation, among others.
It will allow the startups and industry to showcase their expertise and also interact with the policymakers on framing laws with regard to the technology.
"As a country we should take small steps towards the adoption of autonomous vehicles and new modes of medical diagnostics, making use of AI, that could significantly bring down the costs. There are risks involved, but there are also benefits in the use of AI," Gopalakrishnan added.
While admitting that some of the traditional jobs could be lost as a result of the adoption of AI, Gopalakrishnan, who also founded the Bengaluru-based startup accelerator Axilor Ventures, believes that the technology can also create many jobs.
"There is a need for re-skilling ourselves in order to take up the jobs that will be upgraded due to AI," he said.
The convention has been one of the reasons for Bengaluru's growth in the country in the field of research and development, Gopalakrishnan added.
Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Suresh Prabhu, Niti Aayog Chief Executive Amitabh Kant, Karnataka Chief Minster H.D. Kumaraswamy and state Information Technology and Biotechnology (IT and BT) Minister K.J. George will also be present at the summit, the industry body said.
The Young Innovators Challenge Award, an initiative by the CII and 3M India, will be presented during the summit to innovators working on social, economic and sustainability challenges in the country.
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13 lakh litres of 'Rail Neer' supplied to train passengers daily: Government
New Delhi (PTI): Approximately 13 lakh litres of packaged drinking water -- 'Rail Neer' -- are being supplied to train passengers across the railway network daily, the government informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply on Wednesday.
Apprising the Lower House about the Indian Railways' endeavour to provide safe and potable drinking water facilities at all stations, the government also provided zone-wise details of the water vending machines (WVMs) installed there.
"To ensure the quality of drinking water being made available at the railway stations, instructions exist for periodical checking and required corrective action to be taken.
"Regular inspection and maintenance of drinking water facilities is carried out and complaints are attended to promptly," Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said while responding to a question raised by BJP MP Anup Sanjay Dhotre seeking to know the supply of drinking water at railway stations across the country
"Complaints regarding deficiency in services, including water supply, are received through various channels such as public complaints, web portals, social media, etc. These complaints are received at various levels, including the Railway Board, zonal railways, division office, etc.," Vaishnaw said.
"The complaints so received are forwarded to the concerned wings of Railways and necessary action is taken to check and address them. As receipt of such complaints and action taken thereon is a continuous and dynamic process, a centralised compendium of these is not maintained," he added.
Providing zone-wise details of water vending machines, the minister said 954 such machines have been installed across railway stations.
"The Indian Railways also provides safe and affordable packaged drinking water bottles -- Rail Neer -- approved by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in trains and at stations," Vaishnaw said.
"Approximately, 13 lakh litres of Rail Neer are being supplied per day to the travelling passengers in trains and at stations across the Indian Railways network," he added.
