Month: February 2026

Veteran filmmaker Shekhar Kapur has lauded the growing architecture for Artificial Intelligence in India, saying the country has the potential to add a trillion dollars a year to its GDP.

Speaking with ANI on the sidelines of the AI summit, Kapur talked about the growing interest in artificial intelligence among the youth.

“If you had announced a summit on AI a year ago, nobody would be here. One year later, half a million young people have come, all looking for opportunity. That’s what’s incredible in India,” he told ANI.

He said India is an incredibly innovative nation and AI’s democratic nature makes it accessible to everyone.

“I think that AI, because it’s so democratic, if you haven’t been to IIT, if you haven’t been to the big educational institute, or you’ve not been to the Pune institute, it doesn’t matter because AI will give you everything that you want from there. After that, it’s how innovative, how courageous, how provocative, how intuitive you are,” he said.

“AI brings it down and when I walk around, I see hundreds, thousands of young people. Imagine what’s going to happen to India. We’re going to add a trillion dollars a year to our GDP,” he added.

Drawing a parallel with the early days of mobile phones in India, Kapur recalled how skepticism surrounded their adoption.

“When cell phones first came, people wondered how India would use them. Today, we are one of the largest mobile markets in the world. Certain measures were taken, bandwidth was created, and once infrastructure was in place, people adopted it rapidly,” he explained.

He suggested that AI will follow a similar trajectory, driven by infrastructure and public demand. “That’s how it’s going to be with AI,” Kapur said.

India is hosting AI Impact Summit 2026 from February 16 to 20. It is anchored in three foundational pillars, or ‘Sutras’: People, Planet and Progress.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the India AI Impact Expo 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on Monday.

The Summit, the first global AI gathering to be hosted in the Global South, has witnessed unprecedented participation.

Bringing together policymakers, technology companies, innovators, academia, and industry leaders, the Summit seeks to translate global AI deliberations into actionable development outcomes under the IndiaAI Mission and the Digital India initiative.

PM Modi will deliver the inaugural address on February 19, setting the tone for enhanced global cooperation and advancing India’s vision for inclusive, trusted, and development-oriented artificial intelligence. (ANI)

Actor Sidharth Malhotra is mourning the demise of his father, Sunil Malhotra. The actor penned an emotional tribute, remembering him as a guiding force whose life was defined by discipline, integrity, and unwavering positivity, even during the most challenging times.

In a heartfelt note shared on social media, Sidharth described his father as “a man of rare honesty, integrity and culture.” Remembering him as a pillar of strength, he wrote that his father lived by “values that never bent. Discipline without harshness. Strength without ego. Positivity, even when life tested him beyond measure.”

Expressing deep admiration, the ‘Shershaah’ actor recalled his father’s journey from commanding ships at sea to facing serious health challenges with courage and dignity.

“From commanding the seas as a Merchant Navy Captain to facing illness with quiet courage, he never compromised, never lost his grace. Even when the stroke confined him to a wheelchair, his spirit stood tall,” he wrote.

Remembering him with profound respect and love, Sidharth added, “Papa, your integrity is my inheritance. Your strength guides me every day. Your positivity still holds this family together. You left us peacefully in your sleep, but the space you leave behind is immeasurable.”

The actor concluded the note by acknowledging the lasting impact his father had on his life and values.

“I am who I am because of you. And I will carry your name, your values and your light forward always. Love you Dad,” he wrote.

The loss has left the actor deeply affected, as he shared a close and affectionate bond with his father. Over the years, Sidharth has often spoken publicly about his admiration for him, describing him as a constant source of inspiration and strength. (ANI)

The Uttar Pradesh Board of Secondary Education (UPBSE) 2026 High School and Intermediate Board examinations are set to commence from February 18 and continue till March 12, 2026.

This year, a total of 53,37,778 candidates are registered, including 27,61,696 high school students and 25,76,082 intermediate students, according to an official release.

To ensure a fair, transparent, and systematic conduct of the exams, the state has set up 8,033 examination centres, comprising 596 government schools, 3,453 aided-government schools, and 3,984 self-financed schools. Of these, 18 districts have been declared sensitive, 222 centres highly sensitive, and 683 sensitive, the release added.

