Billionaire Gautam Adani's apples-to-airport conglomerate will invest Rs 62,400 crore in the next 10 years in setting up data centres in Maharashtra and Telangana to provide infrastructure for the booming digital services demand in the country.

The conglomerate's flagship firm Adani Enterprises will invest Rs 50,000 crore over the next 10 years in setting up a 1 gigawatt (GW) hyperscale data centre in either Mumbai or Navi Mumbai and Pune, and another Rs 5,000 crore in setting up a 100 MW data centre in Telangana, it said on Wednesday.

Data centres is one of the newer businesses for the Adani group, which predominately was a ports operator and coal trader.

Google India Digital Services and NPCI International Payments, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the National Payments Corporation of India signed a Memorandum of Understanding to expand UPI to countries beyond India.

The MoU has three key objectives. To broaden the use of UPI payments for travelers outside of India, enabling them to conveniently make transactions abroad. To assist in establishing UPI-like digital payment systems in other countries, and to focus on easing the process of remittances between countries by utilizing the UPI infrastructure, thereby simplifying cross-border financial exchanges.

“We are pleased to team up with Google Pay to propel UPI onto the global stage. This strategic partnership will not only simplify foreign transactions for Indian travelers but will also allow us to extend our knowledge and expertise of operating a successful digital payments ecosystem to other countries”, Ritesh Shukla, CEO – NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL), said.

RuPay Prime Volleyball powered by A23 has appointed Hrithik Roshan as its brand ambassador. Hrithik enjoys the physical nature of volleyball and described the partnership as a natural fit for him. Hrithik engaged in a discussion about the upcoming season of RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23 with some of the top volleyball stars who will be competing in the third edition.

“The actor has redefined the meaning of athleticism and fitness over the years and has been a true source of inspiration for many of our athletes. He has been quite vocal about the need to maintain physical and mental fitness, and hence we wanted a star personality such as him to be associated with our product. His presence will not only add glamour to RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23, but it will also make the overall product even more exciting and adventurous,” Tuhin Mishra, managing director and co-founder, Baseline Venture, said.

Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) launched a new range of 'Sanatan Khadi Vastra' with 20 per cent discount on Wednesday.

As per a release, Manoj Kumar, Chairman, KVIC launched 'Sanatan Vastra' made from Khadi clothes at the flagship Khadi Bhawan in Connaught Place, Delhi.

The design of Sanatan Clothing has been prepared at the Khadi Center of Excellence (COEK) located at NIFT.

MeitY Secretary S Krishnan on Wednesday launched a Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Intelligent Internet of Things (IIoT) Sensors and India’s first graphene centre - India Innovation Centre for Graphene (IICG) in Kerala.

"The CoE in IIoT Sensors is a unique facility established at Makers Village Kochi by MeitY, Government of India and Government of Kerala to catalyse the development of sensors within the realm of Intelligent IoT systems covering a broad spectrum of applications of intelligent sensors in networks, devices and sensor systems," said the ministry in a press release.

Maharashtra has signed MoUs totalling Rs 1.4 lakh crore here on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, following Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's meetings with a number of business leaders, the state government said on Wednesday. Shinde also held discussions with senior delegates from South Africa and other countries.

He met senior representatives from Schneider Electric and Louis Dreyfus, among others. MOUs have been signed with global giants like Berkshire Hathaway and Greenko Energy Projects. These agreements are poised to generate over one lakh jobs in vital sectors across Maharashtra, affirming the state's role as India's stable and dependable gateway for global investors, the state government said.

The biggest civil aviation event in Asia, Wings India 2024 is all set to take off today at Begumpet Airport in Hyderabad. Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia will be formally inaugurating the 4-day event later this morning. Airports Authority of India in collaboration with the Ministry and FICCI is organising the biennial event. This edition of Wings India will be showcasing an array of new-generation aircraft displays, allied aviation services, auxiliary unit industries, and advancements in the tourism sector. The Wings India 2024 is being held with the main theme ‘Connecting India with the World in Amritkal’ and will witness deliberations over the strategies and strategic framework for the future Aviation Sector of the country.

The four-day Wings India 2024 will bring together various stakeholders and participants from all over the world from the aviation industry to promote collaboration, showcase innovations, and explore business opportunities. The deliberations at the ministerial level and CEOs conference besides round tables and panel discussions will help chart out actions that align with national aspirations, fostering connectivity, growth, and innovation in the aviation sector till the year 2047. The best of the aviation industry will be showcasing their innovative aviation technology and aircraft machinery at the event. Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. will be showcasing its indigenous civil platforms like the Hindustan-228 aircraft and the upgraded civil helicopter Dhruv in the exhibition. Air India will unveil its Airbus A350, the first aircraft of its kind in the country while Boeing 777-9 will be on display for the first time in the country. Besides the mesmerizing aerobatic display by the Sarang team of the Indian Air Force, over 25 aircraft of different sizes will be on display for the spectacular view at the venue.

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar today released the book titled 'Fertilising the Future: Bharat's March Towards Fertiliser Self-Sufficiency' written by Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya.

Dr Mandaviya said the book presents how the country is moving forward on the path of becoming a 'self-reliant India' in the field of fertilisers.

"Along with many such successes, the story of how the country is moving forward on the path of becoming 'self-reliant India' in the field of fertilisers has been presented interestingly through this book," he said.

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has said that the world today faces challenges like climate change, conflict, terrorism and poverty which are universal and it can be addressed by common resolve and collaborative and collective approach.

He was speaking after inaugurating the 12th General Assembly of the Asian Buddhist Conference for Peace in New Delhi today. Mr Dhankhar said, Buddha's timeless wisdom, his Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path guide people towards inner peace, compassion, and non-violence. He said, it is a transformative roadmap for individuals and nations facing today's conflicts.

The Vice President said, violence has never generated unity and peace has never led to divisions. He said, across the continent, Buddhist Stupas stand as silent testaments to Buddha's enduring wisdom. Mr Dhankhar said, the principles of Bhagwan Buddha are no less than a beacon of hope and light to catalyse convergence of all stakeholders on a common platform. He said, In a world yearning for harmony, Buddha's light shines brightest.

Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah has said that Government will ensure that Cooperative sector makes a big contribution to India's five trillion dollars economy goal. Inaugurating the new building of the office of Central Registrar of Cooperative Societies office at World Trade Centre, Naroji Nagar in New Delhi today, Mr Shah said, after the establishment of Cooperation Ministry, Cooperative Societies are being strengthened and Rural Economy is getting connected with Modern Technologies. He said, before the formation of the Ministry of Cooperation, the Central Registrar of Cooperative Societies did not have enough staff and there was no computerisation.

Minister of State for Cooperation B L Verma and Secretary in Ministry of Cooperation Gyanesh Kumar were present on the occasion.