Karnataka secures seat on Hub Governing Board of National Quantum Mission
Kalaburagi: Karnataka has secured representation in the Hub Governing Board (HGB) of the National Quantum Mission (NQM), following sustained efforts by Raichur MP G. Kumar Naik.
The Hindu reported that Naik had raised the matter in the Lok Sabha on August 11 under Rule 377, stressing the need for active participation of States in the mission’s development and governance. Responding to his intervention, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh assured that State Governments would be involved in the highest-level decision-making process.
In a letter dated August 26, he confirmed that a communication had been sent to Karnataka’s Chief Secretary to nominate a senior officer.
Acting on the directive, the State Government on August 31 nominated Ekrup Caur, Secretary of the Department of Information Technology and Biotechnology (ITBT), as the nodal officer for the HGB, which will be based at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc.) in Bengaluru. The order was issued by Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh.
Naik termed it “a significant step towards cooperative federalism and shared progress.” He said Karnataka, with its strong research ecosystem, thriving startups, and skilled talent base, was “fully prepared to co-create India’s quantum future.”
Naik also commended Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar for their leadership, noting the State’s ₹1,000 crore Quantum Fund and vision for quantum technology development. He further appreciated Science and Technology Minister N.S. Boseraju for conceptualising and executing the Quantum India Summit 2025, which brought global experts together in Bengaluru.
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Bill Gates lauds Andhra's AI-driven growth
Amaravati (PTI): Microsoft founder and Gates Foundation chairman Bill Gates on Tuesday hailed Andhra Pradesh's rapid development, saying it was exciting to see the state's growth being accelerated through AI and technology.
Following his visit to Amaravati, Gates expressed his admiration for the southern state’s innovations across health, agriculture and education.
“Thank you for the warm welcome, N Chandrababu Naidu. It’s exciting to witness Andhra Pradesh’s growth being accelerated through AI, technology, and innovations across health, agriculture & education,” he said in a post on X.
On Monday, Gates had engaged in several activities in the greenfield capital city of Amaravati, beginning with an interaction with the CM and others, reviewing presentations on the use of technology in governance and also a visit to a banana orchard by the Krishna river bank in Undavalli village in Guntur district.
According to the tech czar, India is leading the global digital revolution.
He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Naidu for their key role.
He also heaped praises on Naidu for his long-term vision, saying a majority of IT experts, including many at Microsoft, are from the Telugu states.