Minister of State for Secondary Education (Independent Charge) Gulab Devi inaugurated the state-level control room set up at the Director of Education (Secondary), Lucknow camp office on Tuesday, ahead of the examinations. She stated that, in accordance with the Chief Minister’s wishes, this year’s examination system has been fully technology-based and transparent.

The Special Task Force (STF) and local intelligence units will be active at these centres throughout the examination period, and highly sensitive centres will be inspected twice daily.

To monitor examinations, two CCTV cameras with voice recorders have been installed in each examination room, along with a router, a DVR, and high-speed internet access. Live monitoring of the entire examination period will be done through webcasting. Strong rooms at examination centres will be under 24×7 CCTV surveillance. Additionally, online monitoring of the strong rooms, question paper distribution rooms, and answer sheet sealing and packing rooms at each examination centre in all 75 districts will also be conducted.

To strengthen the system, 8,033 centre administrators, 8,033 external centre administrators, 8,033 static magistrates, 1,210 sector magistrates, and 427 zonal magistrates have been appointed. Additionally, 69 divisional and 440 district-level mobile squads have been formed. State-level supervisors have also been appointed at the government level for all 75 districts and 18 divisions to ensure there is no slackness in the conduct of the examination.

According to the release, to assist candidates and parents, the state-level control room in Lucknow has issued toll-free helpline numbers 18001806607 and 18001806608. Additionally, the toll-free numbers 18001805310 and 18001805312 of the Board of Secondary Education, Prayagraj, will also be active.

It further added that complaints and suggestions can also be lodged through email, Facebook, X handle, and WhatsApp. Control centres have been established at the Prayagraj headquarters as well as regional offices in Varanasi, Meerut, Bareilly, and Gorakhpur.

Special security arrangements have been made to prevent cheating. Additional reserve question paper sets for all subjects are stored in double-locked cupboards for emergencies. Special security features have been added to answer sheets, including four-colour serial numbers, the Council’s logo, and a microscopic “UPMSP” marking, to eliminate the possibility of tampering. This year, for the first time, the UP Sanskrit Education Council examination will also be monitored online.

The Uttar Pradesh Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, applicable in the state, provides for strict action against any irregularities found in the preparation, printing, distribution, and evaluation of question papers. The Minister stated that malpractice in public examinations is an injustice to the future of youth, and that the government is committed to taking strict action against such practices. While wishing all the candidates the best of luck, he appealed to them to appear for the examination with confidence, without any tension or fear and take it as a positive opportunity.

On this occasion, Additional Chief Secretary (Basic and Secondary Education) Partha Sarathi Sen Sharma, Secretary, Secondary Education, Chandra Bhushan Singh, Director General of School Education, Monika Rani, Special Secretary, Secondary Education, Umesh Chandra, and Director of Education (Secondary), Dr Mahendra Dev, were present. (ANI)

India and France on Tuesday elevated their ties to a Special Global Strategic Partnership and made a slew of announcements across key sectors such as defence, technology and innovation, startups, critical minerals, advanced materials, health and skilling, reflecting the growing strength of the relationship between the two countries.

The key announcements made during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to the country include establishing an annual Foreign Ministers Dialogue for regularly reviewing the implementation of the elevated partnership and Horizon 2047 Roadmap, launch of the India-France Innovation Network, the inauguration of the H125 Helicopter Final Assembly Line at Vemagal, Karnataka, and Joint Venture between BEL and Safran to produce HAMMER missiles in India.

The outcomes included agreement for reciprocal deployment of officers between the Indian Army and the French Land Forces establishments and the establishment of a Joint Advanced Technology Development Group.

In his remarks during the joint statement with President Macron, PM Modi noted that the friendship between the two countries has “no boundaries” and the partnership can “reach from deep oceans to the tallest mountains”.

The outcomes included amending the Protocol on the Double Tax Avoidance Agreement between India and France.

The two countries agreed to the Joint Declaration of Intent for Cooperation in Critical Minerals and Metals, Letter of Intent to establish a Centre on Advanced Materials between DST and CNRS.

The outcomes included the launch of the India-France Year of Innovation, launch of the India-France Innovation Network, the renewal of the Agreement between the Government of India and the French Republic on Defence Cooperation, the Letter of Intent between T-Hub and Nord France on strategic cooperation in start-up ecosystems, innovation and technology, the Joint Declaration of Intent on establishing an Indo-French Centre for Digital Sciences and Technology and the launch of the Indo-French Centre for AI in Health at AIIMS, New Delhi

The outcomes also included a Letter of Intent between DBT and ANRS on Cooperation in Research and Development on Infectious Diseases and Global Health Research, an Agreement for the establishment of Indo-French Centre for Metabolic Health Sciences and Letter of Intent to establish a National Centre of Excellence for Skilling in Aeronautics

The two countries signed a Letter of Intent between the Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications and La Poste, France

In his remarks, PM Modi said he is delighted to welcome my dear friend, President Macron, to Mumbai.

“Last year, he invited me to the AI Action Committee Summit in France. At that time, we visited Marseille, France’s largest port and a major gateway to France and all of Europe. Marseille is the city from where our Indian soldiers set foot in Europe during World War I. Their saga of bravery is still remembered in many parts of Europe, and it is the same city where freedom fighter Veer Savarkar jumped into the sea to escape the British,” PM Modi said.

“His action symbolised his unwavering resolve for India’s independence. I had the opportunity to remember and pay my respects to him in Marseille last year. This time, when President Macron is in India for the AI Impact Summit, we are fortunate to welcome him in Mumbai, the Gateway to India,” he added.

PM Modi said that the India-France relationship is very crucial.”The strategic partnership between the two countries is one of the oldest and with the help of President Macron, we have deepened the ties and given it more energy in recent times. Based on this trust and vision, we are elevating our relation to a Special Global Strategic Partnership. This partnership is not just strategic. In this era of unpredictable global dynamics, this partnership will provide global stability and progress,” PM Modi said.

Highlighting cooperation in the defence and aerospace sectors, the Prime Minister referred to the inauguration of the helicopter assembly line as a testament to the growing collaboration between the two nations.PM Modi and President Macron virtually inaugurated the H125 Light Utility Helicopter Final Assembly of Tata Airbus at Vemagal, Karnataka.

“In India, the initiation of his helicopter assembly is another bright example of this relationship. We are proud that India and France will build a helicopter which will be able to take flight to Mount Everest. We will also export this. The India-France partnership knows no boundaries. It can reach from deep oceans to the tallest mountains,” PM Modi said.

Ministry of External Affairs said in a post on X that India-France Special Global Strategic Partnership is giving new wings to bilateral ties.

“PM @narendramodi held productive talks with President @EmmanuelMacron in Mumbai. Discussions touched on a range of issues including strategic, defence and security, trade and investment, joint manufacturing, critical minerals supply chain, research and development and education among others. In a milestone development, both leaders announced to upgrade the India-France relationship to Special Global Strategic Partnership, to reflect the immense depth and breadth of our ties,” the post said.

The H125 Light Utility Helicopter Final Assembly Line at Vemagal is expected to strengthen India’s indigenous aerospace manufacturing capabilities and further deepen India-France defence and industrial cooperation.

The facility is designed to produce H125 helicopters for civil and parapublic operations, including emergency medical services, law enforcement, and passenger transport.The delivery of the first ‘Made in India’ H125 is expected in early 2027. (ANI)

India and France on Tuesday signed MoUs on Hammer Missiles Production and a 10-year defence cooperation agreement. The MoUs were signed in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his French counterpart, Catherine Vautrin.

Rajnath Singh and Catherine Vautrin co-chaired the 6th India-France Annual Defence Dialogue in Bengaluru. During the Defence Dialogue, two memoranda of understanding (MoUs) were exchanged between India and France.

The first MoU concerns amendments to and the renewal of a 10-year defence cooperation agreement, signed by Indian Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and Deputy Director General of International Relations and Strategy, France, Lt Gen Eric Peltier.

The Second MoU on a joint venture to manufacture Hammer missiles was signed and exchanged between Chairman and MD of Bharat Electronics Limited, Manoj Jain, and Executive Vice President and Defence Director of Safran Electronics and Defence, Alexander Ziegler.

In his welcome remarks at the 6th Annual Defence Dialogue, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed appreciation for France’s cooperation. He said, “India deeply appreciates France’s steadfast commitment to strategic autonomy and a robust European defence posture. The recent India-EU security and defence partnership marks a significant step in deepening our collective engagement. We look forward to leveraging this framework both bilaterally and in the wider European context to strengthen regional stability, enhance our joint capabilities, and reinforce the enduring Indo-French strategic alignment.”

French Defence Minister Catherine Vautrin said that, “Defence is the central pillar of the relationship between our countries, and our collaboration is exemplary with the joint exercises that are carried out, along with the co-production of military platforms. This partnership is complete and is grounded in mutual respect, which makes India an essential partner for a partnership in the Indo-Pacific region.”

She also said that, “I think in this context it becomes increasingly important to talk about partnerships and collaboration in the field of space, industry, and bilateral partnerships.” (ANI)

Director General of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Chandrika Kaushik on Tuesday underscored the urgent need for indigenous artificial intelligence (AI) solutions in the defence sector, asserting that India cannot rely on foreign-developed AI models for critical military applications.

Speaking to ANI, Kaushik said, “In the defence domain, we can’t afford to depend on solutions and AI models which are coming from abroad. We need to be very sure about the trustworthiness of the models and the systems which we are adopting.”

Highlighting the growing penetration of AI across sectors, she said the technology has already spread across daily activities, from education to problem-solving and solution development.

“If you look at the students, you look at the teachers, you look at people who are making presentations, or you are trying to find quick solutions, or you are trying to develop solutions, the first thing is one kind of hook into an AI solution. It could be any one of the existing ones. But most of these solutions are coming from abroad,” she noted.

Kaushik expressed appreciation for the efforts of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Government of India in bringing together stakeholders to strengthen the country’s AI ecosystem. She described the summit as “the way to go” and said it provides a platform for collective efforts towards building trusted, indigenous AI capabilities.

Detailing DRDO’s initiatives, she said the organisation has already developed two key frameworks. The first, the ETAI (Evaluating Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence) framework, focuses on building resilience into AI-enabled systems. The second provides guidelines for validating and verifying AI solutions, offering a structured approach for developers in the domain.

We have started incorporating AI in almost every solution that we are developing, wherever there is data which can be used for analysis,” she said, adding that AI applications are now moving closer to operational environments.

“AI has started going to the edge. It is going to the battlefield itself. So, over time, we have to quickly gear up towards incorporating the AI solutions into the defence domain,” Kaushik added.

The India-AI Impact Summit 2026 aims to foster dialogue on responsible AI governance, innovation ecosystems, digital public infrastructure, climate-conscious technology and equitable access to emerging technologies.

The Summit is envisioned as a pivotal global platform to shape a future-oriented agenda for inclusive, responsible, and impactful AI, and it aims to move beyond high-level discussions to deliver tangible outcomes that support economic growth, social development, and the sustainable use of AI.

The Summit is structured around three core pillars — People, Planet, and Progress — with discussions focusing on employment and skilling, sustainable and energy-efficient AI, and economic and social development.

Seven thematic working groups, co-chaired by representatives from the Global North and Global South, are presenting concrete deliverables, including proposals for AI Commons, trusted AI tools, shared compute infrastructure and sector-specific compendiums of AI use cases.

Participants also gain insights into how AI is impacting various professions and industries, the new skills required in the evolving job market, opportunities for startups to engage with investors and partners, and the role of AI in supporting farmers, small businesses and service providers.

Sessions are addressing AI safety, governance, ethical use, data protection and India’s approach to sovereign AI, including the development of indigenous foundation models for strategic sectors. (ANI)

BJP National Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla on Tuesday slammed Congress MP and leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, stating that neither the public nor his allies and party members want to be associated with him.

Poonawalla said that former Congress leader Navjot Kaur Sidhu has highlighted how Gandhi neglected Punjab’s goodwill.

“Today, another no-confidence motion has been passed against Rahul Gandhi. This time from Punjab. Navjot Kaur Sidhu, whose husband, Navjot Sidhu, is still in Congress, who earlier said that the CM’s post is sold for Rs 500 crores in Congress, told how Rahul Gandhi ignores the goodwill of Punjab…” he said.

Poonawalla also claimed that many of the Congress’ allies express no confidence in him, further noting that neither the public nor the senior party leaders are associated with Gandhi.

“Before that, we saw Mani Shankar Aiyar’s statement and how statements are being given in the Assam Congress; people want to leave from there, too. TMC is saying, ‘Remove Rahul, bring Mamata Banerjee, and save the INDIA alliance.’ Many alliance partners of Congress are also expressing no-confidence against Rahul Gandhi in the same way. So, neither the public is with Rahul Gandhi, nor the allies and alliance partners are with him, nor the association, and the senior leaders of Congress are also avoiding Congress and Rahul Gandhi…” he stated.

Earlier today, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Manan Kumar Mishra criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, alleging that senior party members are feeling “suffocated” under his leadership.”

It is not just about Bhupen Kumar Borah; many senior leaders in the party are feeling suffocated. They don’t see any alternative right now; they will all leave Rahul Gandhi, as they don’t like him. Rahul Gandhi gives no respect to his seniors,” he said.

This came after the former Assam Congress president Bhupen Kumar Borah had on Monday submitted his resignation to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, but later withdrew it within a few hours, All India Congress Committee (AICC) state in-charge Jitendra Singh said. (ANI)

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the Centre over the alleged mismanagement of the AI Summit, claiming that what could have been a “showpiece” event for India turned into “utter chaos.” Kharge claimed that visitors and exhibitors alike faced “extreme distress” due to a lack of basic facilities such as food and water.

In a post on X, Kharge criticised the government, stating that the summit, which was expected to showcase India’s digital and artificial intelligence capabilities to the world, reportedly witnessed large-scale mismanagement.

“What could have been a showpiece AI Summit for the entire world, demonstrating the digital and AI capabilities of India has reportedly turned into utter chaos and rank mismanagement by this ‘PR hungry’ government!” Kharge said.

The Congress President further alleged that founders, exhibitors, and visitors faced “extreme distress” due to arrangements made during the event. He claimed that exhibitors were left without food and water, and alleged incidents of product theft. Kharge also alleged that the Prime Minister’s presence on the first day caused disruptions, stating that the PM “gatecrashed for a photo opportunity.”

“Founders, exhibitors, and visitors – all face extreme distress due to the PM gatecrashing for a photo opportunity on the very first day. Exhibitors are left without food and water, their products are stolen, Digi Yatra miserably fails, laptops, personal electronic devices and even bags are prohibited, only cash instead of digital/UPI payment is accepted, and founders are made to pay huge sums without basic facilities, among many other reasons of distress,” he added in the X post.

Calling the situation “extremely unfortunate,” Kharge said the country had to face “global embarrassment” due to what he termed as incompetence by the government.

“It is extremely unfortunate that, our country has to suffer this global embarrassment due to the incompetancy of our own government. Perhaps the Modi Govt should learn from the Bengaluru Tech Summit (BTS) which is an annual feature in smoothly organising such large scale Digital and Tech congregations,” he said.

Earlier on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in the national capital, underscoring India’s commitment to responsible and inclusive Artificial Intelligence.

The Summit, the first global AI gathering to be hosted in the Global South, will witness unprecedented participation, with over 20 Heads of State, 60 Ministers, and 500 global AI leaders.

Bringing together policymakers, technology companies, innovators, academia, and industry leaders, the Summit seeks to translate global AI deliberations into actionable development outcomes under the IndiaAI Mission and the Digital India initiative.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to deliver the inaugural address on February 19, setting the tone for enhanced global cooperation and advancing India’s vision for inclusive, trusted, and development-oriented artificial intelligence. After inaugurating the summit, PM Modi interacted with exhibitors, including startups, researchers, and technology leaders, who showcased AI applications across sectors. (ANI)

Delhi University on Tuesday prohibited meetings, processions, and protests for a period of one month.

This comes days after chaos erupted at a protest demanding implementation of the new University Grants Commission (UGC) equity guidelines, which the Supreme Court put on hold, citing “complete vagueness” in the rules and potential misuse.

The DU Proctor issued the order citing law and order concern in the University campuses.

“This order is issued in view of information received indicating that unrestricted public gatherings, processions, or demonstrations on campus may lead to obstruction of traffic, threats to human life, and disturbance of public peace. In the past, organisers have often failed to control such protests, which have escalated and spread widely, resulting in deterioration of law and order within the University campuses,” the notification stated.

Delhi University prohibited holding of any public meeting, rally, dharna, protest, or agitation; Assembly of five or more persons; Carrying of any hazardous materials, including Mashals/Beacons/Torches; Engaging in any activity that may affect the general tranquillity of the public or the smooth flow of traffic; Shouting of slogans and making speeches, as per the order.

Earlier on Saturday, Delhi University Vice Chancellor Yogesh Singh urged students and teachers to maintain harmony and not engage in any activity that “increases mutual discord.”

“I request all teachers and students of Delhi University to maintain harmony among themselves. Do not engage in any activity that increases mutual discord and harms the image of the nation and the university. The incident at Delhi University yesterday is a cause for concern. Students from all states in India and from all communities study at the university. Social harmony is the greatest thing, and maintaining it is the duty of all of us,” Yogesh Singh said in a statement shared from Delhi University’s X handle.

On Friday, a face-off between two student groups led to claims and counterclaims, with the groups accusing each other of violence and intimidation during a pro-UGC equity guidelines protest. According to left backed students union-AISA some of the students were allegedly threatened and subjected to casteist abuse and slurs by the rival student group.

Countering these allegations, ABVP alleged that a female journalist, associated with a YouTube channel, was allegedly assaulted by Left-backed student activists. ABVP said that the incident exposes the violent character of Left-affiliated student organisations, which otherwise claim to champion freedom of expression across universities in the country.

Journalist, Ruchi Tiwari, alleged that she was targeted by a mob of nearly 500 people. She claimed that the crowd turned violent after inquiring about her caste and identity while she was discharging her professional duties.

“The entire crowd came towards me and attacked me. This is clear in the video. About 500 people attacked me. They only have fabricated narratives and allegations. The girls around me whispered rape threats in my ears just because I am a Brahmin; “aaj tu chal, tera nanga parade niklega,” is what they said.

On January 29, the SC stayed the University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026, following nationwide uproar over alleged “discrimination” against the General Category in the regulations.

The Top Court said that, for now, the 2012 UGC regulations will continue to apply. The Court opined that there is complete vagueness in Regulation 3 (C) (which defines caste-based discrimination), and it can be misused. “The language needs to be re-modified,” the Court said.

After 75 years of trying to make a caste-less society, whether the direction of policy-making is progressive or tending towards a regressive approach, it asked.

The new regulations, introduced to curb caste-based discrimination in colleges and universities, require institutions to establish special committees and helplines to address complaints from students in the Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), and Other Backwards Classes (OBC) categories. (ANI)

Driven by the goal to see India at the top of the global medal tally, Indian Paralympic sprinter Preethi Pal is calling for the same spotlight and support for para-athletics as that enjoyed by cricket.

The 25-year-old track star, who recently made history in the women’s T35 events, remains focused on winning gold for the nation following her standout performances, including a silver in the 100m and a bronze in the 200m at the World Para Athletics Championships held at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi last year.

Preethi spoke to ANI on the sidelines of the BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year awards. Preethi was honoured with the ‘Para Sportswoman of the Year’ award for her exceptional recent performances, including two bronze medals at the 2024 Paris Paralympics.

The 25-year-old rose to prominence after securing five medals across various para-athletic events. At the World Para Athletics Championships, Preethi was a double medalist, finishing second in the 100m T35 event with a season-best time of 14.33s, trailing only China’s Guo Qianqian. She also secured gold at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix in Dubai, firmly establishing herself on the global sprint map.

Reflecting on her journey, she said, “I am feeling very proud. I had previously won a medal at the Asian Games, but winning at the World Championship in Delhi was special. We worked very hard for that moment. My coach made this possible for me; otherwise, it wouldn’t have happened.”

The athlete credited increased media coverage for spreading awareness of the Paralympic movement in India. However, she expressed a desire for para-sports to receive a level of spotlight similar to cricket.

“The Paralympic Games have grown significantly with the help of the media,” she noted. “Media coverage is the only way to grow the Games. But we want the Paralympics to be highlighted as much as cricket. All athletes work incredibly hard, yet cricket is always the highlight. We want to support and spread the Paralympic movement so everyone gets inspired to earn more medals for the country.”

Looking ahead, the rising star is focused on her goal of topping the podium. “I have personal goals. I want to do my best and win a gold medal for India so that everyone feels proud. I want to see India at the top of the medal tally.”

Preethi Pal is set to compete next in the upcoming World Para Athletics Grand Prix in New Delhi, scheduled for March 11 to 13. (ANI)